Oak Grove City Council — Transcript
Monday, October 26, 2026
Local Ordinances and Land Use Policy
Infrastructure Development and Maintenance (County Projects)
Infrastructure Development and Maintenance (City Projects)
Budget and Finance Management
State-Local Government Relations and Legislative Issues
Resident Grievances and City Process Accountability
Votes (14)
Approval of Consent Agenda Additions
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Tradewell [0:03:00] · Seconded by Council member West [0:03:00]
The Mayor announced several additions to the consent agenda, including three resolutions pertaining to donations for the treelighting event and the fire department, and the renewal of an embedded systems contract. No discussion beyond the announcement of additions.
Approval of Consent Agenda Item N (2027 Embedded Systems Contract Renewal)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Tradewell [1:12:35] · Seconded by Council member West [1:12:45]
Council members pulled numerous items from the consent agenda, leaving only item N for an immediate vote. Item N concerned the renewal of the 2027 embedded systems contract for emergency warning sirens at a $0 increase.
Approval of Consent Agenda Item A (Claims and Accounts)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Tradewell [1:14:45] · Seconded by Council member Bray Johnson [1:14:55]
Council Member West pulled this item due to a conflict of interest, as his company, Integrated Protection Systems, had an invoice for $2,000 for repairs at Fire Station 2 (Station 7). He disclosed his company's prior business relationship with the city and stated he would abstain from the vote. The City Administrator confirmed the good working relationship with the company.
Approval of Consent Agenda Items B, C, D, E, F, M, O (Donations)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Tradewell [1:17:35] · Seconded by Council member Bray Johnson [1:17:45]
Council Member Tradewell grouped these items, which included several donations for the tree lighting event and a donation of leaf blowers to the fire department. The purpose of pulling these items was to publicly acknowledge and thank the donating companies for their contributions, which significantly reduced costs for the city.
Ordinance Amendment: Yard Establishment (Items G and H)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Bray Johnson [1:23:05] · Seconded by Council member West [1:23:15]
Council Member Bray Johnson questioned the ordinance's origin and felt it was overly intrusive ('big government HOA-ish'). Staff explained it originated from Rum River Consultants to provide measurable definitions for 'establishing a yard' to prevent erosion and vagueness in current code. Resident Kevin Shepard specifically questioned the 4-inch topsoil requirement, noting some lots start with sand. The Mayor suggested tabling to gather more clarification on the topsoil standard.
Ordinance Amendment: Off-Street Parking (Items I and J)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member West [1:42:50] · Seconded by Council member Bray Johnson [1:43:00]
Council Member Bray Johnson strongly opposed the proposed ordinance changes, arguing against requiring specific durable surfaces for parking recreational vehicles and restricting parking location (e.g., no front yard). She emphasized that Oak Grove residents value rural freedoms. Staff clarified the changes would remove vehicle caps (less restrictive) but add requirements for durable surfaces and backyard parking (more restrictive), noting that parking is the number one code enforcement complaint. Mayor Rolf acknowledged the need for balance and further discussion, suggesting a work session.
Ordinance Amendment: Storage Buildings and Sheds (Items K and L)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Bray Johnson [1:47:30] · Seconded by Council member West [1:47:35]
Council Member Bray Johnson raised concerns that the proposed amendments might restrict accessory structures like greenhouses or gazebos by counting them towards the 200 sq ft shed limit. Staff clarified the intent was to resolve conflicting language in the code, making it less restrictive by no longer counting sheds against maximum allowable square footage for main accessory buildings, effectively allowing more structures on a lot. Debate ensued over the interpretation of 'building' and what counts towards square footage limits.
Public Hearing: Vacation of Utility Easement (Resolution 2026-162)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member West [1:35:10] · Seconded by Council member Bray Johnson [1:35:15]
This item concerned vacating a portion of a utility easement over Outlot B in The Ponds neighborhood. The city had sold the property for development but retained an easement over a sewer line. To allow the developer to plat the land without conflicting easements, the city is vacating its easement, which will then be re-added to the developer's new plat. No public comments were received.
Public Hearing: Vacation of Drainage and Utility Easement (Resolution 2026-163)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member West [1:36:30] · Seconded by Council member Tradewell [1:36:35]
This item involved vacating a portion of a drainage and utility easement at 19343 Rum River Boulevard Northwest. The property recently underwent a lot split, and the original easement needed to be vacated to accommodate the new lot line and recent reconstruction/building moves. The new easement will be recorded following the vacation. No public comments were received.
Approval of Plans and Specification Preparation for State Aid Projects
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member West [1:39:20] · Seconded by Council member Tradewell [1:39:25]
The City Engineer sought approval to prepare plans and specifications for reconditioning projects on 197th, 207th, and Xavius, similar to work done on Cedar Drive. The plan also included seeking geotechnical quotes. The engineer noted sufficient state aid funds through 2029 for these projects and discussed future funding strategies, including leveraging state incentives for early use of future allocations for large projects like the 22/78 intersection.
Authorization to Complete Plans for Next Year's Overlay Projects
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Tradewell [1:42:00] · Seconded by Council member West [1:42:05]
The City Engineer presented a map detailing proposed overlay projects for the following year, including the northern portion of The Ponds, Charmar Estates/Cedarbrook Estates, and Boundaries Addition Heather Street. The plan involves a base bid for certain areas, with additional orange areas contingent on favorable bid outcomes, with a total estimated cost of around $600,000.
Table Resolution 2026-166 (Aspen Glenn)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Tradewell [1:42:50] · Seconded by Council member Bray Johnson [1:42:55]
The City Engineer requested to table the resolution concerning Aspen Glenn, as the city was still awaiting closing documents. No further discussion was held.
Wixram Estate South Security Reduction #3
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member West [1:43:55] · Seconded by Council member Tradewell [1:44:00]
The City Engineer presented a request for a third security reduction for the Wixram Estate South developer. The recommendation was to reduce the retained security from $370,000 down to $165,000, which is deemed sufficient to cover the remaining outstanding work items.
Approval of Partial Pay Estimate #2 to Knife River Corporation (Cedar Drive Project)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member West [1:44:50] · Seconded by Council member Bray Johnson [1:44:55]
The City Engineer sought approval for Partial Pay Estimate #2 to Knife River Corporation for work on the Cedar Drive project. The amount requested was $124,079.03, with approximately $53,000 remaining in retainage.
Notable Quotes (10)
I pulled a claims and accounts because my company, Integrated Protection Systems, does low voltage and security work for the city. There is an invoice for $2,000 on there. I believe it's for one of the system that on station 7 that got lightning strike or fire station 2 took a power surge and blew up some components. I will be abstaining from the vote.
Obviously wanted to pull this because without these people making these donations, I think… basically is costing the city next to nothing if nothing at all. So it's very important to pull and just make sure that we give special thanks to [list of companies].
My question is where did this ordinance change come from and why? Um, it kind of seems a little big government HOAish and uh more of a cost on the homeowner.
Doesn't it say that we have to put 4 in of top soil in because all I have is sand. That's a lot.
This is again none of anybody's business. This is big government. We talk about small, rural, residential Oakrove. And um I don't support this at all... to tell me that I must have a certain durable surface to park my trailer or my boat or my recreational vehicle or my camper or my vehicle is a little bit too much big brotherish.
I do agree that the vehicle thing, I think four is pretty restrictive. And that's not something that we're deciding. That's what the current ordinance is. So, we're looking to actually remove that restriction. But I do know that a lot of people... are not going to be okay with 10 cars parked in their front yard or their two-acre lot when they just spent 500 or million bucks for their home.
But now they're adding that all of these things count towards that. The 200... if you have your shed, then you can't have any of those other things. You can't have a gazebo or anything.
This was to clean up some language that was conflicting in the code where one area it said it counts the total number of buildings allowed and the other area it said it counts in the total square footage of building footage. That's what it was. So this was designed a little bit to make it less restrictive to be consistent.
First one is 197th from Viking Boulevard over to County Road 9. And that would be improvements, a reconditioning project very similar to what was done on Cedar Drive... The other one, it's actually two other state aid roads is 207th and Xavius.
You can see it includes that that milling and overlaying that northern portion of the ponds there. And that just to the to the east of Lake George, you have the Pines Third Neighborhood... There's also to the south there Charmar Estates Cedarbrook Estates too... as well as boundaries addition Heather Street.
Ordinances & Resolutions (19)
Donation for the tree lighting event from Electric Sign and Lighting Incorporated.
Renewal of the 2027 embedded systems contract for emergency warning sirens.
Donation to the fire department from the Rum River Outdoors Foundation for two leaf blowers and batteries.
Interim Use Permit decision mentioned in resident complaint.
Council meeting minutes discussed for approval, regarding full-time fire chief.
Council meeting minutes discussed for approval.
Advisory commission minutes reviewed by Council.
Request for adding miniature bovine animals as pets.
Study recommending turn lanes for Viking Boulevard reconstruction.
Anoka County's five-year plan for road projects.
Federal funding application for 22 and 78 intersection (2026 HSIP for $2 million).
Intersection Control Evaluation report (2021) recommending a roundabout at CASA 9 and 221st.
Environmental standards for drainage that must be met during reconstruction.
Vacation of easement for Outlot B, The Ponds.
Vacation of easement at 19343 Rum River Boulevard Northwest.
Aspen Glenn security reduction (tabled).
Approving partial pay estimate number two to Knife River Corporation for Cedar Drive project.
Presentation of the city's enterprise fund budgets for the upcoming year.
Plan in which Heather Street overlay project was previously slated.