City Council - Regular Meeting

This is the regular City Council meeting for the City of St. Peter on Monday, July 13th, 2026. We are called to order at 7.06 p.m. Would all please rise for the pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag,

All right, first up is approval of the agenda. Are there any additions or corrections to the agenda? Hearing none, do I have a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? The motion carries. The next step is the approval of the minutes. which are on pages four through six. And this is from our last meeting on June 26. That was a long time ago. On June 26, 2026. Are there any revisions or corrections to the meeting minutes? Hearing none, do I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes?

So moved. Second.

A motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? The minutes are approved. Next up we have time on our agenda for visitor comments. We first take visitor comments on agenda items. Are there any audience members who would like to make a visitor comment on an agenda item? Seeing none, we will move on to general visitor comments. Are there any members of the audience who would like to come forward and make a general visitor comment? Seeing none, we will move on to the approval of the consent agenda items. The consent agenda items are on pages seven through 14, and it contains the following. We have two employee appointments We have a temporary gambling license for the Nicollet County Ag Society. We have a list of election judges. Their names are in the packet. And lastly, the schedule of disbursements for June 19th, 2026 through July 9th, 2026. Any questions on the consent agenda? Hearing none, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda?

So moved. Second.

A motion and a second.

Do we call the roll? Call the roll, please. Council Member Johnson? Aye. Council Member Pettis? Aye. Council Member Sharstrom? Aye. Council Member DeVos?

Aye.

All right. Consent agenda is approved. We have nothing listed for unfinished business, so we'll move on to new business. And the first item of new business is Public Works Facilities Optimization Consulting Services. And we have Pete here to discuss that.

Madam Council Member and the rest of the City Council, as you are aware, when we started our roofing project here a few months back, there was discussion at workshop about how we would approach not only this repair, but other repairs and needs at Public Works. You asked us to have public works evaluated to look for ways that we can optimize our efficiencies, our programs, our spaces that we have, really just get a handle on everything for the next 15 to 20 years. And so with that, we put out a proposal requesting interested firms to come to a day at St. Peter Public Works and work with city staff to see what we had for operations so they could better fill out their proposal that they were working on. We did receive four applications and proposals right up front. We had about six individuals at Public Works review those and rank them, one through four. We had three that were very close at the top, one that was a little distance, and so we did conduct three virtual interviews after that process with the candidates. Each firm was allowed to have two individuals and a presentation which they would turn over to the city for review. And out of that, what we did was we selected ISG as the top candidate. ISG did fill out the request very thoroughly. They came highly rated in the first two areas of our proposal which were firm and team experience, as did the other two that we interviewed. Very, very confident that either one of those two firms could have done the work for us. They had a great understanding of the project and the technical approach that would be required. Their presentation was outstanding and then they also provided some of their past performance and references for us to check which we followed through with. What was interesting though with them was they gave us a project management schedule which we'll talk about in a little bit here. But it really met our timelines on where we want to go and what we want to do. Our overall goal is to have something by the end of the year. They were able to squeeze that information into that presentation and communicated really well to us on how that could be accomplished. So you might ask, what's next? What do we got going on in the future here? If you go back to page 23... Two pages in front of the resolution here, there is a four phase process. It says fee at the top of the schedule. There you go, Todd, that's right on. Looking at phases one and two, which is really the ground level work that they need to get into. Their goal would be to meet with us if you approve them this week and then get a good handle on things in July and August and pull phases one and two together by the end of September. We'd be looking at different alternatives and developing a shared vision in October. And then putting final recommendations and implementation schedules together in November and December. Our goal is to be done by the end of the year. As you guys know, in December it gets a little shaky on how much time we really have because we get pushed with the one council meeting and usually just one workshop. So we'll see how that all works out for us. But we don't have a certain timeline that we have. Capital projects that we have to build us more or less getting an understanding of where we want to go in the next few years Our recommendation at this time would be to prove the resolution on page 25 that would authorize ISG as the consultant to do this work for us Go ahead

So that's approximately $75,000 in here, but the total at the bottom here of this is $83,000 to $95,000.

Right. So what we did with the firms is when they came back in for the virtual interview, we let them know. We didn't give them a dollar amount up front. And so we had a wide range of variation in those costs. And what we wanted to do was not... rule somebody out because they may have $150,000 into this. The overall goal was we will now explain to the firm that's selected, here's kind of the scope that we see. Here's where we think you might be a little long. We'll help you with this information. You just need to assemble it. But then let them have the outside look on what's going on. So that would be our plan and our goal is to spend around 75,000 or under if they can see efficiencies that we may have within the operation. Great, thank you. Yep.

Any other questions?

I am just wondering, Pete, with these four phases and this hopefully wrapping up by the end of the year, what can the council expect for when will we see updates or when will we have to make any decisions or is it at the end of the year when there's a report?

No, I think when you look at getting phases one and two done, we should report to you, excuse me, We should report to you on where we're at there as we start shaping to make sure that's the direction that you guys see this project going as well. So I would say somewhere in October is when we'll probably schedule a time to visit with council and maybe at that point we can have ISG come and do a little presentation before the council at workshop.

Okay, thank you.

Yep.

Any other questions? If not, the resolution authorizing ISG of Mankato, Minnesota to complete a public works optimization services study is on page 25. Do I have a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Call the roll, please.

Council Member Pettis? Aye. Council Member Sharstrom? Aye. Council Member DeVos?

Aye.

Council Member Johnson? Aye. The motion carries.

Resolution is approved. Next up of new business, we have a donation acceptance resolution for the St. Peter Girls Fast Pitch Association.

So, Mayor and members, that's me. Pete's providing technical backup if I miss something, but this is to accept funding from the St. Peter Girls Fast Pitch Association for the purchase and installation of four scoreboards at Jefferson Park. These are replacing the scoreboards that, Peter, probably more than a couple decades old, if I remember right. And so the Softball Association, the Girls Fast Pitch Association, has worked really hard to raise approximately $30,000 towards this project. As you know, you have a policy related to donations and how that works, and it fits within that policy overall. And so we really want to thank the association and the folks that spent so much time and effort. What you see on your screen now and what you see in the packet is an image of what this would look like. It'll take care of balls and strikes and outs and time and scores, and then you'll see their sponsors. So the association has gone out and sold sponsorships for these, which will be provided for. I think it's also important to note that We've signed an agreement with the association about how, who, when, all of that works, and so that's included in your packet as well. What we're really recommending for you tonight is to approve the resolution that accepts the donation under these conditions and provide a word of thanks to the Softball Association, the Girls Fast Pitch Association. And again, they would provide funding that is just shy of $30,000. that's a really monumental task to come up with those resources. And there's a lot of local folks that put a lot of work into this and businesses that are supporting this as well. So the resolution is included in your packet on page 31.

We also want to make sure that this is authorized and has to purchase the scoreboards. Purchase the scoreboards. Yep.

Any questions or comments? Go ahead, Council Member Sharfstrom. Go ahead, Daryl. Go ahead, Daryl.

My wife was the softball Association treasure for I believe four years many years ago. I'd like to thank the Association for doing this. This is a very nice gift to the city and we appreciate it very much.

Go ahead, I was just going to share in honor of being completely transparent. I do actively serve on the softball Association board and Pete and I personally worked very closely on this project and I'm very happy we pulled it off.

Questions or comments?

30,000 bucks is hard to raise.

Very, very hard to raise. You're telling me. So it'll get used by Softball Association, of course, other folks that utilize Jefferson Fields. These are from Jefferson Fields.

These fields are utilized by the Softball Association, the Youth Baseball Association, and the Slow Pitch Leagues.

It's an excellent community improvement, and it is tough to raise that much money. So the resolution... is authorizing the donation acceptance, but also the city is purchasing it as well.

That's correct, under your policy.

Okay.

Yep.

All right, so you'll find that resolution on page 31 of the packet. It's the resolution approving the agreement and donation for Jefferson Park scoreboards from the St. Peter Girls Fast Pitch Softball Association. Do we have a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Please call the roll. Council Member Sharstrom. Aye. Council Member DeVos. Aye. Council Member Johnson. Aye. Council Member Pettis.

Aye.

The resolution is approved.

Next up, we have reports. As Mayor Pro Tem, I do not have any reports. Do council members have reports? Go ahead, Mr. Tomas.

I'd like to remind our citizens how lucky we are to have a hospital in this community. I had an incident last Sunday, was able to go into the urgent care slash ER, get taken care of much faster than I would have in Mankato. 12 stitches later, and it is an asset we have in this community. I think it's a great partnership with OFC that has allowed us to maintain our hospital, and I think it's something we don't appreciate enough in this community.

Yes, we're very lucky to have a community-owned hospital in this community. Any other reports from council members? All right, from our city administrator, any reports?

Um, I'd like to give just a short report related to moving and give a short update on moving and where we're at. As folks may be aware, whether they're following us on Facebook or whether they're following on our website, um, all of the departments save administration is now at the new location located at one four four one civic way. And so that's the new location for City Hall. Council will follow probably in August-ish for meetings and be ready for that. So watch for some additional information on that and we'll make sure to inform the public of that. Administration, the last kind of team from the current City Hall on Front Street will be moving tomorrow with common things like pop machines and other things will move on Wednesday and follow us up there. We're fully operational up there related to emergency services from the police department. Transit MRVT is there as well. And of course, folks that want to pay their utility bill or sign up for utilities or building permit, all of those things are available at that location now. It will take us a little bit to kind of get fully settled, but things are going really pretty well, even though moving is hard. If anyone here listening or any of you have moved ever or moved college kids a couple dozen times, It is hard, and so the staff has been fantastic in working through that. We have a few things that we continue to work through related to furniture and access and signage. You'll note that signage even changed again today. Final signage interior to the building is coming either tomorrow or Wednesday. At least that's the schedule so far. And so we're excited for the opportunity to serve people in a new location there. Again, so watch for public meetings and when that will start, likely August-ish. So ma'am, that's the only report that I have for you, but I do have a request, which is the last page of your council packet asking for approval of a resolution to go into closed session to discuss the potential transfer of property located at 105 East Brown Street here in St. Peter. And so that resolution again is the last page in your packet.

Action or?

Thanks for that question. My plan right now is that we are unlikely to return for action. We are in the process of having a discussion and negotiation on potential transfer of property. So more work would need to be done. Likely come back only to adjourn.

Thank you, Todd.

Any other questions? All right. The resolution calling for a closed session is on page 32. Do I have a motion to approve?

So moved.

Motion and a second. I'll take it.

Do we call the roll? Please call the roll. Council Member DeVos? Aye. Council Member Johnson? Aye. Council Member Pettis? Aye. Council Member Sharstrom?

Aye.

The resolution is approved.

And what is the process next?

So we would recess into closed session, and then we'll come back into regular before adjournment.

We are recessing to closed session 7-24. We'll probably go downstairs.