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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-2026HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026 CITY CENTER — COUNCIL CHAMBERS (The City Council is provided background information for agenda iten2s in advance by city staff, committees and boards. Many decisions regarding agenda iten2s are based upon this information as well as: City policy and practices, inputfi one constituents, and other questions or information that has not yet been presented ordiscussed regarding an agenda item.) 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER — 5:30 P.M. (a) Approve the Council agenda and any agenda additions and/or corrections Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, noted that an item needs to be added under New Business as Item 13.5. Creekside Soils is requesting the approval of purchasing bag film. Motion by Sebesta, second by Burley, to approve the agenda with the additional item noted. Motion carried unanimously. 2. INVOCATION — A moment of silence was held in lieu of an invocation. (The invocation is a voluntary expression of the private citizen, to andfor the City Council, and is not intended to affiliate the City Council with, or express the City Council's preference for, any religious/spiritual organization. The views or beliefs expressed by the invocation speaker have not been previously reviewed or approved by the Council or staff) 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. RECOGNITION OF GIFTS, DONATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO THE CITY PUBLIC COMMENTS (This is an opportunity for° members of the public to address the City Council. If the topic you would like to discuss is on the agenda, please ask the Mayor if he will be accepting public comments during the agenda item if not a public hearing. If you have a question, concern or comment, please ask to be recognized by the mayor state your name and address for the record. Please keep comments under 5 minutes. Individuals wishing to speakfor° more than five minutes should ask to be included on the agenda in advance of the meeting. All comments are appreciated, but please refrain f on2 personal or derogatory attacks on individuals) 5. CITIZENS ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL Luke Radtke, 445 School Road NW, presented before the Council. Mr. Radtke informed the Council that he is in fear of his safety due to the recent shootings of Minnesota residents by ICE agents. Mr. Radtke requested the City Council to protect its residents. He also requested that all ICE agents be unmasked and identify themselves while in the City of Hutchinson. 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (a) Regular Meeting of January 13, 2026 Motion by Burley, second by Sebesta, to approve minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA (The iten2s listed for consideration will be enacted by one motion unless the Mayor, a member of the City Council or a city staff n2en2ber° requests an item to be removed. Traditionally iten2s are not discussed) 7. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA (a) Consideration for Approval of Board Appointments CITY COUNCIL MINUTES —January 27, 2026 1. Katie May to Public Arts Commission to August 2028 2. Nicole Engh to Hutchinson Housing & Redevelopment Authority Board to August 2028 (b) Consideration for Approval of Issuing Short -Term Gambling License to Hutchinson FFA Alumni on March 21, 2026, at McLeod County Fairgrounds (c) Consideration for Approval of Issuing Short -Term Gambling License to Hutchinson Rotary Foundation on April 18, 2026, at Crow River Golf Club (d) Consideration for Approval of the 2026 City of Hutchinson Pay Equity Report (e) Consideration for Approval of Energy Management Agreement with Energy Management Solutions (f) Consideration for Approval of Cross Easement Agreement with Kasal Holdings LLC (g) Consideration for Approval of Purchasing One -Ton Pickup for Streets Department (h) Consideration for Approval of Resolution No. 15979 - Resolution Authorizing Disposal of Surplus Street Department Property (i) Consideration for Approval of Items for Franklin Site Improvements Project Phase 2 (Letting No. 4, Project No. 26-04) 1. Resolution No. 15981 - Resolution Ordering Preparation of Report on Improvement 2. Resolution No. 15982 - Resolution Receiving Report and Calling Hearing on Improvement 0) Claims, Appropriations and Contract Payments Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS — 5:30 P.M. - NONE COMMUNICATIONS, REQUESTS AND PETITIONS (The purpose of this portion of the agenda is to provide the Council with information necessary to craft wisepolicy. Includes items like monthly or annual reports and coniniunications f on2 other entities.) 8. PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION 2026-2027 SCULPTURE STROLL Lynn Neumann, PRCE Director/Public Arts Commission Ex-Officio, presented before the Council. Ms. Neumann provided an overview of the selected sculptures that will be part of the 2026-2027 Sculpture Stroll. 11 rotating pieces have been selected that will be featured throughout Hutchinson and two additional pieces were selected that will be placed at Ridgewater College and Citizens' Bank which are privately -funded locations. The new sculptures will be placed in May. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 2 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES —January 27, 2026 NEW BUSINESS 9. APPROVE/DENY RESOLUTION NO. 15980 - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AMENDED AND RESTATED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH HUTCHINSON — THE LANDING LLC Miles Seppelt, EDA Director, presented before the Council. Mr. Seppelt explained that the developer of The Landing project has requested an increase in the amount of TIF funding provided for the project due to unexpected, extensive soil corrections that are required. Mr. Seppelt noted that a housing TIF District was established for this development project to make the project financially feasible. The additional costs for soil corrections is in the amount of $263,583. This would increase the duration of TIF payments from 16 years to approximately 21.5 years. With this request is a revised development agreement and resolution authorizing the increased amount. Motion by May, second by Burley, to approve Resolution No. 15980. Motion carried unanimously. 10. APPROVE/DENY PURCHASE OF TACTICAL ROBOT FOR HUTCHINSON POLICE DEPARTMENT Tom Gifferson, Police Chief, presented before the Council. Chief Gifferson requested that the Council approve the purchase of a tactical robot to be utilized in high risk incidents. This equipment is included in the 2026 capital improvement plan. The total cost estimate for the robot is $82,950. It was noted that the industry is beginning to use this type of tactical equipment more often (drones, robots, etc.) to enter into high -risk incidents as the first line of contact. As part of the purchase price, training is included for officers. Motion by Czmowski, second by Burley, to approve purchase of tactical robot for Hutchinson Police Services. Motion carried unanimously. 11. APPROVE/DENY FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 26-871 — AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AIRPORT COMMISSION TERMS Mike Stifter, Public Works Director, presented before the Council. Mr. Stifter explained that the Airport Commission is requesting that commissioner terms be changed from three years to five years. Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve first reading of Ordinance No. 26-871. Motion carried unanimously. 12. APPROVE/DENY FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 26-872 — AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 116 OF THE CITY CODE RELATING TO THE CITY'S LODGING TAX Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Mr. Jaunich explained that the City has had a lodging tax ordinance in place since 1989. Since that time, the use of short-term rentals (VRBOs, airBNBs, etc.) have become more common. The proposed ordinance would include short- term rentals in the collection of the City's lodging tax. Other additions/revisions are being proposed related to lodging that is 30+ days and recordkeeping/reporting. Motion by May, second by Burley, to approve first reading of Ordinance No. 26-872. Motion carried unanimously. 13. APPROVE/DENY ADOPTING LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2026 Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Mr. Jaunich noted that the Council annually adopts legislative priorities to forward on to City's local legislators. Many of the 2026 priorities are carry overs from last year's list, however there are a few changes. This list includes CITY COUNCIL MINUTES —January 27, 2026 input from department directors. General discussion was held on the lack of support for funding requests for the HATS facility, which has been removed from the legislative priorities list for 2026. Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve adopting 2026 legislative priorities. Motion carried unanimously. 13.5 APPROVE/DENY PURCHASE OF BAG FILM FOR CREEKSIDE SOILS Andy Kosek, Creekside Soils Manager, presented before the Council. Mr. Kosek explained that the vendor that was awarded the quote in July 2025 to provide bag film for Creekside has been unable to fulfill orders and has continuously been delaying shipments. To ensure Creekside has bag film in stock for the upcoming Spring season, staff will be canceling the remaining balance with the vendor. In exchange, staff will award the remaining balance of products needed to Direct Plastics whom was the second lowest quote submitted back in July 2025. Direct Plastics recently re -quoted the remaining balance which has lowered from the original quote submitted. The remaining total with Direct Plastics is $53,441.10 Motion by May, second by Burley, to approve purchase of bag film from Direct Plastics for Creekside. Motion carried unanimously. GOVERNANCE (The purpose of this portion of the agenda is to deal with organizational development issues, including policies, performances, and other matters that manage the logistics of the organization. May include monitoring reports, policy development and governance process items.) 14. MINUTES/REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS (a) Public Arts Commission Minutes from October 8, 2025 MISCELLANEOUS 15. STAFF UPDATES Matt Jaunich — Mr. Jaunich noted that staff is looking to schedule a joint meeting with the McLeod County Board the end of March. He asked Council Members to let him know if there are dates that they are not available. Council Member Burley suggested holding it prior to a Council meeting. Mr. Jaunich also noted that Officer Steve Sickmann retired yesterday after 36 years of service. Tom Gifferson — Chief Gifferson noted that there are three police officer positions open and applications are being accepted until the positions are filled. 16. COUNCIL/MAYOR UPDATE Dave Sebesta — Council Member Sebesta noted that Parents Inspired has begun providing transportation for those in need. The community -based volunteer driver program is called Inspired Rides. Pat May — Council Member May noted that the Public Arts Commission is looking for board members and encouraged interested persons to complete and submit a board interest form. Tim Burley — Council Member Burley noted that the Chamber of Commerce has put together a calendar of all of the events happening in the community, but he also noted the vast amount of activities 11 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES —January 27, 2026 and events that the Public Library puts on. Gary Forcier — Mayor Forcier provided housing updates from the HRA Board, a review from the Resource Allocation Committee, and an update from the Airport Commission. ADJOURNMENT Motion by May, second by Czmowski, to adjourn at 6:20 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.