What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
Ingebretson easement vacation at 6263 203rd Ave NW
The Council held the required public hearing for Paul Ingebretson's request to vacate part of a drainage and utility easement at 6263 203rd Ave NW. Planner Nash explained that the easement followed a 1996 wetland boundary, but a 2025 wetland delineation showed the wetland line had moved, so only the portion no longer covering wetland area was proposed for vacation. No one opposed the request, and the Council approved the vacation 5-0.
Agenda: 3. Motions: M2. Speakers: Planner Nash, Paul Ingebretson, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Glaser.
Website and social media ADA compliance software
The proposed AudioEye and Alyant software purchase was pulled from consent for discussion. Council members asked whether the purchase was urgent, whether cheaper alternatives existed, and whether pricing might change before the 2027 ADA compliance deadline. Staff explained that the CivicPlus website uses those add-ons for compliance, but the Council chose to postpone a decision until more cost and alternative information is available.
Agenda: 4h. Speakers: Council Member Breyen, Deputy Clerk Stadel, Council Member Rainville.
Lucky Milliman barn owl house Eagle Scout project
Lucky Milliman presented a new Eagle Scout project to build two barn owl houses for Twin Lakes Park. He said barn owls help control rats and mice and proposed building the houses with his troop in November and installing them in December. Council members discussed safe installation, pole depth, possible tree mounting, and use of a bucket truck, and encouraged coordination with city staff.
Agenda: 5. Speakers: Lucky Milliman, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Rainville.
Series 2025A bond presale
Bruce Kimmel of Ehlers presented the presale plan for General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025A, to finance 2024 street projects, 2025 street projects, and equipment. He said the resolution could proceed at $1,460,000 even though the final amount would likely be closer to $1,405,000 because project costs were lower than expected. The Council approved the presale resolution 5-0, with Council Member Glaser noting he supported meeting the city's financing obligations while remaining opposed to the rescue truck purchase.
Agenda: 6a. Motions: M5. Speakers: Bruce Kimmel, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Rainville, Mayor Hybben.
2025 Overlay Road Project assessments
The Council adopted the assessment roll for the 2025 Overlay Road Project covering Krypton Street, Lithium Street, 189th Lane, 194th Lane, and Tiger Street. City Clerk Johnson said the project came in under budget, lowering the assessment from $3,660 to $3,150 per property. The Council approved the assessment resolution 5-0.
Agenda: 7a. Motions: M6. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Glaser.
2026 Overlay Project feasibility report
The Council ordered preparation of the feasibility report for the 2026 Overlay Project so the city could begin earlier than it did for the 2025 work. Council members discussed the lack of a stated report cost, whether some roads could be tied to a county project, and the benefit of starting the process sooner. The motion passed 5-0.
Agenda: 7b. Motions: M7. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Swenson.
New rescue pumper truck and Fire Department report
Fire Chief Miller reported 21 September calls and described Heritage Festival open house activities, Life Link helicopter training, live fire training, and recruitment. The Council then considered the new rescue pumper contract. Chief Miller said Ford pricing was about to rise, so prepaying the chassis would lock in pricing and generate a manufacturer discount. The Council approved the Custom Fire Apparatus contract and chassis prepayment 4-1, with Council Member Glaser voting no.
Agenda: 8a, 8b. Motions: M8. Speakers: Fire Chief Miller, Council Member Glaser, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Rainville.
Sheriff's Department September report and Bar None calls
Chief Deputy Bill Jacobson reported 156 September calls for service, including 10 at Bar None, 7 alarms, 18 medical calls, and 16 animal calls. He described several Bar None incidents, a vehicle vandalism and stereo theft report, and a warrant arrest from a traffic stop. Council Member Glaser asked about Bar None's conditional use permit status, and City Clerk Johnson said attorneys for the city and Bar None were still communicating.
Agenda: 9a. Speakers: Chief Deputy Bill Jacobson, Council Member Glaser, City Clerk Johnson.
Braith commercial kennel at 8614 211th Ave NW
The Council approved both an Interim Use Permit and a commercial kennel license for Luke Braith's home-based commercial kennel at 8614 211th Ave NW. Planner Nash described the business as small, with no more than five dogs and no employees other than the owner. Both approvals were subject to conditions, and both votes passed 5-0.
Agenda: 10b, 10c. Motions: M9, M10. Speakers: Planner Nash, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Glaser.
Plaisted Estates minor subdivision and development agreement
The Council approved the Plaisted minor subdivision creating one new lot off 229th Avenue and approved the related development agreement. Planner Nash explained that 229th Avenue lacks formal right-of-way and a cul-de-sac, so the applicant must grant an easement and build a gravel cul-de-sac for emergency turnaround. The Council approved both the subdivision and development agreement 5-0.
Agenda: 10d, 10e. Motions: M11, M12. Speakers: Planner Nash, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Rainville.
Zoning Ordinance work group
The Council established its representation on the zoning ordinance work group. Planning and Zoning members Dan Haapala and Kelly Pearo had already volunteered, and Mayor Hybben and Council Member Glaser volunteered from the Council. The Council appointed Hybben and Glaser 5-0.
Agenda: 10f. Motions: M13. Speakers: Planner Nash, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Swenson, Council Member Rainville.
Administrative enforcement and fee schedule revisions
The Council reviewed proposed administrative enforcement and fee schedule changes but found that the draft needed more clarity, especially on when fines could double, who would decide that, late fee structure, abatement, and complaint procedures. Instead of adopting the ordinances, the Council returned New Business items A through D to staff for further review 5-0.
Agenda: 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d. Motions: M14a. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Glaser, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Rainville.
City Council salaries and meeting compensation
The Council approved Ordinance 2025-08 updating Chapter 1 Section 3 on City Council salaries and related meeting compensation, along with its summary publication. The ordinance places the mayor and council monthly salaries and eligible meeting remuneration in the city code. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.
Agenda: 12e, 12f. Motions: M14. Speakers: Council Member Rainville, Council Member Breyen.
Mayor for a Day essay contest
The Council discussed the League of Minnesota Cities Mayor for a Day essay contest for fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students. The city planned to share the information on letterhead, the website, Facebook, and with area schools, including attention to homeschooled students. No formal motion was recorded.
Agenda: 12g. Speakers: Mayor Hybben, City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Glaser.
Claims approval and CDL training payment
Council Member Glaser questioned a $3,480 claim for an employee's Class A driver's license training, saying he believed Council approval should have been required and suggesting training repayment agreements for future situations. City Clerk Johnson said the training commitment came from the employee's hiring agreement under a previous administration. After discussion about policy oversight and staff retention, the Council approved the claims as presented 5-0.
Agenda: 4b. Motions: M15. Speakers: Council Member Glaser, City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Rainville, Mayor Hybben.
Overtime policy for PTO and holiday weeks
The Council discussed whether PTO and holiday hours should count toward overtime calculations for non-exempt employees. Members differed on whether the change would fairly compensate employees for evening and weekend work or create unbudgeted taxpayer costs. The Council did not adopt a policy change; instead it directed City Clerk Johnson to gather data from four nearby cities and work with the attorney on language for both public works and city staff.
Agenda: 13a. Motions: M16. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Swenson, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Breyen, Mayor Hybben.