Nowthen City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Mayor's Conduct and Accountability
Proposed Ice Hockey Rink Development
2027 Preliminary Levy and Budget Adoption
Fire Station Apron Replacement
Mailbox Replacement Policy Amendment
2027 Road Overlay Project Feasibility
Top Second Addition Development and Tonto Avenue NW Extension
Votes (7)
River Hockey Rink Development Proposal
Ryan Een, representing River Hockey, presented a revised proposal for a refrigerated outdoor ice rink. The proposal detailed commitments from River Hockey regarding grading, chiller purchase/maintenance, energy costs, and liability. City support was requested for board removal, snow removal, water access, and heated Zamboni storage. The financial consultant confirmed park dedication funds were available for the estimated $19,000 three-phase power upgrade. Council members sought more specific details on power costs, site plans, and logistical arrangements for Zamboni storage, ultimately deciding to postpone a vote for further information.
Resolution 2026 Canceling a Portion of the 2027 Debt Service Levy
Moved by Unknown Council Member [0:54:33] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [0:54:35]
The Finance Consultant presented a resolution to cancel a portion of the debt service levy for 2027. This was made possible by sufficient special assessments collected in 2025 and 2026, allowing the city to keep the debt portion of the levy at zero increase for the coming year.
2027 Preliminary Levy and Budget Adoption
Dissent: One unnamed council member voted 'Nay'.
Moved by Unknown Council Member [1:01:29] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [1:01:34]
The Finance Consultant outlined the proposed 2027 preliminary levy of $2,563,197, representing a $230,410 increase over 2026. This increase was driven by factors such as covering operating costs previously offset by fund balance, a 3% budget increase, and revenue losses. Residents were informed to expect a 9-11% increase in their city tax liability. The budget included allocations for various city departments and capital improvements. Council members requested a detailed review of 2026 actuals and projections before the final adoption meeting to identify opportunities for reducing the proposed levy.
Resolution 2026 Authorizing Sentry Concrete for Fire Station Apron Replacement
Moved by Unknown Council Member [1:08:44] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [1:08:47]
The Engineer presented a proposal to replace a collapsing concrete apron at the fire station for $13,150, citing the urgency to prevent further structural damage. Funding was identified in the building improvement fund. Council Member Glazer raised concerns about the fairness of the bidding process, as two local contractors had provided initial estimates that were now public, potentially limiting competitive bids. While acknowledging the issue, staff noted the project's urgency. The council ultimately voted to postpone the decision to allow for a broader solicitation of formal bids.
Amendment to Snow Plowing Policy Regarding Mailbox Replacement
Moved by Unknown Council Member [1:13:35] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [1:13:46]
The council reviewed and amended its snow plowing policy to clarify city liability for mailbox damage, specifying responsibility only for damage caused by city vehicles, not snow weight. Discussion focused on ensuring 'like-for-like' replacement (swing-away for swing-away, wood for wood) given the significantly increased cost of swing-away posts. It was also noted that using posts stronger than 4x4s is illegal due to liability concerns. A separate discussion regarding the city offering a service to sell and install mailbox posts for residents was dismissed due to lack of requests and public works' capacity constraints.
Resolution 2026 Ordering Feasibility Study for 2027 Overlay Project
Moved by Unknown Council Member [1:21:56] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [1:22:00]
The City Engineer presented a resolution for a feasibility study for the 2027 road overlay project. While several roads were proposed for overlay, a 1,300-foot segment of 188th Avenue in the Prairie Acres development was specifically identified as being too deteriorated for a cost-effective overlay and will require full reconstruction in a future project. This project was highlighted as the last major overlay effort before the city shifts to more costly road reconstruction projects in 2028 and beyond.
Preliminary Plat, Conditional Use Permit, and Variance for Top Second Edition
Planner Nash presented a proposal for the Top Second Edition development, featuring industrial and residential lots. The primary point of contention was the city's requirement to extend Tonto Avenue NW to ensure secondary access for safety and traffic management. The developer opposed immediate construction, citing a long-term lease on an adjacent radio tower property that would render the road a 'road to nowhere' for decades. The Planning Commission had previously recommended denying the developer's requests for deferral and variance, advocating for construction to the property line to maintain future control and avoid later costs. The developer indicated a potential reduction in residential development if forced to build the extension.
Notable Quotes (19)
Um, we will cover all ongoing energy costs as well as the upfront cost of the three-phase power upgrade. ... we came uh, you know full responsibility for all maintenance of the chiller system and its components.
Mr. Mayor, members of the council um council member Swansson, there is funds available in the park dedication fee. So yes, there there's money available currently in 2026. ... at a $13,000 cost, you're still just fine in part dedication fee.
I mean, we know that there's going to be a cost over 10,000 for the three-phase hookup. We don't know exactly where we're going to put the Zamboni, but we have, you know, multiple viable options that sounds like Eric says, any one of which could work. I mean, I think we have enough of a plan here where I'd be comfortable giving them the go-ahad so that they he could move forward and get this put in place for this winter.
Um, keeping the the the levy increase for debt at zero is possible because you had um special assessments that were collected in 202 um 6 and 205 that will pay for the initial or most or all of the initial debt service.
Currently the the preliminary levy is set at 2,563,197 which is a $230,000 $410 over 2026.
With this levy increase that we're proposing property properties may see a 9 to 11% increase in their annual tax city tax liability and it's a result of your levy increases also your changes in your fiscal disparities...
It it seems like it would be um fiscally responsible for us to address that sooner than later and not wait till last minute to lower the budget because you know again it the the challenge always is of wants versus needs.
The as as it's written in the the RCA, the front apron on the north wall where all four bays exit the building is uh collapsing towards the slab of the building. Um, in order to get the correct fall and the to have the water run away from the building, they are recommending extending that apron out an additional 4 ft.
So, one one thing that this makes difficult is if there are other contractors out in our community and I know the two contractors that you solicited from are close by. ... It's unfair to the two that have already given us given us a price.
But the challenge is that this is the we're running into the time of the year where further damage to the building could occur because of water that's running back and the the freeze thaw process, expansion, contraction, breaking concrete, you know, lifting slabs.
The cost of swing post has went absolutely through the roof. So what the city pays for them um we were discussing that unless you guys change the policy a standard soil mailbox post now for the city to install them were at like $200 and before we used to be the post themselves with the materials was I think 75 $65 75 I don't remember the exact Um, so the the price of them has gone through the roof.
The challenge would be is if I spend the money on getting a swingway post and then this the snowplow happens to take it out. Now all that money that I spent is gone and I'm just getting a wooden post put in it in for its replacement. And that's doesn't seem fair to me as a resident that happened.
Not only if we hit it, but if a car goes off the road and hits your railroad tie of a mailbox post, you are liable for their damages.
So as seen in the RCA um these roads were programmed in the CIP overlay in next year 2027 and preparing the agenda we did drive the proposed roadways and then as noted there is a small segment on 188th Avenue that is deteriorating too far for a overlay to be effective. costwise.
Yes. So in the RCA, it's mentioned in the third paragraph uh from Boss Street 1300 ft west in the Prairie Acres development in 2002. ... So that pavement is now it's going to be 25 years old and the overlay is just we risk more cost that.
I do want to point out something that engineer Nelson wanted pointed out was um this will be the last project project for several years that does the overlays. Um, beginning in 2028, we will begin with some of the reconstruction, which is why I believe Lori has some of the um road improvement uh parts of the budget going up because we're going to have to do some of the more um damaged roads.
During um planning of this, the city engineer and I given the length of this culde-sac and um mixed uses upon it and the traffic level that could be there um we recommended that there be a tonto avenue northwest that be extended to the south because you need to have more than one way in and out of a subdivision, particularly one of that nature.
She was very clear that they don't see a purpose in constructing Tonto Avenue Northwest. And um if that was the case that they were required to do that, they would be more inclined to um do only the industrial portion of the development and then and some of this has come up a little more detail in some discussions her and I have had, but um to then do a culde-sac here instead and have this be something that they would sell off as just one parcel to one person.
All right you have tonto street right here it's really a road to nowhere you have 20 year lot on the or 20-year lease on the tower but then what planning is talking about it was like okay if you don't put it in now we have no control measure to get that road in late and so this was the topic as it shifted back and forth make sure you have full contact is we know it's got going anywhere but if you don't put it in and that does sell in 20 years, then you don't have the road there. And if you don't put it in now, you have no way to pay for it.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Authorizing Sentry Concrete to replace the apron at the fire station (decision postponed).
Ordering the feasibility study for the 2027 overlay project.
The city's proposed financial plan and tax levy for the upcoming fiscal year.
Application for deferral of street paving for the Top Second Edition development (decision pending).
Application related to street construction for Tonto Avenue Northwest in the Top Second Edition development (decision pending).
Submitted plan for seven industrial and seven residential lots in the Top Second Edition development (decision pending).
City policy outlining responsibilities and procedures for snow removal and mailbox damage.