Red Wing City Council Regular Meeting - March 23, 2026

The Red Wing City Council held its regular meeting on March 23, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. Council President Janie Farrar presided. Council Members present: Janie Farrar, Vicki Jo Lambert, Beth Snyder, Becky Norton, and Ron Goggin. Members absent (excused): Kim Beise and Donald Kliewer. Mayor Gary Iocco was also excused. The meeting covered the library annual report, public comments on manufactured home park water metering, approval of the consent agenda with two items pulled, adoption of an ordinance requiring master water meters for manufactured home parks, and authorization of Phase 1 of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) water meter reading system upgrade. Several agenda requests were also discussed, including a dog park, a closed session on employee allegations, parking fees, and a library board liaison request.

Consent Calendar

• Bills (Warrant #126955-127183, totaling $1,465,331.04): Approved as part of the consent agenda.
• Minutes: Feb. 23, 2026 workshop and March 9, 2026 regular meeting minutes approved.
• Finance Report (Item 8C): Pulled for discussion; later approved unanimously (5-0).
• Elevator Contract: Accepted bid and awarded contract to Midwest Elevator and Drilling for LaGrange Parking Ramp elevator modernization.
• Food Wagon Licenses: Approved for Carrie Summer/Chef Shack, Joshua Hall/Cousins Maine Lobster, and Chick-fil-A Tri-State Food Truck.
• Private Use of Public Property: Approved for Skills to Start event (March 31, 2026) and Ragnarok 105 (April 4, 2026).
• Ordinance No. 232 (Master Water Meter for MHPs): Pulled; later approved (see Discussion).
• Ordinance No. 231 (Rezoning) Resolution No. 8158 (Declaring building substandard) Ordinance No. 228 (Chapter 9 recodification) and Semi-Tractor replacement: Approved as part of consent agenda.
• One-Day Temporary Liquor Licenses: Approved for Anderson Center (April 10) and Elks Lodge #845 (April 10).
• Updated Data Practices and Procedures (Item 8H): Removed from agenda before meeting for legal revieew.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Amber Dawn Plank Warfield (Ward 4, Red Wing): Expressed concern over the recent Council vote to eliminate most council liaisons to boards and commissions, arguing it concentrated representation and reduced public accountibility. She commended two council members for supporting shared representation and community engagement.
• Brian Ertel (Owner, Grandview Mobile Home Park): Urged Council to reject Ordinance No. 232, stating it would require sub-metering and cost residents approximately $90 per month (over a 20% increase from current rent of $420). He noted he had invested over $2,000,000 in infrastructure upgrades, including water mains, and argued the ordinance undermined affordable housing.
• Issa Lanetti (Resident, Grandview Mobile Home Park): Asked Council to consider the impact of a $90 monthly increase, calling it a significant hardship for residents.

Discussion Items

• 6.A. Red Wing Public Library Annual Report (Presented by Director Dan Brower): Highlighted increased metrics for 2025: legal service area of ~22,000 residents; nearly all metrics rose (cardholders, visits, computer sessions, Wi-Fi sessions +22%, online resources +86%). Physical circulation declined 1% while digital circulation increased 16%. Library has over 90,000 physical items. Circulation to other libraries increased 12.5%, county cardholders +14%, boosting revenue from Goodhue County's SELCO share. Largest summer reading program ever (~800 participants). Unique items included artwork, disc golf sets, seed library (70-100 native varieties), state park passes, ukuleles, WiFi hotspots. Meeting/study room usage +13%. Average program attendance rose from 23 to 29. Lockers (Friends-funded) saw 48% of uses outside hours, over 1,000 items checked out. Cardholder rates in Wards 1 and 2 rose from ~31% to over 40%.
• 8.C. Finance Report (Council Member Lambert): Discussed a ~$945,000 drawdown in the General Fund, reflecting difference between budgeted revenue and expenditures. Finance Director Marshall Hallock noted the City has used ~$8.5 million of unassigned fund balance since 2018, though remaining above the 60% target. He identified the structural deficit as an ongoing concern requiring revenue increases, expenditure decreases, or both. Lambert also asked about levy vs. individual impact; Hallock explained that while the City increased the levy by 3.2%, residential property taxes rose only ~0.22% in aggregate due to tax base shifts (especially utility growth). The Finance Report was approved 5-0.
• 8.I. Ordinance No. 232 – Master Water Meter for Manufactured Home Parks: Council Members Goggin and Norton discussed concerns from public comment. Goggin stated a single master meter is the best long-term solution and pledged to reduce cost impact via in-kind labor. Norton noted existing meters could potentially be used on a replacement schedule. Council adopted the ordinance 5-0.
• 9.A. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Phase 1 (Presented by Core & Main's Dan Moore & Public Works Deputy Director Jerry Plein): Proposal to migrate from walk-by/drive-by monthly reads to an AMI system using water tower antennas for hourly reads. Features include leak detection, customer portal, remote shutoff (option for seasonal residents), pressure/temperature monitoring, and right-sizing commercial meters. System funded through water bill availability charges; no rate increase anticipated. City has ~6,500 meters; first tower near Mayo River Bluff expected to cover ~3,500. Currently ~2,500 upgraded meters installed; ~4,000 remaining. Phase 1 focuses on reading infrastructure; meter replacement continues separately via operations. Council approved the motion 5-0 to proceed with Phase 1 and authorize the Core & Main proposal.
• 10.A. Council Comments and Agenda Requests:
  • Earth Day Cleanup (Council Member Norton): Approved use of City logo to co-promote Commissioner Flanders' event (April 25, 2026, near Tipsy Turle, Welch). Norton will explore a separate City-sponsored cleanuup.
  • Special Olympics Calendar (Mayor Iocco's request): Council approved (5-0) to support by providing police and fire department photos with minimal staff time; no assembly of calendar by city.
  • Dog Park Update (Council Member Lambert): Discussed scheduled for May 25 workshop; staff is developing location options and high-level cost estimate. Council consensus: proceed with workshop.
  • Closed Session for Employee Allegations (Council Member Lambert & Norton): Motion passed 4-1 (Goggin opposed) to hold a closed session for preliminary consideration of allegations against an employee, to be scheduled when the most members can attend between 72 hours from the meeting and no later than the next regular meeting. Also directed Human Resources to notify Goodhue County not to submit the investigation report until after the closed session.
  • Parking Permit Fees (Council Member Lambert): Brought forward a downtown resident's complaint about plaza ramp fees. Council majority preferred to wait for a comprehensive review after the parking program has been in effect for a year. Staff will informally track complaints for future consideration.
• 10.B. City Council Administrator's Status Report (Chris Heineman): Noted Library Board's adoption of updated rules and a letter requesting continued council liaison. Council voted 2-3 (Norton and Lambert aye; Goggin, Farrar, Snyder nay) to place the request on a future agenda; motion failed. Also reported on federal direct appropriation requests for a ladder truck (submitted) and potential ambulance as second item.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Approved: Majority items approved, except Items 8C and 8I pulled for discussion.
• Finance Report Approved: Unanimous 5-0.
• Ordinance No.232 Adopted: Requiring a single master water meter for manufactured home parks (5-0).
• Active Motion for AMI Phase 1: Authorized proceeding with Core & Main proposal for Year One implementation (5-0).
• Special Olympics Calendar Supported: City to provide photos with minimal staff time (5-0).
• Closed Session Scheduled: For preliminary consideration of employee allegations; timing determined by availability; investigation report held until after session (4-1).
• Earth Day Cleanup Co-Promotion Approved: Use of City logo; explore additional City cleanup event.
• Library Liaison Request Not Placed on Future Agenda: Motion failed 2-3.
• Dog Park to be Discussed at May 25 Workshop: Staff to prepare location options and high-level cost estimate.
• Parking Fee Changes Deferred: Until comprehensive review after one year of program; staff to track complaints informally.
• No Other Significant Outcomes: Meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM.