[0:03] All right. Hello and welcome everybody
[0:05] to the St. James City Council meeting on
[0:07] August 18th, 2026 at 5:30.
[0:11] Um call me order. We'll start it off
[0:14] with the Pledge of Allegiance.
[0:20] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[0:22] United States of America
[0:25] and to the republic for which it stands,
[0:27] one nation under God, indivisible, with
[0:31] liberty and justice for all.
[0:37] » All right.
[0:39] And we'll move on to approval of
[0:41] minutes. Can I get a consideration to
[0:42] approve August 5th, 2026 Council
[0:44] meeting? So moved. Steve?
[0:47] » Second.
[0:48] » Kathleen? Any other discussion?
[0:51] All those in favor say I.
[0:53] » I.
[0:54] » All opposed, same sign.
[0:56] Motion carries.
[0:58] On to payment of claims and ACH
[0:59] payments.
[1:02] » So moved.
[1:03] » Paul?
[1:05] » Second.
[1:06] » Sue?
[1:07] Any other discussion?
[1:09] All those in favor say I.
[1:11] » I.
[1:12] » All opposed, same sign.
[1:14] Motion carries. On to new business, 13A.
[1:18] Uh
[1:18] 2026 city visit presentation by Daren
[1:22] Lee, Coalition of Greater Minnesota
[1:24] Cities. Daren.
[1:26] » All right.
[1:28] Well, thank you. Uh thanks for having
[1:30] me. I'm Daren Lee with Flaherty & Hood.
[1:32] Uh we represent uh the Coalition of
[1:34] Greater Minnesota Cities up at the state
[1:35] capital. And uh during the legislative
[1:39] interim between sessions, we like to get
[1:41] out to our member cities and just kind
[1:43] of update you about what we've been
[1:45] working on at the capital uh this past
[1:47] session and kind of what we see coming
[1:48] up. Um
[1:50] so I'll get right into it.
[1:53] Um
[1:56] there we go.
[1:57] So, kind of as a reminder of who we are,
[2:01] we're more than 100 cities outside of
[2:03] the seven-county metro area. Those are
[2:06] the kind of That's our updated map. Um
[2:09] those are kind of the issue areas that
[2:10] we work on. We added a couple this last
[2:14] couple of years, uh housing and EMS, cuz
[2:16] it's something that we
[2:18] uh continue to work on. I work on
[2:20] transportation.
[2:22] Um
[2:23] And so, we've got different staff that
[2:25] work on all those different areas.
[2:30] So, I'm going to get into a recap of the
[2:32] legislative session, but I've got some
[2:34] folders that I want to pass out, too,
[2:36] and I'll explain what's in there.
[2:38] » Thank you.
[2:43] » Thank you.
[2:44] » Thank you.
[2:47] Thank you.
[2:49] Thank you.
[2:51] » So, in here you'll find our um session
[2:54] report. So, this will get into a little
[2:56] more detail than what I can get into in
[2:58] the time we have here. Um
[3:01] then there's sort of FAQs,
[3:04] staff contacts. If you have any
[3:06] questions on any of these issues, please
[3:08] give us a call. Our environmental
[3:10] program sheet, uh
[3:12] we have our housing report. It's a
[3:14] little bit long, so I just included a QR
[3:17] code. You can read that. And then our
[3:19] candidate packet, which all of the
[3:22] candidates that are running for the
[3:23] legislature will be getting that.
[3:25] Uh
[3:26] with all the issues that we work on. And
[3:28] then events coming up, we got our fall
[3:30] conference coming up in Waite Park, and
[3:32] then our legislative action day next
[3:34] year.
[3:35] Summer conference next year is still uh
[3:38] TBD as far as the dates. And then our
[3:41] uh labor and employee relations program.
[3:44] So, that's everything in there.
[3:50] So,
[3:51] um
[3:53] this session. So, th- are kind of the
[3:55] uh focal points of the session. You
[3:58] know, there was a
[4:00] 67-67 tie in the house again. So,
[4:03] everything was a four-way negotiation.
[4:05] Uh
[4:06] it's an election year. So, some of these
[4:09] issues,
[4:10] um
[4:11] were pretty political. You had, in
[4:13] addition to those, you know, the
[4:14] immigration enforcement was a big one
[4:17] uh from earlier this spring. Fraud, they
[4:19] did they did some things on fraud, um
[4:22] like withholding payments.
[4:24] Uh nothing on guns or school safety.
[4:28] Uh Hennepin County Medical Center was
[4:30] one that was a big issue.
[4:32] Uh they did pass a rescue package for
[4:34] that. Uh they also cut tab fees. Um So,
[4:38] those were kind of the focal points.
[4:44] So, our agenda for the session was
[4:47] protect local government aid.
[4:49] Uh
[4:50] Pass a bonding bill, lead line funding
[4:53] to remove lead service lines. And then
[4:56] resist zoning uh preemption, which is
[4:59] something that's been coming up over and
[5:00] over again in the last few years. And
[5:02] so, that was those were our big agenda
[5:04] items.
[5:07] Here's the budget situation.
[5:10] Uh So, if you remember maybe
[5:13] So, February of 2025, we had a $6
[5:16] billion
[5:17] deficit. Uh so, the situation did
[5:20] improve. There is still that structural
[5:22] imbalance, which is, you know, your
[5:24] revenues coming in versus the money
[5:26] going out. So, if that continues, you
[5:29] know, we would be in a deficit situation
[5:31] again. So, we'll have to see. There's a
[5:35] another forecast coming up in November.
[5:37] So, we'll see how
[5:39] how it goes. But, this was kind of the
[5:41] setup for the session. So, you still do
[5:43] have a little bit of a positive balance
[5:46] in that second biennium, but not a lot,
[5:48] and so it sort of limited the amount of
[5:51] new spending uh discussion.
[5:55] Uh back to 2025, the Senate Democrats
[5:58] did uh propose LGA cuts. Luckily,
[6:03] nothing was proposed this year
[6:06] because I think the budget situation did
[6:07] improve a little bit. So, we were uh
[6:11] thankful that that
[6:13] uh wasn't proposed again this year.
[6:15] Um but there was very little new
[6:17] spending contemplated other than a
[6:20] bonding bill and then some policy
[6:22] discussion.
[6:25] So, I want to get into bonding.
[6:27] That was one of our top priorities.
[6:29] Um a little background, so there was a
[6:31] bonding bill in 2025. Uh
[6:34] there was some concern they may not
[6:36] there may not be as much um
[6:38] sort of support for a bill this year
[6:40] since they did one last year. Typically,
[6:43] uh or historically, it's been, you know,
[6:45] a budget year, bonding year, budget
[6:47] year, bonding bonding year. So,
[6:49] um but that hasn't necessarily held at
[6:51] the last decade or so. They
[6:53] it's been more sort of sporadic. Uh but
[6:56] there's there's what the governor was
[6:57] proposing. Public Facilities Authority,
[7:00] 99 million, which is the agency that
[7:02] does all those water and wastewater
[7:03] projects that are so expensive.
[7:06] Uh a lot of
[7:07] uh state-owned assets that he was
[7:10] proposing for um preservation, like
[7:12] state-owned buildings, parks, um
[7:15] that sort of thing, the MnSCU system, U
[7:17] of M system.
[7:18] Um and sadly, nothing for roads and
[7:20] bridges,
[7:22] uh which was unacceptable
[7:24] to us, and then very little set aside
[7:26] for local projects.
[7:29] And this is one where this is a bill
[7:30] that of course, you know, requires 60%
[7:33] to pass cuz um to borrow money, that's
[7:36] what what is required. So, that's one
[7:38] where the minority party does have a a
[7:40] bit of say.
[7:41] Uh here's some of our folks testifying
[7:45] on
[7:46] uh bonding, support for various bonding
[7:48] bills.
[7:51] And so, here's what ended up passing. We
[7:52] had 1.24 billion, which is about as high
[7:56] as they could go to stay within the
[7:58] borrowing guidelines. And then quite a
[7:59] bit more for the public facilities
[8:01] authority than what the governor is had
[8:03] been proposing, four times as much. So,
[8:06] uh and luckily we did get some money for
[8:08] local roads and bridges. So, that was
[8:09] good. Um in what else is not on here is
[8:12] um there's a like 4 and 1/2 million for
[8:16] uh local road wetland replacement
[8:18] program as well. And then a lot of money
[8:20] for local projects. If you remember last
[8:21] year there wasn't any local projects in
[8:24] that bill. So, I think it was a pretty
[8:26] good outcome. Um
[8:28] except for
[8:30] unfortunately on lead service lines
[8:34] we had a little disappointment on this,
[8:36] which I'll explain, but just a little
[8:38] background first. So, the EPA is
[8:41] requiring that all lead service lines be
[8:44] removed um but by 2037. And so, there's
[8:48] inventory going on. There's there's
[8:50] initially 200
[8:52] uh
[8:53] 50 million that was uh put in place or
[8:56] passed in 2023. There's uh
[8:59] inventory money to inventory all lead
[9:03] water lines, service lines
[9:05] in the state. They've identified 87,000.
[9:08] There's still a lot to be identified, so
[9:11] that work continues.
[9:13] Uh
[9:13] but cities can propose a plan once they
[9:17] get that inventory.
[9:19] Um and then you'll get on sort of a
[9:21] project priority list uh to get that
[9:24] funding. Um so, it's it's a lot to get
[9:28] all those lines removed by 2037, so 1.5
[9:31] billion. So, uh there's a lot to be
[9:33] done. Uh we're working with a coalition,
[9:35] and you can you can check out the map on
[9:38] um
[9:38] I think it's the Department of Health's
[9:40] website to sort of see what's been
[9:42] inventoried and where it is and where
[9:44] where those lines exist, but um
[9:47] you know, there it's going to be a lot
[9:49] to to get that all removed by 2037.
[9:53] We're working with a coalition of uh
[9:56] city groups and then labor groups and
[9:59] environmental groups to try to advocate
[10:01] for this.
[10:02] Uh
[10:03] but on in this bonding bill, there's
[10:05] only 15 million for that. So, we're
[10:08] going to need more to you know,
[10:11] make sure that the 2027 construction
[10:14] season, you know, we still have a full
[10:15] construction season. So, we're looking
[10:18] at coming back next year with that
[10:20] coalition that we're working with and
[10:22] trying to figure out a dedicated source
[10:24] of funding rather than just rely on what
[10:26] goes in the bonding bill cuz we did have
[10:28] 400 million for the Public Facilities
[10:30] Authority, which we want that, but you
[10:32] know, any more that would have gone to
[10:34] lead service lines would have come out
[10:36] of those other water and wastewater
[10:38] projects. So, we're looking at trying to
[10:41] find a dedicated source for that.
[10:43] Housing and zoning, so this is one that
[10:45] just keeps coming up over and over
[10:46] again. Uh 2024, it was called the
[10:49] missing middle bill, yes to homes, now
[10:51] it's the starter home act. Uh a lot of
[10:54] the same things that we've seen before
[10:56] trying to pre-empt local authority over
[10:58] where your how you do your zoning. Um
[11:02] all
[11:03] cities, so they they it had the way this
[11:05] framework worked it would have been, you
[11:07] know, cities under 5,000, 5 to 10,000
[11:09] and then over 10,000. So, all cities
[11:11] would have had to meet those
[11:13] requirements on that first bullet. Uh
[11:16] aesthetic and material standards, HOA
[11:18] pre-emption, and require alternative
[11:20] dwelling units. The one the only thing
[11:22] that did pass was that pre-emption of
[11:26] homeowners association. So, cities
[11:28] cannot require the creation of a
[11:30] homeowners association for development.
[11:33] That's one thing that did pass, but none
[11:35] of none of these other things did pass.
[11:37] Uh cities over 5,000, you'd have to
[11:40] up-zone like a third. You could pick a
[11:42] third of your um
[11:44] single-family and go up to four units,
[11:47] and then you could combine you have to
[11:48] combine uh commercial and multi-family,
[11:51] and then minimum lot sizes no greater
[11:54] than an eighth of an acre.
[11:56] And then for cities over 10,000,
[11:59] they would have required these some of
[12:01] these additional things like parking
[12:03] minimums, you'd have to pick two or
[12:05] three of those,
[12:06] uh creation of a housing trust fund,
[12:09] um
[12:10] for cities over 10,000. So,
[12:12] I think they wanted a little bit more
[12:14] flexibility than what they've proposed
[12:15] the last couple years, but it's still
[12:17] way too prescriptive. So,
[12:19] um we continue to oppose it.
[12:22] Uh the League of Minnesota Cities
[12:24] dropped their active opposition to the
[12:26] bill.
[12:27] Um it was
[12:29] the Coalition of Greater Minnesota
[12:30] Cities, Metro Cities, and the Municipal
[12:32] Legislative Commission that
[12:34] uh
[12:35] continued to oppose it. Luckily, it was
[12:37] defeated in the house, no hearings in
[12:40] the Senate, but we expect There's
[12:42] Bradley Peterson, our executive
[12:43] director, testifying on it.
[12:45] Um
[12:46] we expect that some version will come up
[12:48] again next session. So, we're going to
[12:50] have to continue
[12:52] uh
[12:53] to fight it again next year.
[12:55] So, looking ahead, of course, election
[12:57] year. Uh
[12:59] all legislative seats are on the ballot,
[13:01] all of Congress is on the ballot,
[13:02] there's a Senate seat. Um we just had a
[13:04] primary, so we know who the candidates
[13:06] are on the Republican side and the
[13:09] Democrat side. Of course, the Governor
[13:12] Walz is not running, as you know. So, we
[13:15] we will have a new governor. There's a
[13:17] lot of retirements that are taking
[13:19] place. So, we're working on
[13:22] meeting with all the candidates, getting
[13:24] them our candidate packet, let them know
[13:26] where we stand on this stuff um because
[13:29] there's going to be a lot of new members
[13:31] regardless of, you know, who is in
[13:33] control. There's going to be a lot of
[13:35] new legislators up there because of all
[13:37] the retirements. So,
[13:38] um
[13:39] more work to to do and January 14th is
[13:43] when the session starts
[13:45] and I think I just have a slide
[13:49] upcoming events.
[13:50] Uh one more plug for our fall conference
[13:53] and our
[13:54] uh legislative action day so you can
[13:55] come up and lobby with us next year if
[13:58] you want and we'd love to have you up
[13:59] there. I'm happy to answer any
[14:01] questions.
[14:03] Thanks again for having me.
[14:07] » Thank you.
[14:08] » All right.
[14:09] » No questions?
[14:10] » No. Appreciate it. Thanks, Darren.
[14:11] » Okay. All right. Thank you. Have a good
[14:12] meeting.
[14:13] » Yes, you also.
[14:16] No action needed on that.
[14:18] » No. No action.
[14:20] » We will move on to 13B, consideration to
[14:22] approve resolution 08.26.04
[14:27] amending bylaws of the St. James
[14:29] Firefighters Relief Association.
[14:32] » Bill's going to talk on that.
[14:33] » Bill.
[14:37] » Hello. Uh so, the fire department was
[14:39] asking to raise our retirement by $100
[14:43] per year.
[14:44] Uh
[14:45] this would not uh increase the city
[14:47] budget at all. It will not cost the city
[14:48] anything.
[14:50] Uh it'd be just part of our uh
[14:52] recruitment and retention program that
[14:54] we're trying to you know, we're almost
[14:56] full. Uh
[14:58] So, we'd like to try to stay there.
[15:01] This would help in that uh
[15:03] area.
[15:07] » Any questions?
[15:13] » So, move to dispense with the reading.
[15:14] » Second dispense with the reading. Paul,
[15:17] any other discussion?
[15:19] All those in favor, raise a hand.
[15:22] All opposed, same sign.
[15:24] Motion carries. Thanks, Bill.
[15:27] 13C, consideration to approve resolution
[15:30] 08.26.05
[15:33] appointing housing redevelopment
[15:35] authority board vacancy.
[15:38] » Um so
[15:40] Melissa Wilson with the HRA had reached
[15:42] out to Chris and myself. Um there's a
[15:44] vacancy on the um
[15:47] resident
[15:49] position on their board of director and
[15:51] she is requesting um
[15:54] Ann L
[15:54] » Ann L
[15:55] » Ann L, thank you. Uh Schofield to uh be
[15:59] appointed to the board vacancy. It would
[16:02] go into effect immediately and then um
[16:04] their 5-year terms, which would bring it
[16:06] to January 1st uh 2032.
[16:10] Um so, if there's any questions, I would
[16:12] take those.
[16:16] » So, move to dispense with the reading.
[16:17] » Kathleen
[16:18] » Second dispense with the reading.
[16:20] » Sue, any other discussion?
[16:22] All those in favor, raise a hand.
[16:25] All opposed, same sign. Motion carries.
[16:29] 13D, consideration to approve resolution
[16:32] 08.26.06
[16:35] authorizing the transfer of the 2019
[16:38] Ford F-350 from the electric fund to the
[16:41] general fund for the fire department.
[16:43] » Um so, this was discussed at a previous
[16:45] city council meeting um that when
[16:48] Matt received his new truck that we
[16:50] would transfer his uh old truck to the
[16:52] fire department for uses of the fire
[16:54] department. Um so, that is what is the
[16:57] resolution in front of you.
[17:01] » So, move to dispense with the reading.
[17:02] » Sue
[17:03] » Second dispense with the reading.
[17:04] » Steve
[17:06] Any other discussion?
[17:08] » Do you have space over there?
[17:11] » Yeah.
[17:12] » You do.
[17:12] » Yeah, we'll get rid of the old uh
[17:15] the old truck town. Uh
[17:19] It's a
[17:20] F-150 single cab.
[17:22] » Okay.
[17:23] » It's the red one.
[17:24] » Okay.
[17:25] Right. You know you're tight. So I was
[17:27] wondering.
[17:28] » It's it's tight in there, but we'll
[17:29] we'll uh
[17:31] sell it.
[17:34] Mhm.
[17:34] » Okay.
[17:35] » I'll roll that in there.
[17:37] » All right. Thank you.
[17:38] » Once we get that on the truck.
[17:40] » All right. No other questions?
[17:43] All those in favor raise a hand.
[17:46] All opposed same sign. Motion carries.
[17:49] Uh 13E, consideration to approve
[17:52] resolution 08.26.07
[17:55] declaring abandoned and surplus property
[17:57] and ordering the disposal.
[17:59] » So within this resolution there's two um
[18:02] items that are being requested to be
[18:04] abandoned and surplus.
[18:06] Um the first one is the 2013 Ford
[18:08] Taurus.
[18:09] Um it sits here at City Hall. Um we re-
[18:12] City Hall received the old um
[18:15] police
[18:17] » Squad car?
[18:17] » Yeah, but is it it's not a Yukon, it's a
[18:20] » Oh, Tahoe.
[18:20] » Tahoe. Thank you. I drive a Yukon, so
[18:22] it's going to get out of my head on
[18:23] head. Um so it's more favorable and the
[18:26] Ford Taurus just sitting and idling. It
[18:29] barely starts, so it kind of isn't
[18:31] needed anymore for city operations, so
[18:33] we're asking to get rid of that. And
[18:35] then in the kitchen at the community
[18:38] building sits a very large commercial
[18:41] mixer. It's leaking oil. It is
[18:43] non-usable, and so we'd like just to
[18:46] also dispose of that.
[18:52] » So move to dispense with the reading.
[18:53] » Steve.
[18:56] » Second. Dispense with the reading.
[18:58] » Paul.
[18:59] Any other discussion?
[19:02] All those in favor raise a hand.
[19:04] All opposed same sign.
[19:06] Motion carries. 13F, consideration to
[19:09] approve resolution 08.26.08
[19:13] authorizing the city manager to enter
[19:15] into the temporary construction easement
[19:17] agreement with Fleet and Farm Supply
[19:19] Inc. for the 12th Avenue South Highway
[19:22] District expansion.
[19:24] » Um so Briana and myself along with my
[19:26] co-chair um have worked with the owners
[19:28] of Fleet and Farm to um execute said
[19:31] agreement for um construction
[19:35] of the uh entrance in We have to
[19:38] relocate his entrance due to um 12th
[19:40] Avenue South there when we do the
[19:43] highway district expansion for the
[19:45] business park. Um so the agreement in
[19:48] front of you is um what we agreed on.
[19:51] Uh the city will be um putting the new
[19:56] driveway in for him
[19:59] at
[19:59] our cost.
[20:03] » So move to dispense with the reading.
[20:05] Paul?
[20:06] » Second to dispense with the reading.
[20:07] » Mary?
[20:08] Any other discussion?
[20:09] » When are we hoping to uh start it and
[20:12] when might it be done?
[20:16] » Um it will be a part of the turn lane
[20:19] project and it will be needed to bid out
[20:21] the 12th Avenue project along with the
[20:23] turn lane. So it will be all together
[20:25] when we bid out that one project.
[20:27] » So it will be next?
[20:29] » I believe the anticipated date is to bid
[20:31] it out in September.
[20:32] » Okay.
[20:33] » But we we still need to get an
[20:35] additional easement with Gary Johnson
[20:38] accomplished.
[20:41] » So more than likely it won't be it won't
[20:43] be this
[20:43] » That that is the anticipated plan, yes,
[20:45] September.
[20:46] » Okay, great. Thank you.
[20:49] » Any other discussions?
[20:52] All those in favor raise your hand.
[20:54] All opposed same sign. Motion carries.
[20:58] On to report of boards. Sue?
[21:01] » Nothing.
[21:02] » Kathleen?
[21:02] » Nothing.
[21:03] » Mike?
[21:04] » No.
[21:04] » Amanda?
[21:05] » No.
[21:07] » Uh we had coffee with the mayor today. I
[21:08] thought it went very well. We talked
[21:09] about housing.
[21:11] Had individuals show up with their
[21:13] concerns and expressed it to us.
[21:15] It's what I like to see is people come
[21:17] to us
[21:18] with what they have to say and not walk
[21:19] around town and say it.
[21:21] Uh, but I think it was a great
[21:22] conversation.
[21:23] We have people working on the right
[21:25] moves to uh
[21:26] bring some housing to do in our
[21:27] community, hopefully. So.
[21:30] Chris.
[21:31] » I have the movie for this weekend,
[21:33] August 21st through the 23rd is The
[21:36] Brink of War. It is a historical
[21:39] political drama set during the 1980
[21:43] set during 1986, focusing on the tense
[21:47] negotiations between US President Ronald
[21:50] Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev as
[21:53] the two leaders attempt to reach a deal
[21:55] that could dismantle nuclear arsenals.
[21:58] Pressure mounts from advisors,
[22:00] intelligence agencies, and the weight of
[22:03] history itself, making every con-
[22:06] conversation critical to the fate of
[22:08] global peace. It is rated PG. It is 1
[22:11] hour and 57 minutes. There is no movie
[22:14] on Friday. Saturday it starts at 7:00,
[22:17] Sunday it starts at 4:00 p.m. and all
[22:20] tickets are just $5.
[22:24] » Paul.
[22:24] » No.
[22:25] » Mary.
[22:26] Steve.
[22:27] » Nope.
[22:27] » Department heads.
[22:30] All right. Oh.
[22:32] Holly.
[22:33] » If you have the opportunity on Saturday
[22:35] morning, the ambulance service would
[22:37] love for you to come um to our farmers
[22:39] safety day that the ambulance
[22:41] association is putting on. Begins at
[22:42] 8:30, it's at the fairgrounds. Um it
[22:45] will be um some basic instruction on
[22:48] basic first aid, CPR, um how to apply a
[22:51] tourniquet, farm safety including grain
[22:54] bin rescue, and um power take-off
[22:57] safety. Um there's
[23:00] Schmidt's rolls for breakfast and um
[23:03] pork patties for lunch. We'd love to
[23:04] have you.
[23:05] » Thank you.
[23:07] All right. No one else? Can I get a
[23:09] motion to adjourn?
[23:11] » So moved.
[23:12] » Sue?
[23:13] » Second.
[23:14] » Paul? Any discussion?
[23:16] All those in favor, say I.
[23:18] » I.
[23:18] » I.
[23:19] » All opposed, same sign. Motion carries.
[23:21] Meeting adjourned at 5:53. Thank you.
[23:24] » Thank you.