St. Peter Public Schools — Transcript
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Consent Agenda Items
Youth Programs Memorandum of Understanding
Minnesota River Valley Transit Lease
City Assistance for Community Event
New City Hall Project Updates and Finances
City Maintenance Staffing
Social Media and Internet Use Policy
Labor Contract Negotiations
Votes (9)
Approval of Consent Agenda
Moved by Unknown [0:05:43] · Seconded by Unknown [0:05:46]
Council Member Brad inquired about the separation of Sunday on-sale liquor licenses from general licenses. City Administrator Todd explained this distinction is mandated by Minnesota state statute, not by the city seeking additional fees.
Memorandum of Understanding for Youth Development and Youth Service Programs with School District 508
Moved by Unknown [0:08:34] · Seconded by Unknown [0:08:37]
City Administrator Todd explained that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) represents a long-standing partnership with the school district's community education. He highlighted that the financial compensation to the city for providing these services has remained largely unchanged for over a decade, meaning the city would be responsible for terminating programs if they become unaffordable.
Minnesota River Valley Transit Lease Update
Moved by Unknown [0:15:10] · Seconded by Unknown [0:15:13]
The council reviewed an updated lease with MRVT for additional garage and office space at the new City Hall. City Administrator Todd noted the annual payment would increase to nearly $30,000 from $14,000 due to expanded square footage, though the per-square-foot rate is comparable to what St. Peter pays Le Sueur. Council members highlighted the operational benefits, such as reduced bus warm-up times in winter, leading to long-term cost savings and improved service reliability.
City Assistance Request, Gustavus Alumni Event
Moved by Unknown [0:17:59] · Seconded by Unknown [0:18:03]
The council considered a request for city assistance for Gustavus Adolphus College's annual alumni community event. Mayor Noel disclosed her employment at Gustavus, clarifying she has no role in organizing the event, to maintain transparency. The event was noted as historically low-key and beneficial to downtown Saint Peter.
New City Hall Change Order
Moved by Unknown [0:22:42] · Seconded by Unknown [0:22:45]
City Administrator Todd presented four change orders for the new City Hall project, indicating the project is nearing completion for these types of adjustments. He explained that while contingency funds were overspent by about $6,000, approximately $40,000 of the change order costs were due to a lightning strike damaging alarm systems. A current hold-up involves installing fiber optics that meet high-security standards for state and law enforcement traffic.
Maintenance Engineer FTE Addition
Moved by Unknown [0:25:21] · Seconded by Unknown [0:25:24]
The council discussed and approved the addition of one full-time equivalent (FTE) custodial position, a measure planned for in the 2026 budget. City Administrator Todd explained this was driven by an analysis indicating a need for increased staffing to cover additional square footage at the new City Hall and other facilities, aiming to better utilize in-house staff and reduce external contracting for routine tasks.
Social Media and Internet Use Policy Update
Moved by Unknown [0:30:17] · Seconded by Unknown [0:30:20]
Corey Johnson, Communications and Sustainability Coordinator, presented an updated social media and internet use policy. She explained the expansion was necessary to reflect current communication processes, address increased security standards, and improve records retention and accessibility. A key update is the requirement for employees to use social media management software, like Buffer, to prevent accidental posts from personal accounts, enhancing professional conduct and accountability.
Resolution Calling for a Closed Session
Moved by Unknown [0:31:54] · Seconded by Unknown [0:31:58]
City Administrator Todd recommended a closed session to discuss two matters permissible under Minnesota statute: streets union contract negotiations and a potential real estate transaction at 1305 Old Minnesota Avenue. He indicated the council would likely return to open session to act on one of these items.
Approval of Streets Union Contract
Moved by Unknown [0:34:39] · Seconded by Unknown [0:34:42]
Following a closed session, the council approved a two-year contract agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 70 FL-CIO Streets. City Administrator Todd outlined the terms, which include a 3% wage increase for each year (2026 and 2027), an additional $125 for uniform allowance with a $650 carryover, and the reintroduction of a provision allowing a half-hour early start/leave on days before holidays.
Notable Quotes (14)
The question I ask isn't past. I know the answer to it, but can you explain why do we have a Sunday on sale liquor? Why don't we just put it all together into one under one one liquor license?
It really relates to how the state statute is formulated. And so, those are different licenses that also have to be approved by the state of Minnesota. So, that's really what governs why it's broken up into two parts, Sunday and then other days but Sunday.
And so because you provide these services is that if at some point there's a determination that they're no longer affordable or you no longer wish to provide them for the dollars that are provided, then that really does put you in the position of terminating those programs, not community ed.
this would be MRVT paying you a little bit less than $30,000 a year for leasing that additional garage space and office space as compared to what they pay now, which is a little bit over $14,000.
one of the advantages of having more indoor indoor space for the buses is particularly in winter time they don't need as much time to warm up as right now in winter time several buses are outside they need to get running going and I'm assuming you know the same would basically be in the summer time from an air conditioning perspective they wouldn't need as much time to cool down as well.
Recently, the council had a chance to meet with members of the the county health and health and human services department? ...and part of that meeting highlighted to me just how important our local transportation options are for for residents, how important those buses are.
Just out of concern for transparency, whenever this comes up annually, I like to let folks know that I do work at Gustavus. However, I'm not a member of the alumni and parent engagement office and so I don't have any role in organizing any part of this event.
I will mention that in the final analysis, at least thus far, it does mean that you've overspent your contingency by about $6,000. The contingency that you had to start was very small, at least related to a remodel project and it's also important to note that if you're really calculating the numbers, about 40,000 of the dollars that are included in this change order are for a lightning strike that took out some of the smoke and fire alarm protection systems.
One of the hold-ups that we have currently is ensuring that the fiber that's necessary to support um interconnectivity is placed there appropriately. Now, someone might say, you know, I thought there was fiber there. Wouldn't it Scholarship have had wouldn't Scholarship America wouldn't they have had fiber? Yes, but because of the kind and type of traffic we carry on system um that includes state of Minnesota, law enforcement and court traffic, there's a higher standard related to that.
This is really driven by an analysis that shows that an increase in FTEs was needed um not only to make sure that we were covering all and the additional square footage that was in place, um but to make sure that we were appropriately using our staff rather than contracting as many things out.
we really needed to have a better reflect our current communication processes. Um we have increased security standards that we needed to be mindful of. Um and then also thinking of records retentions, accessibility, um and then also having a little bit more clarifying role for employee responsibilities when it comes to these accounts.
we really are having all of our employees use our social media management software, um which is currently Buffer. And so it removes that entire possibility of an accident happening. It's not that we don't trust our employees, but things like that do happen and it can be very quickly, um just a toggle that you miss.
Mayor and members, the recommendation for this is to cover two items that are allowed for under Minnesota statute. One is um streets union contract negotiations. And then the potential for real estate transaction at 1305 Old Minnesota Avenue.
there would be a 3% wage increase across all categories within this bargaining unit in each of those years. So, what we would typically call a three and a three. It would increase uniform allowance at start of a to an additional $125 and establish a carryover amount which most of your other groups have a carry amount a carryover amount and so that would be established at $650.
Ordinances & Resolutions (23)
Official approval of a collection of routine items.
Type of liquor license for businesses.
Type of liquor license for businesses.
Type of liquor license specifically for Sunday sales.
Type of beer license for off-premise sales.
Type of beer license for on-premise sales.
Type of license for brewers to sell malt liquor off-premise.
Proposal for refurbishment of Community Center gym floor.
Financial record of payments made.
Agreement with School District 508 for youth services.
Official approval to sign the youth development MOU.
Agreement for MRVT to lease space at the new City Hall.
Official approval of the MRVT lease agreement.
Official approval for city support for the alumni event.
Modifications to the new City Hall construction contract.
Official approval of the specified change orders for the City Hall project.
Official approval to create and fill a new custodial position.
Updated guidelines for employee social media and internet usage.
Official approval of the updated social media and internet use policy.
Legal basis for entering a closed session.
Official approval to move into a private executive session.
Two-year labor agreement with the streets union.
Official approval of the union contract.