On the agenda: Waite Park meeting — Data Center (Mar 16)

19 13th Avenue North
Waite Park, MN 56387

City Council Work Session Agenda
Monday, March 16th
4:30 P.M.
District #742 Administrative Building located 1201 2nd Street South Waite Park #5

1.

4:30 P.M.

Assessment Policy Discussion

Staff would like to discuss with the city council the idea of considering an assessment
policy. The assessment policy would consider how the city could like to pay for street,
utility, storm sewer, and sidewalk improvements. With recent discussion about 2026
projects and assessing for portions of these projects, staff felt that it would be good to
look at developing a policy that can assist with ensuring future projects have some
consistency and criteria in place when it comes to determining how to pay for these
costs and the timeframe for these costs to be paid back to the city as well. Staff will
present more information on this at the meeting.
2.

5:00 P.M.

Proposed Housing Legislation Updates And Potential

Impacts
Staff has provided the council with some information regarding proposed legislation at the
State as it relates to expanding multi-family housing within residential and commercial
zoning districts. Staff has reviewed some of the proposed impacts and would like to
discuss this with the city council.
3.

5:30 P.M.

Interim Ordinance Discussion Related To Data Centers

Staff would like to discuss with the city council the possibility of an interim ordinance
related to data centers. The current city ordinances do not address or take into
consideration any development of a data center or its potential impacts on the city's
resources needed to be provided if a development was proposed. The interim ordinance
would allow the city to place a temporary moratorium on the potential development of
data centers to give staff some time to research and draft language that would consider
this type of development so the city can ensure the appropriate ordinances are in place.
4.

5:45 P.M.

The Ledge And Proposed Capital Improvement Funds

consideration any development of a data center or its potential impacts on the city's
resources needed to be provided if a development was proposed. The interim ordinance
would allow the city to place a temporary moratorium on the potential development of
data centers to give staff some time to research and draft language that would consider
this type of development so the city can ensure the appropriate ordinances are in place.
4.

5:45 P.M.

The Ledge And Proposed Capital Improvement Funds

As part of the Operator Agreement, a portion of The Ledge operator revenue is required to
be set aside to fund capital projects. The operator is required to hold these funds in a
separate account and works with the city annually to determine what improvements will
be made to the facility with these funds. In the past, some examples the funds were
used for included the light towers and the VIP bar structure. The amount of funds is
approximately $30,000 annually. Staff would like to share with the city council some of
the proposed improvements that are being considered for 2026 with these funds. More
information will be presented at the meeting.
5.

6:00 P.M.

Department Updates

Staff from each department will provide the city council with an update on the things that
are going on within each of their departments. Information will be presented at the
meeting.