All right, we'll call a meeting to order. Please stand if you're able for the pledge of allegiance. United States of America to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Good evening and welcome everyone. Um boy Bri take the roll call today please. Mayor King present. Council member at large Austin. Council member Fischer present.
Council member Obala present. Council member Hely present. Council member Posma present. Council member Baskin present. Council member Waller. Mayor, we have a quorum.
Thank you, Bri. Item number one is a motion for adoption of the agenda. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Item number two is approving our minutes from our September 15th and September 22nd, 2025 meeting. So moved.
Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Under recognitions and awards, we have I think three items, two on the agenda, one add um introduction of our part-time CSO cadet, Chief McKeon, Michael Hansen. that up. Um,
we do have community service officers that work for the Austin Police Department. U, one of those positions is a halftime role. And we've been really intentional about gearing it towards not only the community service aspect, but also cadet position looking to foster
career go growth for those seeking to become full-time law enforcement officers. Uh, Mr. Hansen here is a 2016 graduate of Austin High, spent nine years in the Marine Corps. He's still in the reserves. Uh left with the rank or current rank of staff sergeant, which is
obviously an incredible accomplishment. Uh he's going to RTC to finish school and hopefully be available to challenge the post test and look to be hired by departments this spring. Uh so we're welcoming on board today. Very excited to have him. Obviously, like I said,
he's bringing us and Austin a host of skills uh that really for a 20our position are just incredible to have. Uh we've teamed him up with Ernesto Cantou. Ernesto did tell me he missed his introduction 20ome years ago, but we've kind of got, you know, you
know, the best of both worlds getting trained in. Ernie just made top 10 for overall city seniority. So, a good partnership here and uh Michael certainly learning from uh the longest tenure, one of the best csos we've had. So, very excited to uh welcome Mr.
Hansen to the Austin Police Department. Congratulations. Thank you, Chief McKe, and thank you and welcome, Michael. And you are in good hands with Ernesto, no doubt about it, and the rest of APD. I think the the cadet program is relatively new. Might
be our first hire in the CSO cadet. This will be the second one officially called the Cso Cadet. Uh our agency did hire the prior one. uh prior to that that part-time cso is also hired by by our agency and we've had success with
some of our full-timers over time either going to us or going to another agency. So, it really is a good opportunity. They're doing they're doing those community service duties. They're going out there um doing everything we would expect of them, but we know that hopefully at the end of the day they're
a successful candidate with our agency. Uh I already mentioned to him I'm aware of at least one opening in June coming up that uh he can compete for. Uh but like I said, it's been a good program. We've hired the last two in that uh part-time role and certainly I think uh Mr. Hansen's future is bright as well.
Right on. Great. Well, welcome again. Thank you. Welcome. Um also under recognitions award presentation the artworks festival city art award. Laura Obala, you guys were the selection committee here too. Who's got to kick us off here? I would
like to introduce uh the Austin Arts personnel um Kelsey Richie, the acting executive director, and Lisa Dunlap, co-chair of the festival. And uh they can take it from here. Hey. Hi, Lisa. Welcome.
Thank you. This is the piece that uh Laura and Obala chose um to be hung at in the city hall. And the artist is Promeila Kumar. She does um mixed media. She's a mixed
media artist from Illinois and she loves to celebrate color. And this is called Galaxy Circle. Um now I know that the two of you had some really specific reasons why you chose this piece. Do you want to share that?
Sure. Um Obal is graciously allowing me to go first. We really uh wanted uh to find something that that celebrated um both diversity and unity. And so we felt like this circle that has a lot of different
materials, a lot of natural materials and a lot of color was a really great representation of Austin as a community. Um we're stronger and more beautiful because of our diversity and we are um pulled together uh as a as a team, as a
community to to work together. So that's what we were hoping to represent. Yeah. I supporting the idea that when I look at that uh you know as you can see galaxy I see when I look at the sunset from my neighborhood in nature center
when the sunset go you can see how the colorful it is and also when the sunrise when I wake up every morning on a Saturday that I don't work I feel like hey this represent Austin and how beautiful it is to have something like this in city hall. So this is why we we
choose it and um the artists um to see that people traveling from out of state coming and celebrate what we do here that mean Austin is moving in a great progress. Thank you. And this was her first year in Austin.
She was very happy to be here. I think she was pretty surprised. Yeah. Really nice. Do you want So it was great experience. Oh, you did? And then I just want to thank the city for partaking in the city award again this year. It's amazing to offer awards. It makes our festival um
more attractive to youngest to win and to know that it's in a public building is really important. So, thank you. Yes. Thank you very much. Well, thank you Kelsey for all the work you're doing in the uh as an interim director and then Lisa, you and your co-chair and your committee did an amazing job again with the uh artworks
festival. So, thank you. Thank you for all the work. I know it's a ton of work. It's a labor of love, believe me. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, folks. We'll see you next year. Yes. Thank you. And Craig, you have a welcome and sort of Yes. Uh we have an item later on the
agenda as well. So, um Melissa Wilson, I was going to do it at my comments at the end of the meeting, but since there's something on the agenda, Melissa Wilson has agreed to be the interim finance director. So, I wanted to both let council know and publicly uh thank her for willingness to step forward in that
position as we look for a new finance director. So, that's all I have. Very good. Thank you, Craig. Uh moving on to item number four is a motion for the consent agenda. Jo second. All in favor? I opposed.
Motion carries. Uh moving on to public hearings. Um, we have uh item number five, reviewing a tax abatement application from Bigalow Lenon for approval or denial of the abatement. Craig. Uh, thank you, mayor, members. This is at 1801 12th Avenue Northeast in the Nature's Ridge subdivision, estimated
value at $300,000, a fourbedroom, three bath bath home. It is in conformance with our adopted policy and this is a public hearing. Very good. Thank you. Uh, anyone here in the public wishing to speak on item number five? Hearing none. Council, any questions or
comments on five? Otherwise, looking for a resolution approving. Move to approve. Second. Second. Uh, Bri, Council Member Fischer. I. Council member Obala.
I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Postma. Hi. Council member Baskin. I motion carries 5-0. Thank you, Bri. Uh, moving on to item
number 6 through 12. There'll be public hearings. So, we'll be holding a public hearing for these items in the council packet, all of which pertain to assessments. Each property owner was mailed a notice regarding the hearing and a notice of hearing was published in the Austin Daily Herald. The clerk's office is requesting the council adopt
the assessments as outlined in the resolution presented tonight. Property owners have until October 31st to pay the assessment without incurring interest. If they do not pay by that date, the assessment will be added to their property taxes. And what we're going to do here is I go right through the start with six. Uh generally what
happens is when you uh come to the microphone you'll air your grievance if you will uh state your point but generally speaking it it seems like it's worked in the past to uh listen to what the item of issue is for that property owner and then ask that they meet or arrange a meeting with the department
head that's here uh in the well here tonight and then discuss that uh item. And generally what we've done in the past is approve them here and then if there is a carve out uh from the department I will go back and we'll take that one off the assessment roles if it
needs to be. If nothing changes it's approved so it'll go forward. But I think it just is a the subject matter experts are are the department heads. So that's what we would we will defer to. But I I'll take item number f six first the public hearing on hazardous housing
abatement. Um, is there anyone here from the public wishing to speak on that assessment for item number six, hazardous housing abatements? Okay, hearing none. Looking council, any questions or comments? Otherwise, looking for resolution adopting the assessment rule.
So, move. Oh, second. Bri, council member Fischer. I. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. Hi. Council member Posma. Hi. Council member Baskin.
I. Council member. Nope. That's it. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you, Bri. Usually there's two more, so I get it. Uh, moving on to item number seven, a public hearing on assessments for the miscellaneous sidewalk and driveway projects. Is
anybody here in the public wishing to speak on item number seven regarding sidewalk and driveway projects? Hearing none, seeing none, council, any questions or comments? Otherwise looking for resolution adopting the assessment role for that. So moved. Second.
Bri. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Posma. I. Council member Baskin. I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Item number eight, public
hearing on assessments for snow removal. Is anyone here in the public wishing to speak on the item number eight? Uh, snow removal assessment hearing none. Seeing none, the council, any comments or questions? Otherwise, looking for resolution. Move to approve.
Second. Bri. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Posa. Hi. Council member Baskin. I. Resolution passes 5-0.
Thank you, Bri. Item number nine is a resolution on a public hearing for assessments on garbage and junk removal. Anyone here in the public wishing to speak on item number nine? Hearing none. Seeing none, council, any comments or questions? Always look for resolution adopting the assessment rule.
So move. Is there a second? Second. Brie, please. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Obala. I council member Hely I council member Postma I
council member Baskin I resolution passes 5-0 thank you Bri item number 10 is resolution on a and a public hearing on assessments for weed and grass removal anyone here from the public wishing to speak on this item please come up to the microphone sir and uh when you get here
we just need your name and address and what you're here to talk to us All right. Welcome. Name and address, please. Uh Shane Rose. The address there is uh 104. What is it? 1043rd Avenue Southeast, I
believe. Been so long since I've been here. Okay. What can I do for you tonight, Shane? Um, so I've gotten two notices that, well, originally when the property burnt down, I tried to forfeit the property to the county, tried forfeiting
it to the city. Um, I don't have the money to repair it. I was told to board the property up. U, my dad was going over there mowing and everything else. I think that, uh, $427.50 is a bit extreme. And then this one here is for an additional $275,
I think, for literally a half hour's work of each time. And I just literally went by there now. And I'm not sure. I don't have my glasses on, but I'm not sure when this says it was mowed, but I know it hasn't been mowed within a week or week and a half. And I
just got this letter today. So, um, I still plan I got court on Thursday. I mean, I don't know what to do with the property. I can't afford to fix it, you know, and I'm I I don't live in the area, you You know, I mean, the back half of it burnt when I originally bought the
property. I wasn't even able to put power onto it because when they put the road through there or whatever, something about the concrete truck or whatever, took the power out, which I bought as is. I wasn't aware of that. Um, but I left town, got myself in a mess trouble, sobered up, been sober for
four years, and have stayed out of town, you know. So, I I don't know what to do. I mean, if obviously if I could afford to pay this to mow my grass, the house would be fixed, you know. Yeah. So, unfortunately, when you got noticed, have you met with J Jason Sehon yet? Park, this falls under the park and
wreck. I think I'm going to do what I kind of said in the beginning is make an appointment with Jason to meet with him in the next day or two uh and see if there's some kind of resolution. Otherwise, you may have just somehow pay it. But you the land is or the property now belongs to the county. Well, so
originally when when the back half of it caught fire, which has been over a year, I tried to forfeit it to the city and to the county just I can't fix it, take it before all, you know, stuff like this starts occurring and the mess and you know, when I was just there now, I don't
know, neighbors, kids, whatever. But I mean, they've tore through the sheds. There's Yeah, it seems like we got a bigger problem than just the lawn mowing. that property does become the counties. I don't know if you can talk to Scott Felton, the uh auditor treasur, and see if you can speed things up if you're
willing. If you're a willing participant letting it go, I was willing a year over a year ago. Then I think it might be a conversation with Scott Felton in the county auditor treasures office might be helpful to get it out of your hands and under the county. But until then, I'd suggest that you meet with Jason, maybe get an appointment set up, see what you can
find. You have a card I can get or something. Thank you, Mr. Rose. Thank you. Anywhere anywhere anybody else wishing to speak on the the grass and weeds item number 10. Uh Mr. Mayor uh there was an uh letter
at the desk council desk um just for your background for Disher I believe. Uh we sent notice on 61325 recheck on 62325 and the contract mower was sent on 625. Uh there was only one letter, no
citation, only charged the $75 admin fee and 6750 for a moment just for your background. So we had one written objection to the grass. Great. But sounds like some of the facts are a little bit off, but just for the background information for council
and is Jesse for that for that name on our assessment list, it's 30750. Does he have a couple properties? Lot 17 block. Is Mr. D? What's it? Jesse. Is Jesse here tonight? E I S H E R.
Okay. Well, he's not here tonight. So, we got a letter. Whatever the value is, we got a letter. So, um with that, looking to uh looking for a resolution adopting the assessment role. And if the department
head or some other circumstances come to light, we'll pull that one out. The one that spoke to us tonight. I'll move. I'll second. Uh, Bri, so I'm sorry. Are we adopting this as it's written or are we carving out rows?
Well, we were we'll adopt it as written and carve out if there's a a mechanism for some grievance or some reason to pull it out. And in the past, we um the department head will at the next council meeting give us an update on what resolution was from the contact that the constituent
has. Um and then council can uh make a determination at that point whether or not to pull it back out. We had a very similar situation last year with the person that owned three properties out in Lancing in the same mowing issue and then Jason was able to meet with them and I think we still charge him for that assessment but he
was from out of town as well. So that has been our practice before and I think it's a decent one to department and take their advice on what we do for if we have to pull it out. So before we vote I I just want to comment this letter that was sent it from Mr.
Yisher Daishir um is saying their household didn't have good communication about why the city was coming to mow. They they saw people out mowing. They didn't know what it was about and then it happened again. And so I just wanted to hear from Mr. Sehon
what is our procedure? How do we contact people? Are we confident that that it's the right um way to contact people? Um, and do we need to make any adjustments there? So, sorry.
Thank you, honorable mayor and council. So, the process um we we've been reviewing. I think it's it's a pretty good communication process. Initially, we uh inspect the property and if the grass is out of compliance of our
ordinance, in other words, if it's 8 in or longer, then a citation letter is mailed to that resident. uh certified mail. And so um the the first offense, there's no fine attached to it. It's
just a a letter with uh it references the ordinance and what and what their options are for communicating back to the city. Uh and basically states that uh we will come back and do a recheck in 7 to 10 days. The ordinance reads seven. We usually give them till 10 days and
then we'll do a recheck. And if the if the property is not mowed at that point, then we contract with the city contracted mowing company that we do a every 3 years we go out to bid um for the mowing contracted mowing. So that
usually takes another 3 days for the mowing to happen. So technically now they're at maybe 12 13 days. If the contract mower shows up on the property and it's mowed, then they then that's it. The fine there's no fine. There's
there's there's no other fees. Um if the contract mowing company does mow, then we send the property owner a bill and if they don't pay the bill, that's what tonight's meeting is about that they um they could be assess the bill could be
assessed their the property taxes um each subsequent offense. So if they get a second offense, now we send a cite a letter with a citation. So, for example, the first offense uh or the second offense is $125
citation, and that's delivered with the letter stating that they're out of compliance a second time. So, even if they mow after that letter, and we don't contract mow again, that fine still stands. And then those fines do increase over time. Uh and then they have a max.
But, um just to wrap up, we do send it certified mail. It has all the information. uh it's like three pages that go out with it. It kind of references the ordinance and what's going on. So, typically we don't see any issues. This particular one, uh I just
right before this meeting I ran up, I only saw one line item. I'd have to double check more, but what I saw was that they were sent one letter uh kind of the freebie letter, no charge, and that uh we did a recheck and it was not mowed. So, that we did a mowing. So, the
letter was sent June 13th. Recheck was June 23rd, 10 days later. Contract mowing was uh June 26th. Uh I only showed one letter being mailed and no citation and that they were only charged the $75 admin fee and the $67.50 for
mowing, which tells me they were charged for an hour and a half of mowing time. The rate is $45 per hour. Um, so I could look more and if there's contact information on this letter, I don't know if I saw any. I could get back to this. Actually, I could find it with the
address, but I could reach out to this person if that's the council's. So certified mail means you have to sign for it. So if you're a household where nobody's home when the mail's delivered, you have to go to the post office during post office hours to get and that is our
only contact. We don't do a door hanger. We don't do anything else. So, you legit could just not have ever gotten your certified mail. That is correct. Yeah, that seems like a pretty big hole in our process. Well, you get you get noticed, so they stick a sticky on their door door that
says you have certified mail. Craig, do you have anything to add? Well, the ordinance describes the process and the ordinance is concerned about, you know, due process and documenting that notice was given. the notices are sent to the address that's on file for the taxes are sent again to
make sure it's getting to the right people. And if the suggestion is that certified mail is uh too much notice because people don't bother to go to the post office to get it, I'm concerned about other forms of notice where we
have no documentation that occurred. No, my concern is if you work Saturdays and if you work if your work schedule does not allow you to get to the post office during open post office hours and there's not an adult at your home to receive it, when do you ever get there?
I mean, we can personally serve them at work by hiring the sheriff to do that and incur those fees that they're posting it on the front door is allowed in certain circumstances, but not usually as the due process trigger. So
the the documenting that it was sent and and that there was you know the notice was addressed properly and those sorts of things is what the certified piece gives us that it was sent. The presumption under the law is that people can collect their mail.
Maybe that's a wrong presumption but that's how all of the law I guess that's what I'm saying. I I'm saying at least one resident this year did not get that certified mail. And I feel like this is not the first year that I've heard this same complaint. So,
I don't know the answers, but we have lots of technology and and lots of means at our disposal to communicate with people. Um, it it would seem to me that we could fulfill the statute and send the certified and also hang a door hanger or and also knock on the door or
I don't know what something. Could we do a could we do just a mailing with an affidavit of mailing? Would that be sufficient? Well, not under the ordinance the way it's done right now, but you I I can look at that. Yeah, it's interesting. looked at this
before and the and the issue is is all about being able if this is challenged at some point being able to properly document what you did and when you did it. And for for some of these, the statute describes certified mail or personal service as the only two options
that are available. I would have to double check whether whether grass mowing is in the in the category that those are your only two options. But oftentimes when we look at this, that's what I find is that our ordinance is drafted the way it's drafted because that's the minimum requirement under the
statute that allows us to do this process. Doesn't mean you can't do other things. You can't on top of certified mail or on top of personal service do hangers or whatever. I would just encourage you to think about things like what we're talking about here is minimum
standards for lawnmowing and you're over eight inches before the process starts and then two or three weeks later you haven't done anything. So it's this is like saying that I didn't get a phone call because my car had a ticket on it. You know it you have to look at
the car. That's where the ticket is. So in these sorts of things you're you're telling the staff now there's some additional work that you have to put into all of these. You have to make a trip out to the property, hang a door hanger. They're already concerned about paying a certified mail fee for each one of these if the people voluntarily
comply. Those add up all year, but you do get voluntary compliancements out. So, so you're balancing. I'm spending, you know, hundreds, if not thousands of dollars sending certified mail, but I get, you know, 80% compliance because of that. We only have a few that don't
comply that we have to follow up on. So, the the only thing I would say is Mr. Seihon may have some opinions about his staff time and and going out to the site yet another time to hang a door hanger. Yeah. So, I guess what I would love to see us do is I mean I I think probably
two things. One is I don't have a ton of sympathy for if the ordinance especially around something like this like have you cut your grass or not pretty clear. I think we're we've got some good leniency in terms of hey you missed a week you were on vacation whatever that looks like. I
mean, at the point that somebody's violated an ordinance, we've contacted them about that. They still haven't resolved it. Even if they didn't get the contact, I mean, we're now 3 weeks into you've got half a jungle sitting there. Sending a certified letter. If you get
something on that says, "Hey, you have mail that you need to get at the post office." And you make the decision not to get it. I can't imagine that you have to work every single day and every single Saturday between now and whenever they were done. So, I don't have a ton
of sympathy in that area. That being said, I think Laura's point is fair and maybe it's a future work session topic for us to look at is there a with technology or anything like that from a customer service standpoint, a way that we can also do it that doesn't add a tremendous burden to staff. Maybe
there's not. Maybe we look at it and just go, you know, certified mail, it is what it is. And you know, we've got a pretty finite number of these and you can't fix everything. But yeah, if there's a when we send it, it we do a door sticker or something like that, great. And if not, then
how how many Austin residents know that there is a a weed and grass ordinance? How many people should just mold their yard? Pretty easy, you know. Well, I appreciate this conversation and to that point, I think next year we already have
a plan for a little bit more community outreach and education in the early spring. Um, you know, we've been talking about this. We've talked to Mr. Byum in recent months about this very thing. We have, I think I just got a slip this morning. We have about $600 in returned
certified mail letters. So, the best option we've come up with so far, which would be a small added cost to the city, is to send certified mail. So, we're complying with the ordinance, but also send letter mail to get to those people that may not be able to get to the post
office. So, there will be that slight added cost. But, um, it's not a requirement, but that might help reach more people. I mean, we really want to help people understand and and educate them. We're not out to like make fines. We're not making money on this. We're we're just trying to clean up our
community. So, um you know, whatever the best way to help our community, I think is the way we want to move forward. And if we want to have a discussion at work session, we can certainly do that. It seems to me that at the very least, at the point you've already paid someone to drive there and measure the grass,
they can hang something on the door that says, "This is our ordinance. You know, you are or you are not in violation of the ordinance. You will be getting certified mail. Here's how you could comply. here's some resources to get help mowing your lawn if you are a disabled or elderly or whatever. We're
already paying a person to go there. Why we wouldn't try to communicate a little bit at that point um is I just don't understand. I mean, that's why people feel like the city's out to get them is because they don't know anything about it. Someone showed up and mowed their
lawn. This person says they assumed it had something to do with getting a cable install, internet install. I would also say we've got 10,000 houses and we've got one letter. So 9,999 people seem to be getting it. Okay. Yeah. Agreed. Bear.
All right. So, we got a motion and a second for item number 10. Um looking for adopting the assessment rule inclusion. I Bri, Council Member Fischer. I. Council member Obala. I.
Council member Hely. I. Council member Posma. Hi. Council member Baskin. I resolution passes 5-0. Thank you, Bri. Item number 11 is a resolution adopting the assessment role for uh assessments of tree removal. Anyone here in the public wishing to
speak on item number 11, tree removal? Hearing none. Council, any uh comments for questions or otherwise looking for resolution? Move to approve. Second. Bri. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Obala.
I. Council member Hely. I, Council Member Postma, I, Council Member Baskin, I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Next item number 12 is a series of administrative citations starting with 12A, adopting the assessment for park and wreck. Anybody
wishing to speak from the public on 12A hearing? None. Looking for resolution? So moved. Second. Bri. Council member Fischer. I council member Obala I council member Hely I council member Posma
I council member Baskin I resolution passes 5-0 thank you Brie 12B adopting assessment role for zoning anyone wishing on the public wishing to speak on 12B I think that might be me that might be you Jimmy I don't know we'll see
let's give it a whirl name and address please Jim Jim Sour 638th Avenue Northeast what can we do for you I'm assuming this is to do with the what we affectionately call at my house the circus tent. Circus tent that I have for storing vehicles. Um,
first question I have is how when I went to talk to Holly about this, she was going to uh said I needed to talk to Fred and she was going to have Fred get a hold of me and see if there's a resolution to this. That was quite some time ago. I haven't heard from anybody. So, I thought, okay, well, since there's
many other ones in town, maybe it's fine now. But secondly, I'd like to know how it went from at that point it was $400. Now the letter I got say it's $1,100. I don't know how you feel you can charge me $1,100 to have a storage structure in
my yard. I paid $1,200 for the structure, by the way. Um, is it still up, Jim? Yes, sir. Um, I made a short drive around town yesterday. about 15 minutes.
I found one one really shitty one. Two one that has three of those and a shipping container. Another one on Third Avenue. Um another one right out by 218 by the airport. And two of them behind Durbans,
a carport behind Durbans, and one that's uh behind Durbans. It's a wooden structure with a canvas top. and one that's on the street right down from St. Marks just past Skinner's Hill right in the front of the house. I'll pass
these to who would like these. Now, I'm wondering Jim if those also have assessments to charge them. I don't know. I'd like to see those letters if uh if they are and I'd like to know how do I resolve this because if I have vehicles, this is to store vehicles and if I have vehicles sitting
outside, I get told I can't have vehicles sitting outside. So, I buy this structure, which looks perfectly fine. It's brand new. There's nothing wrong with it. The first letter I had said, "I'm not allowed to have this in my front yard. It's not in
my front yard. It's next to my garage." I I really don't see how do I resolve this. Do I have somebody come and pour a footing and take the canvas off and tin it like a pole shed and then it's fine or I I want
to know where I go here, but I really don't feel that I want to pay $1,100. And I I think the overall goal of the city is just to have a neighborhood feel that everybody can appreciate and not have things that might not fit the compliance or not comply with
neighborhood aesthetics. But so is there something specifically in the the city rules that say nobody can have a temporary structure of any kind on there's probably some wording of property wasn't I mean this structure
wasn't permitted and it also exceeds the square footage allowed and number of structures I believe so then the the house just around the corner from the old mill that has I'll take those bring all that to Holly I'm Sorry that Fred didn't get back to you, but I would
say make an appointment with Holly and bring all those to her attention. Okay. And we'll see which ones have the assessments out there. So, where do we set on this $1,100 thing? You want to explain the I don't know how the assessment got to that point. I don't know how it went from $400 to $1,100.
Let her explain, Jim. Please go ahead, Holly. Um, the fines have uh do increase uh each fine that's sent out, and I believe that we're sending out monthly fines. Uh Bri has the dates. Maybe this should be certified mail like
the lawnmowing then too perhaps five citations five different citations are sent out what the lawnmowing would come on your property require someone to enter the property that's one of the reasons why it's a higher bar anyway what now
so you can please meet with Holly and she'll make an appointment with her and go over all the paperwork you got there doesn't get put in place tonight it will approve it and then if you you make some arrangement that leads her to believe we can pull it, then we'll pull it.
Thank you, Jim. Yeah, we're looking for anybody else on uh the zoning. So, just to just on that one, just to clarify, so we need to probably get some resol adopt it, but with a followup of let's figure out what the resolution is
because if I'm hearing what you're saying, it's a okay, I know I had an issue, was waiting to resolve it. as I waited to resolve it, it continued to compound. And so, I think it's worth us figuring out what that looks like. We're open to it. That'd be the conversation that Jim and Holly can
have. I'm open to that, too. Thank you. Thanks. Looking for resolution for item number 12 B. Motion to approve. Is there a second? Second, Bri. Council member Fischer.
I. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely I. Council member Posma I. Council member Baskin I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank item number 12 C adopting assessment role for rental housing. Anyone here in the public wishing to
speak on 12C rental housing? Hearing none. Council any comments or questions? Otherwise the resolution move to approve. Second. Bri please. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Posma. I,
Council Member Baskin, I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Uh, 12D, adopting assessment for sump pump. Anyone here in the audience wishing to speak on their sump pump? 12D. Then council looking for a resolution or also discussion.
So moved. Second. Bri. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Posma. I. Council member Basket. I resolution passes 5-0.
Thank you. 12E adopting assessment role for building department. Anyone in the audience wishing to speak on this matter council move to approve. Second. Agree. Council member Fischer. Hi.
Council member Obama. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Postma. I. Council member Baskin. I. Resolution passes 50. Thank you. Item number 12F adopting assessment role for lodging establishment. Anyone in the audience
wishing to speak on 12F adopting or the lodging and establishment. All right. Council 12F resolution. So moved. Second. Brie, please.
Council member Fischer. I. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Posa. I. Council member Baskin I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Brief uh 12G adopting assessment role for fire code. Anyone in
the audience wishing to speak on this matter? Hearing none council. So move. Second. Bri. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Obara. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Posma.
I. Council member Baskin. I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Uh 12H adopting assessment role for backdated sewer name when initi the council. Okay. Please step forward and give us your name and address please for 12H
backdated sewer. Welcome sir. What's your name and address? Uh Brandon McFarland. Address is 409 36th Street Northwest. All right. Brandon, what can we do for you? Um we had our sewer put in I think four years ago.
Last year, city said I owed them money for back sewer. They sent out someone to come and look at our meter for our drain. They said it was working. Um, then they replaced it. So, my question is, how am I getting
charged for off that meter when I have no control over that meter? I can't tell if you're monitoring it or not. Um, the city took them four years to get any any
recordable information off there. I'd like to know how that responsibility falls on me to back pay for a non redundant system. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. McFarland. Uh, Stephen, do you have information on this? Yes. This is part of a sanitary sewer
extension neighborhood where they do not have municipal water. So, as part of the process, homeowners were required to install a meter on their well to monitor their water usage. And that was all completed by Mr. McFarland or their
contractor. The final piece in that was to uh report back that everything was complete for a final inspection. That final inspection then triggers Austin Utilities to start reading the meter. So,
that never happened. The meter sat there and continued ticking away measuring water usage for uh this started in May of 2021. So from May of 2021, they
were hooked up using the sanitary sewer, but they weren't receiving a monthly sewer bill. We found out about this years later. Um went out to read the meter. The re meter had been working. it just hadn't been recording back to us utilities. We we determined a total
volume of water usage based on that water or that meter running. We were then able to back calculate what their fees would have been. They essentially were getting sewer for free for a period of time. So what we have charged them here is a cost to of what they would
have paid. There's no extras costs associated with it's just actual what you would have paid had they been paying since May of 2021. I also figured in some credits for them as well. Uh they have a pool and there would have been
water that would have been used to fill the pool when it had slowly drained down due to a leak that I worked on with Mr. McFarland. Came up with a value of what that quantity was. Deducted that from their sewer as well. So, I feel like this is a pretty straightforward no
fines, no extras. It's just sewer costs that they would have paid um had they completed the final portion of their inspection. What is the sewer fee month? $5250 something dollars a month. It it varies based on water usage. It
for this property it was probably around $ 35 to $40 a month. And then you as everyone knows our sewer rates have increased over the past four or five years. So that was all figured into this calculation. Does that satisfy Mr. McFarland or would
you like to meet with Mr. Lang again? I'd like to meet with him because it's, you know, as far as contacting to say that the meter's installed. If I get electrical work done, I'm not calling the inspector. That's on the subcontractor to tell the city, "Yep, that's
installed." Yeah. Sounds like you can just meet with Mr. Lang in his office and maybe come to at least at least tell your story to him personally and see what you get. But sounds like he does have good knowledge of it, too. So, I appreciate it, Mr. McFarland. Thank you. Thank you.
Looking for a resolution on item number 12H. So moved. Second. Three. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely.
I. Council member Posma I. Council member Baskin I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Last one is uh item number 12 I adopting the assessment role for vacant property. Anyone in the audience wishing to speak on the vacant property assessment?
Hearing none council. So moved. Second. Second. Release. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Posma. I. Council member Baskin I.
Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Moving on to awarding a bid. Uh number 13, receiving a bid for the transfer station siding. Stephen, we opened bids uh informal bids for took quotes for residing the Austin transfer station. It was originally built in, uh
the early 80s. And so the and I believe the sighting on the facility is original. So it's about 40 years old and it's a very harsh environment with large trucks and equipment. Um and it is in need of replacements. Uh we had our budget for
this project was $70,000. Um looking back, I believe that's a budget number that we likely established about 5 years ago and it's carried forward in the budget not really accounting for inflation. You can see in front of you, we received two bids for
the work. The low bidder was Eagle Ridge Construction LLC in the amount of $124,26. Uh these funds would come out of our transfer station fund 62 and we would recommend awarding this bid to that contractor.
Excellent. Thank you, Stephen. Council, any questions for Mr. Lang? Stephen, so the engineer estimate was 75. We got a bid that was like 60% more and another bid that was like three times this much. Do we feel like we got enough bids to
really have a handle as to what this project should cost? Our our budget was 70,000. Um we didn't put necessarily an engineers estimate to it. We don't do this type of this isn't a street reconstruction project that we
do every year. So, it's it's a little more difficult for us to put an estimate to it. So, I'm sorry. I don't know what our estimate would have been had we estimated this project. Okay. Um, but the only thing I can say is I don't think we kept up with our budget number from three or four or five years
ago when we established it. And I think that's why it's making this look considerably higher is because we didn't account our budget for inflation. And is the extra 50 grand, I know there's a fund that's going to be paying for this. Is that pushing other work that we need to have done farther down
the road because we've depleted the fund more than anticipated? No. No, it is not. Um the other work that we have planned at the transfer station in the upcoming 5 to 10 years will still fit within the the budget and
the capacity that we have in the fund. Okay. Anybody else have any questions? Otherwise, looking for a resolution. Stephen, the fund, just for clarification, where do the dollars from that fund come from? Are those tax levy dollars that go in or those like our
transfer fees that we rent out? Yeah, the the fund through through lease agreements that we had with the operator of the transfer station over all of these years. Um we we need to watch the fund closely
because we're not generating as much revenue through leases as we used to at 5 10 15 years ago. So we're watch keeping an eye on it. But we have a pretty good surplus there through those lease agreements that occurred in the '9s and 2000s um to be able to complete
this work and as I said other work that we have planned in the future. Got it. So these aren't necessarily tax dollars as much as hey somebody has operated this as part of that agreement to operate it. We put money aside off the revenue of that knowing eventually you're going to have to replace doors and siding and stuff like that.
To my knowledge, the fund was created. Yep. As you described, I to my knowledge, I don't believe there's tax levy dollars in that fund. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Looking for resolution. Move to approve. Second.
Three. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely I. Council member Posma I. Council member Baskin I. Resolution passes 5. Thank you Bri. On the petitions and request item number 14 is a resolution
approving authorized individuals for the Northland Securities Incorporated account and approving interim finance director. Craig. Uh thank you mayor members. Uh Northland Securities asked that we approve this by resolution with changes uh to the finance director position that we've
visited about. uh we need to take formal action to uh certify that to them. Thank you, Craig. Council, any questions on this item? So, what exactly are we approving them to do? Uh to add Melissa Wilson as a account representative and myself. Yes.
Got it. Okay. Yep. That seems fair. Okay. Uh any other questions? I was looking for resolution. So, move second. Council member Fischer. Hi, Council Member Obala. I, Council Member Hely.
I, Council Member Posma, I, Council Member Baskin, I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you, Bri. Item number 15 is a motion authorizing the city clerk to sign a waiver stating the city does not wave the statutory tort limits. Bri,
attached, you're going to find a waiver form that's required from our insurance carriers, the League of Minnesota cities. We're required to pass a motion authorizing the city recorder. Now, city clerk to sign the waiver indicating the city does not wave the statutory tort limits. This identifies the maximum
amount a claimant could receive for a single occurrence which the statutory limit applies to $500,000. Also, all total claimants would be able to receive from any single event would be limited to 1.5
million. If the city waves these limits, it could be it could expose us to too much greater loss in the event we were to be sued under or any event that falls under the statute. However, claims to which the statutory municipal tor limits do not apply are not affected by this
decision. If you have any questions, please contact the finance department. Thank you, Bri Council. Any questions on this one? Something we do every year. Move to approve. Uh all you got a second Obala that was Fischer
Fish. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Item number 16 approving is a resolution approving an agreement with the joint law enforcement center with Moore County. Craig, thank you. Mayor, members, this is a preliminary agreement with Mau County for AP to occupy part of their building
and the associated cost at 14.89% of the overall building. Uh this is moving from a fixed amount uh to a variable actual cost amount. Something that we'll have to track very closely to keep an eye on budgetarily speaking. This also
transitions the IT services. Uh we'll be asking for funding for council at a later date on this item, but does provide a avenue for that to transpire. It also transitions record staff to being city employees with the police chief providing oversight of them uh
over time. This also transitions records management systems to Pro Phoenix. Upfront costs of that are 135,179 based on our estimated amount of users. Um be happy to answer any questions. Very good. Thanks, Greg. Council, any
questions on this item? So, as we talk about Joint Law Enforcement Center, can we just maybe talk a little bit more about the background and kind of why we're making the changes? And then I know we're looking at, you know, down the road potentially needing to update or replace this, you know, provide maybe
a little bit of color around some of the maybe areas where it falls a little bit short of what we'd love for a modern police department. Chief McGee, you want to provide a little color to why we're making the arrangements this way? We've historically always had these
joint powers arrangements and I think in the opening paragraphs it talks a lot about those previous ones. Uh four or five years ago we went uh in a little different direction to a set fee uh in part uh due to some um moving of
dispatch costs uh to the county levy. Um however that was a break from a written agreement and we're looking to go back to a written agreement again which this represents. prior to the set fee, some of that percentage cost sharing had
existed in those prior ones. Now, looking forward, certainly a timeline if if another building happens, that would be outside of my reach. Uh, but it is one of those things we we've talked about it. Uh, we've done a space study. I don't know the direction both partners
would go. I don't know if the county would elect to partner with the city if we did something new. Um, so some of the changes are representative of that forward thinking and thinking about it. Some like the IT are due if if
we had gone to our own space, we we'd be doing those IT things at some point in time. We're doing them in part because of what happened with the county this summer. Um, is kind of driving that. Similarly with the with the records that was a cost piece that we've historically
built in anyways, but it left us with no control over who we were hiring, who we were employing, what they were doing on dayto-day. They they weren't answerable to myself or the captain or anyone in in with our building. And so again, it's
representative of if we were to at some point in the future that that may happen, we felt it best to have that happen now. Um that's also tied to some of the language you see about that separation of data. Um due to again
if we ever went in a different space other than jointly and again beyond my time we'd have those separations happen but with this summer's um event in the county IT they they would like and our
partners above us BCA etc rep are are recognizing we need you to have separation. we need you to have silos. We need to separate our data. Um, you know, the data requests we get, they would prefer run through city people alone. They realize that break has to
have these employees employees have attrition the same things you're going through right now on ours. And so that's really the backstory of where a lot of these pieces are built in. Uh, Pro Phoenix, it's that records management system. This one is more modern. I think staff will like it a lot more. But
that's a backbone piece that we do change to or go to every every so often. But when your phone call comes in, you know, we we had a discussion about how do we track like certified mail. Like when your phone call comes in from
dispatch, an ICR gets created, notes are going in, who's getting sent at one point in time, what kind of contacts being made, we're radioing stuff back, they're typing notes, and it's like a lot of like reports I get. If I'm being asked, hey, what who did you contact?
What happened? Yeah, I get I get a report mechanism, but it's all tied to all the notes, all the times, and so that's represented in there about about making that change. So, you got a lot of different pieces within what we're basically modernizing and going to uh a
written agreement, really replacing one from the '9s. So, fair to say that as we think about it, there's still a benefit of being together. city, county, we still have cost efficiencies. But as we think about modern policing, as we think about, you know, what the state is asking us to do
in terms of record management and things like that, probably better to have those separate. Correct. Like I said, that we're pushed to it by what happened this summer and and again, it's it's a good certainly a lot more appreciation for it, I it
systems. You can see it with with cities as well that that had some of those happens. I know it happens in the corporate world. Uh but it's a it's a good to build some silos to build some separation to build some redundancy is good but in so doing that it means we
only work with our data versus them and so like I said that's a piece of it I think the cost sharing here is is fair to all of us. Um you know I I have opinions on liking at some point in time for energy efficiency retention recruitment all those things. I' I'd
like to see a new law enforcement center for the next generation. It wouldn't be me. Um, but like I said, a lot of this is just tying this into a new agreement. I think the cost sharing is fair. I certainly enjoy working with the deputies on a daily basis, but some of these we we do need to break out and
some like the records clerks. We're breaking them out in a way, but but we we have been paying for them anyways. This though says our our payment will ultimately allow us to hire our own and have just complete control over who are
applicants, how we pick them and they answer only to to us. All right. Thank you. Very good. Thanks, Mik. Thank you. Any other questions on item number 16? Looking for a resolution. So move. Second. Brie.
Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. Hi. Council member Posma. Hi. Council member Baskin. Hi. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Bri item number 17 is a resolution approving the responsible authority and compliance officer for
data requests. Craig. Uh thank you mayor, members. This is another update for the finance director changes that we've talked about. Um this uh responsibility previously fell to the director of administrative services. It be transferred to the city administrator
and policies, guidelines and procedures would be updated as indicated. Happy to answer any questions. Council, any questions? Uh looking for resolution for item number 17. So moved. Second. Bri, please.
Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely I. Council member Postma I. Council member Baskin I. Resolution passes 5. Thank you Bri. Item number 18 is a resolution authorizing the renewal of
the housing tax abatement program for 2026 to 2028. Thank you mayor members. The Austin Homes initiative uh is otherwise known as our tax abatement program. It expires December 31st of this year. We originally adopted the program in August
of 2016. uh meeting that we had with the school district Mau County on April 14th. I think there was broad agreement for renewal of the program. Uh this would this would establish a new three-year term from January 1st, 2026 to December
31st, 2028. Uh estimated uh construction value from the program since its inception has been about $30 million. Uh, council action is requested to approve the updated policy included as exhibit one. Very good. Thank you, Craig. Council, any questions
for this item? I think it's been an incredibly beneficial program and I mean I think probably all of us up here when we first ran, we ran on how do we improve housing? I think this has been very very effective at I mean a $30 million expansion in housing. I mean we just approved again tonight. Seems like every
other meeting we've got, you know, abatements for new housing that wouldn't take place otherwise. So I very much in favor of it. Very good. And I agree with that as someone who is beneficiary for this. I think it has helped me give 5 years no tax. At the
end of the year you get this. I think this is a great thing. We can advertise more in Austin to bring more people move to Austin. My neighbor is still looking to invite more people. So we're uh looking for more housing. So if you want to be in the cool neighborhood, nature
rich, welcome. So, I'm a big favor of this. Very good. Thank you. Anybody else have any questions? Otherwise, looking for resolution. Move to approve. Second. Bri. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Obala. I.
Council member Hely. I. Council member Posma. Hi. Council member Baskin. Hi. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you, Bri. Uh, moving on to item number 19 is a resolution setting the public hearing for October 20th, 2025 for street improvement project
assessments. Stephen, yes, this is just for the Nature's Ridge project that uh was set up on a little different time schedule. So, we're requesting this for the hearing. Very good. Thank you. Council looking for resolution. So moved. Second.
Three. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Obala. Hi. Council member Hely. I. Council member Postma. Hi. Council member Baskin. I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Item number 20 is a
resolution approving the 2026 fee schedule. Brie. Want to have filled in the clerk's office worked with the department heads to establish the license fees and miscellaneous operational fees for 2026. Uh you can see the changes um indicated
in the council packet. We're requesting that council approve these and they become effective on October 6th. Let us know if you have any questions. Very good. Thank you, Bri. Council, any questions? I was looking for resolution approving the 2026 fee schedule.
So move. Is there a second? Second. Bri. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Postma. Hi.
Council member Baskin. I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you, Bri. Item number 21 is resolution approving an employee separation incentive. Craig. Thank you, mayor. Members, at our uh 9:22 uh council meeting, I was instructed along with uh Miss Wakeman to
come forward with a separation incentive program that's before you this evening. I want to thank uh Trish Wakeakeman and Attorney Byum for their help in this as well. This is focused on departments which have some capacity albeit um uh
for uh reductions in their force uh albeit the opportunity that some of these uh modifications will take longer to complete. Um we did build in some flexibility for other positions to be considered but those would be done so on a request basis. Any employee would have
to have 10 years of service with the city. The incentive is set at $20,000 in a lump sum payment or towards health care or combination thereof. There is a 45day uh program period for roll out and a 15-day recent uh provision as well.
These are both uh related to both federal and state law provisions. The city reserves a right to modify or change the terms. Approval of the program is included as exhibit one. and be happy to answer any questions. Very good. Thanks, Greg. Council, any questions?
No, I think this and really good work on this and I think this is the, you know, kind of best of a series of tough choices. So, I would move to approve. I second. Yeah. Thank you. Um, so I just have a quick question on a on a timeline. We approve tonight. It's
made available to employees tomorrow. If we don't get anyone coming forward, we need probably two to take early retirement to make our budget. If we don't get anybody coming forward, how much time will we have before the end of the year to figure out what what we're
going to cut? Uh not a lot. Um with our uh truth and taxation hearing at the start of the month, we wouldn't have much to work with. I think as it's drafted now in the budget, it's um comes out of contingency.
So our goal is to have this uh decided by with separation by December 31st of of this year. So we would have to uh buy down reserves in order to span past the end of this year. That's something we
can do, but I think council has generally said the sooner the better would be our objective. Anyone else have any questions? That was very well done. And I appreciate the employees u consideration. I know it might be a win-win for both if there is some
employees that are looking for a a titch earlier retirement. Um but uh I I think the word is pretty much out already, right? You had some department meeting. So I don't think the word is going to be out by tomorrow. I think it's already there. But um certainly just an offering to see if we can't get the budget in
shape a little better with that incentive program. With that, looking for resolution. So moved. I think we already had one in a second. Did we? Yeah. Either way, Jason. Okay. Baskin and Obala. We're too efficient. Thank you. Uh Bri.
Council member Fischer. Nay. Council member Obala. I. Council member Hely. Nay. Council member Posma. I. Council member Baskin. I
resolution passes F 32. Thank you, Bri. Uh, on to item number 22 is a resolution accepting the donation of from the Austin area pickle ball association for $35,000 for the pickle ball court engineering design. Uh, thank them for the generosity and trying to
move that pickle ball courts for closer to completion. Council looking for a resolution approving that donation. Did they get a certificate for like an honorary honorary council member at this point? Because they've been to more meetings than most of the rest. Yeah, I would move to approve.
Second. Uh, Bri, Council Member Fischer, I. Council member Obala, I. Council member Hely, I. Council member Postma, I. Council member Baskin, I. Resolution passes 5-0.
Very good. Thank you, Bri. Item number 23 is a motion granting the planning and zoning department the power to contract the removal of junk and/or legally stored vehicles at the following location. 23A the address is 515 11th Avenue Southwest the Beaman property. Looking for a motion. So move
second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Are there any citizens uh in the audience wishing to speak with council of items that weren't on the agenda? Okay hearing none. Uh, under reports and recommendations, Craig, I have nothing. Julie Kleinfelter has an
item. Julie? Yes. Thank you, mayor and council members. I just wanted to make sure everyone puts on their calendar next Thursday, October 16th, from 4 to 6:00 p.m., we will be welcoming Millie the Mill Pond Monster to Austin Public
Library. We were able to do a community collaboration grant um in conjunction with the welding class at the high school and they have created Millie for us. The story behind Millie is that she wandered the northern waterways and followed her nose to Austin and found a
really welcoming committee and she will be used as a local attraction and um something for us to kind of focus some of our programming around. The grant that we received, we've had so many donations. people really liked the idea and we've had so many donations that actually a lot of the grant money that
we had planned to use for materials will be able to go towards programming. So, it's just kind of a fun thing. um based on um a a tree that had come down in 2024 in the flood and was pushed up against the shores right outside of the
the shores the water edge of the pond that staff found and said, "Hey, we should go put some googly eyes on that and that could be our mascot." So, it was just kind of a fun thing that came up and we thank the um arts and cultural heritage legacy fund that in cooperation
with Selco, our regional library system that gave us that money for that project. So, next Thursday at the library between 4 and 6, we have an original song made by local artist Will Bj Bjornall about Millie that we're going to present and we'll have cookies. It'll be a lot of fun. So, stop by. Thursday, October 16th, 4 to 6.
Correct. Thank you. Uh, anybody else have anything, Craig? No. On to councel. Uh Jason, um only thing I have is had an opportunity to go to a conference of national kind of council members and mayors in Sou Falls this past week. Um
couple takeaways for our group. One is I know we're working through some challenging situations. We are far from alone. Um number of other communities in Minnesota as well as across the country. I think just the overall how do you balance taxpayers with inflation and some of the challenges. Um not that it makes it easier to deal with, but we are
far from alone in that. The other piece is, you know, looking as we think about the comprehensive plan and the long-term development, the work that Souf Falls has done proactively developing around that river that runs through downtown, I think becomes really encouraging as we think about how we make that into more
of an asset. And I know that there's flood mitigation stuff that we've got to continue to work through, but it has just totally transformed that community and just the vibe and the overall kind of like attractiveness that they have in terms of employers and housing and things like that. And so I'm super
optimistic about the work that we're doing because I think there's just a ton of untapped potential. So good. Appreciate that. Jason Hosting. Nothing. Your honor Laura? Yes. The Culture and Arts Commission has put out a call for art. So youth who
live in Mau County um aged 14 to 22 are invited to submit art. Um the designs will be go through a jury process and then those awarded will be um printed onto graphic wraps to go on utility boxes here in Austin. So um it's a way
to uh give our youth uh some spotlight u but also to deter tagging um on the utility boxes. um quality um art murals and installations, particularly ones that are locally u made and have local
artists have been shown to deter tagging um as well as uh anything. So, um that's grant funded through CMAC and um we're we're calling for art now. So, you can find out more information on the Austin area arts website. Um I also want to
call out a few things with parks and rex wreck and forestry. Um, uh, the Todd Park playground is getting an upgrade. I understand, uh, many, many people who saw large equipment at Todd Park were worried about the robot slide. It is
fine. It's not going anywhere. We just installed new playground around it. Um, it will be there. And, um, uh, the deer hunt has begun, uh, at the nature center. Uh, it's fine to still not at the nature center. Oh, sorry. the 15th
for the nature center. Other other locations, it has begun. Thank you. So, it's begun at other locations. Starting the 15th, it will be at the nature center. It's still okay to go on the trails. It's never a bad idea to get that orange hat or something to make yourself very visible on the nature
center trails. Um, and then finally, I wanted to um thank our parks director, uh, Mr. Sihon, for partnering with Austin Public Schools and the Austin Transition Program. Um, this is a program for Austin um, students who um,
are part of the special ed department and want to get uh, job training and be ready for leaving high school. So, they now can have get get on the job training by working in the park systems. And my understanding is the students love the chance to be outside and if it's bad weather and they um don't get to go do
their parks job, they're really disappointed. So, this is a way that the city and the school district are partnering together to give a really excellent experience to students who need it and also uh get work done um at our parks and and for our city um in an efficient way. So, thank you for that um
the extra it takes to coordinate that. I think it's well worth your time. Very good. Thank you, Laura Obala. Nothing your honor. Paulie, nothing honor. Uh the only thing I have to add is uh Laura, thank you for bringing that to everybody's attention. in that transition program. Uh Craig and I got
to go out and kick off the second year of that. And if you're ever having a bad day, go hang out with those kids and you will no longer have a bad day. That's right. It was absolutely fascinating and just really, really, really powerful stuff. So, they appreciate the work they do. We appreciate the work they do. It's very much a win-win. And those teachers that
are guiding them through this program are amazing as well. Uh, also the urban hunt. I mean, we've been doing this about eight years now, maybe on a 10-year we think we we calendarized it for a 10-year term, probably coming on that. How many qualified hunters did you get this year?
I believe we filled every spot but one. I want to say it's like 38 um throughout uh town. We did last year remove or or we don't have currently any Hormel uh properties uh but we did
expand to a few other uh city properties this year. So it's always a work in progress. Uh I have to give credit to our staff Luke Reese and Riley Donovan and especially Trish Brandon who really uh make that program happen and work really well with the hunters and other
people. Uh it's been a been a great program. All right. Thank you Jason. also have the work anniversaries of our folks that were hired in October. We have Rick Wner uh 26 years with the sewer maintenance. Troy Tigner with fire, 26 years. Greg
Yokum, street department, 20 years. Tony Hill, street department, 20 years. Holly Wallace, congratulations Holly 11 years planning and zoning. Travis Martin with police 11 years. Dwayne Selenus, buildings, seven years. Jeff Marx, police, six years. Daniel Osborne,
police, six years. Brady Johnson, police, six years. Nick Zaggo, police, six years. Clint Perkupile, wastewater treatment plant, five years. Rally Whitel, park and rec forestry, two years. And Caleb Ward, park wreck and forestry, one year. We appreciate the work they do and the longevity that they
do offer the city of Austin. So, thank those folks for their years of service. With that, take a motion to adjourn to our work session, which will be about five minutes. So, moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. We are journed. Thank you.