Thursday, January 23, 2025 · 6:00 PM
One-line summary
The Council approved the consent agenda and amended 2025 goals, added three spring Council meeting dates, tabled the Council vacancy/special-election discussion to February 11, and voted 3-1 to take no action on McKenzie Hills until escrow is paid and the developer reapplies.
9 items as recorded in the agenda, packet, and minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.
1Call to Order
Call to Order; Pledge of Allegiance; Roll Call; Approve Agenda.
The Council opened the meeting at 6:01 p.m., noted the members present and one vacant Council seat, approved the agenda as presented, and adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
Agenda approved as presented.
2aApproval of City Council Meeting Minutes for January 14, 2025
Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes for January 14, 2025.
The Council approved the consent agenda as amended. The January 14 minutes were amended to clarify the Zoom attendance wording and to change a reference from “Score Grant” to “Reimbursement Report.” The consent approval also covered the treasurer report, whose packet copy is dated December 31, 2024.
Approved as part of the consent agenda, with amendments to the January 14 minutes.
2bApproval of Treasurer's Report
Approval of Treasurer's Report for December 2025 as listed on the agenda; the packet treasurer report itself is dated December 31, 2024.
The Council approved the consent agenda as amended. The January 14 minutes were amended to clarify the Zoom attendance wording and to change a reference from “Score Grant” to “Reimbursement Report.” The consent approval also covered the treasurer report, whose packet copy is dated December 31, 2024.
Approved as part of the consent agenda. The agenda says December 2025, but the packet report is dated December 31, 2024.
3Discussion - 2025 City Council Goals
Discussion of 2025 City Council goals, including staff goal setting and additional meeting dates.
Staff presented five high-priority goals tied to City liability. Council amended the list by replacing educational opportunities with filling the Administrator position, directed staff to complete the amended goals as able, and separately approved staff working with consultants as needed while keeping Council updated.
Council approved an amended five-item goal list and separate direction allowing staff to work with consultants as needed.
3aGoal Setting for 2025 for City Staff
Staff asked the Council to identify its top five work priorities for 2025.
Staff presented five high-priority goals tied to City liability. Council amended the list by replacing educational opportunities with filling the Administrator position, directed staff to complete the amended goals as able, and separately approved staff working with consultants as needed while keeping Council updated.
Council amended the staff-recommended list by replacing educational opportunities with filling the Administrator position, then approved staff direction and consultant use as needed.
3bSet additional City Council Meeting Dates for the year
Set additional City Council meeting dates for 2025.
Council discussed keeping meetings under two hours and trying a second monthly meeting through April. It added regular Council meetings for February 27, March 27, and April 24, 2025, with additional meetings after April to be held as needed.
Additional regular Council meetings were added for February 27, March 27, and April 24, 2025; after April, added meetings will be as needed.
4Discuss Special Election Ordinance and Process to fill a Council Vacancy
Discuss special election ordinance and process to fill a Council vacancy.
Staff and Consultant Boyles presented information on filling the vacant Council seat by appointment and on special election options. Because CM Glaser asked to speak with constituents, Council tabled the discussion to the February 11 Council meeting. The packet included several cost estimates for a special election and an application form showing Council member pay.
Discussion was tabled to the February 11 Council meeting after CM Glaser asked to speak with constituents.
5Mckenzie Hills Discussion with Planner Nash
McKenzie Hills discussion with Planner Nash.
Planner Nash gave background on the McKenzie Hills subdivision and the unexecuted developer’s agreement. Council voted 3-1 to do nothing until the escrow is paid and the developer reapplies for the preliminary plat, and to notify the developer that the City will take no action.
Council voted to take no action until escrow is paid and the developer reapplies for the preliminary plat, and to notify the developer that the City will make no action.
6Adjourn
Adjourn.
The Council opened the meeting at 6:01 p.m., noted the members present and one vacant Council seat, approved the agenda as presented, and adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
7 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1MOTION BY CM BREYEN, SECONDED BY CM GLASER TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
MOTION BY CM BREYEN, SECONDED BY CM GLASER TO APPROVE THE AGENDA
moved by Breyen, seconded by Glaser
VIA ROLE CALL VOTE: 4 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.
M2MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY CM BREYEN, TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED.
MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY CM BREYEN, TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED
moved by Rainville, seconded by Breyen
VIA ROLL CALL VOTE: 4 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.
M3MOTION AMENDED BY CM RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY CM BREYEN, TO DIRECT STAFF TO COMPLETE THE AMENDED GOAL LIST AS THEY ARE ABLE.
MOTION AMENDED BY CM RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY CM BREYEN, TO DIRECT STAFF TO COMPLETE THE AMENDED GOAL LIST AS THEY ARE ABLE.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Breyen
VOTING ENSUED VIA ROLL CALL VOTE: 4 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.
M4MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE, SECONDED FOR DISCUSSION BY CM BREYEN, TO APPROVE THE DIRECTION TO STAFF WORKING WITH CONSULTANTS AS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE FIVE PRIORITY ITEMS WHILE PROVIDING COUNCIL WITH UPDATES.
MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE, SECONDED FOR DISCUSSION BY CM BREYEN, TO APPROVE THE DIRECTION TO STAFF WORKING WITH CONSULTANTS AS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE FIVE PRIORITY ITEMS WHILE PROVIDING COUNCIL WITH UPDATES.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Breyen
VOTING ENSUED VIA ROLL CALL VOTE: 4 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.
M5MOTION BY MAYOR HYBBEN, SECONDED BY CM GLASER, ADD ADDITIONAL MEETINGS FEBRUARY 27TH, MARCH 27th, APRIL 24th, AS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AFTER APRIL, MEETINGS WILL BE ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.
MOTION BY MAYOR HYBBEN, SECONDED BY CM GLASER, ADD ADDITIONAL MEETINGS FEBRUARY 27TH, MARCH 27th, APRIL 24th, AS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AFTER APRIL, MEETINGS WILL BE ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.
moved by Hybben, seconded by Glaser
VOTED VIA ROLL CALL: 4 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.
M6MOTION BY MAYOR HYBBEN, SECONDED FOR DISCUSSION BY CM BREYEN, DO NOTHING UNTIL THE ESCROW IS PAID AND THE DEVELOPER RE-APPLIES FOR THE PRELIMINARY PLAT, INCLUDING NOTIFICATION TO THE DEVELOPER THAT NO ACTION WILL BE MADE BY THE CITY.
MOTION BY MAYOR HYBBEN, SECONDED FOR DISCUSSION BY CM BREYEN, DO NOTHING UNTIL THE ESCROW IS PAID AND THE DEVELOPER RE-APPLIES FOR THE PRELIMINARY PLAT, INCLUDING NOTIFICATION TO THE DEVELOPER THAT NO ACTION WILL BE MADE BY THE CITY.
moved by Hybben, seconded by Breyen
M7MOTION TO ADJOURN BY CM BREYEN, SECONDED 8:49 PM.
MOTION TO ADJOURN BY CM BREYEN, SECONDED 8:49 PM
moved by Breyen
The amounts the council actually voted to approve, each with the vote that approved it. Drawn from the official minutes.
F1
$190,156
F2
$2,400,088
F3
$392,074
F4
$2,982,318
F5
$33,629
F6
$2,948,690
F20
$380,000
When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.
At the last council meeting, it was discussed having two (2) city council meetings a month. Each of the Council members were going to look at their calendars for available dates.
What this is about
The second monthly Council meeting discussion was carried over from the prior Council meeting.
The records I searched do not contain a prior Council discussion or decision matching this recollection about adding a second monthly City Council meeting or having members check their calendars for available dates. The search results returned unrelated packet material, such as permit fees, Planning and Zoning agenda procedures, employee benefits, and testing policies. Based on these results, I cannot confirm from the searched records that the item was carried over from the prior Council meeting, and no formal vote or selected date for a second monthly meeting was found.
The access road and addressing of the subdivision pose a safety risk to responders in an emergency, these issues have been communicated by the previous Fire Chief at council.
— Rob Miller
What this is about
The McKenzie Hills access-road safety concern had been raised by the previous Fire Chief at Council before this meeting.
The records I searched do not contain a prior Council discussion or decision matching this recollection about McKenzie Hills access-road or addressing safety concerns being raised by a previous Fire Chief. The fire-related records found were routine Fire Department updates and other fire-station matters in 2026, including Chief Rob Miller’s monthly reports at the February 10, 2026 and April 14, 2026 meetings, plus unrelated items such as fire-station alarm/security and garage-door safety equipment. None of the search results mention McKenzie Hills, subdivision access roads, addressing, emergency responder access, or comments by a previous Fire Chief on that issue.
It has been ongoing for quite some time without any resolve.
— Natalie Johnson
What this is about
The McKenzie Hills developer’s agreement issue was described as a long-running unresolved matter.
The records support the recollection that the McKenzie Hills developer’s agreement was an ongoing unresolved matter. At the November 12, 2024 meeting, council discussed whether required work had been completed, including the driveway, hammerhead, bypass lane, straightening the driveway, and culvert work. The notes say the Certificate of Occupancy was being sought, but the city attorney had advised the city could lose leverage if the CO was issued before work was complete, and the developer’s agreement was “still being worked on between the developer’s attorney and the city attorney.” The issue continued in later updates. At the December 10, 2024 meeting, the minutes say Mr. Ruppe was working on the developer’s agreement, the driveway was “all good,” the CO had been issued by Rum River Consultants, but Mr. Ruppe had not heard back from Mr. Gustafson. At the January 14, 2025 meeting, the administrator update again said City Attorney Ruppe was “slowly working on the developer’s agreement with Mr. Gustafson.” At the January 23, 2025 meeting, Planner Nash provided background on the development and subdivisions, but the search results provided do not show a final recorded resolution or completed agreement.
To date, none of the cities we represent have elected to spend the time and money to hold a special election - they wait until the next general election.
— Robert T. Ruppe
What this is about
Attorney Ruppe’s email described how other represented cities handled comparable Council vacancies.
The records I searched do not contain Attorney Ruppe’s email or a prior council-vacancy discussion matching this recollection. The search results are from the February 10, 2026 packet and mainly list attorney qualifications, represented cities, prosecution experience, and fee information; they do not describe how other cities handled comparable Council vacancies or whether they chose special elections versus waiting for the next general election. So, based on these results, there is no record here of a formal prior decision, vote, or documented comparison of other represented cities’ vacancy practices.
#### General Employees Plan Benefits General Employees Plan requires three years of service to vest. Benefits are based on a member's highest average salary for any 5 successive years of allowable ser
<table> <tr> <th>Valuation/Project Details</th> <th>Permit Fee</th> </tr> <tr> <td>$2,501 to $5,000</td> <td>$221.00 for the first $2,500, plus $28 for each additional $500 or fraction thereof
(d) Non-Residential or Multi-Family Plumbing and Fire Construction Permit Plan Review: the following table establishes plan review and audit fees, unless otherwise indicated. These fees are based on t
## Building Inspection & Permit Fees The administration and issuance of permits, along with the collection of fees, shall be conducted in accordance with Minnesota Statutes § 326B and Minnesota Rules
### SECTION 11. AGENDA AND DEADLINE FOR AGENDA A. Purpose. The agenda of a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting serves two important functions: 1) It focuses Planning and Zoning Commission d
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
Meeting City Council Meeting — Minutes (2025-01-23)
Minutes · Thursday, January 23, 2025
3 pages
Meeting City Council Meeting — Agenda (2025-01-23)
Agenda · Thursday, January 23, 2025
1 pages
Meeting City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2025-01-23)
Packet · Thursday, January 23, 2025
46 pages
The structured brief on this page is auto-generated and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording remain the official record. What do the trust labels mean?