Good evening and welcome to the Rapids City Council meeting for Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. If I could please invite our scouts up front to lead us in the pledge. We have our scouts from troop 5415 here tonight.
Please rise and join us. Oh, I think I have to move up a little bit more. >> There we go. Perfect. >> Yep. >> Please stand with me the pledge of allegiance. >> 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. >> All right. Sorry. That's all right. We've got our scouts here. We'll come down. >> Who would like to Whoa, there it is. Who
would like to start by maybe introducing yourselves or tell us what's going on? Or we'll just go around, I guess. >> We'll end it with you cuz All right. My name is Amelia with the girls troop 415 415 um and I'm the patrol leader and my
rank is star. My name is Autumn Sandine of the girls troop obviously and my rank is scout. >> My name is Isabella troop 415 and I'm scout rank >> Elsie and I forgot
Michael. Um, second class >> Parker. Uh, Tenderfoot. >> Liam, I'm working on Scout. >> Liam H on tenderfoot. >> Uh, Luke and I'm working on
life. >> Life. >> Oh, >> wow. Okay. So, anything you want to tell us about what you got going on? Got any big camps coming up or? Uh we have a lock in in like nine days at a church.
>> Oh, okay. >> Uh we're working on citizenship in the community. >> That's what we're doing here tonight, right? >> Awesome. All right. So, and then I to finish it up, I'm going to come to your
scout meeting, wherever that's going to be, and you're going to let me know when that is. And I thank you for coming. Thank you all for coming. Um, stay keep going. Keep going. You know, that's that's the one thing. If you make if you make it to Eagle, you are an Eagle Scout
forever. It's just like being a Marine. You're always a Marine. Once you're a Marine Eagle Scout, you're always an Eagle Scout. A lot of advantages from that. >> So, there you go. Good goal. Thanks for being here tonight. Please call the role.
>> Council member Griscoiaak >> here. >> Council member Butler >> here. >> Council member Novak >> here. >> Council member Gesler >> here. >> Council member Armstrong >> here. >> Council member Carlson >> here. >> Mayor Cook >> here. >> Thank you. Why don't we adopt this evening's agenda? >> So moved.
>> Second. Motion by Geisler, second by Butler. Any changes or discussion or corrections? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. And the agenda is adopted. Uh we're looking at approving our
minutes from the February 17th meeting. >> Mr. Mayor, >> Council Member Butler, >> I move that we approve the minutes from the February 17th, 2026 meeting. >> Second. >> Motion by Butler and a second by Gresco. Any discussion or corrections?
Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. And those minutes are approved. We have four items on our consent agenda this evening. The first one is item three, and that's to receive the 2025 year-end gambling expenditure
report. Staff has received and reviewed the semiannual reports for July 1st through December 31st, 2025, showing the gambling expenditures within the city of Rapids and the trade area for the six organizations at 17 locations. The
combined net profit this period was reported at $1,53,5219 with expenditures within the trade area which includes the city of Rapids reporting reported at 1,191,91840 and the reported expenditures specifically within the city of
Rapids for this period was $948,000 or $589.40. 40 cents. Um the total combined net profit for all of 2025 was reported at just over $2 million and with expenditures within the trade area which includes the city of Kon Rapids at
just over $2 million. And the reported expenditures specifically within the city of Rapids for the year was $1,792,515.76. All organizations achieved the 60% expenditure requirement within the trade area for the year. So we're the action
we'll take tonight as part of our consent agenda is to receive the gambling expenditure report for 2025. Item four is to receive the schedule of electronic payments. Uh Minnesota statute requires a list of transactions
made by electronic funds transfer be provided to the city council at the next regular meeting after the transaction. And tonight we are looking to receive the schedule of electronic payments from two uh February 12th, 2026 through
February 25th, 2026. Uh the next item on our consent agenda is to adopt resolution 26-33 approving historical commission appointments. Um we're looking at Samantha Hinrix and Donald Sauer
submitted applications to serve on the historical commission. Both applicants attended January and February historical commission meetings. And after discussion, the historical commission commends Samantha Hinrich and Donald Sauer be appointed to the historical
commission with terms ending December 31st, 2028. So with that, we'll be looking to adopt resolution 26-33 appointing Samantha Hinrix and Donald Sauer to the historical commission. And
the final item on our consent agenda is to approve the final payment to Cedar Creek Energy for project 24-20, the solar on the Westwater treatment plant. Uh we're looking to approve a
change order and final payment to Cedar Creek Cedar Creek Energy in the amount of $3,5 for project 24-20 solar westwater treatment plant. And that is our consent agenda. >> Your honor, >> Council Member Novak,
>> I move we accept the consent agenda. Second >> motion by Novak, second by Butler. Okay. Uh, is there any discussion or questions on the consent agenda?
>> Go ahead. >> Just want to thank uh Samantha and Donald for joining the historical commission. What a great bunch of people in that group. We have well, of course, we have wonder many wonderful commissions, but I just appreciate the the level of knowledge we have in that historical commission. There's some
really great historians in there, a lot of a lot of people to learn from and a lot of people to help preserve our history with. And the fact that she said, "Now, as a Kun Rabbis resident, I love reading Pat Carlson's posts about historical places around the city."
>> Well, Mr. Mayor, that's one. >> Council member Butler, >> uh, just to sort of echo that, you know, again, congratulations to Samantha and Donald. And, you know, for folks just here or watching, joining a city commission is always a great way to get involved with the city. I was on the city sustainability commission before. I
know council member Gisler was on planning and it's just a great way to see different layers of your city and get find a way to be involved. >> All right, any other discussion or questions on the consent agenda? We have a motion and a second. All in favor
signify by saying I. >> I opposed. And the motion the consent agenda is adopted. Um item seven is to consider resolution 26-2 sub9 accepting bid and awarding contract for 2026 full
depth reclamation and millan overlay project 26-2. Um Mr. Hammer, >> Mr. Mayor, thank you councel. Uh it's an annual street maintenance program, uh preventative maintenance. These are areas that have some significant need,
but they're falling outside of our long range reconstruction program. Uh it's not our typical reconstruction. There's no curb and gutter, no utilities. It's just really grind and go. We get good deals ear early on in the season. So, uh as you can see, we had several bids,
extremely competitive. I think the first two were like $35 difference. I' I've haven't seen that close before. um they're significantly under our estimates, but to be fair, our estimates are done like a year in advance. So, we're we're just scoping on a little larger scale, but uh they're
pretty tight in there and North Valley has done this work for us several times in the past in addition to some of our reconstruction. So, um I would recommend to you that we do award this to North Valley in the amount of $537,927.13. Happy to answer anything about the bids or the program.
>> All right. Any questions for Mr. Ammer on this? Your honor, council member Nov, >> I move to adopt resolution number 26-2 subsection 9 awarding a contract to North Value Incorporated, North Valley, excuse me, for the bid in the amount of
537,927.13 for the 26-2 full depth reclamation and mill overlay project. >> Second motion by Novak and a second by um Armstrong. Now discussion, Mr. Mayor, council member Gisler. Uh, Mr. Hammer, is this the first one we've had since
we've exited from that larger bid agreement process or is that just for the next chunk that's coming? >> Council member Gistler, that's going to be coming to you probably at the next meeting. That's seal coat, crack sealing, pavement markings. This is just our our grind and go. It's it's it's
asphalt re reclamation and mill and overlay projects. >> Thank you, >> your honor, council member. Let me just say how happy I am to see Rapids Boulevard put in here at all. It's, you know, very nice to see that we can get some work done there.
>> Hold on. >> I think it's just >> Yeah, it's up to But yeah. >> Yeah, up to >> It's a frontage road down by the Wells Fargo area. >> Okay. All right. So, milling overlay, grind and go, turn and burn. >> All right. We have a motion and a
second. Do we have any other discussion on this? Um, this is really a great value for the money. We've done this every year at the roads that wore out wore out prematurely and we get so much bang for the buck for this. Um, yeah,
supportive. All in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. >> And that motion carries. Under number under new business, we consider and receive the 2025 community development annual report. Mr. Brown.
>> Yes. Good morning. >> An impressive an impressive piece you have there. >> Yes. Thank you. I will just hit on some of the highlights very quickly here. So, in 2025, uh, our department issued right around 6,700 building permits that amounted to
about $78 million worth of new construction. And that number is a little bit lower than in some of the recent years where we had actually uh surpassed 100 million but is still a fairly healthy amount in our opinion. That included a total of 34 new housing
units. 12 of those were single family homes. 22 were town homes. We did not see any new multifamily construction last year. It was really a variety of projects in that new construction number. So that included a lot of medical um Mercy Hospital, other medical
office. We saw a new uh industrial building off of Holly Street and Springbrook Drive. Uh a number of commercial tenant buildouts, particularly some restaurants. Uh I think we've all been noticing some new restaurants around the city in the last couple years. So all all of that is very
positive. Wanted to lift up too a few of the uh new projects that our department took on over the last year. One of the big highlights was our transition to a new software platform for all of our building permits for code enforcement, rental licensing planning that's tied
right into our accounting software. So, it was a major uh learning curve, but I think just improved our overall efficiency, improved the overall customer experience since most of our building permits people are applying for online. people want to apply online for
pretty much everything. They can pay by credit card. So, that's really streamlined things for us. Also wanted to highlight our uh new duck and fowl ordinance that was adopted in the fall. I did confirm today we have not yet
issued any duck permits. Uh but we have we have seen some inquiry, so I expect we'll issue at least one before long. It's not quite as popular as our chicken permit which was launched a number of years ago and we have right around a hundred uh chicken permits now. Uh also
I wanted to highlight our first impressions curb appeal guide book that we did uh in collaboration with the cities of Blaine and Fidley uh as well as the St. Paul area association of realtors which provided us with a grant for some printing.
uh should be a nice uh resource to any city residents who are interested in taking on some home improvement projects. Uh you can view it right on the city's website. So hopefully that will inspire many people and and hopefully also inspire them to take
advantage of some of our uh incentive offerings for home improvement programs. Then finally, I did want to lift up the uh award we re we we received for the uh state's solar on public buildings grant
program. We're able to install those two new solar arrays as you know from uh the previous agenda item on the westwater treatment plant as well as fire station 3. Uh th those really covered a large majority of the costs of those projects.
So that'll save our taxpayers money uh in very short order and will help us transition to uh some renewable energy sources at those locations. So just a few of the highlights. I always like to take the opportunity to uh just just
highlight the work of the 20 or so employees in the community development department. >> Mr. Brown, is this already posted on the community development page? >> I believe it is. Yes, it is on the website. >> Okay. So, I would encourage residents or anybody interested to go to our
raprapidsmn.gov website, go to community development and take a look at this book. It's pretty pretty darn impressive all of the businesses coming into town and all of the work you you and your crew have done this year and our planning commission
and our board of adjustment appeals. >> Mr. Mayor, >> council member Armstrong, >> Mr. Brown. Uh the 6,700 building permits, how does that compare to 2024? Is that up down? >> Do you know by chance?
>> The the raw number of permits was actually a little bit higher. Uh the the total value was was down a little bit. Certainly the the scale of projects. If if we have three or four really large commercial or multifamily projects, that
can really skew things a lot. But the uh overall number was actually up a little bit. >> Thank you, >> your honor. >> All right, council member Novak. >> I'd just like to commend Mr. Brown and staff for keeping their attention on those foul permits and also remind PE
Yes. Thank you. Uh remind people that if you have a permit for beekeeping, uh the time is coming up right now where you're going to want to start ordering your bees if you need to because it's going to take a while for them to arrive. The fetching Mrs. Novak actually was one of the first people to get that permit,
so she's ordering hers today. >> All right. Um, so I think we need a motion to accept this if we don't have any further questions. Mr. Brown, >> Mr. Mayor, >> council member Gesler, >> I'll move that we rec uh that we adopt the or accept the 2025 community
development annual report. >> Second. >> Motion by Gisler, second by Butler. Is there any further discussion on this hearing? None. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. And that motion carries. And
that is accepted. Thank you, Mr. Brown. Um, next on our agenda is item nine to consider planning case 26-2, consider Crescent Pond's planned unit development
amendment, the Fountain's Homeowners Association. Um, we've we've seen this in here a number of times as they've done their expansions, but this is the first wholesale modification we've seen for this one, I think. >> Mr. Behringer,
>> Mr. Mayor, members of the council, I have before you this evening, um, planning case 26-2, a request to amend the Crescent Ponds PUB. So, a quick history here. Um, this was originally approved back in 2008 as a 81
single family um, development located at the corner of town um, intersection of Main Street and University A. Here's an image of what it looks like today all built out. So, the PUD amendment request um arose
from a denied building permit last year. Um, an individual lot within the PUB requested a permit for a new covered porch and a deck. Um, they did not meet their setback or lot coverage requirements. So, that permit was
denied. The HOA then followed up with a request for the amendment to um number one increase the lot coverage maximum from its current 40% to 50% and number two reduce the covered porch rear setback from 35 ft to 20 ft.
So our staff analysis um as you can see in your packets all of the um POD amendment criteria have been met but I would like to focus a little more on those two uh regulation requests. the lot coverage going from 40% to 50%. Um, many of the properties within this PUD
are at or approaching that 40% already. So, this would provide them with the opportunity to make some improvements to their um properties and increase values. Another thing to consider is um with the newly created LDR3
district um if if this development had happened under those regulations, the 50% would already be at play and we wouldn't be um amending that right now. And then moving to the rear setback. So this is really to align the setback for
a a covered porch to be the same as an an uncovered porch or a deck moving from 35 ft to 20 ft. Many of these lots within the PUD are substandard in depth. Um 120 ft I believe where the underlying
zoning calls for 135. So about 15 ft or so um less deep than what is standard. And this would really have a minimum impact to surrounding properties. Those um shorter lots don't abut other properties to their backyards. Um
instead they butt ponds and and outlot. So they wouldn't there wouldn't be that kind of visual cluttering of of people getting closer and closer to their rear lot lines. So with that, we make this following recommendation here to approve um the
amendment for to the PUD with the changes to those two regulations. >> All right. Any questions of Mr. Behinger? >> Mr. Mayor Butler. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Behinger, for walking through this. I I'm totally fine with this. I walk through that neighborhood
all the time. It's a beautiful neighborhood and I'm looking forward to giving residents a little more freedom with their property. And with that, I move that we approve the amendment in planning case 26-2 to the Crescent Ponds planned unit development modifying the following
standards. One, increase the lock coverage maximum from 40% to 50%. And two, reduce the covered porch rear setback from 35 ft to 20 ft. Council member Butler. And then I got to say that last line. >> No, no, you you great, but you didn't start it with in planet case 26-2. I
just wanted to make sure we got that tagged on the front. >> My apologies. I said approve and then I said the planning case dash or 26-2, but I can say it again if you'd like. >> No, we're good. Sure. >> Thank you. >> All right. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion by Butler, second by Gesler. Is there any further discussion on this?
>> Your honor, just quick question, >> Mr. Novak. >> I think I already know the answer to this one, Mr. Behringer, but uh I presume that because this already meets LDR3 standards, if they were to put a porch over say a concrete slab, there still would be no problem with water.
>> Council member, that is correct. >> Thank you. Okay, any other questions? Hearing none, we all in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. >> And that motion carries. Item 10
is to consider and receive the lawful gambling report and authorize payment to community strength foundation. >> Yes. Thank you. >> As you know, the city collects revenue from lawful gambling that's licensed and
the six licensed gambling organizations brought in a total of 14177054 as outlined in the the report that was attached in the packet. And the recommendation from staff is to have council accept that lawful gambling
contribution report and authorize the expenditure of 10126467 to community strength that has been historically um what the council has done with the bulk of the proceeds from the lawful gambling that I'll answer any
questions. >> Thank you. Yeah, we and we discussed a set of workshops. >> We did. Is there any questions of Miss Lensmire on this? >> Mr. Mayor, >> council member Carlson, >> make a motion to accept the 2025 lawful gambling payments report and authorize
expenditure of 101,264 and 67 cents to Community String Foundation. >> Second motion by Carlson and a second by Armstrong. >> Any further discussion? >> Mr. Mayor, council member Giser. Uh I just want to highlight the other item is
that uh we we distribute some to community strengths and then we also retain uh $40,500 about as well that goes into a fund balance for other activities in the future that the city uses. So >> thank you. >> Okay. Any other discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. And that motion carries. Item 11 is to consider resolution 26-34 calling bonds of 2017 A. Miss Hansen, it sounds like we're
going to pay off some things early here. >> Correct. Mr. Mayor, city council. Um, as of February 1st of this year, bonds that were issued in 2017 are now callable. um re review the debt service fund and there is sufficient fund balance to redeem the principal that would be due
in 27 and 28 and by doing so we would save uh over 18,000 in interest. Um so as such staff is recommending uh adopting the resolution and calling for the redemption of the improvement portion of these bonds. Happy to answer any questions.
>> All right. Anybody have any questions of Miss Hansen on this? >> Your honor Novak. I am all for saving money on interest. Uh so I move to adopt resolution 26-34 calling for redemption of 2017 A improvement bonds. >> Second.
>> Motion by Novak and a second by Butler. >> Is there further any further discussion on this? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. >> And that motion carries
and we are up to the open mic portion of the meeting. Quick 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 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 address to the council as a whole. Personal attacks are not prohibited. Open mic is not a time for problem solving or reacting to the comments made, but for hearing the speaker forformational purposes only. Um,
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. So, if you wish to participate in open mic, please
approach the podium and give us your name and address. Hello, Mr. Mayor, councel. My name is Colette Atkins. I live at 8640 Coral Sea Street Northeast in Blaine, Minnesota. And while I live in Blaine, I have close
ties to K Rapids. I attended North School and graduated from Kapids High School. My father um spent his entire career as a math teacher and soccer coach at KRapids High School. and I raised my family in nearby Blaine. I want to describe what I experienced on
the morning of February 20th in the parking lot of the city hall and police department right out here. Six federal enforcement vehicles, numerous masked men with hoisted guns. I witnessed a detention
and I witnessed very disturbing contact conduct of ICE agents that seemed aimed at my ability to film the detention and get the name and emergency contact of the man they were detaining. I was in the area because I am a trained
legal observer and a lawyer and I want to keep my community safe. Because of what I experienced in this very parking lot, I have now filed a declaration with the American Civil Liberties Union in their case regarding violations of constitutional rights of
legal observers like me. To give you a few examples of what I experienced, I experienced a car driving directly at me by a masked federal agent. I had a car in front of me and a car behind me
blaring their sirens. I could not help but think of what ex Renee Good experienced when faced by surrounding vehicles. When I tried to uh perform my duty as a legal observer, my right
to film, I was blocked by the vehicles on multiple occasions. They used their sirens and their voices so that I could not communicate with a man that was being detained. After the event, I called the Corapids Police Department.
Later that afternoon, after I'd calmed down, the police officer I spoke with seemed disinterested in what I experienced. Frustrated, uh, I we ended the call. He called back and said he talked to the front desk.
They didn't see anything. As if I made it up. I asked whether um why they didn't come out, whether I should have called 911, and he said, "Well, we wouldn't have done anything."
This detention and what happened in that parking lot was of interest to others. Even though the police officer seemed disinterested, it was covered by WCCCO TV. >> 10 seconds >> and the Star Tribune. It is disturbing to me that masked and
armed men can gather in the city parking lot. This should be a safe space for people to engage in their government. >> I continue to wonder why ICE chose this lot for their action. Did they feel safe and supported here? >> Well, I sure didn't that day.
>> Thank you. Hello, my name is Cameron. I'll give my agaras to the clerk. I spoke here two weeks ago, but was not entirely prepared to speak. Um, I was passing on information from those in the community that were not able to attend. Today, I speak for me and what I've seen in the
community in the last two weeks as part of a vast network of community members that have organized to keep our community safe. On Friday, February 20th, three days after the last city council meeting, six confirmed ICE vehicles were witnessed following Rapids school buses. When community
members followed to stop them, they moved to the safety of this building right here into the parking lot as the previous person spoke about. I was on the phone with the person um one of the people that witnessed what was happening. And this is traumatic for our
entire communities. the trust in our law enforcement has been broken and um there has been very little that has really been spoken about. Um
3 days after you said Metro Surge is over and ICE is leaving, ICE is still here. Christy Gnome stated there is over 650 officers in Minnesota just this morning. We are recording their actions every day and you continue to insist that they do not know that you do not know what
happens here. Mr. Mayor, two weeks ago, many of us spoke of our of your comments to the New York Times. Your response um was to insult the journalists with a non-apology about your statements on Facebook. Your community is looking for leaders, people that actually care about
the most vulnerable in our communities. We are not stupid. We know that you are not really doing what we need you to do. the trust is not there and we would really like to see more um trust building within our communities from our council leaders. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening. Um thank you. Uh my name is Shaylen Burbig. Um I live in Rapids and I'll give my address to the clerk. Um thank you city council members and fellow Rapids neighbors. I'm here tonight to comment on ongoing
concerns of community members involving ICE as well as some other questions I have for the council. Um, I co-founded the organization Parents for Good during this and during this crisis of ICE occupying Minneapolis and targeting people of color in our local community.
Families in our city and school district needed help and many were unable to leave their homes due to legitimate concerns about their safety. Our organization created a mutual aid hub to serve families in Anoka Henipin. It grew to something beautiful thanks to the generosity of the people in this
community. So far, we've received the equivalent of 1,425 families with a week's worth of food and approximately 250 of those families were from Rapids alone. That works out to about 17 to 18% of the
families that we have served, which is significant portion considering the number of schools and communities and other organizations that we've reached. I also noticed that the city website that you um that you post a city council comments video each month summarizing
what happens at these council meetings. This is helpful for residents who want to stay informed but can't make it here. I took the time to watch them and I was surprised that in that video none of the dozens of residents who came here to speak about their concerns about ICE
were mentioned at all. Um overall I think it's worth reflecting on what you believe your voice on a council or as a council member is for. Snow days and school board endorsements are mentioned not specifically in that
um in that video but in general. Um but businesses closing, the possibility um possibly due to ICE actions, residents dying in ICE custody, and hundreds of families needing assistance received no ex no acknowledgement.
I am not opposed to discussing snow days and school board endorsements. Those reflect that you know your voice as a leader in this community matters. But I do think it reflects us reflects a failure of leadership when it comes to
the most serious concerns of our res of our residents go unagnowledged. You're elected to represent this community not only in the best of times but also in the most difficult of times on another matter completely. Um, I've
come to many of these meetings now and I've listened online when I haven't been able to make it and I listen to extensive discussion about um >> about homeowners associations and upcoming developments. So my question to city council members are, have you heard
from residents, the majority of residents that they enjoy living in a homeowners association? um how do you seek out not just come to you but how do you seek out the perspectives on issues like this and finally why is public comment placed at
the end of meetings and why are we not allowed to comment on items that are on the agenda >> thank you >> thank you for your time Mayor and Council, I'm Tom Kik for uh 12772 Swallow Street, Northwest Rapids. I want to ask each of you as
city council members, what have you done to support the residents of Rapids that are under the attack of ICE and Border Patrol agents. The metro surge may be d winding down or drawing down, but according to Christy Gnome, there's still 650 agents. And that was reported
this morning in her Senate in their uh Senate hearing. Metro Surge has changed their tactics. They are posing as door-to-door salespeople so doors get open to them. They pretend to have car trouble and lure people out of their houses to help them. They're using
drones to surveil neighborhoods and coming back the next day to arrest people. They are employing bounty hunters to detain and arrest people. Metro Surge was never about fraud in Minnesota. It was about the intimidation.
ICE and Border Patrol are still trampling on the rights of people in our neighborhood, city, and our state. The city has shared what the police are supposed to do if they're called. Obviously, they didn't happen here. The citizens, families, businesses of Rapids are suffering under the actions
of federal government. I ask if you as council members, what is the city council going to do to show support for the residents and businesses of Rapids? Some of you may support what is happening to our citizens. So, I pity you. In the words of the singing
resistance, it's okay to change your mind and you can join us. Just join us anytime. Thank you. Mayor, council members, thank you for hearing us tonight. Um, I'm just still having a reaction to the fact that our
comments two weeks ago were not mentioned in the summary. I'm kind of angry about that. I waited two hours and eight minutes to voice my concerns last time and that and along with a bunch of other people and that couldn't make it into a summary.
That's bothersome. We all come from different backgrounds, perspectives. We have things on our plates. We're busy people. But you guys really need to step up. This is so disappointing. People in our community are being harmed. People have died in custody. People are afraid to leave their homes.
You are in leadership positions. What does that mean to you? Our community is watching you. It's important that you grow in this moment. Step up. Last time I was here, I spoke about my concerns about mentioning the lack of brown people here and there was a
custodian and I was afraid to mention him because maybe he'll disappear the next week. It wasn't even a week before someone's being detained here. And you know what? He was released. You know why? Because they're grabbing up people that they do not have legal reason to detain. It's disturbing and people are being harmed and you need to step up.
You are in these positions for a reason and people are counting on you. This is not a safe space for children. The libraries aren't a safe place for children. I have to tell my kid, go to a private property with nice people who will actually close the door and lock it if somebody is coming after you with
tactical gear and weapons. This should be a safe place. It's safe for ICE. And that's not right. >> Thank you. Anybody else come for open mic? >> Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the
council staff. My name is Becky Fank. I live in Rapids and I think the clerk has my address. So very quickly, we had a bunch of us had a whole bunch of other places to be tonight, but we had to come here to monitor.
Mr. Mayor, members of the council, we had to come here and monitor. It's been a month. What have you done? Answer me. Oh, you can't.
What have you done to protect the people of Rapids? Where are we at a month later? You look at us. You look out to the group. Everybody's cool, right? No. No.
You have work to do. The League of Cities has an option for you. You need to get busy and get acquainted and get signed on. question staff for the next meeting. I want the answer tonight if I asked it two weeks ago.
Do you have a plan to vote on the League of Cities resolution? Number one, I'd like an answer tonight. Please. I asked it two weeks ago. Mr. Mayor, members of the council, please answer the silence from this council at this
time is don't think that that's not resonating with your citizens. On Sunday, on Sunday, many of you joined us in the room next door. Over a hundred people came together, some of our council members to discuss this. We are we are working. We're not This is not
the only place and the only time for us to do our work. 120 people on a Sunday in the other room talking about protecting democracy and what has happened to our civil liberties and our civil rights. Thank you to the
council members who were there. It's exactly where we needed you to be that day. I want you to consider a resolution. And this is a formal request from me to you. I want the council to go on record
supporting the renaming of 610 for Melissa Hortman. She is one of the political casualties that our community has faced. And if you
don't want to know that, you are here on notice. She along with a number of other people are political casualties including and touching our own town. I know you're looking at the clock, Mr. Mayor, so you're going to have to give me one more second because I know that's
important. I understand that. We're not going to go away. We're not going to go away for next time. The next time when we ask community, >> that's your three minutes. Mrs. Fink, that's your three minutes. That's your three minutes, Mrs. Mayor. Is there
anybody else here for open mic this evening or we will close the port? We Okay, thank you. >> We did it. >> You have three minutes. >> We did it, Mr. Mayor. We We made it happen. Thank you, sir. >> You have three minutes, sir, please. >> Good evening. I'm Thomas Huing, last
name Hu L I N G. I believe the clerk has my address from about a month ago. I can give it to her off the record otherwise. I wasn't sure I was going to stand up and speak tonight, but we have some young people in the audience here who were here for the
beginning and they got to shake hands with the mayor and um have a very very nice moment and I I want to thank you for that and I want to thank uh some other members of the council for work that they've done educating all of us
about the history of our city, things we can to fun things that are going on. But I think it's important that we all recognize that leadership goes beyond that. And it's not all the easy and fun
moments. And it's not just smiling and and encouraging kids to get involved. It's also about the example that we're setting and how we react when things go wrong and when things don't go according to plan. And sometimes even when we
don't have the formal authority to fight back and it's not good enough to say that this isn't a city issue. It's not good enough to say um you know we don't have any power so anything we say is
symbolic. We can't just throw up our hands and we're not doing it. And I know some of you up there are not doing it. And for the rest of you, really think long and hard about why you are in those chairs.
Because again, leadership is not just about getting to smile and shake hands and do all of those fun things. And it's not just about encouraging our young people. It's about setting a good example for them. Please remember that.
Thank you. YES. >> HELLO. My name is Kristen Wagner and I'm a resident of Rapids. I will reach out to the clerk to give my address. This is my first town hall for the city of Rapids. When many of you walked into the building tonight, you did not
acknowledge a group of your constituents standing outside. Some did, some did not. Um, I have to admit that I really don't recognize many of your faces, but I do recognize your names. Um, similar to what was said before, we have a room full of scouts today. Um, as someone who
almost made it to a cadet in Girl Scouts, I was consistently taught the value and gifts of community, respect, and humility. And none of those values were apparent to me when many of you walked past us and ignored us. As someone who has lived in Rapids for
well over a decade and my very hard-earned money helped support you and your families, I was extremely disappointed to not even be worth a hello tonight. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, Mayor Cook, city council members and
staff. My name is Betsy Keyfir. I live at 12772 Swallow Street for 39 years. I'm here tonight again because of the threats and the damage ICE has done to the people in our community and our
businesses. Even though Tom Hman said ICE was leaving Minnesota, the truth is the media left and ICE is still here. ICE is in disguise pretending to be Jehovah Witnesses. someone looking for their dog or child,
construction workers, or someone needing to help getting help with their car. Their cars that ICE drive are old now, and they even have ice out stickers on them, so they're in disguise.
I am here to speak for the people who are afraid to tell you their stories for various reasons, personal reasons. Number one, a Rapids mom, her 17-year-old biracial son was arrested
for no reason, right by Culver's on Rapids Boulevard and taken to the Whipple building for a 12-hour interrogation. Two, a long-term Rapids resident witnessed ICE literally pulling out his
person of color neighbor out of his house that lived across the street from him and taking him away. A part Native American teen girl lives in fear and terror every day. She has
resorted to wearing a blonde wig to keep ICE from profiling her. And I just want you to know, I want the community to know about Victor Diaz. Victor Diaz
has been supposedly was committing suicide, but that is under investigation. But he was taken from a Rapids restaurant right at Riverdale along with three other people that were working there and he died in the East Montana
detention center in Texas. And this is under investigation. He had been here working to earn money for his 11 and 15year-old sons and to help his mom with her house. And I know that a lot of the city council members are interested in all
the restaurants in Rabbit. So, I thought you would all really want to know about that. These are only some of the reports I know about and I want you and the community to know about as well. I know your response is, well, if they
are legal, they have nothing to worry about. This is not truth. ICE does not care about your papers and its officers are charged and rewarded with with achieving everyday quotas.
>> Okay. Thank you. All right. Anybody else coming for open mic? All right, hearing nine. Hearing none, we'll close that portion of the meeting. Have the response from last open mic.
Several themes and questions regarding federal immigration enforcement are raised during the open mic portion of the last city council meeting. Many speakers made appeals directly to the city council or its members during open mic. While this staff response doesn't address some of those statements or requests, staff can provide additional
information on the following. The role of the city's police department. This information was provided in the staff response for the February 2nd meeting and that can be found on the city's website um under frequently asked questions um about enforcement incidents with in Noah
Henipin School District students. Concerns were raised about reports of ICE stopping Anoka Henipin School District buses and enforcement activities near schools. While there have been reports of such activities in other communities, staff is not aware of any similar incidents occurring within
Rapids. The city works closely with the school district on student safety issues and has continued to do so in recent weeks. The school district has developed a website to answer immigration enforcement related questions and that's at the ahschools.
us support SLimmigration. Um, ICE contacts in Rapids. City staff and the police department are not aware of every ICE activity that has occurred in the community over the past several weeks as ICE doesn't inform the police department of their actions. Staff estimates there have been 15 to 20
ICE inform enforcement activities that were verified through a call for service or were observed by a police officer. None of these incidents rose to a level that required any interaction by the police department with either a civilian or an ICE officer. Um there are
resources for the cities. The League of Minnesota Cities has been updating their website with information on this topic and that information can be found at lmc.org. or and then it's of course resources and federal actions impacting cities and this response is
forformational purposes only and we are up to other business any other business come up for the council this evening >> Mr. Council Butler. >> Uh ju just similar to the last several meetings, I I just want to thank anyone who came out to open mic and thank you
to the Boy Scouts troop for coming out as well. And as usual, I'm happy to stay afterwards to talk to anybody. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. Council member Gaisler. >> Uh I second those comments again as always. If anyone likes to speak, happy to talk with you afterwards. Um I do
want to bring attention some other events that are happening in the city just so that folks can know that they are happening. um uh one that on Saturday we have the North Suburban Home Show uh that is occurring uh from 8 to 2 at the end over YMCA on Saturday. And
then uh more importantly, I think on the 9th, the parks and recck master plan open house is happening. Um, and that here is in civic center room B. Um, from 5 to 7:00 p.m. So that's Monday 5 to 7:00 p.m. Um, that's where you have an
opportunity to look at the master plan, see what's coming, help guide and shape what we're doing within the city. So feedback is greatly welcomed and that's why we held those open houses. Thank you. Thank you. Other business for council. >> Motion to adjurnn.
>> Second. Motion by Carlson, second by Novak to ajourn. In favor, signify by saying I. I. >> I. We'rejourn.