--------- What's that? >> Right. >> All right. It is 5:00 p.m. We will call this committee of a whole meeting to order. If we could all rise for the pledge of >> allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America to the stand. Uh doing roll call. Two voting members are present or uh missing. Uh let's see here. Sorry, iPad froze. Uh we'll open up the floor for public comment. If there's any public comment
tonight, you're more than welcome to come forward and state your name and address for the record, please. >> Up here to this mic. Okay, perfect. My name is Matthew O'Keefe. I live just outside of city limits near Long Lake.
So, I sent every member of the city council except for the mayor. I sent him a separate email um an email about a week ago on October 10th, so a little over a week ago. The email said, "Hello, Councilman. I want to reach out directly
to ask you some questions about Luke Merrill's conduct online. I've been very loud and outward opponent of Mayor Merrill, and I'm very upset with some of his conduct on his personal page. On September 29th, 2025, Luke posted a post being critical of Senator Omar Fate, a candidate running for mayor of
Minneapolis. Under the post were many racist comments regarding Senator Fate being Somali. Mayor Merrill liked many of these comments. Some of them calling him slime or scum, others calling for his deportation, even though he is a United States citizen who was born in Washington DC. I think this behavior is
very dangerous and reflects poorly on the city and the council as a whole. The inability to address this behavior is something that I believe leads to delegitimizing of the council and other members on it because they are unable to call out this kind of behavior. I will link some of these images of the
comments that were liked by Luke. Please let me know what you as an individual councilman will do to address this racism coming from the mayor. Thank you. So I want to ask you two directly. Do you believe this is appropriate behavior for the mayor?
Councilman Peterson, what do you think? >> I have no comment on it. >> Okay. Senator Heman or Councilman Heman. >> You're not even looking at me. Put your phone down. >> You're more than willing to come up. >> Turn your turn your mic. any comments you may have.
>> We don't have to respond. It's just public comment. >> Okay. That's a very telling sign about how you guys think that these roles should be handled. I think it's very embarrassing. >> Can I respond to that? >> What do you What do you have to >> um so I would just first like to clarify I did not make any racist comments on
Facebook. I never have. >> You liked many racist po many racist comments >> and that that post that you're referring to is on my personal profile. It was not on any mayor related profile. you are still the mayor of this city. >> Why do you think it's appropriate to make those comments?
>> I didn't make any comments on that. >> Why do you think it's appropriate to like those comments? Which are liking a comment is an endorsement of the comment. >> Okay. >> Why do you think that that's appropriate? >> I guess you're entitled to your opinion. We all have ours. >> Why do you think that that's appropriate? Do you think it's appropriate to call for the deportation
of United States citizens that you disagree with? >> No. >> Then why do you like that comment? >> Don't know. Maybe you should think about that and reflect on that because it's incredibly racist and I think that you guys are all very embarrassing. This council is an embarrassment.
>> Thank you for coming in. >> Anybody else for public comment tonight? You're more than willing welcome to come on up. Come on up. Just state your name and address for the record, please. >> Good evening. My name is Katie Heinrich. I live at 41 Bucksky Boulevard, southeast Iani.
I wear a few different hats in this community. I've lived here for nearly 20 years. I'm a parent of a Cambridge Iani High School student which is joining me today. I also manage a business just down the road with 20
plus employees year round. I'm active in our local chamber. I volunteer for her sports. She's played just about every single one of them in every building that this district offers.
I have a couple points that I want to make here. First one is that last year I got a call from my daughter during a volleyball practice at Iani Middle School. She said, "Mom, I'm safe. I'm on my
coach's phone. My her battery's about to die. I can't tell you anything else. Other kids need to call their parents, too. The police are here. Please come get me. That call was because a light fixture exploded.
The kids didn't know what the loud bang was. The sound of breaking glass and the small smoke filled the space that they were in. These kids and their coaches evacuated the building just as they were they practiced forever.
uh frantically ran to safety through the dark in sub-zero temps wearing nothing but their volleyball uniforms. They were just middle schoolers when this happened. That's what aging infrastructure looks like. And if anyone needs a reason to vote yes on the referendum, that was
mine. That's why I voted yes twice today. We are beyond preventative maintenance. I know preventative maintenance. I run a large building with many rooms, a lot of use, lots of facilities. I know what preventative maintenance looks like. I know when things can't be
fixed either. Um, we're at a point now where upgrades are needed. Otherwise, more parents will be getting the same calls that I got and the rest of the parents got when the facilities that they're
currently in fail around them, too. That was the scariest moment of my life. Nothing will top that. This morning, this is my second point. This morning I was made aware that my comment on a
response to you Luke was not visible anymore on the city of ice page. I was confused because I could see the comment myself. my friends could see it, but other members of the community couldn't
that I'm not friends with on the Facebook page or on that page. As of about 2:30 this afternoon, like started coming through again from people who I'm not friends with, meaning it had been re-uploaded, altered, no
longer hidden. I know and others in this community know that that looks like censorship on a government page. I'm not accusing or pointing fingers because I don't really know what happened. I do know what it looked like.
I know that it's illegal to do that and I hope that that's not what's happening. I'm not the only one who had comments hidden either. Just down the road at the company I manage,
we have a saying. It's a principle that we live by. It hangs in my back office. Exceed the expectations of those we serve. I highly recommend that the city council and you, Mr. Mayor, adopt the same principle. Start exceeding the
expectations of those you serve. >> Thank you for your time. >> Would you like a response to your second point? Would you like a response to your second point? >> Sure. >> None of us have the ability to access that. >> None of us. >> I I don't like Facebook, but I've had
that happen with just routine stuff where it says responses, but then I can't see it. And once I go to all comments, might be able to see it then, might not. But we don't have the ability to control any of that. >> No. >> So, who does? >> Go ahead, Miss Wood. >> Thank you. Uh, Mayor Conf, I may speak
on behalf of that. >> Yeah. Um Jaden's looking for it now, but we are unaware of why sometimes Facebook is filtering out and comments and we do go through and unhide comments that have been hidden. It's very We do have a list of profanity words that are that do hide
comments we believe. And she's looking for yours if yours had a word. >> It's the last one. >> It's not a >> It's a long one. >> It's a long >> It's a long one. >> Was that the one? It wasn't necessar It wasn't a profanity that you used, but it must have been a word that somehow got filtered out. but we unhid it for that reason and there was another comment
that had the same issue. Um, >> roughly seven or so maybe that were hidden. Okay. >> How often do you look through the thread when it's, you know, it's pretty heated. There's a lot of comments and opinions right now. >> At least once a day. At least once a day. But
>> do you like beginning of the day, lunchtime, evening? And I request that it's looked over more than just once a day, >> especially when we have something, you know, like this going on or um people
are sharing really important information, very important opinions, point of views, reasons why they believe what they believe. And I think refreshing that feed and seeing what's being hidden and why
a couple times a day. I know it's adding to a long list of things you're already doing, but I think that that would be appreciated and also look really transparent compared to what it looked like today. >> I think that we still could miss them if we're not checking it all the time through the day. So, I'm not sure if
that would be feasible with staff time. If we're directed to do so by council, by policy, we would. But perhaps a better way is to address maybe we don't want to have any comments filtered for certain words because maybe it's >> Yeah, >> I don't know how Facebook does what they do. Um, a word that we think maybe was
used is maybe why it was pulled out, but that wasn't in our words. So, I'm not quite sure how Facebook does that. >> Proficient in social media and run several pages and create content. Um, I would dive deeper into it. When you approve posts or unhide them, let us
know. Hey, updated feed seven more added, you know, just let us know when things are under this kind of a climate because the wrong person would be very upset and assume you're censoring
things. >> Well, and we don't like it either. We don't know why it happens because we had some last um is actually Miss Davidson's comment um that was being hidden and there was nothing in there that would make it to be hidden. So we don't know why it did that during during the
evening if I unid it. >> Yeah. >> But we don't sit on on social media throughout the whole day. I totally get the concern. >> Yeah. I mean it come it's part of the responsibility of having social media page ranked by the city with
you know mayor responding on it which I have a question. I noticed in that thread you are responding from your personal page on an official page. Then when you responded to me like the third time you responded
under your mayor page. So kind of following up on what was just said. >> I can certainly answer that. Um, is it I mean it looks sloppy. I'll be honest. If I started running my Facebook
page for my business under me, that'd be weird. >> I'll answer that for you real quick. So, I actually noticed the same issue with some comments would show up if I was on my personal page versus my private versus the mayor page. But I want to try and respond to everybody because I think communication is important. Some
comments I can only see from my mayor page. Some comments I can only see from my personal page. I don't know if that's maybe related to the same issue. Uh we >> you blocked us. >> Yeah. >> No, no, it's outside of that. It's outside of that. It's outside of that one. But, uh we do have something on our agenda to to address uh potentially
media archiving and trying to um keep a better track of these comments because I've noticed some of these issues, too. So, that is on the agenda for tonight. Uh we'll be talking about that a little bit. Um I don't like it either. I I I see a lot of glitches in the community groups. Um people's personal pages.
Facebook has been very glitchy and it's I don't think it's any of our faults up here. Um, but we're we'll try to do the best we can. >> It's not glitchy for me though. It's not glitchy for a lot of us. >> Okay. >> It's not glitchy on my business page. >> The rest of my question though is if you
are using your personal page to be responding to people and then your official page to responding to people. Doesn't that make your personal page official page? >> It depends on the content of the
comment. >> There was a a report filed um and these the a judge found that I was not breaking the rules. So, if you'd like to see that, I'd be happy to send that to you. Um, it was just litigated earlier this or was late last week. Um, so I have that document if you'd like to see
it. I I have been working to try and um be more clean with that, but like I said, if I can't see a comment and I think people need to know the information, I try to respond any way I can. So, >> yeah, you can send that to me. >> Okay. Thank you for coming in. I appreciate it.
>> Anybody else for public comment? coming up and just state your name and address for the record, please. >> Yes, my name is Robert Stone Jr. and I live in Iani, Minnesota. I'm actually a proud patriotic US American that was born right in Cambridge, Minnesota.
Raised in Sani my whole life. And I was in this area until I was 27 when I ventured off to see more of our beautiful country. Las Vegas, Fargo, St. Louis, Missouri, the Quad Cities in Iowa, and California for a bit. Um, but
I've always been proud of my small town heritage, and I've been been very proud of the school district I come from. And I want to share a little bit about how much love I have for Cambridge Iani schools with all of you tonight.
when I was in what is now called the primary school. It was elementary school back in the day when I was there. I graduated in 2005 if you want to do some math. And uh you know it I I was a well- behaved student that did really good on
my homework. You know back then you got V's instead of A's. I was a straight V student. Uh but my brother wasn't. My younger brother was the opposite. He didn't pay attention. They put him on rolin. Um, and he had to go into the I
don't know, it's a special education classroom or something like that. But the fact that that special education classroom existed is a testament to the Cambridge Ian School District and their passion for their students and their
success. They also found out that when we were younger, my dad was an alcoholic, but he has been sober for 29 years. Way to go, Dad. But that's really hard on a young person. I'm pretty sure that there are plenty of people in this room that know
what I'm talking about. And the school knew that and they created a special little group for us. There was other students in there and we watched this really weird video was cartoon and this tornado comes out of the bottle and it makes your parents dizzy and what have
you. And um I still remember that. But what I really remember is that the school was there for me. They saw through the mask and made sure that we were okay. And it doesn't even stop there.
continues on into middle school and high school where my life took a different turn in high school. I went from a straight A student to an ALC student. You know, I won't bore you all with the details, but I had some personal
struggles at home and I had some personal struggles with my religion thanks to people and their opinions on what God thinks. And it was a very hard time for me. And the teachers at the high school were
all there for me, especially the school nurse, Jane Zern, who is still a friend of mine today, a dear friend of mine. And I could go to her office whenever I needed and talk to her and she'd listen. She'd
offer love and light. It's what she always likes to talk about. I was also an athlete. I was in sports all year round. Soccer for so many years. I actually played on Coach Judge Dean's team for many years.
And I became a swimmer because my mom was a bus driver in this town. She drove the Whiskey Road route, bus number 24. She was the first driver to drive that bus that's still on the road. And she's really awesome or was. and uh
all her kids pretty much loved her. So, you know, she was a great woman. Uh but you know, because of she was a bus driver, she met she used to do uh the driving to different sporting events and everything. She says, "You know, you should join swimming. I really like that
coach." and I did and it became my favorite sport because the people that swam uh were just so welcoming and wonderful and I learned so much about good sportsmanship on the swim team because in soccer uh Cambridge kids had
their click and I was one of two Iani kids on the high school team and I eventually left that for a different sport because it just didn't feel like a team. It didn't feel good. But on swimming, you know, I was one of maybe four or five kids, but all the Cambridge
kids were great on the swim team. They were just awesome. And if it wasn't for Cambridge Ian school districts going above and beyond just repairing and maintaining our buildings, I wouldn't have had a
swimming pool to be on the swim team. I was in the musicals and when we did Lay Miz, I had a solo. I was the guy that got crushed by the cart and I killed it. My friend's mom literally thought they were dropping that cart on my back. My acting was so good.
And uh we have a beautiful performing arts center. All the the tech, the lights, the catwalk and the pit. And now it's standing backstage. We had our makeup rooms and everything. And I have a lot of great memories from
that. And if Cambridge Iani school districts didn't go above and beyond just maintenance and repairs, we wouldn't have that beautiful performing arts center either. So, you know, for me,
when times were hard at home, I looked forward to going to school. My whole life, I always loved going to school. I had friends there, and I had people that could be there for me when my parents couldn't because they were still learning themselves. and we all got through that. Of course, you know, in
case anyone's wondering, it was a happy ending. Um, you know, that school means so much to me, you know, and and I understand, you know, this this decision for the referendum
isn't, you know, there's different perspectives. Should it be just we invest enough to keep her going or do we invest enough to move it up and beyond and create more great memories for future generations? And for me, you can't put a price tag on
that. So, I did go and vote yes and yes. And uh I hope other people do too because Cambridge ice school district will be there for your children too. Thank you all very much.
>> Thank you for coming in. I appreciate the story. >> Anybody else? Come on up. >> Just say your name and address for the record, please. I'm Lucinda Riley. I am a Cambridge resident, but I am here to alert the
people of Ianti that there are options even if the city council and the mayor will not act. I want this to be on record that you can. Now, Luke Merrill has
been speaking on public matters from his personal account. I theorize that a lot of the time his more in-depth responses on those subjects are done from the personal account because he does not want
community push back. The people he has blocked are the people who have given him that push back. The people who have called him out on his misdirection, the people who have called him out on his
immature behaviors. Now, when you are blocked by a public official who decides to use his personal account to comment on public matters,
you may have a First Amendment violation case. The cases you need to reference are link versus freered 2024 US Supreme Court. Facts. James Frerieded, a city manager
in Michigan, blocked a resident from his personal Facebook page after the resident criticized his handling of CO 19. The ruling by the US Supreme Court clarified that a public official's social media activity is state action
if the official has power to speak for the government on the topic and did they appear to be acting in their official role while posting. If both conditions are met, blocking
users could be viewed as viewpoint discrimination and is a violation of the First Amendment. Okconor versus Radcliffe. Okconor and Radcliffe versus Garner
2024. Once again, US Supreme Court facts. Two California school board members blocked parents from their first personal Facebook and Twitter accounts which they used to share board related
updates. Ruling. The court found that if the officials were acting in their official capacity, blocking users could be unconstitutional. Davidson versus Randall, 2019. US Court of Appeals.
Fourth Circuit facts. A Lowden County, Virginia official blocked a constituent from her Facebook page used for official announcements. Ruling. The court held that the page was a public forum and blocking the user fi
violated the First Amendment. Now, if anyone would like anyone has been blocked by our illustrious mayor here and would like further information, I welcome you to contact me. I will give you all of the legal information I have
and I will give you context to follow through. Also, you claimed that you do not break racist things on Facebook. You personally blocked me. Again,
viewpoint discrimination. I have called you on your misdirection many a time and I have corrected you on the behaviors that I would not accept from my pre-teen child. I know the exact moment you blocked me.
The moment you blocked me was when a mother in our community asked if her bipac child would be safe from racism. She was looking to move here. She wanted to know if her kid would be bullied.
You dug into that post deeper and deeper. You first said that the child would be looking for pity. >> I didn't know that. >> Yes, you did. >> It is in writing. It is screen capped. Do not lie while you are sitting in that
chair. Again, I would not accept that from my child. In that post, you further alienated the LGBT community. You blocked me when I called you out because
you said that racist jokes were okay as long as the subject of the joke was not there to hear it. >> It's not the exact word. did say that >> not the exact >> do not sit in that chair, interrupt and lie.
>> I have the screenshot. >> You said it >> and you blocked me because I said that meant that you were not only racist but you were chicken as well and I still stand by that.
Now, if you are going to be using your personal account to speak on matters such as this schoolboard referendum, which by calling everyone here, you just made an official Ianti County city
business that you are count you are you are commenting on from your official position. Everyone you have blocked on your personal account who cannot respond to you has had their first
amendment violated. Anyone who wants more information, find me. >> Thank you for coming. >> Mayor, do you mind if I >> Yeah. >> say something? Um, in response to the earlier public comment, I was just going
through our Facebook Meta suite here, and I did realize that there was a toggle on. We didn't put the toggle on. I'm going to toggle it off, but I do want to just make public record of it. Um, there was a there is a spot where you can put profanity in, which we have keywords of profanity in there, but this
toggle says hide posts and comments with profanity. You can choose to hide posts and comments with profanity from your page. Facebook will hide most commonly reported offensive words and phrases. So, they're picking and choosing hidden comments with these words remain visible to the public or sorry, visible to the
person who wrote them and their friends. Everyone else, they're no longer visible. I'm going to toggle that off because we don't we can't control what Facebook is doing. So, I do want to apologize on behalf of the public that had that happen. That is guaranteed why that happened. So, toggling it off now. Thank you. >> Okay.
>> Thank you for the update. Anybody else tonight for public comment? Come on up and just state your name and address for the record, please. >> Cheryl Davidson, 512 Marian Street, Southwest Iani. Um, first I want ask George, are you feeling okay? Hello, George.
>> Sorry, I'm making notes here about the toggle being on on Facebook. >> Okay. Cuz while Rob was doing Robert was doing his speech, you were laying back kind of sleeping. >> You know, that's your opinion. That's her opinion. And I was sitting back and and I could tell it was going to be a
long conversation. So I sat back and relaxed back with your eyes closed is acceptable. >> Really? If you're going to accuse me of closing my eyes, okay, >> dude, I got it on video, but whatever. >> Whatever. >> Anyways, um just adding on to the I mean, Lucinda pretty much nailed it on
what I was coming up to talk about. Um but I'm just going to read two things here. Occasional jokes. I've heard the term cracker just as much as towel head or any of the other terms. Jokes aren't offensive if they're not voiced directly
at someone they're referencing. If you're offended that people make jokes in private with their neighbors or via message, that's you being too sensitive. Problem. All jokes could be offensive to someone or another. That's just life.
But it's not really racism if it's a true generalization, is it? That's like saying it's sexist if I say in general that men have more muscle than women. It is a true generalization. Lol. It's the same thing. If stereotypes are believed
because they are generally true, then what's the difference? You also posted on the city page about Junth when someone complained there was too many holidays. Yeah, I kind of agree with you, but they would be calling us racist if we didn't.
>> Is that Is that a quote? >> That is a quote. It is on there. I have the screenshots. Now, seriously, you use your personal page that you have blocked probably a good couple dozen people and you use it to spread
information or misinformation that you don't want to be pushed back on. That is unacceptable. that is breaking first amendment rights and many other things. It's rude. It's immature. And it really is beneath the station of
mayor to be acting like this. You are making a laughing stock of this city with your behavior. If you Google what's wrong with Iani, your name is all over it. You need to shape up if you want to
keep this job because I am not the only one that's offended. And I am offended with George because he never pays attention when people are talking if it's a topic he doesn't like. To the point of the last meeting, you walked out while someone was talking. If you
needed to go that bad, then it should have been a recess. But you are just as bad. I mean, if you want people to respect you as leaders, you need to start acting like it. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you for coming.
Anybody else for public comment tonight? Hearing none, we'll close the public comment and we will go on to business items. Uh the first order of business uh I had on here uh school referendum report. Um we had did we did discuss at the previous city council meeting to uh
hopefully have an open form with the school. Um it was a consensus vote there to try and make something happen with either regular scheduled meeting or whatever we could do. uh reached out to the attorney and he recommended we only do it in a a regular meeting if we're going to do it and have them come in and provide a report if they wish to. Uh so
we uh requested that they did that. They couldn't make it tonight because of the uh 600 p.m. school tour. Um so we understand that the the schedule didn't work out. Um but we just tried to provide an open forum for people to discuss or hear information about the important referendum coming up. Uh so I
encourage everybody to get out and vote November 4th on that. Um, it's an important decision for our community. >> Uh, you guys have anything else to say? >> Thank you for inviting him and I know people were supportive of that DS. I thank you for reaching out to him and trying to make it happen.
>> Thank you. All right, we'll move on to business item E2, roundabout schedule update. Mr. Cook, thank you for coming in. >> Yeah, members of council. Um so uh as as everybody can see, we're uh kind of wrapping up the roundabout piece
of this project. Um they're planning on paving the first couple lifts of the roundabout itself here tomorrow and the next day. So it'll really be looking like a roundabout. With that said, it actually is about two weeks behind schedule. We had hoped to have already moved into phase two by now and we
haven't. Um there's a variety of of delay, you know, causes between utility relocates and asbestous pipes that were found that had to be removed and weather and you know, you name it. So, um, in order to have a a confident cut off to
end the season here and not be in the middle of construction and have more delays, um, we're we're recommending that we move forward with ending the uh this year's construction at the the roundabout itself and then we go into phase two, the two legs on either side
that were that change order that we we added the extra work um to do that in the spring next year. And so right now the game plan, like I said, is to start paving that roundabout even tomorrow. Um, with the game plan of opening it fully by by Halloween, the the end of
the the month here. Um, the only thing that would be left is they'd work on the the quick trip uh turn lane in uh probably into the middle of November, but that's kind of a side um just be coned off kind of a a work zone. and
that would just be a little closed turn lane and everything else would be open to the public and then we'd be confident that we're going into the winter, you know, with a fully open intersection. So, with that said, obviously uh um the
game plan will be to to bring a a change order uh to the next council meeting that would include that changing that center island of the roundabout to that mound in the native plantings. Um getting that striping and modified to have the two lanes east out of uh uh
Credit Union Drive like we've talked already and then we would just add in that that uh substantial completion would just go to uh more or less the middle of June next year to to just have room for the work to get done and uh and not significantly negatively impact
everybody in the community. >> Sounds good. >> That's the update. I guess if you have any questions otherwise the plan would be I'd get a public notice going out tomorrow to all the businesses along it and get it out on you know websites get the word out that that we'll be opening it you know the goal will be Halloween
as long as the weather at least stays how it's projected between now and Halloween and uh I guess with that yeah if you have any questions >> when you say turn lane to quick trip you talking about on five or on dual boulevard >> on five that that one way in that's been
used is in and out for the you know duration of the project here and prior to that even though it was supposed to be only a entrance only uh thing. So part of our project is we're going to extend that bumped out um unused lane that's out there right now and extend
that into just its own isolated turn lane into that quick trip entrance. And so they'll be able to knock out getting that made modified yet this fall. that uh we're going to just not get into reconstructing those legs of the road between 65 and the roundabout and then
from the roundabout to the tracks. Those would be the two things that would wait till next year. >> And then the uh asbesus pipe, which utility was that? >> That was gas. >> Okay. So, so when they did their abandoned like they had to move their gas for our project and they did that and when they did it they found when
they had to do their splicing that it was a had asbestous material in the pipe and so it's all along the county road and and the protocol is to remove that if at all possible. And so so they did go after removing that which was just
you know that was a three-day task but you know just as you add up all these different little add-ons you know it was just things that weren't planned for. And the next phase has another probably two to three days more of a asbesus pipe that will need to get removed that's abandoned right now but they won't go
after it until we rip open the road. And so if we start that next phase it's already going to take three more days than we wanted. And so the second we start, the moment you remove all that, you got to get it to paved and passable for everybody and if we don't make it
because of any other unforeseen delays, we're in a tough spot. >> So then with the stopping construction starting back up, will that affect the bids and the overall pricing or how's that going to pan out? >> So no. Um, it was the contractor's final
choice because we said before you open the next phase, be confident and give us your schedule as how this will work and we're going to get to where course paving, striped, the whole deal. And they, you know, along with myself and
the county engineer all sized up the schedule and realized it's not a good idea. Um and so with it mostly being their decision, um that cost to we'll call it winterize it to partially do it for now. Um and then start it back up
next year would be on their cost and um and they've already checked with all their contractors. Well, it would be their cost anyway. Every they're all honoring their bid pricing anyway. So it it's just a safer way to get this project completed.
>> It it doesn't Sorry. Go ahead. >> I just said thank you for the information. >> It doesn't affect the the grant at all either with the timing of, you know, next year's funds that the county wants and all that. >> No. So, this LRIP grant that we have, um, really, well, I'm going to I'm going
to speak incorrectly, but it's really we have until like 2028 to spend the money. Um, so it's really not an issue on that side of things. >> Okay. Thank you. Thanks for the update and thanks for all the patience with the for the business owners. I know this was hard for some of
them. On the bright side, at least it'll be done a little sooner than expected because we're not doing the other two things, but um Minnesota weather, you never know what's going to happen. So, >> yeah. Yeah, once you add all all of our our impacted little delays, you add them all up and you just, you know, pushing
the envelope here. So, >> but it'll function 100% as it as it would. just basically the pavement on top of the road isn't all going to be new to the east and the west of the roundabout. >> All right. So, the only thing that won't have been built is the median um to the east of the credit union drive. We were
going to modify that a little bit to extend it a little further so nobody can try and leave Quickrip out that entrance only. So, that's the only thing that won't be like physically built. That's in the game plan that'll get built next year. But otherwise, we're going to have the contractor grind off the pavement
striping that's wrong now and paint the the proper layout. So everything will be laid out how it's going to be and everybody will be able to use it normally. It'll just be next year we'll have to grind all that pavement right back off. But they'll we're having them
update that striping to fit, you know, our our new roundabout because everybody needs to be able to to drive it properly or it's not safe. So Sounds good. Any other questions? All right. Thank you for the update.
Uh, next we will go on to Asht's continued discussion. Miss Wood or Josh, who's taking this one? >> Mayor Jar's going to take this one. >> This will be me and Jar. Okay, perfect. Uh so at a previous council meeting, the council directed staff to apply for the
relief grant for just parks trees, not right-of-way ash trees that need to be removed. And we're just looking for further direction on if we don't get that grant how we should plan for parks trees removal and policy for right away tree
removals. >> How many trees exactly was that? >> 4 He has 81 parks trees and 377 rightway trees. >> It's like 470 total, right?
>> 477. >> Yeah. >> That's that's a hard discussion with with only three of us. >> We chip away at the park ones, you know, when when >> And with that with that grant, I don't remember. Do we apply only for the rightway or don't we only apply just for
the park ones? >> Only for the parks. Correct. >> Okay. So it I don't know that it necessarily be advantageous to chip away at those if we're potentially going to get a grant. When would you hear back on that grant? >> Be early 2026. >> Okay. I still I I know we had talked about I
like the like voucher idea that we had discussed briefly last time. You know, if if a homeowner wants to take down this tree in the right away, we'll give them a reimbursement up to a couple a few hundred, whatever we decide. Um, otherwise I think people will take them down themselves. Like some people would
like to would prefer to do the work in their yard themselves, you know, so nobody's coming in and damaging their yard. But if they, you know, want to hire somebody or or have other options, I guess that was something that we had discussed. Uh, I don't know that we have a lot of other ideas at the moment. What do you guys
think? I >> mean, yeah, that sounds about what we discussed last time. um 470 trees. That's roughly 96,000. That's not, you know, I guess I can minus the ones in the park. I thought we were just going to tackle
the ones in the park. As they get bad, we'll try to take them down. >> Right. If we receive the grant, we'll have to do them all within one year, but that'll be covered by the grant. Um, yeah. Otherwise, we can, well, I guess Josh can speak more to what he thinks
would be the best way to do it, and it depends a bit if we want to do it with staff or contractors. >> Did they give any indication on how many applied or how competitive it was or >> it's been competitive in past years?
It's open to all municipal all municipalities and some nonprofits in the state. And I believe it's 7.5 million total funds available. So that goes fast. >> Do they publish how many entered in or
is that just just wait until >> I haven't seen that? I guess maybe we, you know, maybe wait on the grant, but I just don't know if we should plan a bunch of stuff and then if the grant comes back and says, "Yeah, you guys are covered." Then what what Josh might have done for planning for,
you know, if you want to phase it, it might be just wasted time. Unless you maybe Josh, you want to pick out 10 trees to hit next year if if we can, the first 10, and just wait and see. Or what do you think's reasonable? >> Are you talking about the just the park ones, right? Yeah, >> because that's 81 of them.
>> I mean, yeah, the the park ones I'm thinking about I did some rough guess and it's still going to cost us probably 450 bucks a tree if we replant them because when if we get the grant, we got to replant them, >> right?
>> So, but I mean we if we don't take the grant, then we just take them down. How many of those are like endangering sidewalks, parking lots, infrastructure versus just a tree in the middle of nowhere? >> I don't have that exact number.
Some I would say I know there are some that are close to the park equipment and stuff or park playgrounds and stuff, but then a lot of them may not be. I would say anything that's endangering the playground equipment or parking lots or uh >> we're trimming them anyways and stuff as we see any just not taking the whole
tree down. >> Did that survey include the park? I can't uh Legacy Park. Is that it name? The one that's >> north included in the survey. Yeah, >> they did that whole park. >> They did every street and Well, they didn't do areas that aren't maintained. So deep into the woods or anything, but
anywhere that's being mowed and maintained, they counted those trees. >> Okay. After hearing what he said about $450 to replant one tree, I think we're better off just taking those 81 out and planting
as we want to and more maybe more strategically because I don't know how strategic these 81 trees are if they're just random trees. Um, it's up to you guys. I mean, I don't think the decision has to be made
tonight. We could wait for a full council and have more discussion on it. >> Know that the whole reason why this brought up the gentleman who brought it up, they I think it was for Princeton. They had come up with a plan and think about I want to reach back out to him and see what they came up with since they it's not like they've already been
down this and figured out how they were going to address it. So, they might have some good ideas to >> Princeton, right? >> No, you talking about the resident that came in. >> Zimmerman. >> Zimmerman. Zimmerman. >> Zimmerman. Okay. >> Yep. Have you talked to him at all, Josh?
>> I have not. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I don't I don't know where to go with this one. I think I think we should just wait on the the grant on the park ones. We're not going to You're not going to want to do anything this year necessarily. Are there any that are like really imminent
like that need to come down that you wouldn't want to replant maybe? Or could you keep an eye out and see if there's ones that you think, well, we could just take those down and not replant a tree there? >> If we have one that's that bad, we're just going to take it down. Okay. Okay, that's fair.
>> Another item for council to consider would be a policy on forcing right ofway removals when necessary. There's going to be some property owners who might have three or four right-of-way ash trees and multiple private ash trees.
Those removals can get expensive fast. And if they are reluctant to do it and it's becoming a safety hazard, the city having some kind of policy to make sure those trees are removed as necessary would be a good idea. >> I would rather not take that hard of a
stance. I think >> I believe right now in city code it states that if there is a problematic tree that the city can take it down and assess the property owner. So we may want to look at that chapter again. I know we had revised it a little bit um over a year ago, but we may want to look
at that again. >> Yeah, I don't know. That's a tough one. You don't want to cause an un undue burden to residents, but you also don't want to cause an undue burden to taxpayers. So, I think that one's going to be a full council discussion. >> It is. And and there could be a a safety
issue once a tree gets real bad. So, Yeah, it's something we should >> and the likelihood of someone not wanting to address a safety issue though is probably pretty low if they're willing to partner with us or be explained the risk and the liability on Yeah.
>> Would you like that to for us to move that to the next cow for further discussion? >> Yeah. Yeah. I think we're going to need the full council and have a a full discussion on something like that. I that's a really tough spot to be put in for everybody. So
>> definitely it's a lengthy conversation. >> Yeah. >> All right. Josh, you have anything more to add? Do you need any direction before fall? I mean, you said you're just keeping an eye on the ones that really are bad on on park property and >> Yeah, I mean, we're check we're keeping
an eye on all our park property ones. So, um, unless you wanted me to reach out to the Zimmerman guy would be the only thing I heard you guys mention. >> Yeah, I think that'd be a good idea. and maybe get some input or or steer us in a in a better direction. >> Yeah, I can do that.
>> And I think I'd sent you his number at one point. His name's Keith. I can send it to you again. >> Yeah, I don't think I have a >> Okay, >> maybe you sent it to Matt. >> Could have been. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah, that would be great. >> Okay, sounds great. Thank you, >> Mayor. If I may interrupt, if we could
jump down to item number 10. Uh this is an item that we feel is important to discuss and add to the council agenda this evening. Jaden's going to pass out a resolution draft. So, as the city's social media presence continues to expand, this is what you touched on a moment ago, our accounts have become
increas increasingly active and interactive. While this growth reflects strong community engagement, it also creates uh significant challenges in maintaining consistent and compliant archiving practices. This is something that we brought up in the past that someday this is going to happen as we
grow bigger and have um a more vibrant community. So, we knew that something was going to happen soon. Um, and we do believe the time is now. So, what you have before you is a resolution with, uh, four different options that, uh, Miss Strand has vetted out for, um, agreements to do social media archiving.
This will do the city hall, liquor store, police department archiving as well as, um, our what's it? >> Our LinkedIn. Thank you. Um, and so she got four quotes. Uh the cheapest one, and we do believe we'll be able to do
everything that will be sufficient for compliance, is to go with page freezer in the amount of 1728 per year. Um and then there is a initial training fee of 275. So what we're requesting um is if there's a consensus
here that we add this to the council agenda this evening. >> I think it's probably a good idea to streamline your guys's job with that. Maybe help with some of the issues we just talked about, too. It's Facebook is so glitchy too and it's so hard every time you load it, it'll show different
comments. So for Jaden to have to go manually record all that, it's >> very manually screenshots them currently take a lot of time. >> It's way too difficult. So it's good to have the, you know, the community interaction. This is what I've been hoping for for a long time. You know, get the community involved so they
understand what's going on and and then they feel like, you know, we have their best interest in mind. We're trying to communicate and do everything we can. you know, you're not going to hit every target every single time, but trying to get a little more interaction with our community, I think it's paid off in a lot of ways, but this is just a cost with that. So, I think the cost is
pretty reasonable. >> Is there an opinion of being on business or consent? >> Yeah, I mean, I'm okay with it on the consent agenda for council. >> I just have a quick question. I know by statute we have to archive city council
meetings um planning commission and all that but why the liquor store and maybe even the police department why why do they have to be archived on >> because they're official city pages so on social media if we're using it for city business which we do posting
information out to the public then we have to retain the data >> it's part of the data practices law >> then we definitely need it. That's a lot of time for y'all to do. So >> yeah, think about with the liquor store when we have like the fundraisers which
we talk about in here that then it's directly council business, then it's liquor store that's posting about it. So it's direct city business at that point. >> So there's a couple on here, Paige Freezer and Mir Web. Um did you do a comparison
between the two? Is one comparably better than the other? I did demos with all of them and they're all very much the same. It's all cloud storage and everything is searchable by date, by person, by deleted comments, edited comments. It it's catching
everything as it's happening. >> As it's happening in real time. >> In real time. Oh, that's pretty cool. >> Because the issue is we don't know just like earlier, we don't we can't. >> So, would that catch something if if Facebook were to to censor a comment?
Would >> would that catch it immediately before they censor it? Okay. >> Well, we've also toggled it off, too. So, no matter what. >> Right. >> Okay. >> I think Facebook is still extremely glitchy. Every time you reload it, you see different comments. I don't know what's going on with Facebook the last
few months. It's been not very not very good. So, >> it's been that way for years. >> Yeah, >> Nick. >> I am not a big fan of Facebook. I don't trust any of it. But with this, I want
to put information available to the public and make them aware of it. But does it need to be commented on directly on the the city stuff versus I know there's a bunch of different community pages where people share and reshare the stuff and discuss it with groups there.
So I mean I don't know about how if that's going to stay at this rates or these are going to continue or how much if it continues to grow. I just I don't know how much effort it's worth versus putting out there. People can read it, share it, discuss it with what
wherever they want to. But having to have all this moderation just seems and all the archiving and preserving and >> I understand. I could also bring up be I think it was before you were on council.
It was a discussion point um when we drafted the policy for social media for the city and there was a pretty thorough discussion about whether comments should be allowed or not. Originally when we started there weren't comments. Um, so you do have the ability to turn comments
off on an official page, but you can't have some on some items and not all or some topics and not all. It has got to be an all or none. >> Yeah. >> I don't I don't think that's the look we want. I think we should be interacting with our community. Just someone today messaged me from Cambridge and they asked why Cambridge doesn't interact or
none of their leaders interact with with the posts on Facebook to provide information and they appreciated that I did and that some of us do. I think it's important that we interact with our community how they feel comfortable, whether that's a Facebook comment or a message or or whatever. So, I that's that's been a big goal for me personally
is just to get social media and get people involved and understand what's going on in their community. And I think it just be creates a better community. You're going to have disagreements. You're going to have political differences. All that stuff's going to come out, but at least you're talking about it. So >> with my understanding of it, like if we
have an issue that's put out or a video that's put out and you respond to it, I can't like and then George responds to it, I can't then respond to because now we have a >> a quorum, >> right, online. So it's kind of whoever gets to it first, but like we can't all put our opinions out there. So it kind
of gets to it first, but just creates kind of a a load situation as far as >> I don't know. It's whoever gets to it first gets to basically run it outside that otherwise it creates a court and it becomes a problem for >> Is there truth to that? >> That's a good point.
>> Is is there truth to that? So if the city So we're recording this meeting and Luke makes a comment and replies to somebody and I make a comment and reply. If he makes a comment and reply, would that
constitute a quorum in that situation? >> I'm not an attorney, but I would say yes. Yes, I would air on the side of caution that you should not have three people commenting on the same issue because if it is an issue that has been a topic of the community, therefore a city topic, now you have three people
commenting on it. I would say that that >> can you get clarification on that for us? I I think there should be clarification on that because it could happen by mistake. That's why I don't I'll read stuff, but I don't comment or engage with anything because I don't want to be involved with any of that at
all. >> Sure. >> That might be something to look into. What do you guys think about the either the page freezer or the mirror web or any of these for that? Or do you not want to do it or I don't want to do it without talking to
everybody. I think I don't think that somebody should just push through. I think should probably discuss it further and figure out a direction. But for me, I I I don't like being more involved in this than it already is. I'm not a big social media guy, but
I want to put this stuff out to the public, but I just don't want to be involved in moderating it. >> We wouldn't right >> archiving archiving moderating what like preserving it. >> We're required to archive anyways. >> We are either doing it manually.
>> Yeah. by screenshot and collection, >> right? >> Or this will do it for >> I'm saying if there was no comments, there'd be no no archiving outside of just keeping record of what the city posted, >> right? But when we have a post that has over 120 comments that are coming by the hour, >> yeah,
>> we're responsible to have digital saving of all that, >> right? I understand that. I'm just saying if that's a direction we should continue going on or if we should have a discussion about that. But >> I have a question with the say the mirror web. Is that pr-rated or is that
a fullear contract or if if you were to do it and decide it didn't work or do it and decide that city council changed their mind, how does that work? Do you have any idea? It's a very specific question, but >> have to vet it out through the contract. These are just specific quotes. We can
vet that out on how long we want to enter into. >> Okay. So, we don't have a consensus. So, we bring this to the next city council meeting. >> What What are you thinking? I think we should go with just Jaden's time and
just the cleanliness and to make sure it's all accurate. I think this this is going to be better for us. But I I'm just one >> Sorry to interrupt. I do believe to limit liability. This is in the best interest of the city. I'm just one. You guys
>> okay with Paige freezer? >> Okay. And Nick, you were a no. >> I want to discuss it for I don't want to just do it. I think we should have all five and >> Okay. >> have a discussion and figure it out then. I understand that right now it's a problem, but I just
don't know if it should continue to be a problem. >> I understand. Uh, so I just want to point out, not to try and change your mind, but one of our six goals or two of our six goals really, um, Facebook was number three, Facebook polls and surveys, and then number six on the goal
list was additional public communication and marketing. So, it's that is something we've talked about a lot and just I think with the the environment the way it is right now politically, I think you're just going to have more comments and I just don't want to have have to
have Jaden manually screenshotting every hour for the rest of her life with it. You know, >> I I agree with that. If we were to leave comments on, I understand that that would be a concern. I'm just saying we for me I would my consideration is maybe we should turn them off and have a community pages be able to share and to
have those discussions there >> versus us being >> I mean >> have them already there >> $2,000 a year doesn't I mean that to me that seems like a lot for what it is like but I understand like I want transparency I want disclosure I want
the stuff out there but I don't know if I don't like the archiving I don't like Facebook I think it's I don't like the algorith alithms. I don't like how it gets people. Yeah. >> Well, what I can do, council, um is we'll add it to the council agenda as a
business item and whether it moves forward or doesn't move forward or gets uh tabled, uh we'll let that be and we can have a further discussion at the city council, please. >> That sounds good. All right. I will entertain a motion to go into recess because it is 6:01 p.m. >> Motion to recess.
>> Second. >> Motion by Council Member Peterson, second by Council Member Heman to go into into recess. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries 300. We're in recess and we'll pick this up after planning commission. Part: 2
Oh, motion to exit recess. >> Yep, there's one. There's a motion on the floor. >> Motion by council member Peterson to come out of recess. Second by council member Heman. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries 30. We are out of recess and we will continue
discussion on. Do we want to go to E4 police department roof update? >> E3 concluded to handle November. So yeah, >> yeah, there's not enough. We don't have enough consensus here for really to do a whole lot with that. I don't think unless Josh needs specific direction for
now. >> No, I think we're good. >> Okay. All right. Then we will go on to E4 Police Department roof update. Chief Myers, >> we're just giving an update because council requested that. I know that uh
we had Luke, your cousin, came out to look at it and one of the other council members sent somebody out and I haven't heard back from either one of them. So, >> um, >> was that on retrussing or was that on just the flat roof? >> That was to look at the flat roof. Um, Josh has been working with one right now
to get the retrusting, but he's trying to work with Rum River Consultants to see what and how. >> Yeah. >> Right. To try to do that piece of the puzzle. >> Yeah. I had Brian Boss out last week, so we don't have any numbers on that yet.
>> But he needs to know from the rumberer, Andy, I think it was, if >> he can do lumber or if it has to be steel because it's a steel building, if it can be combustible or not. >> And he texted me >> Sunday and said he hasn't heard back
from him. So, >> I do know that the one came out and said that there was a fix he could do, but he didn't want to say what it was because he didn't want somebody else to take his idea. kind of. >> So that's that's what I got. >> Did he give you a price on the fix
>> or like any sort of would it last? What do you think it last a year? Like just to get us by until we can plan a little >> fairly obscure. Did you talk to him, too? I think >> I didn't talk to that guy. >> I think Josie. Did you talk to that one contractor that had an idea, but wouldn't tell us what it was? >> Yes, I did. >> I called him. He didn't call me back.
That's the thing. >> Yeah. So, it's a little obscure. I mean, I I get it, but it's hard to move forward with that obscurity. So, I mean, we're still working on it, but we don't have an answer. It's kind of where we're kind of the update.
>> Okay. >> But I did have Brian Bos out. The he looked at the roof and we looked at some of the window flashing and stuff. We might have two problems there because he said lots of times the window leaking is
probably from the window flashing. >> More common on masonary buildings, too. Um, And we obviously know we have roof leaks because it leaks in the middle of the roof as well. But he's wondering if the wind where it pours in the window sills is from the window flashing on the
masonary and then obviously the roof leaks for the middle of the building are from the roof. >> Okay. So maybe the windows are the more pressing issue to see if it solves the issue to begin with. after that comment. We haven't done it did it yet, but um I think that
test case to that is bring the garden hose out to those windows that are affected. >> Sure. >> Right. To see if we can remanufacture that leak because if it comes in that way, we know that's the window. >> Okay. >> That's kind of >> We also haven't had a good rain since we
sealed it and painted it. >> Sure. and he said agreed with me on that that that's probably going to help some of the water that penetrates into the block wall, but we don't know yet if it rained really hard if it's going to how much it helps. >> Did you guys
with the couple rains we've had there's been no more watering grass. >> Yeah, but they haven't been really heavy rains. They're real light. >> Still no mold or anything. >> You have to tear into that wall to see if there's mold. Right. The the good
thing we got going is it's not uh like fiberglass batted insulation. The walls are foam. >> Ah, >> I did verify that. >> Okay. >> It still could have moisture on it, but it isn't going to collect and stay wet
like the insulation with the fiberglass. >> Okay. >> Foam will dry out. >> So, yeah, that's our update. If you have any other direction, we'll keep plugging at that and let you know what that goes. But >> I would like to see if you could do the test on the windows and hopefully that's just all the windows and that issue and
then we can budget for I mean obviously you don't want to leak in over the squad cars or anything but that's less of an issue than the office space. Give us some time to budget or figure out best course of action. So >> Brian was going to get a surprise on like if he opened up one window to see
how it's flashed too and then go, "Yeah, it's correct or not correct." Which then he would know if we can try the water thing and see what we find out, but he was going to give me a price on busting open one and repairing it and seeing if it's done correctly or not.
>> How many windows do we have on that side? Oh, it was like >> 14 or 16. >> Oh. >> Oh, it's a lot. Okay. >> Double up and down. And then there was two on the back.
>> Okay. I thought he said 14, but >> so with that many windows that could very well be causing that many leaks that add up to >> Yeah. And there's certain windows that are affected and certain ones that aren't as affected. >> But when we walked around to every window, there was water damage in every
window. >> Okay. All right. >> And on a secondary note, feel free to drive by there at night and see this >> the sign. That's nice. That's cool. And the building looks good. You did you say you sealed the whole building or just the the whole thing or just the stripes?
>> No, we painted the stripes and then we sealed the whole building with >> Awesome. >> Cool. >> Any input on that, guys, other than keep plugging away. See if you can get the windows fixed first or I would assume the windows are probably needing some
work. It is what was it built? 2003 or >> somewhere in there 34. >> Okay. And I'm sure a contractor can tell you, you know, if masonry maybe it does something in 20 years and you just got to reseal it or I don't know. So, >> do we have any other people that we put out a window bid for to diagnose it
versus just >> I don't understand that we need to take the window out to determine how it was flashed. How they couldn't determine that from the exterior. >> You can't you can't see the flashing on the window from the exterior. All you can see is the weep rope. >> They're inset. So the way a window works
is you put like a a bomb beam and then you have a skinnier block and then you have a rubber flashing. So when the water comes down the wall, it hits that rubber flashing, goes out the weep ropes. >> It would be the flashing would be metallic like on a normal. >> It could be, but they could not put rubber down in there at all and you
wouldn't know until you open the wall up. >> They could put the weep rope and have it come down to the bomb beam course, but it's still not going to without the rubber flashing in there. And if it wasn't inspected, which
Who knows or done right? >> Sure. >> Just that's what he he recommended. I mean, you can have other people quote it, but this is mainly just an idea to see what it would cost so we know, hey, maybe we do want
to invest 500 or a,000 or whatever to see what if it was at least flashed, right? or wait for the rain to come and see, hey, maybe the sealer is helping on that or it's not doing anything. We're still leaking everywhere. We don't know yet. >> Sure.
>> Once we can if if Josh can move forward with working with the contractor for the one window, once we know what the issue is, we can then have a scope of work go out to our contractor list and work on getting more quotes to ensure that they're competitive. >> Yep. But it's difficult to this is part
of the issue too with the roof is we can't say it can be repaired. Can't say we just need we can put a picture up. We can't give a scope of work that's definitive because >> so it's difficult to get apples to apples quotes >> right now and I think we are going to
wait um to decide if we wanted to pitch it to see what the rough cost would be like if it's going to be $3 million to pitch it versus 500,000. You know what I mean? That's not the real numbers but yeah. So maybe if you could, you know, you'll get that information for the pitch roof. I think it, you know, if
public works isn't comfortable taking out the window and looking at it, maybe you'd want someone that's more specialized in windows to decide if it was done right or not, I assume. Or or are you comfortable pulling it out and looking at it yourself or with staff or >> Well, I think we could try the water
thing and then let's just see wait and see what his price comes back to give us one window. >> Okay. >> Before we break it open now. Okay, >> sure. >> I think we should that's a good starting point. And he's after having him out
there, he's built hundreds of these buildings and he's like usually when it leaks around the window, it's a flashing issue >> on the masonary. >> Okay, sounds good. You guys got direction on that or you need any more? Good to go.
>> We're going to keep moving forward. I wish I had more answers, but we didn't get him out there till later last week. I understand. All righty. We'll move on to E5. Posting QR code for donations at the archery range. Who would want to take this one?
>> I'll do that. Okay. Good evening, uh, mayor and council. Um, so it looks like the park board requested a Q QR code at the archery range to do a test trial on it. Um, that's the information I got. Sounds
like the only thing I have is you might get some push back or backlash from the community if we're asking for money and then we're paying for the park with tax money. That's about all I have. It's up to you guys. >> I think it's, you know, kind of like
illuminated like if you really appreciate it, you can decide to donate. Like you don't have to. So it's I think it's more of like a, you know, a freewheel deal so people would feel likely. Did we get any kickback from Illuminary Sandy about putting our QR code out if people wanted to donate? We
get did get >> I mean there was comments made about that it should just be a free event. >> Oh yeah, but I mean with the QR codes for donations this last year. >> I guess I'm not 100% on that. That'd be a better Stephanie question. But I know we didn't get very many donations,
>> right? I'm just thinking if we were to say like we put this out at the archery range and we can allocate that money specifically for the archery range like hey any money donated will go towards new targets type of thing because I think people then it's like oh that's cool you know if I'm here you know 10 hours a summer it's worth you know 50
bucks or 20 bucks or whatever to donate you know it's a free will so if we can guarantee each QR code will go to you know a certain account is that I assume that's possible but >> yeah I do think that we can I mean We would have to put a policy together anyways or at least a resolution stating
that any donations collected through there and authorizing staff to, you know, quote unquote earmark it for that. We could do that, but because all donations have to be accepted by council, we just have to put a resolution together. >> Okay.
>> And is it one location like at the skate park you'd want it? I mean, or do you want it more places? >> Yeah. So, I think George, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the idea was just to put it at, you know, one spot and see how it worked and then then we don't
have to full-blown implement it everywhere. Was that the park board consensus? >> That's the way we were looking at it, too. Let's try uh the archery range cuz it's a specialized type park amenity and uh we thought maybe
people that used it a lot might want to contribute to have targets, you know, turned around faster than maybe we're doing it. And if we have the funds to do that, it it' make it easier to do quicker. um and maybe some expansion at
some other time in the future if it if it worked well or I don't I think that that was the consensus and we'd start there and then maybe if it's successful maybe try it in some other areas like the skate park or >> and I'll just add I'm sure you saw it in
your packet the memo the park board did have just some um they weren't against it but they did want to have just some notes brought up about um the financial management you know the cost to have the finance director managing it on the back end of having um funds coming into the
city have to be recorded, etc. Security and fraud. Um there have been I'm not sure which person had brought that up, but there had been um the potential for people putting their own QR code on top of a city QR code potential. So staff would have to verify that the sign wasn't manipulated in any way. and they
recommended a trial run um to install July 1 and use it for the summertime. It sound like during the height of the archery season, not year round. >> Sure. >> And then just to see how successful it is and then bring it back to see if it's
worth the cost of managing it. So, just wanted to make sure we brought that up. >> Yep. So for the the QR code issue, um could we potentially, you know, you make the screen, you make the QR code and then you maybe have a screenshot of the actual inter website it's supposed to
take you to. Have them right next to each other and say this is the what the website looks like. So that way if someone's somehow manipulates, puts a different QR code over there, people can see right then and there it's the wrong one. I don't know how big the sign would be. Like if are we talking, you know, 8 by 8 or is that totally up to our
discretion or >> It's up to our discretion. Okay, that might be a way to combat it because then if your screen doesn't look like that, well, >> you can just make it so that whatever website it brought it you to was also looking like that though. >> Yeah, I suppose. >> URL. >> Yeah, that too. That wasn't mentioned in
here as well too. But just another I mean that's a pretty complicated step for something that might bring in a couple hundred bucks maybe. But you never know. >> So if the consensus is to move forward, this will be coming to council then. Either you three are either you two
opposed to it. >> I'm not opposed to it. >> Okay. Try it and see how it works. I think it's a good idea. >> All right. Uh E6 stage discussion. That is you again, Mr. Becker. >> Or I'll actually talk on that one. Sorry. It's more of a finance. So, we
have the stage that we use and he will be able to speak on the condition. Um, but we did have that uh stage that we used for the street dances out in the parking lot like last cow. And so I know lot of you if not all of you council members had checked it over, looked at it. Um, really what we need for council
to to decide is where do we want to put it as a replacement year? We do little repairs every year public works going to weld it, fix it, whatever, but we don't actually have it in our cap cip plan. So, is there a year that you would like to attach to that that staff should start looking at um replacement of the
stage? >> So, I looked at it pretty in depth and I have a lot of, you know, background in welding and stuff and it's actually pretty solid trailer. You know, it was probably built in the 60s. Uh that's built to last back then. All it is is steel and wood. You know, if if anything ever gets beat up, you cut it out and
replace it. you know, it's I I don't think it's one of those things, you know, we put 10 miles a year on it, you know, five events or four events, it's like it barely gets any miles on it. So, I I really don't think we even need it in the capital replacement plan. Um, based on a little discussion I have with Josh, you guys are good with continuing
to repair it, but I don't know what your opinion was if we need to plan for it. I mean, you know, it's 60 70 years old already. Probably 60 years old. Like, >> yeah, it's old. Um, I guess I we can always weld it and repair it obviously
that steel and wood, but maybe maybe you just want to put a date on it. I mean, you guys pick the date or I guess it's up to you if you don't want to, but I think it's proactive to always have things >> scheduled out
and and maybe as the street dances get more popular and bigger, maybe you want to get something bigger and fancier. Okay. >> Stage or something down the road >> with a roof that maybe wouldn't stop you for rain or whatever, you know. I not that it happens often, but I mean it's
up to you guys. >> What does one run? I I have that information or one of these park and wreck meetings. So, I don't remember off the top of my head, but that's why we had a long discussion about it because we thought the one we
had, we could possibly put 5 10 grand into that one, even get a roof on it, um, and beef it up and it'd probably be good for another 20 years or so. But that's I'm not sure. Yeah, I guess I didn't look into what the other ones
costed or anything, but >> if you were to get a replacement one, like what what is the value of the one that we have? >> So, we got that one used and I believe it was $4,000 or yeah, $4,000 in 2003 when the city
got it as a used trailer. >> It'll be worth a little more now. Trailers have gone up quite a bit, probably six, seven grand. But it's I think it's one of those things >> over the next like 20 30 years though. I mean like the the line item would be so small,
>> right? But a new one to get a new one. But it's got to be that's got to be pretty pricey. >> Give me a sec. Maybe I can find the price. >> I thought she had a price last time, but I don't recall ever seeing it. >> There is a price. >> Wasn't it in the packet or
>> should have it here? It's going to be a minimum of 20 grand >> if you were to try and do direct replacement for a new one of the same. >> Oh, for the without any sort of >> not improving or adding any features just to if you bought a new version of that one
>> 16 to 18 >> thousand. >> Mhm. >> It's roughly what do we say 36 foot I think we roughly me you measured it I remember somewhere around 34 or 36. >> Would you like add to the CIP for like less than a thousand a year? depending on what we want. Yeah.
>> But if you're not trying to add anything to it and you say 20 30 years of life out of it for 18 to 20 grand, >> pretty uh low cost per year so long as it's not repairable at some point. But
if it's just welded metal, then should be repairable indefinitely. >> Yeah, I think the one we got now is repairable indefinitely. It's just a matter of if you want to add to it or have a, you know, better stage cuz I've heard, you know, Josh said this too. I've heard good reviews and bad reviews
about the stage. So, I think it's pretty middle of the road. >> Adding to it be a different different discussion because CIP is just to replace, not to >> change the the capabilities. >> Sure. >> Yeah. I mean, you can modify the one you have, but you still
>> Right. But that that would be CIP though, right? >> What's that? modifying it wouldn't be CIP. That would just be a different thing entirely. >> Yeah. >> Right. We would we would just we would budget for >> Yeah. improvements,
>> that's stored outdoors, correct? >> Outdoors. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Oh, it is. >> Yeah. >> A lot of our equipment stored outdoors. We just don't have room. >> Is that the the site next to the the water treatment plant then or where is that kept at? >> It's at the public workshop. We usually
store it behind the salt shed. >> Okay. A new roof would make the decking last longer. It's behind the salt shed, so it's mostly in the in the shade most of the day, right? >> Yeah. I mean, in the winter for sure. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. In the summer it gets sunnier back
there, but we usually cover it with some poly, too. >> Okay. So, I was able to pull up mayor council uh the agenda and item about the stage from the park board meeting and in there was some some costs um through ultimate events. There was depending on
if you wanted it to be covered or not. It ranged from 20,000 to 40,000. Um, you could also rent them if you're looking for a portable covered stage to rent was depending on the size around 1,400 to up
to almost 27 2,800 per event. Um, there's another company too that did some rentals that was able to be found by staff. 36 by 13 covered stage. She had included a picture of what it looks like to I believe to rent it or to buy it from
that one company that went to through Parkboard. And I do think the benefit of maybe considering going there, especially if we're going to continue on doing our three street dances per year and they were very very well attended is when we do cancel a street dance, we
still pay the the band. So we are out sometimes thousands of dollars and that does add up. So, it's maybe something that we do want to move to. And if people want to sit in the rain and listen, they can if they want, but the band will still play on as long as it's not like obviously a storm
lightning. >> Would there be any way if there's a weather problem? I this might kind of be uh heresy to say because it's called a street dance but using the the band show at that point >> uh it has been offered to the bands but
per their contract uh that is a contract amendment so it's up to them. We did have a band that was willing to do that but I know we've also had bands that were not willing to do that. The location is put into the agreement. Could we put into the agreement that the
backup is that? >> Uh if they're willing to >> and if they're not willing, >> there's a lot of some of the bands are not willing to because there's a lot of setup. >> Sure. >> To set up, take down, set up. And some bands like that I've seen when I was working them, they have a different crew that comes and sets up for them. Then
they leave and then they come up back and tear down. >> What if we provide like the decision would be made made like 24 48 hours out before anything is actually set up? if you got forecasted rain. >> Again, it would depend on the band in the contract. I mean, we could say that we don't want to go with bands that
don't have that kind of flexibility, but I think you will limit yourself. >> If we're going to put money into to I would rather put money into our trailer than paying to rent one because not only do you have to pay to rent it, then you have to go spend public works times to pick it up and bring it back. And if you're talking, you know, call it 2,000
bucks a pop, you could you could build a lid on that for probably, you know, three or four grand. And if you're just using tin, you're not going high speed. You know, you're never going to bring it anywhere outside the city limits. So, you don't really have to do a whole heck of a lot. I wouldn't think. >> The only problem with the way ours is
set up is you fold it out. >> Sure. >> So, the roof would be somewhat difficult on that. Or you'd only be roofing the back half. >> Back, >> but still it'd be in the way of folding. Then we would be hauling the sides out
and hooking them up because we wouldn't be able to fold them anymore because you can take them off and rebolt them on. >> Okay, >> if that makes sense. >> Maybe I'll have to look at that closer with you. See if there's any creative way >> the trailer the the sides fold in on
top. >> Yep. >> So when we haul it down there, it's folded in. Then you open it up. What if we were to make the sides permanently up and then build your your roof off of those sides? So, it's permanently the
sides are up and the roof is permanently up. >> Well, that's what I was saying. Then your stage would be half the size. >> Sure. >> But the double the size because we open it up. >> Okay. >> So, a couple rollout canopies like they
have on RVs would not work to configure onto that. >> Oh, like an awning. An awning. >> Yeah, an awning. >> I mean, yeah, possibly something like that could work. >> You just have to make sure there'd have to be enough structurally
>> structural integrity that if the wind gusted up, it it didn't I mean, then you're just asking for liability, but >> it's possible. Just haven't dug into that yet. >> Sure. >> Or cost. >> Do you guys think that you want to put something in the capital improvement
plan for it or what are your thoughts? I got just a couple more questions. I'm going to go basic. So, the axle is in great shape. >> It's two double axles. >> Double axle bearing. It's usually just bearing. So, they're not rusting out. Springs are okay for
>> So, if you had to beef it up and not have to work on it for another 10, 15 years, how much money and steel do you think you'd have into it in time? >> I mean, I haven't done any figures or anything on that. So
>> five grand or less, you think? >> I'd say if you really wanted to beef it up and put a roof on it, you're asking >> not not the roof. Just just the trailer to have >> Oh, just beefing. Yeah. >> So you're not working on it and welding it. >> Two, three grand into it. You could probably beef up the frame. >> It's pretty It's pretty sturdy the way
it is. It's It's a well-built trailer. I mean, they built stuff to last back then. So then if we were to keep that one, what we would be really looking into if we keep it is to put a roof on it if if we can some kind of protection that would be safe and storm proof if something something came up. But most
storms if even if you have a roll out can uh awning um the wind picks up. You can you can roll that back in pretty quick. >> Yeah, you could roll an awning quick. But the >> just to keep in mind though, we don't leave public works doesn't stay at the events. Okay.
>> They come set up and then they leave and they come back >> and they won't >> if it's a rollup awning and you're worried about wind and they got to roll it in, they won't play and have they don't want their equipment out there to get wet. So, they're not going to want to roll. >> True, true, true, true.
>> Yep. >> I think we should look into adding the the canopy of our own. Just might have to get creative on how it's done, you know? Oh, so maybe we want to put some money in the CIP that we can say either we're going to eventually buy a different trailer or we just, you know, upgrade this one. It's going to take
some money. >> Yeah, I think if you're if you're okay with it, council, I think we should let Josh digest that, come up with some potential ideas what will work and then he can cost them out if there's some options that are feasible and bring it back. >> And I do think the wood and stuff
eventually is going to have to be replaced, >> right? >> You know, it's I I know we replaced it. would spend probably eight, nine years, give >> or take. >> Is that 5/8 plywood or 3/4 plywood? >> It's 3/4 inch plywood. But it's starting
to >> delaminate. Yes, exactly. So, >> eventually the wood's going to go. >> Not marine grade, just regular. >> When we put that on it, it was just green tree. Now, if that's a great if
you go replace it now, you probably we would probably go to marine grade or something that can hold moisture a little better. >> Would make more sense. >> That's about 100 bucks a sheet. >> Okay. So, for now, we'll work on more options of just using what we have.
>> Yeah, I think so. I'd like to look at it that that first before we buy a new one. And I'm not opposed to getting a new one at all. I mean, just really like to use the options we have if we can possibly do it.
>> I agree. Any other input, Nick? >> I mean, if we can modify it to get some contingencies covered, I think that's worthwhile. But also, I think using what we have we have I I wouldn't do it again. I didn't I
didn't want to do it the first time, but we have the band shell and if we can have that be a way to cover a base, I'd like to look at that as well. >> Sure. Maybe we could talk about that at another meeting about um maybe having a
backup plan for the using the amphitheater if we give them 24-hour notice. And if they're not okay with that, well, there's lots of there's lots of bands that'll that want to play in the street dance. I know every year there's bands that hit me up and or the last couple years and they're like, "Hey, is the is the are the street dances covered yet for bands?" People
want to play local. So, >> yeah, I do believe that it's brought up as a request and if we don't want to go with the bands who don't want to do that, um, we can certainly do that, but just hasn't been the direction before. >> Okay. Well, maybe bring that up at the
next cow. Uh we can talk about that with the whole group and see what everybody thinks. >> Okay, >> if that sounds good to you guys. >> Y >> All right. Uh 652. Um so item E7, we'll just start on that and
see where we get uh cannabis ordinances and fees discussion. Uh I had brought this up because as all of us are aware, the state changed their legislature and pulled the tax benefit to the city so that the city would have got a percentage of the sales um from cannabis. they pulled that from the city
and instead allocated it to the state. Uh so now the city essentially gets no money to cover the compliance and regulatory checks. I know in the last meeting we had talked about, you know, what does that mean? Asked Travis if he had heard anything about, you know, is it going to be a monthly compliance
check? Is this going to be done by the state? I don't know if you had any more information, but I would >> So the last they looked there's one compliance check per year. >> Okay. >> So I'm pretty sure that's where they're at. >> Okay. And then does it does it give you any guidelines about how long that takes or if there's a violation, how much time?
>> Well, that would be dependent on the scenario at hand, you know. Yeah. >> Okay. So, with that being said, I didn't know if maybe we just my idea was to add a new fee category um maybe for comp call compliance and regulatory checks and charge per hour. So that way if we
have to have I don't know how that works but if we were say you have a a compliance check once a year and it's three hours if that's was that $225 and then if there's more you can charge for I don't know if that's >> Can we do that? >> I don't know.
>> I'm I'm not >> I'd have to look into I was not I'm not sure um if it's not allowed in statute for us to charge for that specifically. I'm not sure if we can. >> Sure. >> Now whether you want to consider that fee within part of your registration fee
here nor there, but I'm not aware without looking further into it if we can actually charge for a compliance fee because I believe that that is just part of us allowing them to be here is that we will guarantee they're compliant with state regulations. It's part of the mandate passed down.
>> Yeah. Part that they change the rules on after we already made policy. So, >> right, I would like to see something out of the box to be able to cover that because And we did include, sorry, we did include the fees that we have in the the agenda packet because when these were
established, it was to be >> business friendly and keep them really low. So some of them can go up higher. Uh so that's for your >> I just thought if if there was a way to make it, you know, fair to everybody because there's going to be some businesses that might need more
compliance checks than others. And if you charge the same fee, then it's not really fair for everybody. And at the end of the day the we do we don't want you know if there is a big issue our taxpayers to pay the burden of our extra police time or or anything involved with it. Hopefully that never happens but you
have to plan for the worst case. Uh so that was an idea that I would appreciate you know city staff could look into that. I don't know if you guys had any other ideas. >> I'd like to see all the fees maxed out. >> Mayor and council I would just
generically estimate you'd have a $500 I mean it's $450. um whether you have one, two, three or four or five compliance checks in a in the city. >> Just saying that's my estimate. We it would cost the city about $500 a year.
It will because we have them whether we have one, two, three, four, maybe five. Figuring because we're going to have two officers to do that at three hours. um whether you know they'd be at 3 hours if we had one and you know it's
probably not going to take more than 20 30 minutes at each one unless there's an issue. So just generically anecdotally that's kind of the number that I would work with as far as when you guys are looking at fee stuff is that $500 mark unless we have more than you know that
five dispensaries to do compliance checks. Well then it probably be more than three hours. So, you think the $500 would cover it? >> $500 would cover two officers for three hours, right? Okay. And so, it's hard to tell. We haven't done them
yet, but realistically, a compliance check is to go in and actually get that compliance. It shouldn't take, you know, 30 minutes per. But, as you know, if you only one, it's going to cost the same as if you have,
you know, six. >> Sure. So, the $500 right now for the registration and the renewal, that's u Minnesota state maximum. Just confirming that.
>> Sorry, I was looking up the >> that that's okay. >> The the cannabis registration $500 and uh the renewal we have it set at 500. Is is that the state maximum right now? So the state maximum the state maximum is
listed or the state fee is listed. City registration fee can only be up to 50% of the state fee. >> Okay. And that's what that means. Or 50%. Oh, okay. So we're already covered either way. >> And some of them we are. >> Okay. >> But like if you look at the cannabis
mezo business for example, that application fee is 5,000. We're charging 500. We could go up to 2500 for that. Does that make sense? >> Yes. >> So, some some we can't go any higher, but some we can.
>> Do we know is there more compliance or more in-depth compliance with these other ones that have higher cost? Is that something that we know yet? >> No, I mean I think most of the information I got was more on the uh retail dispensary side compliance. We
had some somewhat direction on that. >> Okay. Nick, what are your thoughts? Do you want to look at increasing the fees? Do you want to keep them the same? Do you want to look at more creative solution? What do you think? >> Are there any data points where it's
been an issue with time or with causing problems yet? >> We don't know here. So I would say until there's data to act upon of what the cost is that need to be adjusted or what the remedy is that would need to be adjusted
I would say see what happens then we can if these are the tools we have at our disposal that we can do once we have a problem to address if we have a problem to address and then the other thing to take into consideration for fee is so we have Jaden Strand to go through the
regulatory um paperwork with them for their registration here and She also has to go into the state of Minnesota's office management's portal to approve in their portal. Um, and so there are a few steps that staff has to do internally as
we look at like what all takes time. still at if if we don't have every fee that we can maxed out, we should max them out. Only because when we originally did all this, we were under the assumption that
we would get some tax back to help with the costs of enforcement and everything else that goes along with it. So, >> still get tax revenue from them being a business in the city. >> Yeah. Property tax, >> I suppose. But it's if I think about it
this way, there's other businesses that don't have any sort of compliance checks from us or any sort of, you know, there's some that have some, but it's different with one business where they're just self-sufficient. We don't ever go there versus one of these. It might be different. I don't know. Maybe I don't mind your, you know, wait and
see idea either. Uh, I just know that it was a discussion that I kind of wanted to have. So, you know, going forward, we know or are, you know, able to formulate a plan if it becomes a problem. Yeah, if it becomes a burden, I'm I'm not against the city trying to address and recoup
costs that are being put onto the the public, >> but until we know if or when there'll be problems and to what degree, then I don't know how to really address that without being uh punitive or
uh preventing people from wanting to open up a business here. >> That makes sense. Give it a year. Wait and see. see what we're dealing with and see. >> It's a yearly renewal thing. I mean, it's not a whole lot of time if if you'd want to max everything out. I mean, it's not like it's a fiveyear cycle or
something, >> right? >> Motion to recess. >> Yep. Motion to recess by Council Member Peterson. >> Second. >> Second by Council Member Heman. All in favor of going into recess, say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries 300. We are in recess and we'll pick up city council
right now at 7 o'clock.