Lake Elmo City Council — Transcript
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Community Events & Engagement
Street and Utility Infrastructure Improvements
Park & Garden Improvements
Pedestrian Infrastructure & Safety (Snow Removal)
Public Safety & Insurance Ratings
Votes (5)
Public Improvement Hearing: Approve resolution ordering the improvement accept bids and award contract for the 2025 street and utility improvements (Resolution 2025-038)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Holtz [00:59:16] · Seconded by Council Member Dragassuchich [00:59:30]
The item began with a presentation outlining the scope of 2025 street and utility improvements in five neighborhoods, including street rebuilding, concrete curbs, and drainage. The low bid from Valley Paving Inc. was significantly under the engineer's estimate, leading to a projected reduction in final assessments. Council discussed the efficacy of concrete curbs for road longevity and flexibility on parking restrictions. During the public hearing, residents from 55th Street North voiced opposition to concrete curbs due to aesthetic changes and no-parking signs. Residents from Rolling Hills Estates requested assessment reductions, citing previous road projects with substandard lifespans. Other residents expressed support for the project. Council members acknowledged resident concerns, particularly regarding past road performance and signage, but generally supported concrete curbs for long-term investment. The motion passed to order the improvements and award the contract.
Authorize City Administrator to enter into a material testing contract for 2025 street utility improvements
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Holtz [01:00:40] · Seconded by Council Member Dragassuchich [01:00:51]
This was a separate motion following the approval of the main street and utility improvements contract. It was to ensure quality control and assurance for the construction phase.
Accept bids and award contract bids for Old Village Garden improvements
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Holtz [01:13:35] · Seconded by Council Member Dragassuchich [01:13:46]
The City Landscape Architect presented the revised plans for the Old Village Garden improvement project, which incorporated community feedback for pollinator-friendly, long-blooming native plants and specific tree selections. The plan included the use of structural soils for new tree plantings to prevent future infrastructure damage. Hoffman and McNamera submitted the lowest overall bid for installation and multi-year maintenance. Council discussion emphasized the value of community engagement, the importance of planned maintenance, and potential future sponsorship opportunities for plantings.
Sidewalk snow removal ordinance update
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Dragassuchich [01:35:05] · Seconded by Council Member Holtz [01:35:10]
The Public Works Director presented an overview of proposed ordinance changes to expand snow removal responsibilities to trails within road rights-of-way, providing a visual map of affected areas. The intent was to improve walkability and address inconsistencies where trails function as sidewalks but are not cleared. Council members expressed concerns regarding the 'hodgepodge' nature of affected areas, potential enforcement difficulties, and the burden on property owners. The conversation also touched upon the city's role in clearing county roads that have trails. Ultimately, the council decided to table the discussion to allow for more consideration and a detailed staff report on the resource implications for clearing county road sections.
Upgraded ISO public protection classification
Dissent: None
Moved by No motion (informational item) · Seconded by N/A
The Fire Chief informed the council about the recent ISO re-evaluation, which resulted in an improved Public Protection Classification from Class 5 to Class 4. This upgrade, effective June 1st, reflects enhancements in the fire department's staffing, training, apparatus, and water supply. While the ISO rating is a benchmark, its direct impact on individual insurance premiums varies by provider. The chief noted significant improvements in pre-planning and fire inspections and acknowledged minor points lost due to fire station consolidation, emphasizing ongoing efforts for improvement.
Notable Quotes (12)
So concrete curb it functions a few ways but the number one thing is that it does extend the life of a buminous pavement... the number one strategy to extend the life of a especially like a buminous roadway constructed in a neighborhood environment is to put concrete curb on the edge of the road.
I just I don't understand why we're trying to fix something that's not broken and that's changing the look and feel for our neighborhood. So, I really would appreciate if there was somehow more collaboration and stewardship from the council.
Our role in this in the improvement is limited really providing our opinions in meetings like this one. But in the end, as we heard from the last meeting, the decision is is not ours to make, nor is the responsibility and accountability that the improvement is properly executed, maintained, etc. All we do, we pay 30% of the costs and we hope we get the useful life out of the investment. That's all we want.
I do not support that in at all. Um it's not that there's no policy for it. There isn't. But I don't think it's also a precedent that I would want to make on behalf of the city and all of our taxpayers when in this situation, yeah, the road hasn't lasted as long as it likely should have. That's not your fault. It's also not the city's fault. It's also not anyone's that we know's fault.
Overall um planting scheme wise, people tended to gravitate more towards the um long sort of seasons of bloom with a variety of blooms um more of the pollinator friendly um planting scheme.
Structural soils are um more expensive, but definitely worthwhile. They give trees a better shot at actually achieving more of a um mature um canopy than traditional street trees, which my city's arborist um usually refers to their planting as um street coffins.
I think connect Lake Elmo is an example of why things I think the last several years have been growing in certain ways in terms of vitality and having those opportunities to have a sense of community especially in our downtown. And this is then something that happens when you do those things.
I'm I'm just a little concerned at this point. Well, one I'm concerned in general just because of the the hodgepodge is was used as kind of the um for these areas that would need to be cleared. Um I think that's going to be challenging in of itself. I think it's going to be challenging to um uh enforce this.
So the residents who live along the concrete are required to clear the concrete sidewalk so people can walk and the residents live along the Batuminous Trail aren't required to clear that sidewalk. So there's an inequity in that whole situation. If it's a hard surface and it's used as a sidewalk and we want our residents to be able to walk in the winter, it that should be, you know, it doesn't function as a sidewalk, you should be required to clear the snow from it.
I mean, maybe that's that is something that we would request them in the case of Lake Elmo, Stalwater Boulevard, and Keats. Like, what do we know if that was contracted versus worst case and best case scenario for your team's labor?
I think the number one thing that our property owners are insured could do with this updated rating is call their insurance provider and just say, 'Hey, I see that Lake Emo has a new ISO rating. Does this impact my my policy?'
We've made massive improvements in our pre-planning and fire inspections. We got, you know, 12 full points there um in their metric where we had um zero before.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Cross country ski trail grooming grant resolution, approved as part of the consent agenda.
Resolution ordering improvement, accepting bids, and awarding contract for the 2025 street and utility improvements.
Statutory process for improvement hearings and ordering improvements.
Sidewalk definition ordinance discussed for update.
Sidewalk snow removal ordinance, proposed to include trails but ultimately tabled.
City plan for rating roadways and performing preventative maintenance to extend life.
City plan that includes promoting walkability and connectedness through planned and maintained sidewalk and trail systems.