under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Thank you everybody. Uh changes to the agenda. We are going to add the strategic communication training discussion under 7B.
Anybody else have any other changes? If not, I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda as amended. I'll make a I'll second. Okay. Motion by Robin. We're eager tonight. Second by Mike. Any further discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor state I. I. >> Anyone oppose? State no. That carries. Guests in open form. Is there anybody here to speak to council tonight? I don't see our signed up guests. So, we will move on to committee reports,
presentations, and awards. Park and Wreck is up first. Tarkin. It was a very short meeting. We uh met last Monday and uh youth baseball was there um uh promoting
selling sponsorships, banners, etc. And evidently Greg had had some questions on the proceeds from that. So Chris is going to be talking with you about it. I don't know where he's at, but he'll be talking with you about it. Um, and that's really all we did. That's the
only thing we had on the agenda and everything else. Just uh we did talk about the uh the program for renting out the fields and stuff and that's going online and it's going to they're going to gradually work into it. They're not going to just dump it on there. So,
we'll see how that goes. We're hoping that it goes good. And that was it. >> Okay. Any questions for Mike? Fire board. We la met last Monday, the 26th. Uh still working on the transition
to HK who is doing our uh accounting and all those types of things. They did get the files sent to them from our previous vendor. Um payroll went well. We had a couple people that didn't have their information in, so they didn't get paid
yet, but that's kind of on them. hate to be that way, but um turnout gear was ordered and we um we didn't really that was about it because we're still changing over to the new recordkeeping
system. So, we didn't do a lot of budget review or look at the CIP. Um, we did talk about a tanker truck. Um, and cost for that was compared what we had in the CIP was I think about $350,000
short and it would be two years out. So, firet trucks continue to be really expensive and they take a long time to get. So, >> um, we will be having further discussion on that coming up. Any
questions on fireboard? >> All right. Planning commission. >> Planning commission. Uh we met last Monday also. Um we reviewed and approved our calendar for the year and the only other thing we did uh was elect chair
and vice chair. Um we were supposed to have a public hearing but the paperwork didn't get done in time to get it advertised. So very short meeting. >> All right. questions about planning. How about joint planning board?
>> Joint planning met last Tuesday night. We heard a cup draft resolution for curbside waste for contractor's yard and then we just had some discussion on the zoning ordinances. >> Perfect. Any questions for Robin?
Mr. Eensteiner, are you going to talk about the annual fire relief association meeting? You bet. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council, uh, annual meeting was last Wednesday. Um, they didn't serve a meal, so attendance was a little lower than prior
years. Um, but there was about 15 or 20 of us that that meant even some of the some of the firefighters had mentioned like, well, if they had food, more people would have showed. But, uh, good discussion. Uh, the biggest item just talked about their move to PAR. So, the pension plan now moved to the to the PAR plan. So they're just managing their
their pool of funds. Um with that they adopted new bylaws and then also elected their officers. They just elected the same officers that were in place to kind of oversee the transition to PAR. Um talked about the calendar um calendar sales uh or calendars that they sent out
um their fundraisers. So those should have shown up in people's mailboxes. Um kind of changed the the format this year. So save some money and and uh put out a good product there. and then they talked about their events um throughout um the year. That was about it. >> All right. Thank you very much. And golf
committee, >> golf committee met this afternoon. Um we looked at the financials. There are still a couple of adjustments that need to be made before they're finalized for the year. We reviewed the uh cart path
plan, the cart path updates planned for this season and the pond lining we talked about. We looked at membership rates for the upcoming season. We had some discussion about um vacation hours
for some of our full-time golf employees extending them so they can take more vacation during the down season. And we talked about some red circle pay for a couple of grounds keepers. That was it. >> All right, questions for Robin on golf.
Awesome. Thank you everybody. Move on to number seven, board committee and consultant reports. We have the fourth quarter financials from 2025. Mr. Ebensteiner is up again. All right. Thank you, Mayor Councel. Um, definitely preliminary figures. Um, we're in the
midst of our audit entries and uh I think this this week we just wrapped up a lot of our acral should be back in the last year. So, we'll be making a lot of those adjustments, but just wanted to get in front of you and kind of lay out where we're at uh with fourth quarter numbers. So, uh, for starting with the
general fund, tax revenues ended up, um, a little over 99% through December as expected. Um, these flow, um, to the city after collection by the county. Uh, and then we did receive our January settlement, so collections were just, uh, right around 100%. So, great to see
there. Uh, another item to note, intergovernmental re uh, intergovernmental revenue uh, exceed a budget expectations received approximately 600,000 with a budget of around 447. So, uh, a lot of times we don't know where police aid and fire relief aid and some of those are going
to come in. So, we budget from what we received the prior year and a lot of times those exceed expectations. So, um, police aid exceeded expectations by around 50,000. Fire aid another 28. So, that resulted in that positive variance. Uh, charges for services for the
community center ended up at 100 101% of budget. So, um, favorable and reflects the continued strength in membership up membership up at the community center. interest revenue uh within the general fund at uh over 200% of of budget. Um really uh reflective of the interest
rate environment. So really just performing well uh had 188,000 of revenue uh at budget at 80,000. So as we went through the 26 budget cycle, we did bump up our expectations for 2026 uh within that line item. General fund
expenditures uh 91.6% budget through the year. um you know budget contributors really did a great job of managing expenses um as well as just other uh items that came up. Only item uh really significantly over budget fire aid uh which is really just a pass through. So we got more aid and we
passed more back out and that's budgeted as a as a net zero general fund fund balance. As a reminder uh city's policy rem uh maintain 60% uh of the next year's expenditures as a minimum. Um, you know, really that helps
out with cash flow with the collection and timing of of of tax settlements. Uh, based on preliminary results, we should see a a good uh reserve increase within the general fund, approximately 900,000. Um, this will definitely provide ability
to to put additional into reserves to meet that that minimum as well as we'll bring uh more back to council, talk with budget finance. You know, a lot of times that overage gets transferred over into future improvements and or is used for, you know, capital needs as as they do
come up. We have some 26 items that are somewhat unbudgeted that we may strategize on using some of those for one-time uh expenditures there. EDA fund revenue is largely tied to property taxes, collections at 99.6%.
So, great to see there. Uh Rockefeller, the philanthropy grant. Uh I feel like we've been talking about this for a couple years now, but we did have about 125,000 that rolled into 25 from 24. Um so that's had some some positive uh revenue uh implications. Um and that
really drives that over overage and expenditures because we did expend all those grant proceeds in 25. So that grant is wrapped up. Um now the golf course fund um once again to note no operating uh levy over at the golf
course revenues came in uh preliminary numbers are are great revenues at 107% of budget overall 116% for ops and then 99% for food and beverage. So overall expenditures in golf uh at 103% and
preliminary numbers returning 132,000 of income. So, great work at the golf course. Water fund over on the enterprise side, revenues uh at 100% of budget. Uh great to see utility charges uh at 96% and
then other revenues came in strong uh with some of those water access connection uh receipts as well as strong interest income expenses at 97% uh with a lot of those capital projects that you've seen come through with Chris and his staff uh later in 25. So great
to see those wrapped up and um currently the cash needs are being met. We look at those funds on more of a cash needs basis and both on the operating and the capital side very very healthy there. And then on the wastewater side, we have the domestic and industrial uh starting
with domestic uh fund revenues little behind uh budget uh for utility charges right around 90% uh but leech eight fees and interest income are really driving those positive re revenue variances um in total revenue in the wastewater domestic fund is at 109%.
Um then expenses at 94 for the total uh of total uh year budget and then many of those capital projects were also completed in 25. So meeting and exceeding those cash uh needs as well within domestic wastewater. And then industrial wastewater revenues are
tracking um as expected slightly higher revenues at 105% and expenses uh at 101. And we did uh did uh in 26 would be the last payment for the bonds related to industrial wastewater. So um great to
see that was a 10-year project at this w that's just wrapping up on the on the debt side. So otherwise budget and finance had completed the review of the December financials and had discussed and um preliminary figure figures now but uh as we get through audit prep and we'll be in front of you soon with some
audit numbers. So with that I can stand for any questions. >> Anybody have any questions for Mark? Just a comment to all Mark all your staff all city staff. That's pretty awesome end of the year budget report.
So, thank you to everybody for your work on the expenditures and revenues. That's good news. >> Awesome. Yep. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> All right, we'll go back up to number five and welcome our guest uh from the
Sherman County Attorney's Office. If you want to come on up and introduce yourself and welcome. Thanks for being here. >> Thank you. Um good evening, Mr. Mayor and Council members. Um I apologize for being late and so I appreciate you taking me out of turn. Um, I uh I had a
different idea of what the level of gas was in my tank when I left than what was actually the case. So, I apologize. So, rather than not get here at all because I'm on the side of the road. I got here a few minutes late. So, thank you for indulging me. Um, so my name is Don Ause. I am the Sherburn County Attorney.
Uh, you may recall that I was here last year speaking to with um then county attorney Kathy Haney. Uh, so I took over the position in May, was appointed by the county board. Um, so I'm here kind of following in her tradition to um
thank you and um talk a little bit again about the prosecution contract that we hold in my office um with the city and just to give you a few numbers um from what we've seen this year. Um, one of the things that I like to talk about,
um, when we're talking about what the prosecution contract entails and really what prosecution of cases entail is, um, uh, there's a lot of facets to it. Um, you may see it ultimately in charges or citations or convictions. Um, but it it
starts obviously with the police work of um, Becker Police Department. I've worked with the chief for a long time um and this department and it's always been I think a really good relationship and um they will refer cases to us whether it's citation whether it's long form to
have us consider charging u by a criminal complaint and um the work involved really will depend on a specific case but it can be um and certainly involves going to court. We have certain court appearances that are
required for different levels of cases. Um if a defendant makes a challenge to certain constitutional issues, we may have a contested hearing which might include calling um officers to testify. Um we will litigate a number of things. If someone brings um a mental health
issue forward, we might talk about those evaluations. Um so there's a lot of work that might go in even if we don't ultimately go to trial. Uh we still have seen a lot of trials. Um that uptick has continued within the last several years. Um if I
were to tell you um why I would be guessing, but um we've really seen that more in the numbers within the last handful of years. So our attorneys are hard at work and um there's a lot that goes into that case work um that's included when we talk about prosecution.
We also have responsibilities um under the victim witness act. And so if people are victims to crimes, we do our best to help them navigate through the process, talk to them about each stage. And then if we do get to trial or sentencing with convictions, sometimes there's also
appellet work that's involved. So that's just kind of a snapshot of what you might um see or hear offline about what might be involved in prosecuting a case. As far as um the numbers for City of Becker, we did run those for this year, and I just wanted to share those with
you. So we have um these are open cases or cases I should say that have been open between January 1 of 25 and then just end of 2025. Um we have handled uh 32 felony cases, 31 gross misdemeanors,
59 misdemeanors, and seven petty misdemeanors. Um a few fell into an unknown category. I'm not sure why that is, but it's just a few. Um and so that includes both charged and uncharged cases. Um, one of the things that we also do is obviously make a
decision on whether or not a case should be brought forward and should be charged. And so that will also include an analysis and then a declination if we don't go forward. So, um, that's just a, like I said, a little bit of a snapshot. Um, I'm certainly happy to answer any questions that I can. Um, otherwise,
thank you for allowing me to be here and, um, I'll be happy to be here again. >> Okay. Questions for Miss Nus? >> No, not at this time. >> Nope. >> All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Under 7B, we have the strategic communications training proposal that just handed out and I'll let Greg talk more about that. >> So, Mayor Cobinger and city council members, um Rob Leer reached out reached
out to me oh probably around at the end of the session uh last year, so May or so. And you know it was was Becker was in the news of course Amazon had decided they were going to move out of the state. Um you know obviously Google had
uh left before that and he just was expressed concern. Rob runs a communications company and said is there something that he could do to help us out if there was anything that the city felt like it needed to communicate better with? And I'd worked with him uh
at South Lake Metatona PD. We did a uh crisis communication uh training session um probably in the early 20s when there were a number of officer involved shootings backtoback um and how to respond to those and communicate effectively on the part of
the the JPA board and so all the mayors and the administrators participated found it very worthwhile what he's uh proposing here I met with him here about a month or so ago is is doing more of a strategic communication plan that we would develop
some skills and um training that would help us communicate with a variety of stakeholders. Um uh so involve a workshop for about four to five hours uh do some uh exercises among leadership. City council would would be there and
what I found effective at the last training was you videotape um when you're speaking and you you learn very quickly how it's different than what you think you're saying. And so, um, he put together, uh, that proposal. Um, I sent
it out a couple of days ago. Uh, the mayor and I visited, uh, yesterday about it and thought it should come here for your consideration if it's something you want to do or not pursue. And so, I'll be happy to to answer questions. >> Anybody have any questions? >> I don't have any questions, but I think
it's a relatively good idea. >> I don't have an issue with it. >> Yeah, I know. Last summer when I went to the League of Minnesota Cities training, Burnsville had um talked about the fact they had a strategic communications plan and had
worked through it. And with the tragedy they had, I mean, it's something you wish you never had, but um you know, it's it's not a ton of money and it would be even less money if we ever had an incident where we needed to make sure. >> The only question I would have is what
staff would be participating? Uh well I would I see the council and leadership. >> So like yourself, Phil and >> Yep. Jacob, Josh, Mark. >> Okay. >> Maybe maybe not. There's not too much
finance controversy, RIGHT? >> But yes, not going to serve anybody like uh Chris Listen as well. You know, if the city gets a boil order for water, that's the kind of thing that falls into your lap and you need to be prepared to speak about And so that's the kind of training that this would it's not
necessarily crisis but it's just how do you effectively communicate and what to what to remember when you're out talking >> and the chief we'd invite certainly and I would like to invite our fire chief as well because >> it's you know and fire board can pay for
that portion or whatever. I talked to someone who works in rail safety and he went through this and he said it was extremely eye opening because you think, yeah, I did a pretty good job and then you watch yourself and you're like, I am an idiot.
>> I really don't want to watch myself, >> right? >> But well, we're going to be very kind, of course, when we're all there and but >> yeah, tell me about it. >> Yeah. I I personally think it it would be good
for us and help us refine our message even that'll be part of it. >> Yep. >> Exactly. >> So, would you be looking for a >> I um No. What I would I think if the consensus is to go forward, I would have him send I'm going to visit with him
about price, but I would have him send up a contract and then you would act on it and um then but I think in the meantime I'll I'll tell them it's it's a go and I'll work up some type of a doodle calendar and circulate that to everybody and we'll see if we can find a date. >> Okay,
>> people good with that? >> Yep. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you very much. Moving on to the consent agenda. Mr. Larude again. All right. Items for adoption, approval, or review
on tonight's consent agenda include the hiring and termination report, payment of the bills, the minutes of the January 20th city council meeting, the minutes of the January 20th executive session, the minutes of the December 15th fireboard meeting, and the minutes of
the January 16th Police Management Committee meeting. I'll be happy to answer any questions. Anybody have any questions on the consent agenda? If not, we'd entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. I >> make a motion we approve the consent agenda as presented.
>> I'll second. >> Have a motion by Mike, second by Becky. Is there any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor, please state I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed, state no. That motion carries. All right. Anniversary announcements. We
have some part-time employees. Lori, congratulations on seven years. And it's Yeah, you're on Thursday it'll be exactly seven. Congratulations. Uh Grant Jansen's in the police
department, six years. Emily Keenan at the community center, six years. And Kimberly Riley at golf course, six years. and her full-time employees. Shannon Mortonson, two years. Congratulations.
And Anthony Nargang, seven years. Our city hall administrative assistant. Uh Christine Olan, our accounting technician, nine years. David Ryberg with police, nine years. Michael Behringer at water, 26 years. Matt
Keller, the sewer wastewater operator, three years. Christopher Kroll, eight years at the wastewater plant. And Robert Ryerson, 21 years, one of our operators at the wastewater plant. Congratulations to all
those employees. Thank you for your continued service. We appreciate it. Anybody have anything else? had a quick note. We the industrial park roundt I thought went very well. Jacob could add if he wanted to. I think we
ended up with 21 or 22 business owners there. Um got a lot of good feedback. One of the things they talked about was a sign. That's one thing we heard maybe some signage over there and it was pretty unanimous I think that everybody
wanted to come back next year. So, um, a variety of different people. Microsoft sent a couple people up, which we appreciated. They drove through some not great weather to be here and, um, yeah, there was a lot of good conversation and staff I know did a
little debrief after. So, thank you to all the staff that talked that day as well. So, I thought that went well. >> Anything else? All right. If not, we'd entertain entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Make that motion.
>> We have a second. >> I'll second. >> We have a motion by Robin, second by Becky. All in favor of adjourning, say I. I. >> Anyone opposed, state no. >> Meetings adjourned at 5:25.