Mankato council approves arena change orders, subdivision plat, retaining-wall permit and orders council-chambers reconfiguration

MANKATO — The Mankato City Council on Aug. 11 approved four separate items: change orders for the All Seasons Arena project, the final plat for Hillside Church Addition, a conditional‑use permit for a retaining wall on Mayan Way, and a feasibility report ordering the council‑chambers reconfiguration project.

The measures passed by roll call during the regularly scheduled meeting. Council members voted unanimously on the recorded items; vote tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes as all in favor.

The most immediate item was approval of change orders for the All Seasons Arena. City staff said the project is nearing completion, with the south ice sheet soon to have ice and exterior painting underway. City Manager Arnds said construction is ‘‘gearing towards a formal opening, kind of that September,’’ and that only a handful of smaller change orders remain. The council approved the change orders by motion; Council Member Tappan moved and Council Member Deacon seconded. The roll call recorded six yes votes and the motion passed.

The council also approved a final plat for the Hillside Church Addition, a one‑lot, one‑block subdivision that staff said was previously part of two subdivisions (Town Hall Acres and Cottages at Town Hall) and is being platted because the applicant is adding building square footage (a shed) and city code requires platting when square footage is added. Planning staff recommended approval and the council adopted the resolution after a motion by Council Member Deacon and a second by Council Member McLaughlin; roll call returned unanimous approval.

On a related land‑use item, the council approved a conditional‑use permit to allow construction of a retaining wall on a lot on Mayan Way that encroaches into an area the city identifies as environmentally sensitive (slope equal to or in excess of 17.6 percent). Planning staff told the council the proposal extends yard area into the slope and that engineering review and erosion‑control measures are required; staff noted the planning commission recommended approval. Council members asked whether the site showed unique erosion compared with adjacent lots and were told standard engineering reviews and storm‑line placement toward the creek are required to reduce erosion. The permit was approved by motion; the roll call recorded unanimous yes votes.

Finally, the council accepted a feasibility report and ordered project work for Capital Improvement Project No. 112011, a reconfiguration of the council chambers intended to improve safety, security, public access and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access. City Manager Arnds described the plan as rotating the dais roughly 90 degrees, creating a new primary public entrance from the hallway, and leaving other exits available for egress. Arnds said the reconfiguration would add about six public seats, and address recurring wear and tear on in‑table technology by setting the council table in place and moving connections and cameras as needed. The feasibility estimate in the report lists approximately $261,000 for construction work plus about $100,000 for technology adjustments. Arnds told the council work could begin shortly after the council’s Dec. 8 meeting and staff hopes to finish before the January meetings; if construction extends, staff identified alternate meeting locations and remote‑meeting options for any meetings that cannot be held in the chamber during construction. The resolution accepting the feasibility report and ordering the project was approved on a recorded roll call vote.

Procedural business at the start of the meeting included approval of the Aug. 11 agenda and the July 28 minutes. A public open forum drew no speakers. Council member reports included a brief summary of the recent Night to Unite community event and praise for the Cato Go Play program.

Votes at a glance

- Change orders: motion to approve change orders for All Seasons Arena (mover: Council Member Tappan; second: Council Member Deacon). Outcome: approved (recorded roll call: unanimous yes). - Hillside Church Addition: resolution approving final plat (mover: Council Member Deacon; second: Council Member McLaughlin). Outcome: approved (recorded roll call: unanimous yes). - Mayan Way conditional‑use permit: resolution approving CUP for retaining wall in slope >=17.6% (mover: Council Member Hatampah; second: Council Member Lavin). Outcome: approved (recorded roll call: unanimous yes). - CIP 112011 (Council chambers reconfiguration): resolution accepting feasibility report and ordering project (mover: motion recorded; second: Council Member Deacon). Outcome: approved (recorded roll call: unanimous yes).

What the council recorded

- Staff projected the All Seasons Arena project is nearing completion and expected a formal opening in September; small change orders remain and contingency has decreased. - Staff recommended and council approved platting to allow new building square footage for Hillside Church Addition; purpose described as construction of a shed. - The Mayan Way retaining wall application was described as occurring in an environmentally sensitive area and therefore requiring a conditional‑use permit; planning commission recommended approval and engineering review is required to address potential erosion. - The chambers reconfiguration feasibility report estimated about $261,000 in construction costs and about $100,000 in technology work; the project is intended to add ADA access, improve public flow and security, and add roughly six public seats. Staff hopes to begin shortly after Dec. 8 and substantially complete work before January meetings; alternatives were identified if work extends.

The meeting adjourned and the council transitioned into its EDA session.