Item 3.6 Polling Place Accessibility Grant Program Agreement
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Administration City Clerk Etzel February 9, 2026
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Consent City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty
City Attorney Kendall
3.6 – Grant Agreement
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
X Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative communication.
Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and expectations in a
cost-effective manner.
Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff are recommending that the City Council accept a Polling Place Accessibility Grant Program Agreement.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
Yes No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
2023 Minnesota Laws, Chapter 62, Article 1, section 6 appropriated $500,000 for the Secretary of State to make
grants to counties and municipalities to improve access to polling places for individuals with disabilities and to provide
the same opportunity for access and participation in the electoral process, including privacy and independence, to
voters with disabilities as that which exists for voters with no disabilities. Funds may be used to purchase equipment
or to make capital improvements to government-owned facilities. This is a one-time appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2027.
The Office of Minnesota Secretary of State worked in consultation with the office’s Disability Advisory Council for
feedback and to prioritize need to best allocate the available funds. As a result, improving access to buildings was
given the first priority.
Jurisdictions were to be limited to $20,000 of grant awards, however applications exceeded the total grand funds
appropriated by the legislature and in some instances, adjustments were made to award amounts following a review
of the eligible expenses in the application. City staff submitted an application for an ADA button to allow voters
access to the main entrance through City Hall’s two doors. The estimated cost for installation for two ADA compliant
push buttons and to install wiring to connect to the City’s door access system is $9,002.04. The City has been
approved for a grant amount of $4,441.92 to implement ADA accessibility. If the City accepts the grant, work needs
to be completed by the November 3, 2026, General Election.
The Administrative Subcommittee reviewed this request at its January 14, 2026, meeting and recommends
consideration of approval by the City Council. The City Attorney has reviewed the 2025 Polling Place Accessibility
Grant Program Agreement.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• Grant Award Letter
• Grant Agreement
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to accept a 2025 Polling Place Accessibility Grant in the amount of $4,441.92 and to approve a grant program
agreement between the City of Otsego and the State of Minnesota.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
General Fund – City Hall/PW Building (41945)
No
*Jurisdiction information, award amount, and digital signatures reflected on this Grant award form were
transposed from the approved application document. Timestamps of these signatures can be found within the
application in Foundant that specify the name and date of the signatory.
2025 Polling Place Accessibility Grant
Grant Award Letter
Jurisdiction: City of Otsego
Home County: Wright County
The 2025 Polling Place Accessibility Grant application submitted by City of Otsego has been reviewed
and approved for a grant award in the amount of $4,441.92 to implement the first priority project(s)
outlined in the project proposal.
Applications for first priority categories exceeded the total grant funds appropriated by the legislature
($500,000.00). Therefore, all first priority grant awards have been pro-rated, and no second priority
grant applications were approved.
Grant contracts are being prepared and will be sent for signature via email over the next few weeks.
In some instances, adjustments were made to the award amount following a review of the eligible
expenses in the application. If that applies to your jurisdiction, those adjustments will be listed below.
•approved item 1 in the grant application
Wolid Ahmed
State Program Administrator
Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State
12/15/2025
Date