--------- pet stuff. But I still think that we need that park and wreck is a stepping stone and that's why that's a rotate because they get the experience of working for a city. So now they can go to another city and get a job, not just doing parking. All right, it's 7:00. This uh let's call
this city council meeting to order. If we could all rise for the pledge of allegiance. I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Doing roll call. All voting members are present. Uh we'll open up for public comment. If there's any public comment tonight, you're more than more than welcome to come forward. Come on up and just state your name and
address for the record, please. This one, right? Either one. Either one. Dell Van Bleep 508 Molen Loop. I just wanted to congratulate Luke Merrill for his unofficial win.
Oh, thank you. I appreciate that. Any other public comment tonight? Uh hearing none, we'll close the public comment. We'll move on to adopting the agenda. Are there any changes? Um we do have a few changes. Um we had a
removal of K4, the city ashtree survey presentation, which will be moved to the next meeting. Um and that is all. Motion to approve with changes. Second. Motion to approve by council member Lundine. Second by council member
Peterson. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed. Uh motion carries. 5-0. The agenda is adopted. Uh next we'll move on to the approval of the city council meeting minutes. Uh July 30th, 2025 city council budget work session meeting minutes. Any questions or changes on those?
Motion to approve. Second. Motion to approve by council member Lundine. Second by council member Peterson. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. Uh, August 6, 2025 city council meeting minutes. Motion to approve. Second.
Motion to approve by Counciloman Lundine. Second by Council Member Peterson. All in favor say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. Uh, council committee reports. Anybody have any tonight?
I I ju just want to uh for just for information, the BMX has a meet meeting in a race this weekend, right? And state finals. So that area in Bluebird Park is going to be a little busy this weekend.
So just adds up. Almost as bad as the rodeo. Any other council committee reports? Okay, I have a couple. So, today was the uh big day at LMC for me. I had uh like eight hours of meetings today. Um the
improving local economies policy committee um which is you know economic policy and recommendations that LMC gives to the state legislature. Um I was down there and we talked about a whole gamut of things. Um but something I'm specifically going to work on for a policy recommendation is uh requiring
municipalities to save money for their local matches. especially with uh highway projects. Uh there are a lot of municipalities down in the metro area that don't save money for local matches and then when MDOT comes through and says, "Hey, we're doing a project." They don't have money for it. So then they
have to take state money to pay their share and it's I think it's a a poor fiscally not responsible thing to do. Um and then also I wanted to write something about requiring every city to have some sort of CIP. Uh kind of like we already have. There are cities that
don't have a CIP, which blows my mind. Um, so I think that cities should be required to have those things. Um, it's just, you know, planning for the the long-term fiscal future of a city is important and I don't think, you know, the rural areas or other taxpayers should pay for a city that doesn't do
those things when they have big mess ups. So, I'm going to write something for that. I'll work with the League of Minnesota City staff on that. Um, and then there's another proposal uh regarding group home density um for residential programs. That's been a big concern for uh some of the metro areas
and and up here. Uh they're having issues with too many group homes in certain residential areas. Um I've heard a couple complaints here in Iani about that. So I'm curious to see uh what they come up with for that. Um and there's about another other 60 policies that we'll we'll be going through, but uh
those were the two that I think are the most impactful here. Um and then for human resource and data practices policy committee uh we had a presentation today on the paid leave push. Um so the state has a mandate for paid leave. Um we had
you know two and a half hours discussion on that. Uh I'm going to write an amendment uh with a provision of local control on that. So uh the state legislature uh fought last year to try and change that. Um and it wasn't the majority vote. Uh it was kind of tie
situation. So, nothing really changed with that. Um, they were hoping and LMC was hoping that uh it would limit the cost to everybody for that paid leave. Um, but they weren't successful last year. So, we're going to try again this year. Uh, and like I said, I'm going to write an a an amendment that has a
provision for local control. So hopefully local local um municipalities can choose to uh participate in that or not because you know if if if you have to pay medical leave we should have a
choice you know and I think that there's going to be huge impacts on the local economies especially say if every business in the city of Iani has to pay you know up to 20 weeks of paid leave to every employee that's a huge cost and that's a huge cost to do business and I think businesses will be more likely to
leave Minnesota for other states. Um, so I think the cities and the municipalities should have some control over that. Uh, so hopefully we can talk about that. I know, uh, government preeemption down there is a big discussion with all cities and I think every city wants their own decision-making ability with things like
that. So, I think that'll be a favorable deal for everybody. Uh, but we'll see how that goes. Really appreciate all the hard work you do on that committee that I so happy we added that as a committee. I mean, there's so information so much information and so much that affects our
city and I like the way we're able to actually influence a little bit and have them look at things a little different and um I'm I'm glad you're there. I'm hoping we have a dedicated council member in the future to be able to to get to those meetings.
So, that's something I was actually going to propose. I would like to have a special work session where we work as a group together to look at all these policies. There's I don't know a couple hundred policies that LMC has and I think each of us has a different perspective on what's important and if
we can work on it together maybe one or two times a year and we can come together and say hey the city of Sani would like to see this change then whoever is the LMC rep can can write a provision for that uh for that policy and try and get it you know in front of the board and see if that works for every city.
I like that idea. Should we do a maybe two work sessions a year? Uh sure. instead of committee of the whole, we have a LMC work session. I think that would be good. I already got copies of all the agendas for us. So, I think that's a great idea. It I think
it's really good to see what uh what you know the changes that are that may happen or that could happen in the near future that affect us as a city. Um, yeah, I think it's a great idea. And maybe what ideas we can help bring to it that common sense ideas.
Does LMC stay neutral on that stuff or they screen out stuff that they don't want or how is that? Uh, so what happens is every any any person that's a member, any city, any of the 485 cities or whatever, can bring forth a policy recommendation and then it's voted on by the group of people
that are there. So, usually it's 60 70 people. So, everybody takes a vote and if it passes, it passes. If it doesn't, then it doesn't pass. So, it's a majority of the city vote in the state. Can I ask one quick question? How many smaller cities like us have
representatives? Are are we getting out represented? Is it mostly the That's what I thought. So, it's all the larger cities putting their agendas forward and the smaller cities like us. We don't have a chance to be able to say, "Hey, wait." You know, I I don't think that's true.
there's just never been a voice in there that's really been vocal for the smaller communities because you're they're outnumbered. But I think last year I was able to, you know, talk some talk some of these things, you know, some small changes that made things more um
equitable or better for us here in Sani. So if you can make those changes and smaller impacts, I think it helps. Okay. How many of those sessions are there per year? Uh three for each of the four committees. So there's a total of 12 meetings. over three months.
It's over a three-month period. So, next month is the last meeting. Um, so probably next year I'm going to come forward with a couple things that we had talked about, but uh next year I think we should we should work together or later this year to look at these and dive deep and see if there's anything
that city staff or us want to do. You can't. You should see if you can get like Cambridge, North Branch, Princeton, surrounding cities to get somebody to go down there along with you because you start showing those numbers now. You're no longer just
one voice. You're multiple voices. Cambridge does show up virtually. Yeah. Well, virtually personally, if you show up in person carries a lot more weight than sitting behind the phone, right? Assume townships are not.
Nope. They have their own municipalities and then the county has their own as well. Okay. I think it's a great group. I mean, you can get the consensus of all the cities in the state and there's no better sounding board than every city in the state making policy recommendations to senators and rep or uh house members. So,
sure. Any other council committee reports? All right. We will move on to business item K1. Resolution to consider approving a special event permit for a summer sendoff showdown car show. Um, good evening, mayor and council. Um,
a special event permit application has been received for the summer sendoff showdown car show. The event will take place August 23rd from 12:00 p.m. to 6 pm for a one-day event. It will be held at the firefighter rodeo grounds. Um, is a car show, food trucks, local vendors,
and businesses. And they will have five to six portable restrooms. Spectators will be um park on the public streets adjoining the rodeo grounds and a temporary liquor license has been approved by the city and the state. There's an estimated of 200 estimate of
200 to 300 people in attendance. Motion to approve. I do have one question. Uh for this one I assume that's not required but at what point expected attendance is security or police presence uh required or requested?
How big of a how big does an event need to be before it would become an issue or forecasted for? I mean, it depends on the type of event too. you know, if it's an alcohol-related event or non-alcoholic related event. And then would relate on, you know, if you're if you're getting
pushing that 2,000 plus people, that's a soft number, but that would be kind of where we'd have to start having some plans, you know, because then we'd want them to start having what's your first aid plan when you have 2,000 people on site, you know, what's the safe security
plan and stuff like that. That's a rough number, but that's where I'd kind of start with. Okay. And I will say this is put on by a local business owner and he was pretty excited about it. So I think it's awesome. Uh Travis, did you have any concerns about
anything in this as far as alcohol and vehicles or No. No. Okay, sounds good. And there was a motion seconded. Motion by council member Lundine. I started a second. Okay, so second. Okay.
Motion by council member Lundine. Second by council member Heman. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. I'm looking forward to that one. I should be there for that. So, uh, K2 resolution to consider approving a fireworks display permit for Delightful Acres, Weddings, and Events
located at 27600 Pulk Street Northeast. Good evening. Again, the applicant has requested a permit for a fireworks display. Um, all required application materials, including the site plan, liability insurance documentation, and state certifications have been submitted and reviewed. The ice fire district fire
chief has inspected the site plan and recommends approval also and has signed off on the permit. How often are they going to have these fireworks? I don't know. This is just for one wedding event. So, I'm not sure what their plans are. They would have to get it approved each time. I I would strongly recommend that if
they're going to have it for every wedding, they should come in and request it. There is a lot of people and it I'm not one of them, but there's a lot of people with pets, fireworks, set their dogs off. I had a dog that was that way. Uh I do totally understand that, you
know. I mean, it's always that two weeks before Fourth of July and week or so after, although this year was actually really good that those fireworks are going off continuously and there is a lot of controversy about that and that noise will travel from the south end of
town in town. So, I I I don't have any problem with them getting it, but I think they need to request it every time they want to do it. It makes sense and it gives the neighbors and the community a little bit of heads up and time and know when it's going to happen if they're if they're keeping track of what we're doing. So,
like I said, it's it's like I was talking to Mayor Merrill, a lot of things are respectful, being respectful to other people. Just because you want it doesn't mean everybody in the surrounding area wants it. So, you got to be respectful. And I
don't I don't think that's being disrespectful to ask for that. So, I make a motion to approve it. You said that uh it gives people a heads up. Is there anything beyond the this meeting that notifies the public that it's happening?
But they would have to come in and ask they're going to have to come in and ask for it and the city would be putting it on the Facebook in the page and the city is going to put on Facebook that permit was approved. Yeah, generally it is the the news that
they're going to put it in the paper's going to put it in as well. Okay. I think that there's only like four neighboring houses there. So, I'm not I'm not concerned about a pretty secluded area. I wasn't aware that the public's notified every time one of the outside of like through the website our very we have very minimal
we do like uh requirements for this permit. It doesn't happen a lot. Usually, it's just us pulling out this permit. And so if you guys want to recommend in this approval to have them notify everybody within 350 ft, which is our standard for special events, we could do that also.
So it' be anybody within 350 ft of the property line. I think I think that would be fine. There's only like three or four there. Okay. I don't I don't know that we I don't think we should post it on Facebook though because it might be their private event. You don't want people That's what I was thinking too. It is a
private event. And then we'll add that to this resolution to um add it to send a letter, a notification letter to all properties within 350 ft of the property lines. That sound fair? Sounds fair to me.
And the fire chief was 100% okay with it. So, I'm good. Yeah. He did a site review, went out there himself to make sure everything was safe, and he said there's plenty of space out there for this. So, yep. 350 ft should only include about what maybe two houses there. Yeah. So, yeah,
we're good. Second. Who made the motion? I did. Okay. Motion by Council Member Lundine, second by Council Member Homegrren. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. Uh K3 resolution to consider amending the policy for police
presence at meetings to include the park and recck board. It's me again. Um just given that we've been in an election year for three years in a row, I think um we've just had
events recently that cause staff to recommend having all meetings, city meetings have police presence. All city meetings except for the park board do currently have police presence. And so um we don't know if that was an oversight in the past, which some people
on staff think it could have been. Um, we're just recommending an amendment to this resolution to include the park and recck board. I'd like to get Travis's intake on this. I think back in 2019, probably Steve,
you're the only one left in that room. So, there was a resolution made um the premise behind that is there was conflict between two people that sat on that board and it was their recommendation because they wanted a police officer whenever the full council met. That's where that resolution came
from. But it also but it al but there was there was a request as you and I had conversation on this by a few mayors ago that wanted a police officer but it was never put in the resolution. Right. And and so back then I became
chief in 2019. Ever since then I came to meetings I plan on coming to meetings for the next five and a years and 11 months. Um whether there's a resolution or not. I don't really think the resolution is necessary. If they don't show up, you know, if I don't show up to your
meetings, I'm not doing my job. I don't need a resolution. Tell me to do job. As far as a park board, if you want somebody to the park board, we'll have to post it as overtime. So, you're going to have to appropriate around $3,500 out of the park budget to pay for that. Or you can call 911 if there's a problem.
And if So, Stephanie is usually here for those meetings. Correct. I'm not always here. It's the park and recreation coordinator. Okay. So I would but as of right now if now I will be for a little while but yes.
So if they were to call an officer what do you think the response time would be? Uh we have given the princip I don't have the top of my head but it depends on that the time of the you know what's going on you know anywhere from 3 minutes to 11 minutes depending on where
they are what's going on. And also you have to realize that meeting is held in here. There's a camera right there that records everything in here. So if there is a problem with a person um and they make that call, I don't
think we have that big of an issue. Um there again I go back to respecting other people. And my recommendation for park board as well as even this board, if there's any issues, you go to recess. you can go to recess till it gets
resolved. Um, as far as pulling another officer, it would have to be an overtime piece because I couldn't justify to the public that it's more important to pull a patrol officer for a park board member than it is for the community. So, we'd have to post it and have somebody else extra come in for that. I just still
think it comes down to not everybody, not us five up here can agree on everything and and each one of us are passionate to what we believe is right. But at the end of the day, we have to walk out that door and at the end of the
day, we got to come back to another meeting. If we cannot be adults, then we shouldn't be involved in these in those meetings. Plain and simple. You need to respect everybody else. Everybody has very hard, you know, they're very staunch in what they believe in, right,
wrong, or indifferent. We're trying to be fiscally responsible as a council up here. And I think by adding, and you may say it's only $3,500. Well, that's $3,500 that could be going to uh a summer helper for the public works
or or somebody in the wintertime or or a staff member or something that it necessarily really needs to be here. I do have to say if you're coming in and causing a disruption, I would say you probably should stay home because
the park board is only an advisory board to this council, plain and simple. And the other reason is that the other ones are always here at the other meetings because all the other meetings full counsel is here at that time. I I want to I want to learn the math on
this one. So we have 12 meetings a month or a year. Um how are you coming up with $3,500? That's three-hour minimum. Okay. No matter if they're here for 10 minutes. That's what I need to know. Three hour minimum by contract at their overtime rate.
Okay. So, I was thinking maybe this was for actually getting like police opinion on things. You know, we've had the the issue with climbing on top of the new park equipment. I know there's a lot of stuff that we bounce off of you guys, off of you, especially regarding all sorts of stuff. And that's why I think it's important
for me to be at these meetings. Agreed. Okay. Yeah. George, can you give any insight on why this was added to We were We're not given any info, so I don't I'm not on the floor. Yeah,
I'll be I'm always frank. I was just as I was wondering just as much as you. So, when I heard staff recommended, um they may have a reason and they unless somebody else on park and wreck um had a
concern and talk to staff. So, I I'm not opposed to it, at least short term, even. Um, maybe it isn't needed long term. I don't I don't think it's worth the overtime myself. I mean, I was it I don't know if
it was an issue up here, an issue out there, is not No issue up here that I'm aware of. You're You're friends with me on Facebook. Do you ever see me post political stuff? There's a reason I don't do it because I'm going to offend somebody because
what I believe in. And to me, Facebook wasn't meant to have this pissing match between people's. Well, that isn't the conversation. But what I'm saying though, George, is the reason I don't do that is for that exact reason. I'm an adult. I don't need
to cause controversy one way or another on that. And that's exactly what's happening when it comes into the if if there's problems. I don't think that's what the problem was with with why this recommendation was and that's a personal opinion. We'll leave that on. I will say that a staff member did feel
unsafe at and after a meeting recently and so um that is where this came from and so it was a recommendation by myself and um administrator Wood to put this on the agenda. Was that from a member of the public or
from our group? Can you say I mean it was from a staff member? No. Who were they scared of? Someone on the park board? From the public. The public. Okay. Not from the park board. In the past, we have had uh you know, prior to 2019, there was calls for well
during the incident we talked about is why resolution. There was there was 911 calls for officers to come to the the council meeting. Um we've never had 911 call for an officer come to a park board meeting. Well, are you familiar with what happened?
No. Well, generically, but what's your based on what you know of it, would you recommend it or it's not criminal? Okay. Uh, let's find a happy medium here. Let's have Let's have them here at the next
meeting. Let me talk to the parkboard members. Let's see what's going on. Let's see how many of them pass. They said they said staff member, not park board member. Just say staff, not park board. I know. I know. I know.
I'm sorry. It's just a personal conversation I'll have with each individual park member and see see what see how they're doing. Okay. Any other comments, questions? Well, that's why I clarifi we're being told that it wasn't a complaint from the
park board. It was a complaint from city staff. Right. Okay. And that's why I wanted to police at the next meeting. Then I'll talk to the park board members and see how Frank again was Frank. I know that more
than one of us up here have a a permit to carry and I don't know how many have permits to carry on that board and I I would feel safe in the room if if a couple of them are. So just be open and honest. So that was a conversation I'll have
with them. And if you want to officer be at the park board, it's you're probably going to make a motion to appropriate the $270 from the park board to the police department to cover that overtime for that shift. Sure. Don't look at me. I I don't I don't think we need it. Hopefully the
the problem is resolved or people can be adults about their differences. Well, isn't that I want staff to feel safe and if staff doesn't feel safe, then I want to make I want to make sure staff feel safe. That that's that's my concern right now. Sure. So, if uh
would that alleviate their concerns though? what what you're talking about doing would that alleviate their concerns or would their concerns still be withstanding? Well, if they're concerned, I'm just thinking let's just kick the can down the road one month. Let's have a police
present next meeting and then go from there. So, we'll have a res just a instead of a resolution, just a verbal thing. We'll take the 275 out of the park and wreck fund, move it over, and and give us another month to deal with
this issue. Is that fair for now? I think I mean, is that I should ask you guys because you're the ones voting on it. We would still recommend just updating the resolution to say that is what I'm
I would say we table that resolution and follow along with what Councilman Heman wants to do if that's the case. But I I definitely don't want it coming out of our general fund. Right. It can't. I mean, you we want you
you want to cut taxes on things and you you ain't cutting them when you do things like that. Even though it's $275, it's $275. I'll be on board with doing it just for one meeting, but I'm with Steve. Now, everybody has to start acting like an
adult and everybody has their opinions, but there is a fine line you cross. If you're in here doing anything other than speaking your mind and making other people uncomfortable, then I think
a different process needs to be had. But for cop a cop to have to sit here every single meeting, I don't think is should be necessary. But but you I like his approach. I can I ask you a quick question, Travis? So what is a
criteria for let's say the park and w board or staff if they feel uncomfortable with anybody in the room? What is a minimum criteria that we can ask PD to come and remove that person? Let's separate that out. I think you're
I thought you were going somewhere. So what's the criteria for somebody that feels uncomfortable or unsafe at the end of a meeting or something's happening and they want an officer to respond? The criteria is that you call 911 and have an officer respond to address whatever
is happening. Right? So that's that one piece of the puzzle. Okay. The other piece of the puzzle, it's a little bit more conflicting than that. Um this council does not have a public input policy anymore. They used to have the three minute thing. You don't have that anymore. So in essence, if somebody
stood up at the podium and went on and on and on for 20, 30, 40 minutes and things you don't like to hear, there is a first amendment issue there because you don't have a public input policy. You don't address the three minutes like they used to in the past.
So if somebody's up here ranting about political things you don't like or even non-political things you don't like, there's going to be a challenge with shutting that down, right? because that's a public input that you guys have all expressed that you want people to give as much input as possible. We don't
have a parameter. So just because you don't like what that person is saying, you can't tell them they can't say it. So that's like on the public input and the fact that you let public input happen during the meetings. Same concept. Somebody interrupts in a meeting, past precedence, you've allowed public comment during the meetings.
Let's say of somebody that opposes and maybe they're talking about something doesn't even relevant to the city and they're going off on alien invasions of who knows what, right? Because you set that precedent, you don't have the policy. It's going to be really hard to shut that down just because of the of what they're saying,
right? So, we're talking that two different things. That's just public input. Somebody talking speaking their mind against it seems disruptive, but we don't have a public input policy anymore as far as a council. So, we can't. How do you say that? That person that you don't like up there for 10, 20, 30, 40 minutes, you
don't like what they're saying. Hard to shut that down. Now, if somebody's being violent, making threats, now you're going into the criminal realm, right? That's an easy issue. So, that's a two pieces of the puzzle. And I think most of the piece of the puzzle is not the criminal element. It's the other side of
that spectrum. And that's going to be a challenge. I I would like to I'd like to get an attorney's opinion on that because the chair can can adjourn a meeting at any time and all he'd have to do is adjourn the meeting temporarily, shut that person down and then rejourn the meeting and don't ask for any public comment.
That's why I said at the policy at the journey I mean there's a back door to everything because I would like to keep public input as as much as possible but just that's why I said you have to have the procedure down as far as the adjournment like I mentioned earlier.
Okay. I mean, that's with any issue that you're going to have. That's the easiest solution. But would we need to have something in writing that states that? I don't think so. And that was my next thought was and I would have to ask Stephanie about it is if there was if
there would be to have something put in there as a like a mission statement on the you know that you walk in and you see that if you're being disruptive or people feel uncomfortable with this what's being done that you could be asked to be removed.
I mean, I don't know if that's the right way of doing it, but that's just thought that's in my head. Being uncomfortable is interpreted, right? If you went to recess and then came back out, couldn't they just hijack it again then? Potentially. I mean, that's
do I think most of the time is people when people get really passionate about a subject, there's a cool down and then take Yeah. have a five or 10 minute cool down period. And I think most people come to you know, I do agree, George. It would be
beneficial to have that direction from the city attorney just based on that because sure you can go on YouTube and see people that make a living at city council meetings and getting thrown out. I didn't when you go to the city attorney can LMC making money doing that
right and it it's hard with that you know the state changed some laws. I think it went all the way to the Supreme Court where it's it's really hard to disrupt a city council meeting now and even get charged before you disrupt it for any reason and you get a disorderly and you're out of
the room. But things have changed which I think is a good thing. It's a people's it's a people's house. You should have a right to talk. When did we remove? Excuse me. No, I don't think we ever we Travis, you'd
said that we got rid of this. I don't think we ever got rid of it. We're just No, it was followed. It's still there. It's there, but it was followed 100% um discretionary. No, it was followed 100%. I want to say Well, you can think of the mayor that followed that for a reason. Yeah. Yeah.
And then after that it changed as far as following that rule of Yes. And the reason that was always three minutes was you could get somebody that is and I'm not saying that they're wrong for wanting to carry their point across. But public comment
that's not on the agenda is just to say, "Hey, I'm aware that you I want you aware of this and we can proceed from there." That's why it was always a threeminute rule because you could get somebody talking for two hours on something and never changes. I've only been on console for about 2
and a half years and I have not seen any issue with the public that that we had overruns where where their word wasn't valued. Um until becomes an issue. I don't think we need a policy in place. If if if we have some people abusing a
privilege continuously, then unfortunately for the rest of them, we'll probably have to put a policy in place short term until the situation changes. It's always been there. We just allow them to go over it. Okay. Or actually follow a policy by the book
if we if we can we get clarification on that for the next meeting or whatever. We still have it in in our policy. It's just it's light. It's enforced as as necessary. It is. It is in policy. Okay. That's what I thought. That's the problem is enforcing it for
one but not another. That's the huge first amendment issue. Sure. Right. That's why I always urge people if you want to have your voice heard, get on the council agenda. Well, and that's where park and wreck then,
you know, a committee that isn't a council member that that is informed as we are up here on some of these policies, maybe they're going to need a training session if you're going to be a if you're going to chair because well, a chair that doesn't know all the
internal city policies then could in theory and I think that's a conversation to have with the chair is if you have an issue in your meeting, what's your plan is adjournment and if it's that big of an issue, give us a call. I think that would solve that issue. Sure. As long as they know that's the
protocol. Yeah, it's just a volunteer committee, too. So basically um I think the most important thing is that council's aware now and if further issues arise then you can at least make
you know further considerations at that time if you feel necessary. But just wanted to that's I mean we did want to make this recommendation because we did think it was pertinent to now but if you guys
Is that staff member still going to be here for the next meeting for the park? Okay. I make a recommendation to have them come in for at least the next meeting. For one meeting the candle. Yes. I make a motion that we have have
an officer present at the next meeting. Let's see how this goes from there. But I think we need to just park board pays then please and the park board pays for it. It doesn't come out of general fund and then I think we need to have the chair
get well informed on going into a recess or canceling stopping the meeting at that point. Okay. And if that and if that bring them up to speed on but if that continues when they go into recess make the call have an officer show up.
Okay. That to me makes it makes just as much sense. Go into a recess, step out, make a phone call, 911 officer shows up the situation. Yep. That'll def de deescalate the situation.
So that would be my that would be my motion. All right. And just to clarify, it will still be coming out of general fund. It will just be coming out of the parks department overtime instead of the PD overtime. Just to clear that up, too. It's got to come out of the park and wreck funds. Yep.
And then George, if you can try and reach out to LMC for clarification rather than going to the city attorney. Yeah. And I'd like to reach out to on on our policy and um then it's still there. It's still there in
policy. Okay. Yeah. We never removed it, but it's the application clarification piece that needs to be done. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. See if LMC. Okay. Which is a discussion we do have with
the chair when they're new to any of our boards, which generally for planning commission and EDA, it's a council member. It has been precedently the last few years. But for park board, we do go over that every year and say that when there is public comment, you have to set
the precedent. it's your duty and right to figure out what that is now like at the beginning and then be equal across the board and so we do have that conversation. something. Well, I do remember a conversation about public input at park and wreck and it
was just Yeah, we'll have another conversation about it and and put a policy in place if it isn't. Right, Steve? Motion and second it. Motion by Council Member Lundine, second by Council Member Homegrren. All in
favor say I. I. All opposed? I motion carries 41. All right, we will move on to the consent agenda. I would first just like to say uh thank you to Now that's Waffles for donating the tip money back to the police department. We really appreciate you guys being out there and
people are excited about those waffles. So, and I thank you for being a a valuable business in our community. Uh you're always at our event, so we appreciate that. I also want to give a shout out to uh BP Metals for uh donating some sign signage to uh the police department, which is awesome, and
I'm excited to have that sign there. Any other questions or things to bring forward on the consent agenda? Motion to approve. Second. Motion to approve by Council Member Lundine, second by Council Member Homegrren. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed?
Motion carries 50. The cons consent agenda is approved. Motion to adjurnn. I did have a couple questions on uh M2 and M3. Uh Travis, if you look at the July Police Department report, um there's two categories for speed in the
report. One for that just says speed, and there's been two this year, and then another that says like speed admin. Oh, in the July citations including speed. So what is the speed? That's just two.
Is that Yep. Assuming you have speed admin, that's admin citations issued. Correct. Yeah, it says it says speed monthto date zero speed year to date two and then
there's another thing that says speed total 7 months to date 48 year to date. I'm just wondering what the distinguishing factor is there. And uh you know we talked about the records management issue being you know
the citation numbers being really low that will be uh resolved on September 10th. Ah good. So there is a resolution to that um a good resol good good resolution to fix that and
luckily there's no economic impact in theory because we had never taken the that payment to that our old vendor LEG was still in the budget because at at budget time we hadn't switched over it I didn't
want to risk taking it out because I didn't know where we were going so we haven't expended that expenditure sure yet. So, the monies are still in this year's budget for 2025. So, we'll be switching back to that and on the 10th. So, we're not going to be asking for
money to pay for that because we never took it out. Will there be a refund from the other company? Uh that's between the county and the Yeah, we we we don't have any money into that company as far as the city. Okay. Yeah. The only money we had into was uh that that tick digit ticket writer which
I don't quote me $6,000 for a year. Yeah, that I mean they're not faulting on they're not defaulting on their contract, but we're not going to be utilizing that. So that' be that that piece of that puzzle. Okay. Yeah.
So I think so the administrative citation that's just you're talking about on the bottom two of traffic offenses. Uh yeah it says so if you look at the speed category the first speed category it just says speed that's between warrant PU and DAR DOS. Uh it says speed
zero of monthto date and two year to date. And then if you go down three lines it says speed total. Yeah, I'd have to look and see what they're pulling for the number for that generic speed because Yeah, I mean the bottom two make sense. Yeah, right. But that other one I'll I'll have to
look at uh where she's pulling that number. Maybe it's criminal speed or something. Maybe. No, it's be the same. Okay. So, all right. Yeah, sounds good. I'll look into it and get back to you. Okay. Thank you. And then M3, uh, Stephanie, the July building inspector report, if you look at the the 2024
permit value, it's listed at $49 million and all the other years have been averaging around 10 million. So is that just like a a zero is off in that? If you look, that is not off. That is um three apartment buildings,
409 million. I don't know unless you It is. I think it's 40 million. I do think a a comma is off. Okay. So, it's off. Now that I think about it, I do think it's 40 million. It was still substantially higher, but not that much higher.
Okay. So, that's just a typo. Does that throw anything else off anywhere else in our budgeting or permitting pro? Okay. That was just this time I to I haven't noticed it before. Okay. So, cuz we usually pay pretty close attention to that one. But do we build like US Bank Stadium here
and not know it or something? That'd be a nice value increase. Yeah. All right. All right. That's all the questions I had. So Steve, you'd motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. Motion to adjourn by council member Lundine. Second by council member Peterson. All in favor say I. I. Any
opposed? Motion carries 5. We are adjourned. Thank you. [Music] Part: 2
I didn't realize it was already five. All right, it's 502. We'll call this uh which one is this? The >> the budget work session to order. Uh if we could all rise for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Uh doing roll call. Uh I know council member Lundine is in the parking lot so he'll be in momentarily. Council member
Homegrren, I saw driving, so I suspect he'll be here soon as well. Uh, is there any public com comment tonight? If there is, I'll open up the public comment. You're welcome to come forward and state your name and address for the record, please. Oh. All right.
Hearing no public comment, we'll close the public comment. We'll move on to adopting the agenda if there are no changes or additions. >> None. Motion to adopt. >> Second. >> Motion to adopt the agenda from Council Member Peterson. Second from Council
Member Heman. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Uh the agenda is adopted. Uh we'll move on to F1 work session item 2026 budget draft budget. Nick. >> All right. So there's uh been some
updates that I'll kind of just highlight for you guys from the last time we saw the budget. Uh the K Cabota mower has that was pushed out in 2023 has been added into the 2026 budget. That was by your guys's request a couple meetings ago. So that has been added. If you're looking
through that CIP, that'll be something that was new from the last time you guys have seen this. On kind of the scheduling side of this, we'll come back and set our preliminary tax levy on September 2nd or September 16th. just kind of depending what you
guys have for me today and what changes need to be made before that. And then other than that, any questions from you guys on this stuff? I know I tried to get it to you guys a couple weeks early so you'd have some time to run through it. So, anything pop up for you guys
when you were kind of running through it. >> I think we talked about most of it >> at this point, but >> Yeah. I feel like we did a really good job on that first run through and kind of got into almost everything that we would have needed to get into and I feel like staff did a really good job of
prioritizing any sort of needs and didn't come in with too much for asks and any of that too. So, I feel like we've done a good job so far, but if you guys have anything specific you have questions on, floor is open.
>> Okay. I know uh council member Holgren had a a question that I'll let him bring up. Um there has been some questions about Town's Edge Road. Have has anybody talked to Jason about that yet? I know it's in the capital improvement plan or the the pavement management plan. I
didn't know if we'd heard anything back on that and I know it's split jurisdiction on that road, so it makes it extra hairy. >> What year did we have that one up to? >> Uh I believe it was 28 or 29. >> Let's see. I don't have any specific feedback from
Jason on that. The one thing that I do have is I do have uh info about railroad a I know you had a couple questions last meeting about that. So Jason kind of gave me the project details that I can run through right for you guys if you want that. >> Yeah, that works. >> The plan for that is to reconstruct only
the east curb line. They're planning on bringing that east curb line into approximately where the white painted line is on that road and then putting in a sidewalk from where that old curb line was up to the new one to get that walkway off of the street
and then that road will be reconstructed and currently the west curb line is still in good conditions. There will be nothing done with the west curb line. Did you I mean maybe I can just talk to him specifically, but did he say anything about all the semi- traffic on
that road? And if we move that curb line out to where that white line is there, it won't work. Point blank. It won't work because the semis park on the road edge there and you can only get one vehicle at a time if you're not using where that white lane is. >> Um so did he mention anything about that
or maybe he's not aware of the situation? Yeah, I talked to him about it a little bit and he said with the width of that road that it still should be three vehicles wide even with the semiparked as long as they're up against the curb on that west side.
>> There lies the problem is if the guy's drive delivery is smart. >> Yeah. He pulls in a little closer in that lot and they don't cuz I'll be honest with you, I've gone through there when they've been parked there and they're out in the middle of the road
and you got cars coming at you. You got to stop otherwise you are not going to get around each other. >> The four feet extra that's there, right? >> And even then it's still hairy, right? >> I mean, let's face it, there's a lot of streets that are too narrow. Even I live on Salt Passage, not off of Salt
Passage, uh Ironwood. The guy's got a boat that's been sitting in that on the street all flipping summer. It ain't moved and there ain't enough room to get by him in a car coming and there's cars parked
on both sides of that street and I just, you know, I just don't think people realize, you know, you got kids running around on that street and they're playing in the street and they get behind that boat and you come in, you can't see them. It's just I just wish there was a way we could force it either
parking on one side or the other >> what you you don't want to do because now you're restricting your residents to do things. But there again, that being said, people should be more conscientious of what they're doing.
But I do agree with, you know, u Luke is that road, Whiskey Road, and I've been after that sidewalk to get finished for 10 years plus. It's been a big priority because they walk up and down from the VFW back and forth in there.
>> Oh yeah. Railroad Avenue. That's a very high traffic road, too. >> And then if you have a street dance, >> it's a steady traffic. people from the VFW back to the street dance just like this all all night long, which that's their prerogative to do. But I just
I don't know if there's any way we can encroach into those people's lots and put the sidewalk out and leave the curb where it's at. >> Sure. >> To me, that would make >> if the curb isn't that bad, there's no reason to replace the curb. It's just taking ad sidewalk
>> or just repair the curb as it's needed to help cut cost down. So, they would have to approach those businesses to find out if they And there's what I think there's one house there. >> I think there's two. >> There's that one house right across from Cobalt's cabinet shop.
>> And there's one with a different color fence. So, I assume that belongs to a se there's a brown fence and a white fence. >> I think that's the same people. >> It could be. >> But it's but there's still otherwise it's just it's Jurgen's custom cabin shop and I think he owns both those buildings. used >> Auto City owns the the one between the
VFW and the >> Yeah, the Kenny Carlson owned that at one point. So that would And if Auto City for their benefits by doing that, >> I would think they'd be willing to relinquish some of that for sidewalk. >> Yeah, we might have easement there already available.
>> Well, you should because you got fire hydrant and stuff, but the problem is when you got fire hydrant, you can't have it in the middle of the sidewalk. Sidewalk has to >> So we're talking a right turn there is where the problem lies. No, no, no. It's that. >> So, if you go down Railroad Avenue towards VFW, there's a white line
painted >> between the curb on the east side. Yep. >> That is the considered sidewalk. >> Right. Right. >> So, they're talking about bringing that sidewalk out to that white line so that now that road's going to be that four
feet short, narrower. I think the sidewalk needs to be on the back side of the curve. I honestly I really do. Mhm. >> I drive on that road every day and there's always semi-truck parked there. Even right now, like Steve said, when you have a truck parked there and traffic coming both ways, you can't barely fit. You know, engineers in the
perfect world where it's 8t 8t 8t for a vehicle, maybe it's 24 ft and it works. But in reality, nobody parks perfect and drives perfect. >> And I what what baffles me is they got that whole offloading area to the south side of their building. Why aren't they
utilizing that, >> right? If they have to bring it around, they can bring it around with a forklift and take up less space in that semi. I mean, maybe something needs to be said to them. >> Sure. >> In that aspect so that the semis aren't parking on this road. They are actually parking in the lanes. They're not
parking really in their parking lot. They're parked in the road. >> And sometimes they're there for hours. >> I noticed that. And they could park closer closer to the curb. >> That's what I said. Yeah. Depends on the driver that they get. I mean,
>> maybe they just have to Hey. Yeah. You can al get close. >> You know as well as I do. You're driving a box truck in the cities. You ain't parking out in the street cuz you'll get hit. You know that as well as I do. >> And it's >> in the city, you don't have a choice. You're just parking where you park. >> Yeah.
>> They're going to have to go around you. >> But it's But it gets to be pretty hairy. And I It is I I just think that that you know they have that whole sight of that building is for their offloading or loading. Why aren't they utilizing that? >> Sure. >> I mean, there's a conversation to be had
with them on that, but I still think that we need I think that curb belongs on the east side of that curb, not on the west side of it. >> So, maybe that's something that we bring back. Nick, go ahead. >> In the uh street construction fund 20-year CIP, it says that town's edge is
2029. >> Okay. Couldn't remember if it was 28 or 29. Does it have a project cost on that? Uh, I don't think it >> it does 637,721. >> Okay. >> But I do have to say the patching
because I drive on that every day to and from work. >> That patching he did is >> marvelous. >> A phenomenal job for a patch. >> Yeah, it is. It's very nice. Yeah. >> And a in a separate line is Town Edge Road Southeast utility improvement which says developer
>> because that's I think that's on the south side of town as road >> cuz that's all developed. >> So development driven >> that might be the utility improvements and stuff being >> let's bring that council hole and talk
about that some more. >> Yeah. >> And let's see exactly what they have planned. Um, >> amount of money have what they're thinking of doing. >> I mean, >> I'm thinking that's 10 years out easy before I think they develop that land in there.
>> I know Cobalt owns some of that. >> They own all of it. >> Yes, he does. He owns all the way up to the swamp. >> Mhm. >> It'd be nice to be able to do both >> except for those except for the old uh Paulie Elman building buildings. >> Correct. Yep.
>> I don't know. I I was at one time was told the city owned that because we took it in tax for tax forfeite. >> It's owned by a guy named Brian now. >> Okay. Cuz I know that city at one point was had taken that over as tax forfeite.
>> But I know he's I noticed somebody's been out there working on that house. >> Yep. >> I know that one of the guys down there said there were a lot of kids hanging out, drugs dealings and going on in there. But yeah, going back to Railroad A, I'll
go back to Jason with it and have him for the next meeting that he's at kind of talk you guys through what that project is looking like and your guys' ideas for it. I know that he mentioned that we could extend the road about 2 feet on the west side, but that would
require basically breaking up that that curb that's still good. And so he said that's an additional roughly $140,000 on that project just to widen it by two feet. So he said that was his current idea, but maybe after hearing what you
guys had to say tonight, he can get a little better idea of other ideas for it. So >> do you know those old city autoglass people? >> Do I know him? >> Yeah. You know, have that conversation about taking into that other building they got? I can talk to Bruce and see where he feels on that. Maybe you are,
but I think I think the one house their fence they enter coming off of whatever >> whatever whatever this that street is that on the other side of the old hardware store between that and the
apartments. I think they enter >> Oh, Dalan. >> Yeah, >> Dan and Broadway. >> Yep. And then they that's the back side of their house because I know that other little house they enter off of Broadway, >> right? >> So
it's a it's already got privacy fences in there. So I don't think it would really matter to them. >> Just the trees and the I guess utility poles. >> We'd have that be a Jason >> that be where Jason would have to go in there. I can talk to Bruce and see how he feels about losing, you know, 4 feet,
6 feet, whatever it takes cuz I know that fire hydrant if the sidewalk can't the fire hydrant can't really be in the sidewalk. It's not supposed to. >> Okay. So, that'll be something that maybe Jason can come back with the railroad and uh Town's Edge Road, a preliminary,
I guess, estimate on what we're going to do. Uh, if you look at the map, it is split jurisdiction between the county on the south side of Town's Edge and the city on the north side of Towns Edge Road. So, I don't know how that works. And then I had a question also maybe for Stephanie, how does that work with um
the MS4 storm water requirements because the county is not required to do like the same storm sewer that we are? >> So, how does that work on that road? Can we just pitch the one side of the road all the way to the county side or >> that would be a question for Jason as well.
>> So, I'm not sure exactly how the MS4 rules pertain to our requirements for curb and guttering. I'm sure we have to do something to direct the water regardless even the county, but I'm not sure what those standards are on that kind of situation.
>> Okay. because I did look at that when I the other day when I went through there and I know the county is on the other side. It look kind of stupid if you only put curb on one side but yet again cost savings sometimes I don't feel curb is
always necessary personally >> especially with a low land there already. >> Well, but then also keeps any water running down that road going into those residences on the north side of that. >> Right. So that protects anything running into their yard. So that'd be a hard one
to it. If we'd have to see what we can and can't do. I know if it if we get state aid on that road, we do have to put a curb and gutter on it to get that state aid >> which helps those people living on that road so it doesn't cost them an arm and
leg. There are I was at LMC today and they are talking about potentially loosening the state aid uh requirements for certain things. I don't know if that if that's one of them, but >> probably not. >> Yeah. >> Well, that that road should definitely
qualify for state aid. I mean, that's one of our main in-n-out. >> That is one busy road. >> Is that a snow emergency route? >> I don't believe so. H >> the only I think the only things that are snow emergency routes are paths to
schools to the school where they would take to pass to schools. I think that part partially sets up that snow emergency route area. I think Main Street is definitely one of them. I think Whiskey is one of them. >> Five is another one. Um
so with that being said, I I don't believe that's a snow emergency road. >> Okay. And how do Stephanie, do you know how you make a road to snow emergency route or is that part of like the comp plan or is that the state or is that a Jason question too? >> That's another good question. >> Where is he tonight?
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> He's he's busy. He he has a good reason not to be here tonight. >> But um the Yeah, we'll have to look further into the snow emergency routes. I don't know if that's something we create with the comp plan or if it's I think it's
Steve's correct. it's related to schools, hospitals, and anything that we need access to or to provide access to the main routes. Um, so we'll have to look into that also. And it doesn't mean that a road can't become part of a snow emergency route either. But I also think
this is a township road. So that complicates things even a little more. So >> So township, county, city, and state all in on that one. That one we should start planning. If it's going to be 2029, we should start planning last year with all those moving parts. >> Okay. three on
>> I think it's it's a township road, but the county does their zoning. So, I'm not sure how who we talked to or how that works. Jason would know. He's worked with them before. So, >> sounds good. >> And I don't think you really want to if I don't think you want to make that a
snow emergency route because then there's >> there's certain aspects we have to do, >> right, >> legally. I mean, you Travis can answer to some of that, I would assume. But when you make it a snow emergency route, let's say somebody is parking there, which they don't park, we you and I all
know they don't park there. >> But if it is snow emergency route, then they weren't allowed to park on that because of that. Now it's hindering. Most of those houses are back far enough that they all have >> Well, there's a couple of them on the on the east side before you get the
railroad that are closer. >> Okay. But I mean there's there's other aspects that's going to require when you make it a snow emergency route. There's things that you can't allow to happen on it. >> I was just thinking for funding. I don't know if you get more with snow emergency
routes or just state aid is the really the only >> state aid would be the only reason anything. And I think and I'm not 100% sure Jason is the answer to that guy. As many times I heard about getting state aids to do some of these streets, they
have to eat a meet a certain criteria. >> And I think Town's Edge Road would meet that criteria because like me, I go work, I go to work. I head south on 65. I could take Poke Street or Railroad Avenue all the way down and
turn just before on. But I don't like doing that because now the traffic from the stop lights are doing 80 m hour every time they get there and I can't get on the road. So I come up here so I get a little better break to get on. So
yeah, you know, especially when we lost Main Street when they blocked that off so you couldn't cross. >> That's my next fear is the state's going to block that off so you can't go straight across 65. And I then I can make a another nightmare like they got up at Kajima or whatever you want to say
it >> or down at Viking Boulevard where you you have to cross two lanes of traffic to turn and to go north again. That's just to me I don't understand how that's safer. But >> hey Travis, have you seen any accidents in those two turnouts they have there on
65 >> North Ryan Lake and Towns Edge Road? Isn't it? >> Well no that we've seen a lot. I mean those turnouts that they put up >> nothing related to that new intersection interchange that I can think of. There may have been
some minor stuff but there hasn't been anything significant >> there but there had been significant accidents prior to that. So >> okay >> like town edge that's that's a bad one. uh when Ross Lawrener was on council cuz
he works for an Oka County he's a deputy and he had said that it's been a proven fact that those things are much safer but I don't know in my head when you got across two lanes of traffic and the way people drive today I had this is this is no kidding and this goes to your
roundabout I was on a roundabout off of 694 and Rice Street and I was slowing down to make my curve turn to go because do the roundabout this this woman. Um, pardon me when I say this. I don't want to offend anybody. She cut me off and
shot in front of me because I wasn't apparently wasn't going fast enough for her. I was doing 60. >> So, I'm just saying that and it's not just a woman that's doing there's guys that do this all the time. >> So, I just
it's the way people drive since co >> they they've never driven the same before that. >> It's Yes. It got way out of hand. It's just starting to calm down a little bit, but it was way out of hand. >> All right, let's get back to the budget. Anybody have any other questions on the
budget? I know, uh, we we were planning to talk about Emerald Ashbor, and I'm a little bit concerned about how to budget for that type of a situation. Um, I'm not sure if we need to take money from a different account and use it for that. Um, I don't know if anybody has any
ideas or we do we just hold off on that since we're not talking about that tonight. >> It is up to you. So, it's very valid timing since we're at the budget. Um, I would also say that we did get notification today that the that relief grant program from the state is open
now. So, it would be the right time to to consider what the plans are moving forward um with that. But, yeah, >> I I did reach out to a public works director that has experience with grant writing for the EAB. He's been doing it for I don't know, a couple years
already. And I did give uh Josh Becker his phone number to call him so if if Josh wants to apply for those grants, which I think we should. Um and hopefully we could, you know, get his experience with it and use his experience to help us. Um
I I don't know if we have any other options, but I think the grant funding is definitely a necessity. Uh they did allocate more funds um through the state for Emerald Ashbbor next year, uh but not nearly enough. I think it was something like 2 million or 2.1 million
total, but like 60% of that goes towards the Metro 7, of course. Um, so there is some more there's more money available, but not significantly more, but you never know. So, >> I don't know how you guys feel about this, but I think any personally any elm
tree or any trees that are on the on the boulevard side of the cities, which we do not allow planning there anymore, but when you go and look at those trees, they're five, six feet in diameter. They obviously were there before this whole plan was in effect. I think it's our
responsibility to take those trees down for those people. >> That's me personally. if they ask >> if if it does if it is having ash the ash boore in it needs to be removed that's just going to save any of the ash trees >> so just to give you context we do have I
believe it's roughly 500 trees that could be 450 to 600 trees ash trees doesn't mean they're diseased all of them in the right way within the city limits so >> I believe the I believe the reports that
80% are are infected. You're not going to save any ash trees in the city ever. >> Probably not. >> They're they're going to all die. Even if you cut down the ones that are infected, the the bug migrates to a non-infected tree and then the life cycle of a they breed there and it's two years and then they kill the tree within five years.
>> But I but I but even within that fivey year, it's easier to budget, >> right? Yep. >> And that's what we should talk about tonight. How do we >> But I think that's I think what we ought to do is we need to find the most severe trees. It's like the one gentleman that came in and and I don't disagree with
him. It's on that boulevard. It's I've always struggled with this. It's my land, but the city tells me what I can do with it, right? Because it's in the rightway. I only think it's right at that point then the city should take and remove
that tree. >> Yeah. I mean, that's just like that's just like you have a curb stop and it's leaking at the curb stop, but it's on your side of the curb stop and not the city side. You're responsible to fix it. Personally, if I I could care less. I
ain't paying for the water. Let it run. You know what I'm saying? >> Or I'm spending four, five, six, 10 grand to dig up my yard and repair it. I I just I've always struggled with that. It's It's not my curb stop. It's the city's curb stop.
I think this is a bigger conversation that maybe we should discuss again and look back at what we had talked about. >> I think that would be best just that we have all the information. I know Jared has some numbers on treating versus so they did do the work to figure that out and so I think that'll be better. So
that'll come back um >> and we can bring it back to the next council meeting if we wanted to impact the budget. So we'll do that. >> Should we talk at all about budgeting for it tonight or just just wait? I would say just wait when you have all the information then it might be easier
for you guys to decide what what you want to budget each year. >> Can we direct you guys to start applying for the grant since it's open? >> Yeah, definitely. >> Okay, fair enough. Are you guys good with them applying for the grant? >> Absolutely. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah, >> 100%. Yes. >> Sure. >> Okay.
>> Help us make a better decision on how to approach us. >> Yeah. Maybe we'll get lucky. >> Yeah. I mean, >> all right. >> I think Any other budget related questions? There's a lot of stuff here.
And then I will mention the only other change that you'll see the next time the budget's in front of you. Me and Stephanie had time to run back through our technology budget and kind of get things re-evaluated. >> So that's fund 614. There'll be a change
there where the capital expenditures there will be $17,990 for 2026. That'll be up from the $14,134. >> And why is that up? >> That was just reshuffling after looking at kind of the Stephanie kind of went
through and tagged everything in the city to get how many years ago stuff was replaced. and it just kind of differed from the plan that had been out there before because things had been pushed on the previous plan. So, that's just to get caught back up in 26 and then smooth
things out from there going forward. >> We just were made aware of computers I don't think we all knew existed and weren't part of the plan. And so, I made sure we had every device within the city on the plan now. And so, literally tagged them myself. I still have a few
more to do, but now I know where they all are and we know which ones are actually being utilized. Took the ones off that weren't being utilized and just want to make sure we don't have devices that are being utilized regularly by staff who need them that aren't over 10
years old and take them longer to do their job. And so just keeping it on a consistent cycle. >> If we don't know they existed, do we even need them? >> Well, we just didn't know they existed in the budget. So, we knew they existed in their place, but we didn't know they
existed on the budget. So, sorry, should have clarified. >> Okay. >> So, they just weren't in the budget for replacement because we >> I think they were just missed somehow. So, just doing a good inventory was helpful just to see where we actually were at.
>> And you think they're necessary? >> Yes. Yep. the ones that aren't necessary or ones that we think are second tier are getting replaced with older devices. So, we're not replacing everything with a new device. It just um we have a six-year cycle for the ones that are
needed as well as a three-year cycle for emergency only devices. So, like I believe there's three devices like that, the police chief um administrator would and as well as the SCADA system. So, they'll be replaced every three years.
And basically their other computers will become their backup computers. So those will be six years old by the time they're done using them. >> Nick, do you have any questions on that or you want to see a print out or >> Yeah. I never uh got the WB.
I can't remember what the name of the company was, but the our contractor for the IT solutions. I never got his contact info or heard from him, but I do have questions for him. So those uh that technology stuff was
all CIP or was added to the CIP. >> Yeah. So that's what you'll see for 614. I don't even think I attached it with this set of budget just since we knew that was going to change. So that's the number amount that'll change in the 26
budget. Plus, there'll be a whole new CIP plan laid out for what the next I think five years for that fund looks like too. So what was the adjusted amount? >> It's going up to $17,990 up from $14,134.
That is in fund 614. So, we still have enough money projected to come in there from our cable franchise fees to continue to cover our tech needs though. And that is what funds that technology fund currently is just the cable
franchise fees that we have currently in place. Any other budget questions, things that we should go through? No, I'm just waiting for some more numbers to come in to >> that's solidify. Yeah, that's
>> Yeah, insurance, workman's comp, all that. Yeah, we are pretty early yet. So, >> it's it's like I'm sure we're going to be doing most of our work in about another month from now. >> Nick, have you seen anything that you're not happy with? I know you've dove in a
little bit further on stuff. Is there anything that you're concerned about or that you think that we're spending money on that we don't need to or anything that's that we haven't talked about? You're pretty happy? Yeah, I think that you guys have done a really good job and staff has done a really good job of kind of pulling anything out of the budget
that we didn't think was necessary. So, I think we've done a really good job up to this point and now it's just kind of seeing where things land in 2025 for any sort of adjustments we'll have to make, too. So, we are all done through July. So, you guys should be seeing a report
here soon for all of our expense stuff through July coming to you guys soon, too. So, >> so I was looking for the uh skate upgrade you were just talking about for the new the three-year plan for that and I saw that the skate upgrade is listed
twice in two different accounts. It's supposed to be divided between the two. >> Yeah, it's split between water and sewer since it's the monitoring system for both of them. >> It's a pretty cool system if you haven't seen it yet. >> We'll have a SCADA upgrade in 2026. So I
believe we have that on the schedule for January, February. Josh has already been working with them on that. >> And I don't think >> on the mobile side. Yeah, >> you've seen it on the mobile side. >> Yeah, he pulled it up. >> I don't think we had the correct number and for that also. So we had to increase that. So that was actually one of the
higher increases I believe that was making sure that we have that correct because it was I believe slated at the same cost as a regular computer and it's more than that. So, I think that was one of the areas that we had to increase.
>> Also something we never want to go wrong with. >> Yeah. Was that part of the $3,856 increase? >> I believe that was one of the like the major increase of that. >> Okay. >> Um it might be an additional computer. >> We have one additional computer too that
was shuffled to 26 from a later year. But like Stephanie was saying too, we kind of had everything planned per position and didn't think about any sort of like physical desktops that are used by multiple people. Those were kind of the things that got missed for those
replacement schedules, kind of those shared use items. And I know in council we will have something with the the parks uh parks position uh and the consent agenda. Is that something that we've I know we seem to have struggles with that every couple
years there's turnover on that. Is that something have we ever considered like a part-time for that and what the budget implications might be on something like that? >> It is something we've talked about before in the past the council has. I mean I don't think the part-time is the
way to go. I actually think there's a lot going on in that position and every year more gets added to that plate. And so I think some of it's the burnout of the additions to that plate is why we're seeing a high turnover. It's not
necessarily that there's not a hasn't there's always something to be done in that position. They're running around here like crazy all the time. So I don't think that's the cause. We actually I would say there's too much on that plate
would be. So going to a part-time would not help with anything. We'd have to definitely look at cutting what we have going on with parks. If >> maybe I mean maybe that's a discussion if we continue to have turnover every two years on average. Maybe that's the discussion we need to have. You know, is
there anything that we don't have to do that is a substantial burden for them? I know illuminated hopefully coming off that will be a big relief. Um, but I don't know if that's something we talk about and maybe that's a discussion item for a different day on on, you know, how
you hire for that position or what sort of job responsibilities there are because that that has been a common question amongst people is why does that position keep turning over? It's a it's a high learning curve and you know Jessica's just starting to fit into that position I think in the last six months
exceptionally well and I think it takes a good year year and a half just to to get a feel for that position and all that's involved and how the city runs and um what what budgeted per year for that
position right now or what what what were we paying out per year for that position? I guess full-time wages and salaries with Yeah, that has other people's in it. >> Yeah. So, that position will be about
$70,000 for the wage and then fully with benefits looking at around $110,000 in total for that spot. I know conversations kind of that me and Stephanie had about it too is potentially trying to get that position a little more help kind of on a year-
round basis too because when the interns here that has helped assist that position with kind of handling the community events and different things that are happening. So, it's what can we potentially do to help kind of shift some of that workload so that person doesn't in their busy times doesn't have
these big stretches where they have a lot on their plate which is potentially causing some of the burnout in that spot too. Just another thing to potentially discuss too. What other assistance can we give that person too? >> The busy times in the summer and they
have an intern during that time and during the winter other than illuminated. Is there that much park stuff? It's all the planning for the summer. So everything is planned starting in October basically for the rest of the year including community garden and it's just it slows down but I
would say the pace is steady because community garden sign up starts. We usually have grant applications that we're applying for for arts stuff or for parks and okay other things always going on. So it doesn't really I I would say this person the last few years hasn't
had a great slowdown. Um especially with illuminate on their plate and that and that month is crazy like the amount of compine earned during the illuminate the last few years is they're working a lot and so it's
>> um it's a high pressure very visible position also a lot of scrutiny. So, >> um, >> how's that going to work this year with her resigning and the >> partnership? >> Well,
>> hi. >> I'm on the partnership board now, so I'll be there to help, but yeah. >> Yeah, I think we could look at that position again and see if we can get some flexibility to it. And I know staff could use help on a lot of other things, I'm sure, during the winter time.
>> Does that person have to have a degree? I know in our in our job description it >> like to see it. >> We have hired people without a degree in that position also. So it just depends on what kind of experience they have. >> Does that come with lower pay then? >> Yep. Then we'll offer at different pay scales. So I mean it's all graded just
like all of our positions are based on experience and education for that specific role. So, yes, >> if if we could hire someone at a lower pay scale, that might be a a better sales pitch for having an intern in the winter as well to make up for that. I I
don't think having a degree nowadays really makes a whole heck of a lot of difference. If you're good at planning events, you're good at planning events. >> True. That is true. >> And we have hired varied We've hired people with park and wreck. I mean, it's been all over the map. We've hired Sure.
>> um event planners. We've hired previous definite park and wreck people. We've hired um Jessica does not have a degree in this at all. Like so we and she was our intern the year before. So it's and
she's been she's been fabulous and is leaving for personal reasons, not because she doesn't love working here. So she assured us of that. But >> okay, that's good. >> Yeah. So, it's been it's just a hard I know it's a pretty demanding position with multiple nights and weekends um
being expected and if even when they have an intern to alleviate some of that, it's hard when you want to do a good job. You want to make sure the things that you've been, you know, working on still are successful. So, it's it's Yeah. >> Okay. >> rewarding and stressful.
>> Sure. So, Nick, I had I had messaged uh Miss Wood today. I realize she's on vacation. Um, but we were talking to LMC today about the paid leave uh that the state mandated. Uh, there is a pro you can either pay into the deed program which is a 888% um split between the
employee and the employer um at point44 each. Have you looked into the private options for that? Because there are a couple other different options and it sounds like the city might have more flexibility on the private side. Is that something you've looked into and the budget impact on it or anything?
Yeah. So, they've gotten some preliminary quotes kind of on what those contribution percents would be. I believe Katie's kind of working on pulling all that info together and working with those vendors on that. So, seems like there's a chance that's the
route we go just because that contribution percentage is going to be lower and some of those companies have experience with other states that have a similar mandate of how they've kind of had to manage it. So yeah, we are currently working on that. I know once Jos's back, I believe we're planning on
getting together and kind of going over our options there. >> Okay. And I know there's serious concern at the state legislation about the roll out of that that deed program. Um they're expected by October 1st to say yes or no if it's going to be effective by January 1st. And there were House and
Senate members there today that spoke with us that are not too uh pleased with how it's going. So, I I think I'd rather just vote for the private sector on that if we can get good rates. >> Yeah. And some of those have two-year lockins, too. So, we'll be locked in at
that percentage for a couple of years versus the state. I know they've talked about they're going to have to re-evaluate it once it's kind of rolled out. And so, that percentage is kind of subject to change, which makes it a little tougher to plan for too. So, >> Yep. Okay.
Well, sounds good. I'm happy you guys thought about that. Good job. George, you're looking at the budget. See anything else in there you're curious about? >> Not at this point. >> No.
>> Good. Steve, >> I still think, you know, when we go to set our preliminary budget, I think we should >> I think we should do a tax deduction, but I think we should keep that up higher. >> So, if something does overrun, >> right, >> and we do have more time before the
December deadline, >> just like you and I talked last budget session, I'd rather I'd rather say we're at 5% deduction. >> We just can't go over that. Mhm. >> And I'd hate to say let's set it at 12 and then make it work and it doesn't
>> then we're so >> I'd rather stay I'd rather stay on that cautious side. >> It just it's there's always unforeseen. I mean everybody wants to see a tax deduction. It's that I don't care. I don't care who you are. >> But I still think we need to be on the
cautious side of that. >> Agreed. >> And I think you agreed with that the last time. I know you did last year, Luke, but I I'm on the I'm on the side of setting it lower and having to meet it. But >> that's fair. Yeah, potato potato, >> right?
>> Jeeoff, what are you thinking? >> Uh, is there a way I can get a map of all the um seal coating projects for the next uh 10 10 years, whatever the project is? >> Yep. Jason has a
uh pavement management plan that has a map broken down with the yearbyear highlighted for what streets are going to get worked on. So I can have him work on getting us that original copy or Stephanie may have it right here. >> Is it update or the 2022 one?
>> 2022 one. Yep. So that's the plan. We're still working off of there's been some slight changes to that but more so just grouping up of projects. not necessarily big changes for what we've planned to do. >> That project grouping has saved a lot of
money in the last two years. That's >> Yep. >> If we can keep doing that, >> 19% uh decrease in >> Yeah. >> our projected cost on the one project. >> Mhm. >> That's good. >> Yes.
>> How much of those have shifted then? because that showed uh Town's Edge in 24, but it's at 29. Is that the only one that got pushed back that far or there's a bunch of them? To my knowledge, that's the only one that has gotten bumped. I
believe that also may have been a developer driven one, which is why that's kind of been bumped out more because it was going to be more reliance kind of on that stuff south of it becoming part of the city. That's also potentially a chunk of it. But for the most part, a lot of the maintenance
hasn't really changed there. There's maybe things that got done in different years that were originally planned there, but kind of going out into the future, most of it's still pretty similar or at least those dollar amounts are very similar to what we expect going forward. >> I mean, financially, it might be a
better play to do it before it becomes a city road because right if right now we own half of it, so we probably be on the hook for half of it. When it's a city-owned road, we own all of it. We're on the hook for all of it. So >> yeah, I'm not sure I'm not sure what our
ability is to >> to talk to Jason about it. >> Yeah. Make somebody else pay for their portion of a project that they may not see the need for. >> So >> Jason will be able to get us more info kind of on how that looks. So I'll send
him an email and let him know so that he can come prepared for the next meeting he's at. >> Okay, sounds good. So this is the seal coding map. Thanks for getting those so fast. What is it about every five years for seal coating in crack fill generally?
Okay. Was there something, Nick, that you were concerned about there specifically? Uh, Nick Peterson, sorry. >> No, just when I was when I heard about the Town's Edge thing and I looked at the map and it was saying it was
on 24 for Town's Edge. >> It says 34. If you look at if you look at the chart, >> the pink white is 34. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Which I can tell you it's not going to last till then. >> I thought it was to show the county border that was passing through there.
>> Oh, I see what you're saying. What is this? Why is uh Tyler Avenue slated for Seal Coat in 35 when it's not even paved yet. >> Same with Pawn Street and same with Fourth A.
Is that supposed to be a placeholder of some kind for something else? >> Um I think he probably just plans ahead just in case if we're develop driven they do it in project areas. So, I would imagine just planning ahead, but
>> have it there in the plan in case we need to get funding or something. Okay. >> And with some of those that might be based off of when we believe it's going to get paved, that five to seven years out of when we think that project may have been initiated might be where those
projections came from. And so some of this may be a little dated now. Like we said, it's from 22. So things have changed a little bit, but for the most part, it holds pretty true. >> All right. Any other questions?
>> What's the average extension of life on a road when you seal coat them like this? >> Good Jason question. Very good Jason question. He's brought it up numerous times that it could get anywhere variance from 5 to
10 years. >> I was thinking it was around five, but I'd like >> he said five to 10. >> Okay. >> And it's it all depends on the condition of the road. >> You know, the more you the the more you keep up on it, the longer it's going to last.
The crack the crack fill is actually I think the more important thing of that because the cracks water gets in there in the winter, freezes, expands, bumps up for the plow, the plow hits it, takes out pavement. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Well, if you take if you seal it the
top, if you ever look at asphalt, if you don't seal coat it, within within five years, the rocks are all popping out and now it's creating a bigger bigger problem. Prime example, my driveway when I built my house in 2018, they didn't
compact it the under the the base coat. >> So within three months, my driveway is cracked. I got gaps this wide in my driveway. And I got told that, "What are you effing stupid? We don't warranty our black top." I was not a happy camper because it's
$7,000 to replace it. >> Yeah. >> And it's got to come out and get recompacted. It's, you know, I'm doing everything. I'm trying to seal coat it every other year, trying to make it last longer and longer. >> It's uh but that's what's important. So,
when you seal coat it, it does help maintain longevity of it >> and the top surface and then it doesn't pop all the rocks out. >> All right. Well, any other questions? If not, well, we could probably adjourn. I know there's going to be a lot of information that comes in the next
couple months. So, >> I'm good. >> Good. >> Yeah. And then, like I said, if you guys have any questions, always feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email and I can get you an answer on whatever you're looking for. >> Sounds good. I'll entertain a motion to
adjurnn if you guys are all good. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion by Council Member Holgren, second by Council Member Peterson. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 50. We are adjourned and we will pick up planning commission in seven minutes.