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Two Rivers council approves series of routine and budget items; funds perpetual-care flowers for 2026
Summary
At its Dec. 1 meeting, the Two Rivers City Council approved zoning and licensing items, adopted the 2026 tax levy and budgets, agreed to provide one final city-funded year of cemetery perpetual-care flowers, and directed staff to pursue a major renovation of the Neshoto Beach concession stand.
The Two Rivers City Council on Dec. 1 approved a slate of ordinances, licenses and budget measures while responding to sustained public comment on cemetery perpetual-care flowers and a planned concession stand project.
Council actions carried during the meeting included adoption of an ordinance establishing a 36-inch front-yard fence setback; approval of a conditional-use permit for the Starbucks at 1509 Washington Street following a change in ownership; issuance of a Class B intoxicating liquor and malt-beverage license to Violet Inn LLC at 1415 16th Street; and an ordinance changing the combined polling place for wards 6–8 to the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum at 1816 10th Street. The consent agenda (minutes and routine committee items) was also approved.
On budget items, council adopted the 2026 tax levy of $5,745,070 (a 4.05% increase, $223,712) and approved the 2026 fund budgets totaling $41.7 million in appropriations. Staff said the levy figure includes the city—s use of $45,018 of prior-year unused levy capacity; the city—s portion represents roughly 35% of the overall tax-rate impact. Council members debated affordability versus rising costs for mandated services such as transit and health-insurance increases before the levy and budgets passed by roll call.
On cemetery perpetual-care flowers, after dozens of residents urged the council to honor past commitments, council approved $6,000 in funding to cover perpetual-care plantings for 2026. Staff described a transition plan: $2,700 from general property-tax funding for 2026 plus a community fundraising target of $3,300, with the expectation that a citizen-led group would assume long-term responsibility in 2027 if fundraising succeeds.
Other procedural items approved included a resolution to authorize a primary election on Feb. 17, 2026 if seven or more candidates file for a city office, and the Business Improvement District levy for 2026 (assessment rate $1.77 per $1,000 assessed value).
Several council votes referenced in the agenda were recorded by roll call and carried. No litigation outcomes or final borrowing approvals occurred at the meeting; council directed staff to return with concrete bid numbers and funding details for major capital items in the spring.
