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From YouTube: City Council Meeting - 6/20/23
Description
City of Austin, MN
A
B
B
F
B
H
B
F
B
I
B
E
B
F
Thank
you
mayor
members,
we're
exploring
the
possibility
of
an
extension
of
our
local
options,
sales
tax
and
using
those
proceeds
to
construct
a
law
enforcement
facility.
At
this
present
time,
our
county
is
interested
in
a
continued
co-location
with
the
Mower
County,
Sheriff's,
Office
and
dispatch
and
APD
being
in
the
same
facility.
This
needs
assessment
would
ultimately
determine
the
cost
of
the
facility
and
what
capacity
we'd
have
for
that
for
the
local
auction
sales.
Tax
seh
has
a
proposal
for
that
needs
assessment,
so
we
can
get
our
hands
are
on
the
cost.
A
C
I
These
are
the
same
terms
of
this
contract
that
we've
had
for
a
number
of
years.
We
have
it
in
the
schools,
at
least
in
the
26
years,
I've
been
here,
I.
Think
it's
a
great
partnership,
I
really
do
think
it's
a
one
plus
one
equals
three
we're
very
mindful
of
the
role
that
we
have
in
the
schools
that
we
are
invited
into
things,
but
I
think
again,
the
level
of
communication.
What
we're
integrated
to
do
really
provides
a
lot
of
value
to
the
school
and
what
they're
paying
for
from
us.
I
B
C
Of
Austin
has
an
agreement
with
the
state
of
Minnesota
Department
of
Revenue
for
collection
and
administration
of
our
local
option
sales
tax
that
happened
when
we
started
the
sales
tax
they've
actually
gone
through
a
process
to
review
all
their
sales
tax,
Collections
and
costs,
and
are
going
decided
to
change
to
a
flat
method
whereby
our
costs
actually
go
down
from
about
1.55
percent
of
our
lost
Revenue
to
about
1.35
percent
of
the
Lost
Revenue.
With
that
being
said,
the
state
is
asking
all
in
and
they're
going
through
this
with
every
agency
that
they
do.
C
C
H
B
Thank
you,
Tom
item
number
11
is
accepting
these
two
donations
in
the
city
of
Austin
2505
gift
from
spruce
up
Austin
to
the
honor
guards,
Park
Planters
and
two
thousand
five
hundred
dollars
from
a
Hormel,
Foundation
or
I'm;
sorry,
Hormel,
Foods,
Corporation
charitable
trust
to
the
bike
club.
So
we
appreciate
the
that
amount
of
money
from
both
those
agencies
and
looking
for
a
resolution
to
accept
them.
B
G
B
J
Hearing
council
members,
the
petitioner
Mitch
Meyer,
brought
a
matter
on
behalf
of
his
business,
the
muffler
Center
at
our
June
13th
meeting.
The
request
was
for
a
variance
from
our
city
code
for
a
20-foot
setback
on
the
rear
yard.
He
intends
to
add
a
40
by
65
Edition
to
his
existing
building.
The
setback
requirement
was
due
to
the
residential
there
being
residential
residentially
Zone
District
to
the
north.
The
Planning
Commission
reviewed
the
matter
two
neighbors
did
appear
at
the
name.
At
the
meeting
either
objected
to
the
project.
J
There
were
some
questions
about
the
property
lines
which
would
be
addressed
with
a
survey
being
required
for
the
building
permit.
After
reviewing
the
matter,
the
Planning
Commission,
with
six
members
present
recommended
approving
unanimously
with
six
votes.
The
Planning
Commission
made
the
following
findings
regarding
the
request
that
the
requested
variances
in
harmony
with
the
general
purposes
and
intent
of
the
zoning
ordinance
at
the
variance
if
granted,
would
not
alter
the
central
character
of
the
locality
in
which
the
property
is
situated.
J
B
Just
a
comment:
Holly
I
think
this
is
outstanding,
that
when
you
talk
about
the
silver
tsunami,
that's
coming
with
business
owners.
You
know
the
Sorensen
brothers
owned
that
for
40
years
and
I
was
nervous
when
they
were
going
to
retire,
and
then
you
had
two
young
young
folks,
folks,
Mitchell
and
Marshall
Meyer
come
in
and
buy
it
and
now
expand.
The
business
is
pretty
incredible.
I
think
it's
outstanding.
B
F
You
mayor
members
as
we're
concluding
our
contract
bargaining
negotiations
with
units
we
want
to
move
forward
on
an
employee
survey.
We've
solicited
five
proposals
and
after
review,
the
selected
employee
strategies
to
move
forward
with,
or
at
least
suggest
that
you
consider
that
they
would
do
a
pulse
survey
of
all
staff.
Two
focus
groups,
one-on-one
interviews,
there'll,
be
a
report
to
employees
and
Council.
F
G
I
think
you
guys
feel
free
to
speak
as
well,
so
I
think
we
looked
at
what
five
total
proposals
I
think
this
one,
and
there
was
another
company
that
were
probably
the
two
by
far
leaders
and
so
I
think
a
couple
things
that
differentiated
this
so
both
of
the
finalists,
at
least
in
my
mind,
good
basis
and
kind
of
Science
and
overall
Employee
Engagement.
It
wasn't
just
a
hey.
G
What
do
you
think,
but
there's
a
lot
of
research
around
the
types
of
questions
you
ask
and
how
those
correlate
back
to
engagement,
experience
with
government,
which
I
think
is
important,
because
obviously
we
operate
in
a
different
environment
than
the
private
sector,
and
then
I
mean
based
on
kind
of
even
my
own
personal
experience
in
different
sectors
of
running
these.
They
seem
to
have
their
arms
around
it.
The
best,
in
addition
to
that,
what
we
liked
about
this
one
is
they've
done
a
lot
of
Minnesota
work.
G
I
think
there
was
one
that
was
based
out
of
California,
so
we
had
some
level
of
concern
as
to
kind
of
how
connected
they
would
be,
and
even
after
we
had
our
conversations.
I
talked
with
a
couple
of
folks
from
like
Duluth
and
some
other
cities
where
they
have
utilized
them
in
the
past,
very
very
happy
with
the
results
and
kind
of
their
engagement.
So
all
the
costs
were
kind
of
in
the
same
ballpark.
A
B
K
You
it's
a
three-year
contract
with
the
Bruins.
The
terms
are
the
same
as
they
were
last
year,
with
the
exception
of
a
three
percent
increase
scheduled
over
the
next
three
years.
The
only
provision
that
they
requested
added
to
the
contract
was
if
they,
if
ownership,
were
to
sell
the
organization,
the
contract
would
transfer
to
the
new
owners.
L
Well,
the
new
owner
would
be
obligated
under
the
terms
of
this
lease
and
the
lease
is
for
a
period
of
time,
and
so
I
would
have
to
look
at
the
Loop
and
see
if
there
were
Clauses
that
allowed
people
to
get
out
of
it,
but
that
same
Clause
would
exist
for
the
current
owners
as
to
any
future
owners.
I
I
didn't
look
at
it
with
that
in
mind.
Yes,
but
the
same
rules
of
the
plot.
A
G
K
C
Jason
I
would
say
that
the
based
on
the
utility
costs
alone
it'll
be
higher
than
three
percent,
so
whether
you
want
to
attribute
at
all
to
the
Bruins
or
the
high
school
hockey
or
figure
skating,
the
cost
will
be
exceeding
three
percent
of
that
three
percent
Revenue
all
right.
Thank
you
for
so
much
Gerald.
You
know
it
won't
cover
it.
G
Yeah
I
think
that's
I
mean
the
Bruins
are
obviously
a
value
to
the
community.
I
get
that
they're
not
operating
on
the
same
level
as
like
an
NHL,
Franchise
type
of
thing.
I,
just
I
think,
as
we
think
are
about
to
move
into
the
budget.
Discussion
it'd
be
good
for
us
to
have
kind
of
a
connection
to
like
what
is
our
operating
cost
and
making
sure
that
we're
trying
to
make
sure
that
our
revenues
are
moving
somewhere
now,
but.
H
M
So
yeah,
it
is
my
last
meeting.
I
know
that
people
stream
this
afterwards,
but
if
anybody
is
interested
in
this
I,
it's
an
experience
that
I
highly
encourage
anybody.
Who's.
Looking
at
a
political
career,
just
trying
to
figure
out
how
our
City
Works
in
a
more
detailed
way,
I,
would
highly
recommend
it.
And
if
anybody
wants
to
talk
to
me
about
my
experience,
I'm
happy
to
do
that
as
well.
But
thank
you
for
allowing
me
this
and
getting
to
work
with
this
group
of
leaders.
I
appreciate
it.
B
D
But
you
know
just
his
experiences:
life
experiences
and
and
everything
he's
he's
brought
up
to
us-
have
been
very
eye-opening,
so
I
I
have
really
appreciated
that,
and
I
also
just
want
to
say
that
you
know.
Unfortunately,
Austin
has
had
a
very
rough
week,
but
I
am
very
grateful
for
APD,
including
dispatch
and
how
they
handled
everything
so
swiftly.
D
E
Just
a
quick
thanks
to
all
of
those
involved
in
Fourth
Avenue
Fest.
It
was
a
great
time.
Lots
of
folks
were
out
if
you
enjoy
being
out
in
the
community
you're
going
to
have
a
really
great
opportunity
here
in
about
a
week
and
a
half
believe
it
or
not.
It's
the
fourth
of
July
weekend
I
know
the
Austin
Entertainment
Group.
Hopefully,
I
got
that
correct.
It's
been
working
hard,
there's
a
great
list
of
events
in
The
Shopper
this
week,
so
looking
forward
to
a
fun
old-fashioned,
Austin
Fourth
of
July.
H
H
We
had
nine
local
government
partners
and
17
non-profit
partners
and
thank
you
to
everyone
who
participated,
who
showed
up,
who
did
extra
work
and
a
special
shout
out
to
Randy
and
the
parks
staff.
That's
a
big,
a
big
night
for
them.
I
am
happy
to
say
that
Randy
said
it
was
pretty
clean
by
the
time
they
got
there
at
the
end
of
the
night
so
and
probably
worth
mentioning.
H
H
And
Forestry
we
heard
at
the
meeting
last
week
about
a
new
proposal
for
a
skills
course
for
mountain
biking
at
Schindler's
way.
Schindler's
way
has
been
a
great
example
of
private
public
partnership.
I
think
everybody's
been
very
happy
with
how
that's
working
and
being
able
to
host
bike
races
now
and
have
more
of
our
local
kids.
Learning
about
mountain
biking
is
excellent
and
then
finally,
the
HRA
put
their
new
house
that
was
built
by
Riverland
students
on
the
market.