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City Council Study Session-June 16, 2026
Published: Jun 16, 2026
City Council Considers Right of First Offer on Former West Hills Lodge
The city council considered a resolution to release the right of first offer to purchase the former West Hills Lodge building. The Lee Foundation, which purchased the property in 2020, gave the city notice of its intent to sell to a third party for $778,000. The city council had 60 days to decide whether to make an offer. The budget impact for the city would be $778,000. The council prepared a resolution to decline the first offer. The potential buyer intends to use the property for housing for their employees under the state's HOA program, specifically for group housing for an employer with a plant nursery business. The council discussed the building's suitability for such use and the potential cost if the city were to acquire it.
City Council Reviews Event Permit for Rainbow Watana in Central Park
The city council discussed an event permit for Rainbow Watana, an organization holding an event in Central Park on Saturday, July 11th. The event will run from 2 PM to 7 PM, with setup from 12 PM to 2 PM and takedown from 7 PM to 8 PM. The permit application includes requests for space within the right-of-way for food trucks, covering Park Square, Broadway, and partial West Park Square. Sound amplification devices are requested and require a permit under a new ordinance. No alcohol will be served. The designated area includes the band shelter, sidewalks through the park, and the band shelter pad. The event is expected to fill the park with approximately 40-42 registered vendors out of 51 potential spaces. Law enforcement plans include a designated 'free speech zone' for potential protesters. New ordinances (Ordinance 93.030) governing event permits, designated areas, and noise levels will apply. The event will be staffed by Rainbow Watana's own security and the Otana Police Department, with overtime costs for police officers borne by the taxpayers. Concerns were raised about potential conflict between protesters and attendees, and the city's liability. The council discussed the need for clear designated areas and the 'interference clause' in the ordinance to manage potential disruptions. New security personnel will be on-site, and police presence is confirmed, with overtime costs noted.
Council Deliberates on Proposed Parkland Dedication Ordinance Updates
The council discussed proposed updates to the zoning and subdivision ordinance, specifically focusing on parkland dedication requirements. Two main options were presented: Option 1, a higher-level approach with stricter requirements, and Option 2, a lighter approach with more flexibility. Both options involve collecting land or cash in lieu of dedication based on the city's comprehensive and master plans. Key differences lie in the percentage of land required for residential, commercial, and industrial developments, criteria for land suitability, trail construction requirements, grading standards, and timing of performance. Option 1 generally requires higher percentages and stricter standards, including no waivers for downtown districts, while Option 2 offers more flexibility and lower percentages, with potential waivers. The discussion also covered the allocation of funds (ward-specific vs. citywide pooling vs. hybrid) and the financial implications of each option, with figures estimated for past developments under both options. The council expressed a general inclination towards implementing a parkland dedication ordinance, with a leaning towards a hybrid approach that balances legal exposure with flexibility. Further analysis is requested to refine the proposed figures and provide comparable data from other cities.
Renovation Project Proposed for Children's Cemetery
Ann Peterson and Tim Shea presented a proposal for renovation and upgrade projects at the Children's Cemetery. Tim Shea, a volunteer, has been extensively researching the history of the children buried there, accumulating close to 7,000 records. The current state of the cemetery has deteriorated, with unreadable headstones and the loss of trees due to the Emerald Ash borer. The proposed plan includes repairing the main cemetery monument, bringing water to the site for a new garden and visitor use, correcting misspelled names on 11 children's crosses, straightening gravestones, creating a low-maintenance perennial garden, planting disease-resistant trees, updating information on the children, and enhancing signage with QR codes for storytelling. The Owatana Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant for infrastructure (water) to support these projects. The West Hills Commission recommended advancing the plan to the city council, which approved it. The request is for the city council to approve the renovation and upgrade project, with no direct funding requested from the city as funding is secured through grants and donations.
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The Owatonna News archive
City Council-June 16, 2026
Mayors Minute June 16, 2026
2027 Budget Workshop June 15, 2026
Mayor's Minute-June 2, 2026
City Council-June 2, 2026
City Council Study Session-June 2, 2026
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