[0:45]

[1:03] Persist to this day You know, I thought about this I want

[1:08] to dedicate this tonight for the Pledge of Allegiance

[1:09] in honor of those who were killed.

[1:12] But i came across an article this morning on Military.com

[1:16] You can look it up.

[1:17] If you want, but there's Three widows and the message they

[1:20] wanted to give out over 25 years was remember how

[1:24] we were as a nation back then ?

[1:26] Lots of signs like United.

[1:27] We stand.

[1:28] Never forget She also said there was

[1:31] a kindness towards each other an amazing united feeling.

[1:34] And patriotism.

[1:36] Other widows said, if we could somehow harness that kindness

[1:38] that would be really beautiful way to honor the lives that were

[1:40] lost on that horrific day So to honor those

[1:44] killed and injured on that fateful day,

[1:45] it's September 11th, 2001.

[1:47] On behalf of city and everyone here.

[1:49] This evening I'd like to dedicate the reciting the pledge

[1:51] of Allegiance in their honor.

[1:53] So if you could please rise to the flag

[1:59] of the United States of America for which

[2:03] it stands one nation under god.

[2:06] It is liberty and justice for all All right.

[2:11] Thank you.

[2:11] Mr. Hill.

[2:12] We take roll call, please.

[2:16] Thank you.

[2:16] Let the record show that we have council members, Canada Gooley

[2:19] meachum I, Bingara Mayor Kevin schreiber,

[2:22] various staff and members of the audience All right, perfect.

[2:26] All right.

[2:26] We do have an agenda approved in front of us.

[2:29] I think we want.

[2:30] We have one person who wants to remove something

[2:32] from the consent agenda.

[2:33] Mr. Canada.

[2:34] Yes, Mr. Mayor, please.

[2:35] Discussion All right.

[2:37] And that is seven echo.

[2:38] And that's to approve an application

[2:40] for cannabis retail registration for wild River Cannabis.

[2:44] Is that correct?

[2:44] Yes, sir.

[2:45] All right.

[2:46] I'll put that first thing down on our staff reports.

[2:48] Who will make a nine and everything else shift on One?

[2:50] Is there anything else that members

[2:53] would like to have moved out ?

[2:56] All right, then I am going to make a motion

[2:58] to approve the agenda as laid out in front of us

[3:00] without one change under the consent to have a second.

[3:03] Second.

[3:03] All right.

[3:04] First and second.

[3:04] All in favor signify by saying I. I i.

[3:08] Motion passes move on to public comment here.

[3:13] I think you saw one person sign up All right, Mark.

[3:27] Mr. Mark, come on up here Push the button.

[3:33] Yeah, that button please.

[3:37] Thanks for that dedication there.

[3:39] I hope you all just remember and remember

[3:43] what's happening in this country And what's happening

[3:48] in your certain people.

[3:51] Show up for 911 that shouldn't be there anyways.

[3:55] The country.

[3:56] I think, set a boiling point.

[3:58] But anyways I just like to get some clarification

[4:03] later on today when we get to finances

[4:06] about where our investments are only making 0.0 8%.

[4:14] I get that much in a checking account here in town More than

[4:19] that So I think we can do better there somehow.

[4:24] We'll get to that.

[4:25] And I know I talked to Finance Director Sharon

[4:27] about that on Friday but it brought it up.

[4:29] Yeah.

[4:29] Got to.

[4:30] Yeah, it's closer to 4%, but we'll go over that stuff too.

[4:33] And finance.

[4:34] Thank you, Mark.

[4:36] All right, Wes.

[4:38] Mr. West.

[4:40] Thank you.

[4:41] So I just wondering if there's any sort

[4:43] of an update on the flat camera contracts

[4:46] or any sort of a moratorium for Alpers

[4:50] And then I've also been hearing rumors about a possible data

[4:54] center looking to come in here And I see that our moratorium

[4:57] is coming up on an end.

[4:59] So any conversation about extending

[5:01] that, because I do work in it I've been in several data

[5:05] centers.

[5:06] I keep My finger on the pulse of the industry.

[5:10] And these data centers do nothing for the community

[5:13] for anything they cost the community, not just

[5:17] and rising electrical utility trees,

[5:21] water, everything like that.

[5:23] But also decrease property values.

[5:25] And there's just nonstop issues with noise complaints

[5:30] with pollution complaints to just anything and everything

[5:34] And they're just not good.

[5:36] And I don't think that would be a fit for our community OK.

[5:39] So on the fly camera do you have a question?

[5:42] No I can help that on the second.

[5:46] OK On the fly camera.

[5:47] So I think the motion that we had

[5:48] last time was to pursue council on the contract with Aflac.

[5:52] I would disagree with her Their position

[5:54] that we need to pay for the full Three years.

[5:56] So we're working through the process I also think,

[5:58] Councilmember, I've binger also said

[5:59] that we do not intend to you know,

[6:01] use an alternate brand right.

[6:04] When there's no intention to contract

[6:06] or put up any type of license plate readers

[6:09] for the foreseeable future We're working through that process I

[6:12] don't think there's any appetite based on community

[6:14] feedback, both, you know, through social media,

[6:17] and then in person So that's what I would say is the angle.

[6:20] Anybody else want to comment on that ?

[6:22] No, no, I'm that's our position.

[6:24] Okay.

[6:25] Good All right.

[6:25] As far as the data center.

[6:26] Yeah.

[6:27] I guess I first had my point to planning commission.

[6:30] Had a long, robust discussion about this last week

[6:34] or Two week and a half ago.

[6:37] And that's where ryan or city planner and Nate Sandra all

[6:41] really started laying out the questions

[6:43] that the planning commission would like staff to review

[6:47] and research to set up what a future ordinance would look like

[6:52] or what future policy would look like.

[6:55] So that's really in the first stages of that conversation

[6:58] And Nate, remind me when we reached out to our city attorney

[7:02] the maximum we could do the moratorium was 12 months.

[7:05] We chose to go with six.

[7:07] And I believe from the conversation i recall is that we

[7:10] understood we could reopen at after those six months

[7:13] if we needed more time to do more planning and research

[7:16] for a future ordinance and policy would look

[7:18] like for the data centers OK.

[7:20] Thank you.

[7:21] Yeah.

[7:21] And we have we have we're reached out to the CEO of East

[7:25] Central energy, and I think he's going to give the council

[7:28] a brief, maybe we'll make it into some

[7:30] type of a public q&A as well.

[7:32] We'll have to see.

[7:33] I haven't had a chance to talk to our city

[7:35] administrator about that either but that's in the works, too.

[7:38] He had an article in one the newspapers,

[7:39] and I thought was good article.

[7:40] But we haven't conversations.

[7:43] There's no intent to one way or another

[7:44] to we're not trying to recruit with.

[7:46] There's no incentives.

[7:47] I haven't heard of anybody coming

[7:49] If we're not done with that moratorium, then I'm not.

[7:52] I can speak for everybody but I'm

[7:53] pretty sure we'll extend that and keep

[7:55] working through the process.

[7:56] And again, I don't want to just say go to that video

[8:00] and watch it like that would be the initial conversation

[8:04] for an ordinance policy changes and how

[8:07] are defining data centers will come through the planning

[8:10] commission First.

[8:11] So that would be really, to me also

[8:13] the best spot to have those conversations and kind

[8:17] of open comments with the Planning Commission

[8:19] and help kind of to that to help them to find that process.

[8:23] I think.

[8:24] Yeah.

[8:24] I don't see ryan here, but Nate, anything

[8:26] you want to add to that ?

[8:28] Yeah, I think You summed it up pretty

[8:29] well, just letting you know, it's not just data centers.

[8:32] It's high utility users.

[8:33] And so it's just it's looking at a variety of things.

[8:35] So that's what is I do this 20 year journey of machinery.

[8:42] I just I come back from, you know, at Yeah, yeah.

[8:49] So we had some criteria that was set up for it.

[8:52] And so that's Two things we're going to continue to explore is

[8:54] like a 25 megawatt is what minimum is and then 450,000

[8:58] square foot building was One of the other thresholds that was

[9:03] utilized We'll continue to explore that as we're doing

[9:05] our research to determine if those are the, you know,

[9:07] the correct you know limits as we kind of in just, you know,

[9:12] as we continue to do that research and, you know,

[9:13] bring that back to the commission at council.

[9:16] Mark, I would say the same thing Go to September

[9:18] 1 Planning Commission meeting.

[9:19] Even if you just read the nine page report,

[9:21] there's a lot of good information.

[9:22] It's going to answer some of your questions at least.

[9:25] All right.

[9:26] Thanks, Wes.

[9:27] Any other public comment before we move on?

[9:31] I was pretty flush the last couple

[9:33] of months on public comment, so we need to conduct business.

[9:36] So if anybody has anything else to say say it now.

[9:39] Otherwise, I'm not going to allow any

[9:40] of the other public comment.

[9:41] Rest the meeting All right.

[9:43] Thank you very much.

[9:44] I appreciate that.

[9:46] All right.

[9:47] We do have a consent agenda in front of us.

[9:48] And that is seven a, there's an Apple iD

[9:52] under seven K and Hello or minus the seven E,

[9:55] which we bombed down in China.

[9:57] So 70 has been removed So I'll make

[10:00] that motion to approve the consent

[10:01] agenda without one change.

[10:03] We have a second, Mr. Mayor, first and second.

[10:06] Any questions No.

[10:07] All right.

[10:08] All in favor signify by saying I. I that passes

[10:11] unanimously Okay, gentlemen.

[10:15] All right.

[10:15] We'll move on to what is now nine,

[10:18] and that is approval of application for cannabis

[10:20] retail registry, Asian micro-business, Wild River

[10:23] cannabis, LLC So, Mr. Canada, you're

[10:26] the one who wanted that change.

[10:27] So that's it.

[10:28] And just some clarification.

[10:30] I apologize to matthew, Mr. Hill,

[10:34] for coming at the last minute, the i've been busy

[10:37] and i want to look at everything on this consent agenda.

[10:40] And this caught my eye in regards

[10:42] to the certification of compliance Minnesota

[10:44] Worker's Compensation law.

[10:46] And number two, I'm not required to have worker's compensation.

[10:50] And because I do not use independent contractors

[10:53] and I have no employees So then how is this is going to be run

[11:03] is my question The applicant is here in the audience.

[11:07] If you'd like to address it to them.

[11:09] At least you don't have it.

[11:10] If you can come to the I have looked up the those statute,

[11:16] it's quite extensive in regards to the the definition

[11:19] of that scope isn't able to narrow it down.

[11:21] But it originally, it was just going to be family.

[11:24] And so I thought with just family,

[11:26] we don't have to pull the workman's comp, which just

[11:28] me and my wife and my daughter.

[11:30] But now that we have employees we do have a workman's comp

[11:32] policy either because there's two other people that

[11:35] are coming to work and we've had them

[11:37] all vetted through the state.

[11:39] OK, So you that means that they are employees in or they're not.

[11:44] Yes.

[11:44] They won't be employed, right?

[11:46] Yeah.

[11:47] Friday when we open their employees,

[11:49] technically, they're just waiting

[11:53] So there's the application has to be updated.

[11:54] And again when that does happen, they

[11:57] will need to provide their updated worker's

[11:59] comp certificate to the state of Minnesota.

[12:02] OK Okay.

[12:04] I just then almost up to the state.

[12:05] Okay.

[12:06] Please.

[12:06] Please do not appreciate that.

[12:08] Expect so much for the clarification Thank you.

[12:11] Thanks.

[12:12] All right.

[12:13] Anything else, Mr. Canada or.

[12:15] Thank you All right.

[12:16] So then, looking for an approval.

[12:18] So i'm going to make a motion to approve

[12:20] the application I'll second.

[12:22] Okay.

[12:23] We have first and second.

[12:24] Any questions before we vote ?

[12:26] All in favor.

[12:26] Signify by saying i, i any opposed That's unanimously

[12:31] And I would like to make a record,

[12:32] Mr. Mayor, that i'm still against the location

[12:35] of the business.

[12:35] So make that or the Okay, I did vote for the consent.

[12:42] The meeting, all the legal requirements by the state.

[12:43] Yes, sir They do All right.

[12:47] Move on to what is now known.

[12:48] Be in asked to consider approval of a resolution

[12:49] and authorize the approval of Northwest Old Town project

[12:52] Engineer proposal from wCB.

[12:54] So, Heidi, are you are you kicking this off?

[12:56] I'm going to I'm going to start it and pass it over

[12:57] to her for the scope of, as we all

[13:00] know the scope of the project has changed over the last couple

[13:04] of months The purpose of this report

[13:06] is to request that the city council approved a resolution

[13:09] authorizing the approval of the Northwest Old Town Project

[13:12] engineering proposal from WSP with the bare bones

[13:18] iteration of the Northwest Old Town Project.

[13:20] The revised scope was developed followed by the direction

[13:23] by the city council on July 22 and then

[13:26] now we're moving forward with that scaled down alternative Are

[13:31] the city originally will forward with a construction

[13:34] full reconstruction of the project including

[13:36] drainage roadway and utility improvements following

[13:40] some significant community engagement and mixed feedback

[13:43] regarding assessment costs.

[13:44] And the project's scale.

[13:46] The council directed staff to pursue a barebones alternative

[13:52] This now revised option focuses on some essential infrastructure

[13:56] needs including water main replacement along nine blocks

[14:00] within the project corridor.

[14:02] Some spot repair is on the sanitary sewer

[14:05] and that same area.

[14:06] And then the pavement restoration above those digs

[14:10] that are being done for the utility work.

[14:13] This does not include any new drainage or stormwater

[14:16] improvements for that area The budget and the cost estimates

[14:20] are included in your packet.

[14:21] And I am now going to turn it over to Heidi

[14:24] to talk about the proposal And one last thing

[14:27] I would like to include the the cost estimate and the funding

[14:33] does include this an engineer estimate in the

[14:36] in the funds for the project.

[14:38] So this is not above and beyond the estimated 2.1 million.

[14:42] This includes the engineering costs

[14:44] as well Thank you mr. Health and Council members.

[14:48] Yes, we put together the design proposal This is to move

[14:51] forward from this point.

[14:52] If authorize, we would move forward with final design.

[14:54] We've done a lot of preliminary work,

[14:55] so while we have the survey is done

[14:57] and all this oil borings are done and everything is Donna,

[15:00] we're ready to roll into final design

[15:02] And so our proposal includes the final design and bidding.

[15:06] We would just have one more neighborhood meeting,

[15:08] really preconceived action.

[15:09] At this point, we are proposing to maintain the project website

[15:13] and people could go to the website

[15:14] and stay up to date on what we're doing,

[15:16] sign up for email updates.

[15:18] We propose to include weekly when construction is underway.

[15:21] We find it very helpful to have weekly emails go out

[15:24] to anyone who has signed up for the email list

[15:27] and we can tell them what's going on this week

[15:28] and what's going to be disrupted And the so the final plans

[15:33] and specification of the bidding, public information,

[15:36] just maintaining that communication with the community

[15:38] who's being impacted by construction The construction

[15:41] survey administration observation during construction,

[15:44] which would be next year.

[15:46] And then the material testing that needs to occur just

[15:49] to make sure it's built right.

[15:51] And so our total design proposal is detailed out in your packet

[15:54] a total cost of $315,000 $174.

[15:58] The schedule would be, again, we would dive into final design,

[16:02] have that wrapped up by the end of the year,

[16:04] God forbid, in January which is an ideal time to go off

[16:07] for bids, jumping to construction by May,

[16:09] June of next year And again, a much simpler

[16:12] project because we're just replacing water main

[16:15] and pavement really.

[16:15] I do think it's important just to note,

[16:17] we know there are drainage concerns out there.

[16:19] And so it's important to just be very cognizant of the fact

[16:23] we are not addressing those.

[16:24] We will do everything we can to make sure we're not making

[16:26] things worse, but we really won't have any ability

[16:28] to make substantial improvements without adding

[16:31] storm sewer All right.

[16:34] Questions for Heidi.

[16:35] I do.

[16:35] Go ahead.

[16:36] I do Have you heard any pros and cons of now the new concept?

[16:39] I love the bare bones How we calling it?

[16:42] Have you heard anything on the email at all?

[16:43] I haven't heard anything.

[16:44] I had.

[16:45] No, I have not.

[16:46] I would ask staff if they've heard any feedback.

[16:49] Nothing at City Hall either.

[16:50] OK It must be good.

[16:53] Is it?

[16:53] Yes.

[16:54] Now things are good then All right.

[16:56] Thank you.

[16:57] My sense, if I may My sense is there's some relief

[17:00] among many that about.

[17:03] No, no assessments.

[17:04] There was clearly a lot of concern about the assessments

[17:06] that were proposed.

[17:07] And I think that was i know there was at least a couple

[17:10] of folks who expressed relief that they

[17:12] wouldn't be faced with that.

[17:13] Perfect.

[17:13] Great.

[17:14] Thank you.

[17:14] Thanks, Heidi Come on in Sit down So I will say, I, you know,

[17:25] thank you to you and Justin you both of you

[17:27] spent a lot of time talking to a lot of people,

[17:29] listening to a lot of different opinions.

[17:32] So that is very much appreciated And obviously, we got

[17:36] a lot of different opinions.

[17:37] Right.

[17:37] And it was tough to come to a consensus until we came to

[17:42] and I don't think it's fair to call baseball.

[17:44] And these are core task critical things right

[17:47] underground that are needed.

[17:48] And the primary reason this all got

[17:49] talked about 30 years ago when I read the newspaper,

[17:52] I felt like you kind of had a bad perception.

[17:54] It does.

[17:56] And are very critical things that healthy will prevent

[17:58] from having to dig up and make repairs and waterline

[18:01] We've had to do a few times.

[18:03] I mean, it was stated on the record,

[18:06] bare bones So it's someone said i mean, it was someone said it.

[18:13] Yeah, I do.

[18:15] I mean, yeah.

[18:16] Mayor So.

[18:17] Question on proposed project funding

[18:21] why are we taking so little from the street

[18:24] fund and the water fund and taking so much

[18:28] more from the restricted fund?

[18:31] I'll defer that to the finance director,

[18:33] Sherry yeah I don't have my notes in front of me,

[18:42] so I don't remember exactly what we had decided.

[18:47] But I know that we started off with the available money out

[18:52] of the restricted amount from the sale of the electric and we

[18:57] were back to backwards from there But the water fund has

[19:03] 400,000 out of it because the majority of the work is

[19:09] to replace waterline and then the street fund is picking up

[19:15] the rest of the cost related to repairing

[19:22] the street to go all the way out to the curbs and everything.

[19:27] And send sanitary sewer is the lowest because as well.

[19:33] It makes sense.

[19:34] It's the least affected.

[19:36] So you don't want to overfunded right Yes.

[19:39] So it makes sense to me know, but rather

[19:41] than starting with the restricted fund amount what

[19:44] I mean, do we have enough water fund and street fund money

[19:47] to do more because we could reallocate

[19:49] that that restricted fund money elsewhere

[19:52] if we had it available?

[19:54] Correct So with the street fund, we really

[19:58] don't have a lot more in there.

[20:01] And so we've already moved as much

[20:04] as we can into the water fund.

[20:07] But I also thought the street fund wouldn't need as much

[20:10] either because most of the road tear up

[20:11] is because of the water fund.

[20:13] So that could apply to fixing the streets

[20:17] I think that can be argued to the room Sharon, Could I?

[20:27] I, I have some recollection of our conversation but Sharon

[20:31] and administrator Hill.

[20:33] And I were reviewing the different financial options

[20:35] and the water fund balance is well, it's strong.

[20:39] The total water main cost is over $1.1 million.

[20:42] And if you also included 50% of the street costs

[20:45] that goes to be quite a hefty bill.

[20:47] And I think there are some concerns there wasn't

[20:49] a enough money in that water fund

[20:51] cash in the water fund to that.

[20:53] We really didn't want to take that much money out of the water

[20:55] fund is what I recall from our conversation, which

[20:58] is how this recommendation came forward.

[21:00] Sure But we're settling it.

[21:02] Roughly 25% of the total bill coming out of water fund.

[21:05] Yeah.

[21:05] And is that because of the lack of cash in the waterfront You

[21:10] know, that's a good that was having I

[21:18] I would say that that was a good portion

[21:21] of the reasoning behind that.

[21:23] And then we had the money available and yeah,

[21:28] we could allocate some of that money to a different project

[21:33] But trying to keep the funds.

[21:37] So that they're not we're not putting them in jeopardy.

[21:41] And at the same time and tonight's vote

[21:43] would not lock that in its proposed correct

[21:45] So we can talk about that further later That is accurate.

[21:49] Councilmember DeLay, this is preliminary

[21:52] This is pre engineering So once the engineers come back

[21:55] with their overall assessment and estimate of the project

[21:59] got bid, we'd then be able to reallocate and make changes

[22:04] if desired.

[22:05] And we can bring this to the finance advisory

[22:07] before we come back to the council

[22:08] as well for a little bit more in-depth conversation on that.

[22:10] Thank you I was going to ask going to rely

[22:13] on your customer meetings.

[22:14] So your time on the water commission

[22:18] I remember there being robust conversations about this money

[22:21] and about it be an earmark towards all town,

[22:24] you know, area for utilities.

[22:27] One when they were going through all these conversations

[22:29] But I just don't remember specifics.

[22:32] Yeah, I don't know what was included in any resolution

[22:36] or in that final sale But yeah, that's

[22:38] my recollection too right?

[22:39] The restricted funds and part of the and I say that impetus,

[22:43] but part of the reason in going through with that sale

[22:45] too was be able to earmark those funds make them

[22:48] restricted funds for a project that have been sitting waiting

[22:51] 30 years for funding doesn't mean that four years

[22:54] later council can look at the current state of funding

[22:57] and determine you know what, where that money comes out of.

[23:00] And I'm not opposed to use and restricted funds, right?

[23:02] Yeah.

[23:03] No matter of the amount But I totally understand where we're

[23:06] looking at a proposed project, then it makes

[23:08] sense to go back to the direction from four years ago

[23:12] through the sale and identify that, you know,

[23:15] that was at that time where that money was earmarked for.

[23:19] If we find another way to help fund it or balance that out,

[23:22] let's go forward over the next year for it

[23:26] and just try to give you a bit of feedback

[23:27] from what I remember the conversations being

[23:29] just high level.

[23:30] Oh, yeah very well aware of what the restricted funds therefore

[23:34] and that dollar amount.

[23:36] But if we don't need all of that,

[23:38] we should be prudent about the dollars

[23:40] and apply that funds that are taxpayers are paying for it.

[23:43] Filling the water fund right That's in the water bill

[23:46] So just managing that appropriately OK.

[23:51] And the other questions for Heidi

[23:54] know, staff So tonight I'm we're approving their engineer

[24:00] and proposal to come back with a final design so Yeah

[24:06] the project engineer for a level design.

[24:08] Yeah so we're requesting a approval of resolution 360 2026

[24:14] authorizing the approval of the project engineering proposal.

[24:18] Is there anything specific about the proposal

[24:20] that you would like?

[24:21] How do you do that?

[24:22] But I'll make that motion and I'll second that in the summer.

[24:25] OK.

[24:25] So I do have a question for Heidi.

[24:27] I talked to her privately, but want to bring it up.

[24:29] So just driving through there and looking at the streets

[24:31] where the water lines are going to get replaced.

[24:33] And the streets.

[24:33] I get replaced.

[24:34] One across streets ninth Avenue.

[24:38] Notice how poor the asphalt condition was in looks.

[24:42] There's some type of a chip seal put on there.

[24:44] But even you know, even half of that's gone.

[24:46] And there's a lot of alligator cracking.

[24:48] And the roads in poor condition.

[24:49] So i guess my question is there's other a couple

[24:52] of across streets.

[24:53] I see a tenth and 11th Avenue between Cedar and Elm If we did

[24:58] not, you know, do ninth as part of this project how would that

[25:04] prioritize with the other street maintenance plan that we have

[25:09] So I'm assuming that we have some type of pavement condition

[25:13] index where everything is ranked So did we have that ranked

[25:17] at all somewhere because it was included

[25:20] in this project for so long?

[25:22] We did not have that in our current portfolio

[25:25] As we update that, knowing that these streets are not going

[25:28] to be done starting in 2027, we can

[25:30] add that to our pavement improvement plan.

[25:32] And have these dedicated in years, years.

[25:35] And in the future years depending

[25:37] upon how it ranks with the other ones that we have in our list

[25:40] right now.

[25:40] OK Just wanted to put that out there.

[25:43] I don't know for the raza Council looked at it or not,

[25:45] but the other cross streets are fairly good shape.

[25:47] This one just seems to be not not so good.

[25:50] And it's going to have to be replaced sooner than later.

[25:52] At least.

[25:53] A mill and overlay ave looks pretty good.

[25:55] Still.

[25:56] I'm just looking at the bookends of the of the east west streets

[25:59] when I'm looking at Cedar and Elms.

[26:01] But if that's something we could address and make sure

[26:04] we put that back onto the priority plan

[26:06] for the street maintenance, that would be

[26:09] advisable Good catch All right.

[26:12] We have a first and second.

[26:13] Any other questions No.

[26:15] All right.

[26:16] All in favor.

[26:16] Signify by saying I, I any opposed unanimously All right.

[26:22] Now we'll move on to the 2026 city staff climate survey.

[26:26] So our HR Specialist Travis miles want to kick this off

[26:36] Thank you, mayor and council.

[26:37] Thank you, Heidi So we want to establish

[26:42] a baseline understanding our employees

[26:44] experiences, perceptions and priorities across the city.

[26:47] To my knowledge, we've never done a climate survey before

[26:49] with the city staff So the survey we did,

[26:52] we decided to give employees a confidential and structured

[26:54] approach to share their perspectives while providing

[26:56] leadership with meaningful information to identify areas

[26:59] of strength address organizational challenges

[27:02] and develop strategies that support employees,

[27:04] improve the city's ability to effectively serve the community

[27:08] So as workplace climate Survey was conducted from June Third

[27:11] through July 3rd, capturing employees perspectives across

[27:14] all departments in leadership levels,

[27:16] the survey went to all employees, including full time,

[27:19] part time and seasonal The department response rate

[27:23] averaged between 45 to 100%.

[27:25] And the overall city employee response was 63%.

[27:29] And that included full time, part time and seasonal employees

[27:32] as well So overall, the results they found

[27:36] reflected a workforce that's highly committed

[27:38] to public service, proud of its work

[27:40] and strongly connected to coworkers

[27:42] and their immediate supervisors At the same time,

[27:45] employees identified several organizational challenges

[27:47] that may affect morale efficiency, service delivery,

[27:51] and the long term workplace and workforce sustainability

[27:55] Most consistent city organizational strengths are

[27:58] strong teamwork, employee camaraderie, pride in serving

[28:02] the community high levels of personal accomplishment

[28:05] and positive relationships with supervisors Commitment

[28:08] to ethical and professional service,

[28:11] strong relationships and public service motivation

[28:14] which is great.

[28:16] The most benefit opportunities are staffing levels workforce

[28:20] capacity workload, distribution employee burnout, community

[28:24] patient transparency, aging equipment and facilities

[28:29] technology Doing better with creative element

[28:33] and professional development and employee recommendation

[28:37] And while being in alignment between the operational needs

[28:40] and available resources and a greater understanding

[28:43] for department operations by the city Council So with a survey.

[28:48] We found Five strategic areas we can concentrate on,

[28:52] and those included.

[28:53] One was workforce capacity She was communication,

[28:57] transparency 3 is employee investment

[29:01] or is resource modernization and five is the city council

[29:06] engagement So the next steps.

[29:08] This month, Administrator Hill and myself

[29:10] will be meeting with department heads

[29:12] to discuss these five areas and steps we can take

[29:14] and the different apartments and throughout the city As stated,

[29:18] one opportunity identified through the survey

[29:20] is strengthening City Council engagement with staff

[29:23] and an increase awareness of all work happenings

[29:25] across city departments.

[29:27] I encourage you as City Council members in their

[29:30] to invite staff to work sessions and to meet with departments

[29:33] to learn more about their roles, responsibilities and the service

[29:36] they provide These conversations can strengthen communication

[29:39] and build relationships and provide greater insights

[29:43] and resources needed to effectively serve our community

[29:47] With a conclusion to submit, the city has a committed workforce

[29:52] that wants to succeed, but employees are increasingly

[29:55] seeking the organizational capacity

[29:56] and support necessary to do their jobs

[29:59] The greatest strengths are the teamwork.

[30:02] The public service commitment, the employee knowledge

[30:05] and positive supervisor relationships.

[30:08] It provides a strong foundation for improvement

[30:12] And once again, based on the survey the primary challenges is

[30:15] ensuring that staffing, workload, communication

[30:17] and resources, technology and professional development

[30:22] and organizational decisions can keep

[30:23] pace with operational demands of a community growth.

[30:28] Any questions We have questions for Travis

[30:32] We've seen the actual survey we did.

[30:34] Council has item Oh, go ahead I guess

[30:42] I'd be most interested to follow in the conversation

[30:45] with Department heads and stuff of what the next steps are.

[30:49] You know been in environments where surveys happen.

[30:54] If there isn't follow up and staff don't see

[30:56] follow up the surveys No good.

[30:58] Exactly.

[31:00] You know I will i want to be careful friend and a little

[31:03] disappointed by the a return rate 63%

[31:06] and I'm not trying to put that on anybody besides say you

[31:12] know again for the next one.

[31:14] How do we encourage That's how do we get that feedback back?

[31:18] Because there's that makes what would be the plus minus on that

[31:21] on the results right?

[31:26] There's those two pieces.

[31:28] The third one to that i thought of, you know,

[31:31] I like the idea of how can council you

[31:34] know include and try to bring staff in.

[31:38] I think that's also a both ways, right Sometimes it's probably

[31:43] harder when our meetings start at 6 to have recognition

[31:46] And but we do have, you know, from time to time, whether it's

[31:53] damp or chief fire with this force,

[31:55] with the fire department coming in

[31:57] But there's so many other departments and roles that, you

[31:59] know, I think it would be helpful again,

[32:03] from my perspective of the public employee,

[32:06] I like bringing staff in and talking about the good offs

[32:09] and the projects that they just completed

[32:10] and what they did with the board, what the council

[32:13] that they're aware of.

[32:14] Some of those faces behind the projects

[32:16] and behind what we sometimes only see and in our agenda.

[32:19] So I guess I would just ask that that is both ways in the future

[32:25] Not everyone likes to be up in front of the in front of council

[32:28] and be recognized to speak.

[32:30] But we do know or at least I feel from the past

[32:33] that sometimes the high performers and the people

[32:37] that we identify as high performers internally

[32:39] are the ones that want to get recognized and want to have,

[32:42] you know, come in and whether it's getting a picture

[32:45] or a handshake with council.

[32:47] So just some things that keep in mind from the your and what

[32:52] that council member means.

[32:53] A couple of things.

[32:54] We've done deals.

[32:54] We've done a sort of a different survey

[32:56] with the team to see how do they like praises because you do have

[32:59] those people that give me in front of everybody

[33:01] else and other people are like just I just want my department

[33:03] head to certainly tell me, thank you, great job So I've share

[33:06] that information with department heads.

[33:08] They can make sure they recognize at the level

[33:10] that that person prefers The question to you,

[33:13] how do we get more responses And so I

[33:15] think part of the thing to you that I saw when I'm doing

[33:17] the survey and we've talked about this at our leadership

[33:21] level to here at City staff, so currently with our city staff

[33:26] our time liquor store employees and firefighters that are not

[33:30] officers don't currently have city email addresses

[33:33] And so to get it out to those employees

[33:35] I do use a personal email address as that we have on file.

[33:38] Now, we don't know how actively do they currently check those?

[33:41] Are they the one those people that have, you know a thousand

[33:44] in boxes, right And so as we're looking at our budget

[33:48] and what we need for budget, right, one of those

[33:50] is being able to like budget to get everybody an email address,

[33:54] which does come at an expense That's something

[33:56] to think about for the future.

[33:58] Go Yeah, sure.

[34:00] So you know, obviously i come from the private sector,

[34:05] so I mean, way to get the great grade point on the 63%

[34:10] and how you can get the survey up there.

[34:13] You know what you can get 100% on when you have one on one

[34:16] meetings with your employees scheduled They can

[34:22] if it's every two weeks, once a month, once a quarter.

[34:24] I've said this a couple of different times,

[34:27] but all the points that you made on the five,

[34:29] except for the city council engagement, which i'll add

[34:32] to it here in a second, although those can be addressed

[34:35] in those one on one meetings or a staff meeting,

[34:39] I'm not sure why In some I can tell

[34:42] me because there are staff members

[34:43] or, you know, staff heads.

[34:46] Do you have them Because employees obviously either do

[34:51] want to, you know, a great job.

[34:52] Some might need a little bit more

[34:55] mentoring to get up to you know, the expectations of the roles

[35:00] and responsibilities So I just encourage,

[35:05] encourage encourage that.

[35:06] Again having these one on when one on one meeting.

[35:10] And so you can talk about personal stuff here.

[35:12] What do you want to do in the next five years or one year

[35:17] And the guy might point to your job.

[35:19] Travis Yeah I want your job.

[35:21] Well, let's get you there You know, you're hiring your are

[35:25] hiring your replacement You know,

[35:27] as you might may want, you know, that goes with anyone

[35:31] So I just really encourage that.

[35:35] And and the city council engagement you know,

[35:39] we are part of the advisory committees

[35:42] and maybe that just seems to be an agenda item.

[35:45] You know, when we meet monthly, you know, to talk about it

[35:48] and talk through some issues that maybe we can help solve.

[35:52] But employees have great ideas too.

[35:57] You know, that we have to listen, listening is key is.

[36:02] So I mean, that's that's my encouragement.

[36:04] So I think thanks for all the staff

[36:07] that participated in in this and recognizing their talents.

[36:11] I don't know what each of them do.

[36:13] But you know what the grass cut the you know,

[36:17] things are getting done and the city is running.

[36:20] So i appreciate, you know, all you

[36:22] know, everything that the staff does

[36:24] including the employees Thanks.

[36:26] Thank you.

[36:27] Yeah, because my library, I know a lot of our department heads

[36:30] have been meeting with your members, too.

[36:31] I know some members even came up to me on the survey went out,

[36:34] and they're like, Is this really confidential?

[36:36] How do I know this is competent?

[36:38] All right.

[36:38] And so all the reporting i did was no fewer than four people.

[36:42] So if you see something on, there is no fewer than four

[36:44] people within that group.

[36:45] And it's a lot of talking with team members on staff

[36:49] to reassure them.

[36:51] So I think the other thing is there's

[36:52] two things that's going to make the number go up next year.

[36:55] I think A is them believing that the stuff they shared

[36:58] was confidential and be seeing action being taken

[37:01] and not just I said something, but nothing ever happened.

[37:04] So i think those are two things they'll get the number up.

[37:07] And we also did get replies of people being like

[37:10] very excited that we did this.

[37:11] And want to do it again in a year from now

[37:13] to see how we improve.

[37:14] Great Okay.

[37:16] That's all I actually think.

[37:18] I think as i was thinking the same thing,

[37:20] I think if it's true, I me, this is a great start

[37:23] because remember, this has never been done It hasn't to me

[37:27] is just like a good.

[37:28] OK, this is how we're looking.

[37:29] And I think just you know, and there's definitely

[37:31] room for improvement I think if we show results,

[37:34] as you just include insinuated, I think you're going

[37:37] to we'll get the numbers up.

[37:39] And I like Patrick's a mr. which was Six 3%.

[37:43] You explained reason why me.

[37:46] So I think now if we fall through show results.

[37:50] It was back out again, I think you i think the numbers

[37:54] will improve definitely.

[37:55] I know it is a really bad you know something went sideways

[37:59] but it should it should because showing

[38:02] that we're all interested in what the employees do.

[38:05] But Anderson is doing and you said teamwork.

[38:10] So build on the teamwork.

[38:11] And then from that is just going to go up.

[38:13] So thank you for putting this all together.

[38:15] You're welcome.

[38:17] I i'll jump on it.

[38:19] Councilmember I bangor's comment about city council engagement.

[38:22] I would like to understand what employees are looking for.

[38:26] I think it would help us.

[38:28] I will say to sometimes I know a lot of them watch the meetings.

[38:31] And so sometimes they can be kind of blunt,

[38:32] right I want the budget.

[38:34] Good.

[38:35] Good luck on that price tag.

[38:36] Right.

[38:36] Maybe we need to be better with how we frame things.

[38:39] I maybe that's looked at like we're not supporting them

[38:43] and hopefully and this is where I'm

[38:44] going to rely on our city administrator

[38:47] We need to have that communication funneled to.

[38:49] Right.

[38:50] And we're kind of trying to find that balance

[38:52] with the values and the standards

[38:55] we have in this community.

[38:56] And what we can afford through taxpayer

[38:58] the taxpayer system, right?

[39:00] So it doesn't mean we don't support the employers

[39:02] or we don't want to create a capacity or equipment,

[39:05] but there's just a balancing act.

[39:07] It's hard and i think we can do a better job sometimes

[39:09] to maybe not being so blunt on staff

[39:11] and trying to find a better way to frame it.

[39:14] So they maybe employees understand kind of the battle

[39:17] that we're up against as well.

[39:19] I think we'd love to give you know,

[39:21] staff everything that they want that they want this year, right.

[39:24] And next five years.

[39:25] But we just you know, you look at your home budget, too.

[39:28] You can't afford everything all at one time.

[39:30] But how do we get there?

[39:31] How can we get to it?

[39:32] Yes And maybe we can present that as a better

[39:36] image from the council.

[39:37] We don't want to tell, you know how can we get to.

[39:39] Yes, you may not be the way that you think,

[39:41] but let's keep talking about it.

[39:43] So I guess that's my feedback on the City Council engagement

[39:47] Thank you.

[39:47] I'd love to see more engagement too.

[39:49] I do know that through a couple rounds, different organizations

[39:53] I've been through sometimes as well.

[39:55] What is it going to matter?

[39:56] Why should I waste my time taking this?

[39:58] That could be a mindset too, that we

[40:00] need to change because if we don't show some improvement.

[40:03] And some reaction, you're going to get that response

[40:05] next year to anything.

[40:07] And you add on to that.

[40:08] Maybe, if you don't mind.

[40:09] I think the big thing to you, I think in years past a while,

[40:13] though, there is kind of a work session on an off day where

[40:17] the council and the city members or department heads

[40:19] can meet to really describe what their differences because they

[40:22] don't want I set up there.

[40:23] I can't tell you the difference between the building inspector

[40:25] and the building official.

[40:26] Right.

[40:26] What do you do Right.

[40:27] But having that time to really find out exactly what you do

[40:30] and where does that position mean?

[40:31] And I think, getting to know the team

[40:34] before I actually got on staff.

[40:35] I didn't realize, you know our normal schedules 8 to 4:30,

[40:38] I didn't know there's people coming out Seven saying that

[40:40] 6:30 to get the stuff done that needs to get done you know,

[40:43] and the city staff.

[40:44] I think does a really good job at looking at what

[40:47] our needs are, realizing what the budget needs are

[40:49] and asking for what we need based on what's going on.

[40:51] I think having those conversations.

[40:52] I think is going to open up more dialogue

[40:54] between staff and city council.

[40:56] So I'm looking forward to you at the Springs

[40:58] and looking at okay so you know, when Ja'Ceon was here, he

[41:04] he did an event with employees and then talked

[41:07] about doing some type of a camaraderie

[41:10] that between staff and council.

[41:12] So that might be an idea as well.

[41:15] It was sort of tug of war.

[41:16] So they can just be the five of us Yeah But you know,

[41:23] things like that when you get to know people

[41:25] on a different level, you know, you learn always

[41:27] a hobby All of sudden, it changes your perception

[41:29] about somebody right?

[41:30] Or maybe you went through something.

[41:31] They went through.

[41:32] So I would encourage maybe to look

[41:35] at that as some type of a way that we can maybe strengthen

[41:38] the communication in the relationship between council

[41:40] engagement and city employees.

[41:43] You know American and let you know and some of this

[41:46] may be frequency.

[41:47] And we all like to do it annually

[41:49] just because it fits the calendar and all that stuff.

[41:50] But there's a lot of these things are bigger items, right?

[41:53] It's not going get solved in a month.

[41:55] not going to get solved in six months.

[41:56] And so asking every year, they may not

[41:58] feel or see the amount of change that they're

[42:00] expecting in that timeframe.

[42:01] So don't necessarily do it every year.

[42:03] So we can actually have some time

[42:05] to implement some of the changes we're looking for.

[42:07] Yeah.

[42:07] Okay Yeah.

[42:10] Any questions?

[42:11] Are feedback from the staff here?

[42:16] Would you guys i mean have like go to the month Right.

[42:19] So nominate an employee, Correct.

[42:22] How did, how do they get recognized?

[42:24] Is that in front of or you know just through department or Sure.

[42:31] Other thank you for bringing that up.

[42:33] Council member or.

[42:35] Yes, we do have a gold award, a an award

[42:39] that you found with that little group.

[42:41] You guys, it's it's a great award.

[42:42] Yeah And what it is, it's an interdepartmental award that

[42:48] is monthly transferred from one person

[42:50] to the next outside of your department

[42:54] The first one that received.

[42:55] It was Mr. Sandra or down the way here that went to me

[42:59] And I'm drug.

[43:01] John McFarlane.

[43:02] McFarlane and the water department from Hemet

[43:05] went to Sergeant SAP with his years of service and his service

[43:09] to the community and now Rachelle

[43:13] bell just got it the last time.

[43:14] So it's it's floating around.

[43:16] It gives an opportunity for somebody

[43:18] within a department to look around

[43:20] at the rest of the departments and

[43:23] who they see in putting in the hard work

[43:26] and who they appreciate and why.

[43:28] And so we do a little blurb on why they're getting it.

[43:31] And we send it out to all staff along with the picture

[43:33] and the floating trophy continues

[43:36] to move around our departments and our staff.

[43:39] And it's been received quite well.

[43:41] The first one was at our spring barbecue

[43:43] here at City Hall and we're continuing with that tradition

[43:48] that we're building. anything else from council?

[43:52] No, no no.

[43:54] There.

[43:54] All right.

[43:55] Thank you Thank everybody.

[43:55] Appreciate it, Travis, Thank you All right.

[43:59] Move on to the next one here.

[44:00] And that is to consider approval of a resolution adopting

[44:03] the 2027 preliminary levy and budget

[44:05] for the city of North Branch.

[44:07] So our finance director, Sharon, let's get the tiger open.

[44:10] Let's get started Thank you, Mayor and council

[44:13] are so kind of playing off of travis's information

[44:20] and i did meet with Councilmember and council member

[44:25] Meachum and the mayor, Schreiber and we discussed some things.

[44:32] And one of the things that I brought up to you

[44:35] is the concept of looking into more of a performance

[44:42] or priority based budget, which i think if we were

[44:47] to do something like that with the goal of a 10 or 20 year

[44:53] layout so that we know what's going on

[44:56] and what how to build this budget every year

[45:00] based off of priorities instead of

[45:06] off of the prior year's budget.

[45:08] I think it would have a much more meaningful

[45:12] effect for everybody.

[45:14] So it's something that I want to delve into deeper

[45:19] and be able to bring that forward

[45:22] And that is something I hope to do sooner rather than later.

[45:26] I don't plan on waiting for the next budget to get that going.

[45:31] So I've been doing some research already into some of the things

[45:36] on the GFR ways website.

[45:40] That's government finance officers, organization.

[45:44] So they have a lot of materials out there

[45:48] to help with stuff like that.

[45:50] So I hope to be able to bring that forward maybe by the first

[45:58] of the year to try to start incorporating that and thinking

[46:03] about whether we want to go with a priority based or performance

[46:08] based And if whichever one we choose how would

[46:13] we get that laid out with our goals and objectives

[46:18] and to get that on track for the future So and so

[46:24] with having said that two weeks ago, you

[46:30] had a request for a a 9% an idea of what 9% is in the packet.

[46:43] I have It's actually 11.35 at the general fund and debt level

[46:55] If we take the 23,000 and 139,000 out of the one column

[47:03] that with the debt takes us to a 9%, are you talking position,

[47:09] Sharon, could you just clarify that when you say the 39,000.

[47:12] So Tanya, if you go to the model library so the in that middle,

[47:26] that's circled with the dotted lines you see at the top there

[47:33] is the 23,000 is part of the parks manager wage But I think

[47:41] we found some savings in my discussions

[47:46] with Patrick Meacham last week.

[47:50] He mentioned with pulling some of the work

[47:55] away from some of the parks work,

[47:58] away from our community development staff,

[48:02] that maybe we could reallocate some of that wage

[48:05] to the Economic Development Authority

[48:10] and that's not to say we're moving that there

[48:18] just to get it moved there.

[48:20] It would be that they would be working more hours on the EDA

[48:24] and therefore allowing us to move some of our wage,

[48:28] and I think that at 23,000 I did some calculations

[48:34] and even if we move 10% of their wages over,

[48:43] it comes the 30,000 or so.

[48:46] And I'm not saying we would have 10% to both of them I'm just

[48:51] saying that's a reference point So I think that if we can move

[48:57] some of their response abilities to the economic development

[49:01] or DDA that that would allow them

[49:05] to be more focused on those items that need the work.

[49:11] And yet we be able to afford that parks manager position

[49:17] And the for us.

[49:19] Can I jump in?

[49:20] Yes Yeah.

[49:22] Just since you brought it up.

[49:23] And we haven't had this conversation with the EDA,

[49:25] I'm a member of and like Sharon was saying, I was looking

[49:31] at those numbers, I go, Well, if need to and just

[49:33] using that in Ryan's time, if their time is freed up

[49:37] about these exciting opportunities, the momentum

[49:39] that the idea has would it make sense for as you go back,

[49:44] talk to me and see what they thought?

[49:47] Does it make sense that they would be able to allocate more

[49:49] time to the EDA and then in essence,

[49:52] be able to allocate more of salary from that fund

[49:57] twice to them, which to me, you know again,

[50:01] at the county level is trying to make sure that whatever

[50:04] part my salary is split up in three different departments

[50:08] based on who is coming.

[50:10] So i just asked you to look into Well, then

[50:13] also with that past manager position

[50:17] if we're saving money through WSP by not using the using them

[50:20] for gas services have we calculated that in yet

[50:23] or is that still kind of floating out there?

[50:26] That's out there as well.

[50:27] We were discussing that and i think there is this action that

[50:35] needs to occur that determine how

[50:37] much of that we currently have in the budget about 40,000.

[50:42] And for each year And how much of that could we take ?

[50:50] we would probably still need some gas service from WSP

[50:55] and so we would need to make a determination

[50:58] of how much of that we would still have to have.

[51:01] But there i would think there would be some savings there so

[51:05] that we could utilize some of that

[51:07] as well OK That question is not a question.

[51:13] There's just a lot This is the preliminary, right?

[51:15] So there'll be a lot of puts and takes between now

[51:17] and the final budget.

[51:18] I mean, like parks manager position,

[51:20] you can change that amount based on a higher rate, right?

[51:23] So those details albeit important come December think

[51:28] it's more about, what do we want to cap

[51:30] this preliminary number at Are we okay with the 11.3 now?

[51:34] So it this yeah.

[51:35] On this form it's 11.35.

[51:39] But if we take out from if we take the amounts out

[51:45] of that staffing column that drops it to 9%

[51:51] and it says 814 down at the bottom,

[51:55] because the debt does not end there.

[51:57] Yeah But if you add in the debt, that brings you up to a 9%

[52:03] levy increase for the levy.

[52:06] So having part of those and i took the privilege I guess just

[52:22] to give a marker what I put in this prior already is not

[52:26] necessarily the way that it'll fall out but I wanted to give

[52:30] some measure for you guys to be able to see how much we could

[52:36] afford with the the 9% you had talked about So we would have

[52:44] a 100,000 for the equipment and then

[52:48] we would have the 108,000 for.

[52:51] So yeah, so 93,000 for the parks manager.

[52:57] And that 86,000 when we talked about the health insurance

[53:02] premiums the 118,000, we discussed was for citywide Yeah,

[53:09] not all of that will come out of the levy dollars.

[53:13] So I calculated how much was and that's that $86,000.

[53:18] So that is what that would bring our insurance to a 15% increase.

[53:25] OK And so all of that would come out at 9%.

[53:29] And when do we think we'll have the insurance

[53:31] premiums and a more locked in They're telling us

[53:36] October is when they'll have their perfect.

[53:39] Yes.

[53:39] Yeah Can I ask a question on that?

[53:41] Because that was one of my notes.

[53:43] Go ahead.

[53:43] Is that okay?

[53:45] All right.

[53:46] So whose was responsible to the Four representatives

[53:51] for the health care Your.

[53:54] Okay And when does one are those conversations happen?

[53:57] Oh, they're happening right now.

[53:58] OK.

[53:59] I just talked to them on the phone today

[54:01] again to see if I could get any idea of any kind of number

[54:03] out there.

[54:03] And they said, no, our we won't have numbers into October

[54:06] and then the rates go up in March once year.

[54:09] So even who do we use today?

[54:13] So we go through the 49 or health and trust OK.

[54:16] Yeah And so right now to the way we have our contracts set up

[54:22] with our different bargaining agreements

[54:24] as our set up with a fee that is based on that amount.

[54:28] So that's why we're looking at probably

[54:29] maintaining them through any have to be

[54:31] locked in with those guys.

[54:33] You don't have to be locked in.

[54:34] But right now we're seeing the best rates from them.

[54:37] OK And you've tried.

[54:38] I mean, you're going to others as well.

[54:41] It's kind of like an open book, the bid process.

[54:44] Yeah.

[54:44] Our big one will be you know, next year.

[54:48] Right So we're looking to see what what's out there.

[54:51] So just for the best for the city

[54:53] and the best for the city and the employees.

[54:55] Yeah.

[54:55] I mean, then I'll say that.

[54:57] So because we start, you know, our,

[54:58] our negotiate is early on to.

[55:01] And you know, we're small potatoes you know.

[55:03] Yeah.

[55:04] Obviously.

[55:05] So the other, the other caveat into that

[55:08] too is because right now.

[55:10] So prior to 2026 we had high deductibles

[55:15] that also had obligations to contributed to the HSA or Veba

[55:20] accounts And so our negotiation with the unions

[55:25] was to switch to what we currently have and so if we're

[55:29] trying to try and switch that insurance for next year,

[55:32] we might have to try and renegotiate with our unions

[55:34] based on our current contract So that's

[55:36] why I would probably be, you know,

[55:38] not a significant change going into 2027.

[55:42] I definitely looking at those in 2028.

[55:45] So yeah, I mean, because people are hearing it was,

[55:47] what are we say 12 to 20, I'm sorry, or age of money it's 12.

[55:51] We came up with that number, then, you know,

[55:54] I think that was your initial feedback from insurance.

[55:56] And I think you've got a new number since then.

[55:58] That was a while ago.

[55:59] I think 12 12 to 20 was the range that Sharon had given us.

[56:04] So when I was just doing some simple research today,

[56:07] what I was saying is that across the entire country,

[56:10] the Affordable Care Act accounts you're looking

[56:13] at maybe a 15% increase.

[56:15] That's across entire us. the difference

[56:19] is you have different kinds of plans around what's

[56:21] called a self funded plan.

[56:23] Now, the self funded plan, which I'm seeing out there,

[56:25] random me for some simple numbers.

[56:28] I can't put scientific data to it as they're seeing 8 to 12%.

[56:32] But that's just a quick search.

[56:34] No guarantees on that.

[56:36] But we are so find out which is different starting over.

[56:38] Yeah, right.

[56:40] So I mean, that's really the whole point

[56:42] is to try to get to a good starting number And then what?

[56:46] Because we so this year was the first year our employees were

[56:50] on that 49 and health care and trust

[56:52] prior to this year our public works employees were

[56:56] on that program So Sharon, I did some looking

[56:58] to see what those rates have been in past years and kind

[57:01] of what increases those were.

[57:02] So we are seeing around that 80% number, if I remember

[57:04] right So we're looking at that kind of trend

[57:07] and then just kind of bump it up as you

[57:08] see some of the trends for other businesses, I guess, right?

[57:13] Correct.

[57:13] Your cities Yeah.

[57:15] And then like I said they'll give us the higher number

[57:18] in a couple of months here.

[57:20] I think in the budget a little bit

[57:21] higher Right on the higher end.

[57:23] Yeah.

[57:23] Don't get me wrong.

[57:24] Now always come down.

[57:25] Yeah, we wonder why that's I was just curious on how

[57:27] the negotiations are because obviously that you I can see it

[57:31] into quite a bit of our preliminary budget talks I mean,

[57:36] I'm not going to get on a diatribe on how long

[57:38] this whole process takes because Yeah

[57:42] that's another other Senate that's I'm just kidding.

[57:49] But but no, it's just it's a big number.

[57:52] And I just want to make sure just like you just said,

[57:55] I mean, just making sure that we're

[57:57] getting that kind of that number that we feel it's going to end

[58:00] up being in October So you can make some like, you know,

[58:03] some good sound decisions as we to tonight

[58:09] So you know for the council I've got questions on the three

[58:13] positions we've gotten position description and kind

[58:15] of the impact and stuff.

[58:17] And the initial feedback on that I mean,

[58:19] we have a couple of months to go through to work through it.

[58:21] So I just I printed them out.

[58:25] And I hope I'll read through them tonight.

[58:26] Okay.

[58:27] So I mean, I understand the request.

[58:29] Yeah.

[58:29] Matter of can we all want to like you said earlier,

[58:33] but we have to make compromises and this feeds into our goals.

[58:38] You know, that we're going to be talking about as well

[58:41] I know for me, one is not that it's not a goal for everybody's

[58:46] staff and council, but, you know, business retention

[58:50] and recruitment is huge.

[58:52] Nate is working a lot of hours.

[58:55] I know Ryan has put a lot of hours in as well.

[58:59] And so for me, if that is in our bullseye,

[59:02] when I look at a position, I probably

[59:04] would be looking at the parts manager

[59:06] But I need more information as we're

[59:08] working through this conversation

[59:09] over the next couple of months to understand how

[59:10] is that going to impact you?

[59:12] What does that bigger picture look like

[59:13] for retention and recruitment?

[59:16] Sharon, you've talked about in all the impact to our

[59:20] to our expenses.

[59:20] You know, when you know, more residential homes come in,

[59:24] that ratio of the return on investment or the expense,

[59:28] I guess, compared to the revenue is not where you want to be,

[59:31] but it's a lot better with business and industrial

[59:34] So we know we've got to a lot of them in the Astral park,

[59:38] we've got others commercial land available so I would love to see

[59:43] us support something that is going to make us even more

[59:47] impactful more effective for that,

[59:49] you know, for that for that goal, I guess.

[59:51] Yeah So I just wanted it.

[59:53] We have a lot of time to work through this,

[59:54] but i've kind of switched where I thought i might

[59:57] be on these three positions.

[59:58] I don't know that I don't think we can do all three this year.

[1:00:01] That's just my initial reaction And Sharon, one of the questions

[1:00:06] I have is when I scroll down here on this model

[1:00:11] before the dotted line is a 6.6 9%, eight.

[1:00:15] And then it's got the Cecl salary in there.

[1:00:19] And then quite a bit of the past manager

[1:00:21] and then the the additional health insurance

[1:00:24] premium, the increase.

[1:00:26] So that would include all those, then and that would be 6.69.

[1:00:30] Or is that is that not the right percentage or those

[1:00:34] amounts without the thousand?

[1:00:35] That's on the other side of the line

[1:00:38] Oh, everything on the left of that line

[1:00:42] is included in the 6.69.

[1:00:45] So if you guys wanted to set it that 6.6, 9%

[1:00:50] that were the lemonade part of the parks

[1:00:53] But I think we can offset that with rate

[1:00:57] by looking at job descriptions and what

[1:01:03] we can allocate other places And then the equipment

[1:01:08] will go away with that.

[1:01:10] But that's not saying we're not going to have savings on some

[1:01:15] of these things too, and that we can use some of those savings

[1:01:19] for equipment purchases that are needed.

[1:01:24] So we need to add in a 12.71 in for the debt payment.

[1:01:28] Yeah, right.

[1:01:29] Yeah.

[1:01:29] Six point.

[1:01:31] Yeah.

[1:01:32] The 10.29.

[1:01:33] Correct It should.

[1:01:37] Yes.

[1:01:37] Because as you can see, there's 2097 7022 3899

[1:01:43] in that column does include it.

[1:01:46] So it should include the increase in the debt as well

[1:01:52] And to be clear, 100,000 is under

[1:01:54] the equipment replacement fund or is

[1:01:56] that lined up with the parks?

[1:01:58] It's hard to tell.

[1:01:59] That's in the equipment.

[1:02:00] Okay Yeah, sorry.

[1:02:03] I should have some lines in there that make it easier.

[1:02:06] I think.

[1:02:06] I think we have to get the equipment replacement

[1:02:09] fund started I think it's a high priority

[1:02:12] And I think if somehow we you know,

[1:02:15] I kind of like that column where at the 8.1 for myself,

[1:02:19] I because what I'm seeing things that it gets us.

[1:02:22] I can't stick with the nine.

[1:02:25] But if we have it at nine that we can't go higher right.

[1:02:31] So so Mr. glad you're the one to kick off the 9% idea.

[1:02:36] What's your thought?

[1:02:37] Yeah Well, my main point on this preliminary budget

[1:02:39] was to pick a number that we know we can get underneath.

[1:02:43] And then work to make those trades between now

[1:02:45] and December like mr. Canada said,

[1:02:49] we cannot go above that number.

[1:02:51] So we want to make sure we're safe

[1:02:52] and what we're projecting to make

[1:02:54] sure we make the right choices from there

[1:02:58] But it gives us time to be able to make

[1:02:59] that final tradeoff there.

[1:03:04] Thank you, sir.

[1:03:05] And make this more read readable and understandable.

[1:03:08] Now, I can now see this.

[1:03:09] Yeah.

[1:03:10] Yeah Yeah.

[1:03:11] I hope it helps.

[1:03:12] I just.

[1:03:13] I mean, just because I've seen you know,

[1:03:16] just that long term, you know, the long term

[1:03:19] needs and you know, we all know that things can change.

[1:03:22] Obviously know health care, right?

[1:03:24] So i mean, yeah, I can go up every year.

[1:03:30] So mean it's not going to ever come down too quickly.

[1:03:34] So that's just part you know, part of the overall piece

[1:03:38] of the pie, I guess.

[1:03:39] So it's just you know, obviously just challenging you know,

[1:03:43] the staff as to, you know to really look at,

[1:03:47] you know, their staffing needs for the next year.

[1:03:49] 3 years, five years ten years down the road.

[1:03:51] So that's very important Go ahead.

[1:03:55] Yeah, I'm all done Yeah.

[1:03:58] Marianne Kelso's you guys are looking

[1:03:59] at like staffing request.

[1:04:00] You just couple of thoughts for you

[1:04:02] to so when Chief Meyer, nice and you're

[1:04:05] talking about like what we need for the police department to you

[1:04:07] right.

[1:04:08] We're looking at what the bureau of Criminal Apprehension

[1:04:10] says you should have which is 1.6 officers per 2000 residents.

[1:04:14] That puts up is up around 20.

[1:04:15] So originally when we started talking,

[1:04:17] we started looking at like, can we request two officers?

[1:04:20] Well, knowing we still have to take budget consideration in

[1:04:23] and finances, right?

[1:04:24] So that's why we came up with the idea of having a CSO that

[1:04:27] could come in at all you know, smaller amount,

[1:04:30] but still help and take off some of the pressure

[1:04:32] from the police officers.

[1:04:34] That's thing to think about too, is like for staffing needs.

[1:04:37] We look at you know the new Minnesota paid family medical

[1:04:40] leave A lot of organizations are seeing a large impacts of that

[1:04:43] right now because they're missing

[1:04:44] people that are out longer than they would have had before.

[1:04:47] So for example, we look at public works Public works,

[1:04:51] if I remember correctly, they have

[1:04:52] basically one plow driver for each route currently right now.

[1:04:55] But when I look at what I know, what the public works team,

[1:04:57] they actually have three people that could be out if they wanted

[1:05:00] to right now with I new Minnesota

[1:05:01] paid family medical leave and those three people

[1:05:04] could be out for up 12 weeks.

[1:05:06] So when we're looking at staffing,

[1:05:07] it's also ensuring that the city has

[1:05:08] a staff to support the needs of the of the community as well.

[1:05:12] So that's why we're also looking for the positions

[1:05:14] that we're asking for.

[1:05:16] So so to frame that a different way though, if, say, the police

[1:05:23] had the choice between the CSO or the police officer,

[1:05:25] which would you choose safety of any what sort of reserve

[1:05:31] would be our you know, our goal?

[1:05:35] I think you know with the staffing that was presented back

[1:05:40] in April to I mean, we're down, we're still playing catch up I

[1:05:44] mean, we had 15 years between 2008 and 22

[1:05:47] or we didn't even add a position.

[1:05:52] And our call load is over doubled since 2012.

[1:05:54] So just with the growth of the city.

[1:05:57] And that.

[1:05:58] And I would personally say that a sworn officer would

[1:06:02] be the priority the current proposal does

[1:06:06] not show that, though, correct?

[1:06:07] The CSO priority.

[1:06:09] Sharon spoke to that too.

[1:06:11] Like this is a placeholder and then was getting feedback

[1:06:16] specifically and this patrol officer at 139

[1:06:19] that includes a car to or is that another line item?

[1:06:22] So that would be part of the equipment line

[1:06:25] item in the 100,000, correct.

[1:06:30] It's not somewhere else in the budget.

[1:06:32] Correct.

[1:06:32] But then the overtime bill, the total bill would go down.

[1:06:38] Right.

[1:06:38] If you had Yeah, correct.

[1:06:41] As as we're looking at it, the hard part right now

[1:06:44] is when we have training, we're removing officers

[1:06:46] So then we have to have other officers come in for training.

[1:06:49] And then they're on overtime to cover for that training

[1:06:50] where if we had more officers then we could have,

[1:06:53] you know, officer go to training on Tuesday

[1:06:55] and Ops would be going to training on Thursday

[1:06:57] without reducing our number of patrols

[1:06:59] and while we're looking at police officers to that thing,

[1:07:01] we want to think about is staffing, right?

[1:07:03] So even when you look at you know, Lieberman

[1:07:05] and these recommendations.

[1:07:06] And just from a workforce planning perception,

[1:07:09] you want to look at your workforce Five years out

[1:07:11] and what's happening.

[1:07:12] So when I look at the police department

[1:07:14] and within five years from now, I'm

[1:07:16] looking at as having for retirements within leadership

[1:07:20] in special positions within the police department

[1:07:22] So we really want to be able to increase the police department

[1:07:26] to get that mid-level group.

[1:07:27] So that way we have, you know, the veterans,

[1:07:30] the seasons, the group, and then we have the new guys right?

[1:07:33] And so by adding then we can build on that

[1:07:36] later on But then we have the time to develop those teams

[1:07:40] to take over those positions within five years

[1:07:42] because those retirements are going to come

[1:07:44] up faster than we think.

[1:07:45] You know, I think five years out.

[1:07:47] And the other thing, too, that, you know back in the spring,

[1:07:51] I just want to highlight this as well.

[1:07:53] The question came up this spring.

[1:07:54] Even if you guys authorize the positions,

[1:07:57] do we have the applicants we can hire with the current trend?

[1:08:01] Right now, we have police reservists that are graduating

[1:08:04] this winter that are ready and they're

[1:08:06] starting to look for jobs now And the reserves

[1:08:11] that we're coming up through our ranks

[1:08:13] are recommended by chief in this area.

[1:08:15] And so now's the time to try and add to that team, if we can.

[1:08:20] OK.

[1:08:21] So complaints that, but to your point.

[1:08:22] So that's why we out of the two sergeant positions correct

[1:08:26] So we added the two sergeant positions so that we could

[1:08:28] have leadership at all hours.

[1:08:30] So now with the four sergeants, we always have leadership.

[1:08:33] Often what I remember hearing though,

[1:08:35] as we were preparing for the retirements

[1:08:37] so we were bringing sergeants in to train them.

[1:08:40] I don't remember making that more of a full time direction,

[1:08:43] but that's kind of where it sounds like it's going now Well,

[1:08:46] part of it was not waiting until late retiring in correct.

[1:08:49] So we want to that was the initial statement

[1:08:51] that we want to make.

[1:08:52] We want to maintain those four sergeants.

[1:08:54] So even as one gets retired next year,

[1:08:56] one gets to retire within that five year period.

[1:08:58] We're still maintaining four sergeants

[1:08:59] and not letting those two.

[1:09:01] Roll off or back down to only two sergeants

[1:09:02] and not having supervisor three 24 hours

[1:09:06] and saying an internal promotion.

[1:09:08] Right?

[1:09:09] Then you raise Yeah, yeah.

[1:09:11] Well, I mean, that goes with any department You know if there's

[1:09:15] a parks manager opening that gets approved,

[1:09:18] is there a current employee that has aspiration to grow as well

[1:09:25] So yeah, and that's one of the things they've

[1:09:28] been having conversations on deals like, who wants to grow,

[1:09:30] right?

[1:09:30] But then also, you know, once you get that internal promotion,

[1:09:34] then backfilling that officer hundred percent not losing,

[1:09:36] you're always, you're always hiring replacement right.

[1:09:39] All those all downhill or beyond.

[1:09:42] So Mr. can you brought up an interesting point

[1:09:44] as well about the overtime getting offset

[1:09:47] is that reflected in this number Oh, yeah some

[1:09:52] if you can go to the general fund expense

[1:09:55] audit your budget So go back up to the top,

[1:10:03] please I don't know if you can.

[1:10:07] Yeah.

[1:10:07] So you can see in the overtime.

[1:10:09] It's not as obvious here as on the department level,

[1:10:13] but the without new positions, the overtime as that 190,700

[1:10:22] at with just the 2027 propose those the overtime is that

[1:10:28] 100 and sixty-eighths on 30.

[1:10:31] That's a 16% dick crease and the police over time for having

[1:10:38] an extra position available.

[1:10:41] So is that the old position of the police officer?

[1:10:43] So actually that 2027 number is both positions, but with what

[1:10:50] we're doing, that will have to if you guys come in lower,

[1:10:55] I'm going to have to make some adjustments in there

[1:10:58] to meet what the levy would be.

[1:11:01] So that's where we're going to have to go back in and start

[1:11:05] looking at the detail calls and find

[1:11:08] out what we're actually going to remove from the budget.

[1:11:12] That's that percent improvement from 26 to 27.

[1:11:15] Is that just being full staff ?

[1:11:18] I'm sorry, say that again.

[1:11:19] Well, in 26, the budgets 200,000.

[1:11:21] Looks like you're on track to it.

[1:11:23] Pretty close to that based on where you're at today.

[1:11:25] And the proposal without new positions

[1:11:28] and the 195% improvement.

[1:11:31] Just curious where that's coming from

[1:11:32] is just because you're fully staff this year.

[1:11:34] Now or planning to be fully staffed next year

[1:11:36] and work in the first.

[1:11:37] So yeah, the 200,000 in 26 that is that's what we

[1:11:48] had adopted for a budget in 26.

[1:11:51] Now that's pretty accurate based on the current trends

[1:11:53] you heard the actual right.

[1:11:54] So Yeah, that's what I'm trying to extend that you're planning

[1:11:57] a 5% improvement without those ads What's driving that I think

[1:12:05] my intent was that the with even with the positions

[1:12:14] we filled last year that started part of the way

[1:12:17] through the year.

[1:12:18] Yeah that it would help with the overtime and so I think that was

[1:12:25] my logic behind dropping it some but that's some thousand dollars

[1:12:31] which well well if you're short staffed it doesn't take long

[1:12:36] to burn up the $10,000, right?

[1:12:38] Yeah you are correct.

[1:12:40] I was hoping with because we just hired our final office

[1:12:44] or he started earlier this week and i was hoping that

[1:12:51] with him being on that, that would

[1:12:54] help us to be able to take a small chunk out

[1:12:58] of our overtime time.

[1:13:00] We should watch that the rest of the year

[1:13:01] and see how that trend is.

[1:13:05] How many officers have we added since 2024?

[1:13:08] And we may have had some losses, but I'm looking at this trend

[1:13:11] right where it's been.

[1:13:12] Yeah, 211 208 And this is General overtime

[1:13:16] for all employees.

[1:13:17] What percentage of that overtime represents

[1:13:19] the police department?

[1:13:20] So that question are you asking how

[1:13:24] many additions or officers we've added or how many people we've.

[1:13:28] Right.

[1:13:28] Because a couple of years ago, you had an action to pay.

[1:13:30] If we hire, you know, more police officers, right.

[1:13:33] That should offset and bring down our overtime.

[1:13:35] That hasn't happened yet So when I started,

[1:13:39] we had 13 sworn officers We are at 5018,

[1:13:44] so we're office You know, this one that started on Tuesday

[1:13:48] was number 16.

[1:13:50] OK.

[1:13:50] So that's 16 sworn officers And one of the things that if I may,

[1:13:57] that one of the things that we have to look at

[1:14:00] is that shift really factor You add and you add an officer.

[1:14:04] Now we're i would say we're down four.

[1:14:06] You add one, you going to help on overtime until you hit

[1:14:09] that shift really factor or you can rely

[1:14:13] on their current staffing for all of the PTO vacation

[1:14:17] and things like that until you shift

[1:14:19] that, you're not going to see the significance savings.

[1:14:23] Also as officers get more years on, they get more PTO,

[1:14:28] so they take more time off There salaries go up

[1:14:32] or their hourly wages go up.

[1:14:33] So you could have a situation where

[1:14:35] you have less overtime hours, but

[1:14:37] you're paying more money out.

[1:14:38] That makes sense.

[1:14:39] Yeah.

[1:14:40] So we do track the hours of overtime

[1:14:43] for each officer and what bucket that is if it's a shift

[1:14:48] extension, if it's meeting time, if it's leadership

[1:14:51] or they get reimbursed in, you know, things like that.

[1:14:55] So we've tracked that over the last several years

[1:14:58] and see those trends.

[1:14:59] Isn't there also something in the contract

[1:15:02] about you cannot show preferential

[1:15:06] treatment to any one?

[1:15:09] Yeah, you kind of have to divvy up the overtime objective Lee

[1:15:14] Or, you know, so you have an off,

[1:15:17] you know, an entry level officer that makes a base wage

[1:15:19] and you have a sergeant that makes this, you the way

[1:15:23] our contract is, is you have to give the overtime to the,

[1:15:27] to the one that has the least amount

[1:15:29] So you might have somebody that makes a lot of makes a higher

[1:15:33] wage, but gets the same that overtime because they

[1:15:36] have less hours at that point.

[1:15:38] That makes sense.

[1:15:38] So does you know i feel like we have

[1:15:42] to have a lot more conversations because if we

[1:15:45] need three more police officers, even now, this year.

[1:15:46] Right.

[1:15:47] Plus we need other positions.

[1:15:48] Something has to give somewhere I

[1:15:50] don't know that we can do ten 12% increases every year

[1:15:54] for the foreseeable future, Right?

[1:15:55] That's why even the $200,000 overtime, I just, you know.

[1:15:58] Right now, this year, we're on track to do 200,000 again.

[1:16:00] But we just added a new police officer.

[1:16:02] So I know, we don't have enough time to understand how that

[1:16:06] how it's going to impact us.

[1:16:07] But yeah, and a lot of particularly

[1:16:09] that that it may not have as much impact as we hope Right.

[1:16:11] A lot of them.

[1:16:12] We have two officers that are still on and training.

[1:16:15] So they can't take shifts.

[1:16:16] Right.

[1:16:17] We also had a long term deployment

[1:16:19] that the officers back now that that impacted significant.

[1:16:23] OK.

[1:16:24] I know for me, I need to have better understanding of how it's

[1:16:28] going to impact if we don't do approve enough funding

[1:16:31] for all three positions.

[1:16:33] I think I'd rather just stick with your 9% for now.

[1:16:35] That's not where I want to necessarily be

[1:16:38] But we're not going to solve it tonight.

[1:16:40] Well, that's a clear distinction though, right?

[1:16:42] We're approving 9%.

[1:16:43] That's not where the final levy will be.

[1:16:45] So we'll have to make those tough calls just

[1:16:46] to make sure staff is aware and they

[1:16:49] can tell their staff that, you know there's more coming in.

[1:16:52] The nicest way possible I that's the direction from this,

[1:16:58] you know, from from the department

[1:17:01] heads You know, we're looking at, you know, their needs,

[1:17:04] their wants, their needs and stuff.

[1:17:06] And I was just going to ask you, you know, on the you know,

[1:17:08] like the personnel or, you know, committees I mean,

[1:17:12] some of this stuff does coincide with some of our financial,

[1:17:15] you know, finance advisory committees.

[1:17:17] And sometimes we don't know what, you know like Bob

[1:17:22] and, you know, Kevin, maybe, you know,

[1:17:24] talking about if it's going to add that great detail,

[1:17:27] you know, it'd be nice just to marry some of those numbers

[1:17:30] up to make sure that what, we're just getting there now.

[1:17:32] Yeah, we're learning along with you guys in the past know,

[1:17:35] I understand.

[1:17:36] I'm just saying, you know, for the few

[1:17:37] you know, for the future, you know what they have,

[1:17:39] you know, some some better to, you know better.

[1:17:42] Just you know, I would say better, I guess, you know,

[1:17:46] just more discussion and some of this detail

[1:17:50] where we can, you know, help each other.

[1:17:52] You know.

[1:17:52] Yeah.

[1:17:53] For help, not only the finance, but the personnel

[1:17:56] you know, needs as well.

[1:17:57] So yeah, no, I'm with you.

[1:17:59] I keep thinking if we help out our economic development team

[1:18:03] right, then we start getting more revenue help

[1:18:07] solve some of this problem.

[1:18:08] I know it's going to be a couple years before you start adding

[1:18:11] more businesses next year.

[1:18:12] I get that.

[1:18:13] But you have to start that stuff at some point.

[1:18:15] You know, you're doing an incredible job.

[1:18:17] You know, he put a lot of hours.

[1:18:18] I appreciate everything Ryan's doing Chief I wish we could just

[1:18:22] now four things give you three more officers right now that

[1:18:26] would make your employees and your department you know,

[1:18:30] just work that much better, fill that time.

[1:18:33] Like all that stress on them all the time.

[1:18:35] Right.

[1:18:36] That they always got to be there,

[1:18:37] always got to do overtime.

[1:18:38] We're trying to get to.

[1:18:39] Yes, but we just need more time to understand the impact,

[1:18:42] I think before we can make a final decision.

[1:18:45] So one comment what you're saying

[1:18:47] there, too I mean, number one is we're not double digit increase.

[1:18:51] We're not selling health insurance.

[1:18:52] Right.

[1:18:52] So we can't get double digit increases percentage wise

[1:18:55] every year.

[1:18:56] And the other is we've been talking about building our way

[1:19:00] out of our financial problems for quite some time I think

[1:19:03] we better plan otherwise It's a lot of burden to put

[1:19:06] on the economic development team to say that we're going

[1:19:09] to bring in this Hail Mary.

[1:19:10] You know, taxpayer that's going to kind of solve our problems

[1:19:13] for us We've kind of talked about the housing development

[1:19:16] is going to, you know, take care of our problems do.

[1:19:18] And it doesn't happen right now The rooftops

[1:19:20] don't solve the problem.

[1:19:21] So I think we have to figure out our financial situation,

[1:19:24] the best we can and then work through it.

[1:19:26] We are have to remember, we're doing much, much better

[1:19:29] than we were five years ago, right.

[1:19:31] Our debts way down, our service is are up you know,

[1:19:34] added fix the squad car problem out of the staff.

[1:19:36] Right.

[1:19:36] So a lot of good things are happening just can't all happen

[1:19:39] at once So with that, I'll make a motion to approve resolution

[1:19:44] are 365-2026 or the adoption of the 2027 preliminary levy at 9%.

[1:19:52] Second, Mr. Mayor first and second,

[1:19:55] any other questions before we go?

[1:19:56] Yeah, I mean, my only point is to get it closer to where

[1:20:00] the number we want it to be and just use

[1:20:03] this as a learning tool, you know,

[1:20:05] how we can do much, much better.

[1:20:07] Whoever sitting at this council can do much better getting

[1:20:11] you know, closing that gap on the preliminary to the final

[1:20:15] That's all.

[1:20:16] But I'll when the ball comes, I'll say you anybody else know?

[1:20:23] All right.

[1:20:23] All in favor.

[1:20:24] Signify by saying I. I passed unanimously All right All right.

[1:20:30] We want the next one then.

[1:20:31] And this is to consider approval of a resolution

[1:20:33] adopting a preliminary 2027 Ed Levy

[1:20:37] for the city of North parents.

[1:20:38] So, Nate, are you taking this off or the Sharon.

[1:20:41] Sorry I still on.

[1:20:47] I apologize Mayor and council on.

[1:20:51] Here we are looking at the r362 dash 2026,

[1:20:57] which is the 2027 EDA Levy for the city of North Branch

[1:21:02] and the calculus ations for the the EDA,

[1:21:11] it's point 0181 3% of the estimated market value

[1:21:20] And for the h r e levy at this point 0185 0% of the estimated

[1:21:27] market value And that number for the EDA, for 2027

[1:21:37] would come out to $332,736.

[1:21:43] And for the h r a to $336,081 And so these are in separate

[1:21:54] Roselle Lucian's but if you would consider approving those

[1:22:04] at maximum amount for the preliminary levy those are both

[1:22:12] laid out here OK So this is we got a nice email from

[1:22:23] our LDA chair, Sara Paul today.

[1:22:26] I appreciate sara being proactive.

[1:22:27] She's here tonight.

[1:22:29] And this is going to play a little bit deeper

[1:22:31] into my conversation about our focal point

[1:22:33] for business development.

[1:22:35] I just think is key I know it's going to take a couple of years

[1:22:38] for the fruit to bear as much as we need it to right now

[1:22:44] But I agree And that's where I, I want a deeper understanding.

[1:22:47] Last couple of months and I say that positions a hail

[1:22:50] Mary for a parks manager.

[1:22:51] But what is it taken off the plate for for Nate

[1:22:54] where he can be more proactive or proactive with the EDA

[1:22:59] I think there are EDA has gotten very active as well.

[1:23:01] Lots of good suggestions and ideas

[1:23:05] But I do think our idea is to move from being

[1:23:09] reactive to a program like the facade program downtown for sale

[1:23:13] program that we've done over the last couple of years

[1:23:15] to be even more assertive more proactive and I think

[1:23:19] is various ways we can get there.

[1:23:21] I just think that that's the bull's eye right now

[1:23:23] for the next couple of years for north branches

[1:23:25] to really focus on economic development

[1:23:27] through retention and recruitment

[1:23:31] So I have no problem.

[1:23:33] We're building you know, a good fund there where I think is

[1:23:35] going to allow the EDA to be more creative and understand can

[1:23:39] we incentivize some of the things that we're looking

[1:23:41] for in this community So I'm going to make a motion

[1:23:45] to approve city council resolution number RS and Romeo

[1:23:48] dash 362-2026 and the maximum amount or 2027

[1:23:54] is $326 and 80 $326,081.

[1:24:01] Second, Mr. Mayor, first and second, any comments,

[1:24:04] questions on that before we vote as a percentage.

[1:24:06] The same as this year as last room?

[1:24:09] Yes.

[1:24:09] Greater Yeah.

[1:24:11] Yep.

[1:24:11] That's all I have.

[1:24:12] OK.

[1:24:13] And the question or no?

[1:24:15] All right.

[1:24:15] All in favor.

[1:24:16] Signify by saying I I think that's unanimously All right.

[1:24:20] All right.

[1:24:21] Now, same thing So Marin council presented

[1:24:30] before you is the resolution.

[1:24:33] Are dash 363-2026 or the 2027 HRA levy

[1:24:41] in the amount of 332,736, which is the maximum amount All right.

[1:24:52] I'm going to make a motion to approve City Council resolution.

[1:24:54] Our dash 363-2026 in the amount of $332,736.

[1:25:01] We have a second, second office mayor

[1:25:02] and the questions on this one.

[1:25:05] All right.

[1:25:06] All in favor.

[1:25:06] Signify by saying I buy.

[1:25:08] That's unanimously Thank you, Sharon.

[1:25:11] Thank you Nate.

[1:25:14] Forward to it next week.

[1:25:17] I All right.

[1:25:19] Finance update showing you I kick us off Sure.

[1:25:23] Make sure when you get into cash investments,

[1:25:25] we're talking about the returns that we're getting.

[1:25:27] Yeah Thank you, Mayor and city council starting with cash.

[1:25:33] Investments are cash and money market balances increased

[1:25:36] to 10.6 million in January.

[1:25:40] Re primarily from receiving the first property tax

[1:25:43] payment from ceasar Go County.

[1:25:45] Our investments remain at 18.8 million,

[1:25:49] earning an average of 3.988%, although altogether, we

[1:25:55] have approximately 29.5 million in cash and investments

[1:26:03] So sharon can as long as we're on investment part, you know,

[1:26:07] you and i had good conversation.

[1:26:09] I asked, why can't we use some of that money So so

[1:26:12] there's different pots that it's attached to.

[1:26:14] Could you just kind of give us a summary on that?

[1:26:16] So this 25 million is spread out through all of the funds

[1:26:21] and the generation Fund has a a large cash balance which came

[1:26:33] from the electric and is there to utilize them The other i

[1:26:43] apologize the other enterprise funds so sewer

[1:26:47] and and storm and liquor stores and then

[1:26:53] the water fund are all have fairly decent cash balances.

[1:27:02] And so then you get to the general fund you get to all

[1:27:05] the debt service funds you get to the special revenue

[1:27:10] funds and then the capital improvement funds

[1:27:14] and all of those And each have a piece of this 25 million

[1:27:18] by the time you break it down, you have to watch

[1:27:22] And then we have to maintain in a certain fund

[1:27:28] balance percent per Minnesota.

[1:27:33] And our own financial policies.

[1:27:37] We have to maintain a percentage of the next year's operating

[1:27:42] budget And so when we're looking at that,

[1:27:46] we have to, under stand that some of that money

[1:27:51] has to be held for an emergency.

[1:27:54] Should that happen and then and you're talking you

[1:27:57] referred to the reserves Yes.

[1:28:01] And so when you look at all of that.

[1:28:03] And then you come back to look at what's left of the cash,

[1:28:08] there the amount is not quite as large as what this presents

[1:28:15] So the reason for this presentation

[1:28:19] like this is to show what we're doing with that money so

[1:28:24] that, you know where we are trying to generate

[1:28:29] some revenue off of that while it is

[1:28:31] being held in those reserves.

[1:28:34] And we have been fortunate enough

[1:28:39] to work with an investment broker that

[1:28:43] has helped us to realize this.

[1:28:46] The almost 4% earnings rate and for a municipal entity

[1:28:59] and the limitations on what we can invest in that is actually

[1:29:04] a very reasonable rate We can't go out

[1:29:07] and invest in just anything.

[1:29:09] So we're not going to see the 12% return.

[1:29:12] We have to be we're limited to agencies and Treasury fees

[1:29:19] and see these and bonds and very, very limited

[1:29:27] corporate obligations And so in meeting all those state

[1:29:33] requirements, receiving this 4% interest

[1:29:37] earnings is actually a pretty good rate of return right now.

[1:29:42] And, we had our resident mark, you know, can I ask about that?

[1:29:45] But I know a couple of years ago,

[1:29:46] I mean, we had some in the upper twos, maybe low threes.

[1:29:49] I mean, it actually has come up quite a bit.

[1:29:51] Yes, Maybe it's been three years.

[1:29:52] I don't recall.

[1:29:53] It's been and we did the last two years were

[1:29:55] really a lot of mature that we locked

[1:29:57] up that we were able to write.

[1:30:00] We did have a CD at one bank in town

[1:30:06] that was only generating point 8%

[1:30:09] and that was something that was purchased

[1:30:13] long before I got a hold of it.

[1:30:16] And to sell it before the maturity date,

[1:30:20] it was just not a reasonable thing.

[1:30:23] And interest rates went up in 22.

[1:30:27] So anything that was purchased early 22 is going

[1:30:31] was going to have of that lower interest rate.

[1:30:35] And it just depended on how long or how far out they had invested

[1:30:39] the money I try to keep our investment

[1:30:43] around a three year average.

[1:30:46] And so we are always having money roll off.

[1:30:50] So that if we do have an emergency

[1:30:52] that money becomes available for those emergencies.

[1:30:56] But at the same time, it keeps that ladder invested at a fairly

[1:31:03] good interest rate Go ahead.

[1:31:07] You point the firm that audits I'll

[1:31:10] say the books they said you were able Is that my understanding?

[1:31:15] Sure.

[1:31:16] I'm sorry.

[1:31:16] See that where they said they Look what you have right

[1:31:19] now with these two investments was

[1:31:22] you've got a favorable outlook from.

[1:31:24] Yes Is that correct?

[1:31:26] Yes I believe last year interest earnings was about $600,000.

[1:31:34] So we are contributing.

[1:31:37] But that is spread out amongst all of the funds,

[1:31:40] not just general fund So when we're talking about the tax

[1:31:44] levy, it's not all impacting that tax levy,

[1:31:49] but some of it is, if I remember right,

[1:31:53] it was probably about 150,000 that got

[1:31:56] deposited into the general fund to help

[1:31:59] with those expenses Thank you.

[1:32:03] But another way to kind of talk about it,

[1:32:04] to write that 600 grand almost paid for the water tower.

[1:32:08] It government.

[1:32:09] Right.

[1:32:10] So there's things that we can use that way to kind

[1:32:12] of highlight how the money is getting applied or, you know,

[1:32:14] things.

[1:32:15] Yes.

[1:32:17] And then I'm here to approximate 364,000 from

[1:32:21] the sale that former Fire hall.

[1:32:22] But so didn't that pay for the new public works building Yes.

[1:32:29] So it's showing is, hey we got three a 64,000 windfall.

[1:32:32] But then it had to go and pay for the temporary loan.

[1:32:34] Yes.

[1:32:35] And we had paid for that in 25 out of our pocket

[1:32:41] And so this is reimbursing us for that OK.

[1:32:46] Costs that we spent If I just wanted

[1:32:48] to make that distinction Yes.

[1:32:49] And how much we spend last year was a 330 or 3.

[1:32:52] 65 was a final number and the it's coming

[1:32:55] to me as about $320,000.

[1:32:57] Yeah, that was right in there.

[1:32:59] The new building.

[1:33:00] Yeah.

[1:33:01] OK.

[1:33:01] So came out a little bit good.

[1:33:04] And paid for the fire.

[1:33:08] Yeah All right, Sharon, I know you're still

[1:33:12] kind of working through this, so thank

[1:33:13] you for taking our questions.

[1:33:14] Yeah.

[1:33:15] No.

[1:33:15] Any time.

[1:33:17] So for the general fund, we've had a few unexpected revenue

[1:33:21] sources.

[1:33:22] This includes the permit revenue from LP

[1:33:25] building site construction, as well

[1:33:28] as the sale of old fire hall.

[1:33:30] This the increase in other revenue

[1:33:33] is also partly related to interest

[1:33:36] earnings and the timing of allocating

[1:33:38] the interest to various funds.

[1:33:42] The EDA Fund is still expected to have a positive year.

[1:33:45] The facade program continues to be used by local businesses

[1:33:49] which is a positive for the fund and for our downtown businesses

[1:33:54] for the liquor stores Expenses were up a little in July

[1:33:57] as we keep up with demand However, year to date expenses

[1:34:01] are still below prior years.

[1:34:03] Sales have also picked up and are

[1:34:05] in line with our normal seasonal trends Summer

[1:34:09] and the holiday season are typically our strongest periods.

[1:34:13] Finally, for Storm water, sewer and water,

[1:34:16] the Northwest Old Town Project may begin having expenses

[1:34:19] and all three funds this year Any remaining funds

[1:34:23] will carry over at year end to complete the project.

[1:34:26] This is causing some of the current budget variances

[1:34:30] because the whole amount is in the budget for 2026.

[1:34:35] And so those expenses will be carried,

[1:34:38] those budgets will be carried over the project

[1:34:42] does also, using some of the electrics sale proceeds.

[1:34:45] Therefore, the generation fund could show a negative net income

[1:34:49] at year end for stormwater.

[1:34:54] Most of the revenue has been collected at this point.

[1:34:57] Our focus for the remainder of the year

[1:34:59] is simply to keep expenses within the revenue earned.

[1:35:05] So anything that you would like to discuss further stormwater

[1:35:13] program and that's far program.

[1:35:15] So I've asked about it a time or two,

[1:35:17] but how do we know what's required?

[1:35:20] Like where are the expenses going You

[1:35:24] I know there's minimum requirements so I keep asking,

[1:35:27] are we going above and beyond?

[1:35:28] If we are, what are we going above and beyond on?

[1:35:31] What are those expenses look like?

[1:35:32] We have a breakdown on how we fix the website.

[1:35:36] So it's called alternate Yes, we do And it doesn't

[1:35:44] have to be answered today.

[1:35:45] I'm just looking for those answers long term So, you know,

[1:35:49] again, if do we know that what we're what our operations is

[1:35:54] for the storms stormwater so sewer program is meeting

[1:35:59] or exceeding the state requirement for exceeding

[1:36:04] it by $100,000 on expenses.

[1:36:06] Why and I don't know that we I'm just throwing it out there.

[1:36:10] So as far as I know, we are meeting all of the requirements

[1:36:14] that we are required to meet right We have for i have

[1:36:21] forecast that out $453,613 for expended features

[1:36:28] in the stormwater fund for the year of 2026 and the revenue is

[1:36:36] at 550,000 And that would leave us with a $61,000

[1:36:44] net income to this fund.

[1:36:46] That is from taking and projecting out the the salary

[1:36:52] and benefits the expenses that have currently occurred

[1:36:56] with consideration of projects that I

[1:37:01] am aware of occurring within the year that haven't occurred yet.

[1:37:07] And so I try to take all of that into consideration

[1:37:10] when I'm putting these projections on here.

[1:37:13] Something could happen that we have

[1:37:17] an emergency that we have to go out and do

[1:37:21] work that could affect this.

[1:37:23] But my best guess this would be where

[1:37:27] I would like all park aware.

[1:37:30] I expect that coming.

[1:37:32] So this probably better if I just maybe sit down with Matt

[1:37:34] and kind of go through what the means for program is.

[1:37:37] So we know where the expenses are going

[1:37:39] and where I'm going as a federal employee I deal

[1:37:42] a lot with federal contracts.

[1:37:44] And I had one where they were doing what they

[1:37:46] thought was in the contract.

[1:37:48] And over time.

[1:37:49] We kept finding out, no, you're not doing the right things

[1:37:53] So it's just a matter of going back and reviewing what

[1:37:55] are the requirements are we doing those requirements

[1:37:58] or did we somehow did it morph into more than it has to be?

[1:38:02] That's kind of where I'm going to go right

[1:38:05] So I'm happy to make time.

[1:38:08] If you got time.

[1:38:09] And I think the best we know.

[1:38:12] Yeah, over the details of it.

[1:38:14] So all I know is this big, massive or program, right?

[1:38:18] That's all I know We're one $50,000 or more.

[1:38:22] I think it'd be best if we just sat down

[1:38:23] and go through the details.

[1:38:24] OK.

[1:38:25] Sounds good.

[1:38:26] Make is plain small.

[1:38:29] That All right, other questions for Sharon Please

[1:38:37] know No, I don't know OK.

[1:38:42] All right.

[1:38:43] Thank you.

[1:38:44] Thank you So moving on to liquor store reports.

[1:38:47] Is that we're at or I know Carlos just can't wait to talk

[1:38:55] because i get to where I was.

[1:39:02] Good evening, Mayor and council Oh.

[1:39:05] Oh, it is still trending the same way

[1:39:10] We're still holding our own.

[1:39:12] It is a rough market out there.

[1:39:14] And August really shows that from my understanding,

[1:39:19] from all lots of different vendors

[1:39:22] It's just it's the trend right now.

[1:39:24] There's going to be some interesting things happening

[1:39:26] that I will be curious how sales fluctuate over

[1:39:29] the next several months between the GHC stuff

[1:39:33] going away as of right now.

[1:39:36] And then also I haven't got much information

[1:39:40] on it, but with the Federal government banning

[1:39:44] Canadian alcohol coming into the country when couple of them

[1:39:47] are bigger sellers for us.

[1:39:49] So there's certain things that are

[1:39:51] it's going to be interesting market OK I mean the good thing

[1:39:57] right is the net income, the net profit is still

[1:40:00] is still a good number, higher, great performance.

[1:40:03] Yeah.

[1:40:04] Even with less revenue That's very impressive group.

[1:40:06] And I would you say that your store

[1:40:09] or store is doing better than the state average right now?

[1:40:13] I don't know.

[1:40:15] OK.

[1:40:15] I have to I'm I haven't heard any of that.

[1:40:19] I heard several in the area.

[1:40:22] Are kind of just coasting, matching their numbers

[1:40:25] of last year, which ours have dropped,

[1:40:29] but our net profit is up.

[1:40:30] So Good, good.

[1:40:31] You know, last year, like first half year, the sales,

[1:40:35] we were doing way better But this year.

[1:40:38] I think it's I think we caught up okay good.

[1:40:40] I think okay questions on the I think

[1:40:46] it was brought up in one of our last advisory committees.

[1:40:50] What was the percentage of sales on the low potency Pretty few.

[1:40:55] Yeah.

[1:40:56] I mean, it was I think it's on here it is.

[1:41:00] Or is it?

[1:41:00] I don't know.

[1:41:01] Yes it's on the second page.

[1:41:04] I that I miss it.

[1:41:05] You see 110,000 a year.

[1:41:07] Oh yeah.

[1:41:09] OK And what's you see the federal government expanded it

[1:41:14] to December 11th, I believe But RPO system

[1:41:19] is saying we have to be done by October

[1:41:21] 15th to beat the deadline.

[1:41:27] But that was before they federal government extended it a month.

[1:41:33] So it was only a month.

[1:41:34] I thought it was a year, you know, a month at the moment.

[1:41:37] OK So you do the math and most of them,

[1:41:54] you know don't have any more the percentage Yeah, I know.

[1:42:03] You figure it like, well, they're checking on that.

[1:42:06] Just make a comment.

[1:42:07] Thank you, Mayor.

[1:42:08] Yes, we have our square, which is

[1:42:11] our point of sale of operating system at the liquor store.

[1:42:16] They're no longer as of the middle of October

[1:42:19] going to provide available service for THC dry products

[1:42:25] And we've also been notified by urge by the League of Minnesota

[1:42:27] Insurance Trust that they're dropping not from insurance with

[1:42:30] So we definitely need to be done as

[1:42:33] soon as the federal agencies tell us is going to be

[1:42:37] interesting season, right?

[1:42:38] Football season coming off the holidays.

[1:42:40] What's going to happen to our next summer.

[1:42:44] So you can sell.

[1:42:45] You can sell the low dose THC cash only for another 30 days.

[1:42:49] After that Yes. now.

[1:42:53] Oh my.

[1:42:55] And those conversation I had with them, they

[1:42:58] want it like completely delete it out of the system

[1:43:00] And I voice the argument we're a government

[1:43:04] owned business that I can't just like get rid of stuff.

[1:43:07] So it's going to shoulder and reports and stuff.

[1:43:10] But there will not be inventory and won't be available.

[1:43:15] Right.

[1:43:15] All right Anything else from council?

[1:43:17] No, I mean, all Mayor, I just and always

[1:43:19] say this all the time.

[1:43:20] But again, looking at the net income percentage

[1:43:23] and looking at where we were 24 23 to the last two years,

[1:43:27] I mean I awesome job by you and staff.

[1:43:32] I also think this goes along with saying what

[1:43:35] positive involvement from the council and input, both ways

[1:43:40] done so thank you to our liaison you know that you

[1:43:43] guys have done back and forth.

[1:43:45] So great job.

[1:43:46] You do know how long you've been in the position

[1:43:48] after three years, middle of 20.

[1:43:51] 23.

[1:43:51] OK So three years.

[1:43:52] So that helps to write You get to know

[1:43:54] your job, all the better.

[1:43:56] And working with the finance director we were able to dive

[1:43:58] into a lot of things that one of us realize we're

[1:44:01] going on in there.

[1:44:02] Right?

[1:44:03] OK, good good.

[1:44:04] Thank you.

[1:44:04] Thank you for the comment that appreciate that I'm sure.

[1:44:10] I just like something right now commenting

[1:44:13] on profit margin on online of the total total cost

[1:44:23] So we ask and I know that it's that it's a high profit margin

[1:44:36] that's not net profit right.

[1:44:38] That's not that's not net profit.

[1:44:40] Correct But your net profit.

[1:44:44] Well, no, that was the same.

[1:44:49] If that's right.

[1:44:51] Right.

[1:44:52] So you know, like it's going to feel like net profit

[1:44:57] for the rest of the over.

[1:44:58] It's still there, right?

[1:45:00] Yeah.

[1:45:01] So i do so some other the percentage of things

[1:45:12] so each store carries 76% of the things

[1:45:21] and you just said 66% of the square footage in the east.

[1:45:37] So that's something in the spring.

[1:45:40] And then the left.

[1:45:40] So when when is our lease up A couple more years

[1:45:50] It's a few more things going in there.

[1:45:55] It's going to get a lot worse Thanks.

[1:46:01] 3 years.

[1:46:02] three years, three and a half, the terrible.

[1:46:05] Those are terrible.

[1:46:06] These.

[1:46:07] So I Yeah, see, look at that.

[1:46:10] I got one All right, Mr. Abbott you

[1:46:15] take it away for councilmember.

[1:46:19] Your Oh, I'd like to or anything else for.

[1:46:27] No, we're finance liquor store All right.

[1:46:29] Thank you.

[1:46:29] Appreciate that.

[1:46:30] Keep moving on.

[1:46:31] Thank you All right.

[1:46:33] Moving on to council goals.

[1:46:35] I think this is going to evolve and evolve

[1:46:37] into a a work session.

[1:46:40] But anything stand out with anybody

[1:46:41] that you want to jump into I do have a question about the zero

[1:46:47] based budgeting, because this is transition to a zero based

[1:46:49] budgeting model to evaluate the necessity cost of all programs,

[1:46:52] personnel and assets compared to a do nothing

[1:46:55] but isn't zero based, meaning you just carry over.

[1:46:57] Same services from one year to another, start from zero.

[1:47:00] Everything's got to get justified OK,

[1:47:02] gotcha You everyone jump in.

[1:47:09] Anything?

[1:47:09] No no.

[1:47:11] We want to work session.

[1:47:12] And I agree.

[1:47:13] Work session is would be appropriate.

[1:47:16] And it is.

[1:47:17] I mean, we've got some broad, you know, goals and observations

[1:47:20] to some very specific ones.

[1:47:21] So we're going to have to see what little is down.

[1:47:24] I'm sure our city administrator has some ideas.

[1:47:26] I'm and I will say to if there's anything that didn't get in here

[1:47:30] that you thought should have been summarized,

[1:47:32] please bring it to the work session

[1:47:33] or bring it to you first.

[1:47:35] Right I think it's good with good.

[1:47:38] Some of the work with no, there's

[1:47:40] a lot of good things in there.

[1:47:41] And you know, as usual, we can't do everything

[1:47:43] But how do we streamline this and prioritize it

[1:47:48] Okay All right.

[1:47:50] So I think we'll have to make this a work session.

[1:47:52] Matthew either whether it's next week

[1:47:54] or whether it's middle of October I think

[1:47:57] a lot of this stuff doesn't necessarily mean,

[1:47:59] we have to spend money.

[1:48:00] It's just how we do business or we focus on any, any commas.

[1:48:05] Matthew no comments in regards to the comment

[1:48:09] I would certainly say not next week,

[1:48:11] but we can certainly move forward with that in October.

[1:48:14] Thank you.

[1:48:14] OK All right.

[1:48:18] The next to the last item was the idea

[1:48:21] of a city gala or celebrating, recognizing achievements

[1:48:26] So I will say that it kind of took a turn towards who's going

[1:48:29] to do what and how expensive it's going to be Let's put

[1:48:33] the money aside Let's put aside who's

[1:48:35] going to do what from the council Is there any value?

[1:48:39] Do you see any value in doing this ?

[1:48:43] Yeah, absolutely.

[1:48:44] I do as we bring in call it, Chamber of Commerce Media

[1:48:49] in a different groups together that we normally don't hang out

[1:48:52] or talk or you know very well.

[1:48:53] Right.

[1:48:54] So i think it's a great avenue to be able to bring

[1:48:58] a bunch of us together.

[1:49:00] And not only that, just a lot of community residents as well,

[1:49:02] and local businesses OK.

[1:49:05] Now the how on the air and all that.

[1:49:07] Right.

[1:49:08] You to be determined So the idea of maybe creating a committee

[1:49:14] and not all staff know No.

[1:49:19] Any other comments on this?

[1:49:20] No, I agree.

[1:49:22] And yeah Yeah.

[1:49:23] Forming a committee, you know, that

[1:49:25] might include some residents and/or absolutely right.

[1:49:30] You know in other businesses as well so well.

[1:49:33] And again, it's hard as we discussed the budget tonight.

[1:49:37] Right I mean, I wish we could do more

[1:49:39] you know which ultimately benefits the city

[1:49:43] by trying to get there.

[1:49:44] And just it always seems stressful

[1:49:46] And we do a lot of good things in this city.

[1:49:48] We have a lot of teams that make up

[1:49:50] the one team on the community.

[1:49:51] And I just think that we're doing ourselves a disfavor

[1:49:55] if we don't take time to recognize

[1:49:57] and there's people are doing things in our community that get

[1:49:59] on a News Channel that we should be recognizing

[1:50:02] their achievement right And there

[1:50:04] and they're giving back to the community.

[1:50:06] So that's where I'd like to see us kind of work towards this.

[1:50:09] And if it's an annual thing where we can provide

[1:50:12] recognition, we talk about it with our staff,

[1:50:16] knowing what you're doing that you're making a difference,

[1:50:19] that there are achievements.

[1:50:20] It's important to talk about because if you just

[1:50:23] go by social media right, we all suck and doesn't seem to get

[1:50:27] any good things going on.

[1:50:28] But that's not true at all.

[1:50:29] There's a lot of good things i hear most the positive things I

[1:50:33] hear our personal director feedback me,

[1:50:36] whether it's family, as you know and then the parks and trails

[1:50:40] are the sporting events are our sports seems to be growing

[1:50:43] in certain areas And I think we need to make sure

[1:50:46] that we're focusing on the positive things that

[1:50:48] hopefully make it.

[1:50:49] The reason that we live here and want to work here,

[1:50:52] you know, so All right.

[1:50:55] Anything from staff It's less than two hours Okay.

[1:51:05] Or anything from the council by no need to do a planning Well,

[1:51:12] it's time to go.

[1:51:14] It's time to go All right.

[1:51:18] Nobody's jumping up, so I'm going to make a motion

[1:51:19] to adjourn to have a second.

[1:51:20] Second.

[1:51:21] Mr. Mayor.

[1:51:22] All right.

[1:51:22] All in favor Signify by saying I. I

[1:51:25] we are adjourned at 7:50 p.m..

[1:51:27] Thank you You forgot.

[1:51:29] Well, I know what we did in

City Council First Monthly Meeting

Agenda

Transcript