November 15, 2023

City Meetings This Week

The public is invited to attend the following City meetings this week. Agendas, meeting minutes and City Council packets are available in the Agenda Center on the City’s website: https://owatonna.gov/agendacenter.

November 15: Economic Development Authority Meeting at 4 p.m. in the Chambers in the Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle.

November 16: Library Board Meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Gainey Room at the Owatonna Public Library, 105 N Elm Avenue.

November 20: Park Board Meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Conference Room in the Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle.

November 21: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Charles S. Crandall Center at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle. City Council Study Session at 5 p.m. and City Council Meeting at 7 p.m. in the Chambers.

Invitation to Attend Ribbon Cutting Event

City Council Chambers Renovations Completed

The renovations of the Council Chambers at the West Hills Campus have been completed. The community is invited to attend a ribbon cutting event to commemorate the completion of the project November 21 at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle.

Last year, a decision was made to renovate the Council Chambers area to allow it to better serve the community’s current needs. This space was originally used as an auditorium for the State Public School. It was modified in the 1970s when the City took ownership of the building and began using this room for its public meetings. The project goals were to:

Provide a convenient American Disability Act (ADA) compliant, accessible entry point and restrooms.
Improve capabilities to broadcast public meetings live online and through the Public Access, Education & Government Channel.
Update the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system throughout the building to provide a higher quality of air and increase energy efficiency.
Enhance safety in the Chambers and the building’s security controls.
Create a multi-purpose, flexible public meeting space for public meetings and events.

Discussions among City Council and staff about the need to renovate the Chambers began in 2017. For several years, the City has earmarked capital funds for the $2.1 million project. In addition, $900,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were allocated for the project. In 2021, the City Council selected CRW Architecture & Design Group to plan this project. Then, in 2022, Ebert Construction was selected as contractor for the project. Construction began in April and utilized several Owatonna businesses.

Upcoming Community Events

Save these dates!

Lighted Holiday Parade

Main Street Owatonna is organizing the 2023 Lighted Holiday Parade. This year’s parade begins at 6 pm December 1 on North Cedar Avenue. Immediately following the parade will be the lighting of the trees in Central Park with the Owatonna High School carolers performing on the Central Park Stage.

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will stop in Owatonna December 6 at 3:40 p.m. at 1145 Park Drive, west of the Owatonna Bus Company. The Holiday Train is a great way to get into the festive spirit with 14 brightly decorated rail cars. Each car is lit with hundreds of thousands of LEDs and holiday designs celebrating the spirit of the giving season. he train will stop in 20 Minnesota towns this year, the 25^th year through the northern U.S. bringing live entertainment and Christmas cheer in exchange for donation to local food banks. Attendees don’t actually get to ride the Holiday Train, it’s more of a pop-up concert experience. The train arrives and pulls to a safe stop in front of the crowd. The stage door lowers and the band opens with its first song, followed by a brief presentation with the local food bank officials and other dignitaries on stage. Then, the band resumes the show singing a mix of traditional and modern holiday-themed songs and popular original songs. After the final song, the boxcar door closes and the train is on its way to the next stop. The event’s local sponsor is Community Pathways of Steele County.

Vine Street parking lot building demolition

Vine Street Parking Lot Update

Demolition of building to begin soon

The City Council took a step toward creating additional parking options to better serve the downtown and riverfront area at its November 7 meeting when it approved a contract to demolish the former Monson Eye Clinic building on West Vine Street. The City Council awarded the demolition work to JJD Companies for $35,000. The demolition of the building is needed to make way to expand the existing public parking lot. The parking lot will include both long- and short-term parking options for downtown businesses.

JJD may begin demolition work as soon as November 20 and will complete it before the end of the year. Additional truck traffic in the area may be noticeable in the area. The demolition may temporarily interrupt parking in the area. The new lot will be constructed next year.

The JJD contract also includes $15,000 to finish the demolition of a house at 126 East Fremont Street. The house, purchased by the City of Owatonna for redevelopment, was burned by the Fire Department last month for firefighter training and only the basement remains.

For additional information, visit Owatonna.gov.

Think ahead before bed parking restrictions graphic

Winter Parking Restrictions

Odd/Even Parking

Winter parking restrictions in Owatonna are in effect November 15 through March 31. These restrictions facilitate effective snow removal and allow crews to perform other street maintenance.

During this period, street parking is only allowed on alternating sides of the street every night between 12:01 a.m. and noon, regardless of the weather. On even-numbered calendar dates, vehicles may park on the sides of streets with even-numbered addresses. On odd-numbered calendar dates, vehicles may park on the sides of streets with odd-numbered addresses.

Between noon and midnight, the winter parking restrictions are not in effect. Therefore, parking is allowed on both sides of the street (unless otherwise marked). At 12:01 a.m., parking is only allowed on the side of the street that corresponds with the calendar date. Anticipating the date change at 12:01 a.m., there’s no need to move from one side of the street to the other at midnight. Instead, park prior to midnight on the side of the street that corresponds with the next day’s date.

Keep in mind December and January both end and begin with odd dates – the 31st and the 1st. Parking restrictions are enforced nightly from November 15 through March 31 regardless of weather conditions. Odd/even parking restrictions do not apply to any street that has posted restrictive parking or any cul-de-sac which has combined even and odd house numbers.

The City’s easy-to-use Winter Parking Map app shows where to park during winter months. The app is available on the City of Owatonna’s website Owatonna.gov, search for “Public & Winter Parking.”

Compost Site to Close for Season

The Compost Site will close for the season on November 22. Please watch for additional information about when it will be open to dispose of winter greens and remaining autumn yard waste.

Helpful Links

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