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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026.04.20 CC MinutesMINUTES City Council Meeting City Hall Council Chambers Monday, April 20, 2026 7:00 p.m. Call to Order Mayor Weidt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance COUNCIL PRESENT: Krull, Miron, Strub, Weidt COUNCIL ABSENT: Petryk OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Bryan Bear, City Engineer Mark Erichson, City Attorney Dave Snyder, City Clerk Michele Lindau Approve Minutes for the April 2, 2026, Local Board of Appeal and Adjustments Miron made motion, Strub seconded, to approve the Local Board of Appeal and Adjustments held on April 2, 2026, as presented. All Aye. Motion carried. Approve Minutes for the April 6, 2026, City Council Meeting Krull made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting held on April 6, 2026, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approve Minutes for the April 8, 2026, Hardwood Creek Open House Strub made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the minutes for the Hardwood Creek Open House held on April 8, 2026, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approve Minutes for the April 15, 2026, Metro Cities Annual Meeting Krull made motion, Miron seconded to approve the minutes for the Metro Cities Annual Meeting held on April 15, 2026, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Agenda Weidt made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the agenda as amended to add approval of a fireworks permit and temporary liquor license for the Hugo Lions for Hugo Good Neighbor Days. All Ayes. Motion carried. Council Meeting Minutes for April 20, 2026 Page 2 of 6 Hopkins Schoolhouse Update – Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center President Liz Cinqueonce President of the Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center Liz Cinqueonce provided and annual report and update. Liz reviewed the six measures of success the council had previously approved and how they were being met. They have received the 501(c)-(3) status and transitioned to the new nonprofit. Forest Lake is no longer a party to the agreement though they remain actively involved. They have applied for sales tax exemption with the state and their registration with the MN Attorney General’s Office Charities division. They are also working on a business plan for when the Hopkins Schoolhouse opens. Liz talked about the restoration that was overseen by Brad LeTrourneau and Floyd Petty. They replaced the front door, repaired the side door, replaced rails on the front steps, demolished and framed the interior, and restored the furnace face. She stated they were only able to make as much progress as they have due to Washington County’s Sentence to Serve and the City’s Building Official Joel Hoistad’s guidance. Tree removal and ground leveling were done with the help of Asplund and the Hugo Public Works Department and a preliminary site plan was created. They will be working on a final site plan for Council approval. Work is continuing on landscaping in front of the building and enhancements to the exterior steps. Liz explained the mission of the nonprofit was to engage students with programs implemented in the school about the schoolhouse. Students had visited on Patriot Day, and a Girl Scout troop built a free library that was placed in front of the building. They have done outreach to other local history groups and are helping a Hugo family history group to raise money to lift stones in the cemetery. Committee member Katherine Fraatz had commissioned for a model of the schoolhouse to be built to raise community support, and there is a video of it on YouTube. Liz reported that sufficient funds have been raised for interior framing and they have begun raising funds for future phase that includes infrastructure improvements, which they feel will be most challenging. There are contractors who would like to help but have run into barriers because it is a commercial structure. They have begun reaching out to trade schools. Current fundraising includes pending grant applications, Forest Lake History book sales, a Heart of the Schoolhouse campaign, and a fundraising event scheduled for October 24, 2026. ADA compliance has been confirmed for entry of the Schoolhouse. Bids have been secured for well evaluation, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Liz explained they continue with assessments and design plans for those items and for improvements to the interior. Miron stated his appreciation for a thorough report saying you can see progress, but a lot is done behind the scenes. He asked where people could go to find more information. Liz responded that they have a website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel. She invited the Council and offered to host a walkthrough at the schoolhouse. Weidt said he understood the problems with contractors and asked Liz to keep the Council updated. Council Meeting Minutes for April 20, 2026 Page 3 of 6 Approval of Consent Agenda Miron made motion, Strub seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda: 1. Approve Claims Roster 2. Approve Special Event Permit for Outdoor Music at 13327 Goodview Avenue North on Friday, July 24, 2026 3. Approve Special Event Permit for Outdoor Services and Picnic for New Life Church on Sunday, June 7, 2026 4. Approve Quote for the 2026 Dust Control Project 5. Approve Selection of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software 6. Fireworks Permit and Temporary Liquor License for Hugo Lions Club for Hugo Good Neighbor Days All Ayes. Motion carried. Approve Claims Roster Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Claims Roster as presented. Approve Special Event Permit for Outdoor Music at 13327 Goodview Avenue North on Friday, July 24, 2026 Jodi Hemann has applied for a Special Event Permit for an outdoor Christian musical event on Friday, July 24, 2026, from 6-9:30 p.m. The event will be held at her home on five acres at 13327 Goodview Avenue North. A Special Event Permit approved by Council is required because they will be using an amplified sound system. Adoption of Consent Agenda approved the Special Event Permit for 13327 Goodview Avenue North for a musical event. Approve Special Event Permit for Outdoor Services and Picnic for New Life Church on Sunday, June 7, 2026 David Streitz on behalf of New Life Church has applied for a Special Event Permit to hold an outdoor service and picnic on Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Special Event Permit approved by Council is required because they will be using an amplified sound system for the service and game announcements during the event. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Special Event Permit for New Life Church for outdoor events on June 7, 2026. Approve Quote for the 2026 Dust Control Project The City of Hugo currently applies dust control to approximately 23 miles of gravel roads located within its municipal boundaries, and the City’s General Budget accounted for a dust control project in 2026. As in past years, staff would work with May Township to cost share for the application of dust control on the shared portion of Keystone Avenue. Two quotes for dust control were received and opened on April 10, 2026. The low quote was from Envirotech Services at $1.57 per gallon. With City Council approval, staff would coordinate with Envirotech Services to deliver and place a total of 109,000 gallons of calcium chloride in two separate applications, once in mid-June and again in mid-August. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the quote from Envirotech Services in the amount of $171,130 for calcium chloride for 2026 dust control. Council Meeting Minutes for April 20, 2026 Page 4 of 6 Approve Selection of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software At the September 19, 2025, Midyear Budget Review Workshop, staff informed the City Council that Tyler Technologies had notified the City that support for the current Fund Balance accounting software will reach its end of life effective December 31, 2026. This will end support for all core financial modules currently utilized by the Finance Department. Staff has conducted a comprehensive review of replacement software options and demonstrations were completed with three vendors: BS&A, GovSense, and Tyler Technologies’ ERP Pro product. All three vendors offer robust ERP solutions with functionality extending beyond Finance to support operations in the Building Department and Planning and Zoning. The Building Department has expressed interest in transitioning from its current Permit Works software, while Planning and Zoning is seeking improved application tracking capabilities. After evaluation staff recommends proceeding with the selection of BS&A Software as the City’s new ERP solution. The system is expected to significantly reduce manual processes and improve operational efficiency across departments. BS&A has demonstrated the ability to successfully migrate data from the City’s existing system into its platform, helping to ensure continuity of financial records and minimize disruption during implementation. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved BS&A Software as the City’s new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. Fireworks Permit and Temporary Liquor License for Hugo Lions Club for Hugo Good Neighbor Days This was added to the Consent Agenda by staff. The Hugo Lions Club applied for a fireworks permit and temporary liquor license to hold fireworks on Saturday, June 6, 2026, and to serve alcohol during the event on June 5-7, 2026. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the fireworks permit and temporary liquor license for the Hugo Lions Club. Update on Design Guidelines for Veterans Memorial and Approve Agreement for WSB to Design Memorial At the meeting of July 7, 2025, the City Council authorized the Lions Volunteer Park Veterans Memorial Subcommittee. The committee has met five times and has prepared a mission statement, conducted a visual preference survey, and drafted Design Guidelines for the Memorial. At their meeting of March 18, 2026, the Parks Commission recommended approval of the Veterans Memorial Design Guidelines. A proposal has been received from WSB to prepare three schematic designs, work with the committee to prepare a preferred design and cost estimates, and to prepare 3D images for fundraising purposes. At their meeting of April 15, 2026, the Parks Commission recommended approval of WSB’s proposal for design services for the Veterans Memorial and use of the Special Park Fund in the amount of $21,000. Parks Planner Shayla Denaway reviewed the mission statement and design guideline process. The Committee conducted a visual preference survey and reviewed 50 images to formulate their vision of what the memorial could look like, then selected their preferred images. This led to the creation of the design guidelines that included multiple focal features such as a three-flag display, a battlefield cross sculpture, monuments honoring the six military branches, and a design that would include education and not be a one-sided presentation. Council Meeting Minutes for April 20, 2026 Page 5 of 6 The committee had agreed that the design should reflect a traditional style, incorporating seating areas, adequate lighting for evening use, and landscaping that includes shade trees, shrubs, and colorful plantings. The space should accommodate small gatherings and feature a unique design that complements the surrounding park through varied materials and thoughtful landscaping. Entrance points should be considered to create a welcoming and intentional experience. The area should be buffered from adjacent park space, streets, and parking lots, while also incorporating focal features visible from within the park. Shayla informed the Council that WSB Engineering provided a proposal that includes meetings with staff and the committee to gather feedback on three schematic plans, as well as a follow-up meeting to review the preferred design. The proposal also includes preparation of a site plan and 3D renderings for use in marketing and fundraising efforts. The total cost is $21,000, and the committee has requested that the City cover the cost of the design services. Miron asked about the timeline for proposals and final design. Shayla responded that she hoped to have an update ahead of the final rendering. She anticipated it could take 3-4 months. Strub commented that the guidelines seem well thought out and Miron agreed. Weidt asked about the square footage. Shayla replied that it had not been measured out, but the committee is realistic in its budget and has had discussions on the scale. She reminded Council that power had been stubbed to that area. Weidt noted that the Yellow Ribbon Network has been very active in the community and the memorial should be a good representation of the sacrifices of Hugo service members. He also commented on the beautiful design of the park and desire to have a well-designed memorial installed in a timely manner. Weidt made motion, Krull seconded, to approve the Veterans Memorial Design Guidelines. All Aye. Motion carried. Weidt made motion, Strub seconded, to approve the proposal for design services with WSB in the amount of $21,000. All Ayes. Motion carried. Reminder – Joint Workshop on Zoning Code Revisions on Thursday, April 23, 2026 City Administrator Bryan Bear reminded Council that a joint workshop was scheduled with the Planning Commission for Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Oneka Room at City Hall to discuss revisions to the Zoning Code. Reminder – Annual Performance Review for City Administrator Bryan Bear on Monday, May 4, 2026 City Administrator Bryan Bear reminded Council they had scheduled his performance review for Monday, May 4, 2026, at 6 p.m., one hour prior to the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Council Meeting Minutes for April 20, 2026 Page 6 of 6 Annual Spring Cleanup Council Member Strub added a reminder that the annual spring cleanup was scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 8-noon at the Public Works Building. Adjournment Miron made motion, Krull seconded, to adjourn at 7:49 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Michele Lindau, City Clerk