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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-04 City Council Special Meeting (5;30PM)1 COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL February 4, 2026 TRAINING ROOM - 5:30 PM 1 Call to Order 2 Agenda A 2026 Legislative Agenda Staff Recommendation: Review the 2026 Legislative Agenda. 3 Adjournment 1 City Council Action Request 2.A. Meeting Date 2/4/2026 Department Administration Agenda Category Action Item Title 2026 Legislative Agenda Staff Recommendation Review the 2026 Legislative Agenda. Budget Implication N/A Attachments 1. 2026 Legislative Agenda Legislative Agenda City of Cottage Grove, MN Solutions for a Safe, Healthy, and Prosperous Community 12800 Ravine Parkway S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016 651-458-2800 | CottageGroveMN.gov 2026 2 | City of Cottage Grove Cottage Grove by the Numbers 44,336 Population $130,259 Median Income 500+ Acre Business Park 2,227 Medical Calls in 2025 14.2% Growth Rate Since 2020 320,000+ workers live within a 25-minute commuting range of Cottage Grove. Additionally, the city is strategically located just 20 minutes from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. 19,000+ students with a focus on high-achieving STEM and college-prep programs. 38 Median Age 52.3 Diversity Index 2,500+ acres of green space 100+ miles of trails and paths Top Legislative Priorities • County Road 19A & 100th Street Realignment Project • Provide Funding for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Aid for Ambulance Services • Mississippi Dunes Park Development • 2007 Consent Order Funding for Permanent Operations and Management of PFAS Treatment • Preemptive Land Use and Zoning Administration • Newspaper Notification Requirement • Licensure of Massage Therapists • Continued Health Insurance for Duty-Disabled Peace Officers and Firefighters Parks and Recreation • Future State/County Recreational Trail Connection Community Development • Housing • Redevelopment Economic Development • Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Flexibility • Business Expansion • Workforce Readiness • Data Center Development Transportation • Cottage Grove Local Bridge Replacement Priority List • Special Assessment Election Requirements • Street Improvement Districts • Street Reconstruction Bond Approval • Road and Bridge Funding Water Quality and Sustainability • Water Supply • Private Well Drilling Restriction Authority Finance • State Aids • Restrictions on Local Government Budgets • Sales Tax on Local Government Purchases Public Safety • Single-Way-Out (Single Stairway) in Apartments • E-Bikes • K-12 Threat Assessments • Mental Health Response Act • Officer Wellness • Recruitment and Retention Needs • Law Enforcement Training Funding • Fleeing Vehicles • Auto Theft and Violent Crime Investigation Funding • Permit to Purchase Fees • Body-Worn Camera Redaction • Paid Health Insurance for Law Enforcement Retirees ................................................................. 04 ................... 05 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............................................................................................... 30 ............................................................................................................................ 30 ...................................................................... 31 ................................................................................................................ 31 ....................................................................................................... 32 ..................................................................... 32 Agenda 4 | City of Cottage Grove Top Legislative Priority County Road 19A & 100th Street Realignment Project Priority Description County Road 19A & 100th Street Realignment Project – Bonding Request of $22.5 million. Legislative Request Cottage Grove fully supports all efforts to fund the County Road 19A & 100th Street Realignment Project. The City and Washington County request $22.5 million in state funds for design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of the arterial roadway and adjacent roadways. Relevant Information • In partnership with Washington County, a need was identified for a new arterial route to support 2,000 acres of planned development to help balance the regional traffic patterns to U.S. Hwy 61. • The Cottage Grove Business Park is currently only served by one feasible interchange: Highway 61 at Jamaica Avenue, which is fully built out with a two-lane, six-leg roundabout that receives a significant amount of traffic. • A new railway grade separation included in the project will efficiently accommodate growth in freight traffic associated with the rapidly growing industrial area. • The project will be transformative for the southeast metro as it improves safety and mobility and creates economic opportunity in the area. • Washington County and Cottage Grove have partnered on preliminary design, final design, right-of- way, environmental review and utility studies, and have invested over $2 million in local funds to date. • This initiative is supported by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. • Cottage Grove has aggressively pursued funding opportunities at both the State and Federal level for four years. • If the project is not awarded in 2027, federal and state grant funds that have already been awarded will have to be returned and the project will be delayed. • The total estimated project cost is approximately $47 million (County funds: $6 million, City funds: $4.9 million, State of Minnesota: $22.5 million, current Federal and State Grants: $13.6 million). • The project will include construction of a bridge over the CPKC Railway, which is estimated to cost of over $10 million. 5 | City of Cottage Grove Top Legislative Priority Provide Funding for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Aid for Ambulance Services Priority Description Provide funding for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) aid for ambulance services. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports state legislation to provide EMS aid to ambulance services including metro municipally operated ambulance services. Many ambulance services, including Cottage Grove Fire/ EMS, have operating deficits, primarily due to Medicare reimbursement shortfalls. Relevant Information Minnesota passed legislation for EMS aid to help support EMS services that have operating deficits; however, community-operated metro services such as Cottage Grove were excluded from the aid. Cottage Grove recaptures as low as 25% of operating costs through EMS billing, leading to significant financial deficits which have exceeded hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2019. 6 | City of Cottage Grove Top Legislative Priority Mississippi Dunes Park Development Priority Description The Mississippi Dunes Park project represents a transformative opportunity to restore and activate a critical ecological and recreational corridor along the Mississippi River. By transitioning this former golf course into a public natural asset, the project will provide enhanced river access, protect sensitive habitats, and offer regional recreational benefits for all Minnesotans. Legislative Request We are seeking $15 million in total construction costs to fully implement the park’s Master Plan. This request involves a multi-agency funding strategy to leverage state, environmental settlement, and grant resources. Relevant Information • Economic Impact: Expected to drive regional tourism and increase local property values while providing sustainable green space. • Ecological Significance: The site is a primary target for conservation due to its unique dune formations and riverfront biodiversity. • Partnership: A collaborative effort involving state agencies, local government, and environmental stakeholders to ensure the site’s historical and natural integrity. Funding Source 3M Priority II Settlement LCCMR MN DNR Conservation Partners Legacy MN DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant State Park Road Fund Amount Requested .............................................................................................. $5,000,000 ................................................................................................... $3,000,000 – $15,000,000 ........................................................................ $1,200,000 ................................................................................. $350,000 ....................................................................................................... $350,000 7 | City of Cottage Grove Top Legislative Priority 2007 Consent Order Funding for Permanent Operations and Management of PFAS Treatment Priority Description In May of 2024, communities in the East Metro were informed that all 3M Settlement Funds would be fully committed within two years. Once all funds are committed, a transition to the 2007 Consent Order will be necessary to continue to fund capital projects and Operations and Maintenance (O&M). The status of the 3M Settlement Funds and estimated depletion date have continued to be monitored by the Co-Trustees. At the November 2025 working group meeting, the estimated date for funds to be fully committed was pushed back to the end of State fiscal year 2027. The Conceptual Drinking Water Supply Plan (CDWSP) originally included 20 years of O&M funding. Legislative Request Cottage Grove requests that the planning to revert to the 2007 Consent Order continue to be addressed by the Co-Trustees. If there is any gap in O&M funding, it will result in a significant financial burden to our residents, which will require years of planning to be able to fund locally. Relevant Information • Once both permanent PFAS treatment plants are operational in Cottage Grove, annual O&M costs, including annualized media replacement expenses, will exceed $2 million. • The annual Water Utility Fund operating budget for Cottage Grove is only $3.17 million. • If Cottage Grove is required to fund O&M costs for any amount of time, this could only be covered by an aggressive rate increase for water to our residents. • Communities in the East Metro with a known source of PFAS contamination have received ongoing commitments that treatment costs will be covered by the 3M Settlement or 2007 Consent Order. It is critical that a clear path for this funding be finalized so those commitments can be upheld. FIGURE DATE 733 Marquette Avenue, Suite 1000 Minneapolis, MN 55402 www.stantec.com PROJ. NO.BI M 36 0 : / / 1 9 3 8 0 5 3 0 2 _ C o t t a g e _ G r o v e_ I Z W T P / 1 9 3 8 0 5 3 0 2 a - m d . r v t CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE, MINNESOTA INTERMEDIATE ZONE WATER TREATMENT PLANT 193805302 EXTERIOR PERSPECTIVES 1-2 SCALE: SOUTH WEST PERSPECTIVE 10/01/2024 SCALE: NORTH EAST PERSPECTIVE Low Zone Water Treatment Plant Intermediate Zone Water Treatment Plant 8 | City of Cottage Grove Top Legislative Priority Preemptive Land Use and Zoning Priority Description Maintain local zoning and land use control. Legislative Request Cottage Grove requests opposition to legislation that broadly preempts city zoning and land use authority, removes public input in the residential development process, ignores comprehensive plans, and lacks consideration for how cities utilize zoning and land use to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of residents, and how cities scale infrastructure to support new housing density. Relevant Information • Previous legislation required municipalities to institute housing zones in areas of a city within commercial zoning districts. Most cities do not have the infrastructure including water and sewer systems to support adding high-density buildings on lots not intended for high-density development and will have stormwater runoff and treatment challenges with increased lot coverage and reduced setbacks. Consideration should be given to who is responsible to pay for the upsizing of infrastructure and equipment to maintain the increased density. This burden would ultimately be passed down to the local taxpayer given no state-provided funding. • Aesthetic mandate limitations limit the ability for cities to promote visual aesthetic appeal and preserve adjacent property values. Architectural standards allow each community to instill a cohesive look and feel that is a community identifier while ensuring quality materials are used to prevent structure degradation. • Parking, height restrictions, and architectural design requirements allow each municipality to address the needs and desires of their individual communities. These standards were established using community engagement and public input. 9 | City of Cottage Grove Jennifer Levitt City Administrator JLevitt@cottagegrovemn.gov 651-458-2890 cottagegrovemn.gov Administration 2026 Legislative Agenda | 9 10 | City of Cottage Grove Administration Newspaper Notification Requirement Priority Description Replace the requirement of a local newspaper notification with electronic notices on the city website and other social media platforms. Legislative Request Cottage Grove requests the state repeal the newspaper notification requirement due to the costs for municipalities, the decline of local newspapers, and the increase and proliferation of technology information tools. Licensure of Massage Therapists Priority Description Seek to establish a state requirement for licensure of massage therapists. Legislative Request Cottage Grove requests the implementation of a statewide licensing system for massage therapists, ensuring minimum competency requirements are successfully met. Continued Health Insurance for Duty-Disabled Peace Officers and Firefighters Priority Description State funding to assist local governments in claims. Legislative Request The City of Cottage Grove faces a huge liability if this program is not fully funded by the State. Previously, the City of Cottage Grove has submitted $70,955.76 in claims. 11 | City of Cottage Grove Zac Dockter Parks & Recreation Director ZDockter@cottagegrovemn.gov 651-458-2847 cottagegrovemn.gov Parks and Recreation 2026 Legislative Agenda | 11 12 | City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Future State/County Recreational Regional Trail Connection Priority Description Secure funding for a trail connecting Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park to Point Douglas Regional Trail/Park. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports the planning, design, and future funding of a Highway 61 Trailway connection between Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park and Point Douglas Regional Trail/Park. Relevant Information A trail along Highway 61 from Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park to Point Douglas Regional Trail/Park would be a unique recreational experience for the region, state, and out-of-state visitors. Highway 61 is both historic and scenic but has no recreational trail access. The trailway would connect Cottage Grove’s Ravine Lake to the confluence of the Mississippi and St Croix rivers as well as historic Hastings downtown via the Highway 61 Arch Bridge Trail. 13 | City of Cottage Grove Emily Schmitz Community Development Director ESchmitz@cottagegrovemn.gov 651-458-2874 cottagegrovemn.gov Community Development 2026 Legislative Agenda | 13 14 | City of Cottage Grove Community Development Housing Priority Description Diversify the city’s housing stock to ensure it is serving all demographic and socioeconomic communities and recognizing certain barriers to the housing disparity impact to certain members of our community, Cottage Grove supports programs that reduce barriers to fair housing and equal opportunity. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports a proactive commitment to State programs that allow municipalities to facilitate full-spectrum housing growth and rehabilitate older housing stock for residents in all stages of life. Relevant Information • Cottage Grove supports providing long-term funding for Minnesota Housing that supports local housing efforts that also recognize regional markets, provide flexibility to cities and supports private and public partnerships. • Consider establishment of a program providing support to immediate needs and existing housing stock including matching funds issued on a timeline that is consistent with the local budgeting process. • Cottage Grove supports creation of a sustainable funding source for infrastructure grants to assist in the cost of providing critical infrastructure to provide shovel-ready sites for development. Redevelopment Priority Description Begin implementation of redevelopment plans to reinvigorate a tax base that is not fulfilling its potential. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports the growth of current programs that help facilitate redevelopment and reinvestment in our residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Relevant Information • Cottage Grove supports the elimination of the sunset provision of the Historic Tax Credit program given these projects are complex and time consuming. • Cottage Grove supports framework for local zoning and land use authority which allows cities to retain their local decision-making authority for their communities. 15 | City of Cottage Grove Economic Development 2026 Legislative Agenda | 15 Nate Carlson Economic Development Manager NCarlson@cottagegrovemn.gov 651-458-2830 cottagegrovemn.gov 16 | City of Cottage Grove Economic Development Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Preservation Priority Description Preserve and enhance the effectiveness of TIF for development and redevelopment. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports policies that preserve and enhance the effectiveness of Tax Increment Financing. Cottage Grove advocates for legislation that refines and enhances rather than restricts or reduces the functional parameters of TIF policy. Relevant Information Enhancing and refining TIF policy could become a pathway to encourage green job development and related innovation, for the expansion of transit services for potential transit-oriented projects (TOD) and by maintaining existing municipal authority to establish special service districts. Business Expansion Priority Description Cottage Grove continues to support investments in the MIF and JCF funds to increase capital investment and create good-paying jobs. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports existing and future state programs to help businesses thrive and expand. Relevant Information Continue to fund sustainable funding programs supporting job creation including the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) and Job Creation Funds (JCF) as well as grants for site cleanup and allowing opportunities for communities to develop, create infrastructure, and help businesses expand. Workforce Readiness Priority Description Expand investments in workforce readiness programs. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports increased funding for the Job Skills Partnership, youth employment programs and other workforce training programs, investments in programs that address the gender wage gap, and a payroll tax credit for job training programs that invest in employees. Relevant Information The City of Cottage Grove will partner with public and private sectors to improve workforce readiness. This includes removing barriers to education, closing racial achievement and employment gaps, addressing the occupational gender gap, and expanding training and job opportunities for people with disabilities. 17 | City of Cottage Grove Economic Development Data Center Development Priority Description Reduce barriers and improve efficiency in data center development project review at the State level. Legislative Request Cottage Grove requests a review of the recently adopted legislation pertaining to data center developments that place additional restrictions on those projects, specifically the review required by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Relevant Information Cottage Grove supports data center development across the state of Minnesota. Recent legislation creates additional barriers for developers of data center projects. These new requirements create inefficiencies within the development review process, which reduces Minnesota’s competitiveness to recruit future data center development. 18 | City of Cottage Grove Ryan Burfeind Public Works Director RBurfeind@cottagegrovemn.gov 651-458-2899 cottagegrovemn.gov Transportation 2026 Legislative Agenda | 18 19 | City of Cottage Grove Transportation Cottage Grove Local Bridge Replacement Priority List Priority Description Located in Cottage Grove are two bridges that qualify for State local bridge replacement funds. These include the BNSF rail bridge over 103rd Street, and the Grey Cloud Trail bridge connecting to Lower Grey Cloud Island across Moers Lake on the Mississippi backwaters. On January 7, 2026, the Cottage Grove City Council passed a resolution creating a local bridge replacement priority list, adding them to the MnDOT statewide list. Legislative Request Cottage Grove requests that the legislature continue to support funding for local bridge replacement programs, which is critical in successfully delivering local bridge replacement projects. Relevant Information • The Grey Cloud Trail bridge is eligible for 100% funding, as it is not located on a State-Aid route, and is estimated at $8 million in total project costs. • This is a one-lane bridge built in 1933 and is listed as a fracture-critical bridge. Due to its low freeboard above the Mississippi River, it has been closed due to flooding four times since 2014, severing a critical link to Lower Grey Cloud Island. • The BNSF bridge over 103rd Street is eligible for 50% funding as it is located on a State-Aid route and is estimated at a total project cost of $8 million. This bridge is too narrow, requiring stop signs and a challenging road geometry to pass under it. Additionally, it only has 10’4” of clearance, much lower than the minimum clearance of 14’6” and standard clearance of 16’4”. • Even with enhanced warning signage of the low clearance, this bridge has been struck several times in the last three years. Special Assessment Election Requirements Priority Description In order to issue bonds to finance most local improvement projects, a city must be able to legally collect at least 20 percent of the project costs through special assessments, otherwise the project requires a special election. Legislative Request In order to facilitate the financing of public infrastructure projects, Cottage Grove supports reducing the threshold for requiring voter approval for issuance of improvement bonds under Minn. Stat. 429.091 to 15 percent. This change would provide more flexibility for cities with their construction/ bonding/assessment decisions and may be more likely to survive a challenge while still providing value to the property owner. Relevant Information Continued on page 20. 20 | City of Cottage Grove Transportation Relevant Information • As a legal limit, cities cannot collect special assessments from any property greater than the increase in fair market value bestowed upon that property by the improvement (the “special benefit test”). • On occasion, the increase in property values as a result of the improvement can fail to add up to the 20% threshold necessary to finance projects without requiring a special election. This creates a major financing challenge for cities as they work to complete critical improvement projects. Street Improvement Districts Priority Description Address the limited funding mechanisms for maintaining aging streets. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports the authority of local units of government to establish street improvement districts, allowing cities in developed and developing areas to fund reconstruction and maintenance. Cottage Grove also supports changes to special assessment laws to make assessing state-owned property a more predictable process regarding the payment of assessments. Relevant Information • Funding sources for local transportation projects are limited to the use of Municipal State Aid, property taxes, and special assessments. • The street improvement district is designed to allow cities to create a district(s) where fees will be raised on all properties in the district and must be spent within specific boundaries. Street Reconstruction Bond Approval Priority Description Under Minnesota law, financing the maintenance of streets can be a challenge for city councils. Minn. Stat. § 475.58 subd. 3b, authorizes a city council, by two-thirds vote, to approve the issuance of bonds to finance street reconstruction or bituminous overlays without voter approval. The two-thirds council approval requirement is further subject to a reverse referendum process whereby a number equal to five percent of those voting in the last municipal general election can petition for a referendum to approve the issuance of the bonds. Legislative Request Street maintenance is one of the essential functions of cities in Minnesota. Cottage Grove supports amending the laws governing issuance of bonds to maintain streets to allow the approval of the bonds by a simple majority of the council. The existing reverse referendum process assures that taxpayers could trigger a referendum on the issuance of bonds if they can meet the five percent petition threshold. Relevant Information Continued on page 21. 21 | City of Cottage Grove Transportation Relevant Information With limited State Aid funding, and few other practical options for local roadways, bonding is a necessary financing mechanism for cities to complete street projects. Road and Bridge Funding Priority Description Cottage Grove supports the use of dedicated taxes and fees to fund transportation infrastructure. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports state funding to assist cities overburdened by cost participation responsibilities from improvement projects on state or county highways. Relevant Information • Cities lack adequate tools and resources for the maintenance and improvement of municipal street systems, with resources restricted to property taxes and special assessments. It is imperative that alternative revenue-generating authority be granted to municipalities and that state resources be made available for this purpose to aid local communities and relieve the burden on the property tax system. • Municipal State Aid Funding provides an important but limited revenue source that assists eligible cities with street infrastructure needs and is limited to 20% of a city’s street system. 22 | City of Cottage Grove Water Quality and Sustainability 2026 Legislative Agenda | 22 Ryan Burfeind Public Works Director RBurfeind@cottagegrovemn.gov 651-458-2899 cottagegrovemn.gov 23 | City of Cottage Grove Water Quality and Sustainability Water Supply Priority Description Municipal water suppliers are charged with meeting the water supply needs of their communities and work to do so with safe, reliable, and cost-effective systems that are sustainable both for established cities and for all future growth. Water suppliers continue to make significant investments to modernize their systems and put a strong emphasis on water conservation. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports legislation promoting aquifer recharge, change in water use practices, development of minimum irrigation standards, applying technology for smart water use, additional scientific data collection and exploring water reuse options at contaminated sites that rely on water extraction or pollution containment, and the removal of barriers to wastewater and stormwater reuse and advocates for improved inter-agency coordination on all levels, including on the state level. Relevant Information • Regulation of water is complex with multiple agencies having jurisdiction. In many cases, multiple agencies have responsibility for permitting with conflicting requirements. This creates challenges for water suppliers and requires greater inter-agency coordination to address. • Cottage Grove supports and values initiatives aimed at protecting water resources at the municipal, county, state, and federal levels, which includes the Clean Water Act. Private Well Drilling Restriction Authority Priority Description Continue to allow local control over private well drilling in municipal utility service boundaries. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports current law that authorizes cities to regulate and prohibit the placement of private wells within municipal utility service boundaries and opposes any attempt to remove or alter that authority. Cottage Grove supports funding that can be used to seal private wells. Relevant Information Municipal water suppliers follow strict requirements related to testing and water quality, ensuring safe and compliant drinking water for all users. Abandoned wells pose a serious risk to groundwater aquifers, however the cost of sealing those wells continues to increase each year. Ongoing funding to assist in sealing private wells is critical to protect this precious resource. 24 | City of Cottage Grove Brenda Malinowski Finance Director BMalinowski@cottagegrovemn.gov 651-458-2832 cottagegrovemn.gov Finance 2026 Legislative Agenda | 24 25 | City of Cottage Grove Finance State Aids Priority Description A functional state and local fiscal relationship must emphasize adequacy, equitability, sustainability, and accountability for public resources and communication among the state, cities, and public. Legislative Request A functional partnership also emphasizes collaboration and partnership between the state and local units of government. City services are traditionally funded through property taxes, fees, and state aids. Increasingly, cities are bearing more costs for services that have historically been the responsibility of the state. Relevant Information • Aids such as Police or Fire aid should not be diverted to balance state budgets. • Adequate state funding to cities to address mandates enacted by the state, and flexibility for local governments in implementing state mandates to minimize local costs. Reinstatement of the cannabis and aid enacted when adult-use cannabis was legalized in 2023 but repealed in 2025 should be reenacted to assist cities with costs associated with local implementation of the new law. Restrictions on Local Government Budgets Priority Description Maintain city autonomy in deciding the appropriate level of local taxation and services. Legislative Request Cottage Grove strongly opposes levy limits, reverse referenda, supermajority requirements for levy and valuation freezes, or other restrictions on local government budgeting and taxing processes. Relevant Information These types of restrictions undermine local budgeting and taxing processes, planned growth and the relationship between locally elected officials and their residents. Sales Tax on Local Government Purchases Priority Description Secure sales tax exemption for purchases of goods and services made by cities. Legislative Request Continued on page 26. 26 | City of Cottage Grove Finance Legislative Request The local government sales tax exemption enacted in 2013 and expanded in 2014 does not apply to all city purchases. Some purchases for municipal enterprise operations, such as golf courses, are excluded from the exemption. In addition, in order to receive the sales tax exemption on construction materials under current law, cities must bid labor and materials separately and also designate a contractor to be a purchasing agent on behalf of the city. Relevant Information The existing Department of Revenue rules (Minn. Rule 8130.1200, subp. 3) are complex and the implementation can be so complicated that it can cost cities more money to implement than they will save on the tax exemption. Finally, although cities currently do not pay the motor vehicle sales tax on marked police vehicles or firefighting vehicles, other city vehicles are not exempt from the motor vehicle sales tax. • The exemption should apply to all purchases made by local units of government. • The process to receive the exemption for construction materials used in local government projects should be simplified or added to the refund process now available for local government public safety facilities. • The exemption should be extended to all local government purchases that would otherwise be subject to the motor vehicle sales tax in Minn. Stat. ch. 297B. 27 | City of Cottage Grove Pete Koerner Public Safety Director PKoerner@cottagegrovemn.gov 651-458-6003 cottagegrovemn.gov Public Safety 2026 Legislative Agenda | 27 28 | City of Cottage Grove Public Safety Single-Way-Out (Single Stairway) in Apartments Priority Description Oppose single-way-out (single stairway) in apartments. Legislative Request Cottage Grove opposes the single-way-out (single stairways) in apartments amendment to the Minnesota State Building Code. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s Code Advisory Council has approved single-way-out in apartments up to four stories. The Minnesota Legislature implemented a working group to study the issue due to safety concerns. Relevant Information Fire staffing throughout Minnesota and especially in Metro suburbs does not provide adequate response to allow single-way out stairwells in apartment buildings. If a fire obstructs one of the stairwells, residents’ only exit will be a window as high as four stories. Firefighters must operate in the same stairwell as the evacuating residents which may expose victims to lethal heat and smoke. The single-way-out amendments focus on affordable housing options however affordable housing residents are at a higher risk to experience fires and fire-related injuries and death. E-Bikes Priority Description Promote safety of riders, pedestrians, and motorists on our trails, sidewalks, and streets. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports legislation that clearly defines the various mobility options and establishes statutory guidelines for e-bikes, scooters, and mobility devices. Relevant Information This legislation would clearly define and classify the various types of mobility options, thereby reducing ambiguity in the current traffic code. It should apply age and helmet requirements, speed limits, permitted and prohibited areas for riding, and general rules of operation. The legislation should be enforceable and include an aspect of public awareness/education. E-bikes, scooters, and mobility devices have changed the way we move throughout our communities. As their popularity grows, so do the safety concerns. Legislation should promote public awareness and safety for everyone on our trails, sidewalks, and streets. K-12 Threat Assessments Priority Description Support mandated K-12 threat assessment teams. Legislative Request Continued on page 29. 29 | City of Cottage Grove Public Safety Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports legislation requiring school districts to establish a team of trained subject- matter experts to examine and address school safety issues based on the national best practice known as behavioral threat assessment. Relevant Information This legislation would move our state beyond physical school safety measures, such as infrastructure improvement grants, passed by the Legislature in 2018. Threat assessment is an evidence-based way to identify, assess and manage threatening situations. Threat assessment, when properly done, is considered a standard-of-care/best practice by numerous organizations and advocacy groups including the U.S. Department of Education, National Association of School Psychologists and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. K-12 threat assessment teams and legislation have been officially supported by the MN Chiefs of Police Association. Mental Health Response Act Priority Description Fund multi-jurisdictional co-responder programs. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports legislation to fund multi-jurisdictional co-responder programs or embedded social workers. Additionally, Cottage Grove supports making changes to current policy and practices to better share information amongst first responders, medical professionals and human services representatives. Relevant Information The goal is to improve the response to, and outcomes of, mental health calls with request for service. Officer Wellness Priority Description Understand and deal with the effects of common stressors facing our law enforcement professionals. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports legislation to provide a permanent funding source for the Public Safety Duty Disability Law that passed in 2023. It is critical to find a way to fund the treatment for mental health injuries as well as continuing to expand the network of providers who are training to do this vitally important work. Relevant Information This would fund support groups, mental health checks and therapy, suicide prevention, awareness, and family support. 30 | City of Cottage Grove Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Needs Priority Description Support funding for statewide recruitment and retention efforts. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports a multi-faceted approach with recruitment and retention efforts including grants for retention bonuses and scholarship opportunities. Relevant Information Agencies across our state are having difficulty recruiting and retaining officers for a variety of reasons. The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA) supports a multi-faceted approach to helping agencies of all sizes recruit and retain officers. This should include, but is not limited to, a grant program for bonuses, bringing back part-time officer licensure for small agencies and scholarship programs with our higher education partners. Any funding for this use should reflect different needs for small, medium and large agencies alike. Law Enforcement Training Funding Priority Description Continue to fund training mandated by the MN Police Officer Standards and Training Board (MN POST Board). Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports continuing the MN POST Board training reimbursement allocation to local agencies, which began in 2018. Relevant Information The Peace Officer Training Fund is for mandated training in the areas of recognizing and valuing diversity and cultural differences, conflict management and mediation, crisis intervention and mental illness crises. The Philando Castile Training Fund is used to fund mandated training in the areas of recognizing and valuing diversity and cultural differences, conflict management and mediation, crisis intervention, and mental illness crises. $1.1 million was cut from the Philando Castile Training Fund in 2025. Additionally, the $3 million of base funding for Law Enforcement training has been cut after the current biennium. Fleeing Vehicles Priority Description Increased penalties for fleeing in a motor vehicle and modification of tracking devices used on fleeing vehicles. Legislative Request Continued on page 31. 31 | City of Cottage Grove Public Safety Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports legislation to stiffen penalties for fleeing in a motor vehicle and modify the law governing the use of tracking devices on fleeing vehicles. Relevant Information Fleeing is becoming a significant concern in law enforcement. The number of offenders that now flee has gone up exponentially. Offenders understand that the majority of the time police officers won’t chase them because the risk is not worth it. Current consequences for those who are caught do not reflect the severe risk they pose to the community and law enforcement. Officers and organizations continue to battle the decision to pursue fleeing vehicles. Auto Theft and Violent Crime Investigation Funding Priority Description Provide funding for auto theft investigations, prevention programs and technology. Legislative Request Provide clear direction for funding added to the BCA’s annual budget to establish and staff a multijurisdictional team of peace officers focused on auto theft investigation and prevention, including funding for equipment, technology, and prosecution efforts related to stolen vehicles. Relevant Information With the growing number of auto thefts and a staggering increase in the number of violent crimes committed in possession of a stolen vehicle, the legislature should include technology funding such as Flock Safety cameras as a means to reduce crimes and provide reliable evidence to solving crimes. Permit to Purchase Fees Priority Description Allow agencies to charge a reasonable fee for processing a permit to purchase. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports allowing local municipal police departments to charge a reasonable fee for processing a permit to purchase application. Relevant Information Currently, Minnesota Statute § 624.7131 Subd 3. states there shall be no charge for forms, reports, investigations, notifications, waivers or any other act performed, or materials provided by a government employee or agency in connection with application for or issuance of a transferee permit. The permits and their renewal shall be granted free of charge. 32 | City of Cottage Grove Public Safety Body-Worn Camera Redaction Priority Description Support reducing body-worn camera redaction requirements in areas visible to the public. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports changing current law to allow for greater discretion by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) or their designee to release data without redaction in instances where any member of the public may record the same footage with their own device. Relevant Information Current law allows for CLEOs to release data to dispel rumors or other information, but we cannot do so without complying with redaction. This will allow the public more transparency, especially in certain high-profile cases. Paid Health Insurance for Law Enforcement Retirees Priority Description Support paid health insurance for law enforcement retirees. Legislative Request Cottage Grove supports a legislative appropriation that would provide paid health care for licensed police officers who retire at 55 years old and have 10 years of consecutive service with a Minnesota city, county or tribal government. Relevant Information To help in addressing the recruitment and retention challenges, at age 55 or any time thereafter, each month the employer shall pay the full employer contribution toward health and dental insurance coverage for employees who have 10 years of service or more. It shall also cover the employees’ dependents until the employee reaches age 65. The employer shall be reimbursed from the State of Minnesota for these costs.