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New Ulm council allows older grid lots to use RT-2 standards and raises purchase-order threshold
Summary
The City of New Ulm approved a zoning amendment allowing four older R-3 grid lots to be developed under RT-2 standards, and raised the city's minimum purchase-order threshold from $2,500 to $5,000; council also approved routine resolutions on insurance, polling places, a Brown County assessment agreement and event fee waivers.
The City of New Ulm council on Dec. 2, 2025, approved a zoning amendment permitting four pre-1968 R-3 grid lots in the city's south end to be developed under RT-2 (traditional single- and two-family) standards and raised the city's minimum purchase-order threshold from $2,500 to $5,000.
John Knisely, planner with the city of New Ulm, told the council the ordinance (Ordinance 2025-TBD, first consideration) adds a provision to Appendix A, section 4.11, that would let lots recorded before Oct. 1, 1968, that do not meet current R-3 minimums (about four grid lots roughly 8,250 square feet each) be developed under RT-2 standards. Knisely said the change responds to a developer's request to split a corner lot and avoids granting multiple variances for the same neighborhood pattern. Knisely said the four affected lots lie between 15 South and 17 South and between Valley and Minnesota Street in the city's south end, and that access constraints make it unlikely some parcels could support two residences.
A staff presenter reviewed an update to the city's purchasing policy, asking the council to raise the PO threshold because the $2,500 limit set in 2015 now generates more staff time given inflation. The presentation requested increasing the threshold to $5,000, with the policy changes limited to the threshold and formatting/grammatical updates; a councilor moved to adopt the updated policy effective Dec. 3, 2025, and the motion carried by voice vote.
The meeting also approved routine but consequential items by motion or roll call: a resolution authorizing acceptance of League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) liability coverage limits of $1,500,000 effective Jan. 1, 2026, and not waiving the monetary limits on municipal tort liability under Minnesota Statutes 466.04; designation of 2026 polling places (Redeemer Lutheran Church, New Ulm Community Center, Christ the King Lutheran Church and Our Saviour's Lutheran Church); authorization for the city manager to attend the 2026 National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C.; and a three-year joint powers agreement with the Brown County Assessor's Office to provide assessment services (contracted amounts of $116,607 for 2026, $120,106 for 2027 and about $123,006 for 2028).
Park and recreation items approved included a fee waiver for the 2026 Career Expo at the New Ulm Civic Center (March 25, 2026), which targets eighth- to tenth-grade students and draws regional schools, and acceptance of $9,278 in park-related donations and memorials, including a $5,000 contribution from the New Ulm Baseball Association for Miller Park backstop work. The council also approved a claims list totaling $2,541,710.54.
What happens next: The zoning amendment passed first consideration; further readings or adoption steps will follow the city's ordinance process. The updated purchasing policy took effect Dec. 3, 2025, per the motion. Other resolutions take effect on their stated dates or with staff authorization to execute agreements.
Attributions: John Knisely is identified in the transcript as "planner with the city of New Ulm." Director Jorgensen administered roll calls for several measures. Joey Shugel presented the Career Expo request and read park donations into the record. Several councilors (identified in roll calls as Councilors Christian, Warmka, Schmitz, Mack and Council President Becker) voted on multiple measures.
