Kim Van Beck, Mike Roth, Michael Gary, Bill Loves, Ben Peters, and Craig Schulty, and myself. All right. Um, and next will be open forum. Is anyone here this evening for
open forum? >> Nope. So, >> all right. Then, next we'll move on to the consent agenda as well as any changes to our regular agenda if requested.
>> Uh and we also, I will note, have um a listing within that consent agenda of some more of our revised job descriptions. So hopefully you all had a chance to take a look at those. Does anyone have would like to make a motion to approve the agenda along with the
consent agenda? >> Yeah, a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Okay. A second >> and I'll send second. >> All right. Any further questions or comments? >> All right. All in favor of the consent of the agenda and consent agenda?
>> I don't know if I heard everybody, but >> thank you. Okay, we'll move on to new business. First this evening is our library department report. >> Hi everybody. >> Hello.
>> Hi there. Thanks for having us. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> So to start out my update today, I thought it would be fun to just take a look at what it was like being in the library today. This morning when I
arrived, Taproot Landscaping was out front cleaning up our gardens and getting ready for spring. We're making room for the return of the dlies and the irises and the pig squeak. And this is uh exciting for us because we get a lot
of compliments on that garden. The vibrancy and the color and the experience of sitting on the park benches, whether people are on the phone and talking with friends or using the Wi-Fi. It's a beautiful space and it's one of our first impressions of how we share that we're a welcoming
environment. So, uh, really exciting to have that underway. I'm here fresh off the heels of We Are All Storytellers, which is a program offered today featuring author Margie Price.
This is one of her books, Lily Leads the Way. It's one of my absolute favorites of hers and she is a duth author. This is about a little sailboat that is very interested in the festival of ships in Duth and features the the lift bridge
down there and Margie and Kathy Bogen who came to support her in her performance and discussion of her books today had kids lined up in a 16 foot cardboard canoe. Everyone was p paddling and singing
alouette. So um that happened midday. And another story that I would love to tell from the library is that technology is really a huge part of the library's program. There are the staff computers allowing
us to circulate materials. There's the Wi-Fi pods that allow us to connect. There are staff computers, barcode scanners, Wi-Fi printing, photocopying, scanning, faxing, and one of the things that our staff has
been really good about in the library is ensuring that these are replaced on a rotational cycle and that we're we're uh not needing to replace them all at one time. So,
in 2024, we began a plan of replacing the computers in the library. And the library friends of Cook County generously invested $11,377.71 to replace those aging staff computers, strengthening both staff efficiency and
service quality. And this April, by unanimous vote, the library friends of Cook County have approved funding for replacing the library's nine public computers. Um, we just placed our order today. This
represents a $16,810 contribution from the library friends to the community. So, that was today. And I'd like now to move into some highlights from the Minnesota Public Library annual report, which we call the
MPAR for short. This is a standardized report that we submit each year to the Minnesota Department of Education. It measures circulation and program statistics and how many visitors we have and how how
many Wi-Fi sessions. And that data is used to demonstrate library performance across the state and then is absorbed by another institution called the Institute for Museum and Library Services and they compile it on a national level. And so
then we are able to tell the broader library story as well as use the information for strategic planning in the library. um if it's of interest, the process for
us um starts in February and will last until the end of March. I not only put in the data, but I have three checkpoints. The report has to pass through the finance director, Kim Vanbeck. It is also reviewed by the regional
library director Molly Stafford at Arahead Library System and then it goes to the library board of trustees for approval and submission. So here's what we're finding. More than half of Cook County residents are
members of the Grand Ray Public Library. combined with registered visitors, that's over 3,170 people with our library card in their wallet. And that means that we are now on par and
have been on par with preandemic registered borrower users since uh sorry I just said that since 2024 we've been back at our levels. Visitor registration is gradually tren t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t
trending upward. Since 2021, in-person visits have increased every year with 46,342 visits recorded last year. We offered 82 programs and increased the
average number of participants for each event. Circulation is up, too. We're up at about 3.5% growth over last year with more than 55,000 items. And I definitely took note that we are starting to mirror
a national trend of increasing um requests for digital downloadable content. Onethird of what we circulated last year was downloadable. So what do we do with all that data? The library board of trustees is
responsible for setting the strategic priorities for the library and this year the board is emphasizing two focus areas for for our strategic plan. The first one is using contributions in
combination with lev levied funds to ensure the continuous development of service. So that's what you're seeing when we have a generous donation from the library friends of Cook County supporting the replacement of public computers and um
as we continue working on the operations in the library. In quarter one, trustees reviewed the library's financial position and policy and we discussed capital planning items, one of which is our boiler system. We have two boilers that are showing their
age and are no longer manufactured. So, we are proactively taking a look at what replacement might look for look like for us and we're intentionally doing that in alignment with the city's sustainability initiatives. So, I'm working with Shane
Steel to look at options for hybrid or fully electric replacement options. The second area of focus is attracting a wide range of stakeholders and we want to strengthen relationships with groups that have cultural or physical barriers
to enjoying the library. We also want to see more and interesting partnerships with businesses throughout Cook County. We're looking for ways to do that and part of it is reviewing data from the EMPAR from the Minnesota public library
annual report report and also trustees are prioritizing gathering community input this year. So right now at the board level what we're talking about is what kind of surveys we're looking who do we want to survey what kind of information would be of use to best meet
our goals. I just would like the opportunity to thank the library board of trustees. Our members have been on the board with us for quite some time now. It's a very stable and engaged group.
Um Michael Garary has been with us since 2021. Uh Sarah McManis, our board president, is in the room behind me today. Kevin Lavoir, Anna Limir, Sue M, I'm sorry, Sue Mloone, David Mills, and
Nancy Shagar. And I'm very grateful to have all of them doing this work with us. The next section of my update for you is just a small uh look at some of the community partnerships that we have going on particularly right now.
Public Health and Human Services had an initiative to represent National Prescription Drug Takeback Day and they're partnering with the library. We have a display in our lobby and we're helping circulate free
materials to the public. So, we have these little pouches with a carbon based packet inside. And if you have a medication at home, let's say ibuprofen that you need to destroy, you pour the pills into the bag, fill it with water
to the fill line, seal it and shake it, and it neutralizes the medication. And so we're very excited to have partnerships like this, helping get free materials into the community, but importantly giving the voice and space
to initiatives like these. The second partnership I want to highlight is with the Northwoods Fiber Arts Guild. The Have you all heard of the Hope Chair? The Cook County Hope Chair? It's coming to the library in May. So, I
hope you'll all come and and see it, but it's a traveling community fiber arts installation that was created by the Northwoods Fiber Arts Guild and lo local fiber artists contributed individual works that were assembled into a single collaborative piece. Many words to say
they have the architecture of a chair that was purchased from Odds and Ends Thrift Store. All these artists came together to work on creating something that emphasized a desire for hope, for
expressing and having hope in a time of um political unrest and all the unrest that was happening in the Twin Cities. And so who you know each person from their own background contributed a square to this chair and that is coming
to us in May. It comes with a journal where visitors can sit in the chair, reflect on what hope means to them or what brings them peace and hope and then also contribute something to the journal. It's a low barrier public engagement piece aligned with our
ongoing role as a community gathering space for reflection, connection, and access to local cultural programming. So, I'm going to go ahead and wrap up the update with some sneak peeks for quarter two. We're going to be revealing
a bold new website soon. This uh began with our need to meet ADA accessibility standards that were put out recently. and it also is helping us create a more adaptable, flexible um website so that
it will work on any devices. June 8th, we launch our summer reading program. It is a robust set of pieces including the reading log reading program and it has a series of events.
We're going to have live reptiles. We're going to have bugs on exhibit and uh that you can touch. We're going to have uh the Jolly Pops. This is for dads who put on a musical concert for kids. And
then there will be a finale, but the theme is to be revealed. >> I also wanted to talk to you about Chad Lewis. Have you guys seen him before? It's been a couple of years since we've had him. Chad is a very um animated, sensational
storyteller who comes and offers programs on things like mythical creatures from the Northshore or UFO sightings throughout our region. And he's going to come do lumberjack creatures of the Northwoods. From the
poisonous hoopnake to the monstrous hoag, Chad will give you a rundown on the 20 most unbelievable animals said to inhabit the Northwoods. It's going to be fun. And so, uh, unless you have any questions for me, I just want to take a
moment to acknowledge our staff, uh, who are standing behind all of the performance metrics and the output that I shared with you today and to thank you so very much for inviting us to talk about this work. >> Well, thanks for coming tonight.
>> Thank you. Um, I guess I've said this plenty of times, but uh, library is one of the most valuable things we offer. So, we really appreciate all that you do and the ratings that reflect the results you get and summer reading programs are
so important for kids and they are, I believe, very well attended with a lot of enthusiasm. So, >> yeah, kids love that. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, we have an applicant for the planning commission and hopefully if
you're looking online, it's not in the Okay, so you have your other piece. Has everyone had a chance to look at that? >> I would say we make a motion to approve this application. Kelly would be great to have.
>> Is that your motion then? >> That's my That's my motion. >> Second. >> I'll second that. >> Been on the planning commission before. >> Right. So, >> good. >> Any further questions or comments?
>> All right. All in favor of appointing Kelly Swinger to the planning commission? >> I >> I >> All right. Very good. Thank you. And thank you, Kelly, for applying. And we have one more spot to go. >> Bill, did you ask her?
>> No. No. I did ask her, but it was a long time ago. I'm glad she she came around. That's great. >> Would it be neat if she was inspired by participating in a public conversation that the planning commission just held? >> Seems like a natural link.
>> Yeah. >> Maybe others will join her. >> Wonderful. All right, moving right along to in this case, it's re it's old business, but it's not because it's new business
within old business. Um, Third Street. Uh, we looked at this uh last meeting, but as Bill suggested, we waited for a final um decision on this when everyone was present, which is leads us to
tonight. And um maybe it's best to start to see if Ben or Michael have any questions because you were the two that were not able to be here about where we're at with that or would you like a little recap from
Mike or or John? John John is joining us here online John Ly. So any questions? >> The only question I would have it um is has been communicated with Mr. cutters. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. John's was aware of the bid opening, >> understands the cost share arrangement. >> Okay. >> Wants to move forward. >> Great. >> And um
Steve Dawkins has has not has looked at it, knows about it, has not confirmed yet, right? But we have a time schedule that still accommodates a little bit more. >> It will all work. He has a little bit more time to decide without disrupting >> things can move along.
>> We don't need to know whether he wants to do his service lines until later on in the process. >> Okay. >> We've uh communicated with the contractor that that part may or may not happen. That's okay with them. >> Good.
Any other questions or >> Yeah. Is this a like a so a turnkey type bid or what if there are any incidentals that come up during
the construction phase of this and if there are any additional costs. um regardless of where they happen along the line of the road. >> Yeah. >> How are we splitting those costs or if
we are splitting those costs or how are we dealing with any overruns based on the way it's designed right now I can see our contributation what we are contributing and also what Peters is contributing. Yeah. But if there are
overruns, does it it has it going to be like within these subcategories, >> right? >> Those then those people are responsible for those types of things. >> It it'll probably be clear, but just in case it's not, we'll have to work it out
>> with with the engineers assistance to figure out which party is responsible for it. >> Okay. that this is the beauty of our development agreements requirement that the developer puts 125% of project costs up front rather than 100% because we
know that things happen. So, um I don't know. I think rock is a particularly risky issue for instance that we know we're going to find some. We assumed we were going to find quite a bit, but it's a number that we just have an assumed quantity in here
and it won't be exactly that. So, but if the rock is in the trench of the utility that John Feders is paying for, then that'll be his overrun. And if it's in the trench that we're paying for, it'll be ours. Okay. And if there's any big changes that come
up, um, we'll bring them back here. >> Okay. That's what I was concerned about. So, basically, when you see this broke out each subcategory, it'll parallel that basically.
>> Mhm. Okay. Anyone else with other questions or comments? Would anyone like to make a motion to approve this bid? And >> yeah, I would like to make a motion to
approve the uh the bid and the notice of award to KTM uh along with the consultant service contract. >> Thank you. Second. I'll second that. >> All right. Any further questions or comments.
>> All right. All in favor of the bid and bid award with 2KTM. I >> I >> All right. Very good. Thank you. All right.
>> Two consultant service contracts though. So, >> oh, >> there's this one which was the construction administration observation. >> The second one is for the um GIS infrastructure planning project that MSA
prepared a grant application for us and we were successful and now this is the service contract to move forward on that project as well. >> Yeah, the GIS part for a second. I thought you meant we missed one on peters. No, I think this is separate. You meant the second one. in the packet right next to each other.
So, just in case, right? >> Yeah. >> There's two. >> Yeah. So, that was that's that other grant we got. So, we can have that set. All right. Um >> need a second motion for that one. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, I'll motion to approve the MSA
service contract related to the JS integrated uh resilient infrastructure planning cost. >> Second. >> I can second that as well. >> All right. Any questions or We previously approved the grant agreement. >> That's fully executed now. So, we're
authorized to go ahead with the project and start spending money. >> Yeah. I initially thought that a little confusing, too, but then I saw it was distinctly different, but within >> Yeah. >> All right. So, all in favor of the
excuse me, contract uh for the uh integrated resilient infrastructure planning project. >> I >> I
>> very good. Thank you. All right. Moving on to reports. Administrator report. We just went through 70 pages of uh city council agenda right there. I think pretty smoothly, everybody. So, hats off to
that. I got to use the word trunch in a memo for the first time. I was really really pleased to be able to do that. Um I think it's a strange word, but kind of fascinated by it. So, thanks for the first batch trunch uh grouping whatever
of uh job descriptions that you've approved. You'll see batch two, tranch two, group two at your next meeting. And that might be the last of them. If we finish up one that's that's still in the works. Uh and then we'll be done with that part of the project. We'll be
moving on to um I'm guess I'm giving a personnel committee report now. We'll be moving on to uh start to talk about the personnel policy update which has been something that was kind of high on our list when we started working with
Northshore uh and Rava which because of some of the other projects that have been complicated and taken some time we haven't had a chance to get to and now we're going to and it's going to be a really important needed refresh for a set of policies some of which
um are probably from the 80s and you know need to be need to be looked at again. The the document itself is a live document so it's not like the whole thing is that old. It's been updated as laws have changed but it still has been looking for this refresh for a couple
years now. And so I'm looking forward to that. uh we'll be rolling that out by meeting with our department head group at the beginning of next month and starting the conversation with them. So what we really want to know is well where are you at with these policies?
What are you having trouble with? What do you think we don't have a policy on that we need one? What's difficult to enforce? And get kind of the real world picture as a baseline before we set Revina off to create this document for us. So that's some good stuff. Uh
the utilities commission is uh waiting for some work to be done based on a conversation that we had with MPCA and Grant Portage this week about accepting Leech at the wastewater plant. And so th
those three groups are working together now to put some plans in place to see if there's something we can agree on and and do uh more rigorous testing. um something that I think it would be beneficial to all of us to to see to
learn more about particularly as we're right in the midst of planning for a plant update. The gathering of more data right now is going to be something that we can use when the engineering starts. make sure that we're thinking about not
just what are we doing now, but also what should we be looking at and which pollutants uh are we not thinking about yet, but should when we build a building that we want to last for 50 years or more. So, appreciate that Grant Portage
is talking to us about this issue and that we had a really good conversation and I think are moving forward with that. >> That was a very good conversation. It was nice to get people in the room. And I think everyone learned something just in general sense of unawareness. I don't think they knew as much about what
we were trying to do with their wastewater treatment plan. >> And um and we now understand their end goal as well a lot better. And I think this was also good for the regional MPCA group because they didn't know all the necessarily all of this either.
>> Yeah. >> So we walked out of there with different people offering to help in different ways. So, and it was went pretty well. >> Yeah, it was it was terrific. >> Uh, at the same time, we're having a conversation that Graham Portage is
assisting us with and that's with the Army Corps of Engineers to look at the East Bay erosion control study. So, that study was planned and there was a funding plan that disappeared when the federal government started really adjusting their budgets. um that it's
back on the table again with the possibility of moving forward be and particularly because Grand Portage is a partner in it that that gives it priority that it wouldn't have if it was just the city of Grammar. So another
example I think of uh great partnership that we're having with them right now. They really appreciate their willingness to to work with us on this. Um we'll see where that goes. The time is somewhat of the essence because at the same time that the core is coming back and talking
to us about possibly funding, we're getting to the end of the Lake Superior Coastal Program grant for $100,000 that was going to be a part of the original funding package for this. Um, and we they don't want us to give it back. They
want us to use it for what they approved it to be used for. So, we're going to try and make sure that gets incorporated in. And I'd say we'll probably know what's going to happen with this project in the next couple of months. So stay tuned
>> and let's increase the scope of the project area. But we had invited them to the table when we saw that there was a possibility of this. So they've been with us um on it. But now with this change of how
we're doing application officially, we've also increased the distance of the area in scope to monitor that the shore wave action which is the first part of this is just to get some of the testing in place so we can understand what's
happening out in the harbor. and they have equipment that does very detailed wave monitoring which we were so close to having that installed and then they didn't have any money to do that and that's what we're hoping to bring back and of course we want it at the key
times when things happen like in November >> right >> so um >> is that the 100,000 that you're talking about is that what would be used for >> this this actually is a much bigger project than that and it would have potentially been entire entirely funded
by the federal government originally, but the state wanted they willing to participate when we weren't sure how the funding was going to work out. So, we had applied for this grant, were successful, didn't necessarily know how we were going to use it, and now it's definitely helpful to use that as a
match. We're talking about maybe a $400,000 project to do some really significant planning and engineering on the East Bay to look at erosion control. That's just the planning. >> Yeah. >> And we have to see what ideas come out
of it. It's a big deal. It's going to take some some real effort to to get through that and some community conversations about what we want to see, what we're willing to do. And I think it's more good information as we start to think about um the the Coast Guard,
the parkul and that whole area. Just all builds I think on that and and um the our group from the the tribal group also sees a lot of information and learning they hope to get for their issues in their harbor as well. It might
you know help blend with with what they need and um learn ways also erosion control. So all the way around I think it helps all with some shared issues. So >> next week I'll be attending uh my annual
city manager association conference that I do every year. It's a great opportunity for me to reconnect with my colleagues that are all a multiple hour drive away from me to uh see them in person is nice. It's always got great educational um components to it.
uh inspiring speakers. It's a kind of a whirlwind show up on Wednesday, come home on Friday. >> Where is it? >> It's in the Brainard area. >> Oh, okay. Wow. >> So, it's at Maddens's Resort uh this time. there uh will be a few folks that
I intend to meet with while I'm there to talk about uh some help they might be able to provide us with team building and with uh looking at employee uh engagement and morale issues that they do this they're also city administrator
managers but they have uh side businesses where they're helping folks out with this and >> so I've reached out to them and I'll be having a conversation about whether there's something that we might want to bring here and I'll let you know more as as details get added to that. But I
appreciate the opportunity that I have to attend trainings. Uh I I feel free to do it and I think it's valuable and we make sure that all of our staff have opportunities to attend trainings that are necessary to keep up their licenses
and just give them a chance to learn about what's happening and what's new. >> Good. >> Set. All right. Thank you. >> No, thank you. >> I'll do something different tonight. >> Oh. >> Oh, and you Oh, okay. No,
>> no, no. It's fine. It's fine. It's only me. Just you do you. You always You're the mayor. You decide. I'm just here. >> Michael, it would appear you have a great report to share with us. Would you please
>> start? I do. Well, it's really important. It's the Y report, which we haven't had in a long time. Um, >> this is big. >> We have a new executive director. My wife hand uh is the new executive director and we had a great meeting. Um,
she gives a lot of information about what's happening at the Y and the Y more broadly. Um, they've had a merger. I don't know if you guys heard of that, but they did have a merger with the Superior Y coming over and being a part of the Duth Y and end up here in
Hermantown. And now they're all just calling themselves the Lake Superior YC. >> I had the joy of going to the Superior Y earlier this month. >> Oh. >> So I've I've been there now. >> I'm around in the pool. >> Cool. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I've not been there. Yeah. Um let's see. So, the Y applied for and got a couple of grants. They got $10,000 for food for kids for the coming year. Um, so that's just all the free free snacks and whatever that they give give out to
the kids. So, that they got it. So, that was great. Um, and then next week or next Wednesday, there's Pints for a Purpose. They're doing fundraising for county kids to go to camp. So, that'll be happening next Wednesday at Voyer. >> Voyer Wednesday.
>> Wednesday. Yep. No council meeting 4 to 6. Yep. There. Everybody meet >> six >> except me. I'll be in >> Oh, brainard. Brainard. >> Summer will have to drink. >> Please do. >> Yes, please do. Thank you. >> Uh and then last weekend they had the
healthy kids day which was a great success. Just ton people showed up. A lot of just great fun was had even though the weather was not so great but kids were there. They had a great time. They had a great turnout. So, all was well. Um, let's see. The one sort of
infrastructure thing, which is of course where we're all connected, um, is they're looking at getting doors, getting replacement doors for the doors that go between the the Y and the school to get those to be just like regular fob doors and that kind of thing. Like right
now, they're kind of crash doors that just kind of pop open and kids are kind of going in and out a little bit more than they usually should. So, they're going to have like doors that are fobable. So, hopefully that will happen. And it's obviously this goes through the
county and they'll work that out, but so that they haven't gotten the um bid back yet for that. Um and that's it for the Y, but I have one from ARDC as well. >> Oh, >> I know.
Doesn't happen that often. Um, and ARDC is I mean I mentioned this last time, but they have a lot of money that's just sitting there. People are just not coming and and doing projects. It's been they're like, you know, we are ready to
give money and like I said last time and they're still exploring this is how they can use the funds they have to help people with things like housing. like how can that's not really what we do, but could we find a way to support housing in in some way? So, they're
looking at options for that. Um, but they had a more payoffs come in. Um, this last time we had the Oldenberg House and Juice Farm, which maybe you've heard of, but anyway, those both got paid off. They paid off their loan, so that was great. Um, there's an executive
search going on. Um the executive that we the executive director right now is going to stay for a while yet but they are looking for somebody still and >> finance director too. >> And the finance director. Yeah. Yeah. They actually hired a firm to do the
finance piece right now. >> Um and um yeah, we just approved that. So they'll have somebody doing, you know, paying attention to all the books. Um, and then they're also in the five-year assess uh assessment planning which
started they were up here and that's still ongoing. Um, they've gotten some information in but you know they're still collecting data on that and um or and no surprises there in terms of
the things that were popping up. It's housing and and you know all that kind of thing. One of one of the things that that came up from from the group of commissioners and and board members that were there is our interest as a group to, you know,
leverage our communication together to see well what are things that we can do to get together to really improve these pro rather than just like Cook County has a project and you know has a project or whatever but that we could find a way to collaborate and we also like not like
we have time but if somebody could corral us, we would all be interested in working together for that. Um, and then I think we all got that email for the Northshore Roadway Network Resilience. Bam. Right there
>> that I picked up at my meeting last night because they were there and did their little plug for this and and Marin Maren Webb was there as well, >> right? >> So, we got to catch up with Maren. So, I did did bring that and then you I saw the email today.
>> Okay, good. Good >> for that. So, I I I brought this in case the rest of you were going, "What is this about?" And >> I think it's great. I think it'll be really >> I'm assuming it's kind of a county thing, right? Is that a large
>> Yeah, but when I was looking at the list, it looks like it's all city people, but >> Yeah. Well, I think city and county, right? >> Yeah. I mean, it's got to, but at least on the list, it looked to me like it was city peoples, like us,
>> Two Harbors, Beaver Bay. >> Maybe they separated us, which they shouldn't have, I don't think. Because I mean, really, all the roads would have to be county roads, right, for an escape, >> right? >> Whatever. We'll have our conversations. >> We'll find out. Maybe they'll put a boat
in or something. >> There you go. >> Whatever. And then just a few last things that ARDC was working on that have turned out really well. The Kitchami State Trail, as many of you know, has been going quite well and has now gotten the third
best recreational trail in the nation today. So there you go. That's an amazing award. >> On the podium. >> What's that? >> They're on the podium. >> They're on the podium. Right. Exactly. Uh, and then there's also there's voting going on right now for the the
Northshore Scenic Drive. So, if you want to vote for that for best scenic drive in the US, you can get in on that. And then uh the Gooseberry Falls is not us, but it was is nominated as best state park in the nation. And that right
now >> and that be that and I had a library thing but it's she she took it off. >> She did one. >> Damn. >> So back to their money though. Do you think is it because
like a project needs like a bigger grant and then they come in with a smaller piece? >> So that is true. Like they are the bridge loan. They're not the the lender. They're the bridge. >> Yeah. and they've kind of felt like I mean they've been you know going to all the usual haunts you know and letting
people know hey we still have money you know but a lot of people kind of backed off on some projects and and that's a lot of what it is is people just not going forward with projects so they know that there are some in the offing so it's not like it's never going to get used but
>> um yeah >> it's not an indication that there isn't a need it's just >> right >> matching it up the right way >> there's probably definitely a need that yeah, people don't have a project going. They have to get their major loan and then they have to then then ARDC would
come in and back up. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, good thing you're a lot there. >> Right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Hey, Bill. >> Well, let's see here. We had a meeting,
Mike and I, between us and a few of the members of the animal rescue board. That was a Thursday and then they had their regular meeting Thursday evening. I think we're making headway.
>> Great. And you know, their burning topic is, you know, when and how and at what cost the the structure And >> yeah, that sums it right up.
>> And we're still like it's not officially building season yet, right? Is that part of it? Like >> Well, we still waiting for some uh contractors to get back to us with >> Oh, >> pricing and >> Okay. >> scheduling.
that it >> that's about all I got. >> Okay. >> Well, I had a Northshore management board meeting uh about a week ago. >> Yeah. >> Really unbelievably technical
um impressively technical uh with regard to erosion and mapping and I mean just a lot of stuff going on. Unfortunately, we didn't have a quorum present, >> so we couldn't actually do anything with any substance. So, we
have another meeting scheduled, another quarterly meeting tomorrow morning, which will just be a Zoom call. >> Oh. >> To pay the bills. So, but yeah, I mean, it's it seems like it's it's moving in the right direction. They've got their plan that they've evolved and adapted
and it's it's uh all the feedback is in all the corrections are there, edits are made and I think they're ready to kind of go live with that and and then there's some next steps and getting some some more uh buy in, right? And some uh agreements. Um
>> yeah, the city the city will have to >> the city's going to have to participate in that. We're gonna >> Yeah. So I I don't recall. So who all what all the entities involved in that? you know, Jason's going to be able to answer more of those questions than than I >> It's all the the zoning authorities that
are along the Northshore. >> Okay. >> And we just went through a process last year um so that the tribe could officially participate as well because they have a little bit different than and then we reclassified different
memberships as well in there. there's some legacy members now because like Mike was saying if you um have zoning authority and or um have like a wastewater treatment plan or something
you're that's affecting the lake. >> Okay, >> that some of those pieces get into it and so we reset some of those pieces as well. The biggest accomplishment though was getting the tribe officially in there. >> Okay. >> So, yeah.
So, I'm gonna learn a lot more about it and I'll have more more to say, but uh lots of acronyms. That's okay. >> But with this redo of the plan, then you're lucky.
>> Yeah. Right. No, for sure. >> You just read it. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. 85 page. Great. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Doing that. >> Thanks for doing that, Ben. >> Anything else? >> No. >> Okay. I don't have anything since the park
board meeting which was the first part of the month before our first meeting. >> Okay. >> I think they rescheduled the parks trails meeting that we were going to have. >> Okay. Did you have anything from our Monday
meeting you wanted to add or >> That was Monday, right? No. >> Grand Portage. >> Yeah, that was Monday. We did that. >> That was Monday. >> Um, no, we talked about already.
>> Okay. >> We have to wait for some answers on certain things right now before we can move ahead on >> plan. >> Yeah. >> Bring before the PC. >> Uh, let's see. We
I think we talked about some of this before, but we did have a subsequent follow-up meeting. So, Mike and I have been um joining in with the H and the EDA on continued communications
and um hopefully progress reports on the potential housing project at the top of the hill with Dval and he has been given a list of to-dos as well as a timeline for that. >> And so we're waiting on that. And I
think we're also looking at other potential um developers as well because the um desire to keep a grant at that amount that we would never possibly have again um is is the main driver for that. Don't think there's much else right
there to add on that one. Okay. um last Monday uh and Bill was with us um we had an open house for the Boulder I call it the Boulder Park project that we've been working on to
determine the erosion and um we had three options for the public to take a look at um and we had a good group um Dave Tierick came as well who else came I was talking with a training member who was also talk to
people as they came in. But um >> Well, Shane was here. >> Yes, Shane still was here, too. Thank you. And so that went really well. We got some good feedback that went to the engineers right away. Um and of course the people that showed are very the
people very interested in something like this. So they did look and their feedback. So that went well. That was of course a well it was a grant requirement but um it's good feedback when they move
that forward um and get a final 30% design back for us to consider. Um I had a meeting with our meet and greet with our new and Mike. We all joined our new
EDA director. That ended up being a two and a half hour conversation. But that was uh very interesting and nice to have him on board. And um he is here and he joined us for our meetings last night. It was his first EDA meeting
yesterday, but he also came to another um public meeting we were at. But he's been very busy already out meeting people and um just learning about the community and getting ready to uh take we yesterday our meeting we signed up in some of the just things you need to do
to get you up and functioning around the office and all that but he's been very involved already within the community. So that's all very good. Um then on Thursday we had our second important open house and that was for the
Minnesota Ship Shipo project with the archaeologists and that was a pretty interesting evening. Um Craig and Bill joined us. We started at 6:00. They spoke for about 30
40 minutes and we had fairly full room. people came later because there were so many events last Thursday, but more people came and we ended up going until 8:30 and then when that ended like I just listened to the whole room's chatter
level rise and people stood up there and chattered and then a bunch of people came up to the front and wanted to talk to them and once again it was a crowd who understood a lot of what it's all about had a lot of interest in it >> and um could ask really good questions
and offered a lot of help about to help them identify sites and do their work. And there was a lot of enthusiasm. Um, some people asked, could you do some things with kids this summer? Could you maybe sponsor a couple of our youth
volunteers that get have jobs for this summer, >> right? >> Right. And right away the next morning, I got a phone call from Anna Clover on that. And so there's just Oh, and they wanted another session where we could get more people or could we hold
something where people could um provide documents and we could get them scanned to get them to them, whatever. So just the people in the room had lots other ideas of how to do this. So hopefully the enthusiasm continues to get them what they need. This project concludes
at the end of the summer. Um and they will be back in June. They've got another project. I don't know what I missed on that, but I felt it went pretty well. We'll just see how the follow through goes. Um, that was that meeting. Last night, um, I
was at the North Blend Climate Resilience Collaborative. It's a big Yeah, >> you could use it. >> Collaborative. Um and that in that's where
those people were there and it's it's a it is a collaboration of many of the tribes. Mindot, I want to say the DNR. There was a bunch of groups in there and this was um generously the tribe uh gave us a really
tasty meal and then um it was a listening session. So they just asked a lot of questions of how we feel our community has changed um with our climate. They had stats and datas.
Stats and data starting from 1895 of how things have changed. Like in in our part of the state, in particular, the tip of the arrow head, we're seeing our winters warming faster than other parts of the
state, for instance, and not so much our summers, or our rains are more concentrated and with larger periods of drought in between, things like that. And then they asked us for um comments and in where we have
experienced those kinds of changes over time or felt them and and what is the impact we have felt on our community, our economics, whatever, you know, has it affected our tourism, has it affected our costs? Um, and there are some really good answers to that like all our
volunteer groups that maintain all our trail systems and things, all of our more frequent storms has added a lot of more work and cost for them. Things are those kinds of examples of how does this really impact us and um think they're going to do more of those
sessions. I'm trying to think what else. And those are the main pieces out of that. Mostly listening on that. I went to a preview. The Technite Harbor project is almost concluded. I went to a preview on what they will do on I
believe it'll be June 15th and 16th that we'll have a public presentation and then it'll be presented to the EDA board as well. Um they're still finalizing that date for sure. That's it. And we had our EDA board
meeting yesterday. We amended one grant and then as I said got the EDA director up and running and um that said the golf course sale is still slowly plugging.
>> Um there was one thing I wanted Oh and um Joel St. John has put in a building permit request, right? We have an application. >> Application. >> Yeah. >> So,
>> okay. It's thorough. Okay. >> That's good. >> We're trying to understand right now what is going to be required of us before they can build because we have electric services crossing the property.
And of course, we've known this for some time and have done a lot of preliminary planning, but now we can do this is actually where things are going to live and >> when they need to move and who's going to pay for it and all that stuff. Okay. >> So, once we get that sorted, then we'll
be able to approve the permit. >> All right. And they're planning on starting construction potentially June 1st. And with that, um, this is, uh, up to a two-year project and obviously smack dab
in the middle of town >> and we've already lived through one of those, so we know how it affects, you know, streets, parking, the whole deal. >> Yeah. How do we do that? Like, how is that done? Like, how do you keep people out of the job site and and uh, >> just like we did here? >> Okay.
>> The fencing. >> Yeah. >> We have to fence the property. >> Yeah. Have to eat the sidewalks. and the chamber has started some communications out, but I I would like to see at least one open house. I I'm kind of concerned.
Every business is getting ready now. It's, you know, they're ramping up for busy season. >> Plus, we have always, of course, a lot of community events and they have that list as well. But I want to make sure that residents and all businesses, not
just chamber members or those who show up for the downtown business coalition meetings, clearly understand once the details are put together, what's what's happening and just have awareness because this is
I think even what's going to take to put up this building um is going to be impactful in in more ways than we've experienced before in some of our building projects. And um you know I I I would assume a lot of people are going
to come to all of us when they're on what is going on and know you know and I think that that this is a part of the city's role to at least make sure people have an opportunity to know maybe see more of what what is coming. not to all
the details but just a better awareness what and I'm sure all the rest of you have some thoughts and ideas on that as well >> just for I mean is it much different than what we saw >> that depends on when you're thinking
about what you saw >> okay >> so in concept it's it's not different but if you're just remembering the line drawings that they shared during the conditional use permit It's a lot better information, right? So you that was available at the council meeting,
>> right? I mean, I guess I was imagining like, you know, what people are going to be thinking about is like this and this. They probably don't care so much about the nitty, but they're going to want to know like how tall is it, how wide is it? >> Yeah. And it's it's not different there because if you'll recall that it takes
up most of the lot and it's 30t tall. So that's that remains true. >> Okay. Uh I think what that's of course the the what the issue's been is what's the building going to look like. The issue now is going to be about what's construction
what is that experience like because it will definitely be an experience. >> Yeah. When we built this I mean at least we had the public works area for staging and you know and the lot right? >> Yeah. They have a they've got the parking lot next door to us, but it's,
you know, they're filling up their whole property and that's the only thing they've got. It's going to be complicated. That's I'm sure one of the reasons why it's two years rather than the really fast 10 months that we knocked this one out in. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I'll be curious to learn that what that plan is. >> So, just a foreshadowing of a little bit of work still on our end, I think. help with help with that. Make it as as smooth as possible for everyone.
>> So, >> all right. Thanks everyone. >> Thank you. >> Thanks everyone. >> Park in that picture. >> Thanks, John. >> Which picture? >> This bottom one.