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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-02 CC REGULAR ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL MEETING – DECEMBER 2, 2025 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Barthel, December 2, 2025, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Rick Engelhardt, Karen Godfrey, Scott Schue, and Jonathan Shafto Councilmember absent: None Also present: City Administrator, Sarah Cotton Director of Public Works/City Engineer, David Berkowitz Community Development Director, Joe Janish City Attorney, Scott Baumgartner Others PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE RESIDENT FORUM No one came forward to address the Council. AGENDA APPROVAL Councilmember Godfrey requested to remove item #1E from the Consent Agenda, as she has a personal interest in this item and would like to abstain from voting to avoid a conflict of interest. Motion by Schue, Seconded by Engelhardt, to approve the Agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES November 18, 2025, Regular Meeting: Correct as written. Motion by Godfrey, Seconded by Schue, to approve the November 18, 2025, Regular meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 1. CONSENT ITEMS Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes – December 2, 2025 Page 2 A. Approve Payment of Claims B. Approve 2026 Tobacco Licenses C. Approve Terminating Participation in the North Metro Regional Street Maintenance Joint Powers Agreement (R141-25) D. Approve 2026 Liquor Licenses E. Approve 2026 Kennel Licenses F. Declare Surplus Property/Equipment G. Approve Final Plat Boulder Prairie Estates (R142-25) H. Approve Joint Powers Agreement/Anoka County/24-38/Construction of Roundabout at Crosstown Blvd. NW & CSAH 20 I. Approve Policy on Displaying the United States and Minnesota Flags at Half-Staff J. Approve 2026 Massage Therapy Licenses K. Approve Application/Bingo/Crooked Lake Elementary L. Approve Off-Sale 3.2% and Tobacco Licenses/Holiday Store M. Approve City Administrator Review Motion by Godfrey, Seconded by Shafto, to approve of the Consent Agenda items A-D and F-M as read. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Schue, Seconded by Shafto, to approve of the Consent Agenda item E as read. Motion carried 4 ayes, 1 abstain (Godfrey). 2. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. PUBLIC HEARING - CONSIDER VACATING DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT - 16678 TULIP STREET NW The City Council is requested to hold a public hearing and make a decision on the vacation of the easement request. Community Development Director Janish reviewed the Staff report in regard to a vacation of drainage and utility easement request at 16678 Tulip Street NW. Motion by Shafto, Seconded by Schue, to open the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. No one came forward to address the Council. Motion by Godfrey, Seconded by Engelhardt, to close the public hearing at 7:08 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Engelhardt, Seconded by Godfrey, to adopt Resolution No. R143-25, granting the vacation of drainage and utility easement in the property addressed 16678 Tulip Street NW (PID 08-32-24-34-0002). Motion carried unanimously. Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes – December 2, 2025 Page 3 B. PUBLIC HEARING - REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST 13981 OLIVE STREET NW The City Council is requested to hold a public hearing and make a decision on the reasonable accommodation request to build a wheelchair ramp in front of the home to allow for wheelchair access. Mr. Janish reviewed the Staff report concerning the accommodation request at 13981 Olive Street NW. Motion by Godfrey, Seconded by Shafto, to open the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Thomas Miller, 13971 Olive Street NW, came forward and shared that he lives next door to this property and has no issues with the accommodation request. He noted there should be no question about allowing something like this, and he does not believe that the neighbors need to be notified about it. He suggested allowing Staff to make these kinds of accommodation requests rather than going through the public hearing process. Motion by Schue, Seconded by Engelhardt, to close the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Councilmember Godfrey asked why there are 30-foot setbacks in front of homes in the first place. Mr. Janish explained it provides conformity to the neighborhood, while also allowing for driveway space. Councilmember Engelhardt asked why all the neighbors had been notified of this. Mr. Janish explained they followed the process for a public hearing by notifying any property within 350 feet. Councilmember Shafto added he would be interested in exploring whether it would be beneficial to change this process from a public hearing to an administrative process. Motion by Shafto, Seconded by Godfrey, to adopt Resolution No. R144-25, granting the reasonable accommodation request at the property addressed 13981 Olive Street NW (PID 36-32- 24-22-0064). Further discussion: City Attorney Baumgartner shared he would not recommend changing this to an administrative process, as these reasonable accommodation requests affect the neighborhood, and by going through the public hearing process, those who could be affected will be notified and allowed to share their opinions with the Council. Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes – December 2, 2025 Page 4 Motion carried unanimously. C. PUBLIC HEARING - 2026 PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND 2026 BUDGET The City Council is requested to receive a presentation, open the public hearing, discuss, and if there is no need for a continuation hearing, approve the resolution adopting the 2026 Proposed City Budget and Tax Levy. Finance Manager Brezinka reviewed the Staff report in regard to the 2026 property tax levy and budget. Councilmember Schue noted one of the concerns raised by the Council at a recent Workshop was the depiction of an unbalanced budget. He asked for clarification on this for the residents. Mr. Brezinka explained in previous years, some funds had revenues exceeding expenditures, while in other years, the opposite was true. He said they are using funds that were earned in prior years to spend into the future. Councilmember Schue shared they are not incurring debt with these items; instead, they are utilizing previously accrued funds to cover this year’s expenditures and projects. Councilmember Shafto said he understands that it has been a different year with costs increasing on most everything. He noted this also affects the City’s costs. He stated they gave direction to Staff to help keep these costs in check. He shared he conducted his own research on tax levy increases in cities across the State and found that Andover’s 4.2% increase was the smallest levy increase of similar-sized cities. He noted the average increase of similar-sized cities was 9%. He added Andover had the fifth lowest increase of all cities in the State with over 10,000 residents. He said it is clear that their increase is far below the average across the State. He thanked Staff and Council for their hard work over the past few months, diving into the budget to ensure they are spending money in the most efficient way possible. Motion by Engelhardt, Seconded by Godfrey, to open the public hearing at 7:34 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Hope Luedtke, 16932 Jivaro Street NW, came forward and shared that taxes and budgets are typically a hot topic, yet the Council Chambers are relatively empty. She asked how residents were supposed to know that this public hearing was being held this evening. She said she was not aware that this public hearing was taking place this evening until someone mentioned it to her, which then led her to review the City's website. She explained she had difficulty finding the information on this hearing, as it was only available in the agenda packet. She suggested including this in the newsletter or on the reader board on Bunker Lake Boulevard. Motion by Schue, Seconded by Shafto, to close the public hearing at 7:38 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes – December 2, 2025 Page 5 Motion by Engelhardt, Seconded by Shafto, to adopt Resolution No. R145-25, adopting the City of Andover 2026 budget and 2026 property tax levy to be certified to the County Auditor, without a continuation hearing. Motion carried unanimously. D. REVIEW/ADOPT 2026 DEBT SERVICE LEVY CHANGES The City Council is requested to approve a resolution that would update certified bonded indebtedness levies for 2026. Mr. Brezinka reviewed the Staff report concerning adopting the 2026 debt service levy changes. Motion by Schue, Seconded by Godfrey, to adopt Resolution No. R146-25, updating certified bonded indebtedness for 2026. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Barthel thanked Mr. Brezinka for all of his hard work on the budget this year. He added they need to do a better job of informing the public about these meetings and public hearings in the future. 3. STAFF ITEMS A. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT City Staff updated the Council on the administration and city department activities, legislative updates, updates on development/CIP projects, and meeting reminders/community events. (Administrative Staff Report) Ms. Cotton reviewed the Administrative Staff report. She shared the Tree Lighting Event will be this Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Community Center. She added a food and toy drive will be held at the event hosted by the Andover Fire Department and the Andover Lions Club. She shared they are seeking applications to fill vacancies on their th various advisory boards and encouraged anyone interested in applying to do so by December 12 through the application on the City’s website. (Public Works/Engineering Department Report) Director of Public Works/City Engineer Berkowitz reviewed the Public Works and Engineering Department report. He thanked Public Works Staff for their work clearing snow during the recent snow events. He said there has been a big issue with cars parked on the roads and reminded residents that cars are not allowed to be parked on the roads overnight until April. He added they held an open house for the Red Oaks monitoring area last night, and although they had a smaller turnout than they had hoped, they were still able to have great conversations with those in attendance. He said construction of this project is anticipated to start in May 2026 and be completed in August 2026. Councilmember Engelhardt shared he saw several mailboxes damaged due to careless driving in the snow. He encouraged residents to drive with caution and to be vigilant for pedestrians walking on the sidewalks or in their yards. Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes – December 2, 2025 Page 6 4. MAYOR/COUNCIL INPUT Mayor Barthel thanked the snowplow drivers for all of their work to clear the streets during late nights and early mornings. 5. CLOSED SESSION A. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION OF ALLEGATIONS AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE Motion by Shafto, Seconded by Schue, to move to Closed Session. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Barthel recessed the regular City Council meeting at 7:46 p.m. to a Closed Session of the City Council to discuss preliminary consideration of allegations against an employee. RECONVENE The City Council reconvened at 8:25 p.m. Motion by Schue, Seconded by Godfrey, to terminate the full-time Building Supervisor of the Andover Community Center effective immediately, based on findings presented, the Staff packet, and testimony heard. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Shafto, Seconded by Engelhardt, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ava Major, Recording Secretary REGULAR ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES – DECEMBER 2, 2025 TABLE OF CONTENTS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ..................................................................................................1 RESIDENT FORUM ..............................................................................................................1 AGENDA APPROVAL ..........................................................................................................1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES ...................................................................................................1 1. CONSENT ITEMS ..........................................................................................................1 A. Approve Payment of Claims ........................................................................................2 B. Approve 2026 Tobacco Licenses .................................................................................2 C. Approve Terminating Participation in the North Metro Regional Street Maintenance Joint Powers Agreement (R141-25) ........................................................................................2 D. Approve 2026 Liquor Licenses ....................................................................................2 E. Approve 2026 Kennel Licenses .......................................................................................2 F. Declare Surplus Property/Equipment ...............................................................................2 G. Approve Final Plat Boulder Prairie Estates (R142-25) .................................................2 H. Approve Joint Powers Agreement/Anoka County/24-38/Construction of Roundabout at Crosstown Blvd. NW & CSAH 20 ..........................................................................................2 I. Approve Policy on Displaying the United States and Minnesota Flags at Half-Staff.........2 J. Approve 2026 Massage Therapy Licenses .......................................................................2 K. Approve Application/Bingo/Crooked Lake Elementary ...............................................2 L. Approve Off-Sale 3.2% and Tobacco Licenses/Holiday Station ...................................2 M. Approve City Administrator Review ............................................................................2 2. DISCUSSION ITEMS .....................................................................................................2 A. PUBLIC HEARING - CONSIDER VACATING DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT - 16678 TULIP STREET NW (R143-25) ...................................................2 B. PUBLIC HEARING - REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST 13981 OLIVE STREET NW (R144-25) .................................................................................................3 C. PUBLIC HEARING - 2026 PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND 2026 BUDGET (R145-25) .4 D. REVIEW/ADOPT 2026 DEBT SERVICE LEVY CHANGES (R146-25) .......................5 3. STAFF ITEMS ................................................................................................................5 A. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT .....................................................................................5 4. MAYOR/COUNCIL INPUT ...........................................................................................6 5. CLOSED SESSION ........................................................................................................6 RECONVENE ........................................................................................................................6 ADJOURNMENT ...................................................................................................................6