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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-01 City Council MinutesALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES June 1, 2026 – 7 pm Council Chambers Albertville City Hall 1. Call to Order Mayor Hendrickson called the meeting to order at 7 pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance – Roll Call Present: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilmembers Cocking, Olson and Zagorski. Absent: Councilmember Hayden Staff Present: City Administrator Nafstad, Fire Chief Bullen, Planning Consultant Faulkner, City Attorney Couri and City Clerk Luedke. 3. Recognitions – Presentations – Introductions A. Fire Station Facility Study Presentation Fire Chief Bullen introduced the item and the speakers Quinn Hutson and Brooke Jacobson from CNH Architects. Mr. Hutson presented the background information on the company, noting that it has designed or remodeled more than 30 fire stations. He outlined the process used for the study, which included staff interviews, a site tour, reviews of building plans and City ordinances. Mr. Hutson explained that the assessment evaluated the existing fire station for firefighter health and safety considerations, training capabilities, space utilization, and compliance with applicable National Fire Protection Association Standards. He summarized the findings regarding the current facility’s conditions, presented cost assessments associated with the various remodeling options and responded to Council questions regarding the study and proposed improvements. Ms. Jacobson discussed issues with the current fire station facility and presented additional information on the remodeling options, which included a Phase 1, Phase 2 or a full project completion. She outlined the proposed concept design and associated cost estimates for each option and discussed the next steps in the process, which include finalizing and analyzing the Share Fire Service Feasibility Study with the Cities of Hanover and St. Michael, determining the most appropriate facility option, and developing a timeline for selected station approach. Ms. Jacobson also responded to questions from Council. Fire Chief Bullen and City Administrator Nafstad responded to questions from Council regarding Facility Study and Share Service study. The Council discussed the Fire Station Facility Study, the condition of the existing fire station building, the various phase options for potential improvements, and the related cost estimates for each option. City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 Regular Meeting of June 1, 2026 B. Senator Lucero Update County Commissioner Holland introduced Senator Eric Lucero and expressed appreciation for his work on the recent HOA bill, as well as his efforts in securing funding to update Wright County’s antiquated computer system. Senator Lucero addressed the Council and provided a post-session legislative recap, highlighting several bills passed during the session, including the HOA reform bill aimed at limiting excessive fines and fees. He concluded by responding to questions from Council. 4. Public Forum There was no one present for the public forum. 5. Amendments to the Agenda City Administrator Nafstad requested to add an item under Administration I2. entitled “Legislation Related to In-Person Absentee/Early Voting Period, I3. entitled “Special Event Permit for the 152 Club for the Chad Smith Ride for Life Event” and I4. entitled “Parking Lot Improvement Assessment”. MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, seconded by Councilmember Cocking to approve the June 1, 2026 agenda as amended. Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, Olson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. The motion carried. 6. Consent Agenda All items under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the City staff and will be enacted by one motion. In the event an item is pulled, it will be discussed in the order it is listed on the Consent Agenda following the approval of the remaining Consent items. Items pulled will be approved by a separate motion. A.Approve May 18, 2026, regular City Council Meeting minutes as presented. B.Authorize the Monday, June 1, 2026, payment of claims as presented, except bills specifically pulled which are passed by separate motion. The claims listing has been provided to City Council as a separate document and is available for public view at City Hall upon request. C.Approve On-sale Temporary Liquor License for the Church of St. Albert’s fundraiser events located at St. Albert Parish Center, 5700 Lander Avenue NE on June 11, 12 and 13, 2026. D.Approve the Second Amendment to Master Planned Unit Development Agreement/ Conditional Use Agreement - LaBeaux Station. MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Olson to approve the June 1, 2026, consent agenda as submitted. Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, Olson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. The motion carried. 7. Public Hearing – None 8. Wright County Sheriff’s Office – Updates, reports, etc. There were no updates from Wright County Sheriff’s Office. 9. Department Business City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 Regular Meeting of June 1, 2026 A. City Council 1. Committee Updates (STMA Ice Arena, Planning, JPWB, Parks, Fire Board, FYCC, etc.) There were no Council Committee updates. B. Building – None C. City Clerk 1. Special Event Permit – BJs Sport Tavern Music Event City Clerk Luedke presented the staff report regarding the special event and temporary outdoor music permit applications submitted by BJ’s Sport Tavern. She noted that the proposed music would be held in the restaurant’s fenced back outdoor area. She stated that, although outdoor music at this location would typically not be permitted due to its proximity to nearby residential properties, the City Code allows an exemption when the activity was part of a recognized community festival and has received Council approval. MOTION made by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Councilmember Cocking to approve Special Event Permit including a Temporary Outdoor Music Permit for BJ’s Sport Tavern located at 5788 Main Avenue NE for their Special Event on June 12 and June 13, 2026, during Albertville Friendly City Days. Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, Olson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. The motion carried. 2. Special Event Permit – Neighbors Eatery and Salon Community Festival Permit and Music Event City Clerk Luedke presented the staff report regarding the special event, community festival, and temporary outdoor music permit applications submitted by Neighbors Eatery and Saloon, noting the request included expansion of its patio into the parking lot and to host live music from 9 pm to 1 am on Friday and Saturday night. She noted previously the applicant had requested a mechanical bull. Clerk Luedke explained Minnesota statute allows on-sale liquor license holders to serve alcohol off- premises during a recognized community festival and that, while outdoor music at this location would normally be prohibited due to proximity to nearby residential properties, the City Code permits an exemption for recognized community festivals with City Council approval. She responded to questions from Council. The Council discussion focused on the temporary outdoor music permit, including prior resident complaints about loud music, past instances of music exceeding permitted hours, and concerns about the request to have live music until 1 am, as well as a reasonable end time for the live music. The Council reached consensus to approve the special event and community festival permits, deny the temporary outdoor music permit, and offer to hold a special meeting if the applicant proposes a solution to address the music concerns. City Attorney Couri answered questions from Council regarding special meeting requirements and potential consequences of noncompliance with applicable regulations by the applicant. MOTION made by Mayor Hendrickson, seconded by Councilmember Cocking to approve Special Event Permit including a Community Festival Permit but denied the Temporary Outdoor Music Permit for Neighbors Eatery and Saloon located at 5772 Main Avenue NE for Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, June 14, 2026, during Albertville Friendly City Days. Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, Olson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. The motion carried. City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 Regular Meeting of June 1, 2026 3. Set Preliminary 2026 Budget Workshops City Clerk Luedke reported that City staff would like to schedule the 2026 budget workshops to discuss the preliminary 2027 budget. She proposed the dates of July 20, August 3 and if needed, August 17, 2026, and asked whether the Council preferred to hold the workshops before or after the regular Council meeting. She noted the workshops have traditionally begun at 6:15 pm. MOTION made by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to set workshops for July 20, August 3 and August 17, 2026, at 6:15 pm to discuss the 2027 preliminary budget. Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, Olson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. The motion carried. D. Finance – None E. Fire – None F. Planning and Zoning 1. Interim Use Permit at 11011 61st Street NE for PID 101-078-001010 Planning Consultant Faulkner presented the staff report and background information regarding the proposed Interim Use Permit (IUP) to operate a community center with accessory prayer services and outlined the applicable IUP criteria. She noted that the Planning Commission held a public hearing but did not forward a recommendation of approval due to a 2-2 vote, with discussion focused on whether the proposed schedule and activities met the definition of a community center as being open to public, concerns that prayer services appeared to be the primary rather than the accessory use, and that a prayer facility with community center were not a permitted use in the zoning district. She responded to questions from Council. Mr. Sheriff, applicant, described the proposed use was a community center providing services, including tutoring and assistance with applications, primarily by appointment. He stated that prayer services would be accessory to the community center use, explaining that members would pray at the facility when it is time for prayer, but that prayer is not the primary purpose of the facility. Mr. Sheriff noted that the organization was relatively small, has not previously operated a facility of this type, and was requesting a one-year IUP to evaluate the operations while complying with City- imposed conditions. He also responded to question from Council. Ms. Ruth Kremer, Kremer Toy and Hobby store, expressed concerns regarding the compatibility of the proposed community center within a retail shopping center and its potential impact on the ability to attract and retain retail tenants. She noted that her business was a long-term tenant contributing to the ongoing commercial activity within the center and stated that it periodically conducts outdoor testing of nitro-powered vehicles as part of normal operations and wanted to ensure those activities could continue. Ms. Kremer also raised concerns about inconsistencies in the applicant’s proposed hours and frequency of operations, which she indicted raised questions about the proposed use. The Council discussed whether the proposed IUP met the requirements for a community center with accessory prayer services, stating their comments were not a value judgment but focused on ordinance compliance. They expressed concern that the proposed schedule and operation indicated prayer services functioned as the primary use, with limited community programming raising questions about consistency with the IUP definition. They also noted that the Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted against recommending approval, finding the primary use did not align with the intended IUP use. City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 Regular Meeting of June 1, 2026 Councilmember Olson said he would abstain from voting due to his absence from the April 6 when the initial item was discussed. MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to adopt Resolution No. 2026-16 denying an Interim Use Permit for 101-078-001010 located at 11011 61st Street Northeast to allow a community center with accessory prayer services based on the finding that the proposed functions primarily as a prayer facility rather than a community center with accessory use and does not meet the permitted standards . Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. Abstain: Olson The motion carried. G. Public Works/Engineering – None H. Legal – None I. Administration 1. City Administrator’s Update City Administrator Nafstad presented the City Administrator’s Update which included upcoming events within the City. 2. Special Event Permit for the 152 Club for the Chad Smith Ride for Life Event City Clerk Luedke presented the staff report regarding the special event and temporary outdoor music permit applications submitted by The 152 Club for the Chad Smith Ride for Life event. She noted that the event has been held annually and responded to questions from Council. MOTION made by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Councilmember Cocking to Approve a Special Event Permit including a Temporary Outdoor Music Permit for The 152 Club located at 5794 Main Avenue NE for the Chad Smith Ride for Life Benefit event on June 20, 2026. Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, Olson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. The motion carried. 3. Legislation Related to In-person Absentee/Early Voting Period City Clerk Luedke presented the staff report regarding a new election law allowing cities that administer absentee voting to either continue a 46-day in-person absentee/early voting period or adopt an 18 day early voting period. She reviewed the City’s current process, noting that most in- person absentee voting occurs during the final 18 days, when voters are able to insert their ballots directly into the ballot tabulator, similar to the process on Election Day. Clerk Luedke noted that Wright County requested notification of the City’s decision by June 12, 2026. She responded to Council questions. MOTION made by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Councilmember Cocking to select the option to conduct 18 days of in-person Early Voting utilizing a ballot tabulator in the City of Albertville for the Primary Election in 2026. Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, Olson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. The motion carried. 4. Parking Lot Improvement Assessment City Administrator Nafstad presented the staff report regarding a request from the 152 Club to finance the parking lot improvements through the City’s Driveway Replacement Fund. He explained that the 152 Club and BJ’s Sports Tavern were expanding and paving the shared parking lot, reviewed the funding available through the program, and responded to Council questions. City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 Regular Meeting of June 1, 2026 MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Olson directing staff to enter into a Parking Lot Improvement Contract for property owners of the 152 Club located at 5794 Main Avenue NE, Albert MN 55301 PID 101141001020, for financing parking lot improvements in the amount of $68,800, for a term of 5 years and at an annual interest rate of 6%. Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, Olson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. The motion carried. 9. Announcements and/or Upcoming Meetings June 8 STMA Arena Board, 6 pm June 9 Planning Commission, 7 pm June 10-14 2026 Albertville Friendly City Days June 15 City Council, 7 pm June 18 City Hall closed in observance of Juneteenth June 22 Joint Power Water Board, 6 pm Parks Committee, 7 pm July 2 City offices closed in observance of 4th of July July 6 City Council, 7 pm 10.Adjournment MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, second by Councilmember Zagorski to adjourn the meeting at 9:16 pm. Ayes: Cocking, Hendrickson, Olson, and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hayden. The motion carried. Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Kristine A. Luedke, City Clerk