Red Wing City Council Regular Meeting - November 10, 2025

The Red Wing City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting adjourned at 8:27 PM and covered parking ordinance amendments, fee schedule adoption, a liquor license for Chatter Nook Bistro, and planning for the CPKC Holiday Train event among other routine business. Council President Janie Farrar presided with all seven council members present, along with Mayor Gary Iocco and city staff.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tim Dehmer, Cannon Falls, addressed an incident involving police and asked whom to contact regarding ADA requirements for service animals. He was directed to follow up with the Public Information Officer.
• Amber Plank, Ward 4, spoke about predatory housing practices, highlighting a property purchased for $84,000 and listed for rent at $1,700/month without improvements. She urged transparency and provided tools for renters to research property ownership and pricing.
• Amber Plank, in a second segment, raised concerns about River Bluff School district, including a bus driver allegedly calling children "morons," a teacher reportedly telling a student to "get the F out of my classroom," the superintendent allegedly ignoring a parent's attempts to communicate, and a bus company refusing to pick up a child after the student said a grandparent would arrive.

Consent Calendar

• Bills totaling $809,359.39 (Warrant #125013–125221) approved.
• Minutes from the October 27, 2025, Workshop and Regular Meeting approved.
• One-day temporary on-sale liquor license for Downtown Main Street for the Holiday Stroll on November 28, 2025, approved.
• Authorized staff to apply for a $3,000 Minnesota Department of Health grant for fluoride pump replacement. Application deadline is November 24, 2025.
• Approved letter of support for Goodhue County's LRIP application for a roundabout at CSAH 1 and CSAH 66 (Bench Street and Pioneer Road), with design in 2026 and construction in 2027.
• Approved Resolution No. 8131 authorizing a MnDOT grant agreement for the Airfield Pavement Maintenance Project at Red Wing Regional Airport ($153,401 total; 70% MnDOT, 30% city share = $46,020) and entered into a contract with Struck & Irwin Paving.

Items Pulled from Consent Calendar for Discussion

• Chatter Nook Bistro Liquor License (Item 8C): Pulled by Council Member Snyder due to background check concerns involving a 2024 misdemeanor. City Attorney Mace explained the Council must determine if the applicant poses a threat under state and city disqualification standards. Council Member Norton noted the offense did not meet the five-year disqualification threshold. Council President Farrar stated she "would hate to hurt a business based on the actions of one individual." Approved 7-0.
• Bobbie Christen Appointment to Human Rights Commission (Item 8E): Pulled by Council Member Norton to highlight volunteer service on boards and commissions. Mayor Iocco commented he spoke with Christen and believes she "will be a fabulous addition." Approved 7-0.
• CPKC Holiday Train PUPP Application (Item 8I): Pulled by Council Member Lambert. Mayor Iocco detailed the event on December 12, 2025, at Bay Point Park with festivities from 5:00 PM, the train arriving at 7:15 PM for a 30-minute stop with live entertainment, a $1,500 food shelf donation, food trucks, and a goal to raise $10,000. Two Hiawatha Valley Transit bus routes and the Red Wing Trolley will provide transportation from the Studebaker, LaGrange, and Plaza parking ramps. Jackson Street will be closed during the event. Approved 7-0.

Discussion Items

Parking Ordinance Amendments and Policy Updates (Item 9A) Community Development Director Kyle Klatt presented the introduction of Ordinance No. 228 to repeal and replace Chapter 9 of the City Code and an amendment to the downtown Parking Policy adopted May 27, 2025. Key changes include: exempting parking ramps from the 300-foot rule (still applies to on-street parking), replacing 20-hour parking limits with clear overnight standards requiring a permit between 2 AM and 6 AM, reducing enforcement hours from 8 AM–8 PM to 8 AM–5 PM, creating employee overnight parking permits initially free, allowing parking in ramps during declared snow emergencies without a permit, formalizing a Parking Committee, and creating a petition process for ADA parking designation.

Police Chief Sather reported that the T2 parking management system was implemented July 1, 2025. After a two-week warning period, 190 parking citations have been issued, averaging about 48 per month, compared to approximately 250 citations in all of last year — three to four times the previous rate. He stated they are "seeing noticeable improvement in parking behavior" and that most complaints arise from the 300-foot rule.

Council discussion addressed: the $20 monthly ramp fee was a typo and should be $50; the LaGrange ramp annual permit is reduced from $500 to $400 to incentivize use of a lower-demand facility; permits are license-plate based; resident permits are $500 annually based on comparison to private market rates of approximately $100/month; and the permit system will be reviewed annually. Both motions passed 7-0.

Fee Schedule Ordinance No. 229 (Item 9B) Two votes were taken on the fee schedule introduction:

• A motion by Council Member Norton to exclude the 19% PUP administrative fee pending further discussion, set the employee permit fee at $50, and correct the monthly ramp fee to $50 failed 2-5, with Council Members Kliewer, Goggin, Farrar, Snyder, and Beise dissenting.
• A motion by Council Member Kliewer to approve as printed with the $20 to $50 monthly correction passed 5-2, with Council Members Norton and Lambert dissenting.

Key concerns raised during discussion: rental inspection/reinspection fees of $50 may be too low to ensure compliance; the 19% PUP administrative fee was added without input from community organizations and should be revisited; the perpetual flowers program lacks a formal cap despite prior workshop discussion; Council Member Norton expressed concern that $10 for an employee permit compared to $500 for a resident permit is inequitable; Mayor Iocco opposed charging employees for parking; Council Member Goggin stated the $50 employee fee would create more administrative burden than benefit.

Mayor Iocco's Request to Use City Logo (Item 9C) Mayor Iocco requested permission to use the City logo for a youth suicide prevention program (Hope Squad), now in over 2,600 schools nationally. He noted the initiative is non-political, non-religious, and costs the city nothing. Council Member Norton expressed respect for the initiative and emphasized the importance of following proper process "because it is easier to address the correct process now under these circumstances, rather than later if it is used for something unintended." Approved 7-0.

Port Authority Update

Community Development Director Klatt reported: the Port Authority approved executing a purchase agreement with the Red Wing School District to acquire the former Jefferson School property for $1, with due diligence including historic designation evaluation to qualify for historic tax credits. The School Board also approved the agreement that evening. Two grants were approved through the Sign and Facade Program. The Port adopted a final tax levy of $560,000 (below the maximum) and a budget of $697,000. The Fleshman project is expected to move toward demolition by year-end. The Central Research property demolition will go to public bid. The Little River Bulkhead and Red Wing Grain Mooring projects are advancing. Council Member Snyder asked whether the School District will continue to pay approximately $70,000 in annual maintenance costs through closing in July; Director Klatt confirmed yes and noted the Port has contingency clauses if the building is not maintained.

Council Liaison Reports

• Council Member Snyder: HRA finalized its budget; Housing Summit was a positive first step.
• Council Member Norton: Amos Owens Award recognition will be at the Human Rights Commission meeting on November 20.
• Council Member Goggin: Planning Commission approved a variance request for the Siewert building to deviate from B3 district design standards since the addition is in the rear and mostly covered by existing buildings.
• Mayor Iocco: Veterans program was "wonderful"; attended Rise Up cohort graduation focused on teaching parenting skills; praised the Housing Summit.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance No. 228 (Parking Code): Introduced 7-0. Will return after state citation review (approximately three months).
• Parking Policy Amendment: Approved 7-0.
• Ordinance No. 229 (Fee Schedule): Introduced 5-2 with monthly ramp fee corrected to $50. Council expressed intent to revisit the 19% PUP administrative fee, rental inspection fees, and employee parking fees in 2026.
• City Logo Use: Approved for Mayor Iocco's suicide prevention program 7-0.
• Jefferson School Property: Due diligence process initiated by Port Authority with School District; closing targeted for July 2026.
• Budget Timeline: Truth in Taxation meeting December 1; final budget and levy approval December 8.
• Service Animal Information: Chief Sather will draft information on ADA requirements for service animals for a future meeting.
• Performance Pay: Council Member Norton expressed concern about reducing performance pay by $200,000 (0.7% of the levy, approximately $18/year per average taxpayer) and requested metrics. Council Member Lambert questioned why the Council was discussing performance pay when the City Administrator may have authority to terminate the program.