Pine Island — Transcript
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Policing Contract and Public Safety
2025 Preliminary Budget and Levy
Development Fees and Economic Competitiveness
Remote Work Policy Implementation
Northern Sanitary District Lobbying for Funding
Council Member Resignation and Vacancy Process
New Development Approval (Pine Bend Plat and Agreement)
Infrastructure and Public Works Projects
Community Programs and Library Initiatives
Votes (12)
Goodhue County Sheriff's Office Leasing Contract Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Jason [0:05:43] · Seconded by David [0:05:46]
Sheriff Kelly provided an update on the contract, describing it as a palatable resolution despite not being his initial request. He acknowledged the contract had caused some friction with other towns but expressed gratitude for patience and support. Council members noted frustrations at the County Board meeting but appreciated the Sheriff's office working to address concerns.
Resolution 24-35: Approving Preliminary Budget
Dissent: None
Moved by David [0:10:11] · Seconded by Brandy [0:10:14]
Elizabeth presented the preliminary 2025 budget and levy, noting increases in Public Safety (police contract), Ambulance Service, and a two-step wage study. She emphasized department heads' creativity in managing capital expenses. The levy increase of 5.57% was framed as normal for a growing community. The preliminary tax rate was adjusted to 81.56% due to new builds in Homestead County, resulting in an estimated $30 increase for a $400,000 home. It was stressed that this is the maximum levy, which can only be decreased later.
Resolution 24-36: Approving Preliminary Levy
Dissent: None
Moved by David [0:10:50] · Seconded by Brandy [0:10:54]
This item followed directly from the preliminary budget discussion, formally approving the preliminary levy. No new discussion points were raised, with the emphasis remaining on the fact that the approved levy represents the maximum possible and can be reduced in the future.
Chicken Permit for Ms. McGuire
Dissent: None
Moved by David [0:13:31] · Seconded by Mike [0:13:34]
A request for a chicken permit on Sather Court was reviewed. The applicant, Ms. McGuire, plans to have three hens and has submitted compliant waste and site plans. Her property's unique location adjacent to a city drainage ditch allows her to meet all setback requirements. Approval is contingent on a final inspection to ensure compliance once the coop is assembled.
Request to Reduce WAC and SAC Fees
Dissent: None
Moved by Mayor [0:19:35] · Seconded by Jason [0:19:39]
Elizabeth highlighted that Pine Island's Water Access Charges (WAC) and Sewer Access Charges (SAC) are significantly higher than surrounding cities, largely due to an outdated automatic 7% annual increase. Legal counsel, Bob, noted that while fees should recover costs, cities often benchmark against neighbors for competitiveness. The Mayor proposed reducing all fees (Water, Sewer, Storm) to $2,500 each to attract developers and lower lot costs. The Council agreed to revisit the annual increase mechanism separately.
Request to Approve Remote Work Policy Concept
Dissent: None
Moved by David [0:22:58] · Seconded by Mike [0:23:00]
Elizabeth presented a new remote work policy, which originated from system upgrades during COVID and was later driven by staff interest. Based on the LMC model, the policy sets clear guidelines, ensuring that remote work doesn't hinder operations or customer service. The city's phone system supports remote access while maintaining a City Hall caller ID. This policy is viewed as a benefit for employee retention and a positive work culture.
Resolution 24-37: Approving Northern Sanitary District Lobbying Contract
Dissent: None
Moved by Mike [0:26:03] · Seconded by David [0:26:07]
The Council discussed continuing their lobbying efforts to secure the remaining state funding for the Joint Sanitary District design, having previously received $10 million. The contract with Winter Rob and Weinstein, known for their strong relationship with the Prairie Island Indian Community, was approved at unchanged fees. The cost of lobbying is shared four ways among the participating communities.
Discussion on Councilman Johnson's Term
Dissent: None
Moved by None · Seconded by None
Councilman Jason Johnson announced his resignation due to relocating outside city limits, making this his final meeting after 11 years of service. The Mayor publicly thanked him for his reliability and calm demeanor. Legal counsel outlined the procedural steps for the upcoming vacancy, including submitting a written resignation, council acceptance, and the subsequent appointment process to fill the seat.
Resolution 24-38: Approving Pine Bend Final Plat
Dissent: None
Moved by David [0:33:43] · Seconded by Brandy [0:33:47]
The Council approved the Pine Bend final plat for Seth Freeze Construction LLC, following earlier approvals for a preliminary plat, land use alteration, and rezone. Approval was conditioned on fulfilling remaining administrative and engineering requirements, including a county access permit for County Road 11 and updated title work. Council members raised concerns about the lack of sidewalks in the development, with plans to use 'fee in lieu of park space' funds to connect to existing trails via Third Avenue to Collins Park.
Request to Approve Development Agreement for Pine Bend
Dissent: None
Moved by Mike [0:36:26] · Seconded by David [0:36:28]
The Council approved the standard development agreement for the Pine Bend project. The discussion focused on how the 'fee in lieu of park space' collected from the developer would be utilized. These funds are designated for creating connectivity, specifically to build sidewalks on Third Avenue that will link the new development to the city's existing trail system at Collins Park.
Request to Replace the Shop Entrance Gate
Dissent: None
Moved by Mike [0:38:20] · Seconded by Jason [0:38:22]
Craig reported on the poor condition of the shop's entrance gate, noting its non-functional electronics and emergency stop. Three quotes were obtained, with Thompson Door providing the lowest bid at $14,650. The necessary funds were reallocated from the 2024 Building Maintenance budget after a planned bathroom facility project was moved to early 2025.
Approve Grant Purchase of a New Pedestrian Safety Light
Dissent: None
Moved by Mike [0:42:36] · Seconded by David [0:42:40]
Elizabeth presented a quote for a new flashing pedestrian safety system ($7,250) for the Second Street South and Main Street intersection, which requires a specialized solar-powered unit due to power issues. Todd Robertson successfully secured a $6,000 grant through Live Well, and Goodhue County approved cost-sharing the remainder. The city will be responsible for future maintenance. The purchase is urgent to address safety concerns, especially with the start of the school year, and must be ordered by October 15th to utilize the grant funds.
Notable Quotes (21)
still actually not what I requested but we got the second best option in my opinion so we're very grateful for your patience I know it ruffled some feathers as expected I knew it would and if you watched the County board meeting I told them so and they did they did dampen some of our relationships with five towns in our County and I didn't appreciate it but we'll get that back.
there was some frustrations going on but appreciated the Sheriff's Office through and sharing our our concerns and ensuring that we that people knew that we were continuing to to push that part and that was important.
overall we don't have many major projects in 2025 and so we are able to keep the levy increase at a 5.57% increase which uh when we look at Levy increases that doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing as communities grow our Levy should increase I always compare it to a family's grocery bill as your family increases your grocery bill will increase and so as we are adding uh people and households are Levy and our budget should be increasing as well.
the number setting tonight is just the highest of the tax levy could be for 2025 and then we can cut and we can make the budget and Levy more Le prior to the final uh tax levy in December.
she's in compliance with all the proposed regulations um she plans to have three hens um she included a waste plan for that she also included a site plan for where it's going to be located.
as you can see we are significantly higher um looking back this was implemented years ago because we were lower than everybody else and so Council had enacted an automatic 7% increase each year and I think that's where we it it balloon to be um High especially for the sac fece.
the reality is that what you see in front of you I'm glad staff put this in front of you what you see is that cities uh look at what each other do I mean that that is the reality um it's not strictly what the statute encourages us to do but that is what most cities do.
I would like to see that 20 I would like to see that 22 25 so I'll go ahead and recommend uh reduced fee for all of them set at $2,500 for each of them.
this the only way an employee will be able to work from home is if it does not normal operations and soic things like that will have to office but those are things we poliy is exciting one question I had how do you handle.
as you know I've been huge in the um employee attention and offering a positive work culture for our employees and I think this is just another added benefit that we can add to that.
two years ago we did receive $10 million from the state leg legislature to go towards the design of our Joint Sanitary District that we've been working on since 2020 uh the group is looking to head back to the capital this year to look for the remainder of that funding.
I uh I have relocated outside the city limits um we had an opportunity to come up that uh we jumped on so I uh my last meet this will be my last meeting.
Mr Johnson's showing himself to be a very reliable council member attending his committees making connections and one thing I've always appreciated about him is he's always been a very cool common collected up here and that's somebody that we needed.
Council can accept that at the next meeting that will be the act that creates the vacancy on the council and then sort of regardless and maybe we can work out the detail it's not right here sitting here now but we'll either have to appoint someone to fill the seat temporarily or we'll need to appoint somebody to fill the seat through its remaining term.
I would say they have partially satisfied both the administrative and Engineering um there are still a few T's to cross and eyes to dot.
this won't be the First Development off of a high traffic highspeed Road and I'm pretty sure in the last eight years I've said never on another one you know that creates a debacle for right um people getting to and from so that's a sticking point for me.
the conditions in it all most of them do properly indicate that we the city wouldn't release the actual myar ver thing we're recording at the county until all these things are done so when you hold the myar like that that's what say I mean you're kind of holding the keys to the whole thing at that point.
just to refresh your memory we would use that money directly for so that's where the connectivity down Third Street would come into play is because they are paying the fee in l park space that we would use that to connect it to our trail system directly.
the gate at the the shop is in bad shape the gate itself and the electronics running it you can't even get parked for anymore I don't think even the emergency stop works anymore so it's time.
this is a specialized piece of equipment because one we have power issues because where our current um flashing signs are we don't have power they're solar and so most systems that we could find were run off power and so it's very difficult to find a system that um that did not need that.
we were granted $6,000 towards that uh so then we went back to the county again and said we got a $6,000 Grant would you C share the remaining dollars that went before the County Board today and they did approve that.
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
Accepting monthly donations.
Approving the preliminary 2025 budget.
Approving the preliminary 2025 levy.
Permit for Ms. McGuire to keep three hens.
New guidelines for employees working outside the office.
Approving the Northern Sanitary District lobbying contract.
Approving the Pine Bend final plat.
Agreement for the Pine Bend development, including fee in lieu of park space.
Template used to develop the city's remote work policy.