Our meeting of July 12th to order. Welcome, everyone. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I'll ask, if you care to, follow along in the reading of our statement of intent. We gather
today in this room as one people to discuss an intent in the matters of right wing. Together
as a government body and as community members, we agree to treat everyone with courtesy,
I have heard from Councilmember Beisie that he will not be able to make it this evening
and Councilmember Brown just may be late.
With that is their motion to excuse.
Excuse me.
I need any post any.
Thank you.
All right.
First up on our agenda is the proclamations and recognitions and we have a very.
Thank you.
Dean.
Skip one already.
The approval of the agenda.
I'll move to approve the agenda.
All right motion to approve by Laurel, second by Annie to approve the agenda.
All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Now we are up to number six, proclamations and recognitions.
So welcome, Jacob Flumkey.
It was a very quick turnaround on this and we're excited to see and hear about your project
with the cannon.
It should work right there for you.
I would be able to get Michelle's going to come up and help you out.
Welcome.
Greetings, my name is Jacob Flemke, so hello city council members, Mayor Mike Wilson and attendees.
Thank you for having me this evening to present a follow-up to the PAC House or
Canada Restoration at the Memorial Park Entrance.
This is an Eagle Scout project.
Here are a few four pictures of the canyon.
Here are some of the key dates for this project and
I began on January 13th. I will be presenting a few of these dates as we go along.
So on the first
work day of June 12 volunteers prepared the cannon for extraction by removing
sad around the concrete platform and as well dirt around the cannon and they
also picked up branches from the big storm the night before.
So on the moving
day public works employees loaded the cannon onto a trailer and brought it up
to Elvers Auto Body for the restoration to be completed.
On the second work day
of June 19th. Volunteers remove concrete papers. They install a solar light, prepared
the area for concrete to be poured for the park bench, and they spread it grassy
around. There
is a couple images of the solar light that was installed,
as it
installed at the entrance of Memorial Park. Veteran Darwin-Christophe Sindoinated
a park bench in memory of his lights on. Here follows the inscription that will be
on the plaque.
Here's some more images of the park bench and the beautiful flowers
that I was sitting there.
And then for the cannon restoration, it elures out a body.
Here, a few pictures of when it was sandblasted. And then, this is some blue painter's table
over the axle coverings that are brass. And then, this is taking the tires off. So, this
is the red oxide primer that went on.
So, we've put that on there. And then,
so, this is
after it was painted. This is an Al-Wasterless olive jar. It's restored to, as if it was,
came off the manufacturing line.
So, for the restoration labor, I would like to think Elvers Autobody and Industrial
Linings for part in this restoration,
for a few more after-pitchers of the cannon.
And that's a sits currently in Memorial Park.
And then this is the cannon installation by Public Orcs employees that did a very nice job
on installing and anchoring it.
So here's some pictures from this.
There are a couple more pictures.
This is a nameplate by the manufacturer, J.G.
real company. It was manufactured in 1941.
The platform that they can currently sit
on was also washed. And this is a little inscription to honor memorialize the
veterans of the First World War.
So the total cost of the project was $3,000, $7.10.
The donations totaled out to $3,700 with a difference of $692.90.
sense. Let's left before funds I would like to purchase an American flag for the park entrance
and potentially a flag talking about the history of the cannon.
A little overview of the
projects and the big things solar light, the cannon of course, and then the park.
I would like to
thank the business organizations and individuals that help support this project.
All the things that
so years they are.
Alright, first summary, the packouts are Cana Trans 80 this year.
Here's to another chapter in this Cana's lengthy history into the next 80 years.
This project is dedicated to all veterans past and present.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
And I'd like to thank everyone who can further time and support on this project.
And a couple more things. So I'd like to thank Patrick Ramiaker for all the health that he's support on this project.
He did a lot with this and he originally introduced his project to me.
So I'm thankful for that.
Another thing is, I would like to thank the Red Room Community
for the help and support on this project.
I'm going to done it without them.
And then, when I first started out as a co-scaler,
I remembered I had Melissa Hill, her sheet.
She was my first leader.
And now we have Ian Sheer.
So I just like to thank all the leaders for what
they've done over the course of me being scouting.
And so I really, really thankful for that.
I'd also like to thank my mom and my dad here so that'll be it. I don't think you guys for your time and support on this project
I like to thank you for trusting me and fighting to do this. Thank you very much everyone.
Thank you for sharing that that with us and and for thanking everybody. It looks to give a good group of support there and and thanks for your
for your scout troop so thank you.
With that we are on to public comment and presentations and we'll start with the first
presentation. We're going to hear about the presentation on the 2020 comprehensive annual
financial report. Do
you want to lead us up, Marshall? All right, Marshall. Yeah, I would
first I'd like to let you know that Lee is going to have our time competing with that last presentation.
With us are Lane. He's Link Ockerman from Abdoink and Myers. He's here to present on the 2020
the comprehensive annual financial report slash audit.
And I think as usual, just if you have questions,
as Lane's going through the presentation,
please don't hesitate to stop him and ask.
And we can give you a response.
Sue is also here in the back.
If we get into real technical trouble,
Lane and I have Sue here.
So thank you.
With that, Lane.
Thanks, Marshall.
I would appreciate the heads up.
I'd follow that, but that's all right.
We'll go through the audit and try
to make it as entertaining as possible.
So, like Marshall said, my name's Lane.
I'm with Abdoike and Myers.
I've been working on the city audits since I've started
for about the past 10 years now.
I also have Abby with me who in charge of the audit
this year, as well as she also works with us.
So, we'll respect your time.
We'll try to get out of here as quick as we can.
We'll keep it as a high-level overview.
So, for our introduction, we'll go through our opinion
and what our responsibility is.
Autos are versus what your responsibility is.
The City Council is.
We'll look at the general fund, we'll look at some of your other governmental operating funds, the enterprise funds,
and then also some ratios of the city has.
So like Marshall said, if there's any questions along the way, feel free to interrupt.
Marshall, if you have anything to add, feel free to chime in as needed.
So first, we'll start with the auditor's responsibility.
So I see a few new names and faces, so just to clarify on what our responsibilities auditors are,
which is to provide an opinion on the financial statements that they are free for material misstatement.
So a financial statement audit really is coming in and looking at the numbers to make sure that everything is on the right spot
So we provide reasonable assurance that they are free from any significant errors
We can't look at every single transaction that the city enters into during the year
So we do a lot of sampling we use a lot of our judgment to look through things
So again, we do provide that reasonable assurance that they are free from those statements
Ultimately the financial statements themselves fall back on the city council through acceptance of the audit report
In 2020, you also had a single audit, which means you expended more than $750,000 in federal
expenditures during the year.
The CARES dollars is what the triggered that single audit program this year, so you
did do some additional auditing related to that, and we do not have any findings to report
related to the single audit.
The Office of the State Auditor and Minnesota also report a puts out about half a dozen
different areas that were required to look through for compliance issues on the statewide
level as well and we don't have any compliance findings report on that level either.
We do have one material audit adjustment finding this year that relates to some of the capital
projects and really it was just looking through some of the items with Sue and going through
them is really just looking at the dates that the capital assets were put in place for our
review that we saw some projects that were entered into completion in years past what we did
is just add some accumulated depreciation with that and just restate the financial statements
to catch up some of those depreciation amounts. So it is kind of a one-time thing, one-off
entry for 2020. It's very common in a lot of cities throughout the state to have material
out of adjustment finding. So there was just the one financial statement finding for 2020.
Any questions on that? Otherwise, we'll keep going. And first, look at the general fund.
And the good measure of liquidity and looking at the general fund is to look at where you're
unassigned fund balances so that's all the dollars that are available in the
general fund to spend and compare it to the budgeted expenditures. So the red
line is the general fund expenditures that are budgeted over the past five
years. So in 2017 you're about 26 and a half million dollars that's slowly been
decreasing to about 22.2 million in 2021. The city's fund balance policy calls
for 60% of expenditures to be in reserves. You can see what the impact has been on
on the growth of the fund balance in the blue line
over the past five years.
General fund balances have grown from about 66%,
which again is above the fund balance policy
and has grown over 207% in the general fund.
So there's been healthy growth in general fund reserves,
even as general fund expenditures,
budget expenditures have decreased.
So it has been trending upwards year over year.
2020 specifically, if we look at the general fund budget
just to actual results.
The left-hand column is what the city's final budget anticipated. So actually that net change in fund balance line is the third to last line. That is what you would consider to be a balanced budget. The city did originally have a balanced budget, but with the amendments with the changes that happened during 2020 related to COVID and some other things, the city did anticipate about $2.1 million decreased in the general fund balance. Actual fund balances ended up increasing about $711,000 during the year.
So first off, if we look at the revenue side of things anticipated 21.4 and actually collected
22.58, so there was $1.1 million positive variance in your revenues. A lot of that is related
to the CARES funding that you receive from the federal government. That ended up being
about $1.24 million that did get captured in that revenue in the general fund.
There's also about $107,000 in FEMA dollars that were collected, so a lot of that budget
variance is due to the intergovernmental expenditures, and then there are some of those revenues.
And then the offset of some of those revenues was for charges of services in the pool.
So the city did budget about $134,000 in pool collections, but
obviously with that closed during 2020, you didn't collect any dollars related to the pool operations.
And looking at that on the offset of the expenditures, anticipated 19.7 and
expenditures, actual expenditures were 18.6.
We had about $1.1 million positive variants
on your expenditures as well.
Again, related to the pool, operating that
at the city of about $366,000, just in cost related
to parks and rec, and some of the maintenance costs
related to there.
Public works also kept a lot of dollars in house
rather than contracting that.
So it's public work expenditures actually end up
being pulled by about 400,000, and then also some player
and public safety supplies ended up meeting up about $345,000.
Just do some specific COVID response expenditures.
Also, there's about $1.1 million in capital outlay expenditures.
A lot of that is due to the timing of some of the projects.
And when they were anticipated, again, directly impacted by COVID.
So factoring in all of that, the general fund balances did increase from 27.4 million up to 28.1 million.
and which again is in excess of the $22 million
that the General Fund does have anticipated in 2021
expenditure.
Questions on that?
Marshall, do you have anything to add?
Nope, not yet, thanks for asking.
For example, General Fund revenues by type
will also look at expenditures.
I'm not going to spend a whole lot here
other than just pointing out that the majority
of your General Fund revenue is going to be
from your tax lobby.
So you have a very low impact of LGA or LGA
only collectible 3.5% of your general fund revenues, so to offset that, the taxes do account for about 80% of the general fund revenues.
And then if we look at the expenditure side of things, overall costs from 18, 19 to 20 have been pretty steady.
Through the majority of the departments, you can see there was a little bit of a jump in public safety from year over year.
Again, a lot of that is due to specific COVID response and some costs related to that.
And then the other main driver, as we kind of talked about earlier, as you can see, that
capital outlay has been decreasing from 18, 19 to 20, again due to the timing of some
of those projects that saved the general fund some dollars in 2020.
Next we'll quickly look at the special revenue funds, so there's what it does in special
revenue funds available.
And these are dollars that are really set aside for a specific purpose, it really is outside
the general fund so these are mostly restricted for these operations or for some of these different
ventures that the city has. The majority of these dollars are going to be in the pair of
perpetual fund. Basically what happens is that does collect interest on the dollars in there and
then transfers dollars out so it's about 9.2 million dollars in the pair of perpetual funds.
And then the other main fund that has dollars is the library which has about 1.1 million.
So, there were costs in the library ended up being under by both $57,000 during the year,
so that contributed to a little bit of the $95,000 increase in fund balance in the library
fund.
And then also TIFF 7.1 was desertified during the year and that was closed.
Those are the main kind of changes in the special revenue funds in 2020.
Overall, in 2019, you had about $10,000,000 in fund balance that did increase about $100,000
to $10,8 million in 2020.
And then just looking at that graphically, again, majority of these dollars
are restricted for those specific purposes.
They're not really available at the council's discretion
for anything outside of what they're restricted for.
Okay.
The capital project funds operate pretty similarly
to the special revenue funds.
These are really again dollars that are set aside
for a specific purpose or a specific capital project.
About half of the dollars are in the capital improvement
assessment fund and the fund balance
which houses the special assessment collections
for the city that ends up being about $4 million.
I'm not going to go through every one of these.
One thing to point out is that the Capital Reserve Fund is new during 2020,
so that does have $500,000 set aside for any contingent capital purchases.
And then there's other significant street projects, building projects and
that sort of thing that are ongoing that will be funded by either bond proceeds,
transfers, grant dollars, a wide variety of different funding mechanisms.
So at the end of the year, there's about 9.4 million dollars in capital projects fund balances available compared to 10.4 in the year prior
A lot of that is just through the spend down of a lot of the dollars again through the time you some of the capital projects and when the dollars come in versus when they get
Remitted to contractors and
again from a graphical standpoint. There's really no dollars that are unassigned
Outside of some deficits in the time you know some of the project costs, but they're either internally restricted or internally committed for these specific purposes of
funding capital.
And then your other governmental funds are your debt service funds. You have
healthy reserves, about $6 million in cash, to pay off your annual debt service payments.
So your annual obligations are a little over $5 million a year. You do have some debt dropping
off in 2022, and it is layered pretty steadily over some of the maturity dates, as you can see
in that right hand column, debt dropping off in 2022, and so forth. So as the city takes on new
projects is debt-dropping up that does help keep the levy flapped and making those bond payments.
Questions on any of those.
If not, we'll look at the enterprise funds. So these operate
a little bit differently because the charges for services are really funding these operations
and capital rather than tax levy or intergovernmental funding. So the first enterprise fund we'll
look at is the refuse fund. And we're really going to focus on cash flows. So the top graph
is operating receipts which is the dark blue bar and we can pair that to gray the operating
disbursements and then also any debt payments at the same a half. So really what you want
to see is the left bar exceed the right gray in the green from a cash flow operating standpoint.
So the refuse fund has been generating positive cash flows from 17, 18, 19. There was a little
bit of an increase in cost in 2020 in the refuse fund and you can see what the impact is
on that bottom graph on the actual cash balances.
So the dark blue graph is your actual cash
that this fund has, and we're going to compare that
to the green, which is what we would recommend as auditors.
So we would recommend typically about six months worth
of operating costs in these funding cash, just to have ample reserves
in place to pay for any repairs and maintenance,
to pay employees, that sort of thing.
So that has been increasing as your disbursements,
that gray bar on the top has been increasing,
and you can see that there was a little bit of a drop down
and cash in 2020 from 1.3 to 1.2 in 2020.
Again, do that slight operating loss during the year.
So overall, based on our professional recommendation
as auditors, the cash is a little bit under what we would
recommend, but there is still $1.2 million in cash available.
The next enterprise fund is the water fund.
And you can see that the water fund does have
$1 million in annual debt service payments that it is making.
So it is operating at a positive cash flow
from an operations standpoint. There's also some significant capital purchases that has
drawn down the cash in 19 and 20. So in 2018 there was about 2.7 million dollars in
cash available. In 2020 there's about 1.2 compared to our 2.2 million dollar recommendation
so it does fall a little bit short of that by that million dollar gap. In 2020 I know there
were some well repairs and replacements that really was kind of the main capital items
that drew down some of the cash balances. So one way to think about it on the bottom graph
as well, any dollars that are available under that green line can be set aside for operations,
any dollars above that would be available for future capital or future kind of one-time
major purchases that you wouldn't necessarily have to bond for.
Next fund is the sewer fund.
So this again is operating at a positive cash flow.
It has been consistent from cash receipts and there's a little bit less capital intensive
in the sewer fund over the past few years so you can see what the impact has been on that
that bottom graph and the increase in the cash balances from $614,000 up to $1.7 million
in 2019. In 2020, again, there was a little bit of a drop by about $75,000 in some of
those capital purchases. There were some lift station costs that were available. There
were some sewer construction on Levy Road. That was about $3,000,000 in between those two
projects. So, with all those, you would be pretty much right in line with where that recommended
to cash balance would be, but do those capital expenditures that the cash did just a little
bit from 19 to 20.
And the solid waste campus, this is going to be a little bit skewed just because of just
some of the impacts of the insurance proceeds that have come into this fund and when the
cost associated with it came in.
So in 2019, that's when a lot of those insurance dollars did come in.
There's about $2.7 million available that did drop down in 2020.
to about $900,000 compared to where our recommendation would be at with that $2.56.
So that really is just based off of the increase in the cost from $17,18,19 to $20.
And then again, with the cost related to those insurance proceeds, really to draw those
cash balances down from $19,000 to $20,000.
Next fund is the Marina Fund, which typically has broke even, are pretty close to breaking
even $17,18 and $19.
There was a nice increase in 2020, a lot of it again due to COVID, so additional activity
of the Marina, so that generated a nice positive cash flow.
So typically the Marine Fund has had a cash deficit right around that 250 to 300,000 that
did get cut in about half from 19 to 2020 due to the cash collections from the additional
activity out there during the year.
And then the, there's two more, ambulance.
This is mainly just operational, it really is driven based off the demand on where some of the receipts can be out.
So there was actually a drop in receipts during 2020 and an increase in costs in 2020.
So you can see what the impact has been on that and the ambulance fund.
So there is about a $1.2 million deficit in the ambulance fund from an operational standpoint.
point. Again, that is just dependent on the demand and with the COVID impact in 2020
else, we'll backrate into that.
And then, last is the storm water fund. This fund
does have healthy cash balances all around. You can see cash receipts have been steady
right around that 1.3 million in cost have gone up a little bit, but there still is an excess
amount of cash in the storm water fund and is cashfully quite well to the tune of about
about $750,000 a year.
So again, you can see what that impact is
on the cash balances in that bottom graph.
There's about $2 million in cash available.
So if we combine all of that,
and we look at the cash investments
by type over the past three years, in 2018,
there's about $72.6 million in cash available,
about $70 million in 2019,
and then about $68 and a half million in 2020.
So again, a lot of that is do the spend on some bond proceeds,
it's some of those insurance dollars in the in the in the
Senator fund, but overall just under $69 million in cash
investments. The city has on hand at your end 2020.
Questions on that.
The last thing we'll look at here is just
a couple of key slides and we're going to compare the city of
Redwing to some of their peers. So the first one is the tax
rate. Any of these dark blue lines is going to be the city of
Redwing and we're going to compare it one to class three cities
throughout the state of Minnesota. So that's going to be all
cities from 10,000 to 25,000 in population. That's going to be the green bar. We're also going to
compare the cities in Goodview County, which is the gray bar, then also some of the larger regional
centers throughout the state, which is going to be the tan bar there. So the city of Redwing's
tax rate over the past four years has been pretty flat, right around that 71%. It did drop a little bit
in 2019 and come back up. I think that really is just due to some assessor and market value adjustments
related to that. But overall, you're right in line with the majority of your peers in your area.
a little bit higher than Class 3 cities, but again, that's really due to the lack of LGA and making that up to the tax levies not having that LGA funding.
So really the tax rate is kind of the key indicator on what an overall impact is to the taxpayer and it has really been steady right around that 69% to 71% over the last four years.
And can I jump in here to add onto this?
We talk a lot about this when the audit's going on and the council and I have talked a lot about this over the years, too.
It's important to understand that Redwing has what I'd call a fairly pure revenue system.
As Lane has showed us earlier, the vast majority of our revenues come, for the general
fund, come from property taxes and jewelry. We are, if you've looked at the latest tax
bill that got passed, 21 additional cities are receiving local options, sales taxes.
So where other communities, like class three cities are using local options, sales taxes,
this franchise fees, the list goes on and on, that isn't incorporated in this measure,
because this is only measuring property tax revenue.
So there are other ways of generating revenues, general purpose revenues that don't involve
a property tax levy.
The council, over the years, has declined to pursue adding Annie for a lot of really good
reasons, frankly. But that is something that I do want to point out here because it has a major
bearing on how we compare it to other class three cities. We are now as regional center,
class three city, whatever you want to call us. Probably in the minority as far as having some
of these local options sales tax as franchise fees and you know the whole laundry list I've given
you before, but I do want to point that out. And thanks for giving me the opportunity.
Absolutely.
Any questions on that?
No, Martial Parking was one of them that we talked about.
That's another way to generate revenue against some of these other communities might be
doing that.
We're not doing that.
Yeah, I mean, anybody who goes to Minneapolis, St. Paul knows how painful that can be, right?
So those are just other examples, exactly.
Thank you.
Anybody else?
Long-term debt per capita, again, nothing alarming here.
Your debt did drop a little bit from 19 to 2020.
We did kind of touch on the different funding mechanisms on that earlier so I can spend a whole lot of time on that
We also pointed out your current expenditures how they've been trending upwards a little bit and also the drop in the capital
So again, nothing alarming here. You know the city of Redwing does
Provide a little bit more dollars towards the capital side
That's on a case-by-case basis from what the city's capital needs are whether it's streets
I know you guys invest a lot down by the river so that factors into it too
So just a couple of things to think about here is you look at how you compare it with some of your peers
From the per capita revenues fight type again. We've already we touched on a lot of these nothing
Overly alarming there, and then we also pointed out earlier just on the expenditures per capita
Again, you dedicate a few more dollars towards your public safety side
And then you also a little bit higher on the culture and wreck operating the pool obviously is going to have an impact on that
And again, a lot of the other different parks
and other culture and recrelations the city offers.
So one thing I do like to display
is that this really doesn't indicate anything
that's good or bad.
It really is just a measure of how you compare
with some of your peers.
Every city operates differently
on how they want to dedicate their resources.
So this really is just kind of a,
where you, if I could, I would say, absolutely.
Yeah, the other thing I wanted to mention too
is when we look at capital, for example,
you're measuring this always on a per capita basis.
This is what it doesn't tell you is what the revenue source is from.
That's funding those.
A capital project started as it goes as well where we secured.
Oh, it's got to be over $30 million in the last five or six years in just state funding.
So next year, for example, with the start of the surgeon lake road rail grade separation project.
Overpass, if you will, rail overpass.
That's about a $25 to $30 million project in total.
So imagine what that per capita numbers are going to look like when we get into that project.
But again, just these little caveats are important to understand.
Just to add to that, I mean, one of the things that I feel like you and Ron have been speaking towards on this slide is
leveraging, you always talked about leveraging Excel's improvements, right?
And so using those as opportunities to do some of the projects that perhaps some of the other communities,
especially coming out of the recession weren't able to do, they maybe had to delay some of those projects earlier,
but we were able to sort of utilize that opportunity and do something.
So they're not as stacked up and as delayed, is that a good assessment of some of this impact as well, Marshall?
Yeah, that's excellent.
And I mean, the other thing I point out too is kind of what you're driving at is this is all been
nothing in this report should surprise anybody because this has been planned.
This has been planned for the last 10, 15 years and it's natural to see the progression
of the debt moving down, the capital fall when it moving down.
All that has been planned, so the council's used, you know, that planning horizon very
well into the, to the, to the betterment of all the citizens who would otherwise have to
pay for these capital projects if it weren't for, you know, Excel having, you know, tremendous
because it backed on our tax base over 50% of our tax base.
In that tax base, that means that we don't get the LGA because of that.
It's sort of three sort of trying those that are all playing into this picture.
Thanks, Michelle.
Thank you.
That is all I have.
So does anybody else have any questions for either Marshall or myself?
And
if not, I want to say thanks to Lane and Abby for driving all the way from Mancay at a first of all in such a wonderful afternoon.
And they are support and they're constantly keeping us up the day with the latest, greatest.
The pronouncements are really important to our ability to get these kind of reports done, so we sincerely appreciate their effort.
I always have to thank Sue, I have to thank Keith Lichten to put in, I can't even tell you how many hours I'm going to report to this nature, but their professionalism and dedication in your, this council's commitment to this city's physical standing is probably more important than anything else and we really appreciate that too.
And thanks for the opportunity. I know moving on, we're giving, it's a huge report, significant size report.
work, and we'll bring it back for the council to hopefully ratify at the next council meeting.
If you have any other questions, please in the meantime feel free to contact Sue or
I, so we can work through any questions, concerns, whatever you may have, but with that again,
thank you too.
Yeah, thanks, Marshall.
It is, you have received the Conference of Annual Financial Certificate since 2008, I believe
now.
And there's usually pretty few comments.
So just a testament to everybody who goes through it, looks through it because it is a 275 page audit report
Now I think we're up to somewhere in there. So there's a lot to go through.
So yes, thanks to Marshall and Sue. They do a great job and are very responsive. Getting us things
We appreciate the working relationship
Thank you, Lane. Thank you, Evie
Thanks everyone. Thank you. My contact information is there if anybody has any questions. I'd be happy to ask is it come up?
Thank you
All
right, we are now at the public comment segment where members of the public can speak on topics that are not on the agenda.
Anyone who cannot attend the meeting but would like to have their comments entered into the public record can submit an email before 3pm.
The day of the meeting, to the email address or a phone number that's provided, any emails received will not be read aloud but will be entered into the record for this meeting and shared with elected leaders.
Next, I will ask those in attendance who wish to share public comment to address the council.
We appreciate you stating your name, what city you live in, and if you live in Redwynne,
please provide either your ward number, your street name, or your neighborhood area.
You'll have up to three minutes to share your thoughts, and please remember that personal
tax may be ruled out of order, and we appreciate your time in attending tonight.
And so I'll start with the list that I have of those who signed up earlier.
So, Mike Montgomery, you are first on the list here?
Welcome.
Before I start, just a procedural question.
If someone didn't sign up, do they still have an opportunity at the end to-
Yep, so I usually, after I go through the list, then I ask if there's anybody else who wishes to speak on an item not on the agenda.
Okay, perfect.
Thank you.
Well, thank you for the opportunity to speak to me.
My name is Mike Montgomery.
I'm a citizen of Red Wing, living in Ward 2.
I was here two weeks ago and I spoke to you about the dangerous direction that I think
this eye and others think the City Council is going. I stood before you last summer and
I basically said you guys are not listening to people. You let people speak but you're
not hearing what they say. Two weeks ago and I was here in reference to the joint City
Council HRC meeting, I stated, man, it seems like you're not even wanting to allow people
to speak, and that's dangerous. I told you guys that. Now, in the statement that Becky
Red, Councilwoman, excuse me, sorry, Martin, you open and said, we agree to treat everyone
with courtesy, dignity and respect. We will listen to all sides of an issue and encourage
participation, support each other, act with honor and accountability, and inspire pride in
our community. This week commit as we open this meeting. I'm just going to say this seems
to be further, couldn't be further from the truth. I talked last meeting about the
and the disrespectful attitudes that I and others have observed from some of you lately.
You don't seem to be willing to listen to all sides of an issue.
You have no interest in supporting each other.
There's one of your own council member, by C, was removed from his position on boards and
commissions because he saw things differently than some of you.
By your actions, you don't seem to be acting with honor and accountability and transparency.
And honestly, I don't think you're inspiring much pride in our community.
Lastly, and this is what I want to talk about, you don't seem to want to encourage
participation. In the agenda it says this meeting will be in the City Hall Council chambers
and held virtually via WebEx at the same time. Members of the public can join this meeting
either in person or at City Hall or virtually. That's quite interesting because I'm looking
at an empty chair there and Councilmember Bicey is not in attendance. Now we have the capability
for people to participate virtually, is that correct? Yes, okay. You guys actually relied
on that for 10 to 11 months, right? I have good information, good information, okay?
That council member Bicy is not being allowed to attend this meeting virtually, not being
allowed by you guys, okay? That's insane. He's a member of this council. He's an elected
official, called to speak about items on this agenda. And if any of you were not allowed,
I'm not able to be at this meeting, I would want and I would advocate for you to be able to participate.
Virtually we have the capability, but you're not allowing you to be part of this meeting.
That's insane. Who do you guys think you are?
He's every bit a part of this council, but he happens to have differing opinions than many of you and you guys can't stand it.
Shame on you. Shame on you. This nonsense has to stop. Thank you.
I'm going to address
the last item that you brought forward.
First of all, I'm not aware of anything, but there is a state statute that restricts members' participation in not in this body.
Amy, do you want to talk about that particular statute?
Certainly. So the council for during the pandemic was operating under 13D-021, which allows in the case of an emergency for meetings to be held by telephone.
and most bodies did not hold meetings by telephone, but rather held them virtually.
However, once the emergency is over, 13-do-2 is not an option.
And so then you are under 13-do-1 is not an option.
Then you need to operate under 13-do-2, which also does allow meetings to be held virtually,
but there is a whole host of requirements that apply.
One of which is that you need to post consistent with the open meeting law that the location
at which the member who is absent will be participating remotely, and that member must
make the location at which they are participating open to the public.
So many times elected officials choose to miss a meeting here or there, it doesn't happen
place wherever they are, perhaps, and I don't know where a council member buys
he is, but a conference room, a hotel, conference room, or a coffee shop, or
somewhere where they would still have enough privacy to be participating in the
meeting, but also would welcome a member of the public to that coffee shop if they
were happened to be in Florida and wanted to attend. So there's a number of
requirements that you have to follow if you are going to hold a meeting and allow
a council person to participate virtually, that participation by virtual, those requirements
only apply to council members.
Some members of the public can comment virtually or listen in virtually, but the statute governs
members of the body.
This council body is not preventing any council member from participating at that meeting.
They follow the state statute and I would also say that any member of this body who chooses
is to be absent from a meeting for whatever that reason, if they would like to take a vacation
and it falls on a council meeting, I think this body would support that absence, and
we don't often ask what they're, what would take them away from that.
I mean, this is sometimes a much more than a full-time job to be up here, and so if a council
member chooses to not be here, we support that as we did this evening with excusing that
absence.
So in no way, shape or form has this body prevented a council member from participating
in this meeting that council member would have followed the state's statutes.
With that, and we'll call the next person who has signed up for public comment, Patricia
I'll end the jump, welcome.
Hello. Welcome. What I have seen from the city council in the last several months, especially, is all about control and exerting your power exclusively. I look around in the same small group of people have their fingers in every pride, and this skewers every outcome and decision made in city hall, especially since this same group has actively introduced partisan politics in the city government. Many of the same people said on multiple
boards and commissions have the authority to select other members and make appointments
and are directly involved in all the decisions being made in City Hall.
This has become power in the hands of a very few.
Making matters worse is that this power has more and more frequently than used as retaliation
motivated by personal spite.
We have seen good people remove from committees because the council member holds a personal
leave because the council member holds a personal beef with you. We have seen
person complaints lodged against the chief of police because the chief
followed the law and did not and did his duty rather than yield to the
unreasonable and unlawful demands of that same sitting council member. Finally we
saw the sudden unexplained removal of our chief of police with no public input or
discussion or without substantive reason ever provided by the city council.
Anyone or one group who can fire a person without cause needs to be held through the strictest
professional standards.
We can't have city council members voting to purge city government of good employees
just because they can or worst yet for strictly personal reasons.
These are the sorts of bad acts that destroy the public trust.
Good local government requires the full support and participation of the general public and
not just one political part of it, diverse ideas and opinions and solutions from all sides
of the political spectrum give us a broader foundation and more to work with. We all benefit
when we work together rather than line up on one side of the room or the line or the other.
There to be honesty and transparency in city government, open meeting laws must be respected.
All our city meetings should be open to the public with input and feedback encouraged and welcomed, and all resource materials, work product and documents opened and made available to the public.
These are things I would hope to see happen that have not happened and which has caused people to line up and want to recall this city council.
Thank you.
I could I just have your return to the podium and I'm not sure if I did this to we just
think your name at the podium and if your resident.
So it's crucial to you I'm in ward two red.
Thank you.
Your welcome.
And the next person I have signed up for public comment is Chaz Neal.
Welcome Chaz.
Good evening.
My name is Chaz Neal.
I'm a resident of Redwood.
If you want to remove your mask while you're speaking you're welcome to.
Good evening, my name is Chaz Neor resident of Redwing.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.
I'm going to tell a story of white privilege in Redwing.
On December 5, 2019, the Redwing Police Department held a public forum that night.
There was an altercation between an elected official and a resident of the community.
this altercation would have a ripple effect that on July 12th today we still
deal with the unknown outcome of a third-party investigation into a city
employee and his wife that will result in the city hiring Pamela Vander Will
who is a third-party investigator that specializes in investigations in public
employees, employers across the state of Minnesota, where the City of Redwing paid $7,487.9 on March
18, 2020. Now on June, 2020 of this year, a comment in a private Facebook group called the Redwing
State of mind, which some council members participate in, and out of the public eye, but sit on committees
where it's okay to be able to get your true feelings out and not have to suffer any
judgment. Now, in the first story, the allegations were a farce of an investigation to prove that
a city employee was telling confidential information, wherein the second, which is actual factual,
and a free investigation, the city would rather sweep discrimination and hate under the rug and
have a resident work on human right issues and a resolution for claiming racism of public health
emergency. So much is done is done in private what's wrong with transparency and honesty
and if it makes us look bad at least we can correct the wrong instead of just moving on
like nothing happened because pain and trauma is a real issue and we can see with the overdose
pandemic we are facing here in Redwood. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Chaz. Ruth Hutchinson,
are you public comment or are you on another item? Welcome.
Ruth Hutchinson 2488,
mom-quist Avenue. I want to echo some of the things, is this on? Yep, and you want to echo some of
the things that Chaz spoke about. First off, I have emailed all of you and you know how I feel
about the HRC person that called Chaz Vile, not a bunch of cells, not even worth calling a human.
and that to me is not what I would call human rights and Austin Minnesota just
removes someone from their human rights commission. So don't tell me that you
can't do it. Don't tell me that. And I look out here, okay? I look out here and I see
people who said they were allies. So they were willing to fight alongside of us
for human rights. I see it everywhere. Okay, where have you been? Where have you been?
Because I haven't seen anybody stand up and push for this resolution. Because I would like to see
someone in K. Coleman's spot that looks like me. Oh, sorry.
Or someone black like my daughter. Okay,
I would like to see someone mentor a person of color to take over on the seats of the City Council.
And when I look at the boards and commissions, that's all I see is white.
And when you walk out here, white.
When you look all over the city, it's white, white, white.
No one has ever, I mean, you don't recognize the people's black history from here.
I mean, why is that not recognized or celebrated?
I'm very passionate about this.
and so I feel like don't tell me that you're going to be an ally, if you're not really going to do the work.
And I feel like a first good step is if you know, do the resolution, take steps, do the resolution,
and also you need to do some listening sessions with the community.
You need to listen to what we're saying because it seems like nobody's listening.
I mean, if you would listen to a large population, I'm not just saying people of color and have
a workshop with actionable steps to follow through on what's going on and hear us because
I don't feel like it is.
It's more of the tourist attraction.
You know, when I first thought the bridge was a great idea, but now I think, what about
the homeless, the drug overdose problem we have. People are dying here. People are dying.
And you guys care more about what? So that's all I want to say. And to you guys, where are you
Ben? Where have you been? That's all. Thank you. Thank you.
Is there anyone else who wishes to speak
on an item that is not on the agenda? Come on up. Just state your name and your city and
and if you can give us your address or your board.
My name is Jane Smith.
I live in Goodview.
I grew up in Lady Smith, Wisconsin, which is in Rust County.
Recently, there was a drug bust up there.
11 people were arrested.
18 firearms were confiscated.
$17,000 of cash.
And three pounds of meth.
And it came out a red wing.
You people are poisoning my home. I am from lady Smith. It's a beautiful town, and it's going to the dumps and
Something about your drug problem. This is we used to drive through red wing when I in the 70s when I was a kid
I wanted to live on Bush Street
Imagine I wanted to live on Bush Street
gorgeous
it was beautiful and I don't know how I ended up down here but we
ended up down here life brought us here what an underbelly of a town I mean
my god it's beautiful but it is wrecked with your drugs and you guys need to
clean it up and stop these people that were busted in lady Smith were coming
down here every other day picking up pounds. At least two pounds. I'm not talking 50, 100 pounds
of meth. And I know you people are have been it's touched your lives. You might not admit it
because you guys all want to sit up here and you know be middle class and pretend this shit doesn't
happened excuse me I'm sorry but it does and it affects a lot of people it's
ruining my hometown my friends that I went to school with who most of them
thought I'd end up like that before they would and I look at these people that
came from middle class upper-class homes I know your kids are dying to here we
She just heard it from Ruth.
When is it gonna stop?
When are you guys gonna start taking care of your town?
I don't even live here and I'm glad I don't,
because for us, this size of town,
there's way too many drugs here.
And you need to keep them here
then not ship them up to my town.
Thank you.
Chief, were you followed with some of that information
in a future meeting for us?
Yes.
I'm not sure I should report or something.
Thank you.
Yes, come on up.
Greetings
to the council and the city of Serzan,
the city of Redmond, presidents.
My name is Bill Habanonke.
I live in Redmond for 47 years.
I live on Grandview Avenue, up above Perkins restaurant.
I wish to speak about the week haul effort.
And I decided to attend this meeting
at the last minute I didn't have any notes ready.
But I try to be succinct as I can.
but I'm very alarmed about the recall.
I don't know all the details about how I came about,
maybe I should have, but still the recall alarms me.
I think it's a dangerous precedent.
It's not only for this city, but it's on a national level
because all over we're hearing about voter suppression,
election fraud after the election and what's most alarming before the election. So we need
to get back to a much healthier form of bipartisanship. Let's let the voters decide because if
we don't, our democracy is going to be in serious trouble. Thank you.
And remember that if you would like to speak on the recall, ask that you wait for a 10 F but anything else that's not on the
Ingenia. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak? I mean not in the agenda. Come on up Terry.
Welcome.
Hi, my name is Terry Cook and I'm a 27 year resident of ward 4.
Council members and staff, I just want to, I didn't plan to speak tonight, but there's been,
And there's been some accusations that you don't listen and that you're not, that you're
already formed opinions before any meetings or any information is given to you.
And I'm just here to tell everyone else and to tell you that I don't believe that that's
true.
I know you to listen, I know you to process things, I also know you not to agree with everything
that comes to you.
And that's okay.
you are our elected officials and I have trust in you. I know that you work hard. I
Don't always agree even amongst yourselves, which civil discourse is important, it's healthy, and it's good for all of us. And I just want to say thank you for listening and doing what you feel is best for the community. I know it's not easy. And I know that I don't agree with all of your decisions. But I do know you listen. And I know that you process that I've seen it myself. I've seen it firsthand. So thank you.
Okay.
Anyone else wishing to speak on an item that's not on the agenda?
Yes, you drove a long ways.
So a caller who would like to speak on an item that's not on the agenda?
Josh Morrison?
Any?
Yep. Are you wishing to speak on an item not on the agenda?
No. No, thank you.
Thank you. You can go ahead and mute yourself, or I can have staff do that.
Any other callers that are wishing to speak on an item not on the agenda?
Thank you, everybody who spoke.
of two item eight board and commission communications and we'll start with the Port Authority update Dan if you wanted to give us an overview.
Thank you. Three items to report on this evening from the Port Authority meeting held on July 6.
First item was they had their first discussion of a preliminary levy and budgets for 2022.
At the August meeting on August 2nd they will approve a preliminary levy and budget.
so it was important to just have some early discussion on that.
They talked about various topics for 2022, including bulkhead repairs,
targeted projects, and downtown investments.
They also looked at a draft redevelopment study by Hoysington Cogler for the West and including the former power-built site.
I did include a copy of that in the report for you and they will continue to discuss that
at their August meeting as well.
We're starting to focus on actions that get us to a point of using that information for
a request for proposals and RFP process.
The third item we'd like a little input from the Council this evening and that's on downtown
investment partnership. So the port has been discussing a few times how to move forward
this year with downtown investments, including a dollar set aside that the city has put together
and that relates to a 2018-2019 pilot program, so a two-year pilot program that the council approved
under using a framework of this downtown investment partnership.
And I did include two documents related to that that were approved back in 2017 and 2018 just for some background information.
But the local foundations have been meeting recently to discuss their interest in putting dollars into or investments into the downtown area.
and do that in conjunction with the city slash port authority as well.
And so the port cited that they really couldn't move forward as an organization or a group
without further direction from the council on how best to do that.
We kind of landed on one option that seemed to make the most sense which was direction to
to have the port pick three members at least one council member and meet with a similar
number of foundation representatives just to sit down and have an initial discussion that
would really talk about interests from both sides and maybe a common way to move forward
with ideas, some kind of a program.
I did add a note, and that came just very recently on Thursday, Sherry and I were on a webinar with DEED.
And one of the, and I think it's receiving the most dollars allocation is a new program called Mean Street Economic Revitalization.
We literally got just a very high level description.
There's another webinar this Thursday, specifically on that program with more details.
But it does provide a 30% matching grant to what they call eligible partners.
But they're doing it, I haven't seen this before, but the eligible partners are foundations,
for example, not cities, not port authorities or HRAs.
they really want local foundation, buy-in, and investments in this particular program.
This program is funded at $80 million.
Just as an example, the latest round of redevelopment grants in the whole state is $2 million from
deed.
That's a very popular program for redevelopment.
And this is $80 million, so it is being highly funded and I think it's worth looking at
not much detail, but it could fit into the scope, kind of the framework of what we've
been talking about as well.
So I'll stop there and see if any court members want to add to this, but we kind of hopefully
I really like a little bit of direction from the council on this topic.
I'll let you leave off.
Well, I think you set us up very well, Dan, with the Downtown Investment Partnership.
I think that this is fun that the City Council has obviously put forward and I would like
to see us continue with that Downtown Investment Partnership and something that's sustainable
in the long term.
And I think that the suggestion of having a blended committee of a porch with perhaps
council representation and the partner representation I think is a good place to start.
I think that it's not really clear that we're all on the same page and I think that that's
the first step is what does the investment partnership really want out of this partnership
And then, how can we partner with them long-term?
That's where I feel like we need a little bit more alignment, and I think the port is a really good place to how is that alignment.
Yeah, follow up.
I mean, the city has been setting aside, I'll have set aside significant money for this downtown investment partnership.
during the pilot program, we really didn't do much with it.
We ended up doing this Josephson's project, but that was a city kind of leading that through.
So I think the question, and right now, the city is budgeting and the port are budgeting to kind of continue reinvesting in that fund
so that we can continue it and grow it over the,
continue to have funds available to grow it.
So I think for me, you know,
Council President Norton put it very well that
we need to sit down and make sure everybody's
sort of on the same page about where
and how these funds get utilized and distributed.
I think it's important that they do.
But I feel like from my point of view, the pilot project didn't really kind of meet the
expectations that we were hoping for.
And so I think it's time to say we need to get back and say how do we kind of have a head
to head meeting with a small group.
I met several months ago with some of the parties that want to become involved in this.
and I would suggest we saddle up here and get to sing a rollin.
They're anxious to see something happen.
I don't think we want to have meetings upon meetings discuss this.
I like that you're getting like three of each group together
and streamline this thing and roll because I can say they're anxious
to see something happen.
And I don't think you want to lollygag way on this deal
and think about studying this and not just these folks have done a lot of developments in the past,
they're well aware of what they do, they've got connections, they're anxious to see some
improvement and things happen now. So I would suggest that we keep the fires burning on this thing
because it's, we've got a wonderful opportunity here. We got some wonderful investors that want to
come aboard and I think if we work with them and work hard, we can see some activity happen soon.
So I suggest if we could do that that would be wonderful.
You elaborate a little bit on who you say they are curious on who they are.
Some of the philanthropic people in town here are different groups that want to get involved in this.
You don't have to get specific, I was just trying to get a general idea.
Right.
Additional ones that are already currently in the investment partnership.
Right.
The ones that are already represented here.
The ones that are already represented.
That's what I was just trying to figure out.
And we have that.
So they would like to, like you say, keep the farmers burning under this.
I think we got a wonderful opportunity here.
Let's don't stumble with it.
I certainly believe that, you know, I think the idea is to kind of put a small group together
support and do it there. I think that's the right place.
And I
don't echo what Mike said that
I do want to see us move quickly, but I also want to make sure that, like I said, we have been
putting money away for years or continuing that. And so I think we have put a commitment down in real
terms, not, you know, we're very conscious and conscientious about putting those funds aside
for justice purpose.
So, I think it's important that we get on the same page, not just study it endlessly,
but we all need to be on the same page.
Some general consensus that we can start a process with some members of the port working
with the downtown investment partnership, some representatives from them to look at how
they would bring something back. We would recommend they would bring a recommendation
back to council to approve how we would look at spending those funds. I think that that
will be a streamlined method of getting something on paper that says here's what we really want
to look at and here's how we're going to do it. Here's projects that will support or ideas
is that we'll support this side?
Yeah, I agree with that.
Excuse me.
Okay, is that good?
Yes.
Very much.
Thank you.
That's it.
My report.
I did a learn more about the dean.
Mm-hmm.
Program that you guys were just mentioning as well.
So that's awesome.
Anything else in your report?
No, thank you.
Thanks again, Dan.
All right, that brings us to 8B.
Council Liaison, commission reports.
That, Andy.
Casteline Silinski, I am from her heritage preservation committee for moving out of town.
Okay.
There's an opening there for the HPC.
Sandy.
Erin?
I promised the library board.
I would promote them again.
The library has partnered with the Red Wing Park natural list to an creative event called
the quorum adventures. The first one is tomorrow at 9.30,
callable courtyard. They'll be stories and each activity in a nature walk. All ages are welcome,
and there's no need to pre-register. And then the second event with the park mattress will be on
Tuesday, July 27th, also at 9.30. And the theme tomorrow will be animal tracks, and then the theme on
The 27th is a mystery theme, so we'll see what happens.
Awesome, thank you.
Any other board or commission reports?
We didn't have as many between the last meeting in this meeting, so probably a little light
this time.
All right, that brings us to item 9, the consent agenda.
Any item anyone wishes to pull?
I just wanted to pull that up and I don't think I'll say what.
I want to say what it's here.
So we'll pull item 9f, isn't Frank?
Anything else, anyone wishes to pull?
Make a motion to approve the consent agenda, minus 9f.
Second.
Motion by Evan.
Second by Andy to approve consent agenda, minus 9f.
OK, would you do a roll call for us please?
Bus.
Aye.
Plitsky.
Aye.
Stinson.
Aye.
Both.
Aye.
Norton.
Aye.
Brown.
Aye.
six-size motion carries. Thank you. Right nine F. Do you want to? Yeah. I just
as far as English I don't think we even need this. Keep track of the the names
and people I mean I'm just not enthused about even even doing this as a process.
So I'm just putting it out there. I just like it to take it off.
I don't think it's necessary. I did an exchange with Amy earlier today about it. And there was one sentence in our exchange that really hit me as really meaningful and impactful. I was sort of on the fence with, sort of on the fence with this process. I needed a lot more information about it, but the statement that individuals have the right to remove their signatures as long as they do so before the relevant body has accepted the petition and taken action upon it. That's significant to me.
the fact that we have residents who have specifically said that they had concerns that their
signature was on something that for whatever their reason was they no longer want their
name on it. And I want to honor and respect that they have chosen to have their name removed.
They should have that right to have their name removed. So I don't know if you wanted to
speak any more to that. Sure, I'll give you a little background and then I can speak to both
your comments. So you know the question was asked once staff started getting requests
from citizens to have their names removed from the petition as to what was the process
for doing that. The charter doesn't specifically speak to that topic. However, in looking at
court cases, there are a whole host of cases in other areas where the courts have looked
at petitions and whether individuals have a right to withdraw their names from a petition
and once they've signed it, and just as an example of where these cases arise from.
One case involved, a couple of the cases involved moving a county seat from one location
to another location.
They're quite old decisions, and they were governed.
The process of moving the county seat was governed by statute, but the statute did not have
any language about whether someone could remove their name once they had signed the petition.
The petition process was very similar to the recall petition process.
you have to have a certain number of voter sign it,
county auditor in those cases looked at the signatures
to see if they're valid voters
and if they had a sufficient number of voters
signed the petitions.
And so the question for the court,
the main question the court addressed was,
can people remove their names once they've signed it?
And the court said that they had no doubt
of the right of any signers to withdraw their name
from the petition.
At the time before the board had completed
the determination in the matter.
So, you know, if the board had, if you, when you look at the sort of line of court cases,
once it's gotten past sort of the board accepting it and scheduling a hearing or court taking
the petition and scheduling a hearing or whatever the next steps in the processes, once
it's been accepted and there's been action taken, then it's too late to have your signatures
removed.
Here, the council really has not accepted any of the petitions that have come before yet,
but rather the council has decided that the petitions do not allege grounds that constitute
malfeasance or non-feasance and thus has declined to call a special election.
So I think council member hold of suggestion of perhaps doing nothing is a valid option
because you have accepted the petitions so we're somehow the petitions to come before the
council in the future.
The council could at that time decide to do what to do with people who wanted their signatures
is removed. The council could direct staff, for example, that if these petitions ever
come before the council again, we want you to notify those people and let them know
that if they want their names removed, the appropriate thing to do would be to appear
at that council meeting when the petitions come before the body again and ask to have their
names struck. And then the council can decide what to do at that time. The other option is
to approve this process. I think the council can do that as well. I don't think the council
would need to take any further action. And again, if the petitions ever made their way
back to this body, you know, then staff could update you on, okay, here's who presented
a request to be stricken. And then again, it could come before you for sort of final action
on whether those signatures were stricken or not.
Kind of to summarize my position on it. I do think it's appropriate to, to me, there's
middle ground that you will offer it in there. I mean, there's, to Dean's point, there's
really no point. We haven't done anything with these petitions. It's sort of in this,
in this place where we haven't accepted it. There's no action on it. So right now, removing
them isn't, isn't really an issue. However, we have received concerns. And so, residents
who may be concerned that this will come before the council at some later date for any purpose.
I think it would appropriate, be appropriate to have a process. Should that happen at, at
any later date and I would suggest the one that you offered which is that they could
come to that council meeting or I think you offered to either come in person to
city hall to speak with the city clerk or virtually or state that they no longer want
their name on the petition to require the person to write a short statement requesting
the removal of their name have it noterized and submitted by the city clerk by mail or electronically
And then the city clerk would present those to the council or a citizen or resident could come to the council and him or herself.
I think as an appropriate process, should we ever take action on these petitions or some future petition?
Of course, I've had people approach me on adding their names.
So I assume that the process would be the same because they asked me what to do and as I referred them to the city clerk, I said I'd not
my deal.
It's
in the process to make it fair, but I don't know.
I think the process to add names is governed completely by the committees.
Is that, do you want to address that, Amy?
Yeah, I mean, that I would say has, that window has closed because the petitions have been submitted to the council.
Can I have a quiet place so we can hear the answer?
I mean, the charter lays out the time period for gathering signatures.
And once that is closed, you know, that's closed, in my opinion.
and there's not a process to add signatures
once the petitions have been submitted to the council.
That's cleared in the charter.
I guess I would say I kind of lean with Dean.
I don't see any at this point
in the need for action on this.
It's, I understand that there were a lot of complaints
and that there may be people who feel that way,
but as our attorney stated that you know there is a process to if this should
and these petition should come back in some way there's a process to address
that so I would kind of lean with again lean with the industry just kind of
let this go.
There's certainly can take it up again at some other later date or
what
I'm not saying is don't keep trackable we need to keep track of those folks but
but I just think that this process is not worth it right now.
Just to make a motion on the item?
No,
procedures that I need to work on.
If there's no motion, you can just move on.
We're just not going to address it anymore.
Okay, all right, we've moved on.
All right, we're on to item 10, motions in general business.
All right, item 10A.
Just consider a motion to recommend
from personnel committee to a point Gordon were
as the Red Wing Police Chief.
Okay, do you want to do an introduction for that?
Sure.
I'm really happy tonight to be able to tell you that in Room Chief Rohren, I have spent
quite a bit of time work the last month talking about and encouraging to consider the position.
I do feel like he's the right person right now to help us through this challenging time.
And Gordon has a lot of experience, he's worked for the city for a long time, he's worked
for another city.
He has a great relationship internally in the department and I think he is going to be
a great leader for the city.
So what I brought to the personnel committee was a proposal that I had made to Gordon and
obviously he's an officer of the city council so the council needs to take action on that.
I did provide you with a copy of that letter which is confidential until the council takes
action on it which time it would be public information.
So tonight, what I'm asking you to do is pass a motion to appoint Gordon Rohr as our
new police chief.
If you decide to do that, we would like to do an oath of office and a badge pinning ceremony
on July 26th.
Thank you.
Okay.
Evan S. Chair of that personnel, do you want to address anything or speak to it?
kind of just like to say and I think that we were very
happy that NK
came to an agreement
there. I think it felt really like the right place at the right time. So I
felt like it
has been a challenging time and I think that
Interim Chief Roar has done an exemplary
a job and I fully support the recommendation of the personal committee, unequivocally.
I do too.
I was, I found out about a late before the personal committee and I was very extreme,
well, extremely happy that he decided to say yes and that really is, I mean, he is absolutely,
as I told you, at the personal committee, you're the right person at the right time.
I was extremely happy that you decided to take the job, maybe
else, but I'll make motion
to, we have point Gordon Roar as a Red Wing Police Chief.
I got it.
this and looking at a lot of things and Kay and Gordon have been working closely as well
as with your police department and I couldn't be happy to support this so just to have full
support from here. So Jim, yep Mike. I just like to reiterate that you know I got thrown
into this deal and I thought my goodness this is quite a situation but I appreciate you stepping
stepping up. I saw what's going on amongst the forests and very appreciative that you handled
it the way you did and looking forward to working with you and thank you again for
taking a side.
Any other comments?
All right.
There is a motion on the table, all those in favor of approving a recommendation from the
personal committee to a point Gordon Rour as a Red Wing police chief. Say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed, Hene?
All right. Thank you. Welcome.
I'm really glad to have you, Gordon. Welcome.
I just wonder if he should have done it.
Mike can tell it runs.
You're going to do good.
Grady, you'll do really good.
Very good.
All right, that brings us to item 10D.
Consider motion-approved actions related to the reconstruction of the phone and John Ridge Park.
This is an awesome piece.
So welcome, Sean and John.
Good evening, council, mayor, sit staff and residents, Sean Blaine, Deputy Director of Public Works.
Here too, discuss or bring to you this project at John Rich Park.
So as you know, back in 2020, staff was contacted by a community member providing funding to store the phone at John Rich Park.
A feasibility had been completed for the reconstruction of this phone while in conjunction with another park,
park project in Lagrange Park. This feasibility study provided us with some cost estimates for
the project and due to those cost estimates this project could be publicly bitten.
Tonight
we're asking the council to enter into a construction contract with global specialties contractors
for the reconstruction of the fault in a John Ridge Park. We did publicly bid this project and only
in one bit was received.
It was over the estimate, but barely over the estimate.
The engineer's estimate.
The first alternate listed was an upgraded waterproofing
membrane, after having a conversation with the contractor,
that membrane was no better than the original one's spec,
so that we decided to forego that upgraded.
It was just more expensive option as all of us.
The second alternate is related to the sanitary sewer
connection.
When the fault was originally constructed,
that there was no connection to the sanitary sewer connection was required at that time.
Now codes have changed and it is required.
When Third Street was reconstructed between East and West Avenue, we believe a sewer connection
was stopped in towards the park.
We just don't know if it was stopped in behind the curb or not, we can't verify that.
So alternate two was related to that connection.
If for some reason that connection did was not stopped into the behind the curb we'll have to excavate into the street and we didn't want to be standing.
Next to an open hole, a beautiful day, and all of a sudden have an emergency, where we have to open up the street. So we opted to have an alternate bid that way. We already know what it's going to cost. There'd be no question.
Then the third alternate was related to that waterproofing membrane. Since we didn't opt for that, there's no reason to consider that. Planning staff did bring this project to the plan HPC for an informal review and discussion. And the discussion was primarily based around the side.
sidewalks that surround the phone.
Those sidewalks have to be removed
because they've settled.
They're pitched the wrong way.
We have standing water.
And in order to replace those,
we need now today, we need to meet ADA
and a stamped concrete sidewalk does not meet ADA.
So those sidewalks will be replaced
with just a colored concrete with sawcut joints
that will meet ADA.
It won't be the stamped concrete,
but the goal is to have a colored concrete
to match as well as we can.
Matching colored concrete is not only
like these either. The fountain liner will be a fluid-applied polyurethane liquid resin.
It's essentially a roofing and water-proofing material, not that really anybody cares.
But I get the boring part, and she'll get the fun part.
And then it has kind of a quartz finish to it, so it'll be like a pool.
The overall budget of this project, so we're asking you to approve an overall budget
of 318,686 dollars which will be fully covered by our philanthropist, our donor.
The included in that is the $266,166,166,177 dollar contract with global specialties contractors.
That includes alternate two so if we don't need to do alternate two that will go down by I think
it's around 20,000 is alternate two so that contract will go down.
And then there's a 5% contingency, construction contingency on that for $13,308.
And then our engineering firm has their estimated costs are $39,200.
So the overall project ends up at $318,686 and $38.
Unless we're fortunate and not have to dig up that street and have that ultimate.
Any questions for me?
Thank you.
So the city would like to thank the donor for this amazing gift to the residents of Redling.
Because of this local donor's generosity, the Fountain and John Ridge Park will be
restored to its original beauty.
This park lies in the center of our community and everyone who lives here and visits here
will be able to enjoy this feeling for a whole other generation.
We know this donor would like to remain anonymous, but we did want to mention here at this meeting
that the city is incredibly grateful to this person's dedication to Red Wing.
It is because of people like this and other local philanthropic donors that we and Red Wing,
all of us are able to live among all of our parks, our trails, memorials, overlooks, and in
this case a gorgeous fountain in the middle of our city.
So thank you to the donor for this incredibly generous gift, and thank you to the council,
all of you for your consideration of this project.
I'll echo what you said about the thank you for bringing this forward.
I know on our fall tour and a couple of tours ago, we talked about this fountain and the fountain
near the Lagrange parking lot and being conscientious of where we are prioritizing funds,
neither of those were in our means for the near future where things had to put aside.
So if it weren't for this donor coming forward, we would just still be sitting on it the way that it was so I'm thrilled and ever so thankful for this opportunity.
So what would you like to do?
Like a motion to adopt resolution number 7665, accepting the donation of funds from an anonymous donor to reconstruct the fountain at John Ridge Park.
second motion by Evan and a second by Erin.
K, will you do a roll call please?
Yes.
Klitsky.
Stinson.
I.
O.
I.
Horton.
I.
Brown.
I.
Bus.
I.
Six eyes.
Motion carries.
Motion for the other three.
Yeah.
Why don't we do that?
A motion to accept bids for the reconstruction of the fountain.
Approved contract with Global Specialty Contractors Inc in the amount of $2,666,167,77 dollars,
and approved overall budget, project budget of $318,686,000, including one alternate.
Second.
All right.
Motion to accept all three of those items, two, three, and four in summary, I've been in
in the second by Erin.
All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Let's thank you.
All right, the next item is 10C.
Consider motion to authorize staff to solicit bids
for the design purchase and installation of a drum magnet
for the removal of steel in the waste processing stream.
Now, Jeff.
Yeah, I jump out a little bit there.
So I just got trained in this today,
so I'm hoping I can do this.
Council President Norton, Mayor Wilson.
Council members, my name is Jeff Schneider.
I'm Deputy Director of Public Works for the Salt Waste Division and I'm here today asking for your approval for creation of construction documents and letting bids for an engineered design of plans, a purchase of equipment which would drum magnet and installation of the drum magnet into the existing material recovery operations, the specific area of where we would insert the drum magnet would be down here right in this corner right here and
it would be right.
So the purpose of the drug magnet is really to capture steel, iron steel,
from the waste stream prior to introduction of the material into shredder two.
Credder two is really the final step of the RDF process for sizing. And in spite of the existing
recovery equipment, metal recovery equipment we have in place, we still have a small amount of
dense, heavy steel items not being pulled from the waste stream either because it's not being
seen by the pick line staffs that might be covered by other material or it's too heavy
for the existing belt magnets, or it could be covered by waste which would reduce the
magnetic forces. This is a kind of an example of the type of material I'm talking about.
You know, it's a big mall. You can see it's been scored right here by Shredder 2.
So this
the waste stream, so it doesn't cause any more damage.
So what happens is, the real concern with this
is that when this particular does get to shredder two,
it often chips the teeth, and it reduces the quality
of the shred, and it produces a really string type of waste,
which is not ideal for our end user.
So an idea, or this is an example of some of the metal
that have gone in there.
It's really big chunks of steel.
And here is an example of what the shredder teeth look like after having to be taken out.
You'll see that the shredder's teeth itself are really kind of chipped up there, and the
reason being is that big pieces of steel like this are going through are not being taken
out.
So when we do have to replace these teeth, we do have two sets of teeth.
So what happens is we will take these teeth out, they will be sent back to the manufacturer, which is SSI, and they will grind off the edge here, which is the hard-basing edge there, and then they will grind down the rest of the service and add a new hard-basing to the entire edge and the forward-cutting area.
So one of the things that we are doing differently now than we have when we initially got these teeth is that we are going to be using a different heart-facing.
The current heart-facing that we're using on these teeth is, well, it's very hard.
And what that does is instead of denting it chips, so we have gone to a softer heart-facing, which is kind of an oxymoron there.
But a softer hard base, too, hope that the chief will give rather than ship and give us
a longer life on the teeth itself.
When materials like this go through the shrutter, what happens is the system is really designed
not to break.
So when it comes in from above, the teeth go ahead at once, if they can't go through, they
back off and they hit it again, if they can't go through, they back off and it stops.
You know, and it stops before it gets that point of breaking and
What happens then is our guys have to go in there pull out all the waste and then find this object in there and unwedged
And it's it's it's it's it's kind of a
Really
unpleasant thing to do
so
This this is a it also causes quite a bit of downtime and production loss. So
You know what the real savings here is by doing this magnet is primarily
going to be in the form of maintenance and hoping to keep our teeth lasting longer and
keep them from getting damaged.
When the system was first to put together, we did purchase the second set of teeth or
replacement sets so that when we did have to take them out, we could send them out.
We wouldn't be down until they got replaced or repaired.
So each set could be used about three or four times before replacing it really depends
on how much wear and tear, you know, how long we've got to go for. But having the second set,
it allows us to switch it out. We hope to get 18 to 24 months out of each set. We've got about
15 months out of it. This is what a brand new or the fully edged surface is looked like. So you
can see there's quite a difference between where we are and where we want to be. When we do the
the change out, you know, the last one we did was the cost of $23,218.
And that was for the cost of rebuilding, grinding off the hard base,
rebuilding it back up, and then grinding it down to the specifications needed for the shredder.
It also included freight.
That's after we received a 10% reduction on the cost of this, because we complained because it took so long, which was.
I did a nice job, they did us right after that.
So when we do have to replace this, it takes two staff, three days, each one of these
teeth weighs 130 pounds.
So it's 31 teeth out and 31 teeth back in, so and then all the spacers that need to go
in there too.
The secondary aspect that I think will help to offset some of the cost here will be the
economic commodity value that we receive from the material.
So every ton of steel that we remove from the waste stream will give us a, you know, depending
on the finding markets will give us a value of about $100 to $200 a ton.
And there's another aspect to that because every time that we're able to take
out of the waste stream is also a ton that we don't pay for to suppose a lot.
So it's not only commodity value, but it's avoided suppose a cost as well.
And of course, it gives us a better fuel quality.
Now, I know I brought this up as an example, but it isn't the only type of steel
that's being missed right now.
there's also smaller and medium sized pieces of steel that are in the same situation where they
get buried under the burden and they just not as easily extracted from the waste stream. So how
do we pay for this? As you guys are aware, waste campus operations is an enterprise fund and it's
fully funded by user fees. The tip fees for our contractor haulers is $108 a ton and for a non-contracted
it's $118 a ton.
We also see funding from commodity sales
and other disposal charges like, you know,
document destruction or problem material disposal,
tires, pre-end devices, things like that.
So our fees cover the cost of MW processing and disposal.
Anything that we generate over and above
goes into our reserve funds.
So at this time, we have about $721,000 in our reserve funds.
And a lot of that is from the actual cost of initially doing the murder, putting the
murder together, it came in under budget.
So we're really, we'd like to use some of that money that's in that budget in order to
pay for a magnet that would help us to prolong our maintenance and make it so we don't have
due quite so much.
The idea is that when the material comes off of the feed here, the drum kind of pulls it
away from it, and then it drops it off on a shoot and away, and that goes into a roll
out that's then taken for recycling. One of the reasons that I'm advocating for a drum
magnet is because it's a very simple piece of it. You know, you're only dealing with two bearings to
change out. You know belt changes, if you look back here, it's a very tight space where we're going
to put it. We're going to have to blow out that wall right there in this way in order to put a
shoot in and have it have the metal go into another area that we can recover at
then. So it really it's it's a tight area and you don't want to it's not very
conducive to putting a belt magnet up there.
operationally I said it's going to cause fewer issues with jamming where a belt
magnet has to be right over the top of this of the waste stream. The drum can be
kind of offset a little bit from there. And also drum magnets have a better stronger
Paul Marcos which is the
The last thing about the drum magnet that we're looking at right now would also have an agitation
setting to it, or feature to it, so that one material is pulled from the waste stream, shakes
a little bit to drop off some of that other stuff that may come along with it. So the
cost assessment for this right now is based on a report that we had done by RT, which is
our consultant for our maternity recovery facility,
and it includes the cost of the engineer design,
the magnet purchase, the discharge shoot,
the steel structure and support,
the conveyor modifications,
and of course the instillation and wiring,
the mechanical and the electrical integration
into the system, and the cost we are estimating
at about $303,000 dollars.
I'd just like to add one other thing,
And one of the reasons another reason that we are kind of meeting our teeth up a little
bit quicker than we anticipated is we are getting more waste in than we had expected.
We had kind of thought that you know, we'd be doing pretty good if we got 3,000 tons
a month in June, we got 3,850 tons.
So a significant amount above where we've been kind of hoping to be.
So it's actually a very good thing for us.
Mike?
I know and I had to tour you kind of explain this all to me.
I think this is the optimum piece to go in here in this position.
I mean, if you're going to build a new plant, was this how you would do it?
Or what are the other things?
How do I draw magnets all around?
If I had the choice, I would have drawn magnets.
But one of the reasons we didn't do that is because we had pre-existing belt magnets in place.
So we went with those.
So this would be added.
It's just another way to grab more of that steel out of the waste stream.
And it's really a good choice for them.
So, new ports doing this, they're using, I mean, yeah.
Okay.
Yes, sir.
Did you have a question?
Dean?
Well, I know exactly what you're talking about.
Drone magnets are far better than belt magnets.
I own a belt magnet, and while they did a good job,
I would have much preferred to have a drug magnet.
The only question I have for you is, is this a permanent magnet,
or is this electric?
It's electromagnetic.
Okay, that's kind of what it's all.
Did you have something?
Yeah, I was just wondering how,
what do you think the extension on resurfacing the teeth would be with this item?
It's very highly variable.
It's going to depend on how much material comes in.
But just looking at how this is scored right here,
it took off a good chunk of it and on this side too.
so really you don't want the stuff in there and the more you could take out just
the wear and tear is going to be highly beneficial over the long run of your
equipment.
I think that coming out of the enterprise fund and you know staff
climbing up over those teeth to get things jammed out of there and your
downtime that seems incredible so. I know several guys I'd be very appreciative.
I appreciate the presentation in all the information I think it looks
It's like a really good plan, and I have the opportunity to bring my students out there
and toured a couple times myself, and it's a great, great sort of facility.
So thank you, Jeff.
That make a motion to authorize staff to solicit it's for the design purchase and installation
of a drug, drug magnet for the removal of steel and the waste treatment.
Thank you.
Motion by Evan, second by Dean, all those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Thank you, Jeff.
I like it when you bring in show and tell objects, all right?
All right, our next item is item 10D. Consider motion to approve contribution to
River City Days for special events.
Okay, do you want to lead us up on that one?
Sure, first of all, I'd like to say that we have two ladies from the chamber here tonight,
Laura Adalen and Michelle Larson, so if there's any questions they would be able to address
those.
Last week, Council Member Brown and I got to meet with Michelle to talk about a family
event that they were looking for some assistance with.
And we've done this in the past, although we didn't have money budgeted this year.
So what we're asking the Council to do is take 5,000 out of contingency to support this event
this year.
And I should say events because it's not necessarily all going to ATV.
It's kind of the package that they're putting together.
And then we would appreciate some feedback on whether you would like to put money in the budget for next year
And if so we will put it in our draft budget and it'll come to the council for further discussion in August
So there's two different things one we want action on and the other one is just direction
Sure
Hey, you know, I think we've had some conversation with the the previous director of the chamber and it was good
meet the new leadership and kind of find out what was going on in those earlier
conversations I think we also were interested in trying to help out and I don't
think we'd really put together a plan and I think a lot of what came out of our
conversation with Michelle was that you know it was a big hit from the previous year
not to have River City Days and it's a big deal to get it back up and running and I especially
applaud the Chamber for doing a lot of work because a lot of things have moved and changed
and a lot has been on them and getting this event and also I think mentioning that
that Chamber directly has taken on the parade this year,
but I'm correct, right Michelle.
And that's, you know, it's a big deal on them
and I think this will help enhance the event
and given, you know, that coming out of COVID,
I think this is a good move for the community.
I also think as we talk that this is, you know, having some ability for some programming
that we can drag in ways in the future that are family-oriented and create a greater
attraction set to the River City Days is a good idea, so I guess we'll talk about that
when we get there.
I'm okay with this year but my concern is future years I'd like to at least for next year
I'd like to make sure that we have that discussion when we're having the budget discussion.
You know after this has happened in September we still have two months before we're going
to prove the budget and I don't know where that's going to wind up this year so I think it's
a little premature to be talking about adding up 5,000 renewable funding
for the future we haven't had the whole budget discussion yet.
So I think it should be on our budget discussion, but not that's where I think that we really should be talking about it.
So yeah, I have some real reservations about this. I'm not sure that I see the long-term
benefit to the taxpayers from supporting this financially out of their, out of their
tax dollars. And while I appreciate the in-kind support that the city provides to this event
and I do believe that that is necessary for the success of the event and I support that.
I just I don't think that I support this financial support I just wanted to
bring to everyone's attention that in the potential recommendations from the
advisory team one of their top recommendations was to help make community
events more welcoming to and reflective of diverse residents so I would be
supportive of providing this funding to the Chamber with a strong recommendation that
be one of the focus points when they're considering what to spend that money on.
I would agree with that.
I think so I was a little bit surprised that we didn't have this budget because I think
in the past we had talked about a pool of money that we wanted to set aside for some events
and it could be from the chamber, it could be from other entities that wanted to apply for
a little extra above and beyond. I'm in agreement that this year I think it feels I think
that our community does need an event, a family-oriented event, event I appreciate what that chamber did
and looking at this event and considering coming out of COVID and sort of starting over and
and providing this for our community is great.
So I'm in support of this year, of supporting the $5,000, $5,000 for this year.
And then I too looked at what Aaron just mentioned with regards to the advisory teams priority,
which was helping to make community events more welcoming to and reflective of diverse residents.
And I think that this is an opportunity, I would like to see the $5,000 for next year.
I'd like to see that in our budget, that doesn't mean that we can't work it out or have that conversation.
But I would like that in our budget.
With the caveat that perhaps the advisory team if they would wish to take this up,
would maybe help us create how a policy or how some guidance to us could,
what that could look like so that community events that want to come and apply for special funding,
We have something in it that incentivizes that diverse residents are welcoming inclusivity
and that makes that a priority.
So I think about a couple of years ago we had a gentleman here who was asking for some
support for a fishing tournament.
I would like to see, you know, in that case, in that example coming forward, it's saying,
hey, these are the things that we do to make sure that this event is inclusive.
We're asking for the support and that's part of our plan is to be intentional about
changing systems and advancing us. So I'm in support of putting in that budget
for our discussion when we come to it later on and then but then if the
advisory team has some willingness to sort of give us some more feedback on
what that might look like. I do want to mention that I know especially in the
case of the chamber that's scheduling a lot of these events are scheduled a
year in advance and so hopefully if they did that we can sort of manage that in a timely way.
Comments are going
to break these into two perhaps this year and yeah
I mean I think that's
you know obviously where it seems like we want to go is to have that conversation at the
budget it's a budget committee so I think that's appropriate.
Well I'm fine with it for this year
They had to get a little bit more about it after it's done, so I'll make the motion to allocate
$5,000 from the general fund contingency account to support the Chamber of Commerce to enhance
family events at River City Days.
I'll second that.
Okay, motion by Dean and a second by Evan, to allocate $5,000 in general on to support Chamber
of Commerce events for this year's event.
So all those in favor say aye aye any post nay
Can we
have that conversation though? Okay, I mean it's something everybody's comfortable
We really should be talking about that as the budget gets not in the road. Yeah, when we say that we want to have that on or not
I'm sorry would you say
We need to have that discussion at a budget meeting yes, that's 5,000
Very similar what we did with
Fishing tournaments and all the other ones that we we had that discussion just
to be clear that I'm just gonna go ahead and make the motion
I'm gonna make a motion to approve
To direct staff to add the 5,000 into the draft
of the 2022 budget to me to will have the city to invest in family events that will strengthen the 2022 river to be easy
And then I think that I'll just make that motion
All those in favour say aye.
Any opposed?
Great.
Maybe that will help with timing if the advisory team wants to take that up too.
Okay.
That brings us up to item 10E.
motion to consider a motion to introduce ordinance number 165, limiting the size of the arts
and culture commission.
Do you want to open us up with that or is that Michelle?
I can give you a little bit of background.
So our arts and culture commission was originally created and they had a minimum number of members
set at nine.
And the mayor's added a few people this year, and they have a little bit of a concern about getting too big. So they felt like there should be a range like we have in most boards and commissions. So they talked about it at the last meeting, and they came back with a recommendation to limit the maximum number to 11. And you'll see that they have a language in there that says up to two members can be residents of Goodview County, Goodview or Pierce County instead of just city residents. And then they also talk about having a student member.
So that is the recommendation coming from the Arts Culture Commission.
Go ahead.
I have one.
We currently do not have any voting student members.
Correct.
Then we go through this whole thing once.
We went through this multiple times.
But this Arts and Culture language was approved with that one voting student member.
Okay.
So I just want to make sure this is legal because that was the question that was always brought up.
They're not legal to vote where they voted on a board or a commission.
So can we get that answered?
Because that's been the-
I mean, it's an advisory commission, it really, you know, they're making recommendations.
So yeah, if you wanted to allow a minor to vote on an advisory committee, you could do so.
Remember
that being explained before, but I know it's been brought up before.
So I asked the exact same question, and I went back and looked at the video, and then
I didn't do any more research because in the video, we just approved it, and so I don't
know at what point it changed.
I stopped doing research at that point, but that was exactly one of my things that I brought
up to, and reached out to staff, and got a little bit more clarification.
We have very few boards that have youth positions, and it is the only one that is written in there
as a voting member.
I remember some of the conversation that we were going to ask if the youth council wanted
to dive a little bit deeper into this and so I know that we did that second question.
Yeah, and I think it's been COVID.
And our work's done, yeah.
And so I would really sort of challenge that maybe Laura, this is something that you want
to ask the youth commission, if they would be willing to sort of look into if they could
to fit that into the work plan and have an interest to fit into that and we could be consistent.
We can bring this back up and decide if we wanted to change that writing in there or just
hold it as it is until we're not going to take action on it tonight because that's not
what our agenda item is but do we want to have staffs bring something else to us with
removing it or just hold it until we get a report from the Youth Commission?
I
think on one level, if you want to be consistent, you want to be consistent, and so
I guess
I would argue, even though it might be that we let it sail through without thinking about
it, that maybe we reconsider that and let them have a bite at that.
Yeah.
It means dinner up to you.
You want to finish?
Yes.
Thank you.
I just found an email headwritten to staff a while back about the HRC and whether HRC members
under 18 could vote.
And what I had stated was that the city's board and commission policy currently states
youth under the age of 18 may serve in a non-voting advisory status, neither the charter
nor city code address the students or age of members in any other context, so that policy
should be changed if you're going to allow students under the age of 18 to vote.
So, like I said, this was a advisory committee, so it's a matter of policy for the city,
whether you want to allow individuals under the age of 18 to vote.
That's what I found too, in the Board of Commission policy that we last adopted in February
of 2020.
It clearly states that advisory positions and its label of student advisory are non-voting.
Is there currently a student on the Arts and Culture Commission?
So I think that we would direct staff maybe to come back and strike that language until
we have this sorted out, but it's a voting position that we could still have a youth
up to one student member, advisory student member, but strike voting and bring that back
to us.
That's what we've got.
You know, that discussion.
Part of this too in my research going back is that there was, I believe, a recommendation
from the HRC to have two voting members.
I don't remember ever seeing that or receiving that.
Is there any recollection of that?
Because I found out in the records.
I think that's true.
I'm excited to recommendation.
And then it's, where is it?
It's currently sitting out in the ether waiting
for the Youth Commission to take it up.
Hopefully that will be inspired
than to take it on us.
But how is the exciting work of policy?
All
right. So the item at hand is a maximum number of up to a maximum of 11. That is the word change we're looking at tonight adding the language and a maximum of 11.
First question I have is what happens if we don't have the minimum.
If
we don't have nine members, we talked about that a little bit today.
I know that in the past, our practice has been, for instance, on the charter commission.
We've had years where we didn't have the minimum number, but we have still met.
So we asked Amy today to give us some legal comment on that.
I don't have that yet, so we will provide that as soon as we have it, but that's been our
practice.
It seems to me that it might be wise to set that number lower in case and then it need
be raised it. I mean it nine seems like if there is an issue why even hit the wall right
like nine. If you only have nine to eleven you don't have a much wiggle room. So I would
prefer we set it lower.
And I haven't had a chance to look into that question that came
to me today about the minimum. I mean I'm looked at your boards and commission policy to see whether
that addresses it at all. Typically if you say there needs to be a minimum, there needs to be a minimum
for that committee to operate. Obviously you can have a quorum of appointed people that is less than
that number who attend a particular meeting but it begs the question as to why is there a minimum set
if you're not meeting that minimum number.
Before we change it, I would like more
clarification, because that's sort of what I feel like I'm hearing is, let's say that
the minimum is in the case of this nine and we had eight members. We would use nine
as the threshold for our quorum, so in the past we have allowed them to meet at five.
That's been past practice, though. And again, these are advisory committees.
I think you guys could set the policy the way you would like it to be, meaning if it falls
below the minimum the committee can continue to meet but what I meant when I was talking
is that if you say it's a minimum of nine people so a quorum is five so the committee
has nine people appointed one just happens to be absent you have a quorum you go ahead
and meet but if you ever fall below the nine that's where it begs the question as what
happens then and so it would be good to have if it's not already addressed in the boards
and commissions policy which it may not be it would be good to address that or as council
Councilmember Brown, pointed out, makes sense to me that you would shoot for a number
that you felt would be easy to attain as a minimum, and then still have a maximum.
And I would just add the charter commission is a unique entity that likely has its own
considerations because it is a statutory, statutorily created commission rather than advisory commission
that the council creates.
And again, I mean, for me, I just think there's to put a minimum and then create a bunch
of language to define what happens when you don't need a minimum because the minimum
is too high.
I would just rather avoid that whole process altogether.
I just set a loan over and then you don't even have to create a policy necessarily.
To me, that would be a much cleaner way of operating.
either way you're talking about either five for a quorum or six.
Well, if Evan suggests you, in his example, if you lowered it to five as the minimum,
you would then have three that could run the meeting.
Because it would be a quorum. You'd have five members.
You might have the member status, you'd be able to hold a meeting,
and you'd be able to hold a meeting if two were absent.
That sounds awfully low.
I don't know the, yeah, seven, that's what the rest of our boards are set at, pretty much,
or most of them are at seven members.
So we're actually going to be talking about that, and I think that's the minimum should
be seven, and go from there, but because that way, you still need four, it's the same with
what we've had to deal with up here, is we've had four members that was the core of them.
I
would prefer not to change the minimum until we hear from the Arts and Culture Commission
because I think that argument is that perhaps you have a high minimum because you say want
to make sure we have some representation of the body of the community of the city before
we're going to do the work.
And I mean the unfortunate circumstance might be that they don't meet and they don't get
We have it low enough that you can still get a diverse voice and you can still do the work, but maybe having it high enough that you have the representation.
So I would prefer to send it to them and have them have that discussion and make a recommendation back to us on their min and max if they want to change it.
That's actually a good idea.
So we could table this item and send it back to the HRC or excuse me for the Arts and Culture Commission.
Table this item, send it back to the Arts and Culture Commission and hear from them if they would like to
Change them in Macs and then we can address the student voting issue at a future date
Table do we just take no action then tonight no action on it and
Ask for their
Sometimes little things are
Little details
It brings us to item 10 F consider action related to recall petition and receive like received for council member
I have a couple of, we'll sign up for this, but I will start.
K, do you want to add anything on behalf of Terry to this as we introduce this item?
Not really.
I think it's very similar to the process that we went through the first time around.
The city clerk did go through all the petitions and did determine that it met that 20% minimum
requirement, and so she put together a staff report basically offering two recommendations
to the council similar to the last time.
And I believe Terry is maybe on as well.
So Terry, if you are on and you want to chime in remotely
at any point, feel free to do that.
And with that, I will start with the first person
who has signed up to speak on this item.
Mike Montgomery.
And I'm not sure if I did the first time when you were up,
but if you would state your name
and either your neighborhood or your ward or your address.
I believe I did state that Mike Montgomery
the red wing citizen ward two, old Buchanan, neighborhood, old fairgrounds, New Jefferson,
what else do you want?
Thank you again for the opportunity to speak.
I just want to respectfully request that my three minutes be given to Mr. Greg Joseph
when he chooses to speak.
I believe there's precedence for that that's happened before.
I was at a meeting where that did take place.
On occasion, I've seen couples come up and sort of share their minutes, but in this case the public comment is for one individual for three minutes.
I think that there's precedence of it happening before or somebody was speaking and then they're timing out and someone else that was given three minutes said I'm going to give my time to that person and stood here with them.
So if you need to come up here, when he comes up here I'll come and stand with him and give him my three minutes.
The
city attorney isn't even, isn't signed up for this item or your attorney excuse me, isn't signed up for this item?
Is it in an email? Okay.
We talked on the phone today and he, I told him he had three minutes under public comment but it does make sense it's under this item because it's on this item.
Yeah. Okay.
Okay.
I'll add additional time.
Six minutes will work.
That's fine.
Thank you.
All right.
Next person on the item is Deborah Patner.
Good evening.
I'm from Rochester, Minnesota.
Why am I here, you asked?
Because I believe in standing up for doing what's right.
And I'm going to also yield my time to Greg Joseph
because I feel that he'll help convey our ideas better.
Thank you.
Alright, the next person who has signed up is Todd Spinner.
My name is Todd Spinner. I live in Ward 1. We wish to drive. I also want to yield my time,
Mr.
Joseph. Yeah. Thank you.
Okay, next person who is signed up is Andrea Batchek.
Hi, I'm Andrea Batchek. I'm in Ward 1. I live in Red Wing. And I am going to speak tonight.
I want to say thank you to members of the council mayor and everyone who's here tonight. You've got to know when to hold them. No one to fold them. No one to walk away.
and no one to run. You never count your money when you're sitting at the table.
There'll be time enough for counting when the deal is done.
It was sung by Kenny Rogers.
I remember listening to this song as a kid in the barn at our dairy farm
where my dad's old Ford truck with a four on the floor.
The reason I use the lyrics of this song are twofold.
One, I hope it helps me calm the nerves I know I'll have when I speak.
And two, I hope it will help convey in simple terms and language what my purpose is.
for speaking tonight. When I went out canvassing for the recall group, I was met with three words
from those who were willing to speak with me either for or against. Confusion,
disgust, and frustration. I echoed their thoughts and sentiments and we shared our viewpoints,
sometimes different and opposing with each other. However, many people were eager to sign.
many people are paying attention and those that are paying attention want
change.
The reason these people want change brings me to the one word I was
left with upon talking with people in our community and that is hope. So have
hope, Red Wing. The decision is coming back to the people where it always should
have been. And in closing to our recalled members, I'll leave you with this. You
never count your money when you're sitting at the table. There'll be time
enough for counting when the deal is done. Thank you.
Next person I sign up is Siri.
I've read.
Welcome. Hello. I'm gonna try to get that right. I'm a little on
the short side. All right so my name is Siri Everett and I'm a resident of Ward 2
and I actually am gonna use my three minutes. I decided to speak tonight not
because I wanted to but because I felt I needed to. Over the past several months
the recall group has been trying to circumvent our town's democratic election results.
We voted in both in 2018 and 2020, and these council members right here were duly elected
some overwhelmingly. It's my opinion that these petitions have been holding our town hostage
for months now. I also believe that they will continue to do so unless we stop them here tonight.
The truth is, many in the group wanted to be in local government, but failed.
This needs to be said and emphasized for all to hear.
Several of the recall members they ran for city government.
They're here.
What's disappointing is that they're using alleged open meeting law violations as a front
for what this is really about, sour grapes, political ambition.
decision. Just like those trying to overturn the election results this last November, this
recall group cannot be trusted. They cannot be trusted to make decisions for the best of
all citizens, nor to make decisions with our local government. They're dishonest behavior
and lack of thoroughness and, frankly, it's given us proof of what they're really about.
The good news for Red Wing is that our City Council is prepared to lead and they have my full support. Dean, you have my full support.
It's time to move on so we can get back to more pressing business. Please vote no on this recall. Thank you.
Thank you, Siri. Patricia, Ellen, to join your sign up again.
I come from ward two, live in ward two, in answer to what I just heard.
I have to say to just diminish the concerns of the citizens and their concerns of how
people have conducted themselves on this council and treated the general public in responsiveness
to questions and explanations and open meetings.
These are serious things.
So that's some frivolous thing that doesn't matter.
Has nothing to do with an election in the beginning of the year.
It has nothing to do with an outside of what's going on here.
What's going on here?
She raised everybody's eye and get their attention.
This is a legitimate attempt at recoil and to hold people responsible
for what they've been doing, saying, failing to do, covering up,
not answering, and neglecting.
with regards to the general public and their desires and needs and their most of all the desire to want to participate and be heard and be considered part of a legitimate conversation.
And you have failed us in that and that's what this is about.
Thank you.
Teresa Bjornstead, your sign up next.
Good evening.
Welcome.
Thank you.
My name is Trees, T-E-R-E-S-E, Bjornstead, B-J-O-R-N-S-T-A-D, and I live in the Hype Park
neighborhood here in Red Wing.
Thank you.
First of all, according to our city charter, if there has been malfeasance or non-feasance,
if an elected official is committed malfeasance or non-feasance, then yes, citizens may form a committee,
and petition for a recall election, that is true.
What is not true is the malfeasance and non-feasance that the council is being accused of.
Any other issues, grievances, individual questions or problems that citizens have with the City Council are more appropriately dealt with in November of 2022
you when we have another election.
You have done nothing wrong.
You continue to do nothing wrong, and just because people don't like what you say or do
or disagree with decisions you make doesn't mean you get to kick them out.
So I would ask you to please vote no on the issue of a special election to recall Dean Hove.
It's time for this ridiculousness to end.
And thank you for your service.
And thank you for your time.
Freeze, the next person who is signed up is Tom Wilder.
I'm going to see my time at Greg Joseph.
Thank you.
All right.
Greg Joseph, welcome.
Thank you.
Thanks for letting me speak tonight.
My name is Greg Joseph and I represent the Recall Committee over here.
What I'm doing here tonight is I'm trying to stop you
for making a terrible mistake.
This would be a very large and unnecessarily costly mistake.
Now, you're very fortunate to have such an involved city here.
Most folks don't care what their city council does
or even know, but support for the city's city council
is not the same thing as denying the voters
the right to an election.
The recall election must be held. It is not discretionary.
Cheering you on while you deny this right is not the same as support.
Voters have every
right to support whoever they chose at the ballot box, and make their voices loudly heard,
at the recall election.
The language in 6.15 is unambiguous and it cannot be ignored.
you shall direct the election to be held, period.
It is not your decision to decide whether mouth reasons has been committed here or not.
Recall is a power reserve for the voters under the city charter.
This power is not to be doled out at the discretion of the city council.
If you don't like the recall, excuse me,
you don't like the recall provision in the charter,
then you can try to amend the charter and delete it.
But while it's there, you've got to play by the same rules as it would be else.
Now, your current position is that the conduct of various council members does not rise to the level of malfeasance,
fine, you may be correct about that,
but you have to hold the election to find out.
Because you see this has been litigated before in this state,
and lost.
The holding of the Court in that case was that the election must be held.
And only if the council member loses the recall election, can that person challenge the removal from office by claiming that their conduct does not rise to the level of malfeasance?
You don't get to stop the election before it's done.
If you lose, you can challenge the malfeasance determination.
I'd be happy to provide the citations to the city attorney as well.
I urge this body to very carefully consider the next steps that you take tonight.
The cost of an election is real, but it would pale in comparison to the cost of litigating
this matter in the courts.
Now I understand the passions have been running very high here since the election.
I also understand that the names and addresses of the signers of the petition have been posted
on an Internet site for everybody to see for what legitimate purpose I have no
idea but the way to solve this problem is not to deny an election that you're
legally required to hold. I'm urging you to do your duty under the charter.
This
doesn't have to be decided tonight now. Take it up again in a couple of weeks. Take
it up again in a month. Don't you think it's worth it to be certain about this
before you take this next step, because you're setting a process in motion that will cost not only taxpayer money, but public trust.
What's that worth?
I urge you not to do this, folks. Don't make the terrible and costly mistake you're about to make.
Anyone else sign up for a public comment on this item?
What would you like to do?
I'll make a motion to decline calling a special recall election council member,
or ho on the basis of the ground for recall
and the petition are insufficient
to constitute malfeasance or non-fee-sence
on the part of the council member.
Any
other discussion?
Amy, is there anything you'd like to address?
No, I've already supplied you with the legal analysis
before I would welcome Mr. Joseph
to send me the citation he's referencing.
I've reached out to Mr. Joseph on a couple of occasions
and have not received a response from him
So it would have been helpful that he provided that to me months ago, but I don't have I
don't have anything else to say unless you guys have any further questions.
We have a motion on the table.
Any further discussion?
All those in favor, they have a motion to say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Abstain.
All right.
That brings us to council comments.
Any council comments this evening?
That
brings us to UK Council Administrator Satisfy Court.
Okay, just a couple things I wanted to mention on July 15th, which is Thursday.
We have a construct shop on utilities.
And so the agenda was posted today along with half of the attachment, the second apple
come tomorrow morning.
So hopefully it'll give you enough time to read through that.
And then I wanted to confirm that August 30th is the next date of our next workshop.
Budget workshop.
So, that was in the original budget calendar, but we hadn't sent out a notice.
So, I just want to see if that date will still work.
It's a fifth Monday.
We can meet here in the council chambers.
Trying to get that fifth Monday, okay.
I'll let you on the air.
Okay, with that then, so we put some information in about the electric vehicles, and just wondering if there's any update that the council might have or any feedback for us on what we were proposing as far as moving forward with adding electric vehicles into our fleet, and then we've got a couple of years where we layer it out. I think sooner rather than later, my thing is,
is that the cost saving is so much.
The upfront cost might be a little bit more,
but the cost savings for the maintenance is huge.
I mean,
put tires on and I think I got oil changes
or right here's got to be flushed and, you know,
transmissions have got to be taken care of.
I mean, it's pretty much, I just think it's a great deal
to get them going sooner rather than later.
I think you can answer both of my comments at the same time, Rick, that's not going to
pause you for a second. My comments were similar to Dean's. I didn't think that this showed
us what the maintenance savings or the cost savings would be down the line overall.
So, I'd like a little bit more information on this, and in general, I mean, I expressed
it at our previous meeting and our budget meeting that I'm in favor of moving forward with
There's one or possibly a few others, but there's one other piece that I wanted to ask about too, and you might not be able to answer this, and maybe this will be our next report, is there are some vehicles that are identified, and they specifically impact staff, I mean often staff drive these vehicles or drive them,
I don't want to overlook how staff is maybe other staff, other staff members who are really hesitant, or I don't want to do this, or staff hopefully saying, this is great.
Wait, I'm thrilled for the opportunity that my name might come up.
That's a good question.
There's some discussion amongst the staff that are being pegged for these vehicles,
because there are certain vehicles that we're putting out there.
So one of those discussion points are what about the ones that take them home.
And our feeling is, as majority of those folks are not operating a vehicle eight hours a day.
So that they would plug in when they're at work.
you know hopefully that would make that and you know we're gonna learn a little bit as we go along you know
none of us that staff that I'm aware of has a electric vehicle so they and as it says in the
report you know we're not talking about a smart charger either to keep that cost down to start with
and you know it's evident I've had this conversation technology keeps changing so dramatically
year in and year out just in the vehicle I mean if Evan would ask me this question two years ago I
I told them no, we're not going to have a pickup truck, but now they have 150 is in production.
Will we be able to get it in 22?
That's another question.
So I did want to make, and I don't like to deviate, but I did want to make, when I spoke
to Lynn today, we failed to put one part in here and that is the maintenance and Dean kind
of hit on that right away.
Initially, maintenance costs will, there will be a savings without a doubt, but we don't
have as all the equipment mechanically wise, if you will.
So the electrical kind of components that we're going to need to work on the vehicle,
but the vehicles are going to be covered by warranty.
So those will play out in the ears and Lin just kind of didn't put that part in there.
And he asked me to speak to that a little bit tonight to make sure that that's,
that is a concern and there will be some training for our folks as well.
Because they'll have to, you know, become accustomed to the electrical vehicle as well.
So we just really, we don't have to decide tonight.
We just want you to get some thoughts out there.
and as we're moving through the CIP, the difference in price is not significant.
So, you know, we just, I think we just keep working on it as we go here and we're prepared to
offer those vehicles that are available. If we can get them in 22, that's going to always be the
caveat.
Yeah, I mean the 50 Lightning is a very exciting vehicle. It's just has a lot of,
It's really a utility design vehicle, and I think that's really the kind of a basis
of why it fits in as a possibility, so well, I've heard the run will be limited in
22 and ramp up later.
I still support the idea of trying to move one in 22, because I think there is a learning
curve as Rick alluded to, and I think it's a good idea on a small scale, like one vehicle,
to kind of learn what we're going to go through, get a normal level 2 charger, I think and then be able to experiment with that overnight and how that handles and how that works.
Additionally, these vehicles do have range reductions in the winter and I think it's important for before we invest in several vehicles to get a real time analysis of how that feels, how that works, how these cars are going to really impact the impact.
So I would support a continued conversation in 22 in the CIP discussion of adding a vehicle in for 22 and continuing the schedule moving forward.
Well, summarizes my position is.
Yeah, and that's fairly easy to do. I mean, we have the numbers really. It's just a matter of moving some things around and finding the right vehicle and the right setup.
So until we until we get one and actually use it under our conditions when I can know anything we can guess all day long, but
Until we get one and and it's very clear both Ford and Chevy
Have come out and said in the hand we're talking in the near future are gonna make almost all of their vehicles electric and it is coming
So I would rather have at least one vehicle to start out with and find out how we can actually make this work
rather than just finding out, okay, now you don't have any choice or very little choice, so that's why I just think it's a good idea to start sooner rather than later,
that's kind of where I'm at.
Just two other quick things. One on July 22nd, the Human Rights Commission is hosting a public forum on hate symbols. That'll be right here in the City Council chambers and they're interested in hearing from the public.
So please attend for the council we have done a public notice so you can all attend if you would like and then finally Rick provided a
Summary of the storm damage and so just in case people are listening and interested the crew spent
948 hours cleaning up
Brush so you know if you think about your year and how you've planned your work to then take out almost a thousand hours of time
To do that kind of work clean up from other nature. It does really change our ability to get our projects done so
You know, just keep that in mind and then overall the city trucks haul
354 loads of brush which equals 3,400 yards of material
Residents also hauled another 1354 loads of brush of various sizes on their own
So there was a lot of cleanup from this storm
And then from a city perspective about 12 bull of our trees were lost as many
as well as other private trees,
and I'm sure you've noticed in some of the parks
on a cobble, there were a couple major trees
that went down to us, so it really did hit us hard.
I'm just gonna throw this out there now.
Again, just because this is an opportunity to plug this,
that as we continue to sort of deal with storms,
we have for a while now, right?
I've heard residents asking about,
both of our trees or about how they could contribute to,
especially last year, the 2019 storm,
they wanted to replant, they were willing to help replant, like Baypoint trees or donate.
And I know at that time that that gets to be a little bit cumbersome, how to manage that.
But I'll put in that plug that if there's at some point a program or some way,
I think that there are residents who would be interested in
helping to replant their own bowl of our trees.
Or coming down donating a tree during one of these events,
or a part is being in an event or spending some extra funds.
There seem to be some residents that are interested in supporting trees in our community if
there's a way to not make it overly burdensome to manage that, manage people and manage that
activity. So the Youth Commission has also expressed an interest in getting involved in tree planting
and being part of that process.
That's really good because they're young and can handle it.
If there's an opportunity for that, I think people would take us up on it.
Yeah, I do too.
Do you think I'll send Kayle?
That's it.
Mike?
Just a reminder that Sunday, the first boat of the year is coming in.
The Duchess, American steamboat company, Duchess being at 11 o'clock, Sunday morning.
So if you get a chance, if you can come down, we're going to greet the boat when it comes.
And we won't be able to go on, I don't believe, because of the COVID restrictions on it.
But yeah, it'd be good if everybody could kind of be down
for this first vote and we'll show off that levy to him
and show him what we got and they'll be coming here
and all like every week from here on in the soil.
Things are going to start happening in the soil.
But if you could come down Sunday at 11, that'd be great.
Can one thing to that too, the gates will be closed.
So you probably will hear that.
I mean, because people just don't remember
you don't want we put out originally,
but the gates will be closed when the boat's there
to stop the traffic going down a levee part to help with the ability to unload off all the
things that need to get done, not to mention it's a significant amount of pedestrian traffic,
so that's how it was designed, and I'm just going to give this first run this weekend.
Awesome. Thank you, Rick. All right, with that, I will call this meeting adjourned.
Thank you.