The council’s decision to modify traffic regulations on South Front Street came after continued concerns from residents about safety and speeding issues. The city, in collaboration with the statewide health improvement partnership, secured a grant for engineering services, which led to a study by Alulta Engineering. Recommendations from this study included narrowing lanes to 11 feet, using bumpouts at intersections, and adjusting speed limits. The council deliberated on the implications of these changes, particularly focusing on the proposal to set a residential speed limit of 25 miles per hour. The engineer clarified that while the city could propose reducing the speed limit to 25 mph, reducing it further to 20 mph was restricted to school zones. A motion to modify the resolution to reflect the 25 mph speed limit was made, seconded, and passed, with one member abstaining.

During the discussion, there were concerns about the potential impact on truck traffic, particularly garbage trucks. The council agreed to refer to garbage trucks as “sanitation vehicles servicing neighborhood residents,” allowing them access despite the restrictions on truck traffic. The cost of implementing these traffic modifications was estimated at approximately $2,000 initially, with ongoing annual costs of around $750 for maintenance. The resolution incorporating these amendments was prepared for voting and passed, addressing community safety while taking into account practical considerations.

In parallel, the council addressed a new surcharge fee related to the city’s ongoing AMI program, which aims to replace traditional meters with smart meters to improve billing and meter reading efficiency. The program is approximately 70% complete, but some residents have resisted the installation of new meters. To cover the additional costs incurred by the city in dealing with these residents, a search charge fee was proposed. While some council members raised concerns about imposing more fees on residents already facing increased charges, the resolution was ultimately approved after a motion and second were made.

In addition to these major topics, the council considered several event-related requests. The Minnesota Original Music Festival, scheduled for July 16th to 20th, received city assistance approval, including liability insurance and park condition requirements. The council also approved assistance for the Young John Denver Festival and Bluesfest, set for July 13th and 14th, which involved similar organizational oversight and park usage requirements.

A cultural liaison services agreement with school district 508 was also discussed and approved. This agreement involves a $5,000 payment to the school district for access to a cultural liaison, aiming to enhance community engagement and accessibility to city programs, particularly for residents facing language barriers.

Furthermore, the council approved a temporary tobacco license for Moulder Cigar Emporium, despite opposition from a council member concerned about the impact of secondhand smoke at public events. The member expressed that allowing smoking would set a bad precedent, but the resolution passed with a vote of four in favor and one against.

Street improvements for Klein Street and Cullen Street were also on the agenda, with the council addressing a procedural oversight regarding the approval of professional services agreements for these projects. The oversight was acknowledged by a staff member, with a commitment to ensure authorization is done upfront in the future. A motion to approve the professional services agreements was made and passed unanimously.