Crystal City Council — Transcript

Monday, August 17, 2026

Story

Maple Grove approves cell tower, schedules camera surveillance meeting

Story

Maple Grove Residents Raise Alarm Over ALPR Camera Expansion

City Street Parking Policy

Proposed Flavor Ban on Tobacco and Nicotine Products

Conditional Use Permit for Telecommunication Tower

Professional Services Agreement for Yellow Tree Development Improvements

Votes (3)

Approval of Consent Agenda

Passed Unanimously

Moved by Unknown [00:12:44,770] · Seconded by Teresa [00:12:47,700]

The consent agenda, comprising several routine items, was read aloud. No specific discussions or questions were raised by council members during this time.

Resolution Approving a Conditional Use Permit for a Telecommunication Tower at 3200 Veracruz Avenue North

Passed Unanimously

Moved by Jen [01:08:39,000] · Seconded by David [01:08:49,770]

Staff presented the proposal for a 100-foot Verizon monopole tower to address a verified coverage gap on city-owned property, with an existing lease providing revenue. The design allows for co-location by other providers. A resident raised concerns about environmental impact on a nearby creek, wildlife, and the necessity of the tower given emergency service regulations. Staff clarified the tower's height, foundation depth, lack of beacon lighting, and the financial benefit to the city through the lease.

Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Fulton and Mink for 90% Design of TIF Funded Improvements Serving the Yellow Tree Development at 7,056th Avenue

Passed Unanimously

Moved by Theresa [01:12:44,770] · Seconded by Unknown [01:12:51,230]

Staff presented the agreement for the 90% design phase, outlining the estimated $51,000 engineering cost and $900,000 construction cost, including contingency. It was clarified that funding comes from Tax Increment Financing (TIF) generated by the new apartment building, not general tax revenue. The project encompasses decorative sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, upgraded accessible ramps at 57th and Broadway, and fixing a sidewalk gap, with construction planned for fall 2027.

Notable Quotes (7)

Uh, the property is city owned and has an existing sanitary sewer lift station, which will remain. And we have received independent confirmation of the need for this tower to fill a verified, uh, telecommunications coverage. Gap.

John [00:56:09,270]
Resolution Approving a Conditional Use Permit for a Telecommunication Tower at 3200 Veracruz Avenue North

That’s what the independent, engineering report from all engineering showed. And so people that have say a different, uh, cell service like I have T-Mobile sometimes I’m coming north on Douglas Drive and my calls just drop. So this is a Verizon tower, but it does have the potential for co-location.

John [00:58:23,870]
Resolution Approving a Conditional Use Permit for a Telecommunication Tower at 3200 Veracruz Avenue North

I just do think these things should have more consideration rather than Verizon told us that a tower should be going in, because maybe in 30 years, like other people will be, other companies will be using this tower, um, or will have a different like evolution generation of, uh, of like data that like we need to connect people to.

Autumn Paragraph [01:02:53,870]
Resolution Approving a Conditional Use Permit for a Telecommunication Tower at 3200 Veracruz Avenue North

Part of my concern is where it is as well. If Creek um, that that is sacred waters and that like, I haven’t heard anybody talk about like the Lakota community being involved in this being cleared at all.

Autumn Paragraph [01:03:11,130]
Resolution Approving a Conditional Use Permit for a Telecommunication Tower at 3200 Veracruz Avenue North

Are we receiving any revenue from them building on our property? They have a lease. No, don’t have a lease. Okay. It’s around 30,000 a year. I don’t remember the exact amount. Because it’s our property. Yeah, the city owns the land, right? Um, and so it’s it’s on our property.

John [01:06:58,400]
Resolution Approving a Conditional Use Permit for a Telecommunication Tower at 3200 Veracruz Avenue North

Uh, the estimated cost of the engineering work is $51,000. We’re here tonight because that contract is large enough to require city council approval. And the estimated construction cost of the project would be just under $900,000, which includes a 10% construction contingency for unforeseen work that ends up being needed.

John [01:09:43,970]
Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Fulton and Mink for 90% Design of TIF Funded Improvements Serving the Yellow Tree Development at 7,056th Avenue

So, uh, again, this would all be funded from tax increment generated by the new department on the former apartment building on the Wells Fargo site. So it would not be paid for out of general tax revenue.

John [01:10:09,270]
Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Fulton and Mink for 90% Design of TIF Funded Improvements Serving the Yellow Tree Development at 7,056th Avenue

Ordinances & Resolutions (19)

Chief's Award of CommendationOther

Award presented by the Chief of Police for individuals who have gone above and beyond to assist the department or community.

Minutes from City Council work session on July 21st, 2026Other

Meeting minutes approved as part of the consent agenda.

Minutes from City Council meeting on July 21st, 2026Other

Meeting minutes approved as part of the consent agenda.

Minutes from City Council budget work session on August 6th, 2026Other

Meeting minutes approved as part of the consent agenda.

Resolution declaring several diseased trees on private properties as public nuisances, and order them abatedResolution

Resolution adopted as part of the consent agenda.

Resolution ordering the appropriation of an assessment roll, declaring the amount to be assessed, and setting the public hearing date for October 20th, 2026 for delinquent accountsResolution

Resolution adopted as part of the consent agenda.

Resolution approving a joint powers Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for Crystal Police Department, access to criminal justice dataResolution

Resolution adopted as part of the consent agenda.

Resolution authorizing execution of a healthy tree canopy grant agreement with Hennepin CountyResolution

Resolution adopted as part of the consent agenda.

Community Vision Plan Consultant agreement with Future IQAgreement

Agreement approved as part of the consent agenda.

FLoC contractOther

The contract between the city and FLoC Safety, terms of which were a major concern for residents regarding data ownership and sharing.

Grant agreementAgreement

Agreement related to the funding of FLoC cameras, potentially allowing for termination without financial repercussions.

Municipal Government Data Practices ActOther

State law cited by a resident regarding the incompleteness of audit logs provided by the city for FLoC camera searches.

Star Tribune articleOther

Article mentioned as revealing ICE's access to Crystal's FLoC data.

Proposed Flavor Ban on Tobacco and Nicotine ProductsOrdinance

An upcoming ordinance expected to ban flavored tobacco and nicotine products.

Conditional Use PermitPermit

Permit for the construction of a telecommunication tower at 3200 Veracruz Avenue North.

Resolution approving a conditional use permit for a telecommunication towerResolution

Resolution for the Verizon cell tower.

Independent Engineering Report from All EngineeringOther

Report confirming the need for the telecommunication tower to fill a coverage gap.

Professional Services Agreement with Fulton and MinkAgreement

Agreement for 90% design of TIF-funded improvements for the Yellow Tree development.

Resolution approving a professional services agreement with Fulton and MinkResolution

Resolution for the design of TIF-funded improvements at the Yellow Tree development.

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