[1:04] Good evening and welcome to the October
[1:06] 5th meeting. If you join me in a moment
[1:07] of silence in the pledge of allegiance
[1:27] to the flag of the United States of
[1:29] America and to the reps
[1:33] one nation
[1:35] indivisible.
[1:37] and justice for all.
[1:41] » All right, Mr. Snder, roll call, please.
[1:44] >> W
[1:45] >> here.
[1:46] >> Helier
[1:46] >> here.
[1:47] >> Walter
[1:48] >> here.
[1:50] >> Okay, we'll move on to item three,
[1:51] citizens comments. Opportunity for those
[1:53] here to address the council for up to
[1:55] three minutes about any issue in
[1:58] particular.
[2:01] Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to
[2:03] additional agenda information. Mr.
[2:04] Canon.
[2:05] >> Uh just one item. Uh mayor, tonight item
[2:07] 7A in your email, you should have
[2:10] received an updated resolution and
[2:11] exhibit. That'll go with that one. So,
[2:13] >> got it.
[2:14] >> That's all I have.
[2:15] >> Okay. We'll now move on to uh item five.
[2:19] First is the proclamation for
[2:20] manufacturing month. And we'll turn over
[2:23] our community development director, Mina
[2:25] Goodro. Welcome.
[2:26] >> Thank you. Good evening, mayor, members
[2:28] of the council. I'm pleased to have the
[2:29] proclamation read this evening for our
[2:31] 2026 manufacturing month. There are over
[2:35] 200 businesses our industrial park and
[2:37] over 700,000 square feet of projects
[2:39] that have been either are approved and
[2:42] or are under construction this year
[2:44] alone in our industrial park.
[2:46] Lakefield's manufacturing business
[2:48] represents 12 and a half% of the total
[2:50] jobs in the city ranking as the number
[2:52] four employer. When you combine the
[2:54] manufacturing jobs with trade,
[2:56] transportation, utilities, our
[2:58] industrial park um rises to represent
[3:01] 7,000 jobs or totaling 33% of total
[3:04] employment, ranking at number one. We're
[3:07] very proud to have the opportunity to
[3:09] have highlighted three of our local
[3:11] manufacturing businesses during
[3:13] Minnesota Deeds Metro Regional Road
[3:15] Show. It was the first visit of the road
[3:17] show right here in Lakeville on
[3:18] September 15th. During the day, we held
[3:21] a dayong listening session with other
[3:23] local and city officials. This
[3:25] Wednesday, we're hosting our annual
[3:27] manufacturers event. This time, we're
[3:29] doing a breakfast with a city
[3:30] presentation by the mayor and a
[3:32] listening session with our Minnesota
[3:34] legislators. This event was made
[3:36] possible with our generous event
[3:37] sponsors including Skinnel Properties
[3:40] likewise partners Crosby Development,
[3:42] Air Lake Development, Lakeville Works,
[3:44] Apperal Development and Cerone
[3:46] Properties, Dakota Electric Association,
[3:48] Minnesota Energy Resources, and Kushman
[3:51] and Wakefield.
[3:52] >> Very good. Thank you. And uh Council
[3:55] Member Walter will read the
[3:56] proclamation.
[3:57] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 2026 manufacturing
[4:00] month. Whereas manufactur manufacturing
[4:03] is a dynamic and robust industry crucial
[4:05] to the health and strength of
[4:06] Minnesota's diverse economy. And whereas
[4:09] the manufacturing industry contributed
[4:11] 61 billion dollars to Minnesota's
[4:12] economy in 2025 representing 11 an 11.5%
[4:17] contribution to the state's gross
[4:19] domestic product. And whereas
[4:21] manufacturing manufactured exports
[4:23] brought 21.8 billion into the Minnesota
[4:26] economy in 2025. And whereas workers
[4:29] took home 27.3 billion in wages for
[4:32] Minnesota manufacturing jobs in 2025,
[4:35] the second largest total payroll among
[4:37] private sector industries. And whereas
[4:39] manufacturing in Minnesota pays an
[4:41] average annual wage of more than 86,600,
[4:44] which is 12.6% higher than the state's
[4:47] overall average private sector wage. And
[4:49] whereas manufacturing provides 315,250
[4:54] highly skilled, well-paying jobs while
[4:56] significantly contributing to
[4:58] Minnesota's high high standard of living
[5:00] and economic vitality. And whereas with
[5:02] more than 92,325
[5:04] projected job openings through 2034,
[5:07] manufacturing remains a reliable pathway
[5:10] to family sustaining careers in
[5:12] Minnesota. And whereas manufacturing is
[5:14] one of the largest employment sectors in
[5:17] Lakeville and accounts for nearly 3,000
[5:18] jobs and over 28.5 million in annual
[5:22] wages in our community. Now therefore,
[5:24] this the Lakeville City Council does
[5:25] hereby proclaim that the month of
[5:27] October shall be observed as
[5:28] manufacturing month in the city of
[5:30] Lakeville proclaimed this 5th day of
[5:32] October 2026 signed Luke M. Helier,
[5:35] mayor.
[5:36] >> Thank you, sir. A lot of stats you read
[5:38] there.
[5:38] >> I know.
[5:40] >> Thank you. Looking forward to
[5:41] celebrating on Wednesday for sure.
[5:45] >> And then you have to stay up here. Are
[5:47] we going to do the video first or you
[5:48] going to tee it up? Okay.
[5:50] >> All right. Um so yes, next on the
[5:52] agenda, very pleased to present um a
[5:56] video for Christian Brothers Automotive.
[5:58] opened in
[6:00] Lakeville in November 2020 2017. It's
[6:03] located at the intersection of Cedar
[6:05] Avenue and Dot. The shop has nine bays
[6:07] and services about 150 vehicles a week.
[6:10] The business offers light maintenance as
[6:12] well as heavy heavy repair services.
[6:15] Christian Brothers Automotive has a
[6:16] strong culture of service and giving
[6:19] back to their neighbors. They offer car
[6:21] clinics, donate to community
[6:23] fundraisers, and host their own events
[6:24] like teed up for the troops and national
[6:27] day of service. The owner Ken Tickham
[6:30] and his daughter Jennifer are here this
[6:31] evening to share a little bit more about
[6:33] the business before we play their
[6:34] spotlight video.
[6:38] Thank you.
[6:42] » Thank you. Thank you, mayor, and members
[6:45] of the council for this spotlight on our
[6:46] business tonight. And a special thank
[6:49] you to Katie and Jack for putting
[6:51] together the video. See you in a minute.
[6:53] You do a great job of uh telling our
[6:55] Lakeville Christian Brothers automotive
[6:57] story. Just a little bit about my
[6:59] history and our history in Lakeville.
[7:02] About 30 years ago, after several years
[7:04] of active duty and reserves in the Navy,
[7:07] a corporate move uh brought us back to
[7:10] the Twin Cities. A colleague told us,
[7:13] "You want a great place to live and
[7:15] raise a family? Go to Lakeville." Best
[7:18] advice we ever got. Car and I raised our
[7:20] daughter here and Lakeville has been our
[7:22] home since then.
[7:23] After spending a year in Iraq in 2009
[7:27] and subsequently retiring from the Navy
[7:29] Reserve, my friend Rick Dale and I
[7:32] started te it up for the troops at
[7:33] Brackets Crossing 15 years ago. We just
[7:36] had our 15th anniversary
[7:38] >> uh to support veterans in need. Seeing
[7:41] how Lakeville businesses supported our
[7:43] event was an eye openener and just the
[7:45] encouragement I needed to give up my
[7:48] corporate career and start a Christian
[7:49] Brothers Automotive here in Lakeville
[7:51] with my daughter Jennifer nine years
[7:52] ago. Our business runs on a simple rule.
[7:56] Love your neighbor as yourself. It makes
[7:58] the right call easy. Today, between our
[8:02] Lakeville and Savage shops, we have
[8:04] created 30 jobs. As we have grown our
[8:07] business, we've also been able to
[8:08] support those in needs. Our capstone
[8:10] event each year is our national day of
[8:12] service where our team volunteers their
[8:14] time to support veterans and families in
[8:16] need with free maintenance and repairs
[8:18] on their vehicles. This fall, two weeks
[8:20] ago, um we completed our national day of
[8:24] service and the value of the free
[8:26] repairs will be about $35,000.
[8:29] In total each year between free repairs
[8:31] and support of nonprofits and youth
[8:33] groups, we've been fortunate to provide
[8:35] between 50 and $60,000 annually in
[8:38] community support. You know, none of
[8:40] this happens without a well-run city.
[8:43] Safe streets, great parks, strong
[8:45] schools, and leaders who make it easy to
[8:48] do business here. You know, thank you
[8:50] for making Lakeville a place where
[8:51] families want to live and businesses
[8:53] want to grow. Thank you.
[8:54] >> Thank you. Excited to watch the video.
[9:10] Christian Brothers Automotive opened in
[9:12] Lakeville in November 2017 and has nine
[9:15] auto bays, nearly 20 employees, and
[9:17] provides service to an average of 150
[9:20] cars a week. Christian Brothers
[9:21] Automotive is a fullervice automotive,
[9:24] our automobile and light truck
[9:27] maintenance and repair facility. So, we
[9:30] have a a pretty high tech shop. You
[9:33] know, we're able to do anything from
[9:35] change your oils to, you know, swap out
[9:38] an engine or transmission if you need
[9:39] it. So, we do both, you know, light
[9:42] maintenance as well as as as heavy
[9:44] services. We have AS certified
[9:47] technicians and we, you know, have a
[9:51] tremendous portfolio of like software to
[9:54] support our business.
[9:55] >> Christian Brothers has a strong focus on
[9:57] professional training. They look for
[9:59] passion and people and develop it,
[10:01] >> you know. So we have different employees
[10:04] at different levels, but they all have
[10:05] to have a lot of I think curiosity about
[10:09] and and really a desire to problem solve
[10:12] because it's a very intensive
[10:15] computer-driven
[10:17] business.
[10:18] >> Service to others is ingrained in
[10:20] everything they do at the business and
[10:21] that value was instilled in the owner at
[10:23] a young age.
[10:24] >> My father had Standard Oil Stations when
[10:27] I was very young. Although I didn't work
[10:29] actively in them to do much more than
[10:32] fill a soda machines, um it was a
[10:35] impression on me because I just remember
[10:38] how he served our neighbors. Christian
[10:40] Brothers was the number one franchise
[10:43] for a veteran to own and they cited the
[10:45] high ethics and integrity that you know
[10:48] matched our uh you know your time in the
[10:50] service. When I came back, I came back
[10:53] to my a corporate job and there was just
[10:57] something about the service piece that I
[10:59] felt like was missing and wanted to kind
[11:01] of go after a dream I had to have my own
[11:04] business.
[11:05] >> The business's guiding principle is love
[11:07] your neighbor as yourself and they live
[11:09] out that mission for their customers and
[11:11] community in a variety of ways.
[11:12] >> Well, absolutely. I think it starts with
[11:14] our shuttle. You know, it's a wonderful
[11:16] way just to let people go on with their
[11:18] day without having to worry about their
[11:19] cars. our service team. It's really all
[11:22] about education. One of our
[11:25] questions we'll ask is how much do you
[11:27] know about your car? So, we have um you
[11:31] know, we call it a digital visual
[11:33] inspection that we do that we both take
[11:36] pictures of their car, provide
[11:38] information on services they may need,
[11:41] but we try to tailor that to their
[11:43] individual needs and what they're trying
[11:45] to get with their vehicle. Christian
[11:47] Brothers also goes the extra mile to
[11:49] extend kindness and care to their staff.
[11:51] >> Things we do here is, you know, we serve
[11:54] lunch every day. You know, I I think
[11:55] back to when growing up going to my
[11:57] uncle's farm and farm lunches and that
[12:01] was kind of what we were after on it.
[12:02] But we wanted to be a, you know, place
[12:05] where people can sit down and, you know,
[12:07] like the people around them. Well, one
[12:10] thing that's kind of near and dear to my
[12:11] heart right now is we just signed a
[12:13] contract for air conditioning for both
[12:16] our shops and but you know having that
[12:19] climate control comfort for the guys so
[12:21] they can be efficient and comfortable
[12:22] while they're working is pretty
[12:23] important. Christian Brothers has a
[12:25] major focus of giving back to the
[12:27] community through its teed up for the
[12:29] troops tournament national day of
[12:31] service and supporting a variety of
[12:33] charitable events throughout the year.
[12:35] The business has a passion for helping
[12:37] single moms and families in need through
[12:39] car clinics and repair services made
[12:42] possible by their many vendors and
[12:43] nonprofit partners.
[12:44] >> So, we have our National Day of Service,
[12:46] which we do every fall. It's really neat
[12:49] to think that there's 340 other shops
[12:52] doing something now. This will probably
[12:54] be our eighth year doing it. And we are
[12:56] able to give about between 20,000 to
[13:00] $30,000 of free repairs that day. And
[13:02] that's a moment where our whole team can
[13:04] be involved. Last year, I think we
[13:06] probably put on 10 new sets of tires for
[13:08] people.
[13:09] >> Lakeville's location has experienced a
[13:11] tremendous amount of community support
[13:13] since day one, and was recognized as new
[13:16] store of the year, its first full year
[13:18] in business, and recently ranked top 20
[13:20] for car count across the entire 340 CBA
[13:24] franchise locations. I just think we've
[13:27] been really extremely thankful for the,
[13:30] you know, for just the support we've had
[13:32] in our, you know, in our community. And
[13:35] I would just say Lakeville is an
[13:37] extremely wellrun city. It makes a
[13:40] Lakeville a wonderful place to do
[13:42] business. And, you know, I can't imagine
[13:45] a better place to be than Lakeville.
[13:47] >> Thank you to Christian Brothers
[13:48] Automotive for choosing Lakeville and
[13:50] investing in our community.
[13:56] Well, that's great. Um, I just want to
[13:58] extend my gratitude for your willingness
[14:00] to be an entrepreneur. I mean, taking
[14:01] the big risk to invest in our community,
[14:04] hire 30 people, but then on top of that,
[14:06] what you do to give back um through all
[14:07] the different organizations. So, on
[14:09] behalf of the council, thank you very
[14:10] much for you guys being such a pivotal
[14:12] partner in the city. So, thank you.
[14:18] Okay, we'll now move on to item C, our
[14:22] public works quarterly report. And our
[14:24] public works director, Paul Omi, will
[14:27] tee this up for us.
[14:34] » All right. Good evening, mayor, city
[14:36] council members. This is the third
[14:37] quarter report for public works.
[14:42] So, I'd like to start off with some um
[14:45] public works employee updates. So, Khloe
[14:47] Anderson um was our civil engineer uh
[14:51] and she's just been promoted to
[14:53] assistant city engineer. And then, uh
[14:55] Casey Yuling uh has recently been hired
[14:58] as our new civil engineer. She actually
[15:01] just started today. So, congratulations
[15:03] to Khloe on her promotion. And Casey, um
[15:06] welcome to the team.
[15:08] So, moving on to a couple county road
[15:10] projects that we're working on. Uh,
[15:12] County Road overlay on 46th Street. That
[15:15] project was a little delayed from this
[15:16] summer, but they're actively working on
[15:18] that project right now on storm sewer,
[15:20] curbing gutter replacement, and milling
[15:21] overlaying. That section of County Road,
[15:24] uh, that project will be completed um
[15:27] the week of October 12th, weather
[15:29] permitting. And then we do have a couple
[15:32] pedestrian crossings that the county is planning on installing uh this fall
[15:37] yet. Uh one is on 179th Street by Ken um
[15:41] Nabill Park and the other one is uh on
[15:45] 185th Street by Grand Prairie Park and
[15:48] those projects uh will be wrapped up
[15:51] this year. But there will be a maybe a
[15:54] two to three day uh closure of each of
[15:56] the streets to um replace the curb and
[15:58] gutter and do some other modifications
[16:00] to that section of roadway. So those uh
[16:03] two
[16:05] um projects will be uh uh constructed
[16:08] the week of the October 12th.
[16:11] And then our street recon uh street
[16:14] rehabilitation project um project that
[16:16] is now substantially completed. That was
[16:17] a a little over 5 miles worth of mill
[16:19] and overlays in the Dakota Heights area.
[16:22] Um there's still a little bit of storm
[16:23] sewer left to do and some restoration,
[16:25] but that project is substantially
[16:26] completed. Now, the judicial road mill
[16:29] and overlay project, that's our
[16:31] collector roadway project um for this
[16:33] year. That project will be substantially
[16:35] completed by the end of this week. Uh
[16:37] judicial the road is being um um started
[16:40] to be overlaid or paved uh today and
[16:43] then hopefully we'll wrap it up by
[16:44] tomorrow. And then miscellaneous project
[16:48] uh that project is um well is almost
[16:51] completed as well too but uh the
[16:52] downtown streets are still left to be
[16:55] done yet. We are replacing 11 water
[16:57] services to residential properties in
[16:59] conjunction with that prop with that pro that project. Um it's through
[17:04] the the federal uh service um line
[17:06] inventory um program and the utility
[17:10] work um those services will be placed
[17:13] over the next three weeks and some
[17:14] utility work will follow after that on
[17:16] the streets and mill and overlay after
[17:18] that as well. But we hopefully have that
[17:21] project wrapped up by mid-occtober. And
[17:23] what's left on the miscellaneous project
[17:25] is the storm sewer uh storm water pond
[17:27] cleanouts. I think we got four pro ponds
[17:30] this year we're going to be cleaning
[17:31] out, but that'll take place over the
[17:32] winter months.
[17:34] Then the Lake Marian Greenway project um
[17:37] at 195th Street over by Casperden um
[17:42] Park. Uh that roadway section was paved
[17:45] last week, that intersection, and we
[17:47] hope to have that open to two-way
[17:49] traffic by the end of this week.
[17:52] And then moving on to utility division,
[17:54] our water production is slightly above
[17:56] what it was in 2025. We did have a a
[17:58] slightly drier summer this year. We did
[18:01] produce a little over 2.36 billion
[18:04] gallons of water this year. That's up
[18:05] about 9% from 2025.
[18:09] Then moving on to our street division.
[18:11] Uh we are uh actively in our fall uh
[18:14] activities uh works uh workload removing
[18:18] some trees in the boulevard getting
[18:19] ready for stone plowing. Uh pothole
[18:22] patching is still going on going. We
[18:23] still have some sidewalk to repair and
[18:26] then street sweeping will take place
[18:27] later in the fall as well.
[18:30] And then u our annual snowpaul training
[18:32] is is ongoing right now. So, we uh had
[18:35] sent some um staff members up to Vandis
[18:38] Heights at a Mindot facility through
[18:40] LTAP and they uh sat through the
[18:42] simulator training um program that's up
[18:45] there. Um they learn different scenarios
[18:47] or what to look for on in the in the
[18:50] simulator. So, that's a good training uh
[18:52] for the guys to get refreshed on. And
[18:54] then we do the defensive driving um over
[18:57] at DCTC that's scheduled for later this
[19:00] October. And we do have our staff um in
[19:03] internal staff um plow drivers uh
[19:06] meeting on October 20th where we review
[19:09] our routes, get our equipment ready to
[19:11] go and then just learn about salt
[19:12] applications as well. Refresher course.
[19:16] Then moving on to our environmental
[19:18] services u division. So our lake
[19:21] management uh survey was wrapped up in
[19:23] um and took place in July and August.
[19:26] This is our annual survey of our aquatic
[19:28] um lakes um just to monitor our invasive
[19:32] species throughout our throughout our
[19:34] lake systems. Um the final report is
[19:37] going to be due will be presented at the
[19:39] end of the year report. Um we did again
[19:42] survey specifically for Eurasian mil
[19:45] foil and lake Marian and Orchard Lake
[19:48] and we did treat about 20 acres of
[19:50] Orchard Lake for Eurasian mil foil as
[19:53] well. And that treatment lasts about 3
[19:55] years.
[19:58] Uh fire light way environmental manhole
[20:01] project is completed. This is a a storm
[20:04] sewer um structure that's put in our
[20:06] storm sewer system to capture floatable
[20:09] and sediment material uh that's in our
[20:11] storm sewer system um before it ends up
[20:14] in our lakes and the streams and
[20:15] specifically in this location at North
[20:17] Creek. This was a joint project with
[20:19] Vermillion Watershed District.
[20:24] And then our native plant sale. This is
[20:26] our first annual native plant sale that
[20:28] took place and was a pretty good
[20:30] success. We did sell about 123 native
[20:33] plant kits to residents and about a
[20:37] thousand square feet of native plant
[20:39] seedlings um as well. and that those SA
[20:42] that sales uh total about $2,000 and the
[20:45] proceeds are going toward the Ritter
[20:47] Farm Park uh woodland and prairie area
[20:50] um maintenance areas
[20:54] and then in community engagement took
[20:57] place in o uh two two items took place
[21:00] um over the last quarter. one was in o
[21:02] was October 10th and Pinnacle Reserve
[21:05] where 20 participants u participated in
[21:07] environmental information walk which was
[21:10] wellreceived and then on September 16th
[21:13] the Lakeville the Lions Club helped us
[21:15] plant plugs at the former um beach
[21:18] location at the pavilion at uh Valley
[21:21] Park. Um 36 plugs were were planted
[21:24] there and we appreciate the Lakeville
[21:26] Lions Club for their participation and
[21:29] support in this project.
[21:32] Moving on to our forestry division, the
[21:34] shade tree um ordinance um survey for
[21:39] ash u ash bore uh was completed um just
[21:43] recently as well. So we did find that
[21:45] there's another 124 properties that have
[21:49] infested ash trees on their property. Um
[21:51] this is way down from 2025 where we had
[21:54] 310 properties and in 2024 where we had
[21:58] over 600 properties. Um we were working
[22:01] through the u mitigation process for
[22:03] those for those properties right now and
[22:05] working with the property owners to um
[22:07] remove those trees. We are still working
[22:09] on last year's survey as well. We still
[22:11] have five 55 non-compliant properties
[22:13] that were um working with those
[22:15] properties on removing those trees.
[22:18] Um the shade tree um bonding u grant
[22:23] dollars that we received that this is
[22:24] the last year for that grant. Uh we are
[22:27] planting um 158 trees through five parks
[22:31] this fall and actually we did start
[22:32] planting those trees um today.
[22:36] And then uh we did find oakwilt at
[22:39] several locations uh throughout the
[22:41] community uh especially four locations
[22:43] shown on the screen here. Um several
[22:46] different mitigation measures that we're
[22:48] going through trenching around those
[22:49] trees to try to save the the good trees
[22:51] from getting the the spores. Um we do
[22:54] have 22 trees that we're treating and um
[22:58] the infested trees we're going to be
[22:59] taking those down um this winter months
[23:03] and then GIS uh just a little update
[23:07] here. U so GIS is going through a
[23:09] strategic plan um update. So we're
[23:12] visiting with all of our stakeholders
[23:14] and at the city uh specifically
[23:16] departments and divisions um who use
[23:18] GIS. Uh some key takeaways that we found
[23:21] are we're going to try to increase the
[23:22] reliability of our GIS system. Uh
[23:25] improve our GIS integrations with other
[23:27] uh software packages that we currently
[23:29] have to make uh that more utilized and
[23:32] then find more engaging ways to share
[23:34] this information with the Lakeville
[23:36] residents as well. And then we're going
[23:38] to be improving uh how the city receives
[23:40] data. um got some ideas there to uh for
[23:43] external partners such as developers and
[23:45] contractors or it's more of a a data
[23:48] dump than um other paper filings or some
[23:51] other sources of uh of information um
[23:54] being transferred back and forth. And
[23:57] then also we uh with the help of it uh
[24:00] we did intellent a ticketing system for
[24:02] GIS. Uh this is similar to what we do
[24:04] with it for their for their systems. Um
[24:08] but we will uh be improving our service
[24:11] delivery through all our departments,
[24:13] helping track this information a little
[24:15] bit better. Um some benchmarking goes
[24:17] along with that and en encourage cross
[24:19] training among departments to utilize
[24:21] GIS a little bit more effectively.
[24:24] And then moving on to facilities
[24:26] division, um we did install new boilers
[24:30] at the fine arts building. Uh these are
[24:32] very high efficiency units and are ready
[24:34] for the winter months now. Um, and we're
[24:37] expecting a pretty good societal rebate
[24:39] because of the boilers that we installed
[24:41] and we are expecting lower monthly bills
[24:44] for the facility too.
[24:46] And then at the police department, we
[24:48] did replace the high-speed um garage
[24:51] door that was uh malfunctioning there
[24:54] that so that's uh well received by the
[24:56] police department and uh for accessing
[24:58] their their building now.
[25:01] Um and then facility staff did assist
[25:04] the fine arts building staff and the
[25:06] friends of the arts center um with the
[25:09] updates and uh and revising uh some of
[25:13] the classrooms at the facility as well.
[25:15] So we we thank the friends for the arts
[25:18] center for their support in those two
[25:20] projects.
[25:22] And then some upcoming events that I'd
[25:23] like to share. So paper shredding is
[25:26] planned for October 24th at King Park.
[25:29] um pumpkin composting after um the
[25:32] Halloween. Uh you can take your pumpkins
[25:35] uh to King Park as well on November 1st
[25:37] through the 8th for composting. And then
[25:40] holiday light recycling, it starts in
[25:43] November and runs through January. You
[25:45] can drop off your old lights, uh holiday
[25:47] lights at city hall and all of our
[25:50] liquor stores. And then just some
[25:51] ongoing um events to sports equipment
[25:54] donations are always at Ames Arena. drop
[25:57] off your gently used sporting equipment
[25:59] there. Uh pharmaceutical dis disposal is
[26:02] still at police station and then food
[26:05] scrap site drop off is still active at
[26:08] water treatment uh at the water
[26:10] treatment facility but you have to
[26:12] register with Dakota County to utilize
[26:14] that facility. So with that that's my
[26:16] updates. I stand for any questions.
[26:18] >> Okay. Very good. Council any questions
[26:20] or comments?
[26:22] >> Very good. Thank you sir.
[26:23] >> Awesome. Thank you.
[26:25] All right, we'll move now move on to our
[26:27] consent agenda. Mr. Kin, anything you
[26:30] wanted to highlight?
[26:31] >> I'd like to highlight a couple items
[26:32] here tonight, mayor. Uh item 6D is a
[26:35] resolution accepting donations from the
[26:36] customers of Lakeville Municipal Liquor
[26:38] Stores. Uh this is a little over $7,100
[26:41] that'll go towards the Lewis House and
[26:43] domestic uh violence center. Um item 6E
[26:46] is a resolution accepting a grant from
[26:48] the Minnesota Department of Public
[26:49] Safety. Um this goes to the police
[26:51] department. This is over a little a
[26:53] little over $34,650
[26:55] and this will go towards um enforcement
[26:58] of um impaired driving, seat belt
[27:02] violations, um traffic enforcement, that
[27:04] type of activities. And then the last
[27:07] item is item 6J. This is a resolution
[27:10] authorizing temporary closure of city
[27:12] streets in downtown Lakeville. This is
[27:14] the close Holio Avenue between 207th and
[27:17] 209th Street. And that'll be on Friday,
[27:19] October 30th for the Lakeville downtown
[27:22] Lakeville Boo Halloween.
[27:24] >> I think it's on Halloween.
[27:26] >> You said the 30th. I think it's the
[27:28] 31st.
[27:29] >> Okay, we'll double check to make sure we
[27:31] got it right in there.
[27:37] » Is it?
[27:39] >> I thought it was Octo October 30th.
[27:42] >> October 31st from 11 to 1.
[27:44] >> Okay, we'll do that. So, we need to
[27:46] change the
[27:49] >> We'll double check the resolution. We'll
[27:51] change
[27:51] >> resolution. Okay. All right. Very good.
[27:55] >> All right. Um, council, any thing you'd
[27:59] like to highlight? Otherwise, I will
[28:00] take a motion to approve the consent
[28:02] agenda.
[28:03] >> I move to approve the consent agenda.
[28:05] >> Okay. Is there a second?
[28:06] >> Second.
[28:06] >> Any further discussion?
[28:08] Okay. See none. All those in favor say
[28:10] I.
[28:11] >> I.
[28:11] >> Opposed. Very good. We'll now move on to
[28:16] our first public hearing on resolution
[28:19] adopting assessments for unpaid special
[28:21] charges and our finance director, Miss
[28:23] Stall. Welcome.
[28:24] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the
[28:25] council. Um, so this first item of
[28:28] business is the public hearing on the
[28:30] unpaid assessments or unpaid charges,
[28:32] excuse me. So, um, we do this to keep
[28:36] our losses down due to bankruptcies that
[28:38] may be happening. Um, we do call the
[28:41] public hearing which happened on August
[28:43] 3rd. council meeting we post to the
[28:45] website and um in the sun this week we
[28:48] then um and this is all following
[28:50] Minnesota statutes and our city
[28:51] ordinances um the public hearing notices
[28:54] are mailed or were mailed to all of the
[28:57] property owners and the tenants if it's
[28:59] a rental property as well um August 13th
[29:03] they had till September 18th to pay the
[29:07] delinquent amounts um if they've not
[29:10] paid it by that date then this is what
[29:12] gets them to this role right here. Um
[29:15] the number of utility accounts are
[29:16] actually down about 17% from what we did
[29:20] last year, but the amount is about 4%
[29:22] more. So there's more dollars involved.
[29:26] Um excuse me.
[29:29] So we have had ongoing communications
[29:32] with customers. They'll call about when
[29:33] they get the letter or why am I not
[29:35] getting my bills. So all of those are
[29:37] handled during this process and um
[29:40] they're we inform them about water smart
[29:43] so they're aware that you can be getting
[29:45] alerts if you've got a leak going on. So
[29:48] and again that's a free service that the
[29:50] city offers. Um so it's a lot of sharing
[29:54] information with them so they can be
[29:56] best involved if they do have a rental
[29:58] property or if they really are trying to
[30:00] watch their water conservation. So, um,
[30:04] the role that's in front of you tonight,
[30:06] um, like Alan mentioned, we had one
[30:08] property that, um, with the reporting
[30:11] changes with our software, it just it
[30:13] just didn't show up on this report. So,
[30:15] they needed to be added. So, we we
[30:17] captured that today. And, um, everyone
[30:20] that's on the assessment rules tonight,
[30:23] they still have 30 days from today to
[30:25] pay it without interest. They do pay the
[30:28] administrative fees that the city
[30:30] charges on these assessments, but they
[30:32] can forego paying the interest on them.
[30:36] And then after that point, we certify it
[30:38] to the property taxes at Dakota County.
[30:41] Um, were there any questions for
[30:44] >> council? Any questions? Okay. This is a
[30:47] public hearing. If there's any comments
[30:48] related to the
[30:51] assessments
[30:54] leave,
[30:55] >> seeing none, I move to close the public
[30:57] hearing.
[30:57] >> Okay. Is there a second?
[30:59] >> Second.
[31:00] >> All those in favor say I.
[31:01] >> I.
[31:02] >> Okay. Public hearing is now closed and
[31:04] then I will now any any further
[31:06] discussion otherwise if there's a motion
[31:09] on the resolution.
[31:12] >> I move to approve the resolution
[31:13] adopting assessments for the unpaid
[31:15] special charges. Is there a second?
[31:18] >> Second.
[31:19] >> Any further discussion?
[31:21] >> Okay. Roll call, please.
[31:23] >> Lee,
[31:24] >> I.
[31:25] >> Walter,
[31:25] >> I.
[31:26] >> Elliot,
[31:27] >> I
[31:29] >> Okay, very good. Now, we will move on to
[31:31] the public hearing for the 2027 2031
[31:34] capital improvement plan and street
[31:36] reconstruction plan and intent to issue
[31:38] general obligation street reconstruction
[31:40] and general obligation capital
[31:41] improvement bonds. And our finance
[31:43] director is still here.
[31:45] >> Thank you again, Mr. Mr. Mayor. Um, so
[31:47] the council was shown the the draft CIP
[31:50] at the September 8th meeting. Uh, we
[31:52] went through that staff um, walked
[31:54] through the process with you and and the
[31:56] document itself. Uh, the CIP was
[31:58] reviewed by the planning commission at
[32:00] their September 17th meeting. Uh, the
[32:03] minutes were attached in the packet. Uh,
[32:05] they recommended the adoption of it
[32:07] because they found the items were
[32:08] consistent with the comprehensive plan.
[32:11] So, they had no um, changes that they
[32:13] recommended. Um for our 2027 bonding
[32:16] we're looking to issue to 88 million of
[32:19] 20 for bonding in 2027 only 53 million
[32:23] of the bonding needs to be covered in
[32:24] these documents. The other portion is
[32:27] utility revenue bonds which don't fall
[32:29] into this statutory requirement. Um so
[32:33] we do have to if there's we open up to
[32:36] the public hearing with any questions on
[32:37] the CIP document itself or our process
[32:41] um we can do that and then I ask for um
[32:44] adopting of the resolutions individually
[32:47] so we can have the votes
[32:49] counted.
[32:50] >> Okay.
[32:53] >> This is a public hearing.
[32:56] Okay. Seeing none public hearing
[32:59] comments.
[33:01] That was a relief.
[33:02] >> Seeing no comments, uh, move to close
[33:04] the public hearing.
[33:06] >> Second.
[33:07] >> All those in favor say I.
[33:09] >> I. Opposed. Okay. Public hearing is
[33:11] closed. Any conversation about what's in
[33:15] front of us.
[33:18] >> Um, mayor, I just want to acknowledge uh
[33:20] an email that we received regarding city
[33:23] project 26-04,
[33:25] which is the Dodd uh Boulevard
[33:27] modernization. Um, in acknowledging
[33:30] that, I I just wanted to um state that
[33:34] there still are design uh phases of that
[33:38] project. And um this is more of an
[33:41] overarching approval for uh moving ahead
[33:44] with the financing uh plan for that. Uh
[33:48] but the concerns related to um how that trail is ab budding their property
[33:54] is still something that our staff has
[33:57] committed to continuing to work with
[33:58] that resident on. So uh just wanted to
[34:01] acknowledge receipt of that those
[34:03] concerns via email and uh I'd be ready
[34:06] for a motion.
[34:08] >> Yeah, thanks for flagging that. I did uh
[34:09] flag that also for the county so we'll
[34:12] >> Great. Thank you. We'll
[34:12] >> work on that.
[34:14] >> Okay. Any other comments?
[34:20] any resolution.
[34:22] >> Uh so one at a time, correct?
[34:24] >> Yes, we do need a twothirds vote on the
[34:26] um reconstruction plan resolution. So if
[34:29] we do them each individually, then we'll
[34:31] have the count unless they're all
[34:33] unanimous. Um
[34:34] >> so move vote.
[34:37] >> All right. Very good. Then I will go
[34:39] ahead and uh motion to move to approve
[34:42] the resolution adopting the 5-year
[34:44] capital improvement plan 2027 through
[34:47] 2031 and approving the issuance of
[34:49] general obligation capital improvement
[34:51] bonds.
[34:53] >> Is there a second?
[34:54] >> Second.
[34:54] >> Okay. Any further discussion?
[34:57] Okay. See none. Roll call, please.
[34:59] >> V
[35:00] >> I. Elli.
[35:02] >> Walter.
[35:03] >> I.
[35:05] >> Okay. Any further discussion? There any
[35:07] other resolutions?
[35:09] Motions. Yes, Council Lee, you're on
[35:11] fire tonight.
[35:12] >> I'll move to approve the resolution
[35:14] adopting the 5-year street
[35:15] reconstruction plan 2027 through 2020
[35:19] 2031 and approving the issuance of
[35:21] general obligation street reconstruction
[35:23] bonds.
[35:24] >> Okay. Is there a second?
[35:26] >> Second.
[35:27] >> Any other discussion? Seeing none. Roll
[35:29] call, please.
[35:31] >> I.
[35:31] >> Walter.
[35:32] >> I.
[35:33] >> Lee.
[35:33] >> Hi.
[35:34] >> B.
[35:35] >> I.
[35:36] And there's one more.
[35:38] >> Council Lee, do this one.
[35:39] >> Oh, council member Walter.
[35:41] >> Just to mix it up and make the minutes
[35:42] more challenging. I move to approve the
[35:45] resolution declaring the official intent
[35:46] of the city of Lakeville to reimburse
[35:48] certain expenditures from the proceeds
[35:50] of bonds to be issued by the city.
[35:53] >> Oh, very good. Is there any further
[35:55] discussion? Okay, seeing none, roll
[35:57] call, please.
[35:59] >> Walter,
[36:00] >> I. Lee,
[36:01] >> I.
[36:05] » Okay, very good. Thank you.
[36:06] >> Um, we will now move into unfinished and
[36:09] new business, which means we'll take a
[36:10] fivem minute recess before we start uh
[36:13] item number nine.
[37:09] Hello.
[37:17] Hey. Hey.
[37:51] King
[38:07] of
[39:12] Come on now.
[39:22] Thank you, mayor, members of the
[39:23] council. So, the
[39:26] placement of the boulevard signs, we're
[39:29] talking the small little signs, the
[39:32] lightweight metals stuck into the grass
[39:34] or boulevards, medians, traffic circles.
[39:37] Um, they're a point of contention for
[39:40] us. Um, we try to manage it the best
[39:42] that we can. Um these signs other than
[39:45] any official traffic sign are not
[39:47] allowed in the rightway. So they are
[39:49] considered illegal. Many cases they are
[39:52] the preferred method of advertising for
[39:54] businesses particularly those that might
[39:56] have a state uh home business um or
[39:59] something without a proper storefront um
[40:02] to display the signs. And oftentimes
[40:04] they're signs promoting different
[40:07] events. Off-Rise signs and portable
[40:09] signs are prohibited. I mean that's very
[40:11] clear in the ordinance. Um but they do
[40:15] um those types of signs, you know,
[40:17] business signs and also real estate
[40:19] signs represent the majority of what's
[40:22] scattered in the public rights way. City
[40:25] code allows for options for permanent
[40:27] business signs. We have a very robust
[40:29] sign ordinance and several sign sections
[40:31] were included in the packet. And then we
[40:34] also have pretty strict parameters for
[40:36] election signs. Um, and that's very
[40:38] clear as well as real estate signs. But
[40:41] the garage sale signs, organizations
[40:43] seeking um, participation in school
[40:45] activities, scouts, and so forth, while
[40:48] they're not allowed, um, we do kind of
[40:51] leave them alone. Um, normally they'll
[40:53] be picked up um by the different um,
[40:57] folks at the end of these events. So, we
[41:00] just kind of overlook them and that's
[41:02] just been kind of the practice. We've
[41:04] also um would say that's probably true
[41:07] for drugstores that are advertising
[41:09] vaccines as well as daycare openings and
[41:11] those kinds of things. So, our code
[41:14] enforcement officer removes about 2400
[41:16] every year, give or take. Um this does
[41:19] not include the additional signs removed
[41:21] by our public works team, Dakota County,
[41:23] or the snowplow. Um numbers are probably
[41:26] close to 5,000 a year. When our code
[41:28] enforcement officer removes them, she
[41:31] gets a hold of person whose sign it is
[41:34] by phone, tells them what the law is,
[41:37] gives them an opportunity to pick it up
[41:39] certain number of days, and then after
[41:41] that they're discarded. So, with that
[41:44] information and the information in your
[41:46] packet, um I know this is also a concern
[41:49] and hot button for a lot of residents
[41:51] and maybe yourselves. I was asked to
[41:53] bring this to work session for
[41:55] conversation and um input on any changes
[41:58] you would want us to make regarding this
[42:00] process. And I will remind you we have
[42:02] one code enforcement person who does all
[42:04] code enforcement within the entire city.
[42:07] So picking up the signs is just kind of
[42:09] an add-on. She'll usually pick a day a
[42:11] week, get out there before the buses are
[42:13] roaming around and grab as many as she
[42:14] can.
[42:18] » That's all I got.
[42:19] >> It's your turn. So, this is was an issue
[42:22] that I brought up. Um,
[42:25] and and I don't want to be wasting staff
[42:27] time focused on this. I don't think it's
[42:29] a good use of somebody's time to drive
[42:31] around and do it. Um, I do know that the
[42:33] city of Bloomington has a pretty
[42:35] aggressive stance where they encourage
[42:37] citizens to pick up signs that are in
[42:39] their neighborhood or at the end of the
[42:41] street and discard them. Um, so there's got to be some sort of happy
[42:46] medium on that. I I think we've taken
[42:48] approach in the past that's technically
[42:50] the property of I think the person who
[42:53] places him. I think that's why we're
[42:55] hesitant to just pick him up. Um,
[43:01] so but I do obviously I think we would
[43:05] to me I'd want to continue the idea of
[43:08] you know any political lawn signs if
[43:10] they're in the right place and and
[43:12] garage sales and the and the residential
[43:14] obviously those are not the problem you
[43:16] know because we've all experienced
[43:18] garage sale people pick them up. It's
[43:20] not it's not the problem. It's, you
[43:22] know, it's the different businesses that
[43:24] think that the every corner is their billboard spot. If they want to
[43:27] have a billboard, they can pay for it
[43:29] like everybody else. So, that's my two
[43:31] cents. I do think we should try to
[43:34] figure out a way to have more teeth in
[43:36] it, but I flip side, I don't want to be
[43:38] spending wasting staff time on it. So,
[43:41] that's where I'm I'm at.
[43:43] >> Tina, what kind of when
[43:44] >> your mic's off your mic?
[43:48] >> Sorry. um when um code enforcement
[43:52] reaches out to some of these businesses,
[43:55] what what's their typical reaction? They
[43:56] just do they respond and say sorry or
[43:58] they just I mean how do they react? I'm
[44:02] sure it's all over the board, but what's
[44:03] the common
[44:04] >> Yeah, Council Member, it is all over the
[44:05] board. Um they'll some will come and
[44:07] pick them up, some will ignore um just,
[44:10] you know, buy more and return and stick
[44:13] them in. um some will, you know, pick
[44:16] them up, but I mean they listen, but um
[44:19] it's obvious they're they're not always
[44:21] following.
[44:23] >> I know we can't. And and we do have the
[44:24] exclusion for the housing
[44:29] um
[44:30] >> open houses and stuff on on the weekends
[44:34] because those are pretty professional
[44:35] operations that put those signs out
[44:36] >> typically. Yes. Um so we don't normally
[44:41] pull the real estate ones. Now, there
[44:44] are provisions in here in the packet
[44:45] that I included that outline what you
[44:49] can do for open houses. I mean, really
[44:50] what the ordinance says is a sign in
[44:52] front of the house that is for sale. We
[44:54] all know real estate agents as well as
[44:56] developers, you know, the new housing
[44:58] developments will scatter them, but they
[45:00] will typically come and pick them up.
[45:01] For brand new residential neighborhoods
[45:03] that are advertising, there's a service
[45:06] that comes Friday morning through the
[45:08] end of Sunday. We'll put out a whole
[45:10] bunch and they'll come and pick them up
[45:11] most of the time. So, generally those
[45:14] are not picked up um by our code
[45:17] enforcement officer. We just kind of let
[45:19] those go. It just seems to work itself
[45:21] out. That's not always the case. We have
[45:23] a builder that's putting up some flags.
[45:25] I've talked to them. Um so, there are
[45:28] ones that will kind of push the limits
[45:30] and we do try to do outreach to them. Um
[45:33] when I was talking to um Liz, our code
[45:36] enforcement officer of you know ideas,
[45:39] you know, maybe some kind of parameters
[45:41] for more of those kinds of real estate
[45:44] signs that are all over broaden that
[45:46] parameter just so it is allowed. But
[45:49] again, to the mayor's point, I don't
[45:50] think those are necessarily the problem.
[45:52] It's these ancillary businesses that are
[45:54] sticking them everywhere.
[45:58] It's a blitz strategy, blitz marketing
[46:01] strategy that is pretty well known. So I think most of the problem companies
[46:07] that we're seeing, they know exactly
[46:09] what they're doing. And so um I think
[46:12] part of we've had this discussion before
[46:15] and part of the problem has been, you
[46:17] know, folks don't feel empowered to
[46:20] clean up their own neighborhoods because
[46:22] we it's considered stealing of lawn
[46:24] signs. uh yet they're not supposed to be
[46:27] there. And so I I agree with the idea
[46:29] of, you know, figuring out a way to
[46:32] allow cleaning up of your own
[46:33] neighborhoods when those things happen.
[46:35] Um but the the teeth behind um making
[46:40] sure they don't do it again, there's
[46:41] really nothing there. And so is there a
[46:44] fine? Is there, you know, something like
[46:46] that? Is
[46:47] >> um
[46:48] >> Well, I I have a question for you. Mhm.
[46:51] >> You you're saying to allow the citizens
[46:53] to clean up their own neighborhood of
[46:55] these signs
[46:56] >> when they're not supposed to be touching
[46:58] them,
[46:59] >> right? Right. Now, I mean, that's been
[47:00] the message in the past when we've uh
[47:02] talked about this is that uh is is that
[47:06] true.
[47:07] >> Um I'd like to step in if you don't
[47:10] mind. Um I would discourage any
[47:12] encouragement of residents picking up
[47:15] their picking up signs on their own. Uh
[47:18] technically that could be considered a
[47:21] unlawful criminal act of theft. I was
[47:24] going to say
[47:24] >> um the city has the authority because of
[47:27] their ordinances and their right of way
[47:29] to be the entity that can go and pick up
[47:31] these signs, but there is no authority
[47:33] for just any other person to go and take
[47:36] signs whether they give them to the city
[47:38] or throw them away themselves. So I'd
[47:41] hate to have you encouraging residents
[47:43] to
[47:44] >> do something they aren't authorized to
[47:45] do. Well, then how do we change the
[47:46] ordinance of law because just because
[47:49] it's standing up to me, it's trash. I
[47:50] mean, it's no different than somebody
[47:52] throwing a bag of McDonald's out the
[47:53] door just so happens to be promoting a
[47:55] business on sticks. So, I I I have a
[47:58] hard time that anybody in court would
[48:01] ever be convicted of stealing a $3.
[48:05] >> Seems seems unlikely. It's just it is
[48:08] >> I'd be curious what Bloomington did
[48:10] because that was like unless they
[48:11] changed it. up until like a month ago,
[48:12] that was their policy was encouraging
[48:15] citizens to pick I think they called
[48:17] them rogue signs is what Bloomington
[48:19] said.
[48:19] >> I can certainly reach out to that staff.
[48:22] >> Doesn't hurt.
[48:23] >> Is there ability for us to put a you
[48:25] know like a pretty heavy fine on and
[48:28] defining as littering and because we
[48:31] know where it's coming from to then
[48:34] >> it's certainly something we could look
[48:35] into. I haven't heard of a city doing
[48:37] that, but we could certainly take a
[48:39] look.
[48:41] >> That remember the gentleman came maybe
[48:43] two years ago full of signs.
[48:46] >> He had some stuff from Texas. I I
[48:48] thought that sounded interesting to, you
[48:51] know, assess a fine to the business that
[48:54] was the focal point of the sign. But
[48:56] that, you know, I I get it that that
[48:58] runs into some issues. You don't know
[48:59] who put it up. I'm also convinced I
[49:01] don't know if the businesses I mean the
[49:03] businesses know signs are going up but I
[49:04] always see like the same three together
[49:06] which means to me there's a company
[49:07] that's going out putting them up for
[49:10] them. Right.
[49:10] >> It's gotten that bad. I think it's a
[49:12] nice small business opportunity for
[49:13] somebody.
[49:14] >> Yeah. Yeah.
[49:17] >> I'm just concerned. I I don't want the
[49:19] citizens going out there and doing
[49:22] something that they shouldn't be doing
[49:24] or trying to figure out a way for us to
[49:28] put in an ordinance without us getting
[49:30] sued from some other organization. Do
[49:34] you know what I mean? So, I would just
[49:35] like to stay away from that is there. I
[49:39] agree with you. it's, you know, it's
[49:42] trash that's being put up, but there has
[49:44] to be a way to to take care of it that
[49:47] we're taking care of it. That the
[49:49] responsibility is with the city and not
[49:51] the citizens to take care of it for us.
[49:54] >> Maybe a per sign fee some kind that we
[49:57] have to pick up. And
[50:01] >> well, that's where I think it could end
[50:02] up being a full-time position just to
[50:06] pick up signs. And then how do you
[50:07] reclaim the cost of that? Um,
[50:11] so I mean as it stands, 2500 signs for
[50:14] one person is a lot of time. And then to
[50:17] follow up with the same companies, um,
[50:22] >> a lot of phone calls.
[50:23] >> Yeah. A lot of phone calls, a lot of
[50:24] chances, and and not a lot of teeth. So,
[50:26] >> if they don't pay the fine, we can't put
[50:29] it on their property taxes. I mean, how
[50:32] would we ever get them to
[50:34] pay the fine?
[50:38] you'd be going to court.
[50:39] >> Yeah. And that costs a lot money, too.
[50:41] It costs more money than the fine.
[50:45] I I'm just I'm not trying to protect
[50:50] these businesses that are doing this.
[50:53] I'm just trying to figure out a way that
[50:55] it's not costing the city more than it
[50:59] should. And we also need to figure out a
[51:02] way to help the citizens not have their
[51:06] neighborhoods cluttered with this stuff.
[51:08] But I want to do it legally as le as
[51:12] possible.
[51:14] >> And maybe the approach then is the same
[51:16] that we do with panandling that
[51:17] sometimes like if you step off the curb
[51:19] that's technically a safety violation.
[51:21] The signs are distracting. Mhm.
[51:26] » Well, and if there's some state
[51:28] legislative change we need to advocate
[51:29] for,
[51:31] >> could do that, too.
[51:35] » We're not the only ones complaining
[51:36] about this.
[51:37] >> Yeah,
[51:39] >> that would be an interesting battle to
[51:41] see them debating
[51:46] a sign policy for the state. Um, I I
[51:50] think I think there's a way that the
[51:52] city can try to come up with a way and
[51:57] I don't know what the answer is, but
[52:00] um maybe you just have somebody within
[52:05] the city that's part-time once a week
[52:07] goes out and does this and it's not
[52:09] necessarily the code enforcement person
[52:13] because that person's job's already got
[52:15] a million things under it. So,
[52:18] >> yeah,
[52:19] >> seasonal maintenance staff as part of I
[52:21] mean, I don't know.
[52:22] >> Um,
[52:24] >> I don't have seasonal maintenance staff,
[52:26] but others do. Um,
[52:27] >> that's why citizens should volunteer to
[52:29] do it. I I just don't have a problem
[52:31] with that. I just don't.
[52:32] >> Well, it's okay. Citizens volunteer for
[52:35] it, but they would have to go through at
[52:37] least a program within the city, get
[52:39] authorized from the city to go out and
[52:43] do it. and they're assign so that when
[52:45] we get the call or when you do get the
[52:48] call that Joel Blow went out and removed
[52:51] these signs, they had the legal means to
[52:54] do it because they actually worked for
[52:56] the city at the time that they did it.
[53:03] » I don't know if anyone's going to
[53:04] volunteer for it, but it's not a bad
[53:05] idea. I would just say I would also just
[53:08] we probably should have had this
[53:09] conversation ahead of time to figure out
[53:10] what Bloomington does and why they
[53:13] you know, promote it that way.
[53:15] >> I can certainly reach out to the city of
[53:16] Bloomington and continue to work with um
[53:19] city attorney's office to see if there
[53:20] are some other additional teeth andor um
[53:24] more enforcement followup that we can do
[53:27] and in the meantime continue what we are
[53:29] doing and it is about half a day once a
[53:31] week um that Liz dedicates to this. you
[53:34] know, once the snow falls, not as much.
[53:36] But, um,
[53:38] >> well, I mean, you have people that
[53:41] volunteer, but yet they get paid to do
[53:44] voter registration.
[53:46] >> Why couldn't there be a committee that
[53:48] >> volunteers yet gets paid a minimal
[53:51] amount to cover their gas?
[53:54] >> To go get these and bring them to a
[53:56] certain location. and that they're
[53:58] approved by the city council as people
[54:00] working for the city on a temporary
[54:04] base. No, I I don't they're not
[54:06] temporary, but you know what I'm trying
[54:08] to say. You know,
[54:09] >> we probably are all all have our uh
[54:12] neighborhood trash picker uh picker
[54:15] upper. I I know around me there's at
[54:17] least three people who just do the
[54:19] rounds and so if they were deputized as
[54:22] authorized then then maybe there is
[54:24] something there. But, um, I do think
[54:27] what you listed in the packet hit the
[54:29] nail on the head with where the the
[54:31] spirit of what we'd like to stop and
[54:34] what we'd like to continue to allow. So,
[54:37] thank you for that.
[54:37] >> Okay. So, there's consensus on that.
[54:39] Yeah, we can certainly explore some
[54:41] options um see what possibilities there
[54:45] will be and relay that back um through
[54:48] the administrator and get some
[54:51] information back to you. Did you ever
[54:53] reach out to other cities that don't
[54:56] that aren't bl like Bloomington that
[54:58] don't have something and just see if
[55:00] it's So what I guess what I'm trying to
[55:03] figure out is if these companies have
[55:05] figured out which cities are more
[55:08] lenient
[55:09] and so they tell that uh their comp what
[55:14] whoever they use to go out to these
[55:16] cities only and not not these cities.
[55:20] Well, why not these cities? And what are
[55:22] they doing that's we're not that's c you
[55:26] know that causes that to not to happen.
[55:29] >> Yeah. I think um Liz talked to a couple
[55:32] of our neighbors not much different um
[55:35] in terms of the way the ordinance reads
[55:38] what is currently in our ordinance um
[55:40] comp similarly in other cities. I think
[55:42] part of it just the matter of the
[55:45] density that we have here the amount of
[55:47] traffic we have here. It's just an
[55:49] attractive place. So people know that.
[55:51] So we're going to get more signs with
[55:53] more traffic than a less developed area
[55:56] of the community.
[56:01] » Okay.
[56:02] >> But we'll work on this and
[56:04] >> thank you.
[56:05] >> Get some feedback to you.
[56:06] >> All right. Thank you.
[56:06] >> Okay.
[56:07] >> I'm pro-sign vigilante. Okay. Mr.
[56:10] Snyder, um your youth stat citizens
[56:12] academy update for us, please.
[56:17] Mayor and Council um here to present the
[56:20] Youth Citizens Academy. Um kind of
[56:22] taking the feedback that I received a
[56:24] couple months back on um our initial
[56:27] discussion. So I came up with a six
[56:29] session program that is aimed at
[56:31] introducing the city departments to the
[56:33] youth and also g garnering that feedback
[56:35] that we're looking for um as a tangible.
[56:39] Um, so kind of the why, um, it gives the
[56:42] participants firsthand exposure to how
[56:44] our city government works here in
[56:46] Lakeville and creates a channel for
[56:48] their feedback, um, on the community
[56:50] issues. And then the way I structured it
[56:52] was each session, it has a department
[56:54] introduction with an activity and then
[56:56] there's a structured feedback exercise
[56:58] at the end. Um so the feedback will be
[57:01] collected across the program um each
[57:04] session based on the department and then
[57:06] I will put together a final report
[57:09] that'll be dis um delivered to city
[57:12] council and senior staff. Um so it's six
[57:15] sessions. I'm recommending 15 minimum um
[57:18] up to 25 per um grouping and then each
[57:22] class will be about 70 to 90 minutes.
[57:26] So the goals of the program are to
[57:29] introduce introduce participants to the
[57:31] structure and function of our Lakeville
[57:33] city government here. Build
[57:35] relationships with the youth and um
[57:37] department staff across our
[57:39] organization. Create a structured
[57:41] mechanism for capturing youth
[57:43] perspective on city issues and then
[57:46] being able to produce that tangible
[57:48] recommendation report um that we've kind
[57:50] of been lacking the last couple years.
[57:54] So this is just the program at a glance.
[57:57] Um and these are just ideas I came up
[58:00] with. Nothing is set in stone by any
[58:01] mean. I'd work with the department heads
[58:03] on the feedback focus specifically. Um
[58:05] but so this is how I have the six
[58:07] sessions planned out. We picked I worked
[58:09] with administrator Miller and we kind of
[58:11] came up with a day and time um and time
[58:14] of the year as well. So we came up with
[58:15] Thursdays 6:30 at um in January and
[58:18] February. Calendar wise that kind of
[58:20] worked. School calendar. after the
[58:22] holiday break, before spring break,
[58:24] avoiding summer. Um, so
[58:27] >> and then did you check the weather to
[58:29] see how often it No, I'm kidding. It
[58:32] snows on a Thursday because January
[58:34] >> Historically, the roads should be pretty
[58:36] clear.
[58:38] Um, no. So, we This is how the
[58:40] department wise, we kind of had a city
[58:42] hall one to start it off. So,
[58:44] administration, clerk, finance,
[58:45] communications, all in one. Um we did a
[58:48] parks and wreck one second, then the
[58:51] police department and fire department
[58:52] ones and those have been a big hit when
[58:54] we did them with the youth um commission
[58:56] as well. So those two for sure. Um put
[59:00] public works and engineering together
[59:01] and then community and economic
[59:03] development along with planning. Um so
[59:06] that's kind of how we structured that.
[59:09] And then to give kind of an example of
[59:11] how each session would be run and these
[59:13] can be moved in order depending on
[59:15] department needs or time um weekly they
[59:18] can all be mixed around. So this would
[59:21] be an example of itinerary for a set the
[59:24] first session. Um, so we'd have like
[59:26] welcome and introductions, um,
[59:30] introduction to how government works,
[59:33] tour of city hall, a little budget 101,
[59:36] some communications overview, uh, and
[59:39] then there's an intro uh, issues
[59:41] notebook, and this is kind of the key,
[59:44] one of the key pieces for that feedback
[59:45] is this is a notebook we give them day
[59:48] one. And then throughout each session
[59:50] that we encourage them to take notes or
[59:54] write down their thoughts throughout
[59:55] each session so that at the end when we
[59:58] do that feedback feedback activity um of
[1:00:01] each session they're able to kind of
[1:00:02] know what they want to say and that
[1:00:04] participation notebook um it is I think
[1:00:08] it's like three different questions like
[1:00:10] some questions I still have um one thing
[1:00:12] I learned today and
[1:00:15] um mid thoughts mid pro like session
[1:00:18] thoughts I have kind of thing like that.
[1:00:21] Um so for the feedback prompt for week
[1:00:23] one, it would be what's one thing you
[1:00:25] would change about Lakeville just to
[1:00:27] kind of get the ball rolling there. And
[1:00:29] then
[1:00:31] um moving into just kind of brief
[1:00:33] overviews of the next five sessions, the
[1:00:36] parks and wreck, um we'd get their
[1:00:39] feedback. We'd have it probably at
[1:00:41] Antlers Park would be my guess and just
[1:00:42] kind of get them offsite and get at
[1:00:44] different buildings across the city as
[1:00:46] well for each of these places.
[1:00:48] um the police department and the fire
[1:00:50] department. Like I said, those were two
[1:00:52] spectacular outings for our youth
[1:00:54] commission. So, I'd like to keep those
[1:00:55] the same, but then add those feedback
[1:00:57] polls at the end, and I'd work with the
[1:00:59] chiefs and staff um to create that.
[1:01:03] Um public works and engineering would be
[1:01:05] one together, do a hands-on tour at CMF,
[1:01:08] get them to see the trucks, things like
[1:01:10] that. Um
[1:01:12] do some feedback work with them. and
[1:01:16] then community and economic development
[1:01:18] kind of get a the kids a better
[1:01:20] understanding on how things come to be
[1:01:23] in Lakeville when we zone and why we
[1:01:26] zone things the way they they are kind
[1:01:28] of things like that um and get some more
[1:01:30] feedback.
[1:01:34] So this is how kind of the three-step
[1:01:36] progression of how we're going to
[1:01:38] capture this feedback is starts with
[1:01:40] that issue notebook. So that's kind of
[1:01:42] what generates their thoughts right
[1:01:43] away. And then after each session, they
[1:01:45] have what's called an exit ticket. So
[1:01:48] that's where we're going to get that
[1:01:49] staff what that feedback on questions
[1:01:51] staff would like to know. Um so it'll be
[1:01:55] three questions. They answer it. I'll
[1:01:57] collect it at the end of the night and
[1:01:59] then put together a report for the staff
[1:02:01] department head that we um visit that
[1:02:04] week and give them that report. And then
[1:02:07] that final recommendation will be kind
[1:02:09] of a total conglomerate of all those
[1:02:12] weekly reports put together in one. And
[1:02:14] then that'll be presented to council and
[1:02:17] um the rest of the department head
[1:02:18] staff.
[1:02:21] So yeah, what we receive the departments
[1:02:23] receive those ticket the kind of that
[1:02:25] group summary of about their department
[1:02:27] after they present. Um
[1:02:31] council will receive that final
[1:02:32] recommendation. the rest um kind of that
[1:02:36] youth p we want more feedback from them
[1:02:39] on more issues and this is a way that
[1:02:41] we're able to kind of get them to touch
[1:02:44] more bases across the city rather than
[1:02:46] just try and get a focus on one thing as
[1:02:48] we've done in the past. Um and also just
[1:02:51] then the program going forward um we can
[1:02:53] provide evidence to support this being a
[1:02:55] recurring program. um we can build on
[1:02:58] the youth advisory commission program
[1:03:00] that we had before and just kind of
[1:03:02] amplify it into this and then create
[1:03:04] those lasting relationships with the
[1:03:06] kids and hopefully create role model
[1:03:09] citizens that are engaged moving forward
[1:03:11] as they go through high school and
[1:03:12] beyond.
[1:03:16] Um so what we would need to do before
[1:03:18] January comes is scheduling. We'd have
[1:03:20] to just I would schedule the
[1:03:22] department's heads and make sure their
[1:03:24] weeks all work for them. um pick the
[1:03:26] sites for each meeting. Um try and get
[1:03:29] them off out away from city hall as much
[1:03:32] as possible to see different buildings.
[1:03:34] Um we would put out an application
[1:03:37] selection process for the students. Um
[1:03:40] promote we have to promote the program.
[1:03:42] That's one thing we really need to do if
[1:03:44] we're going to get 15 applicants. Um and
[1:03:47] I think it is possible.
[1:03:48] >> Can I can I give you one potential idea?
[1:03:52] I would connect with the chamber
[1:03:54] >> and have them email their current
[1:03:55] leadership Lakeville and former students their adults uh and find out if
[1:04:01] maybe they have a kid that wants a
[1:04:02] similar experience that they've done.
[1:04:04] >> Sure, great idea. Um so yeah, promote
[1:04:09] it. Um and then I would be the lead
[1:04:12] facilitator of this but then also work
[1:04:14] with the department heads to see who
[1:04:16] will be running their session for the
[1:04:17] department. Um and then the recognition.
[1:04:21] So this is something I struggled with
[1:04:23] kind of think of what is as I thought
[1:04:24] what's going to really promote and want
[1:04:27] kids to sign up for this. Um so I came
[1:04:29] up I was kind of looking for some
[1:04:31] feedback on that and what you think I
[1:04:33] don't know if that could be certificates
[1:04:35] or in the pet for youth commission we
[1:04:37] did the um small trophies that every
[1:04:39] commission member gets. I don't know if
[1:04:41] that's a letter of recommendation from a
[1:04:44] council member something like that but I
[1:04:46] would love feedback if you have any on
[1:04:48] that. Um, and then I would put together
[1:04:50] the materials needed for all the class
[1:04:52] sessions. So,
[1:04:55] and with that, I am open for questions
[1:04:57] and any discussion you would have.
[1:05:01] Recognition is a tough one.
[1:05:05] I'd be curious to find out from, you
[1:05:07] know, if you have conversations with the
[1:05:09] principles at North and South if there's
[1:05:12] some sort of
[1:05:14] if they can get credit for like an NHS
[1:05:17] thing or something. I don't know how
[1:05:18] there's like some of these entities in
[1:05:20] the school that they need to do certain
[1:05:22] something and does this fulfill those
[1:05:25] requirements. Sure. Because that could
[1:05:27] be a possibility
[1:05:27] >> and I I have signed off on hours for NHS
[1:05:30] I believe for some of the students that
[1:05:31] were in the youth commission.
[1:05:32] >> Okay.
[1:05:33] >> Um so that is a Yep, that is a good
[1:05:35] idea.
[1:05:36] um you might want to think about
[1:05:38] actually setting up a time that you
[1:05:40] would um go to a schoolboard meeting
[1:05:43] with the participants and recognize them
[1:05:46] formally with the district that they
[1:05:48] reside in. And um I know you mentioned
[1:05:52] north and south, but I would highly
[1:05:55] encourage you to get the Rosemont school
[1:05:57] district involved with their one school
[1:06:00] that we have that um and do the same
[1:06:03] thing over there in Farmington. Um also,
[1:06:07] thank you.
[1:06:08] >> Um
[1:06:10] that would help. So, let's say you only
[1:06:13] have 15 kids this time, but if you do
[1:06:16] something where you're promoting um
[1:06:18] these students and you're going to have
[1:06:21] something that um from their written
[1:06:23] comments that you're going to be able to
[1:06:25] highlight at those promotions
[1:06:28] and it it would help to kind of get the
[1:06:32] buzz that that's a cool thing for the
[1:06:34] kids to do. And um and maybe it's
[1:06:39] something that can go on a um
[1:06:43] application as they're applying to
[1:06:45] schools or um votational
[1:06:50] >> school or whatever.
[1:06:52] By doing a presentation at at the school
[1:06:55] districts, you're giving it more
[1:06:57] credibility. Um not that it doesn't have
[1:07:00] credibility here at the city. I'm really
[1:07:02] excited to see that kids would um learn
[1:07:06] how a city operates, but um you're
[1:07:11] adding something a little bit more.
[1:07:12] You're kind of giving them a little than
[1:07:15] a physical gift.
[1:07:16] >> Sure.
[1:07:18] >> I like that.
[1:07:18] >> That is a great idea.
[1:07:19] >> That's a really good idea.
[1:07:21] >> That's the leadership the chamber's
[1:07:23] leadership thing I think is always
[1:07:24] interesting. the graduation ceremony
[1:07:25] thing that the end which
[1:07:27] >> first time I went I didn't know what to
[1:07:29] think I would think about it but it's I
[1:07:31] go every year now because it is it's a
[1:07:33] really fulfilling thing so I don't I
[1:07:35] don't know I'm not saying you need to do
[1:07:36] a commencement ceremony here but
[1:07:37] something like that with a school board
[1:07:39] some kind of recognition there I think
[1:07:41] would be really a good idea
[1:07:42] >> going to buy seven brew gift cards too
[1:07:44] >> if you did if you do January and
[1:07:47] February and then the city of
[1:07:49] Lakeville's doing their state of the
[1:07:51] city in March as
[1:07:53] >> Oh
[1:07:54] know by having some of the students come
[1:07:56] that to show the chamber
[1:07:59] they can talk about, you know, what it
[1:08:01] is that they um learned.
[1:08:03] >> Yeah.
[1:08:04] >> Um would help to um prosper the program.
[1:08:08] >> Yeah. Save the city is a great idea.
[1:08:09] >> Great idea.
[1:08:11] >> I I really like what you've come up
[1:08:13] with. Um and I think that this sets us
[1:08:16] up for a much more um engaging two-way
[1:08:20] conversation. um because I think that
[1:08:22] was one thing that we just didn't have
[1:08:23] enough of in the uh prior format. Um
[1:08:28] two thoughts in terms of uh a parting
[1:08:31] gift. I was kind of thinking a challenge
[1:08:33] coin with our logo is perfect for a
[1:08:35] challenge coin um as like a
[1:08:37] >> a token of their participation. Um
[1:08:40] >> but I in terms of recruitment, I don't
[1:08:44] know. I I worry that having an
[1:08:46] application process is going to create a
[1:08:48] barrier that's going to cause similar
[1:08:50] participation to our previous version of
[1:08:53] the commission.
[1:08:54] >> And I don't know, there's some parts of
[1:08:56] me that I I I get why we'd want to do
[1:08:58] that and and kind of vet them, but at
[1:09:01] the same time, I would love to see a
[1:09:02] class of 25 come in uh and you know,
[1:09:06] fully um have a huge class this first
[1:09:10] time around. And so I wonder, can we
[1:09:12] just put it into the um activities list
[1:09:16] that we put out as part of,
[1:09:18] >> you know, all the pottery classes? You
[1:09:20] know, this is a an similar to one of
[1:09:23] those activities that you could sign up
[1:09:24] for free of charge. Uh you know, first
[1:09:27] come, first serve. I I just think that
[1:09:30] we would then be able to get parents to
[1:09:32] encourage their their kid and also um
[1:09:35] reach out to school districts to
[1:09:37] participate as well. Um, and maybe we at
[1:09:40] some point we need to come back to an
[1:09:41] application process, but I don't know
[1:09:43] for this.
[1:09:43] >> We missed this winter one though. Just
[1:09:45] came out,
[1:09:46] >> did it? It just came out. Um, so I don't
[1:09:48] know how late ads work, if that's even a
[1:09:50] thing. But um, I don't know. I I would
[1:09:53] want it to be as easy as possible to
[1:09:55] make this a successful uh, first go at
[1:09:58] this academy.
[1:09:59] >> Well, I I I agree with the easy as
[1:10:02] possible, but you have to have some sort
[1:10:04] of commitment for them to go to all six.
[1:10:07] um classes. And so by having them fill
[1:10:12] out a form or a commit, it's something
[1:10:14] where they're signing a commitment that
[1:10:17] they are going to do six weeks of this
[1:10:19] training
[1:10:21] >> that they can't, oh, you know, weeks
[1:10:23] three and four are really cool and then
[1:10:25] drop off. They have to go through the
[1:10:28] whole thing. And so there has to be
[1:10:30] something towards the end that they're
[1:10:33] going for.
[1:10:36] >> Yeah, good work. I like this format.
[1:10:38] >> Good. All right. So, all right. Thank
[1:10:40] you.
[1:10:41] >> Good. All right. Uh, next item, award of
[1:10:44] FEMA staffing for adequate fire and
[1:10:46] emergency response safer grant. Our fire
[1:10:50] chief is going to tee this up for us.
[1:10:52] This is great news.
[1:10:55] >> Good, mayor, council.
[1:10:58] Uh, information that was just in the
[1:10:59] pack, so I'm just going to cover some of
[1:11:01] that just so that we're fully aware. the
[1:11:03] uh we were notified on September 29th of
[1:11:05] the award for the grant. Uh the grant uh
[1:11:10] is total for 1.5 just over 1.5 million
[1:11:13] for the grant. But there are obviously
[1:11:15] this is different from the previous
[1:11:16] safer grant as far as the funding
[1:11:18] mechanism. So our previous grant was
[1:11:20] 100% funded for all three years. This
[1:11:23] one uh on the chart that I provided is
[1:11:26] 75% for the first two years and then 35%
[1:11:29] for the final year. So city total as far
[1:11:32] as our share versus a federal share uh
[1:11:35] is 947,000 that we have to support the
[1:11:37] grant for the three years and that's
[1:11:39] where the 1.5 million comes in from the
[1:11:41] federal share uh on the grant. Uh some
[1:11:45] of the highlights on it as far as it's
[1:11:47] adding six full-time firefighters. So
[1:11:48] bringing our total staffing to 27
[1:11:50] full-time that we'll be working
[1:11:52] alongside the still our pay on call. So
[1:11:54] it be staffing the ultimate goal is to
[1:11:56] get three trucks staffed uh 24/7. So,
[1:11:59] this helps get us there that much
[1:12:01] quicker uh between the three stations as
[1:12:03] we continue to progress with that moving
[1:12:05] that forward. Uh
[1:12:08] and then after the grant, it would end
[1:12:10] uh at today's rates, that would be
[1:12:12] 824,000
[1:12:14] from uh this is salary and benefits for
[1:12:16] total package for the firefighters. Uh
[1:12:19] the difference in one other difference
[1:12:21] in this grant is that uh our previous
[1:12:23] grant uh accounted for the COA increases
[1:12:26] per year. This one is that the dollar
[1:12:29] amounts I gave them for the salary
[1:12:31] benefits is there's no COA increasing
[1:12:34] after this first year if that makes
[1:12:35] sense.
[1:12:38] >> Uh some of the other information
[1:12:40] regarding that uh talked about the the
[1:12:43] percentage
[1:12:47] uh grant conditions. So just so that
[1:12:48] we're fully aware that we have 30 days
[1:12:50] to accept the grant from the 29th of
[1:12:52] September. So, uh, action items as far
[1:12:55] as next steps would be as long as we're
[1:12:58] moving forward through this, the next
[1:12:59] October 19th would be our next council
[1:13:01] meeting is that we'd bring the
[1:13:03] resolution forward for that, then we'd
[1:13:04] accept the grant uh, formally through
[1:13:07] FEMA. Uh, again, from a funding source
[1:13:11] side that we put in there under 3A is
[1:13:13] just uh, looking at how we're going to
[1:13:15] fund that 206,000 in this first year in
[1:13:18] 2027. And that would be the general fund
[1:13:20] unassigned fund balance uh for that and
[1:13:23] any leftover budget or remaining budgets
[1:13:25] from 26 moving into 27.
[1:13:29] Any questions on that?
[1:13:33] >> Really?
[1:13:35] >> So I know with this previous budget
[1:13:38] cycle for the city there was a request
[1:13:40] for additional FTE for battalion chiefs.
[1:13:44] >> Correct. um with this safer grant. Is
[1:13:48] that your intention to or is that
[1:13:50] applicable to add for that purpose or
[1:13:53] does it have to be a certain position
[1:13:55] type of firefighter?
[1:13:58] For the FEMA grants, you can only the funds can only be used towards
[1:14:01] firefighters. So, if we were to say
[1:14:03] we're going to hire six of using the
[1:14:06] safer grant, hire six fire uh
[1:14:08] firefighters and then within our ranks
[1:14:10] we promote three to battalion chief,
[1:14:12] that would be a little bit of c cost
[1:14:15] offsetting, so to speak. But you can't
[1:14:18] use the grant funding for a
[1:14:20] non-firefighter position if that makes
[1:14:21] sense.
[1:14:22] >> Gotcha.
[1:14:24] >> Does
[1:14:26] we'll say Mr. Miller and I had a quick
[1:14:28] conversation, but we didn't get much
[1:14:29] further than that other than we got the
[1:14:31] grant. Let's move this forward and then
[1:14:33] we'll see what what we can do from
[1:14:34] there.
[1:14:35] >> Sure.
[1:14:35] >> So,
[1:14:36] >> I mean, we've we've been successful so
[1:14:38] far with now two safer grants that have
[1:14:42] created the opportunity to get through
[1:14:44] the initial 21 and this would bring us
[1:14:46] to 27. What's some of the longer term
[1:14:49] goals that we have for full-time
[1:14:51] firefighters? Is 27 adequate then to
[1:14:54] staff the three stations once those are
[1:14:57] remodeled in the way that we need them
[1:14:59] to be?
[1:15:00] >> It does. it just the the piece that
[1:15:02] we're not getting is that supervisor,
[1:15:04] that management, the battalion chief as
[1:15:06] you mentioned. Got
[1:15:07] >> so we'll continue to strive and work
[1:15:09] towards that. Uh that's one piece that
[1:15:11] we have to work on and continue to look
[1:15:13] to how can we take advantage of that.
[1:15:14] Right now our shifts are built on seven
[1:15:17] firefighters, one of which is a captain
[1:15:19] that oversees the six firefighters that
[1:15:21] are staffed between two stations. So by
[1:15:23] adding the six in our current staffing
[1:15:25] model, we would have one captain that's
[1:15:28] overseeing uh nine firefighters plus
[1:15:31] themselves or themselves uh that are
[1:15:33] staffing three stations or three trucks.
[1:15:35] Got
[1:15:37] >> so in an ideal world, we would be at 27
[1:15:40] fire fighters with additional battalion
[1:15:43] chiefs. Is that what you're trying
[1:15:46] >> thinking about the staffing correctly?
[1:15:47] >> Yep. If well I would say if we can look
[1:15:51] at a way to potentially figure out how
[1:15:53] we can uh afford to to use three keep
[1:15:56] our current staffing. So if we have nine
[1:15:58] on a shift, one would be a camp and one
[1:16:00] battalion chief as example.
[1:16:01] >> Okay.
[1:16:01] >> But it's a matter of how we're going to
[1:16:03] fund that. So right now our our goal is
[1:16:05] if we can use the safer grant, hire six
[1:16:08] additional firefighters, that gets us to
[1:16:10] staffing three trucks 247 and covering
[1:16:13] the city much better uh that we do
[1:16:15] today.
[1:16:17] And if we do this now, do we have the
[1:16:19] facilities to accommodate that right now
[1:16:23] or what happens facility-wise?
[1:16:27] It's a great question. I put a lot of
[1:16:28] thought into it. Uh obviously with the
[1:16:31] new station 2 being constructed, it will
[1:16:34] not uh it'll open in the summer of 27.
[1:16:38] And if we follow the roughly the same
[1:16:39] timeline that we hired our previous
[1:16:41] safer grant is that we will hire them
[1:16:43] and they'll start call it March uh by
[1:16:46] the time that we get through the
[1:16:47] application all of that such uh they
[1:16:50] would be through the academy and
[1:16:52] everything call it April May time frame
[1:16:55] uh but we wouldn't have housing for them
[1:16:57] to do overnights. So, kind of the
[1:17:00] thought processes right now is that we'd
[1:17:02] move them just to a 40-hour work week
[1:17:04] and let them cover that third truck on a
[1:17:07] 12-h hour shift as an easy example. And
[1:17:09] then once the new station two opens up,
[1:17:11] then we would have that space to
[1:17:13] accommodate that because then we'd shift
[1:17:15] from station one, four, and the new
[1:17:17] station two for staffing.
[1:17:19] >> Okay, that's helpful. I was hoping the
[1:17:22] answer wasn't going to be another
[1:17:24] remodel, temporary remodel evaluation.
[1:17:27] So,
[1:17:27] >> it was more of like using them and kind
[1:17:30] of how can we, you know, there's some
[1:17:31] training elements that we can do with
[1:17:33] them once they complete the academy, but
[1:17:35] uh that 40-hour work week would be
[1:17:37] roughly about two months, three months
[1:17:39] depending on when we officially open
[1:17:41] station 2.
[1:17:42] >> Okay, thank you.
[1:17:44] >> Good questions. Thank you. Other
[1:17:45] questions? So, no action tonight. Action
[1:17:48] be taken in a couple weeks.
[1:17:49] >> Correct. It was just information for for
[1:17:51] you to get the full picture of what the
[1:17:52] grant looks like being this is different
[1:17:54] from our previous one.
[1:17:55] >> Okay. Very good. Thank you so much.
[1:17:57] Congratulations
[1:17:59] on getting it, too.
[1:18:01] >> Okay. Any council or committee updates?
[1:18:08] » Okay. Uh, our next council meeting is
[1:18:11] October 19th. And with that, I will take
[1:18:14] a motion to adjurnn.
[1:18:16] >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. There
[1:18:18] >> second. Second. All those in favor say
[1:18:20] I. I. Opposed. We're adjourned.
[1:18:25] Heat. Heat.