[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6333965,"mediaKeyId","2300124-262072636f8b20d3d4d3cf64509ea97f","parentId",2300124,"title","Council sets hearings for multiple street projects and hears details on $15 million Oakland/First Avenue reconstruction","audioSeconds",1192,"startMs",1993000,"endMs",3185000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2300124-262072636f8b20d3d4d3cf64509ea97f&start=1993&end=3185","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2300124-262072636f8b20d3d4d3cf64509ea97f/thumbnail_1993000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6333965/Austin-City/Mower-County/Minnesota/Council-sets-hearings-for-multiple-street-projects-and-hears-details-on-15-million-OaklandFirst-Avenue-reconstruction","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6333965-1ef33a7d2b1b73d279d6c170b190596a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153231&Signature=SRJlOLez4ecETz8zk9kyLq3liDiYCTNbN9jUysLaV4nYpjVpWAGAND-r9360ncZ1vOzmAY-Za05CwPWdo1F5eTTtz2QkET-g-AhpjmhI31u-VwDVHe5q~eR~Suj9DC1NVRXN2x7zB7b3dTdpKmwQ8ng1q7buR2ghVVKimQ99dPJV9aKO48XdCLZlWzbjZPvDTqmd0uQGXwhjjpDqcPZrl9XrOJcOQlZK~BGouHzUWvnnYXw5NFJqlWBXELMc8gH~aqvihd7ZVazH5LdAvFrtpaxywE5bjOQdbuXrUitPghkmjynfp6j6fsrypglM7lPWjfyFyzbvOkLQsy7KOTSrlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Austin, MN","date","2025-01-06T00:00:00Z","article","Austin City Council received feasibility reports and called public hearings on multiple street-improvement projects, including a detailed presentation on a major reconstruction of Oakland Avenue and First Avenue estimated at about $15 million.

Council approved resolutions calling public hearings for several projects (see \"Votes at a glance\" below). Staff described the Oakland/First Avenue corridor project as a three‑phase reconstruction to be built in 2025–27 with new 8‑inch concrete pavement, storm‑sewer and sanitary‑sewer replacements, decorative street lighting, widened sidewalks in selected locations and traffic‑pattern changes on one segment of Oakland Avenue. Staff said the project will remove most boulevard trees in the corridor because of narrow boulevards and construction impacts.

Key details from staff: The total project estimate is about $15,000,000; staff said grants totaling $7,680,000 will be applied over several years. The project will be phased: 2025 work will begin near Twin Towers and proceed west; 2026 will continue the corridor and include a First Avenue segment; 2027 will finish remaining sections. Staff said the city will use assessment bonds and grants to fund about two‑thirds of the project, with wastewater and storm funds used for utility work.

Sidewalks and assessments: Staff recommended sidewalks be replaced at 5‑foot widths in some locations and 8‑foot widths on specified sides of the new one‑way segments; staff also recommended the city not assess homeowners for the sidewalk portion on the Oakland/First Avenue project because the work involves full corridor reconstruction and grant funding. Assessment billing will use the 2025 rates for all properties but will be charged in the fall of the year their phase is constructed (2025, 2026 or 2027), staff said.

Construction and community impacts: Staff acknowledged the corridor overlaps bridge and detour work and that staging will be planned to avoid major school‑period interruptions; the project schedule is driven in part by grant timing, and staff said delaying construction could jeopardize grant funding. Councilors asked whether further delay was possible; staff said delay would risk forfeiting grant dollars.

Votes at a glance:
- Item 10: Sixth Street NE (Thirtieth Ave to 30 Sixth Ave NE), public hearing set for Feb. 18, 2025 — resolution approved.
- Item 11: First Avenue SW (Fourth Drive to Twelfth St SW), public hearing set for Feb. 18, 2025 — resolution approved.
- Item 12: Oakland Avenue / First Avenue SW major corridor (project 25‑103), public hearing moved from April 7 to March 3, 2025 — resolution approved.
- Item 13: Sixth Avenue NE / Eighteenth Drive NE (project 25‑106), public hearing set for Feb. 18, 2025 — resolution approved.
- Item 14: Fifth Street SW mill-and-overlay (project 25‑107), public hearing set for Feb. 18, 2025 — resolution approved.

All feasibility‑report resolutions passed by council vote during the meeting.

Ending: Staff will post formal notices, prepare assessment letters for affected property owners and return with final plans, contract documents and assessment amounts as each project's design and schedule are finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin City Council Meeting - 1/6/25","oneSentenceSummary","The council accepted feasibility reports and set public hearings for several street-improvement projects, and staff detailed a $15 million, three‑phase reconstruction of Oakland Avenue and First Avenue with sidewalk, signal and utility upgrades.","taxTitle","Austin City, Mower County, Minnesota","taxId",70673,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6333970,"Council advances cannabis ordinance to next step; one councilmember objects to buffer absence",6,107117,114068,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2300124-262072636f8b20d3d4d3cf64509ea97f&start=107&end=114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2300124-262072636f8b20d3d4d3cf64509ea97f/thumbnail_107117.jpg","/articles/6333970/Austin-City/Mower-County/Minnesota/Council-advances-cannabis-ordinance-to-next-step-one-councilmember-objects-to-buffer-absence","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6333970-6cc63ba6c185813d74f5d1b79abe4fe9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153231&Signature=EMdLtrOXqzzei1suaXw34XW~N5S1gVH7Vj5Yb0OX0aN-fvLTTlsHzM5ICKEz8SZPOvFEF2hJfPyNMaqwWWhPSzfIaZhhAfv~WtqQ0P9cgWxux~1ZEvddUxTWSMQTFWCuXFP7AE5N3LYbSO4OnMyl5WIdWmtR0NEtudn0VrN0SyrXcYC05Dkf1rTi1ejEM-QGTVTCh6tCGC9Or1Z94UvXFbf5dCS9hkEHHPQek~z5QZrjpHqiXNXXrk~dA-qGkUsL59betEAq~cGieBoJDgJZxe7LLb3LNNkLrk5Tsy-IQa8gJe5cvdrkWlmU8wQtn-9DNgwT03X0tnW~TGWjZhMlgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Austin City Council moved forward on a proposed cannabis ordinance and advanced the measure for the next stage of consideration, but at least one council member objected to the current draft.

Council voted to direct staff to prepare the ordinance and then proceeded with the ordinance's first reading. During the first-reading vote, the councilmember at large, identified in the meeting transcript as \"Council member at large Austin,\" voted no and said the ordinance should have included buffer requirements; the chair said the item will be carried forward to the next meeting.

Why it matters: Establishing a local cannabis ordinance sets the city’s local permitting and land‑use parameters for cannabis-related businesses. Council members raised procedural questions and differences about whether buffer zones around sensitive uses should be included in the ordinance's initial draft.

What council heard: A council member said they had missed prior discussions and did not see buffer language in the draft. Another council member confirmed the version before council was the original draft without the buffer parameters. After debate, council approved the motions to prepare and take up the ordinance for first reading; the first-reading vote included a single recorded “nay.” The transcript does not include text of the ordinance nor specific buffer distances.

Council action: The motion to prepare the ordinance passed and the ordinance was advanced at first reading with a recorded no vote from the council member at large. Council did not change the draft to add buffers at this meeting.

Next steps: The ordinance will return to a future meeting for further consideration; staff will follow the council’s direction to prepare the draft ordinance materials.

Ending: Council advanced the ordinance while noting at least one member preferred additional buffer language.","Council directed preparation and advanced the first reading of a cannabis ordinance; the councilmember-at-large voted no, citing a desire to see buffer zones included.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6333974,"Austin approves first round of ash-tree removals, transfers $1 million for multi-year program",488,381000,869000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2300124-262072636f8b20d3d4d3cf64509ea97f&start=381&end=869","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2300124-262072636f8b20d3d4d3cf64509ea97f/thumbnail_381000.jpg","/articles/6333974/Austin-City/Mower-County/Minnesota/Austin-approves-first-round-of-ash-tree-removals-transfers-1-million-for-multi-year-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6333974-2fc2127463e669045448c04a7f64bcfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153231&Signature=DJ0lwUDyowGbTGLTul2fftUFfae12BXp1n09ePHI9wRQqwFKSQLTyU7U3T0mnCOSfYMdPBbaLzuQZQC1xpJ~rvhg94mlJMjbUxtNfh-i6Iriu7LuPrUM1udJFmh7Y0HtSUyVRbGu21z4PZOsZZiHBdNfwudynoa4oqYZ19z4xni~22FBqL0th11Am3wmAUw8sGpVnl7KiNDPKo~VW4Kl0L0tSuhNtdIJX8LqpL5WW57-EL8wuDuWyq-hT2FYv2uOy-vooYZPGNwVG0o8aqYliIspBBw9Wt-8tsAlKshen8S3xBySAdQH4v~5IqMeeGqXeCikjwcygw98OjS~8rcOew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Austin City Council voted to award the first contract for a multi-year plan to remove ash trees killed or threatened by emerald ash borer and approved a budget adjustment to fund the broader effort.

The council voted to award the initial contract for removal, stump grinding and ground restoration of 325 ash trees to Cars Tree Service Inc. for the low bid of $183,428.14. City staff said the work will be funded in part by a Hormel Foundation grant of $91,714.07 and a city match from the Capital Improvement Revolving Fund of $91,007.14.

The tree-removal work is part of a larger program anticipated to affect about 1,600 city-managed trees over several years, staff said. At the meeting, city staff asked council to transfer $1 million from general-fund balance into the Capital Improvement Revolving Fund to pay for contracted removals and replacements over the multi-year program; council approved that budget adjustment by roll call.

Why it matters: The emerald ash borer has forced many communities to plan phased removals and replacements. City staff said they prepared detailed inventory and bid documents, including diameters, access notes and overhead utilities, to reduce contractor site visits and speed work.

What council heard: Jason (staff member) told the council the city opened bids on Dec. 20 and received 15 proposals; the lowest was $183,428.14 and the highest about $568,000. He said staff is satisfied with the low bidder’s qualifications and noted the company had provided required licenses and insurance. Jason also said the work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2025, for this contract. Tom (staff member) and council members asked about the total number of trees and the mix of in-house versus contracted work; Jason said roughly 1,600 city-managed trees remain to be treated or removed and that some removals will continue to be done by in-house tree crews.

Council action: The motion to award the bid and the separate resolution to adjust the general fund budget and transfer $1 million to the Capital Improvement Revolving Fund both passed by roll call vote.

Details to note: The Hormel Foundation grant amount and the city match are recorded in the staff packet. Staff said they planned additional bid rounds if needed, because repeat bidding sometimes tightens prices. Jason also told council the contractor will use specialized equipment that will speed work and reduce neighborhood disruption.

Next steps: Staff will finalize contract paperwork with the awardee and proceed with scheduling; council directed staff to code and track expenditures in the capital fund.

Ending: The council approved both the contract award and the budget transfer unanimously.

","City Council awarded a $183,428.14 contract to remove 325 ash trees and approved a budget adjustment that moves $1 million into a capital fund for an ongoing emerald ash borer removal and replacement program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council sets hearings for multiple street projects and hears details on $15 million Oakland/First Avenue reconstruction

Council advances cannabis ordinance to next step; one councilmember objects to buffer absence

Austin approves first round of ash-tree removals, transfers $1 million for multi-year program