Let me know when we have the green light. >> Okay, everything is recording and on. All right, what time is it? Five, two. >> All right. Good evening everybody. Um, I would like to officially call the city
of Nisa organizational meeting for on this Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 for 2026. It is 5:02 p.m. and I would like to call our organizational meeting to order. Um, the first item we have is organizational
appointments and there are seven uh subcategories under here in our packet. Uh, Miss Wentler put in basically what the appointments were for 2025. My apologies. I was traveling out of the country and was on a different uh
across the date line and time zone, so was not able to get Miss Wentler everything she needed in time. So, what we have in here are the 2025 city appointments. So if we start with um number one 2026 city appointments, we'll go through
and look at what is here for 2025. And I before we do that, I just want to let everybody know that's watching or here in person that um per Minnesota statute, Minnesota cities hold an organizational meeting in January. So
they do it at the earliest possible time or their first meeting of the year to organize the city for the coming calendar year. In the city of Nisa, long-standing precedent has been uh as it relates to certain liaison appointments and whatnot that the mayor
works with the city administrator to make those committee and council liaison appointments by the city administrator reaching out to the elected council members asking for their preferences and assigning folks that way. um submitting their preferences ahead of time. And typically what happens here is a
confirmation of that. Um with that background, we'll look at the city appointments. The first sheet uh for the two council members here tonight, acting mayor in 2025 was council member Hall, city administrator Jennifer Mack, city
clerk, uh Kiki Lindberry, city planner Steven, Maggie Wentler, finance specialist, Shawn Bailey, fire chief, Amber Moon Peterson, parks and recck director, Craig Taylor, police chief, emergency management director, Tom Blommer, public works director. Brian Ferrell, spirits manager, Terry Wallen
pickle manager, city attorney Glo Pearson, labor attorney last year was TBD because we decided to put out an RFP um with Seth city engineer Glo Pearson parliamentarian prosecutor city of Brainard and then you can see the rest
for official newspaper depositories and whatnot. So we can see on this some of the folks are not with us anymore. So automatically we do need to change those. So, under city administrator, that would change to city administrator clerk. We have our interviews coming up
on February 17th. Uh, so Miss Wentler, I guess I would defer to you. Would we just write TBD or open in that space for right now? >> You >> or or >> I would say interim. So, we'd put your name as interim. Yep.
>> Okay. >> Yes. >> So, we'll change that to interim. And then for city clerk, >> I would just remove that alto together because we will not have a city clerk individual position. It will be an administrator clerk moving forward.
>> Okay. Um, police chief would be Chief Shamanssky. The question I had had that I had sent an email on, but you may not have seen it. Um, is Chief Shamansky the emermergency management director or was that Scott? >> Nope, it's Todd as of right now.
>> Okay. Yep. for labor attorney. Um there was some conversation that came forward at different points throughout the calendar year in 2025 from different council members about potentially um going to an RFP process again for a
labor attorney. We have not had a chance to discuss that as a council. I know we're missing council member Hall right now. Um, we are in the middle of union negotiations with our current or existing labor attorney,
which is the firm of Flity and Hood down in St. Paul. So, my question to the council is, um, is the council interested in going to an RFP for a different labor attorney for the 2026 calendar year, but con continuing with
Flity and Hood to finish these union negotiations. Um, council member London, do you have a perspective on that? >> Not really. No problems with the current labor attorney. >> Okay. Uh, council, council member Zan, because you're one of the ones that had
mentioned it to me at a at a point in time, which is why I just bring it up here. >> Is it an annual is it a year-by-year contract? >> I don't I'm not sure on the specifics, but I think it's probably an open-ended thing. It's an open we can
>> you can >> we can terminate a contract at any point in time. It we're not bound to it for x amount of years. >> I would be in favor of it. >> Okay. >> Um going out to RFP again and if the
current labor attorney if the current labor firm would be interested in it then obviously they'll come back back to the table. But that's I mean it beckons another question in regards to changing rates too if they have to have annual
rate changes I would assume. So either those are getting passed along and we're accepting them or it's a >> if the rates do go up they normally will adjust their rate schedule that we will have to approve. >> But we haven't received that at this point in time >> and it hasn't been quite a year. I think
was it April March April? I can't remember but >> March or April. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um so there is interest on your end into going out for RFP >> and we could possibly table that till >> council member Hall gets here
>> or Yeah. >> Well, hearing perspective, do you have a different point of view or are you in the same position? have any problem with the current labor attorney, but I mean, if it's open for uh to look around, if there's uh we can get a better one or a
different rate or something that you know would help the city, I' I'd be in favor of that. I >> Okay. >> Okay. So, let's note that. And then the only Oh, the other item on here is regular meeting schedule. It says 7:00 p.m. So,
we would change that to 6 p.m. And then the last note on here is under fire relief association trustees. It has Kiki, but Kiki is no longer here. Um, if it was the the city clerk clerk
typically or city administrator, would we don't know who our new administrator clerk is or we could appoint someone else. And I don't have a strong preference. I don't know if anyone else up here does and I believe Council Member Hall would probably want to weigh
in, but he's not here yet. So perhaps we >> if we can go back to the regular meeting schedule. Um was that a resolution that we passed in November, December for that or is that or would we be able to consider a time
change even earlier than 6 p.m. starts for 26? We have changed an ordinance. So, we'd have to go back to a public hearing to change another ordinance to a different time. >> I'm saying at 5:30. >> Well, we could do that, but I don't
think we can do that tonight. We'd have to wait and push till like March or something, right? Because we have to do the public hearing and notice it. So, if we're okay with that for now, um I suppose the last one is I had appointed council member Hall as acting
mayor. I didn't see any need to change that for 2026. And then the last thing on here, as I mentioned, is the fire relief trustee uh filling in this additional person because Miss Lindberry is gone.
But council member Hall is on the fire department and I did want to I thought it would be fair to get his input and he's not here yet. So are you gentlemen comfortable everything else that we discussed RFP on
the labor attorney the changes that we walked through on the other positions to replace and update the council time is are you comfortable moving forward with that withholding the fire relief trustee until council member Hall gets here then we could come back to this just so we
can move forward. Um would anyone like to make a motion? and I'd entertain a motion. >> I so move. >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. So, we'll come back to the fire relief
trustee. Okay. Item number two. [sighs and gasps] Oh, well, we Sorry, I merged that to item number one. That was the labor attorney appointment discussion. Okay. Item number three, council liaison
appointments. So in your packet are the 2025 council liaison appointments. Um I didn't based on the feedback I got from Miss Wentler. There were no requested changes. All the elected officials were
happy to continue on with the current liaison appointments. Um I understand there may be some discussion to make some changes. So council members on I'll turn the floor to you if you have any recommended changes. >> What changes would that be
>> to the liaison appointments for 26 >> for myself? I'm >> no just in general. >> I don't have any comment for any other council members. I'm more than happy to continue on with public works and the liquor department.
>> Good. >> Okay. The question is um the council approves all the liaison appointments. Is council comfortable with all the liaison appointments from 25 continuing on for 26 as is?
>> Uh okay. So I think I know where you're going at. >> Yeah, that was my question. >> Okay. in regards to the a motion made in the December meeting in regards to removal >> removing it from committees. >> So without other full council members here, um
we might want to table this one till we have council member Hall back if he's coming back for this meeting if that's the indication. Otherwise, [snorts] I don't have any other suggestions at the moment on that. Okay, because commission and committee appointments
ties into that which is the next one as well which is item number four. So if we want to table both of those and jump to the monthly meeting schedule. Let me ask Miss Maggie, was there any correspondence perhaps from Council
Member Hall and Freely in regards to their suggestions for or their same email you sent to all of us in regards to our desire for certain le positions. Did they respond? >> Um Mark said he was content with what he
um had with parks. He would prefer to stay on parks. He did not give any other indication that I recall. And Joe, I do not believe I received anything from him.
>> Yeah. The communication you gave to me said council member Hall hadn't responded, but the rest of the counselors had. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And I know you're tableabling a lot of things, but Joe had an emergency and he didn't know if he would be back for this meeting.
>> Yeah. I think if if you have a motion council members on related to the December meeting, um you could go ahead and make it >> or you could continue this to your six o'clock meeting. >> I agree.
>> All right, we'll continue items three and four. Okay, item five, city of Nisa monthly meeting schedule. So this is B5. City Council meets the third Tuesday of the month at 6 PM. Planning and zoning first Tuesday at 5.
Parks and Wreck first Thursday at 5. Public works last Wednesday at 5. So nothing has changed. Um and the schedule continues forward. I would entertain a motion to accept the monthly
meeting schedule as presented in the packet. So moved. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. That motion carries.
Then we have the city council meeting schedule. So that is item B6. This is the draft schedule. Um there are some changes here because this was something that we had worked on in 2025 and some things have changed. So January, we're
in our meetings as is. February on here was a a Grand View workshop tenative need to confirm on February 10th. That would need to be removed at this point. Um March, what we put on here is to do a council retreat in March instead of
February to make sure all council members are able to participate and be present. But I realize we don't have everybody here to confirm if this March 10th date would work for a retreat. So I'm just going to circle that. April
um the pre-budget workshop would take place before our regular council meeting. And Miss Wentler, I do believe we have the date for the board of appeals and it says TBD. >> April 17th. It's in the h the original this
regular meeting. April 17th at 100 p.m. >> Okay. So, that would be updated um in May if we continued on our same trajectory that we did in 2025 as we
would do a town hall meeting in May. Um some council a council member came to me privately and um expressed an interest in not continuing with town hall meetings. I don't know how others feel about that, but I wanted to bring that
forward. um here for conversation and consideration. Uh because if that were the case, then the town hall that's put on here for May and then September would fall off if council chose not to continue with those town hall meetings.
Um June, the salary and wages workshop would take place before the regular council meeting. August, the budget workshop before the regular council. September would be a council fall retreat, exactly kind of the same cadence that we did this year. November,
we would have a budget workshop. I think the wrong it's the wrong date. They should both be the same date. And then December, the truth and taxation and regular council meetings. So, if you want to continue this until council member Hall gets here to have the town
hall discussion or if you guys want to make a motion. >> Can I Can I just interject? I please don't quote me on this, but I believe that the truth and taxation meeting has to be after 6:00 p.m. So it could be some Tom, do you know? >> Oh,
>> okay. >> Okay. >> So that would have to be at 6 and then our meeting could follow that. >> Seven >> in December. >> Okay. And I think I have the wrong date on November. >> Yes. >> Yes.
And then July, you we still have 700 p.m. So I changed that to 6. Okay. So November should be the 17th for both. Correct. >> Yes. And then December 15th. >> Yep. Not both of them. >> Yep. 15th for both. And then July 6
p.m., not 7 p.m. >> Okay. My only comment I think I have is well two I guess to answer your question to answer your question in regards to the town hall. I I I've had
>> pretty good experience with it. I and I think the community has too maybe get uh some better chairs over there for everybody because they're stiff. But uh it's I think a phenomenal opportunity for us to continue to engage uh almost intimately with the with the
community. So um I don't see any reason to not have them. Um >> just do we two >> well the two we did two this year right because that was part of our thing. We were trying to bring more uh collaboration, connectivity, transparency and citizen taxpayer
involvement. We did May and we did September. And the timing of how we picked those was we were trying to be inclusive of the folks that go elsewhere for the winter to do it when we think they'd be back and then to do it not too
late where they're already gone. And so these dates are directly coinciding with the times that we did it in 2025. So, what would this council's thought be on having just one town hall in the
middle of summer? Perhaps >> I'm flexible either way. I think we I'm in favor of keeping a town hall. >> Yeah. whether or not it's cute. The only the reason that we didn't put the heart of the summer before is because >> sometimes in the heart of the high
season, especially when you want to include business owners too, everybody's just so buried in their stuff. Um, if we want to look at maybe moving it to an early June or a mid June versus a early May and cut out the
September, um, you know, the only thing again just thinking of families is, you know, grad parties, summer trips, uh, whatnot, but and staying away from Memorial Day obviously, but
maybe it's something like a, you know, a June When did we do it? A Tuesday. Like a June 16th. So then you're past um >> June 16th is our regular meeting.
>> A June a June 9th or a June 23rd, you know, or it could be a th Wednesday or Thursday. >> Any day would be fine with me. Question in reg. You have a question. I can see it. >> I I do. I was going back to um the chair and your comfort like
>> I was being sarcastic. >> I know but we could do it here if you were if you concerned about some of that. >> Good good point. Um question I had and Amber you don't have to get up. Um >> there is a topic in the regular council
meeting for a proposal for some work over there. Would that be scheduled around the dates that we're talking about the town hall? Oh, it would be. So, we'd need to have it here anyway. >> Well, >> no, we would schedule the repairs around some of those meetings.
>> Yeah, the repairs would be scheduled based on what the community center calendar is. And so, this would have to fit in with the community center calendar. Okay. >> So, typically Tuesday nights and Thursday nights are a very good night. Wednesday night, there's a reoccurring event. >> Okay. If you wanted to have it at the
community center, >> I I think we could work out where do we need to know where we're having it now? Well, for the community center based on the date, but I think that's why we picked Tuesdays for 25 because of the availability. >> You know, I I'm thinking back to the to
the two we had there last year and that microphone going around, >> it's not good. >> It it did not really work out that well. I think only one microphone worked if I'm not mistaken. We had issues with one of them >> or one of the speakers was not working. So perhaps we do do it here >> and people can come to a podium and
speak >> or take that microphone and hand it around. Right. >> Couple microphones. >> That would be my suggestion is to do it here. I'm open to having two. Perhaps one could be um enough.
Could we approve the meeting schedule and say that do we want to wait to check with the other two before we finalize the date for the town hall or do we just want to book it?
We can always move. We we we've moved we've approved the calendar in the past and we moved our our council retreat in the past because of schedules. So perhaps we just go ahead and approve this just pick a date for the town hall. Maybe we say it's like I said June 9th
or June 23rd which are both Tuesdays. And if we have to move things, we can move them because we still have enough time to notice properly promote and whatnot. How does that sound? >> I'm with that. >> Okay. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second.
>> All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Okay. Opposed. Motion carries. All right. Then we have the number seven 2027 rate schedule. Um so everybody should have this in their packet. Item B7. Unless there are any questions, I would
entertain a motion to approve the rate schedule. >> I make a motion to approve the 2026 rate schedule as presented. >> Second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Okay. Motion carries.
Um, I have the wrong. >> Okay. >> That's it. So a motion to adjurnn would be in order. >> So moved. Second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Okay. The organizational meeting is
adjourned and our regular council meeting will start in 35 minutes at 6 pm. Thank you.