Good evening and welcome to the Rapids City Council meeting for Monday, February 2nd, 2026. If you could please rise and join us for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Please call the role. >> Council member Griscoak. Council member Butler >> here. >> Council member Novak >> here. >> Council member Gesler
>> here. Council member Armstrong >> here. >> Council member Carlson >> here. >> Mayor Cook >> here. one absent for Scoviaak. >> Thank you. Um, all right. Why don't we adopt this evening's agenda? >> Mr. Mayor, council member G. >> Uh, I would like to adopt the agenda with one uh adjustment to the order of
items. I would like us to consider moving the previous open mic response before the current open mic response. >> Second. >> Motion by Gesler. Was a second by Carlson? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Discussion.
You good with that? >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Okay. All right. Um, so we're looking to adopt the agenda with one change and that is to move item that page eight ahead of the open mic
public comment. Uh, hearing. All in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. >> And that motion carries. All right. Uh, looking for approval of the minutes from the January 20th meeting. >> Mr. Mayor, council member Butler.
>> I move that we approve the minutes from the January 20th, 2026 meeting. >> Second. >> Motion by Butler and a second by Armstrong. Is there any discussion or corrections? Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. >> And that motion carries. We have two
items on our consent agenda this evening. The first is to approve the purchase of a truck chassis and upfit for street maintenance. Uh we're looking at dump truck unit number 44 is 12 years old and in need of replacement and the equipment is currently in the approved
budget for 2026. And this action by council as part of the formal process to authorize purchases of equipment over $100,000 as per city charter requirements. The first quote is from I state for the truck chassis in the amount of $105,289
plus tax per state contract. The second quote is from tow master for the upfit in the amount of $173,153 per state contract. The total amount for both truck chassis and upfit is $278,442
plus tax. So, we're looking to approve the purchase of a truck chassis for 105289 and upfit for 173153 for a total amount of 278,442 plus tax. Um item the next item and the final item
on our consent agenda is to receive the schedule of electronic payments. Uh Minnesota statute 471.38 requires a list of transactions made by electronic funds transfer be provided to the city council at the next regular meeting after the transaction. Uh staff has prepared the
attached list of electronic payments processed since the last council meeting. Uh it's just a matter of we need to receive the schedule of electronic payments from January 15, 2026 through January 27th, 2026. Your honor, >> council member Novak,
>> move to accept the consent agenda. Second, motion Novak and a second by Butler. Is there any discussion? >> Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Opposed and that uh consent agenda is
adopted. Um, item number four is an uh we're going to look be looking to conduct a public hearing and consider an introduction of an ordinance amending city charter sections 1-505 and 1-511. Mr. Brody, do you want to hit the
highlights of that one? I can, your honor. Mayor and councel, um, this is a proposed charter amendment. There are several ways to amend the charter. Obviously, it's a not an easiest process as it's intended not to be that simple. But in this particular method, we had it
go to our charter commission and they made a recommendation for this charter amendment. Um, we feel it's a housekeeping, the charter commission and myself, a housekeeping measure. What we're doing is we're amending charter sections 1505 and 1511. These are
related to petition and referendum. So if a member of the a citizen of Rapids wanted to petition for an ordinance or have a referendum to get rid of an ordinance, this would be the process. Um we discovered or were pointed out to us that under Minnesota
rules were required in the when you sign as as on the petition uh to be part of the petition that you have to include your year of birth. That's to assist uh the city clerk in determining whether they're a registered voter of the city. While we've made that change, we also
made in in our eyes, in the charter commission's eyes, the uh the form easier and and more readable uh for both the p person signing the petition um as well as city staff when they have to confirm that. Um so we're asking as part of that process that um you conduct the
public hearing and then ask that you introduce it. This would be uh similar to other ordinances. it would require an ordinance or an introduction and then an adoption at the later meeting. Where it differs from our typical ordinance is that when we do adopt it, we'll require a 70 uh vote of the council. So, we'll
need everybody available for a council meeting for that. And it also does provide for an opportunity once it's published. it doesn't become effective for 90 days afterwards because it provides an opportunity for uh residents if they want to to kind of get a petition together not to have it come in
place and actually put it on the on the ballot. So again, uh we hope that this is just merely a housekeeping measure. It's just making us in compliance with state law. Um because there are lots of way this is one way to get an ordinance passed. Another way would be to contact your council member and tell them you
know what you're interested in. So, um, with that said, I would ask that you would, uh, conduct the public hearing. Um, and if there's any other questions, I can answer them from council and then introduce the ordinance. >> Mr. Brody, have we even seen a petition in your tenure here?
>> Um, we have not seen a petition in my tenure. It does require, I think, 5% of our uh of our voters to bring the petition of our registered voters um that voted in the last mayorial election. So it it's it's uh not the easiest barrier, but uh it is a method
in which people could propose uh ordinances in Rapids. >> All right. Very good. Any questions of Mr. Brody before I open the public hearing on this? >> Mr. Brody, I have to ask, how long is your tenure here? >> So I've been here since 2012. I think this is the second time we've actually
amended the charter since 2012. So that's also unique. So I apologize if I'm a little rusty on the on it, but we're uh getting through this process. If there's no further questions, I'll open the public hearing on u amending
the city charter. Is anybody here to discuss the ordinance amending the city charter for the petitions? Is anybody here for the public hearing on that? Seeing none, I'm going to close the public hearing. Does council have
any other questions on this? If not, >> I was going to thank the charter commission for bringing this forward and doing the work and getting it on our tables. Thank you. >> All right. And if there's nothing else, we will consider the ordinance to amend
city charter sections 1-505 and 1-511 introduced and we will take it up at the February 17th meeting, I think. >> Correct. If everybody's available, that is our intent. >> Okay. Very good.
Next item on our our agenda is uh planning case 25-15 and 25-16 consider a PUD which is a planned unit development and a preliminary plat 12301 Shannondoa Boulevard Northwest Landspec
Fund 5 LLC. Um Mr. Patsner. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh members of the council. Um, so before you tonight, I have a request for a plan unit development and for a preliminary plat for the Balcony Farm site. So what's being proposed is a 29 unit single
family home residential development on the southern third of the southern balcony farm site. So this is a site that's currently being used generally for a vegetable garden right now. Um, it's largely wet. The northern twothirds of the site is is mostly delineated wetland. The entire site is is for the
most part within the flood plane. Um, so the applicant is proposing for a development just on the southern third of the part of the site south of Main Street. So this is at the intersection of Shannondoa Boulevard and 123rd Lane. And the proposed development would have access only onto Shannondoa Boulevard.
So no access is being proposed onto Main Street. Um, so brought up an image here just showing how much of this is wet. So the the yellow part here is all delineated wetland and that's essentially the northern 20 acres of the property with the southern 10 acres of the property being used for the development. Um so what's being proposed
is 29 single family lots um on that southern 10 acres. Um netting out the wetlands what's being proposed would come to about 2.9 to 3.1 units per acre u depending on how much of the of the site is actually delineated wetland. So that generally falls within the
lowdensity residential land use designation um that the city has created. Um what's being proposed is a 650 foot long culdeac um with utilities uh sewer and water coming off of Shannondoa Boulevard to serve the homes along the culdeac um and storm water
being sent north of the coldac behind the northern homes to a storm water retention pond. Um, also a trail connection to the southeast of the development which would connect this development to Cardinal Woods Park just to the southeast. Um, so what's being
proposed are lots and um setbacks generally that are smaller than the smallest single family residential development um or sorry sing smallest single family residential zoning district that we have which is LDR3. So what's being proposed are 50 foot wide lots at the smallest um which would be
120 ft at the smallest. Um, not all the lots are that small, but the smallest ones are. Um, for a for an area of 6,250 ft. Um, and then at the smallest, the homes would be 28t wide. Um, the road rightway being proposed is 60 ft wide with 31 ft from back of curb to back of
curb. And um, city engineering staff estimated 290 daily uh, vehicle trips would be generated on average uh, for a development of this size. The applicant is also proposing um two outlots as well as a lake or pond which would not have a
storm water drainage purpose and would not be on an outlot. Um so the first outlot outlot A uh encompasses the the delineated wetland section of the development and that's the northern 2/3. Um and there's no proposed use for this outlot right now. So it would it's generally not developable land and the
applicant isn't proposing to do any sort of development work on that lot. Outlot B uh encompasses the land just to the south of outlot A and to the north kind of northwest of the development. That would be a proposed storm water um filtration and retention pond which
would be deeded to the city and the city would be responsible for maintenance of the um storm water pond out of lot B which is standard practice for um single family residential developments. And then um the southern pond uh would be part of um the the rear yards of the
southern lot. So there's um 14 I believe lots 14 I think 14 lots that have um frontage on that pond. And so that's basically an area that would be being used as a borrow pit. The applicant's proposing to take dirt from that southern area in order to build up the
site that the development would go on um in order to bring that site uh above the the flood zone and and make it buildable. Um so they need the dirt from that borrow pit in order to build up the site and they would be creating a pond on that southern site and that pond would be shared by the property owners
on the south. Um maintenance responsibilities would be shared among those property owners as would access ability. Um and the city would not have any interest in that pond nor any responsibility to maintain that pond. Um so here's just an image of the um
contours of the site showing that southern pond just essentially being dug out for use for um building up the development site itself. And then here's a closer look at the lots that would be um fronting 123rd along the culdesac. Um
so I do just want to go over really quickly the PUD requests. Um, so there are multiple requests uh that are below or or different from the standards um in in LDR2 and LDR3 that the applicant is requesting. And this is why they're
requesting the PUD so that they can um build lots to to these standards instead of the general standards in our zoning district. So these are garage size, lot area, lot coverage, uh lot width and depth, um front yard, sideyard, and street sideyard setbacks, and then the
maximum culde-sac length. Um, so the city code does require culdesacs to be no larger than 500 feet. Um, and this is generally for emergency vehicle access. Homes on culdesacs longer than 500 feet are are relatively far away from the main road and take longer to access. The
trail um, which is being proposed from the eastern end of the development to connect to Cardinal Woods Park would also double as uh, utility or sorry as emergency vehicle access. So emergency vehicles would be able to use that trail to access the development. Um, and this, uh, satisfied the fire department's
requirement for, um, access and allowed us to, um, to kind of give the go-ahad to a proposal that has a 650 foot long culde-sac. Um, and the trail would not have vehicle access generally, but the the fire department and emergency vehicles would be able to to access the
development through that trail. Um, in terms of home types, um, the these homes would be built by LAR. Um, so LAR would be the the main builder of the homes on this development. Um, and they're proposing homes that range in area from um
1,600 ft² to 2,170 ft². Um, and these are just some of their their models, the standard LAR models. Um, I think there are probably options for home models outside of the ones that are being proposed, but these are the ones that they're showing right now. Um, and I did
want to compare the um, home and lot dimensions really quickly to Port Riverwalk, which I think is probably the most similar in terms of built form to what's being proposed here. Um, so there are lots in Port Riverwalk that are 40t wide, and there are lots that are 50 feet wide. And what's being proposed
here would look similar to the 50 foot wide lots in Port Riverwalk. Um, so generally 50 feet and 110 50 feet wide and 110 feet in depth is what you'd see in those lots in Port Riverwalk. What's being proposed here are uh 50 feet wide and 125 ft in depth. So a little bit
larger. Um, and the home sizes are in a similar range um for the Balcony Farms proposal to Port Riverwalk. The garage sizes are a little bit smaller with a minimum of 390 square feet, which is 19 and three/4ers feet by 19 and three/4ers feet, smaller than the 21 by 21 um that
we see at the smallest in Port Riverwalk. Um I can obviously go over any of this in a little bit more detail on request, but I did just want to provide that um comparison so it's you get a sense of what the development might look like in terms of spacing between homes, size of lots, size of homes, etc. So, this is just an image
from Google Maps of that section of Port Riverwalk. Um, with that, city staff are recommending approval of the um planned unit development and the preliminary plat um with a series of of conditions that I have listed out here. And I'd be happy to go over any of those in more
detail on request as well. So, I have a a recommendation of approval for resol resolution 26s 29, which is the planned unit development, as well as a recommendation of approval for the proposed preliminary plat. That's all I have. Thanks. Mr. Pastor, you keep um comparing it to
um Port Riverwalk, but now those are detached town homes. That's that's an HOA and those are detached town homes. That's how that was built. So, are we doing are we are these detached town homes? Are we doing an HOA up there?
>> Mr. Mayor, an HOA is not being proposed here. So, the home style that's being called detached town home, I I don't know that that has a a hard line between what's considered a single family home and what's considered a detached town home. I think a lot of the times that's being used as a marketing term, a
detached town home versus a single family home. What's being proposed here, the built form would look very similar to those southern lots on Port Riverwalk, whether you call them detached town homes or single family homes. >> Okay. Yeah. All right. Because because that was the other thing was we were going to get town homes there otherwise.
So, Mr. Mayor, >> Council Member Carlson, >> um I know uh Council Member Grisco, board one council member Griscoak is uh very passionate about us considering LDR3 um for this project. Um I believe he had
some resident concerns as well, but he's certainly speaking for his residents. Um Council Member Kusco's not here tonight, but this is his word, very passionate about it. I think one of his issues was he kind of wish we'd had a little bit more discussion
um before it came before council. And I'm not going to make any motion yet, Mr. Mayor, because I want to give my fellow council members an opportunity to ask Mr. Pastor questions. But it'd be my intention, Mr. Mayor, to um to table this so we can work session it and then
bring it back uh possibly for the February 17th general meeting. Um we have I I believe, Mr. mayor till April um for this. Again, I don't want to um step on any other council members.
So, I'm not going to I'm not going to make the motion yet, but >> Sure. >> that was my intention to make the motion if my fellow council members would give me a little bit of time to to do that after they've asked questions of Mr. Patner. >> All right. Other questions or comments?
Mr. Patner? Your >> honor. Council member Novak. >> Uh Mr. Pat, I live in a culde-sac and I can tell you that sometimes even our short little culde-sac has issues with plowing, snow, ice, that kind of thing.
Um, I've seen long culde-sacs before and I'm understanding that this one got by the fire department, but has anyone consulted with police and and EMS? Council member Novak, um police and EMS
are not usually on the uh review team for um plats and things like that. So, they weren't um formally consulted as part of the the review for this project. Um the fire department does provide comments related to emergency vehicle access. Um, it's generally understood that the fire departments are speaking
for all emergency vehicles, but um, if if there are comments from police or EMS that are contrary to the fire department comments, I have not yet heard them. >> With this winter, just in our little culde-sac, uh, we've had issues with ambulances being able to get in and get out. So, a
650 foot culde-sac does concern me. >> Any other questions or comments for Mr. Passman? Mr. Mayor, council member Gisler. Uh, Mr. Passner, uh, may maybe back before you said 290 trips per day were estimated from this development. Is that correct? >> Uh, Council Member Gesler. Yes, that's
correct. >> I'm assuming that's a fairly conservative estimate because usually house homes don't generate 10 trips per day per home. That's that's pretty aggressive. >> Council member Gesler, are I maybe I don't fully understand your question. 290 trips for 29 homes would be 10 trips
per day per home, >> right? Yes. 10 trip 10 trips per day per home is is average or that that seems a little high for most folks. >> That is based on the the manual that the engineering department uses to determine trip generation based on a variety of factors. I absolutely don't know enough
to get into the details on that. >> That's fair. I just want I just wanted to confirm that seems a little excessive but fair enough. Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. Councilman Armstrong, >> just just to confirm from what I saw with the uh the data that we had, there
was or was not ever a traffic study done for this. >> Council member Armstrong, a traffic study was not done and the engineering department did not recommend that a traffic study needed to be done for this. >> And Mr. Patner, this it little napkin math tells me that they would probably
only get about 23 homes in there if they did LDR3. >> Mayor Cook, that's correct. Yes. >> And that mathematically won't work for them. >> To my understanding, that math is Yeah, that they requested the to to go for this even though it was not uh meeting
the zoning requirements of LDR3 based on their their financials. Um, obviously I don't have those numbers in front of me, but that that is the conversation that we had >> because we worked hard laying out that LDR3 and this just seems like exactly the right application for that, you know. So, >> Mr. May.
>> Okay. Council member Butler. >> Yeah, I I was thinking about that with the LDR3 district and when watching the planning commission meeting, I I thought there was a really fascinating dialogue just talking about how LDR3 has its place. The market might be even looking for smaller homes than LDR3. I know that
we just did that. I I think that it's a great opportunity for our city, but I do think that if we have hard to develop areas such as former wetland, there might need to be exceptions in place. And I know we'll talk about that at a work session, but I I was impressed with the discussion at the planning
commission that they had to ultimately bring this to our attention and recommend its approval. >> Okay. Um, yeah. I Yeah, I'll save the rest of them for the planning commission because or for the work session.
Anything else before Council Member Carlson makes his motion? >> Mr. Mayor, Council Member Carlson, >> I make uh Let me move down here so I'm looking at the right thing. In the case of uh 25-15,
I make a motion to um table resolution number 26-29 approving the proposed plan unit development. I'd like to move this um table this until the February 17th
general meeting so we can have a chance to discuss it at our next work session. >> Second. Okay. Are we good with the data? Well, we can change the date if we have to. >> Yeah. Mayor, council, I can we can definitely make it. >> Okay.
>> We have a motion and a second to table. Um, all in favor signify by saying I. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> No. >> Okay. The motion carries. Council members Gesler and Butler opposed.
Sorry, I was asking a clarifying question to the city manager, but there's no discussion out of a tableabling motion. >> Mr. Mayor, um, Council Member Geyser, >> I I just wanted to clarify the the motion in that council member Carlson only indicated planning case 25-15, did
not indicate planning case 25-16 in the tableabling motion. I wanted to make it clear that both motions were or both items were under his a uh intent to table. Mr. Mayor, would you like me to make a second motion to add that one? >> I think at this point the second motion.
>> Sure. Mr. Mayor, >> Council Member Carlson, >> I make a motion to table planning case 25-16 to the uh February 17th um general meeting. So, we have an opportunity to
discuss it during work session. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by Carlson, second by Novak. Is there all in favor signify by saying I >> I >> opposed. And that motion carries.
Um all right. Item six I think actually been point of order then. I think I probably >> Yeah. >> It's okay. We're all still learning. You guys need your rules. >> I felt bad because I thought but Chris usually has something.
I thought I had an >> um consider let's see is this. Yeah. Consider services agreement for project 18-14 trunk highway 610/ east river road interchange. Mr. Hammer. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor, council. This is uh to
consider another scope for the trunk highway 610 and East River Road interchange project. Um I've been working on this heck I've been here 12 years probably about all of that 12 years. We kind of brought somebody on about six years ago that got us through
public engagement and you know 15 different iterations. Um we then had to go back for uh trying to avoid the Burlington Northern Railroad and get another staff approved layout. So we're we're close to the finish line now. Uh we have still the intent to get through
the environmental document maybe this week. Uh start working on acquisitions and then have this in construction as early as this spring or I'm sorry this fall. Um, but we had a few other things come up with pedestrian tunnels and more legal descriptions. So, um, we're
looking to approve another scope in the amount of $329,01. And this gets us through bidding. Uh, I will say once construction starts, we may have some additional scope for some inspections and things, but this just gets us to the bidding. And in the grand scheme of everything, once this is uh
said and done, we'd we'd have about a $3.5 million engineering contract to get this done. And we're estimating about 38 million on the project. So that falls in that 8 to 10% range that we're um comfortable with. And so um I would recommend we approve this letter of
engagement and I'm happy to answer any questions you have. >> All right. Any questions of Mr. Hammer on this? Your honor, council member Novak, >> I move that uh we approve the letter of engagement with TKDA under managed pardon me under master consulting
agreement. Let me use my bif focals here in the amount of $329,1 to finalize the design of trunk highway 610 East River Road interchange project and authorize appropriate staff to execute such agreement. >> Second motion by Novak and a second by
Gesler. There discussion. >> Yes, your honor. customer. >> Just for the record, I want to point out to anybody who's watching that what this is is the ability to finally take 610 and go east
on Highway 10. So, if you guys didn't know that, we are trying really hard. >> Oh, we're there, >> Mr. Mayor. Council member Carlson, >> I'm kind of ashamed to admit it, but you wouldn't believe how many times I end up
getting stuck. westbound and had to go down to 85th in Brooklyn Park to turn around. I don't know if they all had that happen, but at more times than I probably should be admitting public, >> well, the the river is ready to go. >> Yeah, it's a nice drive, but yeah, this will also take care of that. >> All right, we have a motion and a
second. Do we have any further discussion? All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. And that motion carries. Item seven is to consider a refund of some 2026 liquor license fees for Lacida
Mexican Restaurant. Um, Miss Lensmire, >> Mr. Mayor, members of the council, the request before you is for consideration of a partial refund of liquor licensing fees due to the fact that Lacita has closed its doors as of January 13th. They've asked if uh council would
consider a pr-rated 11-month refund as we've done for businesses in the past. >> Any questions? I can answer those for you. >> All right. Any questions? >> Mr. Mayor, >> Council Member Butler, >> I move that we approve a refund for the 2026 liquor license fees for La Casita
Mexican Restaurant, 8955 Springbrook Drive Northwest, in the amount of $9,88.34. >> Second. >> Motion by Butler and a second by Gesler. Is there discussion on this hearing? None. All in favor signify by saying I. I.
>> I. Opposed. And that motion carries. All right. We are up to normally we would be at the open mic but we have moved this around. So I will read our open mic response from the last meeting.
Nearly 20 citizens spoke at the open mic portion of the January 20th 26 meeting about their concerns with Department of Homeland Security DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE activity in the city. While there were several themes that emerged from the various
statements and many questions asked, most speakers wanted the city council to clarify its position on the matter and to hear the city's general position on the current federal law enforcement activities occurring in and around the city. As this is a staff response to the
open mic comments, it is important to note that the focus of this response will be in regard to the specific authority and role of the police department and its enforcement officers. This response does not address some of the larger policy or political questions, nor is it intended to
represent specific council member positions on these matters. With regard to the city's police department, officer actions and enforcement operations are guided by state statute. The Kun Rabbits Police Department's primary responsibility is to enforce state and
local laws. Members of our community have shared questions and concerns about recent Department of Homeland Security, DHS, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, activity in Rapids and the wider metro area. staff can provide our residents with
information regarding our police department's role and jurisdiction in this regard. Below are the answers to frequently asked questions on this topic that have been posted to the city's website since the January 20th, 2026 meeting. Does the Kunabis Police
Department participate in immigration enforcement? No. The Kunabis Police Department is dedicated to enforcing state and local laws. Our department is not involved in federal immigration operations. Those enforcement actions fall under the sole responsibility of
the federal government. ICE operates as an independent agency under the Department of Homeland Security and its agents are not required to provide our department with advanced notice of activities. Uh the next question, does Rapids Police Department ask about immigration
status? No, we do not monitor immigration status or enforce immigration law. Those enforcement actions fall under the sole responsibility of the federal government. Uh, do local police agencies have authority over ICE agents? ICE is
an independent federal law enforcement agency under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security. The Kunarabis Police Department does not hold any authority over federal agents, nor can we interfere with their operations. Obstructing federal actions
is unlawful for both the police and members of the public. Does Rapids Police Department share data with the Department of Homeland? Uh uh um yeah, DHS or ICE.
At this time, Kunapapolis Police Department has not been contacted or asked to share any data with DHS or ICE for immigration enforcement operations. Whether the police department would share data would be determined based on
the legal circumstances of the request, such as a state statute requirement or a federal court order. What is Kun Rapids Police Department's role if called to respond during ICE activity? The Rapids Police
Department's primary responsibility is to focus on local public safety. If called to respond during ICE activity, our responsibilities include deescalating tense situations to prevent
conflict, managing crowds and traffic control, protecting the First Amendment rights of those participating in lawful protests or gatherings. The Kunabis Police Department does not hold any authority over federal agents. Nor can we interfere with their
operations. Obstructing federal actions is unlawful for both the police and members of the public. Rapids Police remain committed to local public safety. If you are in need of assistance, please call 911.
How do I know if I'm interacting with Rapids Police Department officers? City of Rapids patrol officers utilize marked police vehicles and wear City of Rapids uniforms that include the Rapids Police Department patch on both sleeves. Kunapapolis Police Department also has
three unmarked vehicles that are used in circum in certain circumstances. You can visit the city's website for photos of the Kunabas Police Department unmarked vehicles and the vehicles uniforms and patches. Detectives, cops officers, and other
nonuniformed staff may not wear a patrol uniform in the field, but will always present a Rapids Police badge. If you need help, call 911. Rapids Police will respond. Anyone who sees suspicious
activity, witnesses a crime, or feels unsafe should call 911. Um, and then we've got the whole list of federal and state contacts. These are it's for the ICE field office. It's for the online detainy locator system, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Um,
all of these phone numbers are on this document. They're all in tonight's meeting agenda and they're all on the website. This response is forformational purposes only and no recommendation is being made at this time. With that, we will go to the open mic
portion of the meeting. Open mic provides an opportunity for the public to address the city council on subjects that are not part of the regular meeting agenda. The public is invited to express any concerns they may have which are relevant to the affairs,
policies or practices of the city of Rapids. Remarks will be limited to three minutes. Should you wish to participate in the open mic, please approach the podium and state your name and address before addressing the council. All remarks will be made from
the podium and addressed to the council as a whole. Hang on. Um, somebody somebody desecrated my sheet here. Um, no. Anyway, >> personal attack. >> Go from memory. Personal attacks are
prohibited. Open mic is not a time for problem solving or reacting to the comments made, but for hearing the speaker forformational purposes only. Questions from council will be for clarification only and if necessary a staff report will be prepared for the next regular
council meeting with a copy forwarded to the speaker. With that we'll open mic or we'll open the open mic portion and please step up and give us your name and address and you've got three minutes. >> Hi. >> Hello. Welcome.
>> I'm Shayon Berbig. My address is 2279 129th A um Rapids. Um I remain concerned about the safety of transportation to our schools. Um we have it ICE stopped two Anoka Henipin
vans. Um and we're questioning the bus drive the van drivers and the students. Um I think it's important that we hear not only from the city manager or the police department, but also our elected leaders. um on what their whether or not
ICE should be interacting around our schools and around our bus stops and around on our buses, on our vans. Um I think that those areas should be a safe place for children and their families to be without without fear of losing a
parent right at their bus stop. Um and the need isn't getting smaller, it's getting bigger. And I know that because I had to create a food shelf for the people of um this area and that the the
needs of for food and basic necessities are growing. Um so it's it's not going down. Um so I I asked at the last meeting about um how we're protecting school bus stops and transportation. Um,
I haven't received anything about that, but I would like to know how that is going to be addressed. Um and as I I did see the um response about uh police
engaging with ICE and my question is if there is illegal behavior happening like ICE is assaulting a peaceful protester or something like that, what happens in that situation? Um or running vehicles off the road because that has
also been reported to be happening. Um, and if we are being followed, if we drove to the police station for safety, would that be um appropriate? Something that would be appropriate to try to stay safe because when people have been pulled
over, they've been detained and sometimes brutal brutally assaulted. Um, so I think it's important that we hear from more than just our city manager and police department. We elected all of you
to office and we deserve to have your thoughts and um position on on this item. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hello, I'm Jim Shaggstead. Uh 2940 119th Lane Northwest, Rapids.
Um I have a similar message, but I think the response uh from the police department and how quickly it came out, I I thought it was amazing. I think this council is uh full of uh some pretty decent administrators that watch you
guys work. But I think this uh this call from the last city council man meeting meeting wasn't for an administrator. It was for leadership. And there's a couple of council members who exercised our leadership by expressing some empathy for those who
are affected. And I think there's room for all of us to have a little bit of empathy for those who don't feel safe going to the bus stop, going to work, going to a restaurant. I visited two restaurants this uh weekend that uh had to reduce hours. One place I sat down and ate at
and spent some time with them. There's only two people working trying to trying to serve the whole, you know, on a weekend. Uh it's it's really disappointing. There's a difference between being an administrator and being a leadership. but being a leader. And I'm asking you
guys for those who haven't responded or as a collective body, exercise some leadership. Your constituents are looking for it. >> I'm sorry, Tom Kafker, 12772 Swallow Street, Northwest Rapids. I'd like to thank
the council members that responded to my emails concerning ICE activity in the city of Rapids last week. This activity occurred in the morning at locations next to school bus stops. They included license plate numbers of out ofstate vehicles with mass people
inside. This is totally unacceptable. Today, Senator Jim Abler sent a letter to Tom Holman asking him to rethink the actions being taken by ICE in Minneapolis and Minnesota. I urge the city council members to do the same. I'd like to close with a piece I read this
past week. Silence is never neutral because it can be perceived as tacid approval or acceptance of the status quo. When someone remains silent in the face of injustice, cruelty or wrongdoing, it can embolden the perpetrator and create a power
imbalance. Silence can also be seen as a lack of empathy or understanding of those who are suffering. By staying silent, one inadvertently contribute to the problem, allowing the loudest and the most powerful voices to dominate the
conversation. In this case, silence can be seen as taking a side, the side of the oppressor rather than the oppressed. And lastly, I want to end by saying no human is illegal. They may be undocumented, but not illegal.
ANYBODY else for open mic this evening? >> You can go first. >> You're close. >> Okay. Okay. >> Hi, my name is Hannah Diaz. Um, I'll give my address to the clerk afterwards. Um, I'd like to start off with a quote from the mayor of Mounds View who
addressed his community and he said, "I stand in solidarity with my community members and those across the state that are calling out the injustice, profiling, and brutality of the federal government in our streets. My point in saying this statement that he made is that it is a choice to stay silent and
it is a choice to turn a blind eye to what is happening in our home state here. the people of Minnesota and the people of Rapids, we know what is happening because we can see it and we're experiencing it. The struggle that we are experiencing as a community is
that we're operating normally while things are fundamentally not normal. This regime has caused an entirely new generational trauma and it's going to take decades, if not lifetimes, to rebuild a foundation of trust. So, I would like to know exactly what
Rapids is doing to help out the residents of the city, but also Minnesota. Um, are you working on any ordinances? Um, at the very least, I urge you to join the lawsuits against the federal government for violating our human rights and stand with Governor Waltz. A
question for the mayor. I would like to know if you stand with Rapids and if you stand with Minnesota. It's very clear that our government at all levels is failing all of us and we desperately need your help and your voices to engage in public pressure because you are the leaders of our city and if we can't go
to federal like you are our leaders. Um I understand that the system works for some of you but I'll not stop pointing out that the system and your privilege is built on the oppression of others. And that's not a leadership that I'm ever going to trust. I don't know how to convince anyone to care about other
people the way that I do or to be as angry as I am. So, I'll ask one last question before I conclude. Who would it have to be dead in the streets? Or whose Spider-Man backpack would it have to be for you guys to be as angry as we are?
Thank you. My name is Mark Seaman. I live at 11905 Wedgewood Drive Northwest Rapids. Um I did some research as to what other cities are making statements and there's
different approaches as opposed to a a frontal assault or getting the message across that we appreciate the immigrant communities uh businesses and fellowships we have within the community. So I printed them up. also
met them afterwards. The two top ones from Crystal and St. Louis Park I thought were kind of innovative um because it it it does that it it gives value to the immigrant community.
The other thing is I'm an old man so I live in a world of um cliches. Um I was raised in a in a Lutheran home. My father was a pastor. So, there's a
great deal of of I think morality that I learned when I was growing up. And when you see what's happening, what it means to be an American, what it means to be a Christian, um, being turned on its head, it's very
hard to s sit by and not say something or think God's watching me, that I should be doing something. um as representatives of me. It is more than just running the streets
or or taking care of the utilities. You're representing me. And uh the cliche which basically is echoing what these people just said is silence in the face of evil is evil
itself. God will hold us responsible. To not speak is to speak and to not act is to act. Thank you for the time. >> Hi there. My name is Tanner Larson. I live at 1509 127th Lane. That Weston
Woods town complex next to the golf course. The Twin Cities metro area has been the target of what our current federal administration is calling the largest immigration operation by the Department of Homeland Security in our nation's history. For several months now, the public has experienced and
documented countless instances of federal agents targeting and harassing residents based on the color of their skin, regardless of their immigration status. These threatening and violent attacks on residents have occurred in public places, including schools, streets,
hospitals, sidewalks, grocery stores, places of worship, and bus stops. One occurred just yesterday right off Mirold Avenue, just a block away from the Aldi. As a result, many residents are unable to move freely due to the threat of harassment, violence, and abduction,
forcing them to shelter in place and impacting their ability to work and provide for their families. Let me make myself clear that absolutely no family should have to choose between keeping a roof over their heads and risking being kidnapped by ICE. The city
of Rapids needs an immediate eviction moratorum to keep families in their homes until these indiscriminate mass attacks in our community have stopped. I call on this city council to draft a formal resolution to urge Governor Walls to use his authority as
the executive of the state of Minnesota to enact an eviction moratorum immediately. Now more than ever, we need to look after our neighbors. Thank you. >> Anybody else for open mic this evening? Judith Fido, 12179 Lily Street,
Rapids. Um um I want to thank the councilman who responded to me this week on on some items I brought up last week. This is a practical kind of question. And again, I I received my copy u just
today uh that you sent out in response. So, is it a crime to break into a home or someone's car without a judicial warrant? It's a question. Okay. I guess I have. >> It's noted. Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Hi, I'm Candace Barnes and I live in Andover, 15614 Kumquat Street, Northwest Andover. Um, and I had just heard about this this morning that there was going to be open mic, so I don't have any prepared notes or any any comments. Um,
I'm I'm hearing all of these things that people are saying and they certainly um are concerning. Um, I've seen certainly a lot of things that have been coming up on the news and so on. um from a little bit of a different perspective.
Um I am grateful that um that there are people that are being removed from our communities who do have some pretty violent um crimes and who are harming people whether it's in Rapids, Andover,
whether it's in Minneapolis, whether it's, you know, wherever it is. Um, we do have people here who are bad and they shouldn't be in our communities. They are bringing um they're they're bringing
drugs in. There's trafficking that is happening. And I went to a a fundraiser last year and I saw um all the trafficking that was happening in our communities. And people will say, "Well, it's it's not just the illegals, it's
people or it's our our our citizens, too." And and that may well be, but I feel like that's that's that's lame in my opinion. And I I think that our communities need to um as as leaders, we we need to
be protective of all of our citizens and um give dignity to all of our citizens. um and and non-citizens. We everybody deserves dignity. Um that said, there are some people who I don't believe do
deserve dignity because they're doing evil things in our communities. And so that's it on the fly. Um so I I give you guys I pray for you and I hope that um in these difficult circumstances that you're able to make the very difficult
decisions um that need to be made. So, God bless you all. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else to address council for open mic? >> Thank you. Thank you for your time.
>> Mr. Mayor, members of the council, my name is Becky Frink. I'll leave my address with the clerk. Believe it or not, I honestly wasn't going to say anything because I felt that I had said what I needed to say at the last meeting. For those of you that could not find it
in your heart to write a response, I am formally asking for the record a response from each of the council members to simply tell me what is it that is so hard about
you taking a position on this. I want to know. I'm asking for a formal written response. Tell me why you can't speak to the public safety of our community.
You understand this is a formal request. I want it in writing. I don't want it nuanced. I don't want it on Facebook. Addressed to me, Becky Frink. And the last thing I will say, Shaylin,
and so many other people in this room, the work that's being done in this community that you don't see, cuz many of you aren't doing it. The work that's being done, look into the eyes of these people. This is who's doing the work every day
for public safety. In addition, God, you know, bless the police department. And you know, I was driving here and I was thinking about that. I really don't have anything to say. My disappointment is obvious. My l my concern for the lack of leadership is informing me in ways
that I really didn't necessarily want to know before. know there's some privilege sitting up here that you really need to take into account for the fact that you have not made a statement cuz that's not helpful.
And the only last thing I want to say is I I was with my grandchildren for the last day and a half and you know talking about stuff and you know we were talk and we Mr. Rogers came up and you remember when he said look for the helpers. You remember this?
>> He said look for the helpers. I see a couple up here. I see the rest of them out here. Thank them right now. Thank them. Please for what they have done in yourstead.
Please don't forget my question. I want to know if you can just tell me why creating a response to this. Is it your politics? What is it? Tell me what it is and I'll work with that. I mean it.
Okay. Thank you. I'm Paula Dwire, 11260 Uplander Street Northwest. Uh, I guess I I'm I'm new to this whole thing. Not that I haven't read plenty in the newspaper, but
um, just today I've heard more. Uh I have a friend from Mexico and she said that you know her whole family is afraid to go out and about and there so there's that and I didn't
know about these um school bus stop interactions that are sound pretty scary also especially for the kids I can only imagine. On the other hand, one speaker said uh that you know how many dead bodies?
Well, there are dead bodies across the country. I mean, we we we can't ignore that. There have been terrible, horrible attacks on innocent citizens
by those who are especially criminal element among us. And so, you know, that has to be dealt with. And unfortunately, all this fear has come about because
of the way ICE has said that they're going after the criminals, but if they encounter somebody who isn't criminal criminal, I mean, you know, jailw worthy, uh, they're going to
apprehend those people also. Anyway, so I can see that there's two sides to this story. And anyway, I just want to speak up for uh the fact that there are people who have died horribly and that needs to be addressed
and uh you know obviously this can be done in a better way. But uh and I don't I don't think that any of these horrible deaths have occurred in Rapids yet,
but could happen. And so anyway, I just want to uh uh speak to that because, you know, hasn't really been spoken to except for what Candace just said. So that's all I have to say. I I pray that
temper's cool and uh a better way can be found because there are a lot of people who are really afraid to go out and about just do normal things. And uh also uh I I have to say that uh somebody I know lost track of their
green card scared to death that they would be stopped even though they are here legally and um that it costs a lot to replace a green card just to replace one just because you lost it 400 bucks.
So, you know, maybe that's something that can be addressed also because a lot of people don't >> have a green card. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Anybody else for open mic this evening?
>> Close open mic. >> Okay. Uh, Lean Mortonson. I'll sh What did they say? >> Lean Mortonson. I'll share my address with the clerk. Good evening, city council members. Um, I'm not sure if you're the police chief or chief or a
regular officer, but um, and hello to everyone in this room tonight. Uh, I attended the council meeting and listened to 20ome people talk about the fear they are feeling with ICE in our community, what it is doing to our families, our neighbors, and our local
businesses. We heard real stories of people's horrendous and almost unbelievable experiences with ICE in Rapids. I'm asking the city of Rapids to pass a resolution taking a strong stance against participating in federal immigration enforcement and to
denounce the ICE agents who are masked and come into our city with no ID or body cameras and arrest people without masks, wearing no ID and with no requirements for body cameras, proven to be effective policing. If that was proven to be effective policing, don't you think that our police department
would be doing that same thing in other cities? Another question I would like to ask is the number of times ICE has contacted the Rapids Police Department to let them know when they are coming into our city. Without action by the city council, this
has been addressed. The citizens of this great city will have no faith that government or local police will protect them from ICE. If you continue to sit back, then you prove to them that you are more aligned with the racist corporate interests of our federal
government than with the people of your own city. We need you to change course. Let the current events be a wake-up call to respond directly to the public safety threats at hand. Require our police department to prevent kid prevent protect kidnapping by ICE in the same
manner that they would be protected from kidnapping by private citizens. ban ICE from entering city offices and other non-public places without a judicial warrant and prohibit them from staging on public property like target parking lots. Think deeply about your job as an
elected official and who you are standing with as the violence against citizens intensifies. Let me read something to you. Terrible things are happening outside. This is the quote. Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night
and day, poor, helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared. Anybody recognize that
quote? It's by Anne Frank. Thank you. Anybody else to come for open mic? Okay, close the open mic portion of the meeting. Move to other business. Mr. Mayor, Council Member Butler,
>> I similar to the last meeting, just thank you anybody who came out today to speak. I'm I'm happy to stay afterwards to talk to anybody who has additional questions or just wants additional feedback. Thank you. >> Okay, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Council member Armstrong,
>> I'll just I'll just echo what council Councilman Butler said. Um I'll be here. I'll stay as long as you want me to stay. I appreciate you coming out and uh be happy to address any questions that you have. Snowflake days. We are right in the
middle of it. Who won the game yesterday? >> I haven't even heard. >> Chief, come on. You must know. >> Mayor Cook, I forgot to tell you the truth. >> Serious. Is that way Is that your way of telling us the fire department won?
>> That is the roundabout way of >> selectively forgot it. >> We're in the middle of >> Yes. I believe we took an honest shellacking. So, >> okay. Please take it outside. We're still conducting a meeting. Please take it outside,
>> Mr. Mayor. Uh, yes. I I heard it didn't go so well, but I think that's a matter of perspective, I guess. So, we'll get them next time. I guess >> the fire department probably got more blue blue ox ringers. >> That was the excuse last year. Um, and I
I have to admit I recognized the goal scorers. I'll uh as I so I'll just uh >> I'll just take it this time. >> Um, let's see. So, this week we got the chili feed chili competition on Thursday
>> 5:30 to 7:30 right here at the Civic Center. >> Friday, Mr. Mayor, the senior snowflake party at Civic Center. Oh, and that's probably been sold out for a month. >> Winter Fun at Sand Creek, Mr. Mar on
Saturday, February 7th. That is a fantastic event. 11:00 to 1:00 at Sand Creek Park. Kids medallion hunt starts at 11:30. There's a lot of great things for the kids to do. And then uh Sunday, Mr. Mayor, there's two more events. There's a waffle breakfast on Sunday morning here at the
Civic Center. And then Sunday uh afternoon, it's family fun day at the Rapids Ice Arena. free skating. Uh, real nice if if you can skate, Mr. Mayor. Last time I skate was on double runners and I think I hurt my ankles. So, Mr. Mayor, uh, great events great
events left. Uh, winding winding down. >> All right. Very good. >> Mr. Mayor, >> Council Member Carlson, >> can I bring something else up? Mr. >> Sure. I just want to um I don't I don't do this very typically, but I just wanted to um speak to the passing of a longtime
Rapids resident. Um I again I I couldn't do that for everyone because you don't know everyone, but I just wanted to uh express my condolences. Uh Cook passed away, mayor's mother on February 20th at the age of 105 and a
half. >> Jan January 20th. >> Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor. I I'm a little I'm recovering from a surgery. That's why I wasn't here last meeting. I'm I'm still I got to tell you, I'm still a little punchy. Um but uh yeah, I'm sorry, Mr. January 20th. Um 105 and a
half years old. Um Alma was born on the uh Red Lake Indian Reservation. Uh they moved to Rapids in 1952, the year we became a village. Year we broke away from Anoka Township and became a village. Um, for uh those of you who have been around for a while, Elma
worked at the uh Elma worked at the um Red Owl where uh where Grand Slam is located and Elma worked at the Target on Rapids Boulevard, which is now the Rapids Ice Arena. I only got to know uh Alma Cook for like the last five
years. Uh heck, I talked to Alma not too long before she passed away and she was just the same. I could tell that thing that things were getting a little tough for your mom, Mr. Mayor, but she was just as chipper and just as fun and just as sparkly as she always was. I've never known anyone to live to 105 years old,
and I probably never will. Uh my grandson sons loved your mother, Mr. Mayor. Um they were just astonished that somebody could live to be 105 years old. couple of those birthdays my grandsons uh surrounded Alma and sang happy birthday to her and then she'd give him
a little kiss on the cheek each one of them. Um she was truly a blessing, Mr. Mayor. And she was a a 70 what's it? Oh, help me with my math, folks. I'm a little punchy. 72year resident of Rapids. Boy, you just don't find that very often. But she was truly a blessing, Mr. Mayor.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> And my family will truly miss her. >> She passed on the 23rd. I had to get my calendar out and look here, but for all those dates. >> Little punchy, Mr. Mayor. >> Yeah. So am I. >> All right. Thank you, Council. I appreciate that. Um, any other business
come before council? >> Motion to second. >> Motion by Butler, second by Novak to adjurnn. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Ajourned.