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<br /> <br />City Council Minutes <br />April 29, 2024 <br />--------- <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />▪ Together we win <br /> <br />Mr. Portner reviewed the goals set in 2023. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard stated that the goals do not include housing. He wondered if the city could <br />educate residents on the term “affordable housing” so that it does not equate “crime ridden or <br />dysfunctional”. He stated that housing is needed for all levels of employee salaries. <br /> <br />The Council agreed that they would like to see the results of the housing study Sherburne County is <br />conducting as soon as possible. <br /> <br />Public Safety Grant <br /> <br />The city received a grant of $1,145,601 to be used by the Police and Fire departments. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz asked if patrol car purchases would be an allowed expense under this grant. Council also <br />questioned if remodeling of the firing range would be allowed. Mr. Portner will research. <br /> <br />The Council will continue a discussion of how to allocate the funds at a future council work session. <br />They were in favor of one-time expenses that would not have on-going costs. <br /> <br />Statewide Affordable Housing Aid <br /> <br />Mr. O’Neil discussed Statewide Affordable Housing Aid funding offered to the city. Sherburne County <br />has discussed sharing their portion pro-rated with cities and, with that amount, the total could be <br />$270,000. <br /> <br />The Council agreed they shouldn’t turn down the money and the HRA be put in charge of managing it. <br /> <br />The Council recessed at 3:01 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 3:09 p.m. <br /> <br />Chamber Building Vision <br /> <br />The Council discussed proposed repairs on the Chamber of Commerce building. The building and <br />property are owned by the city and leased to the Chamber of Commerce for $1 per year. <br /> <br />The Council agreed they did not want to put additional money into the property and discussed other <br />locations for the Chamber staff and meeting area. <br /> <br />Staff was instructed to ask the Chamber of Commerce what they can afford for rent and help find an <br />alternative space. <br /> <br />The Council recessed at 3:25 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 3:30 p.m. <br /> <br />Fire Station #1 Vision <br /> <br />Fire Chief Dickinson received a quote of $25 million to construct a new fire station, which would not <br />include the cost of land acquisition. The new site should be 3 ½ - 4 acres in size.