[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