Annie Cribb

The meeting served as a presentation by W Architects regarding the schematic design and massing for the proposed City Government Center, which will integrate the City Hall, Police Department, and Fire Station facilities. Key discussion points included the proposed site layout, incorporating shared public lobbies, secure police parking with underground access for approximately 20 vehicles, and specific departmental areas such as evidence processing, administrative offices, and records functions. The design concept details separate spatial needs while maximizing shared resources, including a large shared training room and EOC space located on the upper level above the police department. The upper level will also house the council chambers, shared break rooms, and fitness/defensive tactics areas with associated changing facilities. The addition to the fire station is planned to accommodate apparatus bays and necessary administrative/decontamination spaces, with future provision for crew living quarters (currently shelled space). The architects also presented aesthetic concepts influenced by the city's history and downtown character, ensuring the design allows for phased construction.

The special work session included presentations from Friends of Lynden Hill and the Friends of Pine Grove Zoo. The Friends of Lynden Hill provided an update on their organization's operational stability, celebrated significant publicity achievements in 2023, and discussed their ongoing efforts to secure funding for the restoration of the Aolon organ and to strengthen their community match for a large preservation grant application to the Minnesota Historical Society for barn restoration. The Friends of Pine Grove Zoo presented a seven-year proposed improvement plan, emphasizing the urgent need to replace approximately 2,000 linear feet of aging perimeter fencing due to new USDA and Board of Animal Health requirements, noting that failure to upgrade the fencing could result in the zoo being shut down by inspectors. They also discussed funding for the carnivore building.

The meeting commenced with the council reorganization, including the election of Councilmember Gerald Knafla as Council President and Councilmember David Meyer as Council Vice President for 2026. The agenda was approved after removing one item. The council approved the bills for 2025 and 2026, noting substantial amounts for 2025 payments. Under new business, the council adopted several resolutions: Policy No. 92 regarding Non-Match Grant Applications; Resolution 2026-01 designating the Morrison County Record as the legal newspaper; Resolution 2026-02 designating official depositories and authorizing electronic funds transfer; Resolution 2026-03 appointing the City Administrator as the Responsible Authority; Resolutions 2026-04 and 2026-05 approving the decertification of Tax Increment Financing Districts No. 41 and No. 43, respectively; and Resolution 2026-06 reestablishing wards and polling places. Finally, the council authorized the execution of Rural Fire Protection Agreements with several townships and jurisdictions for the period of January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030.

The Special Work Session agenda included call to order, a public forum where individuals could address the Council, discussion of bills, consent agenda item discussion, and council information only items. There was also discussion concerning obtaining additional information regarding Flock Safety Cameras. The Regular City Council Meeting agenda covered approval of the agenda and previous meeting minutes, approval of bills, consent agenda items, public hearings, old business, and new business. Key actions included adopting ordinances to authorize the sale of property to Sprout and Minnesota Power, approving a change order for the Clarifier Rehabilitation Project, approving an animal acquisition for the Friends of Pine Grove Zoo, finalizing Mayor's annual appointments to boards and commissions, adopting a resolution to declare surplus property, and pre-authorizing the purchase of used fire apparatus. A public hearing was held regarding a resolution to vacate portions of Fifteenth Avenue Northeast and Sixteenth Street Northeast. The Council also considered and failed to pass a resolution supporting legislative funding for a second passenger train service between Saint Paul and Fargo.

The regular City Council meeting addressed several items, beginning with the approval of the agenda and previous meeting minutes. The council approved bills totaling over $2.2 million across 2025 and 2026 fiscal years. The consent agenda involved receiving and filing numerous departmental reports (Animal Control, Building, Fire, Police, Recycling, Wastewater, Water) and minutes from the Heritage Preservation Commission and Park, Recreation, and Tree Board, as well as approving Off Sale Malt and Tobacco Licenses for MBS Store LLC d/b/a Snak Atak #94 pending final paperwork. A public hearing was held regarding Resolution 2026-11, authorizing a one-year extension for the MIF Grant compliance date for Falls Fabricating, Inc., which was subsequently approved. Quotations were awarded for the procurement and setup of equipment for two Police squad vehicles and for the rehabilitation of Well Number 4. Under Old Business, resolutions amending previous motions were adopted concerning 2026 Water, Sewer, Stormwater, Garbage, and Recycling rates (Resolution 2025-61A), and ordering a feasibility report for surface improvements on First Avenue Southeast (Resolution 2025-64A). Resolution 2026-07 was adopted to accept the feasibility report and call a public hearing for February 17, 2026, for those improvements. New Business included introducing an Ordinance (No. 60, Seventh Series) authorizing the sale of property to Sprout, MN, approving Mayor's appointments to various authorities, boards, and commissions, and approving Planning Commission recommendations. The latter involved calling a public hearing for February 2, 2026, regarding the vacation of a portion of Fifteenth Avenue Northeast and Sixteenth Street Northeast, and adopting resolutions granting Conditional Use Permits to Minnesota Power for an eight-foot fence with a barbed wire apron (Resolution 2026-08) and for a Fuel Island with storage tanks (Resolution 2026-09). The council also pre-authorized the purchase of a used fire engine and/or a used ladder truck. A resolution supporting legislative funding for a second passenger train service between Saint Paul and Fargo failed. The meeting adjourned after a closed session to discuss pending litigation.