East Bethel City Council — Transcript
Monday, October 26, 2026
Law Enforcement Operations and Public Safety
Fire and Emergency Services Management
Conditional Use Permit Compliance and Expansion
Recreational Facility Development and Equipment
City Administration and Operational Updates
Community Facilities Use Policy
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Governance
Votes (5)
Consent Agenda Item A: Midco Payment for Internet Infrastructure
Dissent: None
Moved by Suzanne Urkl [23:17] · Seconded by Unknown [23:20]
Council Member Urkl requested clarification on a large payment to Midco. The City Administrator explained it was a pass-through payment of a $1 million county grant to extend internet service to underserved areas in East Bethel, Linwood, and Bethel. The project was nearly complete, with Midco contributing $0.5 million and the city providing construction management. No city funds were used for this payment.
Consent Agenda Item E: Pickleball Court Posts & Nets Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Jim Pashi [24:51] · Seconded by Unknown [24:54]
Council Member Pashi inquired about a $3,400 expense for Matt Netson posts. Nate, representing construction management, clarified that this amount covered the actual posts and nets for the pickleball courts, which were supplied by a different company than the fence contractor and were not part of the fence estimate.
Business Item 8A: Soda Storage Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Review
Dissent: None
Moved by Suzanne Urkl [42:47] · Seconded by Jim Pashi [42:50]
The council debated the Conditional Use Permit for Soda Storage, which was recommended for denial due to the applicant's failure to comply with prior approval conditions for six years. A secondary option was presented, suggesting conditional approval that would halt any new construction until all existing compliance issues were resolved. Council members expressed distrust of the applicant given past non-compliance and were wary of creating further administrative burdens. Concerns were also raised about the city's oversight of the property over the years. Ultimately, the council decided against conditional approval, opting for denial, which would require the applicant to reapply and incur new fees, potentially after addressing all outstanding compliance issues.
Other Business: Pickleball Court Fence Bid Selection
Dissent: None
Moved by Jim Pashi [1:05:50] · Seconded by Unknown [1:05:53]
The council revisited the selection of a contractor for the pickleball court fence after realizing an earlier motion only approved posts/nets, not the fence itself. Nate recommended Arrow Fence as the low bidder at $26,640, which included screening. A council member questioned the necessity of the screening, but Nate emphasized that pickleball groups and the Park Commission strongly requested it due to wind conditions and its importance for game play. After clarifying the various bid amounts, the council moved to approve the recommended low bid.
HRA Staff Item 4.0: Resolution 2026-04 Setting HRA Meeting Dates for 2027
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [1:10:00] · Seconded by Unknown [1:10:05]
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) board convened to fulfill its bylaws requirement by establishing its annual and regular quarterly meeting dates for the upcoming year 2027. The resolution set specific dates for the annual meeting in January and regular meetings in April, July, and October.
Notable Quotes (7)
This has been two years in coming now. Uh this these are um dollars that the county made available actually when I was serving in the county um to areas that were underserved with uh internet. And so they granted, the county granted East Bethl a million dollars uh to work with East Bethl, Lynwood, and Bethl to um to provide cabling in the ground where necessary to extend service.
Yeah, that's for the actual posts and nets, the nets that go in the pickle ball courts, correct? In inside the inside the fence. Yep.
Part of the statutory requirements to uh reject an application do require the city to uh make a formal finding that's best done by resolution. Um that resolution is presented in your pack and those are shown on the screen. Um it it reflects your commentary uh from from last from two weeks ago. Usually that the most important one the applicant has failed to complete the improvements or comply with the conditions imposed in a prior approval and that failure demonstrates that the standards for the present CUP cannot be met.
I don't really trust this company to be honest with you. Honestly, right now with our with the experience of storage companies in East Bethl, I don't trust any of them.
Mr. Mayor, Council, I think our ultimate goal here is to get them into compliance. We want them in compliance. And what is being the reason why we brought this back is because we're trying to present an opportunity where they can get in compliance and if they don't, they don't get a building permit. They don't move. they don't go Pascal.
The trouble is with that is there are going to be more legal fees. There's going to be more fees, staff, everybody because we got to redo the whole process. Yeah, I don't think it's nearly as expensive as the lawsuits.
The groups that we talked to, they all have to have they all want screening every groups. Who's the groups? Uh they're pickle ball groups. I've met with some ones down in Ham Lake, one in Blaine, and one in Forest Lake. They're these large groups of uh active people and they they had probably 80 people at the Blaine facility on a Tuesday at 9:00 am and they want to come up here and play too. It's the number one request that the park commission has has had. Um it's the fastest growing sport in America.
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
The proposed resolution for the denial of the Soda Storage Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Review.
A secondary resolution considered for the Soda Storage project, proposing conditional approval based on rectifying existing non-compliance.
Type of permit under review for the Soda Storage project, with discussions on prior compliance issues.
Part of the application process for the Soda Storage project, reviewed by the council.
General reference to city rules governing Conditional Use Permits, particularly regarding reapplication timelines.
Referenced in the context of park commission recommendations for the pickleball courts.
Referenced by Nate when recommending the lowest bid for the pickleball fence.
Resolution setting the Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting dates for 2027.
Rules governing the scheduling of annual and regular meetings for the HRA board.