Austin City Council approves multiple contracts, adopts assessment rule and new ordinance; public hearing locks 2025 rates for Oakland/First Avenue project

The Austin City Council on April 7 approved a suite of contracts, bid awards, studies and ordinances and adopted assessment rules that lock in 2025 assessment rates for the Oakland Avenue and First Avenue Southwest reconstruction project.

Council action covered tree removal, multiple trail and street construction contracts, engineering and drainage studies, a small contingency appropriation for a retaining wall repair at the Veterans Pavilion, and adoption of a point-of-sale fats, oils and grease ordinance. Most measures passed unanimously; several items were funded in part by grants or assessments to adjacent property owners.

Why it matters: the council’s approvals commit city funds, grant matches, and assessment rules that will affect property owners on Oakland and First Avenue SW and enable several capital projects and neighborhood infrastructure studies scheduled in the five-year capital improvement program.

Key votes and outcomes (votes as recorded at the meeting):

- Award tree-removal contract to Olson Timber Company for $182,276.64 (award covers 400 trees with an option to increase to 600 by agreement). Motion carried 6-0. Staff noted a Hormel Foundation grant of $91,138.32 and a city capital-improvement match of $91,139.32 to fund the base recommendation. The contractor estimates 5 weeks for 400 trees and 8 weeks for 600 trees.

- Award Oakland Avenue West Trail Project to Hanson Hauling & Excavating, low bid $110,893. Motion recorded 5-0 (one council member remote and later lost). The project is funded in part by a Hormel Foundation grant that will pay up to 65% of construction and engineering costs to a $120,000 maximum; remaining funds from a Keppel Improvement Fund.

- Award JC Hormel Nature Center trail contract to Yulin Brothers, low bid $330,630. Passed 5-0. The project will be funded by a Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission grant (80%) with Friends of the Hormel Nature Center covering the remaining 20%.

- Award Nature’s Ridge Fourth Street and utility project base bid and Alternate 2 to JJD Companies LLC for $995,428.14 (base bid to be assessed to the 30 lots; Alternate 2—sidewalk—paid from capital improvement funds per city policy). Passed 5-0.

- Award 2025 asphalt street reconstruction project to Eulan Brothers, low bid $1,698,239.70. Passed 5-0. Funding sources include assessments to adjacent property owners, capital improvement fund, wastewater treatment plant fund and stormwater utility fund.

- Public hearing and resolutions for Oakland Avenue and First Avenue Southwest reconstruction (project 25-1-03): council declared the project cost and adopted the assessment rule that locks 2025 rates for affected properties. The project budget was reported as roughly $15,600,000, including state and federal grants ($7,680,000), municipal state aid ($5,210,000), sanitary sewer fund ($1,700,000) and assessments of $1,009,358.11. Property assessments were described as $68.82/foot for residential frontage and $98.28/foot for commercial frontage; typical 45-foot residential frontage would be roughly $3,000; commercial assessments for the same frontage were described at about $4,430. Council adopted the cost declaration and assessment rule 5-0.

- Adopt point-of-sale fats, oils and grease ordinance (preparation, adoption and summary publication actions recorded). Ordinance adoption recorded as a second reading and passed by the council (vote recorded 5-0).

- Adopt Parks, Recreation and Forestry comprehensive plan. Resolution passed 5-0.

- Accept resignation of Council member Joyce Pashusta and declare Third Ward vacancy. Resolution passed 5-0.

- Approve City of Austin and Austin Fire Association service contract. Resolution passed 5-0.

- Authorize contingency funding of $20,000 for repair and replacement of a failing retaining wall at the Veterans Pavilion. Motion passed 5-0. Staff said much of the follow-on work (sidewalk replacement, guardrail, soil and plantings) will be completed in-house; concrete wall pour will be contracted.

- Approve WHKS contract for review of Southeast trunk sewer alignment (engineering services) for $24,000. Resolution passed 5-0. Staff said the study will evaluate alignment, capacity and potential causes of sewer backups before major roadway construction.

- Approve WHKS drainage study for Ellis and Sixth Avenue Southeast (comprehensive study) for $73,000. Resolution passed 5-0.

- Approve amendment to Minnesota DOT limited use permit to allow city work in MnDOT right-of-way for the Oakland Avenue West Trail. Resolution passed 5-0.

- Planning and zoning variances: council approved the planning commission recommendations to grant a variance for Sterling Pharmacy (removal of required 20% green space in a B-2 commercial zone, with conditions) and a setback variance reducing corner side-yard setback from 12.5 feet to 5 feet with a condition the structure be a minimum of 15 feet from a neighbor’s driveway. Both passed 5-0.

- Accept donations: $1,000 from the Morning Lions Club to Lions Park and $200 from Maynard and Robin Ackerman for the 2025 flower program. Resolution passed 5-0.

- Authorize Planning and Zoning Department to contract for removal of junk/vehicles at 813 Eighth Ave SW (property cleanup). Motion passed 5-0.

What the meeting record shows about next steps and public outreach: staff said assessment notices will go out in the fall for the phases in which property owners’ work occurs; property owners have four payment options, including full payment by Oct. 31 without interest or spreading the balance on property taxes over 15 years with an anticipated interest rate of about 5.75%. Staff encouraged sign-up for project text alerts (QR code provided). Several projects rely on grant matches (Hormel Foundation, Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission) or assessments to adjacent owners.

Votes at a glance is intended to capture the formal actions recorded on the meeting transcript. Details such as contract performance bonds, full bid tabulations, and final construction schedules will be set in contract documents and project notices to affected property owners.

The council adjourned to a brief break and planned a work session to discuss pickleball facilities later in the evening.