Red Wing City Council Regular Meeting – April 13, 2026

The Red Wing City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers and virtually. The meeting covered a consent agenda with routine approvals, public comments on government transparency and community priorities, and several substantive motions including approval of street reconstruction bids, a policy change to allow high school student voting members on advisory commissions, and an access agreement with Xcel Energy for environmental testing at a former manufactured gas plant site. The meeting recessed into closed session at 7:58 PM to evaluate the City Council Administrator's performance and adjourned at 9:59 PM.

Consent Calendar

The following items were approved unanimously by roll call vote of 7:0, with Items 8F and 8M pulled for separate discussion:

• 8.A: Approval of bills (Warrant #127184–127504, totaling $2,517,781.29)
• 8.B: Approval of minutes from March 23, 2026 (Workshop and Regular) and April 6, 2026 (Special)
• 8.C: Appointment of Brian Waters to the Sustainability Commission for a partial term expiring December 31, 2026
• 8.D: Rejection of all bids for the 2026 Sanitary Slip Line Project and encumbrance of funds for 2027 (bids exceeded engineer's estimate of $595,950)
• 8.E: Reallocation of CIP funds for plow equipment and authorization of purchase order with Towmaster for $170,115; commitment of an additional $79,050 from the 2027 CIP
• 8.G: Acceptance of proposals for Booster Station 8 rehabilitation for $226,876.92
• 8.H: Approval of 2026 Solid Waste Haulers License for Harter's Disposal of MN
• 8.I: Five-year contract extension with Midwest Storage LLC (Marine Specialties) for boat hauling
• 8.J: Sidewalk Café License for Mandy's Coffee and Café
• 8.K: Adoption of Resolution No. 8159 (Summary Publication of Ordinance 228, Parking Regulations)
• 8.L: 50-year lease agreement with Red Wing Port Authority for Levee Road Mooring Clusters
• 8.N: Private Use of Public Property (PUPP) application for Red Wing Shoes Annual Sales Meeting (May 3–8, 2026)

Items 8F and 8M were pulled for discussion:

8.F – Institution Community Work Crew (ICWC) Contract Renewal
Council Member Lambert highlighted cost savings, noting that using up to 10 workers from the Red Wing Correctional Facility saves the City an estimated $1.32 million to $2.64 million over the two-year contract (based on an average staff salary of $89,000). Council Member Snyder noted that workers receive skills training including forklift operation. The two-year renewal at $105,000 per year (0% increase) was approved unanimously by a vote of 7:0.

8.M – Red Wing Arts Concert in the Park Series PUPP
Council Member Lambert noted the series has been a community tradition for approximately 50 years, with weekly Wednesday concerts for the past decade, and last year drew over 1,200 attendees at a single concert and approximately 7,500 total for the season. The PUPP application was approved unanimously by a vote of 7:0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Margaret Hanson (reading a statement for Sara McCormack Hoffman, Ward 2) expressed concern that the City Council no longer functions as a representative democratic body, citing the elimination of public agenda meetings, the Council Administrator's control over the agenda, and lack of meaningful dialogue in response to public comment.
• Melissa Boyd (Ward 4) reported on a citizen-led "Sunshine on City Hall" meeting on March 21, 2026, attended by 75 community members and three Council members. Priorities discussed included government transparency, accessibility to elected officials, investment in public green spaces, programs for teens/youth, and affordable housing. She noted upcoming elections and future meetings.
• Wendy Johnson (Ward 2) expressed appreciation for the National Library Week proclamation, described the Red Wing Public Library as a flagship institution with record-breaking summer reading programs, and encouraged the Council to recognize the library's value.
• Mary Kernan (Ward 3) shared concerns about a perceived lack of transparency in City government, while acknowledging the dedication of Council members and expressing a desire for all voices to be heard.
• Haven Saoirse (Minneapolis, social work intern at Fernbrook Family Center) spoke virtually about public transportation infrastructure, noting that clients find the bus system unreliable and too expensive, affecting their access to services.

Discussion Items

9.A – 2026 Street Reconstruction Bid Acceptance
Engineering Director Zach Regnier reported that seven competitive bids were received, with the low bid under the engineer's estimate. Reference checks were positive. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 8160 accepting the low bid for reconstruction of East 4th Street, East 3rd Street, Sanderson Street, Green Street, and Arkin Street carried unanimously (7:0).

9.B – Changes to Board, Commission, and Committees Policy (Youth Voting Members)
Mayor Iocco introduced the proposal to allow high school students (9th grade or higher) to serve as voting members on a pilot basis on four advisory commissions: Arts and Culture, Human Rights, Sister Cities, and Sustainability. Students would fill existing vacancies, serve terms from June 1 to May 31 (up to four terms), and only one student per commission would hold a voting seat. RiseUp Red Wing offered to assist with recruitment, but the application and appointment process would remain the same as for adults.
Discussion included residency requirements – Council Member Norton suggested student eligibility should align with each commission's existing membership boundaries rather than the school district. City Attorney Amy Mace confirmed that language could be revised. Council Member Goggin expressed reservations about granting voting privileges to minors and potential displacement of adult applicants.
A motion to approve the policy changes, with a pilot running through May 2027, and with residency language revised to align with each commission's boundaries, carried 6:1 (Goggin dissenting).

9.C – In-Kind Donation Request of $345 from Red Wing Arts
Red Wing Arts requested a waiver of shelter rental fees for its Mobile Arts – Art in the Park event. Public Works Director Blaney noted the adopted fee schedule does not authorize staff to waive fees. Council discussion noted precedent concerns and suggested referring the request to the Arts and Culture Commission, which has a budget and meets that week. A motion to direct the request to the Arts and Culture Commission for consideration carried unanimously (7:0).

9.D – Access Agreement for City Parcel at Bluff Street & 4th Street (Xcel Energy)
Ross Lexvold and Sam Bader from Xcel Energy presented the history of the parcel as a former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) site (1873–1950). Northern States Power conducted remediation in the early 1990s with MPCA oversight, and the site received closure in 2006. Due to updated MPCA screening standards and the upcoming 4th Street reconstruction, Xcel proposes targeted soil borings to compare current conditions to historical cleanup results. The access agreement includes a one-time evaluation to be completed before May 8, 2026.
City Attorney Mace highlighted that Exhibit C restricts future uses to recreational and limited commercial (park, pollinator garden, warehouse, paved lot), with residential and agricultural uses prohibited. These restrictions apply regardless of testing results, though they can be lifted with MPCA written approval. The 1994 indemnification agreement between Northern States Power and the City remains in effect.
Council Member Norton expressed concern about permanently ceding authority over future use decisions and voted against. Council members supporting the agreement noted the safety value of knowing current conditions and the reasonableness of restrictions given the parcel's history. The motion carried 6:1, with Norton dissenting.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent agenda items 8.A–8.E, 8.G–8.L, and 8.N unanimously (7:0). Items 8.F and 8.M were pulled and also approved unanimously.
• Adopted Resolution No. 8160 accepting the low bid for the 2026 Street Reconstruction project, carried 7:0.
• Approved changes to the Board, Commission, and Committees Policy to allow high school voting members on a pilot basis through May 2027, with residency language aligned to each commission's boundaries, carried 6:1 (Goggin dissenting).
• Directed the $345 in-kind donation request from Red Wing Arts to the Arts and Culture Commission for consideration, carried 7:0.
• Approved the cooperative access and covenant agreement with Xcel Energy for the Bluff Street & 4th Street parcel, carried 6:1 (Norton dissenting).
• Received the Port Authority update and Council comments; entered closed session at 7:58 PM to evaluate the City Council Administrator's performance, reconvened at 9:59 PM, and adjourned.