[Music] [Music] Good evening and welcome to the Rapids City Council meeting for Tuesday, January 6th, 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. >> Can you please call the role while Steve is trying to figure out how to get our
monitors to work? >> Council member Krisco >> here. >> Council member Butler >> here. >> Council member Novak. Council member Gesler >> here. >> Council member Armstrong >> here. Council member Carlson >> here. >> Mayor Cook >> here. >> One absent. Novak. >> Thank you. Uh, all right. Why don't we
adopt this evening's agenda? >> Motion to adopt the agenda. >> Second. >> Motion by Butler and a second by Gesler to adopt the agenda. Is there any discussion or corrections? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. And that motion carries. Um,
next is the approval of the minutes from the December 16th meeting. Motion to approve the meetings from the December 16th, 2025 meeting. >> Second >> motion by Butler and a second by Gesler. Is there any discussion or corrections?
Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. Opposed. And that motion carries. Those minutes are approved, I should say. >> Uh we have three items on our consent agenda this evening. The first one is to approve a final payment to Minger Construction Companies
for project 24-16 lift station rehab. Um that there was a change order for new pumps installed at lift station number five. The work under bid alternate number two was not performed and was removed from the contract. So, we're
looking at approval of a change order and final final payment to Minger Construction Companies Incorporated in the amount of $25,85867 for project 24-16 lift station rehab. Next item on the consent agenda is to
approve the final payment to Thomas and Suns Construction Incorporated for project 25-7, Highway 10 water main relocation. Um, so looking to approve the change order and final payment to Thomas and
Suns Construction Incorporated in the amount of $11,47023 for project 25-7 Highway 10 water main relocation. And then the third and final item on the consent agenda is the is to receive the
schedule of electronic payments. Staff has prepared the attached list of electronic payments processed since the last council meeting. So, we're looking to receive the schedule of electronic payments from December 11th, 2025 through December 30th, 2025. And that is
our full consent agenda. >> Mr. Mayor, Council Member Carlson. >> Motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Motion by Carlson, a second by Armstrong. Is there any discussion or questions about the consent agenda?
>> Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I I opposed and that motion carries. Item five is to conduct a public hearing and consider adoption of ordinance 2347 amending chapter 13-899,
Centerpoint Energy Franchise. Mr. Brody, didn't we just do this 20 years ago? We did. And we'll and we'll do it again in another 20 years for those that will be here. So I again mayor and councel we would ask as part of our requirement under our charter we do have to have a
public hearing before we would adopt any ordinances. 20 years is the maximum which is allowed by state law. This particular ordinance is consistent with our other franchise uh um with Excel and uh blanking on the other one sorry uh
>> Kexus. >> Kexus thank you. So similar and it's the and probably important for tonight's purposes. The franchise fee itself is set by a separate ordinance and that's going to stay the same. So there really just a continuation of of uh the previous franchise agreement. And so
we'd ask that you conduct that public hearing and then uh um if it's your wish to adopt uh the ordinance to authorize that and also to authorize some republication. >> Sure. Any questions of Mr. Brody before we open the public hearing?
All right, looks like it could be a contentious one. We'll open the public hearing on the matter of the Centerpoint franchise or Centerpoint Energy franchise agreement. Would anybody like to address council for the Centerpoint Energy franchise public hearing?
I'm not even going to ask another time. There's really nobody to ask. I don't think Joel's going to come up, but >> close the public hearing. Um, and council, what are your wishes? >> Mr. Mayor, Council Member Butler. >> I move that we adopt ordinance 2347,
Centerpoint Energy Franchise, and authorize the summary publication. >> Second motion by Butler and a second by Geisler. Is there any discussion? >> Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. And that motion carries.
Now, we've got some council business that comes up annually. The first one is to designate a council secretary. Um, anything you want to hit on this, Miss Lensmire? Otherwise, it looks like we just got a little uh inflationary bump here again,
>> Mr. Mayor and Council. That's correct. Each year, the council has asked to designate a recording secretary for meeting minute production. We have historically used times saver off-site secretarial. This year they have proposed a small increase of 3.5%
to the base rate. An increase of a$150 per hour and 50 cents per page to the unit rate which results in a small increase to the uh to the overall cost of minute production for the year but it can be accommodated in the approved budget. We'll continue with the modified
format of the minutes including discussion but not staff reports which will keep that cost down. Staff recommends that council designate times saver as the recording secretary and approve the addendum to the contract. >> Any questions of Mrs. Lanser?
Mr. >> Mayor, council member Carlson. >> Make a motion to adopt resolution 26-1 designating timesaver off-site secretarial as council secretary for 2026 and approve addendum to recording
secretary service agreement. Second. >> There's a motion by Carlson and boy that was I'm not even sure who that is too. We'll go we'll go a second by Butler. Um is there any discussion on this?
Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. And that motion carries. Item number seven is the council rules of procedure. We annually look at how the meeting is going to run and all the procedures. Um,
we're looking uh the city manager is authorized to prepare a list of consent agenda items, but the mayor or any council member may request that a particular consent consent agenda item be removed from the list and place on the regular agenda. Um, it's all pretty
much as we've been doing it. Does anybody have any questions over the uh rules of procedure or Miss Lensm or anything you wanted to hit on? >> No, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. I'll stand for any questions you might have. I'll note that we're also asking that council approve the 2026 city council regular
meeting calendar with this item. >> Oh yeah, >> Mr. Mayor. Council member, >> uh, I'll move that we adopt resolution 26-2, establishing council rules and procedure, adopt the addendum to resolution 26-2, definitions and explanations of city council order of
business, and uh, approve the 2026 city council regular meeting calendar. Second >> motion by Gisler, a second by Carlson down there. >> Discussion hearing. None. All in favor signify by saying I. I.
>> Opposed. And that motion carries. Item eight is the designation of the official newspaper. The Ina County Union Herald has submitted a proposal to serve as the city's legal newspaper for 2025. The publication rates are proposed to increase from $11 per column inch to
$11.25 per column inch. This will represent a small increase in publication costs, but those costs can be accommodated in the approved budget. The Herald meets all the requirements for serving as a legal newspaper. And the Herald has been our legal newspaper for >> years.
>> I don't I don't know, forever probably since before that Kexus the franchise was signed. Um, anybody have any questions on this or Mr. Mayor? Council >> Butler. Uh, >> motion to adopt resolution 26-3 designating the Anoka County Union
Herald as the official newspaper for 2026. >> Second. >> Motion by Butler and a second by Armstrong. Is there any discussion on this? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed. And that motion carries.
Board and commission appointments. Um, we've got some very hardworking commissions that serve the city and help the council. And we've got uh we have some reappoints and some appointments
and some chairs. Um, does anybody have this all down and wants to work through it first? Okay. Well, any questions? Anything you want to hit on? >> No. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If there are any questions, I'll answer those. Otherwise, we would recommend uh that
council adopt the resolutions and accept the work plans and remember to do the appointment of the vice chair of the board of adjustment and the planning commission. >> Mr. Mayor, Councilman Butler, >> I I just first want to thank everybody who did decide to either apply to be on
a commission or to agree to serve another term on a commission. These are really important roles. Some of them have real authority and others still do a lot of recommendation work for the council and you know it it's really helpful that we have people step up every year for this >> I was trying to imagine the definition
for real authority because some of those commissions are going >> we have authority I mean you know you want you want some bad bands down at the dam that's right Somebody council member Geyser. >> Mr. Mayor, I I would echo that. And uh
with that, I'll I'll make a motion uh to for this entire item uh to one adopt the following resolutions. Resolution 26-4 approving the annual appointments uh to the Arts Commission. Resolution 26-5 uh the annual appointments of the board
of adjustments and appeals. 26-6 appointments to the fire civil service commission. 26-7 appointments to the historical commission. 26-8 appointments to the parks commission. 26-9 appointments to the sustainability commission. 26-10 appointments to the
planning commission. Uh and then an appointment of vice chair for the board of adjustments of appeals of Lisa Jones. An appointment of vice chair to the planning commission of Mary Schmolki. Approve the work plans as presented uh and or or modified. and
adoption of resolution 26-11, uh, a resolution establishing the rules for the operation of commissions, boards, and committees. >> Second. >> Motion by Gesler and a second by Butler. Is there further discussion on this one? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify by
saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. >> And that motion carries. Thank you for everybody that has stepped up to serve on those. Item 10 is our council, city council appointments. Um, we went through this in a December
workshop. Any changes or surprises, Miss Lensmire, since we went through these? >> No, Mr. Mayor. We have presented it to council for approval as discussed at your work session. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer those. All right.
>> Questions of Miss Lensmire or anybody want to move this forward? Mr. Mr. Mayor, Council Member Carlson, >> make a motion to adopt the following resolutions. 26-12, appointing Chief of Police and and one other voting member to the Ina
County Joint Law Enforcement Council. 26-13 appointing a delegate and alternate to the In Noa Henipin District 11 Community Education Advisory Council. 26-14 appointing representative and alternate to the local government information
systems logist 26-15 appointing representatives to the Minnesota metro north Tourism Twin Cities Gateway 26-16 appointing a representative to the Ina County Fire Protection Council 26-17
Appointing three members to the Rapids Fire Relief Association 2618 18-8 appointing two representatives to the North Metro Mayor's Association and 26-9 appointing representatives to the Community Strength Foundation.
>> Second motion by Carlson and a second by Armstrong. Is there discussion on this? >> Mr. Mayor, council member, >> just a quick question. Is it okay to just um adopt these as council member Carlson outlined? I mean, we usually name names and everything like that, but
that they're all right there in the packet. I just noticed that the last one we did was very succinct, council member Gesler. And is that okay with >> the way to do it? Okay, >> I would say that motion was just by. >> Yeah, I think I think so because they're
they're all written in the resolutions like that. So, >> okay, >> that's it. Okay, any other discussion? We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. >> And that motion carries.
Um, carrying on with the business of the business, uh, number item 11 is a designation of official depositories and investment collateral management procedures. Miss Hansen, anything? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. City council. Um,
so each year the city is required to designate an official depository for city funds. So as such the resolution before you uh would designate US bank as the official depository as well as uh authorize the finance director to designate additional depositories for
investment purposes and also to manage the collateral for those funds. >> Any questions Hansen on this? >> Mr. Mr. Mayor, >> council member Butler. >> I move that we adopt resolution 26-21 designating depositories and investment
collateral management procedures. >> Second motion by Butler and a second by Geisler. Is there any discussion on this? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. >> And that motion carries. Item 12 is
designation of electronic funds transfer authority is the answer. Thank you. U Mr. Mayor, City Council, uh state statute allows for cities to make payment via electronic funds transfers. One of the requirements to be able to do that is to
to uh annually designate authority. So council is asked to designate the authority to make electronic fund transfers to the finance director. >> All right. Any questions from anyone or motion?
>> Mr. Mayor, council member Grisco. So would the authority then just be with Ashley Hansen Shiny as our finance director? That's the only authority to make electronic funds transfer. Correct. >> Okay. >> With that, Mr. Mayor, I'll make a motion
to adopt resolution 26-20 designating authority to make electronic funds transfers to the finance director. >> Second. >> Motion by Grisco and a second by Butler. Is there any discussions on that? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I. opposed. And that motion
carries. Item 13 is to consider resolution 26-22 revising the city's external auditing policy. Miss again. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. City Council. Um the city has had a long an established
external auditing policy for the last 50 years that um we have dusted off. So there's been some changes really since COVID where we've seen an increase uh sorry an increase in staffing shortages for local government auditing firm or
firms auditing local government as well as the government accounting standards board has really been busy creating more standards and adding more comp complexity to financial statement preparation and as such auditing. Um, so we're really finding it there's kind of
a lack of firms out there that are out there are able to do a qual quality audit. So staff is recommending that we update our policy. Um, the with the only change being allowing the existing firm to participate in a fullscale
competitive process. Um so a after that process if they were to be the firm recommended it would just require a change in the senior man uh senior partner or principal so that there's still that some independence and a fresh set of eyes to make sure um that the
city council is getting a quality audit into city finances. >> Very good. Council wishes >> Mr. Mayor Council member Carlson >> make a motion to adopt resolution 26-22
revising city policy regarding external auditing and replacing resolution 74-117. >> Second >> motion by Carlson. A second by Armstrong. Is there discussion on this? >> Mr. Mayor Counc. >> I'll just say that we've been talking
about this for a few years. Well, this their even the last cycle and then we had a work session to discuss it in detail and I'm in agreement with these changes. Makes sense for us. >> Mr. Mayor, Dr. Gazer, >> uh I would just go on to say also this is a very common practice in private industry as well as to maintain an audit
partner um but to require rotation of part of of or require an audit or maintain an audit firm and rotate the partner. Um just from a continuity perspective, it it does still provide a very good quality external audit. on what's happening. So,
>> great. >> Very good. Any other discussion? We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. >> And that motion carries. Item 14. Seems like such a small ordinance with
such large consequences if we're successful. Uh we're consider adoption of resolution 26-24 authorizing solicitation of the state legislative authorization to hold a referendum on local option sales tax.
Mr. Stem, you want to hit the highlights of this one? >> Sure. Mayor and council, this topic stems uh to a discussion that council's been reviewing for the past year or so. In our retreat in 2025, we discussed the need to look at this as a potential
revenue source to address some of the large capital project uh wants and needs that the city has into the future. And um so there's a long process for cities who are interested in um in having a local option sales tax. And it all
starts at the legislature. And the first step is for the city council, as you're doing tonight, to adopt a resolution that basically authorizes me to submit an application to the legislature by the end of the month for them to consider as part of the next session. Um, then we need special law to be passed uh to give
us the authority to hold a referendum. We have to hold that referendum within two years of receiving that special legislation, bring that to the voters at a general election for them to approve. And if then that is approved, council would have to adopt an ordinance. And
then finally, you know, some months after that, um, revenue collection would begin. So, it's really the the start of the formal process. As I mentioned, the city staff and council have been talking about this for more than six months that what this might look like, what it might fund. Um, and what really is is a half
percent sales tax that would fund potentially two projects that would be handled as separate questions. um if a referendum if we reach the step of a referendum. The first being a police station expansion and renovation. There are a number of
facility challenges that we have at our police station right now and uh the need to increase the the training amenities that we have down there and a whole host of things which I won't uh review right now. In addition to that, u the building is now 30 years old and is showing some
wear and tear both in terms of sort of the critical infrastructure of the building and in terms of just the aesthetic of the building and functional spaces for employees and so forth. So that's sort of project one. Project two would be the addition of a community center that that would be attached to the current Rapids Ice Center Boulevard
Plaza site. This is something that the city council looked at about five years ago um put a pause on and now through more recent discussions we've identified this revenue source as the way to fund such a project should that come to fruition. So that's the real brief
version of it. There's a lot more than that. I will mention that the recent article uh recent newsletter that came out has an article about local option sales tax and refers folks on to our city website which has more detail about what the tax is, what the process looks
like, and then the projects that it potentially could fund. Um so with that, I'll stand for any questions and stay right there. >> Any questions? Mr. Stewart, >> Mr. Mayor, Council Butler, >> I'd like to make a motion to adopt resolution 26-24 authorizing
solicitation of state legislative authorization to hold a referendum on a local option sales tax to fund specific capital improvements providing regional benefit. >> Second, a motion by Butler and a second by Gesler. I guess what I would what I
would like to mention is I'm sure there are folks that are hearing this for the first time thinking >> sales tax this is bad. >> Yes. >> I just encourage you to dig in and research it. >> We have to do something with our police
department. we have to spend millions of dollars over there bringing it up to to usable, you know, and this gives us the opportunity to split that cost with residents that use our our city as a regional shopping area. I think our the
research was approximately 50% of the the funds that we would be using for these projects would be coming from outside of the city. And and these are projects that for sure the police station needs to be, you know, the police department needs to be done and
city hall amenities should be done. >> Um and th that's funding that's going to be coming out of the general budget if we don't get this. >> The community center, we really should have one. I don't know where that'll go, right? >> But u I I hope we get I hope we can get
through this through the legislative process and I hope we can get it to the referendum or to the to the ballot. >> Okay. Any other discussion, >> Mr. Mayor? Counc. >> I I agree with everything you said and the other things I wanted to add was, you know, I was appreciative that all
seven of us are in support of this. We all signed a letter that went to our state legislators saying that we're supportive of this and hope for their assistance for it to pass this legislative session. I'll be frank, I'm a little worried about this legislative session. So, we'll we'll see if we can actually get this passed by the
legislature. And the other thing that I really like about this, again, for folks who are maybe worried about a sales tax, if this were approved, it goes away once the funds are raised. This isn't something where council can just unilaterally extend it. We would set a target for it. we would raise the funds
for the project that's specified on the ballot question and then you know we would either get it or not. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and to clarify as part of the process we set the targets >> so that'll be on the referendum and and once those are achieved then yeah it
just goes away. Um, and when you look at the regional shopping areas and the communities that have this already, you're you'll be surprised how many areas my because my concern was we don't want people to make a decision to go to a different regional
shopping area than here because of the sales tax. There's not many choices for them to go where there isn't already a sales tax. So, that additional sales tax. Okay. Any other discussion? Mr. Mayor House member Griscoak, you know, talking
about sales tax, it sounds big, but it's 1 half of 1% and it really will go a long ways in this community. The thing I like about this whole thing is it's a very transparent process from end to end. I mean, we're entering into this right now authorizing staff to work with the legislator legislature and get
approval for this. Then it goes in front of all the, you know, residents of Rapids to vote on. So, you know, everyone wants to become educated on this and look at it real squarely. And uh again, I I like the process being so transparent and including everyone in
the community. >> All right, Mr. Mayor. >> Council member Carlson. >> I'm also glad that um in particular the um the uh community center edition. I'm glad that people have a voice in this. Ultimately, the people will have a voice
in this. That's very important to me. uh the police department though that is we really need we really need some help at the police department to get that updated. All right, any other discussion? We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I.
>> I opposed. And that motion carries. Item 15 is to consider uh 2026 insurance renewals and resolution 26-23 establishing limited cleanup and property damage protection for sewer
backups. Uh Miss Hansen. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, City Council. Um before you is a renewal of our property casualty insurance through the League of Minnesota Cities for 2026. Uh the renewal came in at 439,675
which is a 2.2% increase over last year. Um this is mainly related just a change in uh property and vehicles that are on the policy and then uh the league did have a increase in the um autophysical damage rates. Um, our deductibles
proposed are similar as previous years would be a $50,000 deductible up to aggregate of 200,000. Um, on property we do tend to carry the $5,000 deductible on automobiles and are recommending that we keep that with this next year. Um,
let's see other highlights. Our experience mod factor for liability did decrease which is good. They look at the last three years. um for determining those as well. Um council is asked to
let's see we do make have to make a decision on uh statutory limits. So statutory limits are 500,000 per claimant and 1.5 million per occurrence. So we have the option to wave these limits. Staff has recommending um
maintaining that $ 1.5 million per occurrence. And then additionally, the city has purchased no fault sewer backup coverage for quite a a long time. Um that it's up to $10,000 um per sewer backup claim no matter
who's at fault and that we've something that our residents have really been benefited from. And for 2025, we had three claims processed under this no fault uh coverage. So staff is recommending renewal of the insurance, maintaining the statutory legal limits,
and then authorizing purchase of the no fault sewer backup as well. >> Very good. Any questions on this? >> Mr. Mayor, >> Butler, >> I move that we do the following. We permit staff to purchase insurance renewal through the League of Minnesota
Cities Insurance Trust, maintain statutory legal limits of 1.5 million per occurrence, and authorized resolution 26-23 purchasing no fault sewer backup liability insurance. >> Second motion by Butler and a second by Gesler. And then just a quick
clarification, um, this sewer backup insurance is up to $10,000 per claim, which doesn't cover anything if you've got a finished basement. So, you still want to have your own insurance on this. This is just this
this is just for those it sort of makes us feel better if if it's a municipal backup. >> But um all right, any other discussion? All in favor signifi. Um yeah, I forgot to write down. Um all in
favor signify by saying I >> I opposed. And that motion carries. Um, we are up to open mic and public comment. Uh, if you are here for open mic, please approach the microphone. Provides an
opportunity for the public to address the city council on on subjects that are not part of the regular meeting agenda. The public is invited to express any concerns they may have. Uh, if you wish to participate, please approach podium, state your name and address, and you've got three minutes.
Mr. Friday. >> Hi. Uh, Joel. Friday, 13127 Kerry Street Northwest. Um, just a quick comment on the sales tax. I would check with the post office because >> you're here for something else, Mr. Freddy. >> Okay. All right. >> You could we could talk about that after the meeting.
>> Fair enough. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Fair enough. Um, anyway, I'm here for the Crooked Lake Area Association. Um, just wanted to let you know we uh appreciate all the city does for us. Um, we uh uh once again had a successful
year. little mil foil out there, but nothing terrible there. Uh we're continuing to monitor that every year. Um we're having a couple events coming up. The um Crooked Lake Ice Carousel is this Saturday from uh noon to 5. Uh
recommend you all come out. Um just it's a unique event. We're spinning 100 foot diameter of the ice out there. There's cookies, um stuff like that. It's actually in Andover. I hate to tell you that, but you know, it's on the north side of the lake. Your best bets to come
in uh across from Meadow Creek at the light there, and there'll be signs and parking there, or you can park at the boat launch, or if you want a good hike, park at the beach and come that way. And then our winter general meeting is coming up uh February 24th at uh 700
p.m. um at Legacy Christian Academy. We hold it over there. Um, great time to again come out, meet the people from the lake, uh, hear what we're doing on a regular basis. Um, yeah, uh, it's a it's
a great, you know, we also appreciate the the funding the city provides for us every year. Um, I don't think we've got our invoice over yet, but they were working on that for last year's um, thing. It's just it's nice to have that partnership there where we're able to do
the things that we need to do without bothering you and you're willing to to fund portion of that as well. Um the lake is just become a great neighborhood right now. There is an ice skating rink out there. So the neighbors put it together. It's on the south end of the
lake. You can go out there, bring the kids out there, ice skate. There's hockey sticks sitting there if you want to play a little bit of hockey. Shoot the around. Uh they do a great job. They actually have a Zamboti that goes out there and cleans the ice off. So another place to ice skate in the in the
city. Um uh the other thing we appreciated the quick response of the police this year for the uh what do you call it? The bomb event, whatever that was where a thousand people showed up at the park. Um, I know
it doesn't affect me as much, but I know the surrounding neighbors really appreciate that because you know they're right there. They got a chain link fence between them and the park and when something like that happens and I was literally out on my pontoon when it happened and I'm like, "What the heck is going on there?" >> Yep.
>> And you guys were there five minutes later. So, we appreciate the speedy response there. And yeah, just thank you for everything the council does and the city does for us and it's it's a great partnership. So >> yeah, >> any any questions of the lake
>> and the and the carousel on Saturday. I love the fact that one of your one of your folks out there built the machine for actually cutting the carousel and he's revised it and kind of re-engineered it until it's seems like >> ice master 2000. Yep. Yeah,
>> they literally take a chainsaw and cut a 100 foot diameter circle and then they move it two inches and cut another one. So, they have to be It doesn't have to be a precise circle, but it's pretty precise. >> And they spin the whole thing with a couple of trolling motors or an
outboard. It's It's crazy to think of, >> but there's they've got a slide, an igloo, a movie theater there, um some uh maybe a bonfire, cookies, things like that. So, stop on out. It's It's a great time to to meet the residents and it's a great uh thing there. Is that my dinger?
>> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. No, I didn't set one. I trusted you. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um yeah, that's um that's what I was here for. Any other questions on the lake? Um I think so. All right. >> Okay. Awesome. Thank you. Thanks, Mr.
Frank. >> Thank you. Have a good night. Uh >> anybody else here to address council for open mic? All right. Okay, evening. Uh, I'm not going to state my name, not my address, cuz I'm a free citizen uh beforehand. Everybody
here uphold an oath to the Constitution, so we should abide by that. Um, first I want to uh address um right outside you guys have a um a sign that every debit card is getting charged a 2.95%
uh search charge on it. That's uh unconstitutional and illegal based on the uh Durban amendment that was attached to the uh act of uh 15 USC 6 uh 16930. Just uh
making you guys aware of that. Um my next thing you guys uh spoke about uh transparency based on the auditing policy. I have here a documentation from September 26
in which I requested data based on the city council and all of its uh practices. I have yet received this information by email, no phone calls, no nothing. Um, current right now this is actually a violation
uh a it's actually a constructed denial because of no response. I am going to speak with the uh excuse me appeals officer if I could find out who that is before getting into either the legislate uh the legal
procedures for civil penalties or criminal penalties for uh willful uh denial. Uh the next thing I want I want to bring up would be the state of Minnesota is starting to establish flock
cameras all around the state. Um I have here another documentation which I requested information based on the privacy and data collection of all these cameras and how this data is being
stored how when it's going to be deleted for innocent individual that's not being used on any kind of court cases or anything like that and I also have not received that this is also based on Minnesota statute of 13.824 824.
So if these documentations I can, you know, share them out to I can make copies, bring them back and share them out to everybody. And if I could get these back either by email or somebody gave me a phone call telling me I could come pick them up physically and I I mean I know I got to pay for it because
that's according to Minnesota state law. I I would like these information u as soon as possible if I can get them. >> Okay. >> All right. Don't there will I guess there won't be any response for us but
we don't know who you are but okay sorry I didn't run into that before I wasn't sure what to do so thank you >> all right I would say that's the end of the open mic other business Mr. here.
>> Can you identify yourself? >> You know who I am. Man, there's a lot going on. That uh winter uh newsletter just came out. That thing is just packed with information. So, should have gone to every house in Rapids, right? Every residence in Rapids. And if not, it's available
online at our website. uh front door grant is receiving applications and uh applications are be accepted for the 2026 front door grant up until February 25th and then they'll
have the lottery in March and you know front door uh uh grant uh you know supplying assistance to residents who want to kind of freshen up the the front of their house. A lot of people in Rapids have used that uh have used that wonderful program and and freshen up a
lot of our houses and it's a great program. I just want to make sure I gave a shout out to that. That's all I have. Mr. Mayor, >> thank you. Other business, >> Mr. Mayor, council member Gesler. >> Uh just one other thing that I would uh
mention is that the Northstar has now completed services and will be and has swapped over to bus service. Now, additional information is available on Metro Transit. Uh just to highlight that uh for folks. Um the probably we'll see additional activity around that around
the rail stations as Metro Transit does their does their plans and moves forward with that. >> Yeah. Got a lot of news coverage over the weekend. >> Sure did. >> Mr. STEM model. >> Mayor Council, I uh we've been getting some questions and calls about snow plowing operations both on city streets
and sidewalks and paths. So, I thought it'd be worth just sort of mentioning that, you know, it's been a somewhat challenging start to the snow and ice season. We had a couple of winters where we didn't get a lot of snow and ice. And this year's a little different, especially with sort of the continual
nuisance snows that we get that maybe don't trigger a three-inch full plow event. You know, you get an inch one day, another day, later you get another inch. Um, so we're catching up to some of that. You know, we're trying to stay on top of it. I know they're doing some cleanup operations here even today and yesterday. I saw I saw plows out doing
some cleanup. I saw some sidewalk machines out uh recently, too. Sidewalks are particularly challenging right now. First, because they, you know, they're not the priority. When we get a major snow event, we're out doing the arterial roads and following up residential roads
to make sure those are passable. Then we move into side pl sidewalk and path plowing. And we don't plow all of them, but certainly the the neighborhood ones, the main thoroughares, things like that. There might be some paths within connecting parks or in inside of a park
where we don't plow them at all. But what's been challenging with that, of course, is constant freeze thaw cycles, constant snows. Um, so we've been getting some calls and comments about sidewalks being challenging, um, things of that nature. And so, just wanted to
throw that out there. If there are particular areas that you're curious about or if the sidewalk in front of your house, um, is has got unique challenges, please let us know. We'll send someone out. We'll take a look. Um, you know, we'll do what we can to address those issues, but I suspect it'll be an ongoing challenge for the
next few months because once you start with a lot of snow and ice, it doesn't really go away very well in January and February. It's usually March before we can really dry those sidewalks up very well. So, feel free to reach out to the city mainline. We'll get you in touch with the right person or put in requests
through our website and take them as they come. >> Take them as you come. That's a really important thing. Don't let this stew and simmer and build up and then wait and write a really insense of really inflammatory letter, you know, just
>> just point it out. Call and go, "Hey, I got an issue here." >> You know, >> right? >> Some of some of these letters you go, >> "Yeah, okay, whatever." >> Council member Carlson, >> I agree with you 100% on that. Our staff is fantastic. >> Yep. and and I'm so quick to to give out
other people's information so they can call staff because our staff handles the the concerns very well. And so you're right, Mr. Mayor, you know, don't don't don't let it build up. You have an issue, you know, contact staff or if you have a question who to contact, contact
us and we'll get you to the right place. And uh our staff is uh does a great idea of kind of explaining things to people and and uh again addressing concerns. All right. Any other business? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second.
>> Motion to adjourn by Butler, second by Carlson. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. We'rejourned.