City Council Worksession

What was on the agenda

6 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, and approval of the agenda.

The Council amended the agenda at the start of the meeting to add a discussion of the proposed employee step increase as Item 5 and move adjournment to Item 6. The amended agenda passed with four ayes while Council Member Glaser had not yet arrived.

The agenda was amended to add Item 5, Discussion on the Proposed Step Increase, and adjournment became Item 6.

agenda approval

Approved

p. 1p. 1

2Public Forum

Public forum.

No members of the public had signed up to speak, so the public forum was closed without comment.

No one had signed up to speak.

public forum

No action

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3Discussion with RRC about hours being used by residents with no compensation

Discussion with RRC about uncompensated consultant time used by residents.

Building Official Andy Schreder told the Council that resident inquiries on complicated building and property questions had recently required substantial uncompensated time. Council members discussed requiring inquiries to begin by email, using FAQ materials, and applying a one-hour free consultation threshold like the City Planner policy. The Council reached consensus for City Clerk Johnson to draft a formal policy for the June Council meeting that would require escrow after the free hour.

Council directed staff by consensus to draft a policy for a future meeting; no motion was recorded.

RRC consultant time policy

Discussion only

p. 1p. 2

4Capital Improvement Plan Discussion

Capital Improvement Plan and Equipment Replacement Plan worksession.

The Council reviewed building-related CIP items. A new fire protection well for 2027 was discussed as a major public-safety project, estimated at $375,000 and financed over 15 years with an annual levy impact around $39,000 to $40,000. The Council also discussed replacing the City Hall air conditioner, pursuing an energy assessment and possible insulation improvements, carrying remaining LED lighting into 2028, and completing security lock systems for city buildings.

The Council reviewed park items including $5,000 for disc golf trail and signage improvements, $100,000 for Twin Lakes parking lot work, $5,000 for park security, and $75,000 for Memorial Park parking lot improvements in 2029. Staff were also asked to obtain an estimate for fishing pier or dock maintenance if floats and lumber might push the work into the CIP range.

The Council reviewed the 2027-2031 road schedule, starting with a $520,000 2027 road improvement project and $120,000 in annual maintenance. A major part of the discussion focused on the city's 26 miles of gravel roads, contractor hauling, gravel quality, chloride treatment, and whether a three-year or five-year improvement cycle could be developed. Staff and the city engineer are preparing a more formal cost comparison and phased gravel-road plan for a later meeting.

The Council reviewed major equipment needs, including a 2027 zero-turn mower replacement, replacement of the 2007 Sterling dump truck, phased fire radio replacements, SCBA air packs, and turnout gear. The dump truck discussion compared lease-to-own and bond financing, and Public Works was asked to bring back a fuller cost-of-ownership analysis, especially given a possible $15,000 emissions-related price increase if a purchase order is not secured before pre-regulation build slots are gone.

The Council reviewed and gave direction on CIP and ERP items; adoption was not recorded at this meeting.

capital improvement plan
equipment replacement plan

Discussion only

p. 1p. 2

5Discussion on the Proposed Step Increase

Added discussion on the proposed employee step increase.

After a long discussion about staff retention, turnover costs, and the city's lack of a step pay structure, the Council approved implementing the employee step increase program for all employees effective June 1, 2026. The motion placed employees at the step matching their years of service, allowed step advancements earned through the end of 2026, and funded the 2026 cost from contingency and identified budget savings. The vote was 3-2, with Swenson, Rainville, and Hybben in favor and Glaser and Breyen opposed.

The added step increase item was approved by a 3-2 vote.

employee step increase

Approved

p. 1p. 7

6Adjournment

Adjournment.

Adjournment was renumbered as Item 6 after the agenda amendment.

adjournment

Approved

p. 1p. 8

Motions and votes

3 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

m_approve_amended_agendaMOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN, TO APPROVE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

Exact transcript text

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN, TO APPROVE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

moved by RAINVILLE, seconded by HYBBEN

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YRainville
YSwenson
·Glaser

p. 1

m_step_increaseMOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO IMPLEMENT THE EMPLOYEE STEP INCREASE PROGRAM FOR ALL EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2026, PLACING EACH EMPLOYEE AT THE STEP CORRESPONDING TO THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE AND GRANTING ANY STEP ADVANCEMENT EARNED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND DECEMBER 31, 2026, FUNDED FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND AND IDENTIFIED BUDGET SAVINGS.

Exact transcript text

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO IMPLEMENT THE EMPLOYEE STEP INCREASE PROGRAM FOR ALL EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2026, PLACING EACH EMPLOYEE AT THE STEP CORRESPONDING TO THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE AND GRANTING ANY STEP ADVANCEMENT EARNED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND DECEMBER 31, 2026, FUNDED FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND AND IDENTIFIED BUDGET SAVINGS.

moved by SWENSON, seconded by RAINVILLE

PassedSplit vote

YSWENSON
YRAINVILLE
YHYBBEN
NGLASER
NBREYEN

p. 7

m_adjournMOTION TO BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO ADJOURN.

Exact transcript text

MOTION TO BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO ADJOURN.

moved by RAINVILLE, seconded by SWENSON

Passed

p. 8

Money the council voted to spend

The amounts the council actually voted to approve, each with the vote that approved it. Drawn from the official minutes.

Employee replacement salary example 55000

$55,000

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO IMPLEMENT THE EMPLOYEE STEP INCREASE PROGRAM FOR ALL EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2026, PLACING EACH EMPLOYEE AT THE STEP CORRESPONDING TO THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE AND GRANTING ANY STEP ADVANCEMENT EARNED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND DECEMBER 31, 2026, FUNDED FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND AND IDENTIFIED BUDGET SAVINGS. Passed(3 AYES, COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, AND MAYOR HYBBEN. 2 NAYS, COUNCIL MEMBER GLASER AND COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN. MOTION CARRIED.)

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Employee replacement cost low 55000

$18,150

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Employee replacement cost high 55000

$110,000

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Shrm recruiting hiring benchmark

$5,475

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Step increase full year salary benefit increase

$36,255