The Cottage Grove City Council met on Wednesday, Nov. 19 in the St. Croix Room at city hall.
Among items on the night's council agenda were

First though was an update from Washington County Commissioner Karla Bigham in open forum.
"Thank you mayor and council," Bigham said. "I'm going to be real quick because I know you've already had a long meeting and you have a long agenda, but I just wanted to highlight a few things before the year closes out."
First for updates was a new bus line from the Newport Transit Center.
"We are going to be reopening the Newport Transit Center because there is a bus line that now will be coming from Woodbury to the Newport Transit Center out west to the airport and the Mall of America. This is the first public transportation that we've been able to have going west towards the airport, which is big. And I figured the residents of Cottage Grove--even though it's the Newport Transit Center would want to know that's going to be an option. That starts Dec. 6 and runs every hour from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. I really want to thank the Red Rock Corridor Commission and Council Member Garza who serves on that and our local community partners and of course the residents for their advocacy to get that access going. There is an open house at the Transit Center Dec. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. so I hope people can join us."
Next for updates from Commissioner Bigham was an expansion of the DARTS.
"Another exciting expansion is our DARTS Circulator," Bigham said. "They're going to be going into Newport, St. Paul Park, bringing folks to the hub here, the shopping center up here, and then also obviously our library and Basic Needs food shelf. So just a way to meet the needs of that and we obviously probably benefit from some retail increases there.
Next for updates from Bigham was the transit needs study, with update coming in 2026.
"We also are undergoing an update to our transit needs study, which should be done in early 2026 and should have a more comprehensive plan for transit. Obviously with your support the Park Grove Library will be undergoing a major renovation, and that starts in February. It will be shut down for about a year. I wanted to announce that the Cottage Grove Armory will have some programming available that currently is offered by the library and then the Service Center in Cottage Grove will have some catalogues of books, and those will be rotated out."
Last for updates were food program updates, including the Food Scraps program.
"And then finally I wanted to talk about some food related things. The Food Scrap program, we have 11 percent across both counties of people utilizing it, 12 percent in Washington County. Three-fourths of Washington County has the program rolled out and the northern part will get that next year. Some 10 percent of Washington county homes are enrolled in it so really appreciate that," she said. "Being that the holidays are coming up hosting food, all that, go to foodscrappickup.com and sign up, and we'll get you those bags, and you can participate in that program that is of no cost to you. And then I wanted to remind folks that Christmas lights and batteries should be properly recycled and we can take those at our Recycling Center out there in Woodbury.
"And then I just wanted to note too, it's been a big topic. The SNAP Program that had been cut off, now it's back on, and the federal shutdown had an impact on a lot of our neighbors that had food insecurity. And the Washington County Board appropriated $250,000 to local food shelves. Friends in Need and Basic Needs received a portion of those funds and the SNAP benefits were dispersed, but both Basic Needs and Friends in need have been experiencing a 30 percent increase, mainly of first-time users. And so I just wanted to say the needs and the pressure doesn't go away just because that program was turned back on. And I know also that near and dear to the mayor's heart, the Holiday Train is coming Dec. 13."
The Holiday Train benefits Friends in Need, with the goal this year set at $150,000 in fundraising.
"Thank you, I can take any questions at this point," Bigham said.
There were no questions, the council shifting to the meeting agenda.
From there the meeting went to a public safety K9 Presentation, given by public safety director Pete Koerner.
"Some of our budget conversations this year we talked about adding a patrol dog," Koerner said. "They're great for apprehension, they're great for searches. They've been a really good public relations tool. And also just recruitment and retention too. When officers want to come here they want to know there's opportunities, and a K9 program is one of the big things."
Helping the Public Safety Department with its K9 program was the Public Safety Board, which helped fundraise department needs. Koerner said that when the K9 program started with Blitz a police K9 cost approximately $5,000, while a more recent purchase was closer to $16,000.
"When we got Blitz I think it was $5,000," he said. "Now a new canine we paid just under $16,000."
The new dog was to arrive just after Thanksgiving and is due to start the Academy through St. Paul in January.
"We will have the dog here to introduce, But I want the dog to at least get acclimated to Cindy so we don't have any 'mishaps' here at a council meeting or ," he said to laughter. With that Koerner asked the council to accept a $20,332 donation from the Public Safety Board to the city, including $15,667 for a dual purpose canine from Police Service Dogs Inc., $3,000 for a seven by 14 foot concrete slab from Schultz Enterprises LLC, and $1,665 for a six by 12 foot enclosed kennel from Midwest Fence.
Public Safety Board Chair Julie Rice gave remarks in making the donation.
"A lot of our fundraising efforts come from Cottage Grove and surrounding cities,” she said. “The canine dog is also part of the community and that’s what we’re here for is to raise funds so we can purchase non-budgeted items for the police, fire, and EMS.”
Rice said the canines were a special part of the force.
“They’re very special for our force and we need them so purchasing another canine is always beneficial for the community and for the officers.” she said, giving thanks all around. Rice was followed by Mayor Myron Bailey who echoed the thanks.
“Thank you to the board and all the citizens that have helped with the fundraising,” he said. “Thank you all again, keep up the great work.”
The council later moved to accept the recommendation on accepting the donation from the Public Safety Board, motion made by Council Member David Clausen and seconded by Council member Justin Olsen.
Council member Clausen made a proclamation for Small Business Saturday.
“Whereas the City of Cottage Grove celebrates our local small businesses and the contributions they make for our local economy and community, and
“Whereas, according to the United States Small Business Administration there are currently 36.2 million small businesses in the United States, they represent 99.7 percent of all businesses with employees in the United States and are responsible for 61 percent of net new jobs created since 1995, and
“Whereas, small businesses employ 46 percent of the employees, which is 62.3 million people in the private sector in the United States, and
“Whereas, 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business in the United States stays in the local community, and
“Whereas, every dollar spent at a small business creates 48 cents in additional local business activity, which is the result of local employees and businesses purchasing goods and services, and
“Whereas, 79 percent of consumers reported that the Small Business Saturday made them want to dine and shop at small, independently owned retailers and restaurants all year long, and
“Whereas Cottage Grove supports our local businesses that create jobs, boost our local economy, and preserve our communities, and
“Whereas advocacy groups as well as private and public organizations have endorsed the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday,
“Now Therefore, the mayor and council of the City of Cottage Grove, County of Washington, hereby proclaim Saturday, November 29 as Small Business Saturday.”
The proclamation thus read and motioned by Clausen with second by Council Member Dave Thiede, Saturday, Nov. 29 is officially Small Business Saturday in Cottage Grove.
In other news from Nov. 19, the council addressed two tobacco compliance check violations, the owner of MoonSoon Tobacco given a chance to address the council on its first violation in three years and a letter sent to license holder HyVee Inc. for the other, an employee receiving a citation for the underage sale.
All tobacco sales in Minnesota require proof of age, with 21 the legal age for tobacco.
Also from Nov. 19, meanwhile, the council reviewed the developer’s agreement on a 164-unit apartment complex near Settler’s Bluff, the affordable rate apartments as proposed for Hamlet Avenue including 30 one-bedroom, 88 two-bedroom, and 46 three bedroom units, the developer asking for $916,000 in local affordable housing aid to be built. The council also reviewed multifamily revenue bonds for the project, the city acting as a conduit for the lender and borrower. The multifamily revenue bonds do not affect the city’s credit rating and are not an obligation on the city.
The Cottage Grove City Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Croix Room at City Hall. The public is invited to attend.