A central topic of the meeting was the council’s deliberation on snow removal strategies for the 2025-2026 season. With the previous contractor, Advantage Home Pros, no longer providing services, the city is exploring options to ensure the timely clearing of snow in the downtown area. The council discussed two main avenues: soliciting new contractors through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process or relying on the city’s internal parks maintenance staff.

City Engineer Dean outlined the current situation, noting that outsourcing snow removal has been inconsistent, with contractors often only responding to snowfalls of four inches or more. Utilizing city staff could potentially offer more consistent snow removal after each snowfall event, but this approach also raises concerns about staff availability and operational feasibility, particularly given the additional responsibility of maintaining ice skating rinks.

Council members expressed differing views on the matter. One member highlighted the park board’s recommendation to issue an RFP for comprehensive snow removal, regardless of snowfall amounts. This recommendation stems from concerns over staff availability and the practicality of city staff managing both downtown snow removal and rink maintenance. Questions were raised about the potential legal and union implications of shifting responsibilities to city staff.

A motion was eventually made to pursue RFPs for snow removal, allowing the council to evaluate contractor responses before making a final decision. The timeline for issuing RFPs was noted as critical, with winter approaching. It was mentioned that historically, there have been few bids for such contracts, emphasizing the challenge the city faces in securing reliable services.

In addition to snow removal, the council discussed adjustments to the Trunk Highway 371B Willow Street Roundabout Project. Engineer Dean presented a change order involving over $40,000 in adjustments, primarily due to unexpected grading issues and the discovery of contaminated soil during construction. The city’s share of the adjustments would result in a net savings of over $1,000, with the Minnesota Department of Transportation covering most of the costs. The council engaged in a discussion about the necessity of the changes, ultimately approving the change order unanimously.

Another topic was active code enforcement, where the development director presented three properties requiring attention. These properties included one with excessive junk and debris, another with an unlicensed and likely inoperable vehicle, and a third with unresolved fence permit issues. The council approved staff recommendations for abatement and penalties, with a specific focus on imposing a $300 fine every ten days for ongoing non-compliance at the third property.

Council members also proposed drafting a code change to enable more efficient administrative abatement for repeat offenders regarding junk and debris, similar to existing procedures for grass and trash. This proposal aimed to expedite the resolution of such issues, alleviating conditions that negatively impact neighboring properties. The council agreed to move the proposed code change directly to council review, bypassing the usual committee process to address the urgency of the matter.