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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-22-2026HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 CITY CENTER — COUNCIL CHAMBERS (The City Council is provided background information for agenda items in advance by city staff, committees and boards. Many decisions regarding agenda items are based upon this information as well as: City policy and practices, input from constituents, and other questions or information that has not yet been presented or discussed regarding an agenda item.) 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER — 5:30 P.M. Mayor Gary Forcier called the meeting to order. Members present were Pat May, Dave Sebesta, Tim Burley and Chad Czmowski. Also present were Matt Jaunich, City Administrator and Marc Sebora, City Attorney. (a) Approve the Council agenda and any agenda additions and/or corrections Motion by Burley, second by Sebesta, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 2. INVOCATION — The River Church (The invocation is a voluntary expression of the private citizen, to and for 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 staf� fj 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. RECOGNITION OF GIFTS, DONATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO THE CITY (a) Resolution No. 16067 — Resolution Accepting $2,000.00 Donation from Walmart for Hutchinson Police Department Future Equipment Purchases (b) Resolution No. 16073 - Resolution Accepting Donation from Joyce Hochsprung (Varieties of Daylilies to Parks Department) Motion by May, second by Sebesta, to approve Resolution Nos. 16067 and 16073. Motion carried unanimously. 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 S minutes. Individuals wishing to speak for more than five minutes should ask to be included on the agenda in advance of the meeting. All comments are appreciated, but please refrain from personal or derogatory attacks on individuals) 5. CITIZENS ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (a) Regular Meeting of September 8, 2026 Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA (The items listed for consideration will be enacted by one motion unless the Mayor, a member of the City Council or a city staff member requests an item to be removed. Traditionally items are not discussed) CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 22, 2026 7. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA (a) Consideration for Approval of Resolution No. 16066 — Resolution to Dispose of Surplus Parks and Recreation Department Property (2011 Ford Truck) (b) Consideration for Approval of Resolution No. 16071 — Resolution to Sell at Auction Surplus Police Department Property (2017 Chevrolet Suburban) (c) Consideration for Approval of Resolution No. 16072 — Resolution Supporting the Pursuit of a Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant for Funding of the Otter and Campbell Lakes Accessible Recreational Opportunities Project (d) Consideration for Approval of Design Services on Clarifier Mechanism Replacement Agreement With Nero Engineering (e) Consideration for Approval of Replacement of Handicap Lift in Burich Arena (East Rink) (f) Consideration for Approval to Accept Proposal from Larson Engineering to Proceed with Next Steps for Outdoor Basketball Courts Project at JC Women's Park (g) Consideration for Approval of 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV for Hutchinson Police Department (h) Consideration for Approval of Airport Hangar Grant Federal Closeout (i) Consideration for Approval of Spooky Sprint Event on October 31, 2026 0) Appointment of Josh Wendland to Hutchinson Utilities Commission to December 2030 (k) Claims, Appropriations and Contract Payments Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS — NONE COMMUNICATIONS, REQUESTS AND PETITIONS (The purpose of this portion of the agenda is to provide the Council with information necessary to craft wise policy. Includes items like monthly or annual reports and communications from other entities.) UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 8. APPROVE/DENY RESOLUTION NO. 16068 — APPROVING THE 2027 HRA PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY 2 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 22, 2026 Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Prior to taking action on the preliminary HRA tax levy, Mr. Jaunich provided a brief overview of the goals of the overall preliminary budget and tax levy. Staff is proposing a 9.1% tax levy increase from 2026. The final tax levy approved in December can be lower but cannot be higher. The debt plan includes new debt for the City Center remodel. Mr. Jaunich reviewed things to note related to the general fund revenue. Some items to note included in general fund expenses include a 12% increase to health insurance, a new communications position, and a $20,000 contribution to the Center for the Arts. The proposed tax increase means the median home seeing a $79/year increase. Mr. Jaunich explained that the City must certify the 2027 preliminary HRA tax levy to the County Auditor by September 30, 2026. This tax levy has a statutory limit of $314,033, however the HRA Board is requesting only $173,000 to fund its 2027 operations. This levy amount is the same amount as 2026, therefore does not require a levy increase. Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve Resolution No. 16068 - preliminary HRA tax levy in the amount of $173,000. Motion carried unanimously. 9. APPROVE/DENY RESOLUTION NO. 16069 — APPROVING THE 2027 EDA PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY Mr. Jaunich explained that the City must certify the 2027 preliminary EDA tax levy to the County Auditor by September 30, 2026. This tax levy has a statutory limit of $307,752 which is the amount the EDA Board is requesting to fund its 2027 operations. The levy amount represents a 7.4% increase from the 2026 levy. Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve Resolution No. 16069 - preliminary EDA tax levy in the amount of $307,752. Motion carried unanimously. 10. APPROVE/DENY RESOLUTION NO. 16070 — APPROVING THE 2027 GENERAL FUND & DEBT SERVICE PRELIMINARY TAX LEVIES Mr. Jaunich explained that the City must certify a preliminary 2027 tax levy to the County Auditor by September 30, 2026, for the general fund and debt service funds. The proposed preliminary tax levy of $10,761,270 reflects an overall City tax levy increase of 9.1%. This is based on a 9.5% levy increase to the general fund levy and an 8.1 % increase to the debt levy. Combined with the HRA and EDA tax levies, the total tax levy increase is 8.9%. Major assumptions include a 3% inflationary shift in the pay grid, a 12% health premium increase and adding a proposed Communications Coordinator position. The debt tax levy includes increases for roadway improvement projects, funds to finance the new fire ladder truck and funds to remodel City Center. Motion by Burley, second by Sebesta, to approve Resolution No. 16070 setting the preliminary tax levy at $10,761,270. Motion carried unanimously. 11. APPROVE/DENY SETTING ANNUAL CITY RECOGNITION EVENT FOR NOVEMBER 5, 2026, AT 5:30 P.M. AT HUTCHINSON EVENT CENTER CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 22, 2026 Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve setting annual City recognition event for November 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. 12. APPROVE/DENY SETTING TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING FOR DECEMBER 3, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. Council Member May noted that he has a conflict with the proposed hearing date of December 3, 2026, and suggested holding the hearing on December 2, 2026. Motion by May, second by Czmowski, to set truth in taxation hearing for December 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. 13. APPROVE/DENY HUTCHINSON AQUATIC CENTER WATERSLIDE RESTORATION AND REPAIRS Lynn Neumann, PRCE Director, presented before the Council. Ms. Neumann explained that the aquatic center waterslides have experienced deterioration, leaking seams, alignment issues, loose hardware and premature interior and exterior coating wear. Staff contacted Fischer Bros. LLC, who specializes in waterslide inspection, restoration and repair to conduct an onsite inspection of the waterslide system. The inspection identified numerous deficiencies with the existing slides. The structural integrity of the fiberglass is in good condition with the primary deterioration occurring in the interior and exterior coatings and at the slide seams. Due to poor seam alignment, leaking and premature interior wear, repairs are necessary before the slides can continue operating. Fischer Bros. provided a quote of $133,500 for complete restoration of the three waterslides. The proposed work is anticipated to begin in November 2026 and should all be completed by the aquatic center's normal 2027 operating season. Funding that had been allocated for new and additional play features at the aquatic center will be delayed and instead will be used for the water slides restoration/repairs. Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve Hutchinson Aquatic Center waterslide restoration and repairs. 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) City of Hutchinson Financial Report and Investment Report for August 2026 MISCELLANEOUS 15. STAFF UPDATES Mike Stifter — Mr. Stifter noted that all paving of the improvement projects was completed last week. Landscaping has been completed near The Landing project with paving being completed next week. Matt Jaunich — Mr. Jaunich noted that hard good pick up is this Saturday, September 26, 2026. All items should be on the curb by 6:00 a.m. and two items only per residence. 11 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 22, 2026 16. COUNCIL/MAYOR UPDATE Tim Burley — Council Member Burley commented on the public library and the vast amount of programs they have available. The librarian will be providing an update at an upcoming Council meeting. Pat May — Council Member May commented that the Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee met and reviewed a draft of an ordinance regulating e-bikes. He also noted that October 7 h is Bike/Walk to School Day. Matt Jaunich noted that a draft of the e-bike ordinance will be presented at the next Council meeting with a public forum occurring sometime after that. Gary Forcier — Mayor Forcier provided brief updates from the HRA Board and Airport Commission. Mayor Forcier noted that Cynthia Sutter has interest in serving on the Sustainability Advisory Board and he will place her appointment on the next Council agenda. ADJOURNMENT Motion by May, second by Cznowski, to adjourn at 6:05 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.