Courtney Johnson

The agenda for the City Council meeting included several items for action. The Consent Agenda involved routine business such as approving claims and amendments to the Employee Pay for Performance Policy and Procedures and the Minnesota Paid Leave Law Policy. Further items included approving an agreement with 14 Oranges Software Inc. for the Info Grove Mobile App, adopting resolutions acknowledging a donation from the Carver Lions Club and accepting 2025 grant distributions, and approving a Memorandum of Agreement with the Carver County Sheriff's Office for police service partnership. Under Business Items, the Council was set to authorize the preparation of plans and specifications for the 2026 Street Maintenance Project.

The meeting agenda included regular session items, community comments, presentations, public hearings, and a consent agenda. Key items under the consent agenda involved approving minutes from February 2, 2026 (Work Session and Regular Meeting), claims, amendments to the Employee Pay for Performance Policy, amendments to the Minnesota Paid Leave Law Policy, approval of an agreement with 14 Oranges Software Inc. for the Info Grove Mobile App, adopting resolutions regarding a donation from the Carver Lions Club and accepting 2025 grant distributions, approving a Memorandum of Agreement with the Carver County Sheriff's Office, and authorizing a Development Agreement with Brink Property Holdings, LLC. Business items were scheduled to address the Mount Hope Road Trail Connection.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda. Key discussions centered on the Consent Agenda, which included recognizing the Carver Lions Club for a significant donation of $34,615 to fund new battery-operated extrication equipment for the Fire Department, and the subsequent approval of the corresponding resolution. Other approved consent items involved amendments to the Employee Pay for Performance Policy and Procedures, amendments to the Minnesota Paid Leave Law Policy, an agreement with 14 Oranges Software Inc. for mobile app development, acceptance of 2025 grant distributions, a memorandum of agreement with the Carver County Sheriff's Office, and development/grading agreements with Brink Property Holdings, LLC. Under Business Items, the Council authorized the preparation of plans and specifications for the 2026 Street Maintenance Project, which includes work in the Carver Bluffs neighborhood and Mount Hope Road, along with trail and sidewalk improvements. Communications included updates on City Day on the Hill, the cancellation of upcoming work session and regular meetings, and reports from the Mayor on her attendance at various institutes and local board meetings.

The meeting commenced with an official call to order and the pledge of allegiance. Key discussions included a statement regarding the current federal immigration enforcement activities across the state and reiteration that the City of Carver does not participate in such activities. The agenda approval was passed. The council addressed the consent agenda, which was also approved. A significant portion of the meeting involved a work session segment to discuss potential options for filling a trail connection gap on Mount Hope Road in conjunction with the 2026 street maintenance project. Council members provided direction on how to engage residents regarding the trail options, leaning towards early notification. Further updates included the hiring of a consultant to lead the development of a user-friendly Emergency Operations Plan, which will involve a tabletop exercise including the council. Additionally, the council noted that the City of Chaska agreed to provide Fire Marshal plan review services.

The City Council meeting focused heavily on a discussion regarding mail delivery options, specifically clustered lock boxes versus individual mailboxes, and associated costs, particularly for newer neighborhoods. The council decided to proceed with 'option B' for further consideration, which staff will present as the trail option at the next meeting on the 17th, where deliberation and voting on the overall project will occur. Other topics included council communications, updates on transportation commissions (Highway 5 and 212 projects), and discussions about community engagement, including a meeting with the immigrant community and emphasizing neighborly outreach. The council also discussed attendance rules for the upcoming 'Cities Day at the Cap' event on March 11th, focusing on avoiding quorum violations while attending.