[Applause] Okay, the time is 6:29. With us tonight is attorney Chris Hood, Kim Van Beck, Mike Roth, Patrick Knight, Michael Gary, myself, Bill Loves, and Craig Schulty. Absent tonight will be Ben Peters.
Even though it is almost Halloween, I'm not going to ask the empty chairs if they would have any interest. Is there anyone here who wants to talk to us for open forum? I'm going to say no to that and move right along. Next up, our
consent agenda, which has no add-ons of particulars in there, meeting minutes and bills. Uh would anyone like to make a motion for the consent agenda? >> I would make that motion. >> Second. Second it. >> Anybody have any questions or comments?
Anything they need forward? Yeah. >> No. All right. Um Oh, and approval of the consent agenda. >> I >> Okay, and it's 6:30.
>> Let that pointed out. >> Um, we'll move on. >> Points for you. Moving on then to our donations [Music] >> um topic which we discussed way back in August.
>> Yeah. When I was looking agendas >> to look at things we talked about um >> still feels fresh. >> Good. >> Must have been a good conversation though. >> Yeah. No, it was good. I thought >> this policy is an attempt to summarize
that conversation. and pick out the highlights uh of the things we might be interested in donating to and are legally allowed to donate to, but also our preference to
contract for services. So, this is trying to be concise about what does it mean we're legally allowed because there are only certain things that we can spend money on at all or types of activities that we're allowed to donate
to. And even for those types of activities where we are allowed to donate, sometimes a service agreement might be the right fit anyhow where we can really be clear about these are the things we're getting for this money. >> Can you give an example of that, Mike?
uh our chamber of commerce uh we are not allowed to be a member of a chamber of commerce that's not a legal expense >> but we are allowed to enter into a service agreement where they provide things and we provide money in exchange
and that's a great example I think >> okay >> um for other examples there are local nonprofits that provide services things that we may value not necessarily things that we have chosen to do ourselves, but that we do have legal authority to do uh
youth programming, arts programming, things like that. And we can contract with local nonprofits to provide some of those services if we wanted to. The the public purpose is the start and kind of the core. This is what we do.
This is what cities do is provide things that are serving a public purpose. Um the city vision is the next piece of it. So we want to give folks that are thinking they might want to ask the city for some financial assistance, some
guidance on what are we trying to do here. So the city vision statement is placed to give that feedback. We could also add if the council priorities uh are reestablished a section that might
also talk about the council's priorities. >> And again, the idea is to give some guidance to folks about what we're interested in being asked about versus what we're probably not interested in being asked about.
A revisit of the legal expenditure concept. It has to serve a public purpose. It has to have expressed or implied legal authority. It means in statute. >> Public purpose of course is pretty broad idea
described as public health, safety, welfare, and contentment. >> I think that's probably had some uh legal tests that helped develop that list over time. Chris, would you say >> contentment? That's a fun one. >> That seems a little tortured, but okay.
>> Yeah. Uh but as you can imagine there are all kinds of things that you as councils can decide is public welfare or public health or public contentment. So I don't think that this is very limiting this
concept of public purpose but it's differentiating public purpose versus private purpose where we can't do things that only enrich particular uh businesses or individuals. That's not a public purpose.
Service agreements is our preference. Um, we have a few. We talked about that. Uh, donations budget. I wanted to put this in here. We don't have one. We talked about that as well. >> Um, so that I want to be clear about and if we have a policy that we don't have a
budget, so we're not looking for applications uh in order to spend a certain amount. We you could change that any year during the budgeting process. You could say, "We'd like to have a certain amount." Um,
particularly if it's related to goals that you've established or city visions that we're trying to focus on and we decide one of the strategies we want to use is to support local organizations that are working on that on our behalf, but I don't know that we've identified that yet. One of the concepts he talked
about in August was do we want to also provide guidance on the amount we might be interested in providing? Uh and this is uh a good and a bad thing, right? It's a good thing where again we want to
be really clear about we're not here to provide $50,000 donations to organizations. That's not happening. That's not part of what we do. Um, so right sizing someone's ask by saying maybe 2500 is useful again to
just indicate what our preferences are. But if you put a number down there, that's the number you're going to get. So if somebody needs $812 and you're saying we'll give 2500, that's what they're going to ask for if they're smart. And if they're really smart, they'll ask for five because if you said
2500, maybe you'd think about five. So, I don't know uh you that this is a policy question for you to consider tonight. Do you want to consider a budget at some point and do you want to provide guidance on amount or do you
want to leave that pretty open-ended? >> Then I mentioned the onetime funding because that's happened a few times where we get a grant >> and part of the eligibility of using that money is being served by other organizations. The most recent example
was the violence prevention center was one of the things that we were allowed to spend some of the COVID money that we were granted for public safety on and they came and asked and you provided it to them. So that might be if if we were to
receive a grant again that might also be served by some of our local nonprofits wouldn't necessarily need to have a budget set aside. It's kind of a one time thing. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Because then In a sense, we've we've just been given money to
administer out for a purpose as opposed to someone coming and just saying, >> "Can you >> help us? Can you grant us money? >> Can you grant us the money you just got?" >> I think typically when we receive money, there are existing government programs
that are more than capable of spending it all. And so, it's still a policy question of whether you want to >> use some of that to support. We could have used all of this for we could have given it all to the sheriff's office, frankly, or we could have used it to purchase equipment for the fire
department. I mean, there were other things we could do with it, but this was one of the things that was, matter of fact, it was top of the list of things you could do with it >> and they asked. So, >> yeah. >> Okay. Um
so we asked for a policy and I think the basic question too or maybe not let me know is do we want to do this or not or do we want to say we are not donating money out short of like you're saying when when we get that kind of thing but
>> do we need to to one more time revisit even >> you mean not having a donation policy at all. We just >> Well, the policy would be >> we don't donate. >> We don't donate or we have a policy and we >> like like you've just laid out for us
which we asked >> to have. Yeah. >> But and we try to figure this out. So >> I think that's part of it, right? Part of our question. >> Yeah. We don't donate very often. >> No,
but I I think um the idea was is or Tracy, you were thinking that maybe people will be asking us. So it'd be good to have some ideas of what we want or what we would be willing to support
>> or yeah policy so we can say that and try to make it objective as poss but obviously statutes and some of that makes but then if we go this route then how would we make those decisions
because yeah and I still think we will be asked we're watching ing it already, >> right? >> Um, people are rising to the occasion from all different directions to help with different things going on right now. So, and and well, and part of it
too is maybe you remember it was a while ago, but we were asked one other time about donations and we'd had a conversation about it, but we didn't like document something from it. We kind of went with it. And now I just trying to be helpful for in the future for
people. You know, you council can always change its mind and do something different, but I just wanted to have something people could look in writing and say, "Okay, this is what we had >> even if they want it. I don't mean six months from now change it." But, you know, there's something written to go on
because otherwise it's kind of hard to it's you're back there going, "Oh, only I remember because I was here then." Well, I don't think that's good either. >> Whatever we decide is something in writing. >> Yeah. Oh, >> so um I don't know.
I >> mean I like having it both ways. I like I want to have a service agreement st you know like we just don't this is what we do. But that doesn't mean that if you know if somebody came forward
with a something that fit in with our priorities and we could see and it was a small amount. I mean we could probably see our way through to it. Um, but we wouldn't want to necessarily advertise that either. So I >> Well, if we don't want to advertise it, why would we want to do it?
>> Well, we we don't Well, we don't want to do it mostly. >> Okay. >> See, I'm just saying like >> if our policy is >> because we're in a public board. >> Yeah. But how many people are watching? I mean, >> well, probably
emails people. >> Zero at the moment, but we're >> zero at the moment, but it is recorded. >> Yeah. archived and will be shared. >> Watch myself later. Awesome. >> I think that having a policy that says we don't do donations
doesn't mean you don't ever consider one-time special circumstances. It just means your default position is you don't do donations. >> Okay. Uh, I also think I'd be really hard to come up with a donation that
you'd be willing to do that we couldn't do a service agreement to cover it. The the question is, is it worth the time and effort? You know, for a $2,000 donation you'd give to some organization to spend some legal time and staff time writing up a service agreement income,
it's probably not worth it, right? >> So, >> no, most of time what we're talking about, I don't think that would apply. a service agreement wouldn't be a, you know, a thing we would really need. >> Wouldn't be something we need, but it would be really clear. That's one of the nice things about it is if people want
to know why you're giving that organization that money, the service agreement says this is why because they're doing these four things and we value it this much. >> Okay? which I maybe at a less formal we could still if we let's say we went this route we could at least just say these
certain things need to be documented like for public record like why we made this decision and is that would that kind of in a more for informal less time consuming way be able to >> maybe >> do that I mean just so it's documented
if that's the path we go well okay so then I mean we talked about this before >> that we could still do this, but then if we don't come with something like your criteria here, then we haven't really helped the council make a decision or someone in looking outwards saying why
did you agree to this and not this or whatever, right? I mean, we still if if the >> So, so you're saying go like even if we go the service agreement route to say like here are the types of things that may >> or even if we say no don you know it's
our policy not to do donations but we could well then what are those but we could what's our criteria is you know what I mean I think then we we've kind of we haven't really accomplished what I want which is just to have something on
paper to show how we make decisions and how to make that decision and watching someone else saying, "Why am I different from the one you just said yes to?" >> Yeah. And I think that would be real challenging to come up with a set of criteria that would work for the
infrequent and very different types of requests you're likely to get uh because they all kind of have their own reasoning. And so this is an attempt to do it. And I agree, Tracy. It's not It doesn't provide real good guidance that you would be guaranteeing would provide
an explanation for why this and not that, but it at least tries to access some of your existing policy positions to give that guidance. It gives people a little bit of a of a clue. Uh it would not be hard to take something like this
and change a little bit of language and have it be a no donations policy. Okay. >> All right. So, >> I just want to ask a further question. So, Mike, you said like anything that we would be
really interested in donating to, it would very likely a service agreement could work for that. >> I think so. >> Is that >> Chris? Would you agree with that? >> Um, may maybe. I mean, it depends on the
facts and circumstances individually associated with that. I mean ultimately there has to be with a service contract there has to be a service that is a service that falls within sort of the sphere of city government whatever that
is. Um and if you can define those services and put a dollar amount on them then yeah you can do something like that. um you know uh whether you have a donation policy uh you know maybe that will help guide
how you address those types of things. Um I I read this it seemed generally fine to me and but I think ultimately it's up to you what you want to do there. Well, is it that's where I kind of think
too when I think of a service, I can clearly see quite a service. I mean, your example is a good one when we did it, but to me, I can clearly see a service. It's an expertise that we're getting from these lobbyists. They're outside people that are coming in
helping, you know, I that seems really clear to me. Other times we maybe like do you need a service agreement to say I'm going to give five,000 to buy some fireworks that some other volunteers shoot off for us? I mean does that require a service agreement?
>> Well, if if we're the ones that are that are doing the buying, we don't have to have an agreement with anybody. >> We bought them >> um a donation. We've given money to the garden club to buy flowers for pots around town, which is something that's
uh clearly a public purpose. We have express legal authority to do uh and they're doing the work. We haven't done a service agreement. We just wrote them a check. You know, if it's $800 a year, it's probably not worth the effort to go through creating a legal document with an organization of people that are not
doing this because they want to read contracts, but rather just want to plant some flowers. Uh on the other hand, we can just write a check to Bucks for flowers, right? And then you don't have to there is there's no other agreement. We bought some flowers, these people are going to
put them in the pots for us. So it >> the the donations um I think the whole concept of we're giving money to a group that's not us to do things that we don't do isn't right. Like we don't do that ever. We don't
give money to other groups of people that do things that we don't do. We can only give money to groups of people that do things that we can do and want to do. So that's where I say that service agreement is probably a better model to think about it. Um that they have the
same rules, right? The service agreement has to be meet the same public purpose, meet the same legal authority test that a donation would. Well, then what I'm hearing out of this though is but it's not worth it most of
the time. So it shouldn't be front and center of what we would do. Maybe we just the the criteria for potentially using one could be followed, but the actual having to do it is maybe not necessary.
>> Is that a way to view it? >> Or or we'd just find a way that it's neither a donation nor a service agreement in those circumstances. And it's just a city expense. >> Yeah. Like buying the flowers. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So the So then the the one that didn't
actually come before us that precipitated for me this whole conversation was a request from the radio station to help us fund um radio waves this year because they were facing huge budget issues around that program.
And that's not a thing we would do. I mean, we we're not going to um typically put put on a music event of that scale or whatever, right? And yet the there's there's that
contentment right there fits in that bucket. >> Oh, I even think there's express legal authority for cities to do music. There is artistic organiza. I had to get my league thing back. This is since August >> and yes, so artistic and um music were
very entertainment specifically musical was very much listed in there. Um, so and a lot of our our our, as it just turns out, our marketing, our countywide marketing really supplies most of our
music events or supplements or funds a lot of that >> with with those with their lodging taxes. So, that's not something we we think about at a city level, but a lot of that occurs in our city. >> Yeah. And um but it just unlike other
cities, it doesn't cross, you know, >> cross our table. Um >> Okay. >> Well, okay. So, so now we're already going, we've been talking about solutions, but I still want to know. >> So, I'm going to start with Craig. Are
you interested in having a policy of of doing this or do you want a Are you more interested in No, we're not going to do donations or do you see a path in between? I don't know. What do you >> I think we should talk about also um
things the city does for groups and organizations that aren't really a monetary thing like many groups and organizations comes before us. Can we set up street blocks? Can we set
out garbage cans? Can we pick up garbage from this event? those things we do to a lot of organizations that do things within our community, whether it's the Lions Club or it's the art fair or whether whatever it is,
>> and we just do it. We do it. We don't charge anybody for it. you know, that's another way that we give, >> but that's not really dollars and cents, but it's also a way that we give to help their um event
work better for them. It's an expense that they don't have to incur, you know, and sometimes it can be taken for granted, I guess, because we do it all the time, but we do do it, you know, we have to pay Lenny or somebody to do it
and we kind of just do it as a service to the city because it's a public, you know, it's a public purpose. So that's another thing that we could probably maybe interject into this conversation if we're going to, you know, talk about monetary giving and the
other things we do too. I mean there's another way we give. So I mean I don't I'm just kind of thought I'd bring that up there because it is something we do all the time. >> Sign those banners, right? I guess you put that on that kind of list
>> that are over by Java moose that come up and come down for varying events. and that those are items that we pay for or not. >> We don't buy banners typically, okay, >> but we do the things with them. We're hanging them and taking them down and
>> we we we install them. We take them down. Yeah. Okay. >> So, there's a lot of little hidden things that I think um we do. >> Can you think of any other things along that line to add to that? I think we could go on and on and and one of the
reasons why is because that is what we do. Like that's literally what the city organization is >> here for. That's right. >> And so yeah, then it gets to the well what >> do we need a policy to talk about? We just provide service to the community. I
mean those are clearly public purpose things that serve a public good. Public health, welfare, safety, contentment, all of it. Like that is the reason we exist >> meeting space now
>> which I think is our role. I mean we should be doing that. It's a public building for the people who should be doing that. >> Yeah. >> Absolutely. >> And for public meetings, right? >> We haven't hosted any private parties in
here. And so there again, there's your distinction. We don't charge anybody to use this space, but it's only being used for public purposes. So, um, yeah, I don't know. I'm just trying to,
of course, that has nothing to do with actual giving money to anybody. We're giving service. If you wanted to break it down in dollars and cents, you could. It might be surprising how much dollars and cents we actually put into it, but that's that's our job. That's the part
of the city's job. So, >> yeah. >> So, should we continue a com do you feel we should cons continue a conversation about creating a policy or just trying to get a temperature gauge here? If if
you think this is heading in the right direction, what might put together for us? Um, well, you have other issues because if you're going to designate a certain amount of money, how do you dole that out with different
asks that you might get? Or what if you find there's a certain ask every year that gets the money, same per same group or you know what I'm saying? Anything can happen when you start doing stuff like this. So I'm just
trying to How do you make it fair? >> Um [Music] you can't can't unless you just say we're going to throw an unlimited amount of money in here and we really don't know how much we're going to spend each year. But I mean I'm just trying to make it
simple. simplify it. That's why I wanted to bring up the fact that we do other things that aren't so-called monetary type things. you know, we provide services because the city has that stuff and we have the employees and
we have, you know, we may not always have the time, but we have the workers that know how to do it. So, we do it, you know, and it benefits the nonprofit who we're doing it for or, you know, who what we're doing it for,
you know. So, I don't know whether it's a bike race or whether it's, you know, all kinds of things that we do stuff for. So, I don't know. I mean, I'm I kind of have a mixed ideas about actually having a budget for this because
how do you be fair on imple implementing it? I mean, I understand there are needs that people there's all kinds of needs that people would like to utilize this with and we I can see needs for groups that would want this would be
useful for, right? But how do you be a public entity like we are and say, "Well, we already did this to a group. We're out of money now." Well, that's not fair. Well, yeah, we'll have to wait till next year. You know,
it's kind of like where do you put a, you know, what's the dollar amount that you want to budget each year? >> Is it going to change from year to year? What if it doesn't get used and you roll
it over? What if it gets used right away in the first month of the new year? I don't I'm just I think there's there's other ways we can spend our money and it could be in good it could be in time and service that we already do
that might benefit a nonprofit. Maybe not all nonprofits, but I'm just saying there are a lot of events that occur in this community that are done by nonprofits and they bring a lot of people into town and we understand that and that's why we do the things we do
because we have um people here that have to take care of. We have businesses that pay taxes that expect us to do things like this for their tax dollar. And I'm just kind of thinking
how do you break it into monetary giving and be fair about it. That's my question. I think those are the kinds of things you're thinking about the first time through and that that's I think that's what makes us hard. So you know I guess
yeah do we >> and what do other cities do? Do they just have an >> I think you'll find most >> easier to not have a policy >> have a policy and I think it's pretty rare that a city has a program where they actually
>> go through this process every year and evaluate things and you know we've done this we've tried that a few times here too and I'm sure every once in a while in other cities they try it and in some larger cities they probably have multiple programs but it's not it's not what cities do right typically. No. And
maybe there's cities that maybe have foundations people give to that set up and help like the library for example. I mean that's a different different kind of thing but they have money that's given to them. >> Yeah. >> That helps them and that's a county cityrun
>> organization and they can you know whatever those monies are earmarked for. Well, in in in reality though, like you get to a much bigger city like Minneapolis, you know, they have music and parks and movie nights and all sorts of programming that we
don't do that do help contentment >> that we're not we don't do, but we have all those things, but they're done by other nonprofits. >> And so, like, are we really having the capacity to actually help fund them? I don't know. So, and I think other cities
maybe don't need this policy as much. I'm just talking, you know, off the top of my head because they actually are administering a lot of these kinds of things through their own city wreck programs and probably running city soccer teams and
>> hockey things and what ice rinks and whatever else. So, um we're not doing >> Okay. I would think what you'll find in most cities is our current situation. No policy, occasional asks, some that you
say yes to, >> but they're actually running a lot of things that another profit may come and ask us to do, like radio waves. >> Yeah. >> You know, and that that's to me makes the big difference where they don't need to have a policy because they're probably the ones budgeting and deciding
that they're going to do it and spend money on it. I don't know Bill what do you think as >> it seems really problematic. I think have the policy of not having a policy is a lot more clear >> until
>> until you have to cross that bridge. But I think Mike's right. I mean the occasional occurrence you have a policy agreement I guess. I think we're better at doing what we do. Like Craig was saying, you
keep it to the nuts and bolts of running the town and providing the services that we already provide and we're good at it. >> So, does that sound more like what you had said? policy is we don't but here's the things we would consider if we did
get a request >> possibly >> because I I'm only doing this because I foresee more coming in the maybe I'm off on my guess on that but >> well I see a whole lot of doors >> opening if you do this
>> there could be lots of requests but we could just say we don't >> give money >> well that's what I'm saying >> you know >> so we rephrase like you had said. >> Yeah, we could make this policy be a really clear no donations policy.
>> Yeah, we don't donate. We have service cover those best. >> And really the service agreements that we do enter into, we're the ones looking for the service, not the other way around. >> Yeah, true,
[Applause] >> Mike. Yeah, I agree with that. I think having the, you know, we basically do not donate and we have service agreements and occasionally somebody's going to ask
and you know if we see that there's a public purpose and we can and and somehow but if I understand right from what you're saying like well really if they're providing a public purpose we should be able to have a service agreement.
I think could for I mean I don't think I'd have any trouble coming up with >> for all the things people have asked us to donate to. >> So basically >> we could come up with a service that's being provided for a >> okay >> or an item that's being provided or something that's being provided and and
if it doesn't >> if you can't come up with that then I think you really have to question whether it's meeting a public purpose. >> Yeah. Okay. So yeah I think I'm going to go with that. And even though that's a
very I think simple policy, I like that some of these things are in here to remind us if it gets to that point, right, that these are, you know, like legal expenditure, cinemas, serve a public person, you know, just
referencing >> Yeah. >> the the guidelines that have to be followed so people don't have to relook at that. >> But we don't I mean, that is that is the law. So, do we but we don't need to have a
>> this is more about just helping people understand where we're coming from. Okay. >> And the law is part of that. It's definitely not my intent to restate the really well-written league memo that if people really want to know, there are resources out there that are doing a
great job of that already. So, we don't need to do that. I mean, what I would say is that if we wanted to try to still have a position paper, we'll call it a policy of the council. >> Yeah. >> That we won't call it a donations policy. We might not even use the word donation except in a sentence where we
say we don't do donations. We provide services. Here are the things that we provide services for. Here is our city vision, legal expenditures. And we're not going to talk about a budget or requests for donations at all like at the end of this and leave it at that.
>> Yeah. Because I just the thing even if you're restating it, it it I would think it would also help future council people to understand when they look at it. Here's the stuff you can and cannot do. >> Yeah. >> Even if it's a restatement, a very high level.
>> Yeah. It's a donor a no donations policy. >> And this is, you know, by statute what you could or couldn't do at a high level. >> Yeah. >> Of what you couldn't couldn't do and thing. So I don't know. Just does that sound
>> here? Let's I think that's what we're saying. >> Yeah. And I think a no donations policy like explicitly saying it does address what you were trying to address originally, which is if we get some requests, what are we going to say to them?
>> Yeah. >> So, we're not sitting there having a policy discussion around one particular example. >> Yeah. >> Which I think can be very difficult. Yeah. >> And not efficient for anybody. Especially if you're the one sitting out
there making the request and then you're watching us all spin for a while. >> Yeah. Yeah. Like that. >> Is that helpful enough to? >> Yeah, I can work with that. All right.
>> I like it. >> Good. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I realized the even the last time we talked about it, we'd be circular. I mean, one thing would just create another question we'd have to answer and it was not especially like you're saying, Craig, the budget stuff
was you was not you wouldn't get to a good thing on that. >> No, >> you know, it was it was just going to be difficult. So, >> yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Feel better about that. So, back to our
goal discussion summary. Um, So the 12th is the the time for decisions of real rate. >> Back to the timeline that we looked at, the aiming point is
to give performance feedback to our management staff so that annual increases can be determined by January. And in order for that to happen, this is step one of the high level city council goals that are incorporated into that
performance feedback for goals that they are going to be trying to achieve next year. And November 12th was when you as a council uh were going to be done talking about 2026. So tonight
the idea was let's just give a reminder of how you did this last time. >> Okay. >> What some of the things were that you talked about. It's just kind of a table setting. But it isn't your time to do this process. >> Okay. >> Uh I think that is a work session.
>> Yeah. >> At your next meeting, >> November 12th. >> Oh, then we do the we're doing the work session that time. >> Yeah. I I mean unless you want to find a different time between now and then to do that work that's the deadline is that
day >> and I think the idea of it being the sole item on your agenda so you can work that process is the right strategy. Yes, absolutely. Yep. >> Is that meeting invite out yet, Patrick, for a work session on that time?
>> We have not >> Okay. >> scheduled one. >> That's fine. I just want to make sure so I don't go off and not show up. >> Was that I mean that I think that's a fair question though. Is that does that feel feasible to people to
meet at 5:30 on the 12th and go through the similar process that you did last year and refresh these goals for 2026? Like we want it to seem like you're not starting from scratch every every year,
but rather just checking in, taking the things off that aren't relevant anymore, adding things that are new. But really, there ought to be a lot of continuity because we don't have goals >> typically that we achieve in a year. >> 10 to 20 years is actually not uncommon.
>> Yeah. Everything takes a while. Um, uh, maybe taking what I made today, making sure I mean, it has to be cleaned up because I screwed some stuff up, but, um, sending it out to everyone so they have a list like one more time, what are the things just I just want to have a
list of what are the things we're still working on, which to me are se are somewhat different than goals. They're things you're doing to work toward a goal, but that in and of itself is not technically the >> and we are just talking priorities, right? These are things
to be focused on. >> Yeah. We'll we'll uh use your priorities to establish our performance related goals and then even those goals will lead to projects, initiatives that
people are working on that they're going to get reviewed based on and I'm going to get reviewed based on. So would it be helpful to also send out to everyone to be ready for the 12th just that >> I was gonna ask you if you would do that >> the timeline. Yeah, that's one thing.
>> Oh, the timeline >> and the timeline really quickly too just so you're remembering all that like Mike just said it's all rolling to all these other things why it's super important and then >> that PowerPoint which Patrick I can fiddle with or whatever but um
>> I'd like to see that. That's great. Quick preview of what that timeline's going to be reminding you of. Right after the 12th is the time when you will be providing your performance feedback to me that you'll be working individually on and then we'll incorporate as a group together so that
I get it in December. >> Got it. >> Okay. So, I'm good for the 12th myself coming in early. >> Does that work for you for work? Okay. All right. And you'll send that out so
we all remember where we're supposed to be >> at that time. Do we want to do anything else tonight on that? >> No. Okay. >> Great. >> Holy smokes. You know what that means? We're at our last um page of the
about that. Uh city. Well, let's go. This we'll we'll start here with you. >> Okay. >> Staff reports. >> Um staff report. Uh October 2025
is 25 years since Kim Vanbeck was hired. >> Whoa. >> At the city of Graham Marray. >> Nice. >> So, >> and it's a good thing too because not shortly after she was instrumental in
hiring me, I hope, and and uh it's been a great partnership ever since. >> So, lucky to have you, Kim. >> The uh Dog Pound, the Arrowhead Animal Rescue reached out
and is attempting to uh meet with some of us and basically to figure out how do we bring this thing to its working conclusion. Uh there's been some complications in the site work and
there's been some complications in getting contractors in to do the work and and I think some of it we probably just could anticipate because of how things go around here and how difficult site work is and how much water and rock
and other things there are to deal with. But it's also, of course, um we're working with a great group of volunteers who are trying to help animals not build buildings. And so it's a lot to ask of them to be responsible for a project
like that. Uh they have been and and right now we're trying to figure out what what do we need to do to add to this to help them finish. Um their initial request is probably more
financial in uh nature but also responsibility shifting. And I think their initial request was based on some assumptions about the work that's already been done there that I'm not sure are right. And so what I've been doing is checking in with the
contractors that have been doing the work and I'm not done with that yet. So I need to I still need to spend some time with Rick Crawford which I haven't been able to schedule uh to try and just talk to him about some of the work that's been done. But I did have a nice conversation with Doug Sim about the
state of the building. Uh we had our guys go and get the tarps back in place and everything's ready for the winter and and stable. Um he identified what I think is the biggest problem, which is water on the site, particularly on the north side of the building that's making
it difficult to access with equipment that they need to in order to move forward on the project. Um, I don't actually think that's currently a problem up there right now that the water isn't as bad as it was when they ran into the issue. And so I'm hoping that's more of a seasonal thing. Uh, he
had some strategies that we're now as city staff looking at as do we think this is what we want to do here? Um, and also he's talking to contractors that could potentially work on trying to fix that water issue on the north side. He's
also got a plan for once that's done getting the foundation finalized so that the building can be placed in its permanent configuration. Um so wrap that all up in a bow. What are we looking for here? What I think we
need to understand as a city is what are the remaining steps to get from where we are today to the building is able to be operated by Ahood Animal Rescue. And I think they'd be satisfied with that outcome as well. And um so that's
something that I'll be taking on more responsibility in than we've had in the past >> to come up with that plan of what are all the steps that need to happen to make this thing operable by Arrow Hood Animal Rescue. When we have a little more information gathered, then we'll
sit down with them and go through it and figure out, okay, does everybody agree this is right and who's going to do what? and have a clear budget and a clear plan with assignments and we'll go from there. It's almost November, so
this isn't going to happen in 2025. That's a little disappointing. I'm sure it's disappointing to Airhead Animal Rescue and frustrating to um that we're going to do what we can to help. >> Okay. went to the law enforcement center this
morning. The county hosted a groundbreaking ceremony. Congratulations to the county. Uh great kickoff to that project. Uh think about the many iterations that that conversation went through before they landed on a project.
And so I think I feel a lot of satisfaction to see that they're actually moving forward. I hope they do too. It's quite an accomplishment. Mhm. >> So, that was really nice. Uh, and I think that's probably all I need to
update you on right now. All right. And I'll have something next time. >> What? >> On. >> No library board meetings. No Y. Do the Y still meet? >> The Y still meets. It's irregular.
>> Okay. >> Thank you, Mike. Um, it's a topic for January, but I opened up our city assignments. You're on the list for the
safe routes to school. What are they? How are they? >> Safe routes to school. >> Active living steering. >> Oh, yeah. >> Did you know that? >> Yes. >> Double checking on this. Probably during your work hours. It's a terrible time. They always do it by Zoom, smack dab in
the middle of the day. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Got it. >> Same with the Y. That's always >> That's the problem with a lot of this stuff. I try to tell >> Yeah. >> Yeah. One of my boards, they've moved it during the day for a little while and I'm like, "This isn't going to work long
term." >> Anyways, okay. Okay. I don't have anything other than um such with bluff's u meeting um question
public meeting on the I don't have the date I can't remember the 30th >> I think it's Thursday the 30th >> Thursday the 30th I believe >> okay >> open to the public um questions anybody has from the from the public
>> that's uh >> and it said what's his name from the where that >> Well, the the meeting is being hosted by two commissioners, >> right? >> Oh, right. >> Out in Callville, right? >> Yeah. Um, so it is
Thursday from 6:00 to 8, >> which I did send Mitch a note and said, "By the way, that's the fall gala night. >> That's a lot of people headed to Portage. >> So, >> they can stop into the town hall on their way. They would be very late.
>> They might be late. Yeah. This one is uh Deb White and Gary Gamble hosting. I know Deb's been doing a lot of town hall meetings uh out there, which is really That's pretty cool. >> That's all I have for that.
>> So, did Oh, you haven't had a parkboard meeting, right? >> We had one right before. We had our meeting early. We had a parkboard meeting Monday. We had a city council meeting Tuesday. That was last time we met. Oh, >> okay. >> First part of the month. >> I came in last week for those regional
parks and trails meetings for just a little bit. Dave had me just say a welcome really quick, but I know that that was the group that influences the funding for the um application we made for the um wreck park in the bathroom.
>> Yeah, I believe Dave did get some informal feedback. I'm sure that he'll report on that at the next park board if we get something reporting. >> Okay. >> All right. Timing was off. Okay. Um
>> I would like to ask we've been resetting a lot of meetings for very good reasons, but our year end meeting on the 31st um is on on a Wednesday. Of course, obviously it's New Year's
Eve. Is there interest in having that on Monday or Tuesday we of that week before? Does that matter? >> Let's see. You mean like the 29th >> or 30th? >> The 30th. And that's typically where we just give the final approval for the
budget. We don't We could if if things come up, we could talk about things, but that's >> Yeah. And I think we might have to do it the week before because our deadline to set that number I think is the 28th.
>> Oh, so maybe the 22nd then. Is that it? I'm >> Monday the 22nd. >> Monday the 22nd. >> And this will be we'll be done talking about it. It's just that we can't >> um approve the final levy at the same
meeting that you're going to talk about it. There's has to be a separation. So this is typically a 10-15 minute meeting. >> Yeah. >> So the 22nd is that the >> that'll work for me >> without getting too close to the >> Yeah.
>> Craig, is that it's okay. Um and then if we do have topics, we can add things, you know, like it doesn't preclude us >> for not addressing other things, but All right. So December 22nd, Patrick, we'll do that.
Um, oh, Patrick, you've been quietly working on our city website, and I asked Mike today, it's for all intents purposes pretty much functional. Do you have any updates or things you just want to let the council know about our new website
or things you want them to look at or highlights about, things that are better, different? Um it's a lot more functional in terms of doing quick updates and putting out notices. So that um a few times during
emergencies. Um aside from that it's most of the changes are aesthetic but the the biggest functional changes are the ability to do notices and like articles and things
like that. who wants to write an article. >> I'm assuming too a cleanup because there was a lot of really old outdated stuff. I'm assuming you cleaned up a lot. I haven't spent a lot of time. I was waiting to hear that it was functional.
I didn't want to be making comment if you were still hard at work on things. But >> so is this a time where the council should start actively looking at it and ask questions and make suggestions? >> Yeah. >> Okay. There we've got a task.
>> Thank you, Patrick. I really appreciate that. It looks nice that way. I mean, just a quick look through. I think it's much uh easier to look for and see things just like you said, it's aesthetics, but I think they're important. >> Yeah, definitely. >> So, yeah, I think people should like
that calendar better. I tried navigating a little bit, too. I've had from the public heard comments about our calendars before. So, >> okay, we'll take a look at it then. Um, I have another couple other requests. I
believe November 15 is when we move to our winter parking. Is that right? >> Yeah, it's coming up. I would ask that um an email or actually a letter is sent out to all the property owners affected
by our 61 parking overnight no parking rules and not just a general like to the specific person in charge of that. I've heard before that people said I never
saw it. I'm not saying it didn't get delivered, but I think it needs to go to the person in charge of different properties. And I just think it's a common courtesy. We don't have signs every other block. When you go up fifth, the county's really signed it. It's
pretty hard to miss that up street that there's no parking here overnight. >> Still gets missed, too. >> Yeah. But at least they have signs. But I think here on 61, we don't as well. I mean it's not like right in your which is fine we don't need that but I think
in the same vein a form letter to everyone would be very much appreciated and just a nice reminder um that people need to be thinking about that and um then I would also ask when
we do make these calendar changes that the first thing that should happen after a meeting is that they get updated and changed right away. And now that I see I didn't even think about but like your city website too along with all of us
getting our calendar in invites. Um EDA we met and it's still the golf course. Speaking of money, the um EDA had been working the subgroup had been
working for a really long time on our fund grant program and we just passed the resolution on that and it was really difficult and some it was like those time issues that you mentioned about like what if we spend all the we give out all the money and you know twothirds
of the year is left to go. So, it took them a lot of time to work out that grant program to try to do things like that, like time it out, how much money they'll give at certain intervals to make sure the money stretches is. It was a lot of
detailed work and we're going to give it a whirl now and and let it go next year and because we did run out of money, the year wasn't over with, but that's a big initiative by the EDA. We um
the that workforce housing out in Ludson with those apartments, there's a little plot of land up north that at some point one roof thought they would maybe want to develop, but they don't. So, we released them to sell that.
>> Um as well. Um and then the golf course still one of those um whole you know up at the top with the river bridges that when they all went Yeah. So they still got some money they have to deal with that and the um sale of Spiria National
is still moving along with many loop you know still hoops to go through but it's progressing and then if our subtenate harbor um project kicks off tomorrow night the 15 member advisory committee is having
their their first meeting tomorrow evening down at the Sher Town Hall. So that was important. >> So that's what I know from that. And I guess that was all that I
>> all that I had. >> It's 7:27. >> Whoa. >> We are so done. Thanks everybody. Thanks Chris.