East Bethel City Council — Transcript
Monday, September 21, 2026
Marketing City-Owned Land
City Financial and Staffing Updates
Enhancing EDA Meeting Procedures and Community Engagement
Potential Property Acquisition
Votes (6)
EDA Sign Authorization for Marketing City Land
Dissent: None
The EDA discussed creating marketing signs for city-owned properties, starting with 1347 SIMS. The purpose is to signify land availability and demonstrate a proactive city approach to economic development, aiming to attract specific types of businesses. There was a strong suggestion to include QR codes on signs linking to a detailed city website page with property information, similar to a dedicated repository for commercial listings. The cost of signs was estimated at $200-$400 each. The ongoing website update (using Civic Plus) was highlighted as crucial for supporting this initiative, with an anticipated completion of six months to a year.
Update on Taylor Street Property
Dissent: None
The EDA discussed the 9.75-acre city-owned property on Taylor Street, which has wetlands but also high ground with city sewer and water access. A previous developer interested in slab-on-grade senior housing has been slow to act. The city aims to recapture sewer/water costs and potentially use accrued sales tax dollars for housing grants to incentivize development. The core question was whether to actively market the land with an agent or continue waiting. Discussion highlighted the demand for active adult (55+) housing, the proximity to a church and existing senior living, and the need for a 'nice product.' The EDA decided to first reach out to potential developers (like Trident) directly to explore interest and gather more site plan/valuation details before formally listing the property.
City Council Report: Finance Director Resignation and Budget Update
Dissent: None
The Finance Director, Mike Jazorski, resigned after 13 years, prompting the city to post for a replacement immediately due to the position's sensitivity and workload. An interested individual with extensive experience has already emerged. The City Council recently passed a preliminary budget with a 5.9% levy increase. This increase is largely attributed to general growth in operating costs (wages, fuel, electricity) and the need to rebuild the capital improvement budget, particularly for staggering and replacing fire equipment that had been purchased simultaneously years prior, leading to large, concurrent replacement costs.
Proposal for Pledge of Allegiance at EDA Meetings
Dissent: None
An EDA member proposed adding the Pledge of Allegiance to future meeting agendas, citing that all members have taken an oath and it serves as a reminder of their civic purpose. This practice is already in place for City Council and Planning Commission meetings. The proposal received immediate support from other members.
Proposal for Meeting with East Bethl Chamber of Commerce
Dissent: None
An EDA member suggested inviting board members from the East Bethl Chamber of Commerce to a future EDA meeting for a brainstorming session. The goal is to proactively understand the needs and ideas of local businesses and discuss how the city can provide support, acknowledging that past city-chamber collaborations have occurred. Another member, who attends Chamber board meetings, offered to relay the invitation and coordinate dates.
Closed Session for Potential Property Acquisition
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:51:30] · Seconded by Unknown [0:51:34]
The EDA entered a closed session as permitted by Minnesota State Statute 13D.05 subdivision 3C to discuss the potential acquisition of real property. Following the closed session, the Chair reported that the board decided to move forward with investigating the opportunity, which includes working with an attorney to draft purchase agreements, and then bringing the proposal to the City Council for approval.
Notable Quotes (11)
But the um idea was that we would uh put together a sign, put it up on the corner... to promote the availability of that land that as people are driving by that it kind of twofold is signifies the land's available but secondly that the city is taking a proactive approach to trying to market this land.
My initial reaction is if we're going to have a sign like this, I would like to have a hyperlink or a QR code to some salient information about the site because when you simply have a phone number on there and I just it's not as much of a call to action.
We had a link to Minar which is not the greatest but... No, they've used Minkcar and it's if you're not a member, a lot of brokers won't list it because a lot of the commercial a lot of the residential brokers who do a little bit of commercial don't want to pay the minar fees, so they don't list it. So, if we can just have our own repository, I think there's just better information out there.
So ultimately what the city is looking to do is somewhat try and recapture the cost of city sewer and water and sell the land to a developer as well.
The city is not contracted with a real estate agent as at all to put it on an MLS or anything else. And that's the question... do we want to take an active role of marketing it and finding um someone to essentially get it on the on the tax roles and develop product that you know is arguably in short supply in the city?
I mean, active adult is the big thing right now. That's what everybody's building. You know, senior senior housing, the Minnesota codes change, so it's tricky to to get assisted living, you know, build that with the the codes. But, you know, 55 plus the active adult, which I take offense to. So, um I think that's probably something that could fit in really well there given the the church and the the the continuum of care and development that's right near there.
Mike Jazorski is our was our finance director. He submitted a resignation after 13 years of service with the city. Um fantastic individual... kind of had a different opportunity and wanted to try something new.
We passed our preliminary budget here in the last council meeting um and uh a 5.9% levy increase. I've always said that uh government grows at about 6% a year when you look at wages and cost of operating fuel and electricity and you see the costs at home... one year where uh we're trying to catch up a little bit with uh some fire equipment apparatus equip equipment that we're planning for.
I am wondering if um, anybody would be against us saying the pledge of allegiance before we start our meetings in this meeting, just because I feel like we've all taken an oath. I feel like this is where we vote and we're voting for our city and I just feel like saying the pledge is something that um reminds us what we're here for.
What does everybody think about getting maybe like the board members of the ch H East Bethl Chamber of Commerce in a room here and having like a discussion with them on how we things we can do to help them... if we just sat face to face and had like a brainstorming session with the people that need the help that could use um something that I don't even know what they need.
Madam chair and commissioners, uh thank you. We just came out of close session uh in which the EDA discussed the potential acquisition of property, real property and um the board members decided to uh move forward with um investigating, shall we say, the opportunity and um ultimately the next steps would be to work with an attorney, draw up uh purchase agreements and bring it back to council for approval.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Modules for the city's website update, intended to speed up community development work.
A real estate listing service, noted for its limitations due to membership fees for brokers.
Regional economic development entity that uses Minar, also noted for its listing limitations.
A previously presented plan for detached townhomes on the Taylor Street property.
The budget approved by the City Council with a 5.9% levy increase.
Authorizes closed sessions for discussions about potential property acquisition.
Legal documents to be drawn up for potential property acquisition following the closed session.