Red Wing City Council Regular Meeting – February 9, 2026

The Red Wing City Council met in regular session on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (called to order at 5:59 p.m.) in City Council Chambers. Council President Janie Farrar presided; all seven council members were present, with Beth Snyder attending virtually. The agenda was approved 7-0. The meeting covered the consent calendar, a presentation from the Goodhue County Historical Society, extensive public comment on federal immigration enforcement, adoption of revised Council rules, organizational chart changes, a demolition contract, and adoption of a Council statement on ICE activity.

Consent Calendar

• Bills totaling $589,754.31 (Warrant #126370–126546) approved.
• Minutes approved for January 26 workshop/regular meeting and January 29 annual workshop.
• Five-year Master Service Agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) approved.
• Temporary liquor/wine licenses approved for Anderson Center (March 6, 2026), American Legion Post 54 (Big Turn Music Festival), and Goodhue County Historical Society (February 26, 2026).
• Appointments: Sara Kern to Library Board, Jim Ross to Port Authority Board, Kendal Swanson to Sister Cities Commission.
• Letter of Agreement with Xcel Energy and Radiological Emergency Response Plan for Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant approved.
• Letter of support for Red Wing Collector's Society 50th Anniversary Event approved.
• Item 8H was pulled. The consent agenda minus 8H passed 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• More than 20 residents spoke, overwhelmingly urging the Council to adopt a statement denouncing ICE activity in Red Wing. Speakers described children's fear and trauma, arrests witnessed in front of homes, and community members afraid to go to work or school. Speakers included Lucy Richardson of Hispanic Outreach, Leah Midgarden, Sara Kern, Amber Dawn Plank Warfield, Alan Muller, Taryn Fuller, and others.
• Leah Midgarden cited WCCO reporting that less than 14% of ICE detainees have violent criminal records and said basic math shows more than 86% are TPS holders, green card holders, or asylum holders.
• Audience members stated that at least four ICE arrests have occurred in Red Wing. Alan Muller raised community rallies held Fridays and criticized the Council's inaction; he also questioned whether emergency plan documents were publicly available and called a seven-minute public hearing on a $142 million wastewater project inadequate.
• Several speakers addressed threats received by activists and police response; one speaker said it took about seven minutes for police to arrive after she was confronted outside her home.
• Public comment lasted more than an hour. (Council Member Snyder said 1 hour and 12 minutes; the minutes record 1 hour and 20 minutes.)

Discussion Items

• Goodhue County Historical Society presentation: Staff detailed the collection of over 75,000 artifacts, founded 1869, four-floor building occupied since 1969, and 2025 attendance of 2,815 visitors through programs and outreach. Executive Director Robin Whipperling requested the City reduce or eliminate building insurance costs, saying the 50-year lease (established 1990, expires 2039) and rising insurance create budget challenges. Council asked staff to discuss options with Heineman and to report on precedents for other city-leased buildings and grant options.
• Resolution No. 8152 (Council Rules of Order): Proposed updates to virtual attendance, order of business, agenda creation, and public comment. Public Information Officer Michelle Leise presented the draft. Council debated public comment time limits and a formal agenda request process. Council Member Snyder suggested tracking public comment for a quarter; Council Member Lambert opposed changing the current format. A motion adopted the resolution with amendments to take non-agenda comments first, reinstate Council comments under communication items, and allow the Mayor to offer the oath of office to appointees at a Council meeting or their first board/commission meeting. Passed 5-2 (Lambert, Norton opposed).
• Organizational Chart Changes: HR Manager Alex Saxe requested approval to reassign duties of the vacant Administrative Services Director, retitle Administrative Business Department to Finance Department, and formalize reporting changes. Council members expressed concern about staff input and workload for the Council Administrator. A motion to call the previous question passed 5-2, and the main motion passed 5-2 (Lambert, Norton opposed).
• Resolution No. 8153 (Central Research Building Demolition): Community Development Director Kyle Klatt reported nine bids for demolition of the former Central Research Building; DRC, Inc. of Litchfield, MN was low bidder at $163,800, with bids ranging to $679,835 and engineer estimates of $230,000–$538,000. The contract includes an asbestos abatement line item. Council passed the resolution 7-0.
• Council Statement on Federal Immigration Enforcement: The Council considered a statement drafted by an ad hoc committee and signed initially by the Mayor and all seven Council members. Debate centered on a sentence asking that Red Wing public property not be used for staging by federal agents. Council Member Beise said public property could include streets and sidewalks and he could not support the sentence. Council Member Goggin said immigration enforcement is a federal issue. After discussion, a motion to strike the staging sentence and clarify that "Red Wing police officers" are referenced passed 5-2 (Goggin, Kliewer opposed). The statement was to be published in City Beat and on the City website with six signatures: the Mayor and the five Council members who voted in the affirmative.

Other Reports

• Port Authority Update: Kyle Klatt highlighted two ongoing projects - the Office of Energy Transition Grant and Jefferson School purchase/due diligence. The Port Authority approved a payment deferral for Greater Red Wing Development Corporation related to improvements that helped secure a longer 3M lease.
• Council Liaison Reports: Sheldon Theatre won the Chamber's Tourism Business of the Year for 2025; Beyond the Yellow Ribbon shared donation information; Sister Cities Commission is fundraising for a student trip and discussing an adult delegation to Quzhou, China; Heritage Preservation Commission discussed reviving downtown history month activities.
• Council Administrator Status Report: A public neighborhood meeting for the street reconstruction project was scheduled for February 11, 2026, 6-7 p.m. at Colvill Family Center. Work is underway on a donation effort to replace downtown holiday decorations. A water service line replacement community meeting was set for March 5, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted consent calendar minus 8H (7-0).
• Tabled sewer charge reduction request for 596 East 7th Street until a written policy is presented (5-2); a motion to refund the entire $224.12 failed (2-5).
• Adopted Resolution No. 8152, amended, 5-2.
• Approved organizational chart changes, 5-2.
• Adopted Resolution No. 8153, 7-0.
• Adopted ICE statement with amendment, 5-2.
• Meeting adjourned at 10:01 p.m.