The Albert Lea City Council threw its formal support behind the Blue Zones Project on Monday night.

The project, sponsored by Healthways, is a community well-being initiative aimed at helping people live healthier, longer lifestyles.

Blue Zones Project organization lead Ellen Kehr said Albert Lea was the original Blue Zones pilot project in 2009, and the project has since expanded across several states.

The council approved a resolution in favor of the Blue Zones’ work in Albert Lea.

Kehr thanked the council for its support in making policy changes since the last project and talked about some of the successes the community has seen.

She talked about a complete streets ordinance, reducing sidewalk assessments, installing the Blue Zones Walkway, collaborations with Community Education for the Brookside Boathouse, installing the Front Street bike lanes and hosting community events.

She also pointed out that the council voted to make City Hall and City Arena tobacco-free and finished the Broadway reconstruction. Kehr also said trail counts on the Blue Zones Walkway are up from five years ago.

About 80 people are volunteering on committees. Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen encouraged people to take part.

In other action, the City Council:

• Voted 5-2 to amend the fee schedule for turning water on and off and for taking out meters.

City Manager Chad Adams said previously people who leave town for the winter would pay $50 to turn off their water when they left and some would pay a $150 charge to take their meter out while they were gone.

Under the new fees, people leaving for the winter would pay a $75 fee to turn off the water plus a base meter charge of about $11 a month while gone.

Adams said the city is discouraging disconnecting the meters. If someone wanted to take out the meter that would still cost about $150.

People who need to turn off their water for less than 24 hours will not have to pay a fee.

Third Ward Councilor George Marin and 6th Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks voted against the changes.

• Tabled a public hearing on a tax-increment-finance plan for the new St. John’s Lutheran Community facility.

• Tabled a public hearing on the resurfacing of U.S. Highway 65 from Main Street south to Interstate 35. The project involves the mill and overlay from Main Street south to Interstate 35.

• Authorized Adams to move ahead with negotiations with Freeborn County for the acquisition of tax forfeited property at 717 Madison Ave., 207 E. Fourth St., 1344 S.E. Broadway, 1329 S.E. Broadway and 1427 Frank Ave.

Adams said obtaining the property is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan.

• Heard a report from Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Randy Kehr about a new window decorating contest to be held downtown for Homecoming Week.

The contest was largely because of a group of youth called the Quarterback Club.

The winner will display a large traveling trophy.

• Called a public hearing for Oct. 27 about a tax-increment-finance district relates to the Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen expansion.

• Called a public hearing for Oct. 13 about the proposed assessments for the state-aid street project completed this year.

The project included a mill and overlay and replacement of some curbs and gutters on portions of Y.H. Hanson Avenue, Hershey Street and Sykes Street.

• Called a public hearing for Oct. 13 about the proposed assessments for the neighborhood improvement project involving streets in the 3rd Ward.

The project included a mill and overlay and replacing some curbs.

• Called a public hearing for Oct. 13 about the proposed assessments for delinquent water and sewer accounts.

• Called a public hearing about the proposed parking maintenance district downtown.

• Appointed election judges for the Nov. 4 general election.

• Approved closing Fountain Street from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 for the Fire Department Open House.

• Witnessed the swearing in of Albert Lea’s newest police officer, Daniel Schmitt.

Schmidt, of Eagan, is a 10-year U.S. Army veteran and worked security at the Mall of America prior to coming to Albert Lea. He served three tours in the Middle East.

• Accepted a $1,000 grant from the Roland Hanson and Kay L. Hanson Foundation fund of the Freeborn County Community Foundation to go toward the annual Taste of Heritage festival.

The festival showcases diversity in the community.

• Voted to support a grant application to the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for funding for the newly formed Albert Lea Entrepreneurial Advancement Program.

Funding would assist with hiring a facilitator and in the creation of a downtown incubator for the program.

• Authorized an agreement with the Albert Lea Hockey Association for rental of ice time at City Arena.

The agreement calls for the association to have 700 hours of ice time at a cost of $150 per hour during the winter and $130 per hour in the spring and summer. It also states rates for renting the concession area.

• Called a public hearing for the proposed assessments for the paving of the alley between First and Second avenues.