Pine Island — Transcript
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Pillars of Pine Island Recognition Program
National Native American Heritage Month Proclamation
Cannabis Ordinance Discussion
EXL Energy Substation Project
Votes (16)
Public Hearing for a Request to Vacate Township Road M
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:23:25] · Seconded by Brandy [00:23:28]
The request is part of cleanup work from a past interchange project and property sales to the Prairie Island Indian Community. Staff explained that the old right-of-way (White Pines) had not been formally vacated. Due to the requirement for a four-fifths council vote and only three council members present, staff recommended tabling the associated resolution until the December meeting.
Resolution 24-50 Approving the 2025 Tax Assessments for Unpaid Debts
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:27:08] · Seconded by Vernon [00:27:14]
This annual resolution allows the city to assess unpaid balances, including invoices and delinquent utility accounts, to property taxes. The total amount requested for assessment was approximately $1,956.70, including $900 in assessment fees.
Resolution 24-51 Approving the 2025 Business Licenses
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:28:36] · Seconded by Vernon [00:28:41]
The resolution approved the annual renewal of various business licenses for the upcoming year, effective January 1st. This includes licenses for tobacco, alcohol, THC, refuse/recycling, dance, gaming, and mobile food/vendor permits.
Resolution 24-52 Approving the New Liquor License for Algoo
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:29:43] · Seconded by Vernon [00:29:45]
The council considered and approved a brand new, prorated liquor license application from a business named Algoo. Staff confirmed that a public hearing was not required for this type of new liquor license issuance.
Resolution 24-53 Declaring a Polling Location for the 2025 Elections
Dissent: None
Moved by Vernon [00:30:57] · Seconded by Brandy [00:31:00]
This resolution formally declared the Pine Island Fire Station as the designated polling location for elections in both Goodhue and Olmsted counties for the year 2025.
Request to Approve the LMCIT Waiver
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:32:44] · Seconded by Brandy [00:32:47]
Council annually reviews whether to waive the city's statutory liability limits provided by LMCIT (League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust). Staff recommended *not* waiving the limits, thereby retaining liability caps of $500,000 per individual claim or $1.5 million per single occurrence for all claimants.
Request to Approve the Main Street Banners
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:34:33] · Seconded by Brandy [00:34:37]
The council approved the purchase of new Main Street banners to replace existing weathered ones. The new designs feature the Pine Island Fire Department and advertise Cheese Fest. The total cost is just over $2,000, funded by Park funds. The new banners will be year-round, eliminating the recurring costs associated with renting lifts and certifying staff for seasonal banner changes.
Emergency Management Equipment Purchase (Rain Gauges)
Dissent: None
Moved by Vernon [00:46:16] · Seconded by David [00:46:21]
Following the successful installation of new river monitors, staff requested approval to purchase automatic tipping bucket rain gauges and a hosted webpage. This equipment will provide highly accurate, real-time rainfall data to complement the river monitors, with the goal of eventually making the data publicly accessible. The purchase, costing $2,161.75, will be covered by the Emergency Management 250 fund.
Request to Approve the Utility Agreement for 178 8th Street Southwest Property
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:47:38] · Seconded by Brandy [00:47:44]
The city considered an agreement to extend utilities to a property located at 178 8th Street Southwest, currently in New Haven Township. The resident has a failing septic system and requires city utilities prior to formal annexation. New Haven Township has agreed to this arrangement, as the parcel is completely surrounded by city property.
Request to Approve the Pine Island Fire Department Relief Association Bylaws
Dissent: None
Moved by Vernon [00:49:50] · Seconded by David [00:49:51]
This item was a follow-up from the previous month where the council had approved a pension increase for the Relief Association. This meeting's action was to formally approve the updated bylaws after the council had requested time for review.
Resolution 24-54 Approving the Olmsted County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Dissent: None
Moved by Vernon [00:51:50] · Seconded by Brandy [00:51:53]
The council approved Olmsted County's Hazard Mitigation Plan. This approval is crucial as it unlocks access to federal funding, grants, and programs for the city to implement future flood mitigation and emergency management strategies. A similar plan from Goodhue County is expected to be presented in December.
Resolution 24-55 Minor Subdivision for Parcel 68.674.0110 (EXL Energy)
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:55:01] · Seconded by Brandy [00:55:04]
EXL Energy requested a minor subdivision of a 44-acre parcel at 771 511th Street Northwest to create a 16-acre lot for a new substation, leaving a 44-acre remnant that currently houses a solar farm. The minor subdivision was approved, meeting city code requirements for dividing one lot into two.
Ordinance 172 Zoning Map Amendment (EXL Energy)
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:56:29] · Seconded by Brandy [00:56:32]
To accommodate the EXL Energy substation project, the newly created 16-acre parcel from the minor subdivision was rezoned from Agricultural (Ag) to Suburban Residential (R1). This rezone aligns with the comprehensive plan's vision for low-density housing in the area, and bulk power systems are a permitted use within the R1 district.
Resolution 24-56 Conditional Use Permit Request for EXL Energy
Dissent: None
Moved by David [01:00:23] · Seconded by Brandy [01:00:26]
EXL Energy applied for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) because the proposed substation's 69-kilovolt transmission lines exceed the 33-kilovolt limit for permitted uses in R1 zoning. The plan for the substation includes a 50-foot buffer yard (exceeding the 30-foot requirement) and pollinator plantings for natural screening, demonstrating an effort to go 'above and beyond' city standards.
Resolution 24-57 Variance Request for EXL Energy (Fence Height)
Dissent: None
Moved by David [01:03:49] · Seconded by Brandy [01:03:52]
EXL Energy requested a variance to exceed the maximum fence height (6 feet for rear/side yards, 4 feet for front yards) in the R1 district. The request was driven by stringent federal mandates for physical security around bulk power systems. The council found the request met the criteria for 'practical difficulty' and 'uniqueness' due to these specific federal requirements, which are outside the landowner's control.
Pay Request Number Nine for Wiel Construction (2023 Street Project)
Dissent: None
Moved by David [01:05:54] · Seconded by Brandy [01:05:57]
This pay request, totaling $138,500.73, represented the final payment and substantial release of retainage for the 2023 Street Project, primarily focusing on Fourth Street. The city reduced the retainage from 5% to 0.75% ($24,370) to cover outstanding costs related to seeding cleanup, the last remaining warranty item for the project.
Notable Quotes (6)
essentially this is some cleanup work from when we did The Interchange and so we are requesting to vacate Township Road M which is where White Pines used to be
tonight we only have three of four council members because we only have four on the council right now so unfortunately I am requesting um that we do table the resolution until December and hopefully we can have four council members present
I I gotta say I I all my cities have these and uh I think they're pretty cool but these are the most colorful ones I've ever SE these are it's crazy I can't believe you can get that much color on these things
it is common when cities extend utilities out of the city to developments... but I just want to point out that that's very frequently that the provision would say that they're going to pay 25% over some percentage over what city residents pay but that didn't seem applicable here
the rezone is just subject to the newly created parcel the parcel that is remaining that has a solar farm is still over 40 acres so that is fine staying egg
the uniqueness standard is always the tough one that's the one where you got to show why that landowner that osed user is different than everybody else that has to play by the rules why does that person do it differently and this is probably about the best uh rationale I've ever seen Prett unque pretty unique so you know that that that definitely is a finding you can make that this is a unique circumstance
Ordinances & Resolutions (20)
Accepting donations for the fire department
Approving the road vacation of Township Road M
Approving 2025 tax assessments for unpaid debts
Approving 2025 business licenses (tobacco, alcohol, THC, refuse/recycling, dance, gaming, mobile food/vendor)
Approving a new liquor license for Algoo
Declaring the polling location for 2025 elections
Annual decision on waiving statutory liability coverage limits
Draft ordinance establishing local regulations for adult-use cannabis businesses
General city code chapter potentially amended for public use cannabis restrictions
City code dictating minor subdivision procedures
Bylaws reviewed and approved by the Council
Approving the Olmsted County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Minor subdivision for Parcel 68.674.0110 (EXL Energy project)
Zoning Map Amendment for EXL Energy parcel (Ag to R1)
Conditional Use Permit for EXL Energy (substation)
Variance Request for EXL Energy (fence height)
Payment request for Wiel Construction for the 2023 Street Project
New strategic plan for the Van Horn Public Library
Request to approve for the Pine Island Football Booster Club
Request to approve for continuing services