River Falls council approves consent agenda; Monarch paving contract and Well 4 generator included

The River Falls Common Council approved a multi-item consent agenda April 22 that included a plan unit development for a senior living memory care project, a request to discontinue part of East Charlotte Street right-of-way, purchase authority for a portable generator for Well 4 and wastewater lift stations, and a contract award to Monarch Paving Company to restore and pave the wastewater treatment facility parking lot.

Councilmember Bierstead moved approval of payment of bills in the amount of $1,216,566.38; the motion carried. The consent agenda items described by staff include a resolution approving a plan unit development for the Sycamore 2 project (a 24-unit memory care facility and eight independent living units), and a resolution initiating discontinuance of a portion of right-of-way on East Charlotte Street to aid a land use request.

Councilmember Morrissey asked to pull items 4 and 5 because of a conflict of interest and was recorded as abstaining on those two items when the council later voted to approve them. Councilmember Buick pulled item 7 (the Monarch Paving contract) for discussion. City staff responded that the streets department will remove existing pavement and perform initial shaping, and Monarch will finish prep and pave the lot. Dean (streets staff) said the city does not charge interdepartmentally for that work and that he did not have a time or cost estimate: "I don't have a time frame of what it'll cost or how long it'll take. Okay. We discussed this last night. We don't charge interdepartmentally." Council members said having Monarch do the paving while already scheduled in town would reduce cost compared with calling the contractor back later.

All pulled consent items were ultimately approved by the council. The resolution designating May 10, 2025, as World Migratory Bird Day was on the consent agenda and advanced as part of the approvals.