To the flag of the United States of America to the stands one nation indivisibley. Looking for a motion to adopt this evening's agenda. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Moved by Francis. Second by Duca. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. The eyes have it. Five to zero. Um, before we begin this evening, I'm going to turn it over to administrator Kander. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Tonight's hearing is being held pursuant to Minnesota statute 429.031, which concerns the improvement hearing. The purpose of this hearing is to consider the proposed downtown reconstruction project and industrial street project, including whether the project should proceed its scope, design, timing, and overall necessity. It is important to note that tonight's hearing is not the assessment hearing. Questions or objections related to the amount of a proposed assessment, special benefit, market value, or appeal rights are governed by statute 429061 and will be addressed at a separate assessment hearing later this year. Written objections to assessments are only required prior to or at that assessment hearing, but not this evening. Tonight, we welcome comments related to the project itself, including design, access, timing, impacts to traffic or businesses, or whether the improvements should proceed. Following public comment, the council will uh bring this up for a vote at the next council meeting on January 26th. >> Thank you, Administrator Coander. At this time, I will turn it over to our city engineer, Mr. Martini. Thank you, your honor. Members of the council, uh before we uh open the the hearing up to comments from the public, I'd just like to present some information to you and and the public um to uh go through the details of the project as they stand right now. Um from way of introduction, uh this process uh formally began uh back on October 27th when the council authorized the preparation of a feasibility study to analyze improvements uh to uh the first street we're looking at here tonight is industrial street between Bud Avenue and the culde-sac on the east end of the road. The existing pavement and the water man infrastructure elements within the project area were evaluated as part of the report which provided descriptions of the proposed improvements, itemized cost estimates, cost aortionments and the preliminary assessment role. Uh looking at the need for the improvements based on asbuilt information, it appears that most of the improvements were originally constructed in 1965 and the street was extended in 1989. And we'll take a look at a graphic in a moment to kind of show where that separation is. Uh the existing pavement is in the stage where it can be renewed through the uh mill and overlay process and extend its useful life. However, due to corrosive soils, the water mane pipes in the project area have been have deteriorated to the point that they are fragile and subject to breaks. The water man on the west block of Industrial Street uh is 6-in cast iron and it's estimated again to have been constructed in 1965. And the project uh that we're recommending is to replace and upsize that water man to 8 in PVC to improve fire flow and reliability. uh consistent with u city's assessment policy and and past practice um the project uh is proposed to be assessed 35% for the water main portion of the project on a frontfoot basis. Only the properties that are served by the utilities in the project area are being proposed to be assessed. Uh city is then paying for non-accessible frontage on the project and project elements uh that aren't uh subject to assessments which include milano overlay of the surface, minor curb repair and drainage improvements and non-accessible water frontage. Uh the figure here just shows uh that the project area um the the green portion again from Bud Avenue to the east uh portion of the road where the culde-sac is uh the surface improvements that are being proposed are to mill and overlay that surface. Um the minor drainage and uh improvements I guess that are proposed is there is some existing curb and gutter out there from popular to bud. Um, so there is some of that curb that's cracked uh or has settled that uh some minor repairs will be made to that just to restore drainage. Uh from a water mane perspective, the water man's being proposed to be uh replaced by a trenchless method called pipe bursting where you basically pull a ram through the pipe, bust it apart and pull a new uh pipe into its place. Um the idea behind that is that uh less disturbance of the surface that water kind of runs in the green area and underneath the curb so less disturbance of the existing pavement but which we're trying to preserve to the extent possible. Uh so construction with the exception of the water services and hydrants those will still be open cut but um limiting the disruption to the extent we can. Uh this figure just shows where that water man is. Um water man that's being proposed to be replaced is from Bud to Popppler. uh popppler to the east actually that is the portion of the road and water man that was extended in 1989 and we're proposing to leave that in place at this time from a cost perspective um breaking the project into different uh proport [snorts] uh portions here the assessment portion of the project is 100 estimated to be $100,465 that includes about $48,565 which is frontage of water mane that uh the city is picking up because it doesn't have a benefiting property next to it. Uh the street portion of the project, the the mill and overlay uh $145,313. Water uh remaining uh portion of the water that is not being assessed is $186,597 for a total estimated project cost of $432,375. Um looking at just the city cost of the project again that accessible share that the city is picking up uh or proposed to pick up is 48,565. Uh street portion $145,313. The water 186597. So total estimated city costs for the project are $380,475. the assessment summary here. Uh the water is uh proposed to be assessed at on a front foot basis at $6671 per foot. Uh it's being assessed to two properties that have a service that has pulled off the water man that is being replaced. The estimated cost for those two properties $51,900. uh the city city coverage of the assessible costs again that five $48,656. So in conclusion um from an engineering standpoint the proposed improvements are feasible, cost effective and necessary to maintain the city's existing infrastructure. The condition of the infrastructure within the project area is uh typical given its age, material type, and the environment that it's in. scope of work, cost and proposed assessment are consistent with previous projects. The infrastructure maintenance at this point is reactionary and no longer cost effective. Uh primarily talking about that water man and the water man improvements can be uh made using a practical construction method and maintain service to properties during construction. Uh lastly, just kind of wanted to show where we're at from a schedule standpoint on the project. Um we've uh mailed out the notices for this hearing tonight. Uh it's been published in the newspaper and uh back on January 6th, uh if you recall, we did have an open househ invite people affected by the project to come in a little bit more of an informal setting, ask questions, learn about the project. where we're at tonight now is uh January 20th, the improvement hearing which is taking place right now. Uh future steps then uh as Jacob had mentioned uh January 26th at your next regular council meeting uh is uh when uh you'll uh be considering a resol resolution whether or not to order the improvements and and keep the project moving. Um kind of the the steps going forward here. All of these are kind of decision points for the council. uh based on information and status of the project whether kind of a a go no-go decision. So January 26 considering whether or not to order the improvements uh based on the schedule we have uh anticipating uh asking to have bids authorized in March uh open and award bids in April and begin construction uh as early as May. And then as Jacob again mentioned uh we would be proposing that we' had final cost uh assembled and uh conduct the assessment hearing in the fall of 2026. And with that I would be happy to answer any questions that you have or uh if there's none from the council um would recommend you open it up for public comment. >> Any questions? >> Okay. Hearing none. Looking for a motion to open the public hearing for the 2026 industrial street project. >> I'll make that motion. >> Moved by Francis. >> I'll second that motion. >> Second by Berk. Um at this time, the public hearing is open. And a reminder, this is not the assessment hearing. It's time to hear comments regarding the project design, access, parking, construction impacts, and whether the project should proceed. Um the hearing is open if there's anyone to speak for this one. The hearing is open. And the hearing is open. All right. Looking for a motion to close this hearing. >> Move we close the public hearing. >> Uh moved by Duca. >> Second. >> Second by Francis. All in favor? >> I. >> This hearing is closed at 7:11. Next item of business is the 2026 Downtown Street Project public hearing. and I will turn that back over to our city engineer, Mr. Martini. >> Thank you, your honor. Members of the council, I'll have Kevin pull up that presentation. Following very similar format here, just walking through this uh project. Um again on a similar timeline, this uh project was uh initiated formally back on October 27th authorizing the feasibility study to analyze the improvement uh which include the following streets, Main Street East, Pioneer Avenue, Delano Avenue, Maple Avenue, Marsh Avenue, and Spring Avenue. Also include some proposed um improvements to the fire station parking lot. All the existing infrastructure elements within the project area were evaluated as part of the report which provides descriptions of the proposed improvements, itemized cost estimates, cost aortionments and preliminary assessment role uh needs for uh sorry the needs for improvements. Um again based on limited asphil information in this area does appear that the improvements were originally constructed between the 1930s and the 60s. So it's it's uh very getting very old. Uh the existing pavements in most of the project areas have deteriorated to a point where traditional maintenance activities no longer effective. Uh Pioneer Avenue uh the road that runs in front of the fire station and the water plant is undized. There are several roadways that do not have curb and gutter within the project area. And due to corros corrosive soils, the water mane pipes in the project area have deteriorated to a point that they're fragile and subject to breaks. And the sanitary sewer within the project area consists mostly of clay pipes and has some block built structures that are susceptible to infiltration. Uh this uh figure again just shows the project area. The uh the streets shown in yellow are the uh roads that are proposed to be reconstructed. We do have two roads that are being proposed for Mill and Overlay which are Spring Avenue and Marsh. The proposed improvements um based on kind of what you saw on that figure and we'll have one for the water man here uh and other infrastructure. uh full reconstruction of Millan overlay are the elements for the pavement water man and services are proposed to be replaced within the right ofway of the reconstructed streets and there is a proposed water man addition to provide a water man loop uh to Pioneer sanitary sewer main and services replaced uh within the rightway are being proposed proposing to replace and add storm sewer and the addition of a storm water quality treatment area uh which would be on the city property on the west end of the project behind the fire station over by um the water treatment plant. Uh some sidewalk replacement and the addition of sidewalk is included in the project's uh scope which includes a connection to the trail on Pioneer Avenue. Uh there's streetscaping around the proposed development site on the east end of the project. uh some lighting improvements and uh some burying of power lines in the redevelopment block which are all included in the cost estimates. Uh the improve proposed improvements for roadways, parking and walks. Uh again full reconstruction then on Main Street East, Pioneer Avenue, Delano Avenue and Maple Avenue. The mill mil and overlay portions are Spring Avenue and Marsh Avenue. Uh there is a proposal to with the project to uh remove the portion of Bud Avenue between Main Street and Highway 12 to reduce crash risk uh at the Highway 12 intersection by forcing traffic to use better uh intersections with better visibility. Uh street widths are being modified for standard drive lanes and parking changes uh which will include parallel parking and diagonal parking in some locations and replacement of curb and gutter and the addition of curbon gutter uh where no it doesn't exist at this time. This figure here again just showing uh the project area. Uh the uh the green area on the east is that portion of Bud Avenue that's being proposed to be removed. Um the yellow uh reconstruction uh area and uh along with the red area on Delano would be reconstruction as well. Uh the orange areas are the millon overlay. the dash lines. Uh it's kind of hard to see on this, but that's areas that are proposed for parallel parking. And then on the east end of the project, north side of the road, some diagonal parkings being considered. Uh the kind of the light blue areas on that map are areas uh with sidewalk improvements. The assessment methodology again consistent with uh the city's assessment policy and past practice. 35% of the street storm sewer project costs are proposed to be assessed on an adjusted front foot basis. 35% of the utility project costs are proposed to be assessed on a unit basis. Only property served by utilities within the project area are proposed to be assessed for those utilities. city uh is uh proposing to pay for non-accessible frontage uh which is essentially a frontage on the south side of Main Street along the railroad that doesn't have benefiting properties and uh some other project elements uh which include the Marsh and Spring Avenue mill and overlay uh sidewalk improvements, lighting improvements, uh burying of overhead power on Maple and Maine, fire station parking lot improvements, the removal of uh that portion of Bud Avenue, And then again, non-accessible streets, storm water, and sanitary sewer frontage. Uh this map here, uh the gray properties depicted on this figure are the properties that are proposed for uh assessments for a portion of the street cost. The next figure is uh the the properties here in the gray are properties uh with proposed assessments for water main improvements. The uh this is a sanitary sewer. Again, gray properties depicting properties that uh would have a proposed assessment for sanitary sewer improvements. Uh this figure here shows storm water improvements where primarily on Maple and Main Street. uh the addition of some curb and gutter, some catch basins uh ultimately carrying storm water to the west to that uh proposed water treatment basin. Next project here uh just shows some uh lighting additions that would be proposed along Main Street and and uh Maple and Maine on the east end of the project. And then this is a summary of the cost uh aortionment for the project. Again of looking at assessments for the project which is 35% of those improvements that have been identified. Assessments for the project are estimated at $1,669,821, which includes $877,649, which is uh the portion that would be attributed to the city for the non-accessible um the properties with non-benefiting uh property adjacent to the project. Uh the streets, uh walks, parking lot, lights, and power are proposed to be city cost to uh estimated at 2,839,868. Storm sewer costs are estimated at 500,000. Water uh cost at $527,573. Sanitary sewer improvements estimated at $358,483 for a total estimated project cost of 5,895,745. Looking at the city uh portion of the project uh again that those assess that accessible share is 877,649. Uh street portion is1,715,40. Storm sewer improvements estimated 500,000. Nonaccessible project cost at1,124,828. Water 527, uh573 and the sanitary sewer at $358,483. The assessment summary uh for street and storm water, the uh estimated uh front foot cost for those improvements is $2262. Sanitary sewer, again proposed to be uh assessed on a unit basis, is $1,814.19 per unit. And the water uh is estimated at $2,69523 per unit. Uh looking at uh summary of the assessments then again that city portion 398,587 uh based on 10.4 erus and the front footage for streets. the development uh portion of the project on the east end. Um that is estimated at 77 71 erus and uh so that assessment uh is uh estimated at $45,153. The city and the fire station uh parking lot improvements [snorts] estimated at $73,99. Uh so for an average assessment if you had uh the street water and sewer portions of the project uh is $26,226. The nonassessed project cost again Martian Spring Avenue Mill and Overlay 47,48625 lighting and power $462,500. sidewalk additions and the Bud Avenue removal $354,277 and the fire station parking lot improvements $260,565. So in conclusion uh from an engineering standpoint, the proposed improvements are feasible, cost-effective, and necessary to maintain the city's existing infrastructure. The condition of the infrastructure within the project area is typical given its age, material type, and environment. scope of work cost and proposed assessments are consistent with previous projects. The infrastructure maintenance uh in the project area at this point is reactionary and will no longer cost effective and improvements uh can be made using traditional construction methods. Again, next steps um we're uh here on January 20th having the improvement hearing. again uh pre prior to this there was an open house on January 6th uh to give people uh the opportunity to come in learn about the project and uh kind of a little bit more of a one-on-one uh discussion related to uh the improvements moving forward. January 26 uh is when the council will consider an order resolution to order the improvements. April 26 authorizing bids. May 20 uh May 2026 open and award bids uh construction beginning in June 2026 and then uh as with the previous project of having final cost um calculated and a final assessment hearing would be proposed for f the fall of 2026. And with that I'd be happy to answer any questions that you have. >> Any questions for Mr. Martini? >> Right. Hearing none. At this time, I'm looking for a motion to open the public hearing for the 2026 downtown street project. >> So moved. >> Moved by Duca. >> I'll second that motion. >> Second by Berock. All in favor? >> I >> I. >> The public hearing is open at 7:24. There's anyone to speak for the public hearing. I did receive a public comment form from Mr. McGary. If you'd like to come forward to the podium, please, and state your name and address. >> [snorts] >> Hi, I'm Bill McGary. Um, I represent McGary's Pub at the corner of Main Street in Bud. Um, just want to say we fully support the project. Fact, we really support the idea of closing Bud at 12. The number of accidents we've copied on our cameras are crazy. Um, all we'd ask is that with and closing it sooner rather than later is great. We just ask that BUD that one block of BUD kind of remain like it is until Main Street project is done. That would allow for more parking and access to the library parking during construction. Um, that's really our only ask is if that timing and that parking could be supported during construction. Okay, that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. McGary. Mr. Blowser, were you still planning to speak tonight? >> Yes. Yeah. >> Okay. Um just a reminder that um this is not um the assessment hearing as your notes state. >> Yep. And I guess to be clear too, we are able to talk about the actual reconstruction itself. Is that right? the reconstruction plan in terms of the availability or excuse me the parking as well as the uh access to properties >> say the scope of the project. Yeah, >> that's that's permitted. Okay, perfect. Just want to make sure because that's all I'll stick to that then. That's okay. >> Thank you. If you want to state your name and address first, that would be great. >> Yes, my name is Maxwell S. Blosser. You can just call me Max. Uh I'm here representing uh Magnolia 8 Properties LLC and they own the property at 5210 Main Street East. Um obviously I do understand uh what this hearing is for and what it is not for. Um and I'm just here today to speak regarding the reconstruction project itself and how that's going to affect the property located at 5210 Main Street East. um specifically when it comes to both access points as well as parking. Uh this project as it's been designed is going to be detrimental to this parcel. And I just wanted to point out a couple pieces of that to you specifically. And this was on page 37 of this slideshow. So if you do want to refer back to it, you can see the actual design uh you know the proposed reconstruction itself. Um, but there are two main issues with this property which is located at the northeast corner of Bud Mine. I'm sorry, northwest corner, excuse me, of Buden Maine. First, the way that this project is designed right now, all access points to the property will be removed. Um, there's one access point to the property that's located on Bud Avenue, so directly to the east of the parcel. And with the removal of Bud Avenue, the access point to the parcel through Bud Avenue obviously necessarily will be removed as well. But if you look to the south of the parcel, you'll notice that there is not a curb cutout in place for this property and there's a sidewalk in place there instead. Currently, there's access to the property from that southern position. However, this proposed reconstruction will remove that access as well. Essentially, the way that this reconstruction project has been proposed, there's not going to be any access point to the property. Related to that, on Bud Avenue, there's currently parallel parking for any visitors to the parcel or future visitors to the parcel. Uh, and south of the property, there's also parallel parking currently for the parcel. The way that this project is set up, however, you'll see that Bud Avenue will be removed. obviously removing the parking that's there. But south of that parcel as well, there's not any parking available, parallel parking available or diagonal parking available directly south of the parcel. You'd have to go across Main Street to reach parking. And so essentially where now you could fit anywhere from five to 10 cars just around the two sides of the street that the property abuts, those areas for parking are going to be completely removed under this reconstruction plan. This is going to have seriously detrimental effects to the property when it comes to its access, not only for any potential viable uh future projects on this piece of land, but also just simply for the matter of the fact that you will not be able to actually access the property when those curbs are built. I'm sorry, when Bud Avenue is removed, when the curb is built, and there's no direct access points to the parcel itself. So again, I'm just here to state these objections from Magnolia 8 Properties LLC as to the property as it is currently uh being proposed for reconstruction. And I guess I just want to make abundantly clear, no comments at this point about the special assessment. That's strictly to be held for the fall hearing uh which is slated for fall 2026. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay, that sounds great. Well, with that, I have nothing else. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Blosser. Anyone else to speak this evening for the public hearing for the downtown street project? Anyone else? Please come to the podium and state your name and address. >> Judy Sutherland and I'm here for my daughter Betsy Sutherland. She lives at 5265 Main Street. Um, I've just got quick questions because she keeps asking me. Um, is this a project that could take two years? >> I mean, it's going to be a year. >> Yeah, I I would say we're not that far into the design, right? Right now, the intent would be to try to get it done in one construction season. >> Okay. And >> don't have the detail to >> Right. But it's not a short thing when you do you dig up right from um bud all the way down or do you do it in chunks? >> It will be kind of progressive. >> So in that year she'll be in and out of her driveway. >> Yes. Not knowing the details of her specific situation. Yes. There'll be times where where access is disrupted and we'll have to work with all the residents kind of to >> she's right across from 24 fit. So if you start here she's one of the first >> and then where do you expect them to park? >> Typically we coordinate that with the contractor either set a a place that we kind of have designated for parking which is probably going to change depending on where the construction activities are. Okay. Uh we also then uh I'm sorry you know I do have to um you know to the extent that's necessary some people have special access needs and things like that we we work with them. work around that and the daycare. I mean, >> yeah. No, it what what I'll say is it's it's a messy it's a messy project process. >> Uh when it rains it's worse. Oh, yeah. Um you know, it's typically the way we handle that is kind of partnership with the contractor, try to understand everybody's individual needs, individual schedules, and work around that the best we can. But there's no doubt that there are times where it is certainly inconvenient. >> And they're not parking in the downtown development area behind the museum. They wouldn't park there because that could start. Sorry. >> I mean, I don't know. >> Yeah. I I guess >> I mean that's to be decided to be worked out. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um, and the other thing is I remember when Gary Krolls told us that cutting off Bud to him was not a wise idea because when you want a big semi to go to Spikes, I think it's Spikes the co-op. They'd have to come down like Maine or Pioneer, come down the main street, go down Bud and make the turn because going on Highway 12, they can hardly I don't think they'd make that turn by Blackwater. Have they considered that at all in shutting butt off and I know it's a dangerous road, but how do you get the semis to them? >> Yeah. And and I I can let others chime in as kind of the the history of some of this. What I would say is discussions that have had been had had with law enforcement uh mindot there's agreement that there's benefit from closing that access. >> I'm sure there is but >> but but to your point yeah making sure that those other routes are uh >> do we really want them coming down Maple and turning and go I mean >> Yep. >> that gets to be >> they'll certainly have to find other routes. All right. Well, that's kind of all I wanted to know. And it's a lot of figures and a lot of money and a lot of decisions. I don't envy you. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Southerntherland. Anyone else to speak for the downtown street project public hearing? Okay. If I can have you guys fill out the forms after so we can have them for the minutes, that would be great. Thank you. If you'll state your name and address. >> Happy to. So, my name is Mike Tolki. Uh, I own a property on 5354 Main Street East. Um, I know you're not looking for comments on the assessment, so I just want to more so try and focus my comment on the cost benefit here. Um, uh, you talked about how clearly there's substantial costs, [clears throat] excuse me, with the project. I just wanted to uh state that uh certainly for uh for my property there there's not access issues with the property. There's not drainage issues with the property and you know certainly there'd be some level of benefit to doing this. But, um, I just wanted to to share my perspective that, uh, uh, the the benefits that I see from this property, at least relative to my parcel, uh, are not on the same order of magnitude as the costs that we're talking about. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Tolki. Anyone else to speak for the downtown street project public hearing? Right. Looking for a motion to close the hearing. >> I move we close the public hearing. >> Moved by Duca. >> Second. >> Second by Francis. All in favor? I. >> The eyes have it five to zero. The public hearing is closed at 7:35. Any other business staff? Okay, hearing none. Looking for a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Berak. >> Second. >> Second by Francis. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Post same sign. The eyes have it five to zero. The meeting's adjourned at 7:35.