--------- Hold on. There you go. Start over. >> Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome you to the economic development authority meeting this evening. Tonight is Monday, February 9th. Audra, can you have the record show that our assistant
city attorneys present, our city planner along with all voting members, our president VP? Right. We're not the council. Yeah. um along with our video administrator. We will move on to item two to consider
approval of the minutes from February 10th, 2025. >> Madam President, >> yes. >> I move to approve the minutes as written. >> Second. >> Motion by Ryan, seconded by Corey. Is there any discussion?
All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Next item is under bills and communication. I will turn this over to Adam. We will review the summary of the 2025
financials. Get rid of stuff here. Okay. Uh Madame President, commissioners, uh in the packet is summary financials from 2025 for the two uh funds of the EDA. Uh both the result
of the lease revenue issue in 2024. Um these are unuded. Um will be included with the city's comprehensive uh financial report uh that will be presented to you likely in June uh of this year at a city council meeting. So
uh provided some summary financial data. Uh the first page is just a trial balance of uh the debt fund uh for this issue. So at year end there was $398,000 uh included within the trust account at
US Bank uh to help pay for uh future debt service. uh unreserved fund balance of 814,000 uh beginning uh of the year, end of the year uh on the bottom right corner would be about 416,000. In 2025, there was an interest payment
of $439,000 and also some fiscal agent fees. Uh at the US Bank Trust account, this uh money does earn interest. Uh so there was $23,000 of interest applied to uh the bond account at US Bank. Uh the next page in the packet is just
kind of a more transactional view of what went into and what came out of that trust account. Uh you can see the monthly interest revenue going in and also that debt service payment that I mentioned at 439,000 in August of last year. Uh upcoming in
February uh later this month, there is uh a debt service interest payment that will be outgoing of this account at 375,000. So you can see the cash balance uh within that trust account is sufficient to pay that interest payment. Uh later on in 2026 activity will include the
lease revenue payments from the city to the EDA that will be deposited into this account and there will be an additional debt service interest and principal payment in August. Uh next up on page three is the construction side of this bond issue. uh
cash with fiscal agent at the end of the year 10.3 million. Uh you see the negative amount on the top line. So when the city pays for uh the construction cost, it goes out of that cash account and then we draw from uh the trust
account at US Bank to reimburse those costs. So that uh credit amount in the cash uh very top line is replenished monthtomonth. So we pay out and then the next month we reimburse uh the city for those costs with the bond proceeds.
Uh much like the debt service account it does earn interest. Uh there is more cash in the construction account. Uh so for 2025 interest revenue of 565,000 and project cost of 10.8 million. Again this is un audited. there are still
interest or I'm sorry um acral entries for accounts payable and project costs that would uh fluctuate that building improvement uh project cost line item and then lastly uh for financial information just showing the ins and outs of that trust account um interest
applied each month and then you can see the monthly draws that are coming from that to reimburse for the project cost uh with those bond proceeds. So, uh, at the end of the year, it shows that 10.3 million. Uh, and then there's a pending draw for what was paid in January of 26,
uh, that will show up, uh, in the city's bank account in February for 1.7 million. Can answer any questions on the summary financials? Again, will be included in the audit report uh, later this year for the city. >> Questions, >> President.
>> Yes. Um can Adam can you um remind me the source of the 398 the cash that's in >> fund 303 or >> yeah the fund 303 was >> was that our deposit or was that
>> so uh commissioner Denlap is part of the bond closing there are proceeds that go to the construction account and then there are also proceeds that go to the debt service uh the bond account the original deposit of 814,000 came from
that original uh issuance and went into the bond account to pay for those first two interest payments. >> Okay. And then the so the the payment in August of last year and then February of this year that 100% of that is interest >> correct. >> Okay.
>> And then in August of 2026 principal and interest payments and then every August there'll be principal and interest. February is always just interest. >> Oh, okay. Structured very similar to any other geo
type that that the city would have. >> Any other questions on on those? >> Anyone? Okay. >> Moving on to item four under new business. We have the first item is the election uh presentation by our executive
director for elections of officers. >> Yes, madam president. Uh commissioners uh the bylaws of the economic development authority outline uh that there shall be officers. Uh it outlines what those positions are which include a president, a vice president, a
treasurer, an assistant treasurer, and a secretary. Um there are certain members uh certain officers that do need to be members of the board such as in yourself. Uh the one uh that I would certainly recommend as a staff uh appointee would be Secretary uh Zel uh
aligning that with her city clerk role uh in handling minutes and packet preparation. Uh otherwise the other four I would um take direction uh from the board of commissioners. Officers, any nominations? >> Do I have to make a motion to for
>> Yes, mayor. >> Uh, make a motion for Jessica for president. >> We have a motion for me as president from Corey and seconded by Michelle. Is there any other nominations?
All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. >> Madame Mayor, I'll make or madame president. I'll make make a motion to uh
for uh Audra for secretary. >> Second. We have a motion for Audra Epsil as a secretary from Corey, seconded by Michelle. Is there any other nominations?
Don't all raise your hand on this one. Is there any more discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion. We have other roles to fill. Who wants one?
>> I made all five motions last year. So >> Oh, okay. So you're not doing them this year. >> Madam President, permission. >> Did you? >> You took you took the one I did last year. Madam President, one point of clarification, they they don't all need
to be individual motions and seconds and votes unless you prefer it that way. So, >> we are open to however everyone would like to everyone raise your hand, tell me what you want to be, and I'll make a motion for you. >> Tina, you want to be vice president?
>> Sure. I'll be vice president. >> So moved. Second. >> All right, we have a motion from Corey for Fina as vice president, seconded by Ryan. Is there any other motions?
>> We're we're doing one at a time right now. So, >> I'll nominate Ryan as treasurer. >> Oh, wait. No, we're still under vice >> we have to do them one at a time. >> Well, now that we've done it this way, we we are doing it one at a time. >> All right. Is uh is there any more
discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Tina's vice president. Now we have treasurer Ryan. I I nominate Ryan Dunlop as treasurer. >> Second.
>> There is a motion from Michelle and a second from Tina for Ryan for treasurer. Is there any other nominations? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Ryan is the treasurer.
>> Madam mayor, >> make a motion to appoint Michelle as assistant. >> All right. I get out of >> All right. There is a motion uh to appoint Michelle as assistant treasurer from Corey, seconded from Tina. Is there any other nominations?
All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. All those opposed, same sign. We have our new rules which are the same >> same as the old rules. >> Yep. >> Did the same. >> Yes,
>> exactly. All right. Moving on to um the second item which is to con or I'm sorry, item 4.2 under new business is the official newspaper. Adam. Uh, Madame President, uh, commissioners, much like the city, uh,
in the event that the economic development authority needs to post, uh, any legal notices, uh, we are recommending to designate, uh, the Star News as the official newspaper for the EDA. Uh, there's a resolution attached and a motion uh, for your consideration.
>> Madam President, >> yes. Right. >> I move to adopt resolution 2026-01 designating an official newspaper. Second motion by Ryan, seconded by Tina. Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. >> We have an official newspaper. Moving on to item 4.3, the official depository. >> Madam President, commissioners, uh again, similar to uh annual business at
the city level, uh the economic development authority should declare uh a designated depository. Uh in this case, the only funds are held with the trust account at US Bank. Uh resolution attached declaring US Bank um as a
designated depository for the EDA. Madam President, >> yes. >> I move to approve resolution 2026-02 designating depositories. >> Second. >> Motion by Ryan, seconded by Tina. Is there any discuss discussion?
All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Moving on to item five. Nothing listed under old business. Do we have anything, Adam? >> Uh nothing for me, Madam President.
>> Moving on to reports. Item 6.1 is our annual meeting report. >> Yes, thank you. So in the packet there is a brief memo uh that I'll outline some of the materials and then uh hope to have a discussion around the um affordable housing aid. Um so the memo
briefly outlines other funds that are not necessarily e economic development authority funds uh but for the purpose of economic development. Uh so there is a fund uh number 255 uh within the city's financial records uh year end
2025 unodudited cash balance of 430,000. Uh there are two fund balance components of that restricted amounts uh given their um receipt from the state of Minnesota and the restrictions placed on them in the financial statements uh and
for their use. They are restricted for certain reasons. uh that number at the end of the year will be 129,300. And then there are unassigned funds that are really up to the purview and discretion of the EDA board of commissioners on use uh as well as the
city council uh in the amount of 301,000. Uh as we progress through year-end audit procedures, uh we will be allocating additional interest uh to this account uh as we get through that process. So the the numbers here will change just slightly as as that interest allocation
is completed on the statewide affordable housing aid. Uh these are funds received uh to the city uh from 2023 through 2025 and total that 129,000. Uh we are allotted an additional 26,000 for year 2026. Uh that would be in
addition to uh that restricted amount. uh they need to be spent on qualifying projects outlined by the state of Minnesota department of revenue. Um our first uh deadline on that would be by the end of 2027 uh the city would need
to expend $52,757 on qualifying projects. Uh lately atgo and the other cities in Wright County uh class one cities within this county include uh St. Michael, Monaceel, and Buffalo were the ones that received direct
aotments of aid from the state. All other uh Wright County cities uh were lumped into the amount received by Wright County. Uh so we've had ongoing conversations with them on development programs uh that might meet the criteria for this. Uh attached to this memo in
the packet was uh some information from Wright County uh that we can go to uh now. Um so this memo dated December 1st is still relevant. Uh there have been some updates since it was issued. Uh so at
their meeting on February 3rd, the Wright County Board was presented some information uh about these uses um and partnering with the the member cities in the county on development of programs. So, um, what I have heard
from, uh, the assistant administrator at Wright County was that the board, uh, did allocate some of their funds to this transitional housing program, uh, Wright County Community Action and also that uh, within their own county, they administer emergency housing assistance.
Uh, so they did allocate portions of Wright County's uh, funding uh, to those two programs. Uh we do have our next meeting with the board of commissioners on March 10th um to continue the discussion as to how
those city funds uh from the four that I talked about uh could flow through the county uh into these programs. Um so some of the things that they were proposing is a single family housing rehab program. Uh no specifics about what that looks like yet, but um a
simple example might be uh if there's a property uh that the people that own that property meet the income requirements set forth in the state that there could be a loan to improve the condition of that home, whether it's a roof or siding or ADA accessibility or
something uh that would align with uh the program requirements from the state. um transitional housing. I am uh honestly a little unfamiliar with the Wright County Community Action Program. Uh but the board certainly seemed to uh like the work that they were doing. They
were present at that February 3rd meeting. Um contract with hotels for temporary emergency housing, emergency housing assistance through Wright County, that uh I believe is an existing program that they administer with their own local funds.
development assistance. Uh again, these projects uh would need to meet certain income requirements as to how they could be applied. So, it can't just be a market rate housing, whether that's apartment or single family. It would have to be some sort of subsidized
housing or they would have to meet a certain threshold of median income. Um, so as of now, uh, City Planer Lake, myself, we're not aware of any proposed projects within the city that would, uh, be providing that type of housing in the community, um, to be able to assist on
the construction with. Um, also, as I mentioned, the amount is about 129,000. So, when you're talking about a new construction, helping out with some of that, how far is that going to go, and is that going to really close the gap on on making uh, something affordable uh, for the end user?
And then the last one uh Ray County outlined was permanent emergency housing assistance. Um again, so I'm presenting these u in a very summarized fashion, but hoping to have some discussion if there's a preference uh from the board
and feedback that I can provide to Wright County um to pull these funds uh with the other cities. Um, again, I think the idea there is that maybe not every single dollar from AIGO is going
to uh end up in AIGO, but for the greater good of Right County, it would stay within um the borders. So, >> so I I had a question um and you kind of just answered it a little bit about it not seeing it at
Sego. So if the plan is to send it to the county, is the county then going to focus though the since they obviously have their own pool of money that they were allotted and then the four cities are Buffalo, St. Michael, Monaceel, ATGO,
>> are they planning to has there been discussion of focusing those funds whatever is chosen on those communities or would it be a blanket to the whole county? I think there would entering those conversations and it's come across from other cities as well is
that you know their EDAs their councils have had the preference that it benefits their community members first but in the event that uh there's not enough demand within those communities that it it still is used for the purposes outlined by the county countywide.
>> Yeah. Again, the the goal of partnering with the county is so that each of the other four cities or specifically at Sego in this case won't have to develop and administer these type of programs um as an additional service that we don't currently offer. Typically not aligned
with um a smaller city like ours that we're providing um housing assistance. Well, and the hard part is you've got to use 52,000 by the end of 2027 and you got to use the balance and I'm assuming an app there after that. So,
it's not a forever program. >> These are it's limited. Um, so I have some questions. >> I Nope, I'm done that. I'm done for now. I have more. >> Oh, nice by the way. Um,
so, um, so with the single family housing rehab, would would would that go to like people that, um, are in a restricted income bracket or whatever that income bracket is and they need
like an ADA ramp or they had a life-changing event or something like that where now they're wheelbound, chair, wheelchair bound, excuse me, and uh, you know, they need some improvements within their home to make it accessible. Is that kind of the
understanding? >> Uh direction of that one, >> commissioner, that that's certainly one example. Um it it could be for whatever program criteria the the member cities in Wright County develop as part of that program. That was an example. Um maybe
it's replacing exterior windows and doors to, you know, keep a home in living conditions. Uh maybe it's providing a new roof, a new septic system, something that the people who are applying are meeting >> that
>> median income criteria that the program would outline and maybe are having difficulty obtaining financing through more traditional method is a bank loan or home equity something like that. So >> So that's still loan to them. >> Yes, that it >> subsidized.
>> Not necessarily. It's uh subsidized probably on the interest rate, you know, again, that's really dependent on what that program criteria developed is, you know, and it also what is the amount of the loan? Are we talking 5,000? How much are you going to
loan out to these? I've seen these programs um back in a previous job where you would audit them um and you can basically apply them as a second mortgage. we could put a lean on the property so that when and if they would sell that property that money would come
back into the program and be able to go to a new loan for a similar reason >> to p to piggyback on Michelle's comment is this I mean is that the plan is that right county's intent is that the state of Minnesota's intent that it's to come
back then as a loan or is it just a one-time infusion usion to these pro potential programs for the county. >> Really, I'm looking for that feedback. There's no grant pro or there's no loan program that's written at this point.
We're looking for feedback on what the elected officials in each community want to do, what the elected officials at Wright County want to do with that funding. and we can then take that feedback and create programs or uh criteria that um those programs would be administered
by. I you know the cyclical aspect of being able to reuse affordable housing aid dollars or like programs more than just at a one-time level I think is appealing at least from the staff side of things. Mhm.
>> Um, but that does require constant administration as well, >> right? That's where I was kind of going. Do they have staff that can manage that? And if they loan this money for, let's say they pick single family housing, rehab or transitional housing, >> what is their method of getting that
money back? What's the duration on it? >> Yeah, >> there's a lot of like unknowns. We can feel good about all of these things, but what does it actually look like? Is it does the money go out this year and it doesn't come back for 10 years? then it's not really an active program, I guess.
>> And I I like the idea of it being a loan, but if people are meeting that criteria, that means struggling. If they're having some sort of serious issue, can they really pay back that even if it's a subsidized thing? And and just a lot of questions around that.
What could that look like? A little more information would be helpful. Um, I'm I'm in favor of um the emergency housing assistance um or even the hotel stuff to help support families that are have a um
lifealtering event that they can't stay in their home. Um that type of situation. um if there was a little more meaning to a single family thing was was kind of a grant thing for some some situations
uh would be nice but that's just a comment. Um there there's plenty of people that um you know with the aging community that you know the baby boomers and stuff like that aging and and needing resources and
and those types of things as they um become less and less able. you know, there's a point where it doesn't make sense for those individuals to go into it's easier to for them or cost effective for them to stay in their home versus going into a care facility. I
just, you know, some of those thoughts. >> Adam, is there a way that because you mentioned what four cities within Wright County, does every city get the same amount of money? >> Madam President, largely based on population.
>> Okay. Um, no. I'm just going to throw this out there because I don't know if this would be something that we'd want to do or the rest of the community wouldn't want to do, but to make our money go further if we'd all want to combined our monies and
create something that we something for Wright County that would we could potentially I like the fact of the um the emergency was it home >> housing? housing assistance. Um, you know, if we can combine the pot together
since it's Wright County and I don't know again if the cities would want to do that or if we'd want to do that, but I was just thinking to figure out a the best possible way to utilize this this money and be able to give back to the community. Madam President, that's
certainly the goal of our conversations between th the those other cities in Wright County is to try and pull the funds to do more good throughout the county >> um than to localize it necessarily to each city. Madam President,
>> yes. >> I think one way if we did want to keep it local, maybe there would be an opportunity to work with the um uh treatment facility. If they have some need for I know they provide housing at
the facility if they need some repairs or something like that, we could help with that. or those individuals who have graduated from that facility if they need temporary housing afterwards or loans or something like that. That's the
only thing I can think of within the city. But there also when if you look at the single family housing rehab, we do have probably some homes as Michelle was talking about where people are potentially in need of they pro might
not qualify for roofs or windows. I mean, I can you can drive around the city and I'm not going to say exactly what roads that you can see, but there are some homes that if there were a program, $10,000 to help improve that property,
make it maintained livable. >> My concern with something like that is we have a time frame for some of this money. >> Yeah. >> And advertising something like that and getting people to use it. >> I I don't think we could do it locally. I think it would have to be through the
county like if if the county >> give the county the money and then have >> Yeah, because you look at because it's talks about Sherburn County. So, I did quickly try to Google their program and it is as like Adam talked about it's roofs, windows, um you do have to meet income requirements.
>> Um not that I'm not against your idea of working with the the treatment facility in town, but there are other group homes in town, too. So, how do you then pick? Do we open it up to everyone because there are group homes that are ran out of homes in our community already?
>> Yeah. My thought was just how do we get the >> how do we get that money quickly in use? Yeah. I think it well if it's on a county level you know obviously if there's somebody that responds to from
ATIGO then then the SIGO for the our funds that we contribute then those funds would go directly to ACgo uh most immediately um if you advertise and this is the end of 2027 so we do have time to advertise but we still have
to sort through what that program is um and advertise for you know assistance for those who need it. I think there is some time there. Um but there I don't know how fast and this is um private sector versus public
sector um uh idea right there might be time but I looking to other people that live this in this world more so than I do to respond to that. One other comment I had. So, as you said, right, County Community Action was present at the
meeting on the 3, but there are people like their organizations like Rivers of Hope, which are domestic violence. Um, their advocates, they they place women and children into can be men and women most, but mostly women and
children into um temporary housing also. So, there are other organizations that are already set up in the county. Was there any discussion of pairing with some of those organizations outside of Ray County Community Action? >> Madame President, commissioners, I I was
not at the meeting on February 3rd. We had the state of the city's event for the Chamber of Commerce. So, I was not able to attend, nor was the city of St. Michael. So, I think that's part of the reason why they're continuing that discussion on March 10th. too. I I don't think it's one program
that's maybe coming out of this uh collaboration with the other cities in Ray County. I think looking to get feedback on which ones uh appeal to you and I'm I'm hearing >> emergency housing >> maybe the housing rehab, but the unknown
of what that program criteria, what are the terms of those programs? What does that look like on the back end? Um, but I'm also hearing support for transitional housing, not only through WCCA, but maybe some other type of similar organization, um, within the county uh, that could
partner with maybe the treatment facility and >> they're more familiar with the people that are coming in. >> Well, there's a large facility. So, >> treatment facility in Waverly, which is in my county also. So, >> but in but in the scenarios we're talking about, we're giving the money to the county. I think there would
ultimately have to be some sort of agreement or memorandum of understanding that this is the statewide affordable housing aid program administered by Wright County with funding from each of the four cities and Wright County that
it would go into these different areas maybe on a percentage wise um and then the county as they're expending them maybe they're invoicing us for our portion uh of that. So again, we haven't got completely to the dynamics of how that money is flowing
um to the county or or not. So >> I think it's a good idea to try to pull the resources and and be diligent about it. Otherwise, if we're if all these cities that don't have quite the enough staff to develop these different
programs within our own community, you know, having the county help manage that and making sure that those funds get utilized. >> Cory, you had your hand. >> Um, Madam President. Oh, okay. Um, Adam, um, we did this last year, right? if I
remember we didn't do anything that >> I would say last year we were even more preliminary than where we are. >> Yeah. >> At this point, right? Uh which is still very preliminary. Um I think there's more ideas >> being discussed on the table and
presented to you tonight for some feedback than there was a year ago. >> Yeah. Because when I I guess I was looking at it a little bit and just what our neighbors were doing and I found that I think Buffalo Monaceel Buffalo was putting it towards development
assistance and Monaceel was development incentives with rehab. Um I do like the emergency assistance >> idea and are those plan or that's just what they've discussed they would do and
not give it to the county? >> Um I think that's been use case scenarios. Okay. Um I don't know that for sure but um so I was so I guess what I I guess I'm concurring with that stuff but like can
we get more information maybe and wait on this a little bit? Oh, absolutely. Not requesting any sort of action, mostly just feedback so that yeah, >> at our next meeting with the other cities in Ray County that we can either cross certain things off of the list and
quit spending time and effort on developing program criteria that might apply to those and better focus on coming up with um program criteria that's supported throughout the elected officials in the county. So, >> so to that point, are there any within
this list, and again, this is basically the extent of where that brainstorming session has gone so far, are there any that you absolutely would prefer to not participate in? I guess for me the only the only criteria I'm concerned about is the
things I wouldn't want to do is anything where we're putting this money towards something we're going to have to continue to support through other funds. >> Mh. >> You know, building something and then we get a small temporary influx of cash and
then we have to support it go ongoing. So to me, giving it to the having the county administer it and having it go towards programs that are sort of temporary relief, I think is probably the best way to use funds like this.
>> I would agree with that. And that's kind of where my level of questions was going is just that if we >> did something like a loan program, you're you're not going to get the money back and then you've now given it one time. this this money sits out there for 10 years, 20 or whenever someone
gives it back or sells their home as you mentioned. Um, and this is it like a rehab situation of a home housing rehab. And so then it's now what happens in the meantime. So this program sits out there that's kind of there but it's not there but when we get some money back it. So,
I'd rather see it, again, like you said, be here's an infusion to make some stuff better right now, but this is limited funds. Do not count on this. Um, >> right. >> And move it forward. >> Yeah. >> Um I, you know, as when it lays out here
that we only have to spend the 525 or 757 by that year, you still know what the total is. I mean, we've got a lot. 29 plus another 26,000. So those other cities are getting an infusion in 2026
that we did not anticipate getting. >> Correct. Uh when the program was first uh set forth by the legislature, 2025 was intended to be the last year of funding >> and they somehow just found some extra money. >> Unable to answer that.
>> Okay. I just asking just want to note it. Okay. Um, yeah. >> All right. I will take that and report back at a future either EDA or city council meeting once I have some more
actionable items for you. >> Okay. >> Then you have tip districts on your memo. >> Yeah. Back up. Madame President, commissioners, this is more of just uh an update on the three active tiff districts uh within the
community. Uh district number one, Great River Center. Um taxes payable 2026 is the last year uh of the tax increment. Uh so the last note payment will be in February of 2027. What happens when that district um goes
offline is that the tax capacity uh goes back into the pool for determination of the tax rate. Um so we should see a a slight influx in um tax capacity that applies to the tax rate. So uh kind of the point of the whole tax increment
financing concept. Uh district 3 and district 4 are are long live districts uh and will extend through February of 2046. But uh so far um those projects the first two are fully completed. Uh district number four phase two uh which
does not have any tiff components to it is still uh proceeding with construction. Uh all of the tiff was on phase one. Uh and then city- owned property uh we still are the proud owners of three parcels for future development. Uh there have been closed
session discussions so we won't go into to those uh at previous meetings in 2025. Uh staff uh are still working with the uh potential buyers on that is going slower than uh certainly anticipated uh when that information was presented to
you last year. But uh uh we still have those listing agreements with uh commercial realy solutions and just hoping to find a user uh for all three of them as soon as possible. So that is all I have for you as far as the
annual uh report uh this evening. Can certainly answer any questions. >> Does anyone have anything? >> All right, >> Madam President, at this time there is no defined meeting schedule of the ED.
So um at any point we can request staff to schedule a meeting of the EDA. But at this point, um, possibly until we have more information on the housing aid programs, uh, that we'll just, uh, kind of wait and see.
>> I'm curious, is the you you made me think of something. Is there a three-day notice requirement for EDA meetings? >> Madam President, yes, it would be similar to statute on on the city level. >> Okay, >> great. No one else has anything. Then a motion to adjurnn would be in order. So
moved. Second motion by Tina, seconded by Michelle. Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> All those opposed, same sign. The meeting is ended. Thank you all for attending. No one attended. Part: 2
Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome you to the ATGO city council meeting. Tonight is Monday, February 9th. Audrey, can you have the record show that our assistant city attorneys present, our city planners present, our city engineers absent, all council members are present along with our city
administrator. At this time, I'll ask you all to join us in 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. >> Our first item of business this evening is the open forum. This is the portion of the meeting where you can come to the podium, state your name and address, and limit comments to 5 minutes or less. Would anyone like to speak at this time? >> Uh, Gabe Davis.
Last Friday, my niece, who's black, she's a nurse, she was working, got off her shift at 6:00, was driving home, came saw a bunch of
lights on cop cars, three, four cop cars. She pulled over, offer assistance. Turns out it was ICE. They stopped the car and picked people up. So she was parked pulled over to the side of the
road, pulled out her camera and she filmed it. After 2 minutes, she left. She didn't go more than a few blocks and all of a sudden a Bronco pulls out in front of her, slams on his brake, stops
her. Another ICE car stopped her from behind, came running up to her car and was yelling at her and telling her, "Roll out the windows. Get out of the car. We're going to bust your windows." So, they knew why she was there, you know, why she had stopped. They ended up
arresting her for obstruction and hauled her over to the Whipple building. Once she got to the Whipple building, they put her in a cell with three other women who were probably in their 40s. My niece is probably 26 at this point. They the
women calmed her down and they and while this was happening, my niece happened to call her mother on her speaker phone. So her mother heard the whole thing go down. So anyways, they pulled her out of the cell, fingerprinted her, took her DNA, took
her picture. Then they decided to read her her rights and ask Yeah. started asking her question. Says, "I want an attorney, threw her back in the cell. They held her till midnight. Then they released her." And unlike a lot of
people that have been released, you know, and she's a US citizen, they gave her her phone back. She's terrified of going any place. Now, is any of that stuff going on around here? I've been hearing things
about people being followed, protesters being followed, people who film the police, and the course of duties being followed home. Um, I've got other relatives who are school teachers. They got problems with ICE showing up at bus stops. Uh, following the parents home,
following the kids home. Uh, sounds like Gestapo days to me. Sorry, but that's what it is. Um, have have you as the council heard anything from our constituents? I know I've door knocked 6,500 homes in the last
election. We have a lot of uh people that do not speak English here. We've got a Hispanic population. We've got people from Africa, the Middle East. Have you guys heard anything from anybody about anything going on in Oiggo?
>> We can at the end of the meeting, we always go around and have the the sheriff speak. >> Nobody's contacted. Do send you an email saying this is going on. That's going on. Council members, >> no >> no contact.
>> Well, the sophomore are here, so just to beware. We were very surprised and uh her mother was very upset as is she, you know, just doing what a nurse or doctor would do coming upon us with seen what they thought was an accident and
she gets hauled off to Whipple and inconvenience for six to eight hours. You know, >> Mr. Davis, was this in Sego that this happened? She was in Richfield. >> Okay. >> But she's got relatives that do live in Otgo, >> right? >> So,
>> no, I just was confirming where >> Yeah. So, so I was and I've been told ICE is everywhere. I know they've been in Elk River. I know they've been to St. Michael yesterday. They were in Howard Lake in big numbers.
So, the Gestapo's out there grabbing people basically they're doing it on you're not white enough. Well, come on. I come to my house. I'm a white guy. I'm an immigrant and I don't speak with an accent. Maybe that's my white privilege this time around. I don't know. But I
keep expecting him, you know, so we'll see. Yeah. Thanks. >> Would anyone else like to comment? Madame Mayor, members of the council, city staff, and the great residents of Atgo, it's always an honor to come by
with a legislative preview. I am Senator Eric Lucero, and it it is continues to be my my privilege to serve this community and the eight communities that make up Senate District 30. So the legislative session begins a week from
tomorrow uh February 17th and traditionally we start earlier in January in the finance or the budget years. This is not a finance or budget year. This is a bonding year and so we are starting really really late. Well,
as a consequence of that, we're only going to have approximately six weeks before the Easter recess. And that is important because all committee work. So all the bills have to make their way through the committee process traditionally by the Easter break. Then
when we come back as a legislature, we have the remaining roughly five or six weeks then to finish up. It won't even be that long. It might even be four or five weeks uh to finish up any floor action on bills that made it through committee. So the this being a bonding
year, we haven't passed a bonding bill in several years. that should be the primary focus of the legislative session. There are a number of stateowned assets and infrastructure andor regional infrastructure and assets that I believe are prime candidates for
a bonding bill. Uh I know that we continue to have conversations. There are several in this community andor Wright County and beyond that I think are very important and serve a very valuable purpose to the residents of of our community. So looking forward to those conversations. I'm not on the the capital investment committee but again
that that should and hopefully will be one of the focus uh among the other things that we have seen some of the dynamics the entire legislature is up there are 134 in the Minnesota house there's 67 in the senate for a total of 201
up and then the four constitutional offices which are the governor attorney general secretary of state and state auditor are also up and one of our US senate seats is up so there'll five statewide elections in addition to the 201 legislative seats. So, it's going to
be that's one of the dynamics. In addition, then we have a a lame duck governor and there's going to be a lot of there has been a lot of retirements and it's just the dynamics are going to be uh something to watch especially with
obviously some of the heat and and risen temperature on some of the topics that are are presently dominating the headlines. Among those is obviously the fraud. When it comes to the fraud, uh that has been uh among the topics of conversation and it's made a lot of
motans very angry. So a couple years ago, the fraud conversations I remember then starting with well the fraud is about a couple hundred million dollars. Well then the US attorney uh I think it was a year or so ago he said he announced in a press conference that he
expects the fraud total uh north of a billion dollars. Then I think it was about six months after that roughly he had another press conference where he said it potentially could be north of $9 billion. And then President Trump approximately three weeks ago he said it
could amount to greater than $19 billion in fraud from those in Minnesota. Now to put in perspective couple years ago we had an $18 billion budget surplus. A surplus is the result of overt
taxation from hardworking motans and from businesses. And that overt taxation then instead of returning it, it was spent and another $10 billion was raised in taxes. However, if you take that $18 billion budget surplus and you compare it to the if if that's accurate, more
than $19 billion of fraud, that equates to the entire budget surplus would have been criminally stolen from by fraudsters and went out the door. That is what's made motans that's among the top the top
communications I'm receiving that there needs to be a crackdown to stop this so that dollars can and should be hurt uh going to the the good people that that serve. Other topics uh that I expect we've seen some recent action of announcements by the governor in terms of the second amendment in and around
the capital complex. So I think second amendment will be a topic of conversation. And then earlier this morning, I was down at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve for a housing discussion. Housing affordability continues to be a major issue. So, if you recall, uh, two years ago, I had I
mentioned that the average age of first-time home buyers was 38 years old, up from the mid20s about 20 years ago. That number is now 40 years old. And so, the average age of a first-time home buyer is 40 years old. One of the things
that makes me incredibly concerned as a policy maker is we all heard we we've heard the the phrase the American dream. One of the the the facets of the American dream is to become homeowner become a homeowner for generational wealth. I've been
listening being in the housing industry. I've been listening to podcasts, you know, different uh topics around the country. One of the things that really alarms me is there was a couple episodes where they were talking about young people and the what is the definition of the American dream and there's some
anecdotal uh evidence now that the definition itself is changing and that some young people they see home ownership as so far out of reach that they're changing what their objective is and they might be prot they're settling for being a perpetual renter. That's
really alarming for myself as a policy maker. So, I'm just throwing that out there. Now, part of the conversation we had down at the Fed and there's all kinds of dynamics that play into uh there's no single or even a handful of variables. There's many that that go together, but it's it's it's a topic
conversation. And then lastly, the HOA bill, if you recall, I was the chief author of that, the homeowners association reform bill, and uh that did successfully make it through the Senate last year. I'm the chief author. It did pass the Senate. It's been sent over to the House. It didn't pass last year.
Hopefully, we can get some traction this year. It's a bipartisan bill again seeking to to bring some necessary reforms to the abuses that are happening in uh homeowners association. So, with that, Madame uh mayor and members of the council, if there's any questions, I could Yes, >> Mr. Lucero, you said it passed in the
Senate, the HOA, >> but it didn't pass in the House. >> In the House. >> What was the reasons? So, my understanding is the committee, I think it's the House Commerce Committee, and I think that's Representative O'Driscoll,
but I could be wrong. Uh, it's my understanding that the chair of that committee, he wanted to expand some of the area that needs to be reformed, and that that and that is insurance. So, we all know the cost of insurance is just dramatically rising and there are some clear conflicts of interest in addition
to just standard uh single family home owners and the cost of insurance. when it comes to homeowners uh associations, there are some very demons uh conflicts of interest and other things and abuse and fraud in the insurance space and I think he wanted to expand the
conversation uh in there. So you wanted to hold it up until this year to potentially but uh that's my understanding. >> So are they gathering more basically data points people to come in and testify on that? I because obviously you worked very closely with residents here in Oxiggo.
>> Yes. So I don't know what. So the chief authors in the house are Representative Mecklland and Representative Bonner. They have been having active conversations with Representative O'Driscoll and so I don't know the details there. Okay. >> But it's my opinion that that is uh the
insurance arena is very much needing to be addressed. But an already complicated bill with many moving parts, I think it it's going to become more complicated to try to take another piece and tack it on. So it's my opinion. Let's address that, but let's have two different
reform bills. So, I hope they don't get combined because it's going to get very complex >> and something might get missed. >> Yeah. That it didn't get separated last year. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Is there any other comments or questions? >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you so much. And I'll just put out
there I love hearing feedback from from residents. The best way to contact me is by email, which is sen.ic.lucermate.gov. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Good evening, Representative Watson. As uh I'm sure you guys are aware, glad to
be here again. I can't remember the last time I was uh here um for a city council meeting, which is much to my shame, but I I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you tonight. Um, in terms of looking ahead at what's going to happen in the legislative session this year, unfortunately the dynamic is such that
with this tie that we have in the House where you absolutely must have bipartisan agreement in order for something to move forward and given the fact that it's an election year and given the fact that we don't have the same sort of budgetary pressure that we had last year where you have to get
certain things done by a certain date otherwise the government shuts down, there's going to be a serious lack of incentive in order to actually get things done. Um, and with with the broader political climate right now, all the different things that are going on,
uh, I I anticipate there's going to be much theater um, that will detract from productive conversation. That said, there is still the possibility that things necessary things that need to get done will get done. So, tax conformity obviously is an issue with changes made
by the federal government. Um, we have I had a meeting this morning with the judicial branch regarding supplementary budget needs that they have for very reasonable asks regarding security and things of that nature. U policy changes that will make things smoother and more
efficient at their level. Things that aren't going to make headlines, things that aren't going to be showy, but are are definitely necessary in order to ensure that the efficiency of our state government remains on course. And then there are some other things I would like to work on. I have some thoughts
regarding family law which may be relevant to constituents in your city um who are uh sharing custody of children. Sometimes you have people who abuse that situation and there there are certain proposals that I'm kicking
around that could potentially ease those tensions. Um, another thing that I'm working on that I think you'll be particularly interested in as a municipality is I would like to propose a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the state
from imposing unfunded mandates upon municipalities. Um, and I welcome your feedback on that. I imagine most city council members and county commissioners and school board members would be enthusiastic about the idea of the state no longer telling them
they have to do things without giving them money. Uh because as I'm sure you're aware and of course I was on the city council in Auburnville for uh quite a few years when you have to raise property taxes the people blame you. They don't blame us even though we're the ones telling
you that you got to do X Y and Z. And so I think that there's potential there even under these circumstances with it being a tied house uh to get some bipartisan support simply because this is an issue that really transcends partisanship. Everybody everywhere in
the state has had to deal with increased property taxes. Everywhere everywhere in the state um has had to deal with the burdens that have been placed upon them uh from St. Paul uh regardless of their geography. So hopefully that's something we'll be able to move forward. Finally,
I just I'd like to speak to the concerns raised by um the gentleman to my right here. I wasn't going to disclose this publicly prior to doing it. Um but I was contacted by a Minnesota resident u down in southern Minnesota. I won't specify
exactly where for security reasons. Um but I've heard many stories and anecdotes in the same category as what you heard earlier today. And so I I picked up a random phone call from a guy and he he told me a number of stories that people
have been experiencing. Um and so tomorrow I'm going to be heading down there to survey the field and see what I can see and talk to as many folks as I can about what they're experiencing. And um hopefully that will generate some sort of bipartisan conversation about what if
anything can be done to kind of push a more measured response than um some folks claim to have been seeing. I have no idea where that's going to end up, but the that's my favorite thing to do is to jump to the things that where I have no idea where
it's going to end up. So we'll uh we'll see and I'm sure I'll let you know. Any questions? Does anyone have anything? Right. >> Uh, Representative Hudson. Um, just had a quick question. Say it's more on I guess the fraud sort of stuff. Um, do
you think there's any chance of getting recouping any of that? Have you heard any talk if >> not really? Um, it's difficult because so when the US attorney talks about a
potential $9 billion having been lost to fraud over the course of the past five years, that's five years. So in that time, money passes through entities. It gets spent, it gets diverted. We've all heard the stories of suitcases full of cash heading overseas and what have you. >> Yeah.
>> My my guess, and it's total speculation, is that the vast majority of those funds are unreoverable just as a matter of logistics. Um, now to the degree that they can recover stuff, I'm sure they will do everything they can at at the federal level um to to do that. But
really the most pressing, in my opinion, the most pressing thing that could be done about the fraud situation that we find ourselves in is aggressively reforming the system. So for instance, earlier this week, I met with a group of reputable housing providers, you know,
people whose the companies you would recognize their names. um including the Association for Minnesota Counties um who talked about the fact that what they do in the housing space is distinct from
these housing stabilization services that you've heard about the program that was shut down because there was overwhelming evidence of fraud ongoing. And so their idea was very simple and at first glance seems very logical which is let's take the money we were spending on
this thing that doesn't work and spend it on the thing that we know does work right. Um, and so it's it's reforms like that, but it's going to require obviously in these circumstances bipartisan support, which to my original
uh point is possible, but nobody should hold their breath given the current political circumstances and the fact that it's an election year. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, I have a couple questions.
>> I'm sorry. Um, >> so when it comes to the fraud, does is the state protected at all? Do they have their own protections, their own insurance or something that protects the taxpayers dollars that is supposed to
fund certain programs, certain things that are going on? Um, and is there going to be any kind of kickback or or financial, you know, um, leveling, if you will, of what was taken, what was stolen?
I wish I could answer yes to either of those questions. So the in terms of protection, I don't think there's anything analogous to like an insurance or something where you know you can actually get indignified for the losses that have uh been incurred because those losses are
direct result of policy, right? and policy that was chosen to ship money out the door with minimal verification and oversight. And and as I described earlier, it's difficult to claw those dollars back. Um on the on the other
front of um I forget your second question. Can you restate it, please? Oh, um just it was just in regards to insurance to try to get something, you know, is the state insured or taxpayer dollars. When they come up with these programs and and they have these
policies that set forth that they can get this money and they've gotten the money, >> then then the the money that we all put into that pot to to do the good thing and help out these businesses. um you know retracting that back and you
answer the question there's no insurance there's not really >> yeah the the mechanisms for doing it are criminal and civil in terms of try you know pursuing bad actors and account seizures and things of that nature which are very burdensome the US uh attorney I
believe stated in one or multiple of his press conferences that precisely that type of recovery is extremely difficult to do it's the same reason why they're not bringing RICO cases because RICO cases are are difficult to piece together just based on structurally how they the basis for them
in US code. Um he said that we're not going to be able to prosecute our way out of this problem. What what you have happening again in my opinion is a overwhelming of the system. So the what we've seen in terms of the level of fraud
across our programs in this state is so massive. you're talking about billions of dollars and hundreds of entities, thousands of entities pro probably um that it overwhelms the capacity of prosecutors, law enforcement,
uh lawyers of all types, the attorney general's office, I mean, you name it to be able to do because our our society is is supposed to be a high trust society and we don't have the resources as institutions to address the scale of
fraud that we've seen. in recent years. And so that's why a fundamental redesign of how these programs work in my opinion is very necessary. >> I agree. Um and then you made a comment in regards to lack of incentive to
actually get things done. Is there a policy we can like try to get past to change that to like requirements instead of the lack of incentive being a passive way to not get things done? Uh I love that question. So I have a couple of
ideas. One is I think we should work towards getting rid of um shutdown brinksmanship. So like in budget years where you know everybody always talks about there's going to be a shutdown, there's going to be a shutdown. Um that should be taken off the table. And I
think one of the ways we could do that is potentially through a constitutional amendment that says, listen, if the legislature can't get their act together, we're just going to fund government at the same level that it was funded the prior bienium minus some arbitrary number 1% 2% whatever it is.
And what that would do is it would ratchet up the pressure on the legislature to actually get the job done because otherwise everybody's going to lose something, right? That's one idea. The second idea that I have is, and I talked about this at the um I94 chamber
event in Albertville on Friday, having been on the city council for a number of years myself, one of the things I miss is this thing called a comprehensive plan, right? where we're looking at things 10, 20, 30 years down the road and elections, yeah,
they matter, but what you're looking for in city council members and mayors are people who recognize that they're a link in a chain and that there's a certain level of continuity. Yeah, you can respond to changes in circumstance, but there's a certain understood
responsibility there that prior councils have set up a plan. they had a reason to do it and unless we can articulate some new reason to deviate from that plan we should probably go with the old plan right there's nothing analogous to that in state government unfortunately
>> and I don't know how to formulate that but I think that would go a long way towards solving especially when it comes to things like we were talking about transportation I94 um I surveyed the construction of the gap project here between Albertville and Monaceel and was talking to those guys
and the way their industry works is you've got guys who they basically it's it's somewhat analogous to a military deployment where these guys mobilize and they go somewhere in the state and they work, you know, 16 hours a day or whatever and and sleep in a hotel and get up and do it again until the project
is done. >> And well, if there's not enough work for them to continuously do that on a regular basis, then they're going to go to some other state where there is work, which disrupts the entire flow and the efficiency. And so it makes sense to me that we would do something analogous to
what cities do, which is say, "Hey, as a state for the next 30 years, here's our priorities with transportation." So there's some amount of predictability and sustainability and efficiency, but that's the kind of idea that just makes too much sense for
So >> I like where your thoughts are going. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other comments? Right, we will close the open forum and move on to item two to consider our agenda for approval. Does anyone have
anything that they would like to add or delete at this time? Otherwise, a motion would be in order. >> Madam Mayor, >> yes, Ryan. >> I move to approve the agenda as written. >> Second. >> All right. Motion by Ryan, seconded by Michelle. Is there any discussion?
All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Next item is our consent agenda. Motion would be in order. >> Madam Mayor, >> Miss Ryan, >> I move to approve the consent agenda as written. >> Second. >> Motion by Ryan, seconded by Tina. Is
there any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Moving on to item 4.1, public safety, our fire department staffing. I
will turn this over to Chief Scott. We didn't have to move. Mayor Council, thanks for uh your time again tonight. Um this is going to look somewhat familiar because we um repeated some of the information that we were just at in January about our staffing
plan, but added some information. So, we're um we in January we got permission to seek um started advertising for the fire chief's position. I think as of this morning, we had about seven candidates that applied and I know another handful that I've talked to that
are planning to apply this week. So, I I'm happy with the uh the pool of candidates given the uh the market in the Twin Cities has been there's been a lot of chiefs opening. So, there's not a lot of candidates right now. That closes a week from tonight. And our again our goal is to have that person on board by
April if everything goes right. Um tonight's ask is to approve the job description and authorize recruitment for the full-time fire captain's position and the part-time firefighters position. Um, as you recall, the part-time firefighters, um, we're
probably going to get a different group, two different groups of people. Some that have experience and some that don't have experience, the ones that don't have experience. We have to provide all that training. So, they'd have to start in June to get their five months of firefighter training done and then about two months of uh, first responder
training. So, that's why that's kind of urgent. Um, we'll talk a little bit more about this, but the one change from last month that we moved forward to tonight is instead of asking for all three of the captains um to start in May, we're asking that two of them start in May and
then one would start in in late fall as was originally planned. And I'll get more details on that in a second. Um, and then the third cap, I'm sorry, would start in this this fall. Go to the next slide. Um, so the reason that we're
doing some of these changes is is my goal is that we need to be fully operational as a team by January 2027. We don't need need to just have bodies here. We need to be operational as a team by January. Um, so that's the little dominoes that we talked about last month of we want to get the chief
on first so he or she is involved with the hiring of the captains. Once the captains are on board, the captains would help the chief with some of the things that um are remaining, especially the training of the part-time firefighters and then the the full-time firefighters and the remaining captain can wait till later in the year.
So, what will the captains be doing? There's still a lot to do. Um in addition to building community, um city council supports, uh city staff relationships, and continuing to build the relationships with our neighboring departments, there's a lot of stuff to procure. Um, we've got equipment,
uniforms, turnout gear, getting the station ready for uh, response, radios, pagers, dispatch. Um, apparatus delivery and training, um, standard operating procedures and guidelines. One really good example is fire key boxes. Um, a lot of businesses
are required to have fire keys where the fire department that's assigned to the area can go and unlock the box and get the master keys out. We've got four different key systems in our city right now. One for each of the cities that were assigned at Seagull, Albertville, and Rogers. And then uh the previous director started his own program for
Seagull. So there's four different key programs right now. We got to eventually get down to one. Um so that's, you know, doesn't sound like a lot, but it's tracking down every one of those businesses, changing out the keys in them. Um records management system, getting our fire department identification number, working with the
state. Um like right now in March it's uh that's we're due to not we because we don't have our fire department identification number yet but fire departments have till March to submit for their fire state aid from the previous year. So that's the the cities that are providing contract services would do that this March. But there's a
lot of things to do. Um and in in addition to uh attracting and engaging part-time firefighters that's no easy task. Um next slide. So, I went back and looked at some history timeline because I was getting
confused on some of the dates and I think um a lot of you know all these but we go to the next one. Um I did research through laser fish which is a wonderful thing. um if you're geeky like me, but um December October of uh excuse me,
October of 2001, Elk River Fire Chief Bruce West um attended a council meeting to talk about a possible fire station in not Seagull. Um I did follow up with former Chief West um who's retired now about that and he and the current at
that time city administrator from Elk River came in and presented to the council. Their plan was to build a fire station by the Round Barn area, which we ended up buying land eventually, and we still own the land. And then what Bruce said, Chief West, is about every 5 to 10 years, their proposal was to build
another station. The second one was going to be at the city hall campus site, and then the third one would be over on Highway 19. So eventually, what their proposal 25 years ago was that we'd need three fire stations. Um, Bruce said nothing really happened with that.
Um it eventually resulted in the city um doing a shared services study in 2016 with Albertville and again this is right from the minutes city council position is that each city builds and owns its own fire station. Each city is responsible for operating costs and
capital costs of their own fire station. Um later in 2016 there was propos you received proposals from ESCI and Pitchen Associates um to do another uh study fire department's fire station study excuse
me and in June of 2017 the council decided not to do the study but to meet with Elk River to discuss fire stations further. New fire chief comes into Elk River 2017. John Cunningham who's currently our um assistant commissioner of public
safety for the state did a fire station study with five bugles and included at Seagull because they were still responding here of course and at that time Chief Cunningham came and proposed that Elk River should u build a station that would be man excuse me at Seagull
should build a station that would be managed by Elk River and I should back up to um Chief West he made it perfectly clear that when they presented in 2001 they were presenting that a seagull needs to build a fire station, trucks, recruit volunteers and that elk or elk
river would manage it. So all those scenarios was we had to make the investment but they would manage it both in 2001 and 2017. October 2017, council approves a fire station study which resulted in the beacon GIS study.
And then 2021, you hired the cap or you hired Jerry Strike to do the capstone study. And there was five options presented. And again, going from council minutes, um, city council agreed on option five appears to be the best option for Seigo. Create the city of Atgo fire department build a fire
station. Mr. strikes stated this option would allow the city to have full control. 2023, you hired your first director of emergency services. 2024, that director presented to you uh September 2024, his
first plan for staffing, which included combination staffing of full-time and part-time folks. And then in April of last year, 2025, the director made a very detailed presentation about hiring nine career staff and 20 part-time staff.
We can go to the next slide. So that plan that was presented about a year ago is still the plan that is moving forward today other than I'm proposing to move up the times again because I think myself and others that
are professionals in this field feel that we need more time to get that team ready to be able to respond in January. So, the staffing amounts haven't changed, but we're moving up, suggesting we move up the time frames. Um, so, for example, three full-time captains in the previous plan a year ago, they were
supposed to start in November. We're proposing two captains now starting in May and one in November still. Six full-time firefighters was proposed to start in December. We're proposing to start them in November. Now, the reason for the full-time firefighters to start
a little bit early is, um, I've checked with departments that are hiring full-time staff, and when you hire full-time staff, you're hiring experienced people for the most part, although the the market's getting a little thin right now. Um, but for the most part, you're hiring people with experience, but they're coming from all different cities, all different avenues.
Um, Burnsville, Egan, Shaki, all the cities I've talked to, St. Louis Park, they're still doing a five to eight week academy. even though they're walking in with experience, they're teaching them their city's ways, they're training as a team, they're doing a lot of on the job training. Um, and then turnout gear, I
mentioned that last time. Turnoff gear takes 60 to 90 days. We can rent gear, but it shouldn't be a long-term solution. Um, the 20 part-time firefighters were proposed um to start in September. It just with the even the company that's providing the training for us had
expressed to the previous director that that's not enough time to get the training done. they wouldn't be trained by by January 1st and they're a critical part of our team. So that's why we're proposing moving them up. Um if we go to the next slide. Um you know there's a lot of different cities
in in Minnesota. There's the old saying is if you visited one fire department in Minnesota, you've only visited one fire department. Everybody's a little bit different. But I wanted to look at some cities of similar population with similar staffing models and look at
the square miles. I know it is um a concern which is legitimate of only having one fire station because even back in 2001, Chief West was proposing three fire stations for Seagull. Um but if you look at for example Austin, they got 29,000 people, 73 square miles.
They're supposed to have three on on shift. They go down to minimum of two staffing. They got one station. They're not They don't have a station for every five road miles. Fairbolt 30,000 people, 120 square miles served. Um three on
shift, two minimum, same as uh Austin, one station. Owana, another 30,000 people, 206 square miles, which is kind of crazy, but two minimum staff, one station. So again, those cities aren't putting a fire station every five road
miles. It's impossible to do for most cities. Monosel to our west. Um 19,000 people, 68 square miles that they cover with one station. No staff at their station. Farmington, exciting news for Farmington. They just started staffing. They have two on shift, first time ever.
Um they're hoping to get up to three with another grant. So they're trying to get up to what we're proposing. Um 25,000 people, 80 square miles, two fire stations. They're not covering every five road miles. We can go to the next slide.
So again, what our proposed staffing here is is three career and and try to augment and fill a fourth spot with a part-time person. Um contracts for 2027. It's a it's a really good question. It's something that you guys are going to have to decide sooner than later. Um I
don't see a need for them. Citygate doesn't see a need for them. I don't know of another fire department that has their own fire department that has contracts to provide service for their city. um shared services discussion. Since I've been here in September, um I've made it very clear that we want to talk
about shared services, fire districts. Um we continue to have that open door policy. Um I continue to talk to two cities on a regular basis about potentially doing more with them. As soon as it gets beyond the chief's level, we will definitely get our subcommittee, which is um the mayor and
council member Dunlap involved. But there are still two cities that we're actively talking to. Um, you know, I I wish we were part of that conversation with Albertville, but unfortunately because of past um history, I'll say,
um, Elbertville, St. Michael, and Handover, as all of you know, have started to look at a shared services study. That train has left the station. There are RFPs done. Um, they plan to do that. It makes sense for them to do that. They share a lot of things. They share I just was down in St. Michael
today. They they buy trucks that are identical to Albertville. Um school districts, water, they share a lot of things. So, they're going to do a shared services study. And again, I think that's great that they're doing that. I hope more more departments in Minnesota start doing shared services studies. Um I they both the I haven't talked to the
handover chief, but both the Albertville and St. Michael chief know that we are definitely interested in any future opportunities to do stuff with them, but right now their RFP is literally going out the door. They're hoping to have that study done by the end of the year, which is going to be pretty aggressive
to get it done, but I hope they do. Um, and no matter what we did with shared services, um, when you look back at that study in 2001, the one in 2017, we needed to make an investment. So, it wasn't Elk River going to come in and
supply us with stuff. It was us needing to make an investment in our in our fire department. Um, if you can go to the next slide. And again, I think sometimes when we talk about shared services versus contracts, the two might get confused.
They're two very different things. So shared services and fire districts are partnerships where contracts is we're obliging a fee to have somebody provide a service to us. Shared services and fire districts aren't that. um
um you know the full-time staffing that we're proposed to have our station will help offset the distance to the west side of um AIGO but it's still a legitimate concern. Another option is to look at a temporary facility over in that west side. Um why um Elbertville
and St. Michael do their shared services study until they get done with that and decide what direction they're going and we have we wouldn't have to buy anything else. We wouldn't have to add any additional staff. we could just simply put one of our um trucks that we already have at a substation over in that west
part of the community and have some of the part-time people report to that location. So, it's something that we're exploring. It's not that we're not doing anything. Um I think it's a again I think it's a legitimate concern. Um the Monaceel chief actually lives in our city and I continue to talk to the Monosella chief and I believe it's his
assistant chief or deputy chief that live over way over in the west part of the community. Um so they have a vested interest in us providing coverage over there. So, we continue to talk about potential partnerships with Monaceel on a auto aid program that they're willing to talk to us about.
Uh, next slide, please. So, as we talk about part-time firefighters, that's going to be the the hardest thing to recruit for. Um, that's why we want to get that out and start advertising as soon as possible. I think there's a lot of excitement in the community. When you look at our neighboring departments that
um hire part-time firefighters, they usually do an open house at their station and really explain the time commitment, the initial time commitment and the ongoing time commitment. So, that's something that we need to start planning on and we need to start advertising that we're going to hire part-time firefighters and see what our
interest level is. And again, the goal right now with our private company that would help provide training is to start in June. uh full-time firefighters. This is a little repetitive, but um it's it's every every day it seems like there's
another full-time firefighter position posted in the Twin Cities, Burnsville, who used to never um hire anybody without experience because they're u they're fire medics. They used to want you to be a firefighter and a medic. Now they're hiring just medics and training you for firefighting and actually even
talking about just hiring with no experience. But that's a tremendous amount of cost to the city and time to get everybody up to that paramedic level for them. Um, the next few slides are just Well, I'm sorry. Well, that's yours, Adam. You get to take that one.
>> That's okay. >> Thank you, Chief. Uh, obviously, as Chief Scott mentioned, the timelines proposed in the staffing presentation made in each of the prior two years um is different than what Chief Scott is
proposing. And so there are impacts to uh the budget uh as part of that. So where are the wages coming from and and which are included in your packet here. Um so the achieve is a score job description approved at the last meeting
uh scored at grade 16. Uh for the next slide which we'll get to, we're using midpoint of of pay scale uh for that approved position. Uh same with captains. Uh that is a pending job description uh part of the ask and request included in the packet. this evening. Uh that scored at a grade nine.
So uh we are using midpoint uh of pay scale uh for that position. Uh firefighters uh we have not had that job description fully drafted and scored to date. Uh so we are uh relying on comparison city wage scales uh that we
also used in terms of the captain and fire chief position to make sure that we were in the marketplace uh for what those positions are getting paid in other cities. Uh so using the midpoint of that comparison data and then part-time firefighters uh pending job description um included in the packet
again tonight as an ask. Uh this is not a scored position. It would fall on the city's part-time, seasonal and temporary pay plan uh with a wage range of uh $16 to $25 per hour. Again uh at the recommendation of Chief Scott after doing research uh amongst other pay
scales for paid on call and part-time fire positions. Um, so that's where the wage data is coming from, uh, for what's on, uh, this slide here. The 26 adopted budget, uh, totaling $382,000,
uh, with the hiring timeline that chief Scott reviewed largely, uh, in Q4 of 2026, uh, the amended hiring timeline, uh, that chief's got reviewed, uh, we've got, uh, partial year on the fire chief position, uh, captains as proposed, part-time fire and and full-time
firefighters. Um so using that midpoint data uh of both approved job descriptions um and comparison data what was presented tonight would be a cost of 575,000. So this is a significant variance obviously from where our budget
largely driven again with the timing differences. So um with that I I looked at uh a potential option for you the council to consider uh is looking at the fire reserve fund. Uh so this account has been uh accumulated over a decade or
more uh dating back to some of the previous studies and discussions about fire that previous councils have had in this community. So uh looking at the ending 2025 cash balance and uh interest allocations that are part of the audit process uh subtracting out the capital
improvement plan for the engine, the ladder and small tools. And then also estimating interim fire chief uh salary um available hours from February through June that have not been paid out yet. Um there is 194,000 that would be remaining
in that uh fund for potential consideration of use uh to offset that budget variance. So how that would work is you know if I'm this is something the council moves forward with then uh you would at year end 2026 look at where
budget and where actual came in and you would transfer funds again with city council approval. Those are done by a resolution uh from that fire reserve fund into the general fund for that budget difference. Um,
and I think the rest of the slides are largely they're just the timeline that we kind of spoke about at the last meeting and then highlighted again tonight. So with that, mayor council, we're both open for questions. Yeah, mayor,
council, uh just as a reminder, in your packet, there are two RCAs, uh one RCA and a job description for the fire captain position, uh and authorizing recruitment. Uh there is a second RCA with uh two job descriptions, uh related to the part-time. Uh one is labeled as a
cadet. Uh Chief Scott could go into more detail, but largely this is kind of that transition period coming in with uh no experience going through the training process on fire and EMS uh and then graduating to the second job description included uh in the packet as a part-time
firefighter. Again, with the wage range, you know, somebody with no experience going through training would be on the low end of that. Somebody that has been in the department and has all the certifications would be further along on that temporary scale. All right, council questions, comments.
Thank you for the presentation, too. >> Thank you, >> Madam Mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> Just a couple of questions. So, um you had mentioned that the fire the staffing study that we've done
before is is pretty much still in play. you've kind of bumped up some of the timelines, moved some of the the amounts around, but I'm still that leaves me with some confusion because
part of the issue is that we already have a staffing plan that was approved by a majority of the council and I don't know how much of it to throw away. I don't know how what's different. We told our neighbors they wouldn't get our first available truck when they call us for help. Is that still going to be
our policy? >> No, tonight we're just talking about staffing, the amount of staff. We're not talking about policies and procedures, but I think you know that that's been my opinion since I came through that that's not the way it would work. >> And at our meeting fire advisory
meeting, both you and I, Ryan did talk with Chief Scott and so that we we both didn't agree with that policy either, but we thought that it >> but it is the approved policy. So that's that's where I kind of want to this is where we're we're moving at a pace that we don't have we haven't
corrected some of these issues. They maybe have been corrected behind the scenes, but I this is where I think the council needs to take some action. Council member Dunlap, I'm sorry, but I'm not I'm not familiar with approved policies. Was there an approved policy? I'm not trying to I'm just I'm just
asking for clarification. I >> Yeah, >> I know I know there was a plan. What was there an adoption of a policy because I wasn't aware of that. >> Yeah. So the staffing plan was a was approved by the council >> mayor council. I have to go back and
check minutes. I don't know. It was presented at a joint workshop of the public safety commission and the city council uh with public participation. I don't recall it, but I I without going back to the minutes, I I would want to
verify that it was either adopted or or not. Um, but I think Chief Scott is referring to policies related to the fire department and how they would operate. And there's certainly been no uh specific policies or operating guidelines that have come
in front of this council uh for official adoption. were mentioned and and included within a plan. But those type of policies under an operating department would mimic more formal policies that you see staff present to you for other things like investments or
personnel policies. Um those would be coming forth from the future chief as they approach operational status. So okay. So our I I tried to decipher it from this but maybe you can help me. Our previous our staffing model paid at rate
for training. So whatever whatever the rate was that's what our firefighters would get for training while they were in training. Is that still something that we're going to do? I'm not sure if I'm following you. Council member, are you saying that the
hourly rate or while they're in training while part-time firefighters are in training? >> Yeah. >> So the the the pay schedule that we're proposing tonight Um, yeah, everybody that walks through the door, we'd have to pay them hourly, no different than any city employee. The the difference of the 16 to the 25. If
we get a brand new citizen that has zero training for firefighting, we're anticipating starting them out at that $16 rate while they're in training in that cadet um program, like a trainee, if you will. And once they've graduated and passed all their state certifications and are
now a certified uh fire certified firefighter in the state of Minnesota, then they'd move up to a different hourly rate. >> Okay. >> Does that make does that answer your question? >> I think so. Other cities pay a different a lower rate during training. >> Correct. So, I'm trying to understand if we're going to follow that or if we have
a separate >> pay rate. >> And again, can I just clarify that for part-time firefighters? I mean, once you hire a full-time firefighter, you're not able to >> Right. >> Okay. Okay. So, similarly, I think we kind of touched on it a little bit, but maybe the terminology would be a cadet
or someone who's non-certified. They're going to be paid at a lower rate, right? But other cities actually don't pay those. They they have a zero dollar rate for for cadetses. I'm not familiar with that. I I don't know of any cities that do that. I don't know if
you can do that. >> Okay. I you know, I think once you hire somebody, I think you have to pay them, but that's more of a legal question than But I'm not familiar of any cities that don't pay an hourly rate once or >> maybe answer that. >> Okay.
>> You know, at the moment I I don't have an answer to that question. I mean I would have to it certainly does obviously you know bring someone on you know whether you know I would want to look into sort of what the rules and requirements would be in terms of
training what what that situation but at the moment I can't answer yes or no on that. >> Okay. I guess my other question is on the you you kind of mentioned about bringing on the full-time firefighters
but only two of them early and then the other one later in the year but what that sort of presents an interesting problem. What what happens if we get three good candidates? You're council member Dunlap you're right and and it's the full-time captains just sort of staying on the
same Okay, but I know what you mean. >> Um yeah. No, I mean I' I'd love to see all three of them start at the same time because it is a competitive market and if we if you get three good candidates, there's a chance that that third candidate isn't going to be available time you hire somebody later in the year, you might even have to repost.
>> Definitely presents a a challenge, but we're trying to be as even though it's a cost increase, we're trying to be as conscientious to the budget increase as we can. >> Okay. Any other questions, comments? Mike, I have one. So, and I had called
Adam earlier today because I had a question about the cadet. The difference with that, too. >> Is it likely that you get So, how many can be trained? Let's say 15 are cadets. Is that how
many can I believe? Zippy. Zip. >> Zippy. >> Yeah, Scott Caribou. >> Scott Caribou. There you go. >> You guys all use this. >> He does like to be called Zippy. So, >> nickname for him. Yes. >> So, the gentleman that we're looking at for training can do up to 20 people at a time. >> Okay. >> Um,
>> based on, you know, contacts that I've received since I've been here, I'd say we're going to have quite a mix. We have people that are in the community that are excited to know more about what it takes to be a firefighter. They have interest. That doesn't mean that they
necessarily will have interest after we do the complete, you know, this is what it takes for training. Two nights a two nights a week is a lot in the summertime. Um, plus you're doing your regular job. And um, so there is some excitement in the community. It's definitely um, great if we can get some community residents that are interested
in being part-time firefighters. But you're also going to get in the metro area, it's grow, it's a growing segment of people that work multiple part-time jobs. So they might work part-time at Plymouth and parttime at Eden Prairie and that's their full-time job, but working two part-time jobs. Um, so those
folks that come in with experience, all their state certifications, and their first responder or EMT, obviously we don't need to start them in June. We don't need to incur any cost. We would give them conditional job offers and have them start later in the year with the uh with full-time firefighters. Uh
but we don't know how many are going to be on either side of that. You know, cadet versus part-time. But the cadet that and again all my experience with HR has been if you're hiring somebody to go through training just from a liability standpoint of workman's comp and all that thing, you have to be paying them.
But um I'm not an HR expert. Um so that's where um the cadet is different than the part-time firefighter. So once they go through all their stuff and they take their state certification exams, it's actually scheduled by Scott right now to be on Halloween of all days to
take take their certification test at our fire station and then they start their um first responder training. Once they pass all that training, then they no longer would be cadets and they'd be part-time firefighters. Does that make sense? >> Yes. Then my next question um and this
is underneath the um position description. It lists under for part-time firefighters that they have to live with an approved response time to the fire station. What is that usually? >> So that might have been something that we didn't catch because that's the difference between a paid on call and
part-time. So usually for parttime you don't have a requirement to live with especially with just one fire station in the community. It's really hard to say that you have to live within. >> Okay. You know, my my thought would be that it's a certain response time back to the fire station would typically be what we'd we'd put in there. So, we'll
take a look at that. I didn't catch that. >> Okay. I just there was no timeline. So, >> Yep. No, it's a lot of moving parts right now. 15 minutes. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But under >> Is that what it is or down left? Is that
what >> right here? Just says item four, your minimum >> on this one. Minimum qualifications must res within 15 minutes about serial fire station. >> That seems reasonable. >> But that but on my Which one are you?
>> I'm on page This is the firefighter cadet >> and this is the part-time firefighter. >> Okay. We probably didn't catch it on both of them. I apolog it was on the one. >> Okay. >> Within 15 minutes, but this one didn't have it. So So that'd be the language that clarification. Correct, ma'am. Does >> everybody see that?
This is under just the Okay. >> Adam, this is a question for you regarding budgets. >> Yes. >> So, Fire Reserve, I called you today because I wanted to make sure that this
194,000 we haven't earmarked it for something else. Mayor, that that is largely correct, right? With any decision, especially financial ones, there's opportunity costs, right? So, um the fire reserve
fund was created and funded accordingly to help start up a fire station and or fire department within the city of Atgo. Uh so, the funds remaining in that account are aligned with fired, right? They were put there for a reason by future councils. Um it is not currently
earmarked for other reasons. Uh we did reduce the available cash balance by things that are included in the capital improvement plan and budgeted for accordingly. Uh things that we know uh are in front of us uh here this evening and our interim uh chief Scott and
making sure that we're paying for those budget items and things that we're already committed to uh to get this project done. Now, um you know, all things being said, that 194,000 could have been used for potentially future um capital equipment in the fire
department. In this case, it is being recommended for consideration of use of staffing instead of capital. So, um it is available at your discretion. Um so, short answer, it is not. Okay. Thank you.
Um >> Adam, kind of on a followup on that, I wonder So that will most likely deplete the fire reserve. We still plan on replenishing that. Right, >> Mayor Council? Um the there is already a
newly established fire capital revolving fund that is being funded at a very minimal level given the assets that are within the department currently. But as time goes on, um there will be capital improvement plan items and funding that
needs to accommodate that. Um we'll cross that path when the fire station project is complete and the department is operational. What to do with any remaining funds? Um they would be transferred uh at the council's discretion. >> So
>> Oh, sorry. >> Follow sorry to follow up on that one. There isn't we're not currently allocating or are we currently allocating money towards an emergency fund right now or did we do away with that because now we
have uh plan for our fire station and budget and capital planning and all that stuff, >> right? You're you're developing the new revolving capital replacement fund as infrastructure and assets come on board
uh with the department. So, you're not funding things that aren't in service yet. Um, you're not funding building repairs that haven't needed to be done yet. Um, those things are all part of future budgeting cycles to make sure that um, both the apparatus, the
department equipment and tools, uh, and the station facility is maintained properly and that you're funding accordingly. >> Mayor, um, Chief, thanks for the presentation. I just uh had a question on the the part-time and cadet um firefighters.
Um with having a number like 20, do you think it's pretty reasonable? Do you feel like there's been a a lot of excitement that you've seen where you would kind of get that number or would it take a little bit? Council member Tanner, I think I think we will have
enough excitement um with the combination of residents that want to be firefighters and then um I've been contacted by a number of neighboring departments that have paid on call firefighters that could still sign up and work part-time shifts and most cities would allow you to do that. Um as
a matter of fact, most cities encourage it because it's additional training and hands-on equipment. Um, so I've had a number of chiefs um, reach out to me and give me names of firefighters that wanted to come and and learn more about what we're proposing. So there seems to be a lot of interest in the in the area. >> Yeah.
>> Which I'm excited about. I mean, I'd rather see it in the immediate area than further out. >> Do uh just because you're the expert. I'm not. But are firefighter or fire stations departments are they always looking for more firefighters? Because,
you know, like I drive by Dayton Fire Department on the way to work a lot and I see they're always looking. It's it's the reason that a lot of departments are starting to go to career staff. It's it's an ongoing um struggle especially as the closer you get to the metro
because of the call volume. Um I was just talking to the St. Michael Chief today and you know what's the magic number that you can still do a paid on call department versus going to some type of part-time or full-time or duty crew is another term that's used a lot where you take your paid on call
firefighters you allow them to sign up for shifts and they can hang out at the fire station so you know that there's firefighters there. Um Rogers is doing that right now. Um but it's an ongoing battle not just in Minnesota. It's I mean that's why volunteerism is dying so
quickly. It's It's getting to be too much of a time commitment with the training and the call volume to rely 100% on part-time or paid on call model alone. >> How long is the I guess um the career of a firefighter? I mean, does it span 20
30 years typically, you know? So, it depends. I mean, if if you talk about um part-time firefighters, it used to be everybody tried to do 20 years because your relief pension you were fully vested at 20 years. So, just about everybody did their their 20 years in. >> Sure.
>> Um, now, you know, it's it's not uncommon. I was just looking at Albert Build's um annual report and uh you know, it's not uncommon to see firefighters leaving with one, two, three, four, five years and they're not even vested yet in their uh in their
retirement fund. Before that was really a draw because you were partially vested at five years and then fully vested at 20 years typically. There's a couple different plans in the state, but that was the typical investment. So, you'd see people for sure stay for five years, so they're partially invested in a
retirement fund, and then try to stay till 20 years, so they'd get fully invested. And that doesn't seem to be the carrot anymore that keeps people um if you talk to the younger um firefighters, most of them want to get paid hourly and they want to get paid now. They're the retirement isn't that
big of a deal. >> Although, I think I was like that when I was 20 as well. So it's like what's um so it's it's changed a lot. I mean it used to be you'd get people to stay a long time. Um and Egan we were seeing to us you you to get a part-time
firefighters return of investment. So by the time you bought them turnout gear all the training time certifications everything you put into them we would want them to stay for at least five years and a lot of times they're only staying for three years. So it's just that evolving door but much different
than what it is here. Um St. Michael, for example, they're doing really good. I mean, they're not their firefighters are getting a little worried because of the increased call volume, but they're still getting community members where, you know, you go to Dayton and they're not. Um, Rogers is struggling. So, I mean, it's as the call volume increases,
you're going to see volunteerism start to die off. >> Well, maybe like with that, you know, if we have our own fire station, we're there to help them too as well, right? >> That that would be the goal. And I I think uh council member Den laughed. Um I don't know if I fully answered his question, but the one thing there was a
number of things that I was concerned about with the previous um I'll call plan versus policy, but there was a number of things I was concerned about. Definitely one of them would be um if somebody calls us for help and we're available, we need to send who we have
at the station to help and then back though. I mean, that's just the way it's done. That's mutual aid. Um, so, um, I don't think it's a policy, but it was probably something that was presented to the council. And again, policy means probably something different to me than it does to you, council member. But, um,
yeah, I mean, it the the beauty of, um, having people at the station is to get that truck out the door as quickly as you can. Um, every plan has its flaws, right? And, you know, um, paid on call, you don't know how many people are going to show up and how long it's going to take, especially weekdays or or holiday
weekends. Um, so it's there's no perfect plan out there, but this is a really good foundation for the future. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We're not sorry. It's up here right now. We can let you talk to him after.
There any other questions for staff? >> Mor, I just got a couple comments, I guess. >> Sure. >> Talk about the budget first. I mean, there's a 50% variance in the budget, and that's that's quite a lot, and it
means we're going to have to find perhaps 100 applicants in the next three months, which is only 79 working days. The new HR assistant that we haven't hired yet is certainly going to have their hands full. This is in service of an arbitrary
timeline that we've already broken. So, I don't see the need to spend this extra money to meet a date that no longer matters. This plan does highlight that we need administrative staff and a fire marshal,
which is something that I pointed out when we first got the staffing study, but what that means is more costs are coming. This entire project has been a foot in the door, an escalation of commitment with a council that is willing to spend
whatever it takes to get a fire department with a complete disregard over the safety of our citizens. >> Mike, do you have any comments regarding comments from council member Dat? >> I don't believe so. I also want to address some of the other
statements that were made. If you wouldn't mind pulling up the comparison with other cities. This to me is something that really confuses me because it seems like we're trying to figure out how many stations we need.
And I really appreciate that you pointed out that it's a legitimate concern, especially on the west side. >> Oh jeez, >> it's slide nine. >> Um, >> that number nine. Yep.
>> So, if the question is how many stations do we need, I don't think this is the right type of analysis. To be honest, we've already had that question answered. It was part of the fire study. It's four. The fire study told us we need four stations to match the performance of our contract providers.
So if I look at this list with the exception of Monaceel, all the other cities on that list have sort of a centralized population. We don't. So I think Monaceel is arguably the most similar to us except
that their response time is worse than ours with the contracts that we have today. So Austin Fire Department, as an example, they have a staffing model that's similar to what we're looking at here tonight, what we're planning,
except that they have 460% the number of incidents that we do. So what works for them doesn't work for us. Plus, the city of Austin, 97% of their incidents occur within five road miles
of their station. 96% of our incidents occur within five road miles of a contracted station. Today, when we cancel the contracts and move to a standalone station, that number drops to 82%.
We are paying more and getting less. And the hidden cost here, I think it was hit on tonight, is the fact that we need a second station and possibly even a third. The only way to us for us to avoid spending that money right now is
to join forces with our neighbors. >> Comment, mayor. >> Yes. >> Um, obviously the numbers that council member Dunlap threw out, um, I have no way to verify any of those. 82% of the calls not covered within five road miles of the station seems a little off because we cover the
majority of the area of where our high call volume line is. Um, and I'm not going to go back and forth with them on it. The reason I use these examples is council member Dunlap had brought up a concern about three firefighters being unsafe, not meeting NFPA. And this is a
great example. Austin, the chief there I know very well. Um, two firefighters cover 95% of their calls. because they don't need four firefighters. Even if you look at Albertville's annual report, only 4% of the calls were structure fires last year for Albertville. That's
the type of calls where you need more than a handful of people on a truck. Um, so it wasn't to show the stations, it was more to show the call or the staffing model. Um, I can't tell tell you 90 whatever percent of the calls are within five road miles of
Austin. I don't know that. Um, is he right that we need another station? Absolutely. I wouldn't say four. Um, Egan had six stations when we were paid on call model without staffing. We went down to three as soon as we went to staffed stations. So, you have a city of
36 square miles, 80,000 people with three stations. So, for our city to need four, we seem a little far-fetched to me in in today's staffing model. But again, I'm not trying to argue with them. I do think that um the west side of the community eventually is going to need a second station.
Um, Council Member Tanner, I think you had a >> Yes. Um, >> I was going to say I can appreciate the comments, but you know, I think tonight we're here looking at the staffing plan and before we can get to a second or third station, you know, we have to take
care of one and focus on what we're doing tonight. Um, >> Madam Mayor, can I just I'm sorry, one other comment. read my own note. Joining forces 100% agree with council member Dunlap. To join forces with another
city, you need to have a willing partner. So far, we haven't had a willing partner. Mentioned earlier in my presentation that I continue to talk to two other cities. As soon as those um move along far enough, we can't force somebody to be a partner with us. I
think we know what that type of behavior forcing somebody to try to do something isn't going to work. Um I mentioned Albertville St. Michael. I'd love to see a Wright County Fire District. That's not going to happen right now. They're doing their own study, which again, I applaud them for doing that. I have no issues with them doing that. Um, they're
moving forward with their study. It'll be done by the end of the year. So, I don't think you'll have an opportunity to do something with them until they get their study complete and then maybe there's an opportunity. Um, but there are other neighboring departments that continue to talk to us and I'd love to join forces, but you need to have a
willing partner of partners to do that. But it's it is the wave of the future >> for sure. >> Yeah. And I do think, you know, with regards to our our service partners, you know, they do have their own cities that they have to attend to first as we do
now. Um, so I don't, you know, I don't I'm not angry with them or anything for doing that because they have to take care of their own city first. Much like was pointed out in the uh I guess that second study or in 2021
when it said, and we just saw this this weekend at this uh League of Minnesota conference we were at, we do not have an emergency operating plan right now for our city. So if a big catastrophe happened >> like a flood,
>> Yeah. the other cities would have to take care of their own cities first. And so you know that's things like that that we're in the position we are. So any other comments? So this evening we are being the request
right now in front of us is for job descriptions to be approved and authorized recruitment. >> I'll make the first motion here. Okay. >> Um motion to approve the fire uh sorry fire captain job description and to authorize recruitment.
Second >> motion by Tina, seconded by Corey. Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> All those opposed, same sign. >> I. >> Motion passes 4 to one.
Next item. Mor, I'll make another motion. Motion to approve the firefighter cadet and part-time firefighter job descriptions and to authorize recruitment and to amend the seasonal and temporary employees pay plan to include the respective position and wage scale. >> I'll second.
>> Motion by Tina, seconded by Corey. Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. >> I. >> Motion passes four to one. >> Thanks, Chief. Thank you, chief.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, moving on to item five, city council reports and updates. Does anyone have anything? >> Madame Mayor. >> Yes, >> I was just going to say uh kind of touched on it, but I I thought it was a really great conference we were at this
past weekend and a lot of good speakers. >> I was It's um always, you know, again, thank you, Adam, for getting us all signed up that could attend the league conference. Some speakers I would say were better than others. Um, but it's always a good networking um time too to
meet other cities, see what issues they're dealing with and sometimes we just become we just know what's happening directly here or just right around our neighbors. So >> yeah, the network from all over >> the networking part of it really important too. So
>> does anyone else have any state council reports or updates? All right, moving on to staff reports and updates. Adam, >> mayor, council, uh, thank you. Uh, I want to echo what Senator Lucero and Representative Hudson mentioned earlier,
the importance of the bonding bill, uh, as a real life example as to how that impacts Seaggo is without bonding bills, uh, the financing methods for some of our water and sewer projects, uh, can't happen. And so by the legislature
approving bonding bills uh provides funding for those loan programs and provides low interest financing uh which keeps cost for these infrastructure projects down to residents. Um one reminder for council I sent out a
survey for goal setting uh to initiate that process. Uh if you have any questions please let me know uh and if you could complete that by Wednesday that would be ideal. uh ongoing recruitments, HR, fire, and utility positions are all currently posted uh with application deadlines uh
with varying dates next week. So, that's going well. Uh this week, the city received notification uh that we were awarded the certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting uh for the 2024 U audited financial statements. So, just wanted to share that.
>> Congratulations. And then >> lastly, city offices will be closed on Monday uh of next week for President's Day. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Audra. Thank you, Mayor. Um I was just going to remind everybody that Thursday we have the advisory commission interviews
starting at 5:30 here at Center. Everybody should have gotten your packet. >> Yep. Okay. >> Yep. >> Making sure. >> Yes. >> Is that what it's called these days? >> Yeah. What it's been called since it was >> I don't know. We got a sponsor.
>> No, he didn't. >> Planning company. >> At Hinson Anderson. >> Since he's not here, we'll tell him. >> All right. Thank you, Audra. >> All right, Richard. >> Nothing for me. >> Okay. Thank you for attending. >> Thank you,
>> Dan. >> Mayor, the planning commission will meet on Tuesday, February 17th. We have some zoning ordinance updates to review. >> Okay. Can we make sure that we get information to Nick since that would be a regular park and wreck night? So, we will have
>> two meetings. >> Go. >> It was the last Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, >> so who gets the boot? >> He does. >> He does. Nick, this is not fair. Um, all right, Sergeant Alens.
Sorry, I started walking up before you called. No, that's okay. That was really rude of me. >> It was took all the dance time. So, >> nope. >> Um, real quick, uh, update. So, I had taken a few phone calls and a few questions, I guess. Um, and some of the social media stuff picked it up uh over
the weekend. Actually, it would have been uh today, I think, that it kind of got released and then it happened or last Thursday. uh there was a violent criminal that uh was needed to be apprehended by a agency out in Wisconsin. So the agency in Wisconsin uh
requested our agency to locate this person. While we were kind of in the process of communicating back and forth between the agency and Wisconsin, we were told that it's a homicide suspect. Um they located the suspect in Monaceel, tried to do a traffic stop. They fled
into Oiggo. Um they clearly had no idea where they were going, were not familiar with the area and just started taking every possible turn and ended up leading them into random random developments and dirt roads um etc. So um I guess one of
the questions I guess that I'd had is you know our policy on that. Certainly uh some decisions have to be made by not only the pursuing officers but by the supervisors that are monitoring the pursuit. Um, if a pursuit goes through a neighborhood, typically we just
terminate the pursuit and we got to get that thing slowed down because we can't keep chasing somebody in a case like this is a homicide suspect. You have to weigh those things. And so it's a difficult conversation, I guess, or a difficult uh decision to make. But in this case, we had to continue the
pursuit uh kind of based on the information that we had. Uh, so the pursuit was continued. Uh, fortunately, every single squad car that we have carries spike strips. Uh, one of the deputies was able to get some good spike strips on the vehicle. Uh, disabled a couple of the tires. Uh, almost went
flat and the person lost control a roundabout. Again, maybe a roundabout conversation. The roundabout confused them and little car went just softly off in this the ditch and that was that and the remainder of it went without incident. >> He's maybe not aware of roundabouts if
he came from Wisconsin. >> I was you watch the video. It's it's very The I mean it's pretty intense pursuit but the ending is very antilimatic. It just all of a sudden just very slowly just kind of slides right off roundabout took care of it for
us. >> So I'm sure more conversation and questions about that tomorrow. Public safety. We had an award ceremony for the deputies about two weeks ago. Uh so that was good. Two of the deputies that uh were involved in the water rescue that I keep bringing up. I keep trying to show
the video at public safety. We get to watch it again. I got a life saving award for that. So pretty cool. >> That's awesome. >> Good deal. >> Congratulations to them. >> Quick comment. >> Yes. >> Great. >> It makes sense tonight you telling that
story because I got a call Saturday asking for more roundabouts. And I'm like, who has ever asked for more roundabouts? >> Maybe somebody that bother pursue it. >> Yeah, it's they're making their way through. Cur just out of curiosity, isn't there
like a a device that is an attachment that goes onto like the front of the squad car? I don't know if it's called the Grappler or something >> called the Grappler. >> The Grappler. Yeah. >> There's only one agency in Minnesota that's currently using it right now and they're kind of being the test dummy for
it. I think the biggest piece is that initially it was developed for more like southern agencies. So like Arizona was kind of exclusively using it. They're not sure how all the snow and grime and everything getting into that thing >> willffect work, how it's going to affect
it. And then you're adding that much more cost onto every single squad core, one squad car, >> right? >> There's a lot of variables in place. And the one that we see, I think a lot of people saw the one that happened in Minnesota, St. Louis St. Louis Park, maybe. >> I think it was St. Louis Park. But you
know, you throwing a Tahoe against a F350 in a trailer, you're having this weight discussion and it adds a whole variable. >> May not be appropriate for all applications. What I was noticing when I was watching a bunch of videos using the Grappler. I just thought it was
fascinating. >> There's been discussion and we're kind of waiting for other agencies to see how that works because it's, you know, if it's if it's a tool that works, you just kind of keep adding to the tool belt, so to speak. Hence why I'm carrying all this stuff on you days have a grappler on himself.
He'll just get out of the car and he'll grab you. >> Does anyone else have anything? >> Right. Thank you, Sergeant. >> Thank you, Sergeant Jason. >> Okay. If no one else has anything, then a motion to adjurnn would be in order. So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Tina, seconded by Corey. Is
there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I I. All those opposed, same sign. The meeting has ended. Thank you all for attending.