Spark Guide Isanti City Council November 4, 2026 7:00 PM
The council approved temporary winter parking at Evergreen Apartments, angled parking at the Creamery, and a winter restroom at Bluebird Park. It also directed playground safety inspections, approved two land-use requests, and backed reuse of donated playground equipment. The city’s County Road 45 support letter passed 4–1.
Mayor Luke Merrill called the meeting to order and read the Veterans Day proclamation. No one spoke during opening public comment. The council added the County Road 45 grant letter and City Hall access to the agenda. Committee updates covered the Fire District’s tanker grant and ladder-truck replacement efforts and a Chamber of Commerce economic presentation.
City Administrator Josi Wood introduced Tabitha Johnson, representing Evergreen Apartments. Johnson said the county declined her request to park along County Road 5. After discussing traffic and school buses, the council approved use of an adjacent unpaved area on the apartment property for temporary winter snow-removal parking, without salt.
Public Services Director Joshua Becker presented the $1,500 Institute for Environmental Assessment proposal. The council supported inspections for playgrounds or equipment built by Public Works and directed staff to explore lower quotes or in-house certification. Vendor selection and the final cost remain open.
Motion substance (paraphrase) Direct inspection of playgrounds or equipment built by Public Works and have staff seek lower quotes or explore in-house certification.
Motion by
Steve Lundeen
Seconded by
Nick Pedersen
Result
Amended direction approved 5–0
Yea
5 · Luke Merrill, George Hemen, Steve Lundeen, Nick Pedersen, Erika Zdon
Nay
0
Abstain
0
Voice vote. Yea names are inferred from attendance, any absence stated by the chair, and the announced tally.
Elaine Fischer introduced herself on behalf of the Isanti Lions and requested the former City Hall library room once or twice a month for hearing screenings. City Clerk and Deputy HR Director Jaden Strand prepared the item memo. A council member proposed allowing the use, and staff offered to draft a policy for room scheduling and use by similar groups. Room use and screening dates are pending.
Motion substance (paraphrase) Allow the Isanti Lions to use the former library room at City Hall for hearing screenings. The proposal received no recorded second or vote.
Community Development Director Stephanie Hillesheim presented the Creamery’s 45-degree parking plan at 104 Main Street West. She named Public Services Director Joshua Becker and City Engineer Jason W. Cook as site reviewers. Chief of Police Travis Muyres was asked about the layout. The owner is responsible for installation, striping upkeep and snow removal on the private portion. The packet requires a 30-foot stop-sign setback and protection of the public alley.
Motion substance (paraphrase) Approve 45-degree parking along First Avenue NW at 104 Main Street West. The packet requires a 30-foot stop-sign setback, a clear public alley, and owner-funded installation, striping upkeep and snow clearing on private property.
Motion by
Steve Lundeen
Seconded by
Luke Merrill
Result
Approved 5–0
Yea
5 · Luke Merrill, George Hemen, Steve Lundeen, Nick Pedersen, Erika Zdon
Nay
0
Abstain
0
Voice vote. Yea names are inferred from attendance, any absence stated by the chair, and the announced tally.
Community Development Director Stephanie Hillesheim presented a wheelchair-accessible portable restroom for winter use near the Bluebird Park amphitheater and bike path. Absolute Portables’ winter service is $90 per month, compared with the $60 standard rate. Parks maintenance funds cover the service.
Motion substance (paraphrase) Authorize one wheelchair-accessible winter portable restroom at Bluebird Park near the amphitheater and bike path, at $90 per month under the existing vendor agreement.
Motion by
George Hemen
Seconded by
Erika Zdon
Result
Approved 5–0
Yea
5 · Luke Merrill, George Hemen, Steve Lundeen, Nick Pedersen, Erika Zdon
Nay
0
Abstain
0
Voice vote. Yea names are inferred from attendance, any absence stated by the chair, and the announced tally.
Associate Planner Jared Haas prepared the staff report for restaurant use at the existing wedding and events venue at 27600 Polk Street NE. The permit allows the operator to apply separately for a liquor license. Building, health, food-safety and fire requirements apply.
Motion substance (paraphrase) Approve a conditional use permit for restaurant use at the existing event venue at 27600 Polk Street NE, subject to the permit conditions in the packet.
Motion by
Steve Lundeen
Seconded by
George Hemen
Result
Conditional use permit approved 5–0
Yea
5 · Luke Merrill, George Hemen, Steve Lundeen, Nick Pedersen, Erika Zdon
Nay
0
Abstain
0
Voice vote. Yea names are inferred from attendance, any absence stated by the chair, and the announced tally.
Associate Planner Jared Haas prepared the staff report for Capstone Homes’ request to annex and zone parcel 05.021.0102 for R-1 single-family use. The packet describes about 20 acres in Isanti Township adjoining city limits. Platting and construction are later steps. The draft heading on packet page 35 names New Hope Community Church. The operative text names Capstone Homes and the parcel. A signed resolution would clarify the heading.
Public Services Director Joshua Becker presented Safety First’s $9,446.30 removal quote for two donated structures from Moir Park in Bloomington and reinstallation estimates of $14,851 in 2026 and $19,851 later. The motion carried after its mover accepted placing the smaller structure at Isanti Hills. The November 16 Parks and Recreation Board packet lists placement for discussion. Final contract scope, payment and the larger structure’s placement remain open.
Motion substance (paraphrase) Proceed with Safety First for removal and reuse of two donated Moir Park structures. The mover accepted the smaller structure for Isanti Hills. The council discussed Parks and Recreation Board input on the other location.
Motion by
Steve Lundeen
Seconded by
Nick Pedersen
Result
Removal and reuse motion passed 5–0
Yea
5 · Luke Merrill, George Hemen, Steve Lundeen, Nick Pedersen, Erika Zdon
Nay
0
Abstain
0
Voice vote. Yea names are inferred from attendance, any absence stated by the chair, and the announced tally.
Council members supported signs at Woodland Park after discussing visibility when cars are parked on the street. They left a broader review of signs at other parks for later.
The council backed a letter supporting Isanti County’s Local Road Improvement Program application for County Road 45 from County State Aid Highway 5 to Highway 19. The presenter said County Engineer Justin Bergerson had requested support and explained that county and city applications compete in separate groups. The county resolution describes 1.82 miles of reconstruction with paved shoulders.
Councilmember Nick Pedersen asked about after-hours access for members arriving early. Mayor Luke Merrill invited Councilmember Erika Zdon to weigh in. Members discussed staff-assisted entry, accountability and the cost of changing access. The discussion ended with support for continuing to arrange entry through staff.
The four consent items covered $150,435.18 in payroll and $834,955.23 in accounts payable, the 2027 meeting calendar, $1,615 in Illuminate Isanti donations, and Guardian for 2027 paid leave and life insurance. Assistant Finance Director Pamela Dahlheimer prepared the payment memo, and Human Resources Director Katie Grotte prepared the Guardian memo. Staff identified a $297,590 bond service payment. The packet puts total event donations at $6,865.
Motion substance (paraphrase) Approve the consent agenda covering payroll and accounts payable, the 2027 meetings calendar, Illuminate Isanti donations, and selection of Guardian for 2027 employee life insurance and Minnesota Paid Leave administration.
Motion by
Erika Zdon
Seconded by
George Hemen
Result
Approved 4–0
Yea
4 · Luke Merrill, George Hemen, Nick Pedersen, Erika Zdon
Nay
0
Abstain
0
Did not vote
Steve Lundeen was in the hallway, as announced by the chair.
Voice vote. Yea names are inferred from attendance, any absence stated by the chair, and the announced tally.
Mayor Luke Merrill called for a motion to close the session for labor negotiation strategy. This is the last action audible in Part 1. In the city’s separate Part 2, the council returned to open session and voted 5–0 to adjourn.
City staff offered to draft a policy. Formal assignment unconfirmed.
Next step
Bring a policy on scheduling and access by similar groups back to council.
Status checked November 12, 2026
Staff discussed bringing the policy back at the next meeting or in December. A firm return date, room permission, and screening dates remain unverified.
The player uses an edited audio copy of Part 1. A few passages are muted to match the privacy edits, and the elapsed times are preserved. The city’s original Part 1 picture stays black.
Merrill was elected to the at-large council on November 8, 2022. The council selected him as interim mayor on December 17, 2024, following James Gordon’s announced resignation. He won the August 2025 special election and took the mayoral oath on September 2, 2025. Isanti County lists him as a District 4 representative on its Parks and Recreation Commission. In his public biography, he says he graduated from Cambridge-Isanti High School and earned degrees in economics and psychology at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Election for the next term Christopher Brooks received more votes than Merrill in the November 3, 2026 mayoral race.
Called the meeting to order and read the Veterans Day proclamation. Reported present.
Hemen joined the council by appointment on February 7, 2023. Voters elected him to a four-year at-large term in 2024. For 2026, the council designated him mayor pro tem and its alternate on the Fire Board.
Lundeen, listed on the ballot as Steven Lundeen, won a seat in a March 15, 2011 special election, according to then-Mayor George Wimmer’s election-night account. State results also record a win in 2016. He was reelected in 2024 and took the oath on January 6, 2025. The city lists him on the Planning Commission for 2026.
Nicholas “Nick” Pedersen was appointed and sworn in on January 21, 2025 to fill the council vacancy left when Merrill became interim mayor. The council named him its primary Fire Board representative for 2026. He told the Isanti-Chisago County Star that he previously served as military police in the National Guard.
Election for the next term The City Clerk’s canvass packet reports that Pedersen won a four-year at-large term on November 3, 2026.
Zdon was appointed and sworn in on March 17, 2026 to fill Jeff Holmgren’s vacant at-large seat. She previously served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Board and was assigned to the Rum River BMX Association and the Cambridge-Isanti Bike/Walk Trail Committee after joining the council. Cambridge-Isanti Schools lists her as an early childhood teacher.
Election for the next term The City Clerk’s canvass packet reports that Zdon won a four-year at-large term on November 3, 2026.
The concept shows 10 stalls and a 30-foot minimum setback from the stop sign. The markings lie beside the Creamery along First Avenue NW. The packet calls this a concept and labels it as out of scale.
Check the city’s current agendas and notices before attending. The November 4 meeting included an opening public comment period. To request a Council agenda item, contact the City Clerk or use the city’s request form.
The Parks and Recreation Board’s 6:00 p.m. agenda lists used playground equipment placement for discussion. The November 4 council had discussed arranging an earlier parks meeting to address timing. The original November 4 packet listed a November 24 Parks and Recreation Board meeting. The November 16 Board packet is the later source for its used-equipment discussion.
The calendar staff memo says the first Council and Economic Development Authority meetings will be Monday, January 4. The calendar graphic in the same packet lists Tuesday, January 5. The recorded consent vote gives no clarification. Check the city’s current listing before attending.
Spark House prepares this independent guide. The city’s official records document council proceedings.
Records checked . City agenda packet and two recordings available. November 4 minutes and late handouts were absent from the records checked on November 12, 2026.
Checked the city recording, vote attributions, agenda packet and other available city and county records. Published proceedings coverage should be reconciled when the city posts approved minutes or updates the recording.
· Part 2 verified
Added decision follow-through, financial stages, resident guidance, and navigation. The PDF retains the original public appendix pages, with contents, agenda bookmarks, and tags for the authored body.
· Council member profiles added
Added the election or appointment dates and term expirations for the five members serving at the meeting, with biographies and links to public records. The profiles and next-term election context are in the web edition.
