All right. Hello and welcome everybody to the St. James City Council meeting on
August 18th, 2026 at 5:30. Um call me order. We'll start it off
with the Pledge of Allegiance.
» I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
» All right. And we'll move on to approval of
minutes. Can I get a consideration to approve August 5th, 2026 Council
meeting? So moved. Steve? >> Second.
» Kathleen? Any other discussion? All those in favor say I.
» I. >> All opposed, same sign.
Motion carries. On to payment of claims and ACH
payments.
» So moved. >> Paul?
» Second. >> Sue?
Any other discussion? All those in favor say I.
» I. >> All opposed, same sign.
Motion carries. On to new business, 13A. Uh
2026 city visit presentation by Daren Lee, Coalition of Greater Minnesota
Cities. Daren. >> All right.
Well, thank you. Uh thanks for having me. I'm Daren Lee with Flaherty & Hood.
Uh we represent uh the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities up at the state
capital. And uh during the legislative interim between sessions, we like to get
out to our member cities and just kind of update you about what we've been
working on at the capital uh this past session and kind of what we see coming
up. Um so I'll get right into it.
Um
there we go. So, kind of as a reminder of who we are,
we're more than 100 cities outside of the seven-county metro area. Those are
the kind of That's our updated map. Um those are kind of the issue areas that
we work on. We added a couple this last couple of years, uh housing and EMS, cuz
it's something that we uh continue to work on. I work on
transportation. Um
And so, we've got different staff that work on all those different areas.
So, I'm going to get into a recap of the legislative session, but I've got some
folders that I want to pass out, too, and I'll explain what's in there.
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
» So, in here you'll find our um session report. So, this will get into a little
more detail than what I can get into in the time we have here. Um
then there's sort of FAQs, staff contacts. If you have any
questions on any of these issues, please give us a call. Our environmental
program sheet, uh we have our housing report. It's a
little bit long, so I just included a QR code. You can read that. And then our
candidate packet, which all of the candidates that are running for the
legislature will be getting that. Uh
with all the issues that we work on. And then events coming up, we got our fall
conference coming up in Waite Park, and then our legislative action day next
year. Summer conference next year is still uh
TBD as far as the dates. And then our uh labor and employee relations program.
So, that's everything in there.
So, um
this session. So, th- are kind of the uh focal points of the session. You
know, there was a 67-67 tie in the house again. So,
everything was a four-way negotiation. Uh
it's an election year. So, some of these issues,
um were pretty political. You had, in
addition to those, you know, the immigration enforcement was a big one
uh from earlier this spring. Fraud, they did they did some things on fraud, um
like withholding payments. Uh nothing on guns or school safety.
Uh Hennepin County Medical Center was one that was a big issue.
Uh they did pass a rescue package for that. Uh they also cut tab fees. Um So,
those were kind of the focal points.
So, our agenda for the session was protect local government aid.
Uh Pass a bonding bill, lead line funding
to remove lead service lines. And then resist zoning uh preemption, which is
something that's been coming up over and over again in the last few years. And
so, that was those were our big agenda items.
Here's the budget situation. Uh So, if you remember maybe
So, February of 2025, we had a $6 billion
deficit. Uh so, the situation did improve. There is still that structural
imbalance, which is, you know, your revenues coming in versus the money
going out. So, if that continues, you know, we would be in a deficit situation
again. So, we'll have to see. There's a another forecast coming up in November.
So, we'll see how how it goes. But, this was kind of the
setup for the session. So, you still do have a little bit of a positive balance
in that second biennium, but not a lot, and so it sort of limited the amount of
new spending uh discussion. Uh back to 2025, the Senate Democrats
did uh propose LGA cuts. Luckily, nothing was proposed this year
because I think the budget situation did improve a little bit. So, we were uh
thankful that that uh wasn't proposed again this year.
Um but there was very little new spending contemplated other than a
bonding bill and then some policy discussion.
So, I want to get into bonding. That was one of our top priorities.
Um a little background, so there was a bonding bill in 2025. Uh
there was some concern they may not there may not be as much um
sort of support for a bill this year since they did one last year. Typically,
uh or historically, it's been, you know, a budget year, bonding year, budget
year, bonding bonding year. So, um but that hasn't necessarily held at
the last decade or so. They it's been more sort of sporadic. Uh but
there's there's what the governor was proposing. Public Facilities Authority,
99 million, which is the agency that does all those water and wastewater
projects that are so expensive. Uh a lot of
uh state-owned assets that he was proposing for um preservation, like
state-owned buildings, parks, um that sort of thing, the MnSCU system, U
of M system. Um and sadly, nothing for roads and
bridges, uh which was unacceptable
to us, and then very little set aside for local projects.
And this is one where this is a bill that of course, you know, requires 60%
to pass cuz um to borrow money, that's what what is required. So, that's one
where the minority party does have a a bit of say.
Uh here's some of our folks testifying on
uh bonding, support for various bonding bills.
And so, here's what ended up passing. We had 1.24 billion, which is about as high
as they could go to stay within the borrowing guidelines. And then quite a
bit more for the public facilities authority than what the governor is had
been proposing, four times as much. So, uh and luckily we did get some money for
local roads and bridges. So, that was good. Um in what else is not on here is
um there's a like 4 and 1/2 million for uh local road wetland replacement
program as well. And then a lot of money for local projects. If you remember last
year there wasn't any local projects in that bill. So, I think it was a pretty
good outcome. Um except for
unfortunately on lead service lines we had a little disappointment on this,
which I'll explain, but just a little background first. So, the EPA is
requiring that all lead service lines be removed um but by 2037. And so, there's
inventory going on. There's there's initially 200
uh 50 million that was uh put in place or
passed in 2023. There's uh inventory money to inventory all lead
water lines, service lines in the state. They've identified 87,000.
There's still a lot to be identified, so that work continues.
Uh but cities can propose a plan once they
get that inventory. Um and then you'll get on sort of a
project priority list uh to get that funding. Um so, it's it's a lot to get
all those lines removed by 2037, so 1.5 billion. So, uh there's a lot to be
done. Uh we're working with a coalition, and you can you can check out the map on
um I think it's the Department of Health's
website to sort of see what's been inventoried and where it is and where
where those lines exist, but um you know, there it's going to be a lot
to to get that all removed by 2037. We're working with a coalition of uh
city groups and then labor groups and environmental groups to try to advocate
for this. Uh
but on in this bonding bill, there's only 15 million for that. So, we're
going to need more to you know, make sure that the 2027 construction
season, you know, we still have a full construction season. So, we're looking
at coming back next year with that coalition that we're working with and
trying to figure out a dedicated source of funding rather than just rely on what
goes in the bonding bill cuz we did have 400 million for the Public Facilities
Authority, which we want that, but you know, any more that would have gone to
lead service lines would have come out of those other water and wastewater
projects. So, we're looking at trying to find a dedicated source for that.
Housing and zoning, so this is one that just keeps coming up over and over
again. Uh 2024, it was called the missing middle bill, yes to homes, now
it's the starter home act. Uh a lot of the same things that we've seen before
trying to pre-empt local authority over where your how you do your zoning. Um
all cities, so they they it had the way this
framework worked it would have been, you know, cities under 5,000, 5 to 10,000
and then over 10,000. So, all cities would have had to meet those
requirements on that first bullet. Uh aesthetic and material standards, HOA
pre-emption, and require alternative dwelling units. The one the only thing
that did pass was that pre-emption of homeowners association. So, cities
cannot require the creation of a homeowners association for development.
That's one thing that did pass, but none of none of these other things did pass.
Uh cities over 5,000, you'd have to up-zone like a third. You could pick a
third of your um single-family and go up to four units,
and then you could combine you have to combine uh commercial and multi-family,
and then minimum lot sizes no greater than an eighth of an acre.
And then for cities over 10,000, they would have required these some of
these additional things like parking minimums, you'd have to pick two or
three of those, uh creation of a housing trust fund,
um for cities over 10,000. So,
I think they wanted a little bit more flexibility than what they've proposed
the last couple years, but it's still way too prescriptive. So,
um we continue to oppose it. Uh the League of Minnesota Cities
dropped their active opposition to the bill.
Um it was the Coalition of Greater Minnesota
Cities, Metro Cities, and the Municipal Legislative Commission that
uh continued to oppose it. Luckily, it was
defeated in the house, no hearings in the Senate, but we expect There's
Bradley Peterson, our executive director, testifying on it.
Um we expect that some version will come up
again next session. So, we're going to have to continue
uh to fight it again next year.
So, looking ahead, of course, election year. Uh
all legislative seats are on the ballot, all of Congress is on the ballot,
there's a Senate seat. Um we just had a primary, so we know who the candidates
are on the Republican side and the Democrat side. Of course, the Governor
Walz is not running, as you know. So, we we will have a new governor. There's a
lot of retirements that are taking place. So, we're working on
meeting with all the candidates, getting them our candidate packet, let them know
where we stand on this stuff um because there's going to be a lot of new members
regardless of, you know, who is in control. There's going to be a lot of
new legislators up there because of all the retirements. So,
um more work to to do and January 14th is
when the session starts and I think I just have a slide
upcoming events. Uh one more plug for our fall conference
and our uh legislative action day so you can
come up and lobby with us next year if you want and we'd love to have you up
there. I'm happy to answer any questions.
Thanks again for having me.
» Thank you. >> All right.
» No questions? >> No. Appreciate it. Thanks, Darren.
» Okay. All right. Thank you. Have a good meeting.
» Yes, you also. No action needed on that.
» No. No action. >> We will move on to 13B, consideration to
approve resolution 08.26.04
amending bylaws of the St. James Firefighters Relief Association.
» Bill's going to talk on that. >> Bill.
» Hello. Uh so, the fire department was asking to raise our retirement by $100
per year. Uh
this would not uh increase the city budget at all. It will not cost the city
anything. Uh it'd be just part of our uh
recruitment and retention program that we're trying to you know, we're almost
full. Uh So, we'd like to try to stay there.
This would help in that uh area.
» Any questions?
» So, move to dispense with the reading. >> Second dispense with the reading. Paul,
any other discussion? All those in favor, raise a hand.
All opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Thanks, Bill.
13C, consideration to approve resolution 08.26.05
appointing housing redevelopment authority board vacancy.
» Um so Melissa Wilson with the HRA had reached
out to Chris and myself. Um there's a vacancy on the um
resident position on their board of director and
she is requesting um Ann L
» Ann L >> Ann L, thank you. Uh Schofield to uh be
appointed to the board vacancy. It would go into effect immediately and then um
their 5-year terms, which would bring it to January 1st uh 2032.
Um so, if there's any questions, I would take those.
» So, move to dispense with the reading. >> Kathleen
» Second dispense with the reading. >> Sue, any other discussion?
All those in favor, raise a hand. All opposed, same sign. Motion carries.
13D, consideration to approve resolution 08.26.06
authorizing the transfer of the 2019 Ford F-350 from the electric fund to the
general fund for the fire department. >> Um so, this was discussed at a previous
city council meeting um that when Matt received his new truck that we
would transfer his uh old truck to the fire department for uses of the fire
department. Um so, that is what is the resolution in front of you.
» So, move to dispense with the reading. >> Sue
» Second dispense with the reading. >> Steve
Any other discussion? >> Do you have space over there?
» Yeah. >> You do.
» Yeah, we'll get rid of the old uh the old truck town. Uh
It's a F-150 single cab.
» Okay. >> It's the red one.
» Okay. Right. You know you're tight. So I was
wondering. >> it's it's tight in there, but we'll
we'll uh sell it.
Mhm. >> Okay.
» I'll roll that in there. >> All right. Thank you.
» Once we get that on the truck. >> All right. No other questions?
All those in favor raise a hand. All opposed same sign. Motion carries.
Uh 13E, consideration to approve resolution 08.26.07
declaring abandoned and surplus property and ordering the disposal.
» So within this resolution there's two um items that are being requested to be
abandoned and surplus. Um the first one is the 2013 Ford
Taurus. Um it sits here at City Hall. Um we re-
City Hall received the old um police
» squad car? >> Yeah, but is it it's not a Yukon, it's a
» Oh, Tahoe. >> Tahoe. Thank you. I drive a Yukon, so
it's going to get out of my head on head. Um so it's more favorable and the
Ford Taurus just sitting and idling. It barely starts, so it kind of isn't
needed anymore for city operations, so we're asking to get rid of that. And
then in the kitchen at the community building sits a very large commercial
mixer. It's leaking oil. It is non-usable, and so we'd like just to
also dispose of that.
» So move to dispense with the reading. >> Steve.
» Second. Dispense with the reading. >> Paul.
Any other discussion? All those in favor raise a hand.
All opposed same sign. Motion carries. 13F, consideration to
approve resolution 08.26.08 authorizing the city manager to enter
into the temporary construction easement agreement with Fleet and Farm Supply
Inc. for the 12th Avenue South Highway District expansion.
» Um so Briana and myself along with my co-chair um have worked with the owners
of Fleet and Farm to um execute said agreement for um construction
of the uh entrance in We have to relocate his entrance due to um 12th
Avenue South there when we do the highway district expansion for the
business park. Um so the agreement in front of you is um what we agreed on.
Uh the city will be um putting the new driveway in for him
at our cost.
» So move to dispense with the reading. Paul?
» Second to dispense with the reading. >> Mary?
Any other discussion? >> When are we hoping to uh start it and
when might it be done?
» Um it will be a part of the turn lane project and it will be needed to bid out
the 12th Avenue project along with the turn lane. So it will be all together
when we bid out that one project. >> So it will be next?
» I believe the anticipated date is to bid it out in September.
» Okay. >> But we we still need to get an
additional easement with Gary Johnson accomplished.
» So more than likely it won't be it won't be this
» That that is the anticipated plan, yes, September.
» Okay, great. Thank you. >> Any other discussions?
All those in favor raise your hand. All opposed same sign. Motion carries.
On to report of boards. Sue? >> Nothing.
» Kathleen? >> Nothing.
» Mike? >> No.
» Amanda? >> No.
» Uh we had coffee with the mayor today. I thought it went very well. We talked
about housing. Had individuals show up with their
concerns and expressed it to us. It's what I like to see is people come
to us with what they have to say and not walk
around town and say it. Uh, but I think it was a great
conversation. We have people working on the right
moves to uh bring some housing to do in our
community, hopefully. So. Chris.
» I have the movie for this weekend, August 21st through the 23rd is The
Brink of War. It is a historical political drama set during the 1980
set during 1986, focusing on the tense negotiations between US President Ronald
Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev as the two leaders attempt to reach a deal
that could dismantle nuclear arsenals. Pressure mounts from advisors,
intelligence agencies, and the weight of history itself, making every con-
conversation critical to the fate of global peace. It is rated PG. It is 1
hour and 57 minutes. There is no movie on Friday. Saturday it starts at 7:00,
Sunday it starts at 4:00 p.m. and all tickets are just $5.
» Paul. >> No.
» Mary. Steve.
» Nope. >> Department heads.
All right. Oh. Holly.
» If you have the opportunity on Saturday morning, the ambulance service would
love for you to come um to our farmers safety day that the ambulance
association is putting on. Begins at 8:30, it's at the fairgrounds. Um it
will be um some basic instruction on basic first aid, CPR, um how to apply a
tourniquet, farm safety including grain bin rescue, and um power take-off
safety. Um there's Schmidt's rolls for breakfast and um
pork patties for lunch. We'd love to have you.
» Thank you. All right. No one else? Can I get a
motion to adjourn? >> So moved.
» Sue? >> Second.
» Paul? Any discussion? All those in favor, say I.
» I. >> I.
» All opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Meeting adjourned at 5:53. Thank you.
» Thank you.