The council adopted a resolution authorizing the cable franchise application process required under Minnesota law and scheduled a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 13, at the start of its regular meeting. If approved following the public hearing and ordinance process, Comcast would be permitted to construct infrastructure and provide cable television services within the city.

Representatives from Comcast, Robert Freeman and Meghan Shea, appeared before the council to outline the company’s plans and answer questions about construction, restoration, and customer service.
Freeman said the company hopes to expand its existing network into Mayer and provide residents with additional broadband internet, cable, and mobile service options.

“We want to be part of the Mayer community and not just provide service in it,” Freeman said.

The proposed project would involve constructing new infrastructure throughout Mayer. Residents could see utility work, temporary construction zones, and communication efforts such as door hangers and yard signs as the project progresses.

Council members raised questions about utility placement, restoration practices, and impacts on homeowners. Shea said they would work closely with city staff and residents throughout the process and emphasized communication as a key component of the project.

City Administrator Nick Johnson explained that state statute requires an open application process for cable franchises. The city must publish a notice of the application period and allow time for any other interested providers to submit applications before moving forward, giving other companies an opportunity to seek a cable communications franchise in Mayer before the council considers granting one to Comcast.

The timeline calls for a public hearing Friday, July 13, followed by consideration of a franchise ordinance later in July. Johnson noted that the proposed Comcast agreement has been developed using the city’s existing Jaguar franchise agreement as a template, as state law requires similar treatment among franchise providers.

Council members viewed the addition of another fiber provider as a benefit for residents by increasing access to high-speed internet service.

“I do like that now people have two different fiber options for internet,” Council Member Nikki McNeilly said during the discussion.

City approves new website provider

The council also approved a four-year agreement with CivicPlus for municipal website services at a cost of $20,952.43.

Johnson said the city is nearing the end of its current website contract and must address upcoming state and federal requirements, including migrating to a .gov domain and complying with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

City staff reviewed proposals from the city’s current provider, Catalis, and CivicPlus before recommending the switch. Johnson said CivicPlus offered greater design flexibility, improved calendar functionality, and a more user-friendly interface for both residents and staff.

The city currently pays about $3,636 annually for website services through Catalis, using a website template that dates back to 2021. Under the proposed agreement, first-year costs will increase to $5,514, including a one-time $850 setup fee, with annual costs decreasing slightly in subsequent years. Over four years, the CivicPlus contract totals $20,952.43 compared with $20,280.72 for a comparable agreement with Catalis.

The city recently secured its .gov domain and plans to migrate its website and email addresses as part of the transition. According to Johnson, implementation of the new website is expected to take between eight and 12 weeks following approval of the agreement.

Mayor Mike Dodge said the new platform should allow the city to better showcase local photos and community features while improving overall usability. He noted the redesign will provide an opportunity to move away from stock imagery and create a website that better reflects the Mayer community.

Storm pond survey proposal tabled

A proposal to conduct bathymetric surveys of city stormwater ponds was tabled and referred back to the Public Works Committee for additional review.

The discussion stems from the city’s stormwater maintenance policy, which calls for dredging when pond capacity falls below 50%. City officials have sought a way to establish baseline sediment levels and determine when maintenance becomes necessary.

Johnson said the city had previously worked with a contractor on the project, but delays and pricing concerns led staff to reconsider the approach. The city is now evaluating a proposal from Bolton & Menk, which helped design many of Mayer’s stormwater facilities.

Bolton & Menk identified approximately 45 ponds within the city and proposed an initial phase of work that would survey roughly one-third of them. The firm recommended prioritizing ponds with known maintenance concerns, development pressures, or greater importance to the stormwater system. The surveys would measure pond depth, evaluate sediment accumulation, inspect erosion and infrastructure conditions, and provide planning-level cost estimates for future maintenance or dredging projects.

During the discussion, officials noted that not all 45 water bodies identified on the city’s map would require surveying, as many function as wetlands rather than constructed stormwater ponds. Staff also discussed the possibility of surveying representative ponds built during similar time periods instead of evaluating every pond, an approach they said could help control costs while still providing useful data.

Council members agreed to send the proposal back to the Public Works Committee for additional review. The committee will further refine the project scope, identify which ponds should be included, and develop updated cost estimates before bringing a recommendation back to the council.

Sidewalk and trail restoration discussion

Following the regular meeting, council members and City Engineer Philip Schrupp reviewed long-term plans for replacing aging sidewalks and trails across the community during a workshop session.
City officials and Schrupp discussed whether future reconstruction projects should use concrete sidewalks or asphalt trails in areas such as Coldwater Crossing and Hidden Creek.

Council members generally favored concrete for sidewalk reconstruction projects due to its longer lifespan and lower maintenance requirements despite the higher upfront cost. While members acknowledged there is still a role for asphalt trails in certain areas, the consensus was that concrete sidewalks should be the city’s preferred option for replacing deteriorating pedestrian routes in residential neighborhoods.

The city has been setting aside approximately $125,000 annually for future sidewalk and trail improvements since 2024. Given the potential cost and scope of a citywide reconstruction effort, officials said they are exploring grant opportunities to help fund the project while using the dedicated funds to address the most deteriorated segments in the meantime.

Council members directed staff to continue evaluating priority areas and cost estimates, with additional discussion expected at a future Public Works meeting.