Cottage Grove City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Food Truck Festival 2026 Update
Mississippi River Valley Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Fundraiser
Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition Development
Well 10 Temporary Water Treatment Plant Decommissioning
Minnesota Fire Department Engine Strike Team Pilot Program
Community Events and Recognitions
Votes (6)
Public Hearing: Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition Final Plat, Easement Vacation, and Development Agreement
Moved by Council Member Garza [00:15:30] · Seconded by Council Member Theti [00:15:40]
Senior Planner Max Erickson presented the Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition project, which involved a final plat for 23 residential lots, rezoning from R1 to R3, and the vacation of drainage and utility easements. A key point was the creative solution for handling a Marathon gas pipeline easement area by deeding unbuildable outlots to adjacent properties with deed restrictions, rather than including them in an HOA or burdening the city. The project also addressed access road changes and storm water maintenance requirements.
Public Hearing: Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition Final Plat, Easement Vacation, and Development Agreement - Part 2
Moved by Council Member Theti [00:16:00] · Seconded by Council Member Clauson [00:16:20]
This action approved the final plat for Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition.
Public Hearing: Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition Final Plat, Easement Vacation, and Development Agreement - Part 3
Moved by Council Member Olson [00:16:50] · Seconded by Council Member Theti [00:17:00]
This action approved the development agreement between the City and US Home LLC dba LAR for the Geneva Meadows project.
Public Hearing: Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition Final Plat, Easement Vacation, and Development Agreement - Part 4
Moved by Council Member Kelson [00:17:30] · Seconded by Council Member Prolsun [00:17:40]
This action approved the development plans for Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition as prepared by Pioneer Engineering.
Bid Award: Well 10 Temporary Water Treatment Plant Decommissioning
Moved by Council Member Prolsun [00:20:50] · Seconded by Unknown [00:21:00]
Public Works Director Ryan Perren outlined the project to decommission the temporary Well 10 water treatment plant, emphasizing its historical significance as the first temporary plant built nine years prior due to an emergency. The project is entirely funded by the MPCA through a settlement with 3M. Boulder Creek Incorporated submitted the lowest bid, and the city aims to salvage the relatively new building structure.
Regular Agenda: Minnesota Fire Department Engine Strike Team Pilot Program Participation
Moved by Council Member Garcia [00:31:40] · Seconded by Council Member Clauson [00:31:50]
Fire Chief John Pritchard presented the opportunity for the Cottage Grove Fire Department to join the Minnesota Fire Department Engine Strike Team Pilot Program, highlighting it as an alignment with the department's vision to be an 'elite' force. Discussion covered the program's benefits, including revenue generation, recruitment appeal, free training, and potential equipment funding, alongside operational considerations such as staffing flexibility and the assurance that local protection would not be compromised.
Notable Quotes (9)
Although we typically list final plats on the consent agenda, LAR is requesting to vacate a drainage and utility easement in conjunction with the final development plats and development agreement for a residential subdivision to be known as Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition.
Unique to the site is a Marathon gas pipeline easement that bisects the property on the north side. This area is unbuildable, and it's not practical for residents of Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition to maintain... they've come up with a creative solution to deed these out lots to adjacent Field Edition properties to the north, for any interested Field Edition landowners.
Thank you, Max. Can you go back to that outlot under deed restriction? The one between D and E. There's an open space there. Was the homeowner there not interested in owning that part of the property? And since they weren't interested, to whom will that part be transferred? Where will the ownership of that property go if the person is not interested?
It's an exciting night because it marks 9 years ago an emergency was declared and our first temporary treatment plant was built at Well 10 adjacent to Warner Electric, or now Van Meter... But to be able to get this first one out, which this whole journey started with, is exciting.
This project is fully funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency through a settlement agreement with 3M and through a grant agreement that we put in place.
This aligns perfectly with our mission and vision, specifically our vision of being an elite fire department. And that elitism comes with being selected for or being given the opportunity to participate in this pilot program. It really shows how our department has elevated to that elite level.
Cost recovery is essential to ensure that we are not operating at a loss, that we are not donating our time or our equipment to this. For lack of a better way to put it, we are renting our crews to put out that high-quality response.
My last question is you mentioned that this is an opportunity to potentially utilize some equipment that we might not be utilizing on a regular basis. How does that impact your departmental plan around whether or not we keep certain pieces of equipment or maybe look to get rid of equipment that's not being utilized?
We will never leave Cottage Grove without protection.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
Resolution concerning the vacation of drainage and utility easements within Cottage Grove
Resolution approving the Final Plat for Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition
Agreement for Geneva Meadows development between the City and US Home LLC dba LAR
Resolution approving the development plans for Geneva Meadows 2nd Edition dated 8/25/2026 prepared by Pioneer Engineering
Resolution to award the Well 10 Temporary Water Treatment Plant Decommissioning project to Boulder Creek Incorporated
Existing state agreement covering the Fire Department's ability to respond to requests and be deployed
April resolution by the City approving shared interstate public safety resources
Reference rates used for emergency response cost recovery