NEW ULM — The City of New Ulm is expected to extend the declaration of emergency related to COVID-19 health concerns.

New Ulm initially declared a state of emergency during the March 17 city council meeting. During this meeting the council limited the declaration to the next council meeting on April 7. This is to give the council an option to extend the declaration if needed.

Minnesota statute grants the authority to the mayor to declare a local emergency. President Donald Trump and Governor Tim Walz’s emergency declarations remain in place.

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A recommendation to establish a solar energy system standard will come from the Planning Commission. If this is approved, this will be the first consideration of the ordinance.

A solar energy system is any equipment that collects and converts sunlight into energy. The zoning requirements for solar systems are found in most municipal zoning ordinances. The purpose of this ordinance is to provide locations and facilitate the development of solar energy systems.The ordinance also protects the public and surrounding properties from adverse effects.

The ordinance language would set regulations for residential, business, industrial and agricultural districts. Residential districts would be permitted to use solar energy systems that were ground-mounted, roof-mounted or architecturally integrated to the building.

The ground-mounted systems would be restricted to back yards and need to comply with setback requirements. They could not exceed 15 feet in height. The surface area of all ground-mounted solar systems cannot exceed 120 square feet.

Building-mounted or integrated solar energy systems would have clearance requirements. All solar energy systems must have a three-foot clearance around all roof edges to facilitate emergency responder access and no part of the system can project beyond the peak of the roof.

The installation of a solar energy system requires a building permit. The city must have proof of an interconnection agreement with the New Ulm Public Utilities before the issuance of a building permit.

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The council will consider a resolution requesting a conditional use permit (CUP) to allow the location of two residential dwelling units on the second floor of a building in a downtown B-2 (Service Business) zoning district. The request comes from Mike Kral for a building at 101 S. Broadway. The planning commission and city staff recommended approval at the March commission meeting.