All right, then i will entertain a motion to approve the agenda
as is laid out in front of us.
So And second.
All right.
I heard Meacham Second and second cannot.
OK All right.
All in favor.
Signify by saying i, I guess unanimously.
All right.
Under presentation of proclamation So
we have an oath of office and swearing in of a new officer.
So Chief Meyer you want to take it away ?
Thanks, Marion.
Council So I have the privilege to introduce
our newest police officer.
We just hired in June, end of June.
He filled one of our vacancies that we
have officer Justin Engle.
Prior to being hired here, he was an armed security officer
and a site supervisor for a security company
and also served six years in the Army National Guard Ice.
So we want to reiterate him.
Repeat after me.
I just inning and I just do solemnly swear.
Do solemnly swear That I will support the Constitution
of the United States.
And I will support the Constitution of the United
States and the Constitution of the state of Minnesota
and the Constitution of the state of Minnesota
And then I will faithfully discharge
the duties and that I will faithfully
discharge the duties of.
Branch police officer of north Branch.
Police Officer within and force that city within force
that city code County and state County and state.
According to the best of my judgment and ability
according to the best of my judgment and ability
So help me God, you have something special
here to In his bad 12 years.
Think Yeah Congratulations.
Thank you Yeah.
And you guys get that That's good.
If I here you folks It's a good point All right.
Thank you, Chair.
Appreciate that All right.
At this point, we'll move on to public comment.
So I'll do my best to.
To say your name correctly.
So our first one is a John Barney
And I say that correctly Yep.
So if you want to OK.
You don't want to speak.
Okay, No problem.
Not a problem All right, Peter, Shops are you here?
I know Good evening City Council.
My name is Peter Shops Five 690 360.
A street north branch staff.
Nice.
See you all again I came up tonight to speak about a matter
that i'm close to.
And that would be something that, you know there's probably
a lot of people that don't want to hear about it,
but I think it's really important to address it.
And it's the.
Again, the North branch water light
which many folks weren't aware, they thought that matter went
away To my recollection, the mayor Mr. Schreiber, Mr. Canada
and Mr. Meacham should be aware that there's still
we're parts of that that matter, that we're going away
and we still are under a quick start contract
with And those are the generators over here that
unfortunate We had a fire last winter
and I think it destroyed one of the generators
and injured another And also did some substantial damage
to the building It's been almost six months.
I haven't seen anything going on over there.
And I'm just i just wanted to make sure that the two
councillors here that weren't there at the time I.
Are aware that there is a contract in existence that
governs those generators and how we generate
the power for the simple contract and i
advised that you all take look at that contract
and refresh your memory on things because I
don't know if the city administrator,
administrators, even read it.
I was going to ask you if it's something he's aware of.
It's not He should get himself a copy and look at it.
It's only 20 some pages, but it holds us to Generation
with those generators generate for at least the next 25 years
close to that anyhow.
And we are responsible to make sure they're operating
at peak capacity whenever simple calls us to turn
them on and fire them up.
And at that.
I'm aware right now we're generating
with Three versus five.
And that's a substantial amount of money.
We're revenue that we could be missing here Besides being
in potential default of the contract that that adds up
to over $100,000 a year of revenue that
we're missing out on those.
I'm assuming the insurance has been organized
and I've talked to the administration.
They say that there's no hang ups there.
I just don't understand why we aren't
seeing the contractors out there working
on getting that thing going.
We're going to be in September for here in a few days.
Winners common and I don't want to see
us going into the cold weather without that.
That whole system operational so that's all I really have to say
And so I would look for some redress to that matter
as soon as as at least to find out where it's at
and maybe get the ball rolling on that as soon as possible
All right.
Thank you, Peter.
Mr. Hill, can you just give us an update.
So we can put Mr. Sharp that he's
a little bit well, thank you, Mr. Shops, for bringing this up.
As someone who is really close to that project years ago,
you know I appreciate you looking out for the community
and looking out for the city So thank you for bringing it up.
Yes, we did have a fire at the Generation plant in February
of this year We are working with the engineers on that on that
project to get a plan in place.
We're pretty much set right now going forward The engineers that
are subcontracted through our city
engineer Spear are have a proposal in front
of the adjusters right now.
We are currently working with the League
of Minnesota Insurance trust.
We have been in close contact with simple
throughout this whole process They understand where we're at.
They understand that there's a fire there.
We are in no conflict with our our contract in agreement with.
Simple at this time.
If there was, we've been assured that they would notify the city
and give us a timeline as to when
that needs to be back online.
They have not done that at this time.
And they understand and know the process that we're
going through with this very complicated Generation power
source, the electrical panel and the engines for that
are very custom and we're working
on getting that process done.
We do have an obligation or at least
notification to send for that.
We're hopeful to be out of it by the end of the calendar
year when running again.
And that's about where we're at right now.
Insurance is on board with us and working
side by side with the city to move this project forward OK.
So it sounds like by the end of this year is the goal.
That is the goal Yes.
Or have the generators online again
and And the building roof repaired.
If it hasn't been already.
That is accurate.
OK.
The other thing too, is we've got a public works committee
of Jim I bring in Jeff Will have they've
been briefed on this through the committee meetings.
Yes.
Yes All right.
I just want to make that clear.
I know mr. Sharp is concerned about it.
I assume you guys were.
Yep Updated with this information.
So I just wanted to make that public.
Yeah Okay Any other comments?
Yeah, I don't know if this was implied or intention lee or not,
but I also want to reminder of Mr. Fraley.
Mr. Hill want to also reassure that there
was a mention about making sure this
is taken care of before winter.
But those generators do not supply
power to the city there to supply back onto the power grid.
When asked for.
So I just want to make sure that I don't know if that's
a slip of the tongue or if that was implied that that's accurate
information It's not necessarily geared
to go towards the city's power source
Other it goes out into the grid.
The last time it was called upon would
have been in the winter in Texas when
they had the rainstorms when they had all
the power outage down in Texas.
So the generators were turned on to.
2 2 feed the power requirements down in Texas or just
goes out to the general grid Simple
directs that where it needs to go.
And that is the solutions Thank you.
So I don't know if Matt knows this,
but what percentage of the capacity are the generators
normally running out while they're doing
their monthly tasks ?
So right now the three generators
are not about six megawatt.
We've already ran three different times
during the summer months.
This year, three generators that are running.
So just the two that are offline right now.
Right now, I know we have we have Five.
But if they're not asking for you know, almost full capacity,
if it's way less than that, then the three
are able to accommodate whatever their request is Correct.
And they request that they'll take the six megawatts.
OK.
All right.
Just want to make that clear.
Thank you All right.
Anything else on that?
I will forward then.
So, Kathy Thomas, you are up next for public comment Okay,
No problem Just kind of you.
OK.
So I'm okay.
No problem I'm going to work down this list real quick.
And then when i when I get done.
Then I'll have you come up.
OK So again, I don't open.
I pronounce your last name.
OK Okay.
I do.
I come up and talk and then I'm going to talk about that.
Yes Oh.
Yep.
So what And you don't have to give your address.
We don't want to broadcast that.
So thank you, Peter, for doing that.
But we don't want to do that anymore.
So I'm sorry.
I didn't even.
I didn't hear.
No, that's okay.
It used to be a practice that people come up, give their name
or what their address was.
We don't need to have the address broadcast.
OK.
So I'm completely not prepared because I didn't know that this
wasn't even an option.
Okay.
Excuse my ignorance because I don't
know a lot about what the intentions are with the leaf
pick up.
Sure I know what I'm wanting to talk about.
I don't I extremely appreciate it.
It I loved it.
It's one of the best things about this town, in my opinion
And I. I like I said, I don't know what your intentions are,
but I don't I don't want it to go away.
I don't.
Is this something that's going to be talked about tonight?
Yes Okay.
Yeah.
So and and if it does, if it were to go away,
my question is we have a fee that we
pay the $75 every single year.
So i live in an area that I'm not on.
I don't have culverts, I don't have roads that are swapped.
I don't have anything that's maintained.
I don't have ditches I don't have a city water So
like how would that affect the.
I'm wondering how that would affect that fee
And I'm also willing to pay more to keep the leaf pickup.
As I know a lot of people are.
Or maybe there is a situation where
you could adopt an elderly neighbor and pay for.
There is also I mean, I just i guess
I'm wondering what the options are, which you'll probably go.
We're going to cover that tonight.
And again I'm sorry for my ignorance
because I had idea about this.
And so the other for your time on.
That's a stormwater fee.
I know there's a water right study going on right now.
And so for people that are not on city sewer and water,
right, don't have culverts or storm sewers, I'm one of those.
I know Mr. Kennett is terrible So we understand the question.
We've read that over the last several years.
So that will be addressed at some point
as well on there could be some type
of an of a modification to how people are being charged.
OK But that's just not going to happen tonight.
So but like a live truck, will the mayor to clarify
that's unrelated, right?
It is unrelated, Yes.
It's a it's a totally separate program So the leaf
of that truck and that program is
separate from the actual storm sewer Okay.
Because when I looked it up on your website,
it says it's include it in that $75 fee.
So I want to pull it up out of it.
It says it's for maintaining essential stormwater
and drainage infrastructure.
It supports wide citywide services including ditch
maintenance, stormwater drain and pipe replacement
culvert replacement street sweeping community wide leaf
collection and stormwater upkeep Well,
that's the city's that's an opt.
It is, yeah.
I think it's okay.
Thank you for joining us.
Thank you staff for taking notes Yeah
Because I don't think it's just the leaf pick
up on that list that's wrong.
Correct.
The Street sweeping is not also part of that program
Street sweeping is actually part of the MBS
for program for the stormwater So that
is one of the requirements.
We actually get an extra grant through that.
Correct.
Or that is that part of the fee that the paying, is that good
necessarily from the fee So I think
we'd have to clarify that that's what
the assumption is that Great.
Thank you, EMS, for municipal sewer EMS for.
That's a state required program.
So we continue to ask questions as well.
So it's not something the city just made up.
Every city has to do some form of it.
We were asking questions about what's required and are we
going above and beyond that.
So I think we're still working towards those answers
just a lot of confusion about the $75 fees.
Also I think we need to clarify that specifically to the point
I agree are good points.
I thank you All right, Mark, you're up next.
Yeah Yeah Know I just want to do highly
encourage you to stop this flat contract
and not kick it down the road any more
I've been here for pretty much all
of it since we heard about it after you
passed it in every meeting.
Yup It's going down the road.
Down the road.
Let's end it tonight.
Okay There is other information that's
been provided why we've gotten to this point,
why we haven't made a decision.
And the other thing is we have reserves in seeds or something.
I've been noticing No.
Come into these meetings Why are they
making such little investment interest.
So little we could pay take them out, pay the fine for penalty
for taking them out and make it back in.
No time at all, somewhere else We
will last our finance director Sharon she's comment
on that several times before it actually
has increased the return on investment,
but only get to that point.
Sharon, we'll talk about the budget
and we'll try to answer that question again.
Thank you, Mark Murray.
You are up next.
If you want to talk I think.
Thank you, gentlemen, for taking My questions here
Over in Oshkosh, Wisconsin please
is officer, court clerk lying to city council
And it killed $8 billion surveillance company is contract
less there Council approved Here's what happened
the night before the August Council was set
to renew a deal with Fox aG.
The license plate camera company backed by 16 Z and Tiger global.
One council member asked a flock representative plane yes or no
question to just system build a heat
map everywhere a specific car travels over time The flock
representative said no The council believed them
and voted 5 to 2 to renew.
But the next morning, the chief officer
told them the answer was false So pull up the system itself.
You watch generate an exact heat. heat map of flock
and just sworn it couldn't me and he walked in to emergency
meeting and said, I would love because a misrepresentation
misrepresentation i can no longer recommend flock
understand that this heat map because it's the whole trick
flock sells cities of title tidy little story
a car drives by we snap a photo, we read a plate, and that's it
But the same system can quietly average out where your car goes.
Day after day.
Paint your routine on a map.
No One snapshot at one corner.
Your pattern where you sleep, where You work,
where you keep going back and forth.
And how often If a flock employee
later admitted on record the software does exactly that.
So to pitch the problem product, the company
wins the contract selling a plate reader
and sits on the moving map of your life
The only reason Oshkosh It was once kept the question of police
officer bothered to check and he wrote to rescind
the flock Camera 7 to 0.
Unanimous I called the whole thing.
One small misconception from a long meeting
and said it was just appointed.
Nobody.
Let me explain A surveyor a company worth $8 billion,
got caught lying whether it maps where your drive fence was
the lie was small So I guess my question is is this fog camera
going to be used to make safe map
a heat map of wherever we go ?
To me that First Amendment violation
and unreasonable search for the amendment violation
So on that basis I'm asking that you do
not ratify this So thank you.
Okay.
Thank you, Murray.
Appreciate your comments All right, Van Kirk if I
said that correctly All right.
Good evening, Mayor and council members.
Thank you. you for giving me a few minutes to speak tonight.
I'm here to ask you to keep the city's pick up program in place
I understand that the city has to make difficult decisions
about budgets and service but I believe leaf pickup is one
of those services that has a much bigger impact
on our community than it may seem in the fall
and the spring I see most of my neighborhood utilizing
the service for many residents, especially the elderly people
with physical limitations, family, and homeowners who don't
have a truck trailer or the ability
to haul large amounts of leaves.
The service is extremely important and helpful.
There are also some practical questions
that I think need to be answered before this service is
eliminated What happens to all those leaves
if residents no longer have access to CityLift pickup?
Are we going to see more people burning their leaves
If so, what impact could that have on air quality fire
safety in our neighborhoods will compensate ours,
be expanded if residents are expected to hold their only off
to the site Will the city provide additional hours
or expanded access during the fall season
to accommodate the increase in volume And what's that cost?
And perhaps the most important question residents
have what happens to the storm sewer fee, which is
already kind of capped on that?
The city website states that leaf pickup
is one of the covered items by the storm sewer fee
that residents pay on their water bills.
If residents continue paying that fee.
But the service it helps fund is eliminated.
Well, the storm sewer fee be reduced or removed
from our water bills likely not if the city is going
to continue collecting the fee.
I believe residents deserve a clear explanation of where
those funds will go and how the elimination of leaf pickup
affects the purpose of that fee.
These are important items to be considered for the residents who
are ultimately paying for and affected by this decision
Leaf pickup also helps keep our neighborhoods clean, safe
and looking their best Large piles of leaves
can create slippery conditions clog storm drains
and become a problem when they're
left sitting along the streets.
But more than anything, I think this
is about what kind of community we want to have when residents
pay taxes and fees for city services,
they expect those services to provide value back
to the community leaf pickup may seem like a small service,
but for the people who rely on it,
it makes a significant difference
If there are ways to make the program more efficient
or reduce its costs.
I think those conversations points are absolutely
worth having Maybe there are changes
to the schedule like pushing the pickups back a week
or two, as some of the leaves haven't fallen
by the first pickup changing pickup routes
or other efficiencies that could save money without eliminating
the program entirely Here are just a few
of many Facebook comments from residents that couldn't be here
today Can't make the meeting leave Pickup is the most
useful thing that I've had.
I have many oak trees and I don't
know what I would do with the leaves without the leaf pickup.
I live on a private road and get no snow
plowing, no road grading no road upkeep from the city or county.
So it's nice to have at least one perk leaf pickup
if you have the equipment.
So I make a decision to discontinue
the pickup Another we usually pick up
and appreciate it very much.
I would hate to lose it.
I'm sad.
We can't be at the meeting.
Another one I usually pick up.
And it's one of the things I really like about this town.
Another one I used to leave pick up every year
and so do all my neighbors.
Being elder this is a godsend.
Just think of the line up at the compost area If there's no leaf,
pick up and I'm sorry.
I'm unable to make the meeting tonight.
Just my $0.02 worth on the leaf pickup.
My concern is what will the residents
do with all their leaves?
This will be a safety issue.
Will they start burning them in their yards?
I respectfully ask that you keep the leaf pickup in place
and to consider the full impact this decision will have
on our residents and our community
and i also want to thank you guys
for allowing people to come up and talk about the flag cameras.
I know that's been an issue for the past weeks and months
and it just it shows that you guys are listening
and hopefully we can come to a conclusion on that.
OK.
And the contract .
A lot of your questions are going to get answered
tonight as far as a leave.
Thank you All right, ma'am, you want to come up and talk?
If you just want to state your name and I'll write it down
and it's Barb Wilson Our go ahead,
my son was trying to call me Okay.
So I actually wrote it down.
OK I have a phone, but I don't put
the finished I'm checking on the senior building
and on Cedar Street and i have some questions.
And you may or may not be able to answer them tonight,
but I will take a phone call explaining them to me
if you get the answers First of all,
I want to know what is the designee of the senior building
now?
Is it still classified as the senior building
that's in the process to change this and that?
Nate, can you answer that And yeah Mayor and council allow
that designation has not changed since the building
was constructed in 1978.
It allows for a senior housing and, you know, those
with disabilities And so that's the same that
was originally allowed there.
And as that has not changed, okay, That is what I wanted.
Okay I was wondering how many units are there now I
I do not have the exact.
I can if you give me a minute to I can get that number for you.
That's fine And yeah, my major concern
is, will there be on site parking for all of the units
and the staff and the visitor or are
they going to be parking in the street all the time Sure.
So the parking that's been taking
place so they just they resurface working that.
Yeah.
And so they've added additional parking spaces to what was there
previously I think there's like six additional
that was previously there Otherwise,
it's the parking the number of units is remaining the same.
They're basically, they're working on remodeling
each of the units.
And so it's a nine phase project either on phase seven of 9,
where the tenants will basically get
moved out while they're up dating those particular units.
And then they move back in.
So that was I was just checking in because right now it's a 5050
on the lot to me, on how many cars are being some
are from the home themselves that that's just during that
and i just figured the same other way and the other work,
then I have no problem then so now I have one about my sewer.
I'm i don't know where my sewer connects to the city line.
When it comes out.
According the id, the green mark is the mark or the sewer Correct
When you guys come out and.
Mark Correct Right.
Okay So if you want to have us identify,
we could give you a look at our televised videos
and tell you exactly where your sewer line
is for your private lateral.
I am really concerned because I had a plug line and the line
goes out from my office and water utility So okay,
I feel better If it was me but I don't know where
to go because they went on How do you speak with a snake
and i'm pretty sure we didn't hit the street
and it shows the green mark is actually on my driveway
But the line goes toward your house right
So I think the best thing we could do is just leave
your name address and a phone number.
And I could look into that for you tomorrow.
Okay Who do you want me to be ?
OK And that was Michael Thank you.
All right Then the other question about the amount
of units and in that senior building Yep,
there's 47 units in that facility
And the state is saying 40,000.
You can definitely correct this building and see.
Correct That that one which all right, So, Barb, if you're done,
then Barb Barb.
So.
All right As anybody else, I'd like to provide
public comment All right.
Yeah Okay.
Go ahead.
Come on up Hey, Kevin.
Good to see you again.
Hi there.
Rob Newman I live a block away from here and just about
to leave.
Pick up thing.
It's hugely beneficial.
Specially being in the city.
I think important because of the curb and everything The curb
line and the leaves blow up on the curb line
or sadly off by yard under the curb line
Plus we have on the boardwalk side where responsible, you
know, we take care that most and everything,
but there's some huge trees there that dump bags and bags
and bags of leaves that if you get rid of this what's going
to happen to all those technically city owned leaves
Am I going to be responsible to pay for the bags
and everything else I mean, that's just a city,
you know here in the city.
It makes a difference versus out of the city.
I think the program is great I love it.
I look forward to it.
Actually, every single year because it's a great benefit
especially with me now 62, not that young spring
chicken anymore.
So it's nice to be able to get them where you guys can pick
them up without me trying to put them in probably 200 bags
with that.
You see in my yard, it's like a park.
So that's all I have to say, I really would love to have it.
I thought too, about the keeping the cards open later.
And then trying to weigh out the costs of hourly rates
and all that kind of thing.
It might be a break even to keep it, but that's it.
So I want to say thank you all right, Jesse, you know my name.
That's all right.
I will get I wake up and I you no doubt anything.
We didn't even need Fox 4 that So.
All right. as you said, my name's Jesse Anderson.
I live here in North Branch I actually
have two things I wanted to talk about real quick.
Leaf pick up is one of them.
Well, I don't utilize the service
and i really don't have any need to.
I recognize that there are many in this community that enjoy
and use the leaf pickup service And I
feel it can be beneficial as a selling point
as well to improve our property values.
No, I do have a few questions about the service, which
you guys may or may not answer later,
but I figured I'd ask them anyway
I believe I heard you once talk about the city
needing to buy a new truck to continue the service Do we use
that truck for any other purpose or is it just solely
leaf pickup It's Mr. Really?
You want to solely pick up.
OK So in that case, we just replaced our police
cruiser fleet, right?
But we passed the old Fleet on to the fire
department, which tells me that the cruisers were still viable.
Use.
And so if we're replacing other viable vehicles
are we not doing the same with the leaf pickup truck
or vehicle, whatever it is And so I guess my question is,
who inspected the truck to determine whether it
needed to be replaced Yeah.
So i don't know if that's a an age thing combined
with the amount of repairs that seem
to be accruing could you just speak to that for a moment?
So we public works, we do have to the pickup trucks, one that
is at the 20 year mark and one, I believe,
is about Five years old.
So those specialty trucks, it's usually like a 20 year
replacement plan So they're over $300,000 a truck,
right We looked at the one that's 20
years old and determine whether it
actually needed to be replaced.
So it's still being used right Or I mean, just to clarify
eventually it will wear out.
Right.
Obviously mean, can we make another year to probably.
Right.
And that's that's kind of what I'm wondering,
does it need to be replaced right now or is this something
that reaches look at in term and you
know maybe it's good for another year, maybe five?
Yeah it's on the radar is a longer
you know like the planning you know the three,
5, ten year plan right.
Yeah.
And it just like Jeff said.
OK that's all I got on that.
OK.
So now we'll get to the flat canvas
because that's my specialty So over the past two weeks,
I've been doing a fair amount of leg work.
I've been I visited the August 18 Sandy County commissioners
meeting and there.
I found out they were on a trial plan.
And I forget there was another city in the area
that was also on a trial plan.
So their cameras cost them nothing.
A additionally if their cameras were vandalized or damaged,
that also was not a liability for them.
So that would cost them nothing I guess I'm just wondering why
we didn't consider a trial period before we jumped
into a three year contract.
I guess the same thing I myself.
So I don't know if you you want to comment on that at all.
Was it was there an option?
I didn't know about that.
They didn't advise me of a trial plan.
So i bet Okay So I also reached out
to a number of municipalities that
canceled your flat contract.
I had a great conversation with the chief of police
on a Mayflower, Arkansas.
Brittany Bird Bird, I think is okay You know,
she likes what the cameras can do for crime.
You know, obviously, they can do good things
but feels deeply that they violate people's rights.
And that was more important to her
than having the cameras She informed me that all she had
to do to cancel their contract was send flag a letter stating
they were concerned canceling the contract
and they then made a lump sum for the the contract or she
said that Clark told them they would charge them $500 camera
to remove them Otherwise, they could
leave them up for the duration of the contract.
Two things that kind of stuck out to me on that
because their contract ended.
Next year, late next year So and Yeah the contracts typically
are to renew.
I'm assuming ours was set up to do the same right
And what all the police chief there that the cameras would be
deactivate it But what we've seen is many municipal cities
have left their camera cameras in place after canceling.
They found the cameras have been turned back
on And what this kind of tells us is that flock means
that your access to the cameras is deactivated,
not necessarily the cameras themselves Other places
they found they would take the cameras down
or they removed the cameras, much like we did.
And these two weeks later, walking by
and put a few new cameras So which
is crazy And so that kind of points
to the whole business model behind the flock cameras.
And that's the they sell it as a nationwide network of cameras
that potentially access So taking cameras
offline, that leaves a hole in the network
And they don't they don't want.
That's bad for their business model
So tonight, I'm asking you again to cancel the contract I kind of
give you a roadmap It kind of looks like you
guys have looked at it as well.
So all we need to do is follow it That's all I got.
All right.
Thank you.
You, Jessie.
All right.
Anybody else would like to provide public comment
at this point All right.
So, you know, jumping up we're going to keep moving
on as far as the flash stuff.
We got more cameras and I've got some talking
points Jessie, that I think you'll
be interested in So All right.
Well, here appreciate all the comments.
And again, just as a reminder there
was a time when we didn't allow public comment on action
items for that same evening.
But we did change out a year or two ago.
Something like that.
So you're welcome to provide public comment on action items.
If you have important information
We sure would like you to bring it
before the night of the meeting because we don't have any way
to verify or research that.
Right.
So hopefully that's common sense and you know,
you understand that.
So we can only do so much with it.
If it's the First time we're hearing about that night.
So please reach out to us ahead of time, Reach out to staff.
So we can research this thing All right.
City Administrator matthew Hill, all right.
So move on to a consent agenda.
So we've got several items in there.
Seven is an alpha down to seven H, as in Hulu
So looking for a motion to approve as it's
laid out in front of us.
So I make a motion to approve consent agendas
is an item to Aitchison hotel.
Okay Seconded by Meacham and the first and second.
Any questions before we go?
All right.
All in favor.
Signify by saying i any opposed ask unanimously All right.
We want a staff report.
So the first one is under nine A,
and that's to consider approval of an ordinance amendment
amending chapter 66 of the City Code regarding
accessory dwelling units.
So Mr. Sandra, are you kicking this for us Yes.
Good evening, Mayor and council.
I'm as you mentioned there is tonight, the consideration
of an ordinance for 1626 to amend
city code relating to the regulation
of accessory dwelling units.
More specifically it's chapter 66, 8 for the definitions
of its use and then also a 66 Six for creating
as a conditional use and the R1R and zoning districts
And then lastly actually providing the performance
standards and adding that in the 66 950
So the 80 is that something that's
been discussed for the past in more detail since April?
But really it's been on board for the last year or so,
and maybe we've had other people inquire about this,
you know, variety of capacity over the past few years
There's been multiple meetings that we've talked about this.
And looking at, you know, what zoning districts what's
the approval process look like, Size limitations,
parking requirements which if you owner
occupied utility connections.
And then just design compatibility
And so you can see in the graphic over here,
there's a variety of 82 types.
There's a detached ones, there's attached
You can have in addition to your garage or remodel your house
or the variety of of 80 possibilities on the planning
commission discussed is that back in in July
and they kind of had a draft ordinance which I'll kind of get
to after a lot of months of discussion looking
at these topics and really what the the ordinance really looks
at as they looked at the zoning district where should be allowed
So they talked about our one.
And I have a map coming up show you where that's at requiring
it to be a conditional use.
And so every 80 would require going through a public hearing
process.
And it's a use.
It's permitted with conditions.
And so we look at each on an individual basis and apply
the appropriate conditions that would allow opportunities
for the public to provide comments at that public hearing
for those that would be separate provisions
for attached and detached and be a max
floor area of 700 and 750ft².
Appreciate it.
Would require it'd be a max of 182 for property.
The property owner has to be the parent has to either
be the principal dwelling or else
they could live in the accessory.
They should be There is a discussion originally talking
about having the accessory structures only in the rear yard
at the public hearing there was discussion that allowing it
in the side or front yard to match the accessory dwelling
units me, the accessory, the And so we'll kind of talk
about that in a little bit.
Having the exterior building materials be compatible
at the principal dwelling and then having that one parking
space for that 80, you obviously having compliance
with building and fire codes, looking
at sanitary sewer connection.
So if you're on municipal services,
having that connection being made or if you're private.
Well, and septic, making sure that the septic system is
adequate and supports that additional bedroom to that
to that system, it does not allow for manufactured homes, RV
or campers to be utilized as an ideal
and also did not allow for short term rentals and the failure
to maintain would result in that.
The revocation potentially, of that.
So you p so looking at the zoning districts
so this is the entire city here.
And so the light yellow is going to be rural residential.
The brighter yellow is going to be R one, which
that's intended for B and have an initial services
extended to them.
And then the green area, that's going to be, again.
So those are the zoning districts
where it's been proposed to allow Ada used to be located
as I mentioned at the public hearing,
there was a discussion about the ability to have
an 80 on the front yard.
So if you had a larger property.
So currently our accessory dwelling, so a garage and things
like that.
If you have five acres, a larger or they can
be placed in the front yard.
The Planning Commission felt that for if that's
allowed in the front yard, you know,
what would be the difference.
And so they thought it should be consistent
and have it follow the accessory structure ordinance.
And so to allow for the on five acres or larger in the front
yard and then allow it on the side yard and the yard for all
properties The other discussion at at the public hearing was
the ability to have it as a short term rental The Planning
Commission in the current status of the proposed ordinance that
requires to have a minimum of 30 days for or 80 used
for and so and there was there's comments that were requesting
support to have the ability to have short term rentals
The Planning Commission decided to state recommend staying with
the minimum of 30 days and to they thought that they could
revisit in the future if this
is something that would be approved.
So as I mentioned, we you know, the definitions
are one of the items that are to be recommended for amending
And there is the definition below is in your packet Here's
that permitted uses table identifying accessory dwelling
units as a conditional use.
And so you'll see that it's the see
that's underlined in the R one role
residential zoning districts.
And then lastly the Planning Commission,
after they held their public hearing back on August 4th,
they ultimately recommended approval
with the ordinance as presented in your packets this evening.
And so with that I'll be looking for any questions or comments
or discussion from the Council.
Oh, I saw hand up in the audience
So if you have a question mark up, just identify yourself.
Go ahead and ask your question My name's all 11 Maple Street.
OK I came here tonight for flock completely.
What I came for, bye.
Moved up here back in September and kind of
bought a older house on Maple Street.
And I have a detached garage So I
guess my question was sheds kind of classify under that 180 you
as well because I was kind of starting out
rolling and thinking about adding a shed into the yard
So before I start doing all the research into that,
I just want to know if it's possible or not for it
all the time.
And effort and trying to plan something like that out.
Sure.
So there's a variety of things that impact So each, each site,
you know, so the proposed uses being a conditional use permit
And so each site would be looked at as an application submitted.
But in theory, yes, you could have an accessory structure
and an accessory dwelling.
So you could have like a shed and an accessory dwelling unit
over on your property The things that could potentially impact
it are going to be setbacks from the property lines,
setbacks from the existing buildings maximum
pervious area on your existing lot
And so that's where it really kind of comes down
to each individual parcel is going to need to be looked
at a case by case basis So that meets those setback
requirements as proposed.
The ordinance that's being presented tonight.
OK.
I'll be looking for storage or actually semi living in there.
Storage.
Okay.
So as a different classification.
Yeah, that's a different class.
This is Yeah.
This is to allow for an accessory.
So basically somebody to have the ability
to have a dwelling unit.
And so an accessory building.
Oh, yeah Sorry, sorry.
Yeah, yeah.
No, you're good.
Yep Thank you.
Yeah.
So if we're watching, we got to make sure they can hear you
on the microphone So this is for, like, you want
to put an addition out and then have somebody rent it out type
of thing, Or is this for, like, an extra storage garage or Or
all the above?
Yeah.
So pretty much all zoning districts allow for bikes,
for garages or sheds currently.
And so the size of the garage or said that you can currently have
on your property is going to be based
off of the id, the buildable area of your existing lot.
Okay The one thing I did see was match like the siding
or the my problem is that I live in a brick house that
was built in the late 60s early 70s,
so that brick doesn't exist.
So what would i do?
Because I was thinking maybe down the line
putting in because I know you're allowed 750 square foot.
So if i wanted like an outbuilding, I'm in town What
could I do?
Because I know we can't match that brick.
I don't even know where it came from So
are you looking for storage or somebody actually live in it?
No.
It would just be like an hour for, like, an extra build.
OK So I think we have to make that clarification again.
So dwelling me something to live in there like a guest house
right there where they have a bathroom
and well, I would put if I could afford it,
I would put like something up top.
But that might just be a man cave,
you know call it a mother in law suite.
You know But no, but mostly, mainly for a garage Yeah.
Yeah, but I still have to match the.
Yeah.
In the way the accessory structure code
is written It says it has to be architecturally harmonious
and so it has to match as closely as possible, you know.
And so if there's, that's, again,
it's kind of a case by case basis.
And so, you know we're going to look at it if, you know,
if that brick is no longer available,
if there's something similar in nature,
that's the way that the code is what it would still have to be.
Brick it would, yeah.
We'd want to look at it and see.
Yeah.
So, yeah, if it's the way it's proposed in,
I would say having a private conversation to with your staff
would help because maybe there's some other complementary type
something that would look material, right?
A percentage of right that makes it harmonious OK.
Thank you.
You bet.
Yeah Question go ahead.
Excuse me, Nick, you explain that short term rental that you
saying it's not forbidden.
So is it, for example, the structure that we talked about,
you're adding on to the house Is it for the house and add on
or is just for the add on that the short term,
I'm confused on terminology and water supplies.
It's short Sure.
So the way the code is currently written here
and see if I can pull this up, it basically it
says it has to be like so if you have a lease, if somebody is
renting that space that they have it has to be
a minimum of 30 days that they'd be residing there
because the intention is not to provide it
when that was when the code is drafted
is not because we're looking at having this
in residential neighborhoods and so having it
where it's not really creating like almost
like a lodging or a different type of use
than that's currently there.
If you have a short term rental where it's week,
you know, every weekend or whatever it may be,
that's going to have a different traffic pattern.
And then compared to what's currently when people live
there, that's how that was, how it was, you know,
it was kind of brought forward.
And so they know.
So an Airbnb could be short term rental
It could be that for and like I said,
they can't The Planning Commission
wasn't completely against the idea of a short term rental.
I think we have a right to do that.
There are things like we'd want to do because in our zoning
definition, it doesn't currently define
what a short term rental is, and there's
things we want to explore.
I think they don't necessarily.
We've had requests to allow essentially like, you know,
if you have a a parent or a child that's looking for a place
to stay.
And so that's why it really kind of, you know, kind of help
form the basis of the language in the current code
that's being proposed.
And they said that they could revisit this,
you know in the future.
They just wanted to kind of, you know,
bring it forward like this today Thank you And part of the reason
this has come up to Right.
Is to provide some type of additional flexible housing.
So someone's got a family member and they
can live in a secondary building on their property.
Right.
It provides flexibility to allow that Correct.
That's part of what's driving.
Yeah, absolutely.
I think there Well Yeah.
So I like that.
Clarify and I'm glad you describe that too as far as the
looking further into that short term
rentals I think i'm probably aligned with where you were
going with us I would like to pursue and understand,
you know, what we should do to make sure we consider
the short term rentals because I think if somebody makes
this investment, I don't want to limit their rights to be
able to sell as they choose, but I want to make sure we do it
the right way.
So yeah, I think that makes sense
So it's the right way, not long, less than 30 days or right
now I think I like the process.
OK All right.
We're going to do this.
And then i would advising the Planning Commission
to continue to investigate.
OK Short term rentals.
Gotcha.
The explanation made sense.
Yeah.
Yep Just let's continue right And that's exactly how the chair
laid it out when I was attending the perfect let's
start here, get more information We can address it as we need it.
Future.
Thank you.
That's a good start Yeah, but especially
when you're thinking about how big a some of the lots
are in the city that you can't do it currently.
Right?
Let's let's move that ball forward
and then we can adjust as we need
appropriately other questions or statements
I'll make a motion to approve.
Perfect.
Second.
And you're approving what, what ordinance number
or 16-26 the second on 41626.
As is laid out in front of us.
Yeah.
First and second.
The other question before we vote no All in favor
signify by saying I any oppose That's unanimously.
Okay.
Thank you.
Cannot All right.
So the next one is nine be in has to consider approval
of reallocation of committed generation fund proceeds
for the north bus all time project to parks and trails
projects, including the Flank Avenue trail extension.
So who's leading this one, Mr. Hill
Thank you, Mayor and Council.
In 2023, the city did complete the sale of the electric utility
to eCB following the necessary defeasance of the bonds There
was $1.865 million that did remain that was committed
at the time to an infrastructure improvement of the Northwest
old town area due to the council directives that
were provided here at the last couple of meetings.
That did kind of change the scope of that project It did
reduce the the requirement of that $1.8 million for that
project, approximately 800,000 of that original commitment is
currently available for alternative project funding
The city administration is proposing reallocating this
uncon mitted balance of up to $500,000 to support high
priority parks and trails projects Specifically,
these funds would be used to address the current budget.
Short falls on the link avenue trail extension which
does require additional funding to move forward
with the reception of the bids that
exceeded the original estimate.
That is next on the agenda if this gets approved this evening,
it is recommended that the Council do authorize staff
to proceed with the reallocation of up to $500,000 from
the Generation Fund to the Capital Fund for this link
avenue trail extension The second part of that is actually
a step that we were taking internally to work with
our auditors to make sure that we're following
the right processes on that.
And we have confirmed that.
So we are just author requesting the authorization
of the reallocation of up to $500,000 from the generation
and Fund to the capital fund for the Flank
Avenue trail extension Any questions from Mr.
Hill on this one?
Should we postpone this one until we actually
approve the old town project?
Which direction we're going?
So I don't think we've done that.
Correct Staff will be receiving at the next council meeting
a proposal from WSB to prove to us with the plans and specs
But at this time the scope of the project has been approved.
It's just the funding sources in the allocation
of the actual disbursement of of that
for that project going forward I see your point, Councilor gill.
I mean, it does make me a little nervous.
We're we're not even out for bid and I know we have leeway
and you say, I mean approximately
if I'm doing my math right, another 300 K approximately
But I don't know.
It does worry me a little bit.
So if I may you have the mayor and council.
So there is currently 1.8 designated to this project
The initial findings brought forward from the engineers
was to have $1 million set aside of that 1.8
for this project for the surface improvements
and subsequent communication with the city engineers.
The that full $1 million is probably not
going to be necessary either because the do the sub surface
improvements to the water lines The surface needs
to be disturbed and that would actually come out of the water
fund And instead of the generation funding.
So there would actually be i don't I can't put a number
to it, but it would actually be quite a bit
less than the million dollars that we
currently have set aside as at the last council
meeting that helps.
So then if we ran into overages or other issues
like you brought up the generation Fund money that
was allocated would not be where we're going
to like to supplement that.
That's correct Okay.
Is there urgency tonight to do this
based on bids we've got for the trail project or the grant Yeah.
Or the grant for the project needs
to be started So let me just use the right the right words here
needs to be started by end of June of 2027
to receive the full allocation of the grants
that we've already received.
Yeah, we do have a bid that's been sitting out there
and the contractors wondering what's going to go on here.
So you say urgency, though.
You just referred to why can't we do this next month?
Yeah not, not wait in the year, but just next month.
Correct.
Is that your.
Yeah, that's my implying that correct that does the bid change
after a certain amount of time I would defer to Heidi in regards
to the actual timeline on the bid process.
Yeah.
Mayor and councilmembers, I think my only concern
is we have it's been a couple of months
now since we opened the bids.
So the contractors really wondering,
this is the second time the project's been put out for bid.
The first time they reject it.
So, I mean, I think we can keep them interested.
I think we can keep them committed to their bid,
but the longer it goes on, the more
we risk that the contractor says, listen,
I had to move on and find some more work.
I need a I need a lot of my crews
So there is just some level of risk
that the contractor would not not continue to honor the bid.
But so it's just a bit of a risk.
But again, we do not we all of our numbers
that we're looking at, the project
will not require the one more than $1 million
for sure of this money for the Northwest old town
reduced cycle project.
So, Heidi, my understanding this project
will not start until late next spring.
Right.
So.
Well, it might start this fall.
Oh, they just need to be done by next June.
The project specs set has to be completed.
That that.
Well, in this special extensions,
we said it needs substantial completion by June of 27.
They have not decided if they would start this fall
or start next spring.
That they'll figure that out once the project is awarded,
they'll start putting some real planning
and actually ordering materials and things change.
Anything for you here in that I do like the fact
we put some caps on the old town project
basically required us to have an answer there.
So there is that benefit well in and it finishes the nice trail
that's been talked about for quite some time
to correct all the housing going up north right section up there.
Right.
So it's going to probably get a lot more use.
Yes.
I mean, that's right.
And not nit picking the word nice,
but Yeah. then you talk about the amount of writing
that's going in that corner and speed definitely Yes, it
will I mean, I'd make a motion to to make
it make sure I get this right So I, I'd like there's Two things.
Well, the first one, we got to take action.
A second one, I mean they've got a two part system
authorized reallocation is one.
And they're going to direct staff So are you talking about
be it were the you talked about.
Yes.
Yeah, but recommendation one and two.
Right.
Yeah.
If you look further down in the record.
Yep kind of a two part thing.
Oh okay.
Yeah OK So yeah, that morphed into approve the reallocate
an automated generation fund for 500,000 received three units
for the park children project, including the 3 for the link
trail extension and then the direct staff to finalize
the necessary accounting transfers upon confirmation from
the city's financial advisors or auditors regarding the transfer
of funds between enterprise and capital funds or did he
frame that correctly Yes, sir.
Okay.
You have a second.
Second, Mr. Mayor.
Okay.
Well, first and second, any other questions
or comments before we vote?
All right.
All in favor.
Signify by saying i, i.
Any opposed that's unanimously.
Okay.
Thank you You would Did you want to come up and ask your question
I'm being flexible than I so subject is block
No When you will be voting on the next oh
it's on the agenda tonight.
OK Yeah.
Two more items.
Pardon me.
One more item in front of the block.
Oh, so tonight you'll decide whether or not you
go with flock cameras No other.
We've got it on the agenda.
The last time the action was to figure
out how we can cancel the contract,
what implications it be.
Right.
So we're going to have conversation about that tonight
The contract was approved and may
you have to figure out how to cancel them.
If you're going to cancel them So
are you able to stay around in my able to stay,
are you able to say the meeting or the longer
because we're going to get to that here in just a little bit.
Oh, okay Yeah, it's on the agenda.
All right.
Sorry I mean, no problem.
No problem All right.
So move on to nine C and ask to consider approval
of a resolution awarding the construction
contract for the Link Avenue Trail Improvement project.
So taking that off Yeah.
Good evening, Mayor and Council.
As you mentioned, there's a resolution tonight
to worthy the low bid for the link
avenue phase two trail project.
So the project is located along link Avenue.
So North of our North Branch marketplace
are north like Jerry's foods over here.
So like, we're if you are heading up Flink Avenue,
would be on the west side of the roadway.
There's an existing sidewalk network
that's along the terminates currently on that.
Were that access point on to Flink Avenue is.
And then there's an existing gap from
there up to three 92nd Street.
And so the project would consist of a ten foot bituminous
trail to be constructed on that on that west side
crossing the river No major, major trail connection.
You'll connect businesses, neighborhoods, parks and trails
and it would really connect everybody to the entire, that
would connect to the entire parks, trails system
that, you know, throughout the entire city.
So you get two schools, you know,
library wherever you're looking to go from that that trail
connection So this, as we talked about a little bit earlier,
this project's been in the works for a several years
that you know the marketplace improvements were done in 2008.
And then you know, there's been residential developments.
You know north on Flink Avenue you know, for several years.
And so with that, with Link Avenue being a narrow roadway
without with very narrow shoulders
and higher speeds or 6,000 cars a day, that are there.
And so it's really a safety issue that's there.
And so with that Metro North development that that was
completed in 21, we got a grant from the D,
an article from the Meadows North, the three 92nd and 23.
We also applied for a mini after transportation grant
and we had a lot of support from community members.
We had a letter of support from residents along that corridor,
letter support from Gerry Foods from the line, a clinic
from a lot of the businesses that
are there in support of this project that
help support that get in that.
And so that in 2025 is as heidi had mentioned,
that we went out for a bid.
But unfortunately, the projects the bids
came in higher than our grant availability at that time.
And so the council determined to explore other alternatives
and try to find other grant opportunities
And so we submitted a grant application to the DNR,
received grant funding for that, and went out for bids this year.
And back in June, we did the bid opening in July,
we had nine bidders for the project
with New Look contracting, being in the orbiter at 1.835 million.
And so as I kind of laid out earlier,
so we've got a $575,000 grant from this
firm and got 250 from the DNR.
And we've got $177,000 from our fund,
290 from roll over from Park maintenance funds, 44,000
from the park dedication fund.
And then that half a million dollars that we just discussed
from the committed funds to equal that dollar
amount And so with that staff.
I would recommend approval of the resolution
to move forward with the link Avenue Phase Two trail project.
All right.
Mr..
Can I have a question that this is where I'm for the project,
but this is the first time I've seen this be lower
So I'm saying why the difference in the in the estimates?
I'm, you know, I'm pretty eager about, you know,
what i thought you know W she's been really clear on a mark
except for this one.
Yeah.
One of the, one of the large components of this trail project
is the, the crossing the river.
It requires a sheet piling wall and that
in the cost of that is really what you know from an estimate
was set.
And then when, when the got bid and so that's really what's
driving a lot of the cost.
I mean, but it's that's really piling wall is long term
maintenance that's the best solution by far for us
for long term for that facility.
So OK.
Thanks.
Thanks, Nate, for the curfew And it wasn't that an issue
over by river walk far to you had to reinforce those pylons,
correct.
OK This issue is going to come up and yeah this question would
be in regard to where does it go after having traveled
over the river, it winds around and goes all the way to 95,
correct Yeah, I forgive me, I can't hear you ask the question.
Peter, that I was going to ask.
I wasn't quite sure how it connected.
Well, he answered the river.
One.
That was my first.
But yeah, so if you look at so the existing trail segment would
be from three 92nd Street here.
So there was a there was a trail that was this constructed
with the Sunrise Bluff development
that connect all those residents to this trail segment.
This is the gap.
This is where, again, there's wetland
and there, it gets to be really narrow.
And that's where that that she filing is required.
And then as you get to the two here,
there's an existing sidewalk network
that's currently in place that was constructed with 2008.
We did the we did some pavement improvement projects.
I think that was maybe Two years ago.
We relocated the crosswalk from the the east side of the
intersection to the west side.
Just with that curve means you're
heading to the south Other things
that the city has taken into, like they've reduced
the speed on Flink Avenue also to help with pedestrian safety
to for having a safer crossing But as that sidewalk
continues to the south, it goes all the way
down to to Highway 95 here.
And there's a continuous sidewalk network that
goes all the way you know, to, you know,
our entire trail network and all honestly So you
get over to the sunrise, to the sunrise,
very trail I think you've answered my question.
I just my concern was that folks are going to come down
that trail hit the turn after the creek or the river,
and they're going to want to cross.
But you got a crossing their cars drive
really fast around that curve.
So I don't know if it.
I need some kind of a flashing amber
or something going on there.
I don't know.
But it's kind of a dangerous area.
Yeah.
And the districts Yeah.
Thanks, Peter.
And so part of the project we do include advance warning
So we are going to have a rapid flashing beacon
at that intersection and we're going to have advance
warning signs are permanent.
You know, within like i give you halloween is coming.
They all sit down So I'm not sure what's on question Eight,
which granted expires next year So it's the men
dot is the $575,000 grant.
That's the big one.
We lose if we don't approve this.
Correct.
And yeah, and there's other implications
If you're not willing for the grant awards,
it makes it harder for us for receiving funding in the future
as well Okay I right know the questions for an eight
you know that's one.
No, no All right.
So this one has to consider awarding.
All right Yes.
Right.
We're on 35 dash.
So the resolution Yeah.
So do we have a motion to approve?
A motion to approve resolution 355-2026.
Work in the construction contract for this link.
Avenue Trail Improvement project to new Look contract
a second, A first and second question
before we go All in favor signify
by saying I. I any opposed unanimously Thank you.
All right Thank you.
Move on to 90 and that is to consider approval of proposal
to prepare a local road improvement program application
for improvement of the intersection 400 Street
and Flank Avenue Mr. Hill.
Thank you, Mayor Cities identified that a local road
improvement program i'm a grant application
will be opening on September 1.
It will close on November 25th.
This is a very important funding opportunity for local roads,
for construction reconstruction and reconditioning projects.
Funding is available for routes of regionally regional
significance, which is a category three,
in which the intersection of 400th and Flink qualifies
for Mindat has also indicated that $50 million will be awarded
as part of this program in this in this funding cycle
in Minnesota the city has identified 400 and Flink,
the intersection improvements as a priority for the future
development of the land in the northwest corner
of our community as well as the future connection of the 400th
and Interstate I-35 interchange Transportation impact study was
completed in September of 2025, which
resulted in a preliminary layout for a roundabout
at this location.
The total cost for that roundabout
was estimated to be about $1.8 million.
Local road improvement program funds may
only be used for construction.
They can't be used for engineering
right of way acquisition action or construction administration.
So all of this all of the grant funding
would be going directly towards construction
of the transportation impact study
was developed in partnership with LGI Homes
as part of the conditions of the Meadows
Ridge Housing Development.
This partnership outlines the scope of transportation
improve ments ensures a FAIR methodology for cost allocation
amongst the partners and aligns the local investments
with the regional goals, like the future of the I-35 400.
At the interchange WSP has prepared
a proposal to complete a grant application
on behalf of the city.
The cost for this work is $12,963.
The full copy of the full scope of the services
is in your packet Funding is available through the franchise
fee revenue to be completed for this work.
The electric and gas utility franchise fees
are dedicated to street improvement
projects such as this.
The grant awards are expected to be announced in march of 2027.
We do have a representative of WSP here to answer
any questions, but staff does request council
to consider approval of the contract with WSP
to allow the preparation.
It's the middle of the application for the local road
improvement program funding Mr. Hill So $1.8 million
is the estimate.
Our total So minus the grand And then plus the one developer
is contributing some percentage, correct?
So that's not all going to be on the city?
That's correct If Grant were to receive,
it would reduce everybody's allocation of the partnerships
in the group Okay.
And then was there a percentage with the developer?
I don't remember if it was a dollar amount or a percentage.
Oh, mayor and council.
So the transportation study has a breakdown.
And so it really looks at all of the land that's
within that northwest quadrant of the community
And so as each piece of that land would develop,
it's going to be based off of the estimated traffic counts,
based off of the number of units for each one of those sectors
And so there's a formula Long story short,
there's a formula of what they would pay.
And as Minister hill mentioned, that it would
essentially it would reduce everybody,
including the city's contribution
to what that would be.
Okay.
I just felt it was important to make sure people understood
that we were co op and with the developer as well,
and hopefully we'll get a sizable grant on this too
and that the developer has already
paid a portion towards this already with that First phase
of their development.
They have a better that's.
All right.
Questions for Nate on this one seems pretty straightforward,
but it this would be kind of a help to help me remember.
Here's because we also talked about the one
that we're partner with the county
and over on that Hemenway that is proposed
for is that Two years from now.
And did we approve the funding or was the funding for that?
Or why does this roundabout take priority
over the one on the east side there to an L rep?
Has already been applied for and applied to that project?
Has the county did that one?
We're a 5050 partner with the county on that one.
So I don't know the numbers of that one at this time,
but their take on the county is leading that project.
Awesome.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
All right If there's no other questions,
then, so you're looking for a motion
to approve the fees from WSP to submit this application
for the grant, correct?
That's correct Mayor.
I'll make the motion to approve the engineering services
contract with W c b to allow the preparation and submittal
of application for lRP funding The second, Mr.
Mayor and then just to clarify, that's not to exceed $12,963,
correct ?
This is laid out in front of us.
OK And a question before we vote.
All in favor signify by saying i, i any opposed
that's unanimously All right.
Now, we'll get to 90 and that is to consider future direction
for the Leaf vacuum program.
So I assume our public works director
Matt is going to lead this one.
Good evening, Mayor and council members So to give background,
the purpose of this report is to provide the City Council
with a comprehensive program usage
data, financial obligations and regulatory information.
This information is intended to facilitate a formal discussion
receive specific direction from the Council regarding the future
of the leaf vacuum service.
Some current usage data participation this spring
was utilized by 681 parcels.
Total sculptor approximately 4900 residential parcels
within the city to participate and rate with that
is approximately about 14% of residents
use the spring service operational schedule
and metrics The program operates on a seasonal basis
with the following staffing and equipment
allocations Spring operations.
It's a four week iteration utilizing one truck
and one public works staff.
Fall operations is also a four week iteration we use to two
public work vehicles and two public works staff during that
we approximate drive 3,000 miles of driving driven
annually during the program.
The program requires 450 total staff hours
per calendar year maintenance demands exceed 40 hours
maintenance per year.
The expense expense side of this is an annual
program cost of about $62,000.
At previous council meetings and public works advisory meetings.
You guys were.
I was asked to look at there's any local garbage
haulers that will provide compost bins
to residents of the seventh.
I reached out to None of them will offer the compost bin
to residents was also asked to look at different options
to extend hours at the compost So I reached out to two
different fence gate companies where we if we install
the gates, they range from $28,000 to almost $30,000
to install a gate that the residents can use and register
at city Hall to receive an access code to gain access
to the compost site And for tonight we're asking
for direction on what direction Council
wants to go with this option.
One Maintain status quo, continue
the current leaf vacuum service free of charge for residents.
Option to implement a user fee, which is collect all data
and implement a pay to play model with an estimated
fee of $150 per resident to offset Operation and capital
costs and the last option is to discontinue service which
is eliminate the curbside leaf vacuum
program entirely Question those are the three
options we can always add.
A fourth.
Yup Yep.
Or for you know, please come up to the microphone
Yeah You just said your first option is free of charge
but we went over previously that the first option is included
in that $75 that we all pay every year You just said
the option one to continue the service free of charge
is what you decided.
That was option one, but not for you,
because it's in that handout contract on the website.
It's not actually what that money is for.
OK.
So then maybe we need clarification, correct?
That's right.
That was discussed earlier Correct.
That fix that?
Yeah we're going to have to make that clarification.
Staff's going to have to get on that Thank you, sir My name
is Tim Moore and I live in town, Bridge Street.
And the leave thing, I know you status quo is the best.
I got a lot of leaves.
I wrote everyone of you guys, I think I spoke quite a while ago.
And I was here, but i've got a picture here.
But I'm You mentioned the Lugger thing,
you know, and we're talking like a big garbage can,
you know, And my son's got that.
It was in Oakdale.
And that's fine.
If you get a twig or a branch.
But I got enough leaves to fill up a semi grain truck
and a lugger a week would take me a couple
of years to get of one.
So ixnay nay that, in my opinion.
I mean, I've got a picture of one week's worth of leaves.
It's a lot which I choose to live in.
What branch The trees.
It's a beautiful place.
I've got a lot of trees.
Big oak trees are beautiful and I'm fortunate.
I live by the river.
The north branch of the Sunrise River
and everybody downstream from me, their property goes down,
mine does.
And i'm right on the edge of it.
But I see it.
It's a beautiful river.
It's open in the winter time It's clear.
I'm afraid they're going to rake their leaves
into that river if they don't pick them up on a street
And that's a concern.
So I sure hope you guys can keep that that service going,
because it means a lot to me.
And a lot of other people.
So thanks.
OK Thank you.
All right.
Public comment part two.
Keep it going I just have a comment about you
talked about there's only 13 to 14%
of people that use this spring pick up.
Correct.
What's the percentage of the fall We have not done that.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's part of the discussion.
Yeah that's why that's okay.
So and this was like.
No, I am guessing it's a much higher percentage
We're within the same you know, we've talked about the fee
and everything, bye.
Live in an area where I have no street maintenance whatsoever.
I have a well so the tree leaf pick
up is primarily what I thought.
Even though now that it's a typo.
But then why am I paying that fee?
I don't want it paid.
So that'll take away And there are many people
in the area that I live in that are not going to pay that fee
or will argue about paying them to since it was clarified
on the city website that that's what it included And when we
call and ask why we're paying this,
we were told that was part of the fee
So we will get to that conversation Part of it tonight,
the storm sewer fee.
We'll get that to another time because we
have a report covenant study.
So we'll get a lot deeper into that.
At that point.
OK.
Sorry.
Thank you, Rob All right.
One more So we've talked I have a consulting company.
That's what I do.
I help with problems like this, right.
And I already discussed.
I have an insane yard with tons of leaves
I will say with what you found with the spring,
I won't agree with that.
Might not be the popular thing to say right now.
But if it was two weeks in the spring instead four,
that would save 25% of your weeks, right?
Bring it from 8 to 6.
I personally even with that insane yard of mine
wouldn't need more than two weeks in the spring.
I don't use this just to clarify, though.
Total weeks.
We have two trucks in the fall.
OK.
So the total of 12 weeks.
And we take away two seats still be short run ten weeks.
OK.
Okay.
And I believe those two winters ago,
we actually extend it, extended it away first,
the last two years, we've extended a week each time,
you know, with you shorten that time
frame them are really throwing a dart at a very small ball.
We're started too early.
Yeah.
So while Mother Nature kind of plays a part in that.
So yeah Thank you.
All right, Mary, can I got something else
to just this might I would ask Sharon or Matthew to have this
for the budget discussion or when there's more follow
up on the stormwater fees.
My recollection is that actually changes about 2020,
where it was that actually got paid with your taxes
to the county.
And then the state said you could no longer do that.
And I came back to the city.
So maybe some historical context there too,
because I think that's One of the mis conceptions
is that it all sudden was a new fee.
But it was a fee that we had been paying for years.
You thought you didn't see it.
It necessarily because it was on your taxes
So I don't you can verify that or give some
of that historical context, that budget
time or the next conversation on it Well, maybe
we should wait until we actually get to that.
The storm stormwater.
Yeah.
And the water rate study Yeah.
That's whenever it's appropriate.
Just again, walking through that process.
All right, let's get to our talking points.
I think we're going to relieve a lot of people here.
So yeah, so comments questions.
So yes.
So we've been part of the public works,
you know advisory committee and we chatted about this one
quite a bit.
You know, it is disappointing to hear that our website is
incorrect or possibly incorrect that we'll get addressed
and the leave pick up, because at that has not been brought up
and our advisory committees.
So thank you to both of you for bringing
that up And we don't have the data for the fall, you know,
the fall pick up.
Yeah, I do either.
And yes 13% or 14% is is light for Spring
Falls a little bit more.
I'm we're assuming, you know, we did talk about that as well.
You know the costs i'm sure there wants
to be other discussions on it.
But I personally would like to make a motion
to collect that fall data.
And I did i did write down because my chicken scratches
a little bit unreadable sometimes So is to make a motion
to collect the fall usage data and hold action until
the November 24th meeting.
After, you know, data has been collected and reviewed
And, the best decision you know, going forward you
know, about the leaf pickup.
And so 2026, since we have a motion,
we do have to act on that.
You know and hopefully there can be discussion.
OK either.
So is there a second motion on the striping or i'll
second that first and second.
So now open it up for questions.
Your comments, please I guess my question just would be
the intent behind having that conversation on the 24th,
because I mean, to me, and if I miss reading some
of the conversation, had earlier, like, you know,
there's direct text implications into 27, there
potentially and is the 24th.
You know, we're at now.
Yeah, we've also seen where we go okay there's money unspent
and now we can allocate that towards one time
purchases and stuff like that and extending the if that's kind
of what your thought process.
Well, on extending the leaf pickup the last couple of years
you know maybe they'll start Full inhale
and next week for all I know.
But but I don't I don't control that.
So that was if it needs to be the first
you know that November 11th.
I think it's not going to be it's not
going to matter at that point.
Yeah.
Our budgets for next year.
Yeah.
For our preliminary.
Yeah.
Well final budget, right?
Yeah So I mean, we can.
Yeah, we can.
Yeah.
Adjust as needed until this.
And the way I would look at that.
We just I think going into the budget
we just have to plan on having that service for next year.
And then if something changes.
Yep we make our adjustments afterwards 100%.
And in our preliminary budget it's still in correct?
Yes.
Yes Yeah.
Actually, where do we make our final?
Right.
But the current estimates for we pick pickup Oh, it's included.
Yes within the public works budget.
Yeah Yeah.
Because we're also.
Yeah.
I mean, just so talk about that in the advisory question to us
is when do we bring this back this time next year.
Yeah.
If it's not this year.
I know this, but I just heard you going to say
you're going to continue.
It's already budgeted Well, but that's our prelim budget.
Actually.
We do our final budget December.
Correct.
So we would have the opportunity to change it if we choose OK.
Yeah before they do Summer meeting 24 is so we did
have a warm winter.
You still would have leaves, bye.
Well, it's almost always I don't have a crystal ball.
And we're going to have them.
OK.
All right Discuss that 24th and your committee.
Me or Mr. Fraley?
Oh, okay.
I don't know what the 24th.
OK, turn around Wednesday, usually Wednesday,
the 25th 25th or the fifth.
Like this.
Thank you.
Modification to the Yeah.
And the Second opinion.
Yeah, that would be okay.
Okay So I mean, that's my feedback too I mean, we,
we've brought this up a couple of times
before in our council meetings.
You know, I believe we need more public feedback
We've gotten a lot tonight, so I appreciate that.
And then through Facebook community pages.
But we need more data, right We need to know
how many are actually use net.
And then I would also and i've talked to some people,
I want to know how many people use it, how many people would be
willing to pay our user fee as well
So there's information that i'm looking for.
The people I've talked to said they'd be willing to do it,
because we got to try to hire contractors to do it.
It's going to cost a lot more.
I think what we're looking at is this is a benefit to the city
to prevent too much, too many leaves from getting
into our condensed areas around our downtown areas
and our houses.
They're closer together.
So there is a benefit to keep that stuff out of the storm
sewer But at the same time, you know,
if we got hit by a truck at some point
for three and 1,000 $61,000 average estimated
operating fees each year.
And if a small percentage of the property owners
are actually using it, there's a crazy an imbalance there.
Right.
So how do we look at that from an expenditure standpoint?
So for me, I agree with you, Councilmember,
I think I'd rather wait and see what type of data
we get for how many people are actually using it.
And then I think we need to send a survey
as well to figure out, you know, how many people use it
and how many will be willing to pay a user fees.
And again, we're exploring.
We're having a conversation and nobody's made up their minds yet
or our decisions here.
That's what this is all about.
Well. to piggyback off your comment,
I think my concern now over the mass, I mean,
as far as I can remember, sort of Canada you have
is that we have.
We've always want to put more have
a fund to replace equipment.
And we haven't been able to get there
And then you know, to Mr. Anderson's point you know,
the vehicle.
Yes, it's 20 years old that we can run it this year,
but it can run the first day of fall.
We don't know if it's going to make it through the next week
of fall, necessarily.
And then all of a sudden, what are we looking at?
And if we don't have that fund already set
up So that's why my largest concern about the fund
in the lack of revenue and if we need to purchase a new truck
now, how do we look at that?
And, you know if we're not looking five years ahead,
then we're not doing our job.
Mayor, go ahead Yeah.
Can I just add some context about how this all came about?
So with our capital improvement plan that we just we're
looking at prior to the bond, that's
where the extra truck came in to replacement
of the 22 year old vehicle.
We have.
And that's where we really started to ask some questions
about the service.
And I think there's, what, less than half dozen
cities in the state that we know of that offer this service.
So that's where we really started asking questions
And that's why we also asked Matt and Team
to analyze the number of people using the service in the spring.
So we actually put the equipment on to be able to do that.
And it was actually quite valuable to us
But then I also brought this up during the flock
meeting to get this kind of attention and feedback
is like the flock cameras sometimes we
get a little too far along before people
are aware of what's going on.
So try to make this a little bit more vocal and public sooner.
So you could have your voice heard before we
made any final decision.
So that's kind of what brought us here to today
And what were your words?
Tell your neighbors, right?
Yeah.
Tell your neighbors.
Well, so we have one at this point.
Final.
And this is to Matt, like with the fire department,
the ladder truck is is there one that's this reconditioned
does have to be brand new.
Does it have to be?
No But there's not too many communities where you can
get a specialty leaf pickup.
Got me.
Okay.
Because you did mention that.
Yeah it was the lot.
Yeah.
And to sell art of a lot of our you know, because there's.
Yeah, there's there's no takers.
OK Or minimal takers.
I threw it out there.
Yeah No, I don't.
Yes.
OK.
I come up just so people watching can hear the questions
So if they had some aspect sold like, you know how many hours
are on the rig you know how many hours are actually on which
miles, but hours on the old truck,
What are the major repairs we talking engine, transmission?
It's less about the truck.
It's more about the equipment, the back system itself,
the VAC system Yeah.
OK.
So could you just put a new VAC system on the truck
or how it is you know, is it.
I believe it's already been retrofitted on five
years ago with different.
So what's the major repair cost?
What's is the back system going bad and can
you put a new system on the old truck.
Or do you have to have a whole new truck ?
Well, those are questions that I think any more from right now.
How are the repairs trending or the increasing every year
over the past couple of years, five years?
What does that look like?
But is it 60 grand a year in repairs or, you know do you have
a truck with low hours on it?
Only gets around a month or two a year So, I mean, you know, I
I'm a truck driver.
I'm a crane operator.
So I deal with this.
Some of our trucks have almost a half a million miles on road.
They just you know, looks like they're meant to go.
You know, it's but if it's the back system, then that old rig.
I don't I don't think anybody here cares how pretty it is
You know, off some of them, like the lights
But you know, if the transmission is good
and the motor is good and this is going to mean,
that's 20 years old.
So you know, you get bad belts, you get bad hoses, you know,
maybe some wiring But for the most part
you know, some things as long as you keep oil and coolant in it,
it'll go it's part of the long term planning that we need.
Appreciate it.
Continue to you know look at our capital equipment
you know the good questions again that's more information.
I think we need more detail to write it.
What are the equipment repairs look like?
Right?
How are we trending?
Sure Sure.
And that was my other question about I lost it all.
Dang i had one more sure, sure.
When we might have public comment Number three, I guess.
Or.
Oh, yeah.
My other question would be would it be more cost effective to say
sort of like they're talking about four times in the spring
and four times in the fall I would think something's
better than nothing So like, even if I'm
sure people would still like to have it twice
to three times in the fall.
And one time in the spring and would that save money?
Yeah, it's getting that data collected that fall.
Well, I think we have to track that right.
Like week after week.
I mean, how many more how small are the piles getting, you know,
track in the volume.
Sure to bill to answer that question.
Well, and like we were talking, I think if someone brought it
up as well that sometimes not all the leaks are done
and my last pickup is came and that's probably
why we got the spring Yeah.
Pick up as well.
And the other thing I do notice is that some neighbors
pile them together.
So I don't know how you're getting your data.
If it tells my house by house But you know, some of us,
we just pile it all on one big side.
So it could be three houses in just one pile.
So it's kind of, you know, I think there's more data Yeah, I
think it's more than that So the data is
being collected by the driver in the leaf pickup truck.
He has an iPad, which is all those every individual parcel.
There's a pile of clicks on.
It gets submitted.
Sure.
And it tracks as miles every parcel.
So it's all GIs.
So Okay, so just going on.
How many piles?
Yeah.
We're not knocking on doors asking
if you pile them together.
Yeah, right.
Well, I'm just saying i think you could
you put a sign out next year.
This is 3.
This year.
3 lots of these multifamily a leaf pickup.
Right Okay.
But that's where if we had a survey, if we had people reach
out, we could compare what's been reported
to what we're finding right?
So so, Matt, I would say and Matthew, maybe a little bit more
detail about how you want to analyze
that or collect that information would be helpful.
And would you have to estimate how
much they would pay for a fee?
Right.
Well, they've kind of they've kind of.
Yeah.
We've done some other preliminary stuff
in our advisor communities could be lower, could be more.
So.
So Mary recommending the survey before the November
24th meeting or 25 meeting.
Yes, I think it should all be done.
The same time.
I don't know what that survey looks like.
I'm not saying we send out a I'm not sure what that looks like.
I think it's up to staff to figure
out how could we do a survey.
So people could report that, hey I'm participating,
I want to participate And we compare that number, that
information to what drivers are finding
because the three of them are piled together
You're going to have a discrepancy there.
Yeah they're reporting their name and their address.
Then we kind of we can have more information
that makes sense All right.
You're going to get less accurate
information on survey Well, we got to start somewhere,
you know.
I know.
I'm just there.
OK You're going to get a lower response rate right All right.
So i'm tempted to expectations, tempering
expectations Let's figure out how to get this, how we're not.
Mr. Mehta You're correct.
And if you don't know solution.
The effort or not worthwhile.
Yes.
Yes, absolutely.
Absent that.
OK I thought you're been nice tonight I can at some point.
All right.
So we have a First and second.
We've got our discussion Any other comments or questions?
We'll do the survey part of the motion.
or is that just a consensus asking is there
a consensus that it's okay?
Okay I have one major question, General Jeff The $150 that was
brought up on that option to the pay to play model,
is that just taking roughly $68,000,
whatever that you came up with by number
of parcels and were at the one?
That's what I question.
There is another city that we were comparing to.
Correct?
Circle Circle Pines, I think there
was 90, 95 five box and that was for a 96 gallon,
you know, and container.
Right.
And how does that 150 work out for our So an annual fee.
That is correct.
But again, it's but again, we're not pursuing that right now.
May Well, I know I'm just asking the clicker question Matthew,
please.
Yeah.
Jeff just answer the question.
We're not implementing that as part of this motion.
We're just going to gather some research.
We're going to do the passes in the fall.
We're going to collect the data How many people are participate
how many trips are we taking?
How much time is this going to be providing the community?
And then we'll bring in to bring that back and consensus
from the city council is that we will
get a survey put together that we will put on our website.
We'll promote it through our Facebook page
and do our best to get that promoted in our community
through the different events throughout the fall
and have that data bring back to that to the council
as well at the same time.
OK.
But my question is, where the 150 came from.
You're saying it's based on another city.
I guess part of if it's been presented again
is be I don't like a number being put up there that i
don't know how that effects.
That's why I said, even covers the cost
or if it's making money off the citizens that don't use it.
So if we had the cost of $70,000 roughly, and that was you know,
to get that to covering cost or if it's covering 50%
of the cost, whatever it might be,
that's what I would want to know If we presented
a second option in the future at the meeting on the 24th,
is that.
Yeah, that's all I'm asking is where that money came from.
And to be able to tell residents how there.
It is being utilized and how well that was presented up here
was broken down to some degree.
That map.
Did you just pick a number of parcels?
Is that how you figure this out or that 50?
Go ahead.
I, I so we took the spring collection data
and we doubled the number of people that
participated thinking that that would
be a general ballpark number.
And then we broke it down by the $62,000 and that was the closest
number that related to that.
OK.
So that's how we came up with based off of 14% of we
doubled it and broke it down.
Okay.
28 Yeah.
OK.
Okay You're welcome.
We got those.
That's the last numbers.
Go through of numbers that we can't say with All right.
Any other questions Yeah.
This is all All right, Come on I usually clean up during cleanup.
I probably do my third one today with all oak trees.
I got what I saw.
One of the altar net roots was put
in a sun up at the compost site and having badges to get in.
I just guess out of curiosity, what
would the hours be extended done since you'd be expected to?
That's bring it ourselves that's what that have a hard
closed on when that doesn't work at night
like it would be open till we haven't explored it to that
extent.
But the reason why we limited the hours
to begin with, those people were bringing stuff that was not
supposed to be there and people coming from out of town
and dropping stuff off there and it became a very expensive thing
to maintain because we have to grind all that up and all out.
So that's why we lock it down so much from two years ago now.
Yeah Yeah.
Okay.
That makes sense I'm just ask because I know a lot of people
commute like me to the cities every day,
so then light and traffic back up here
and trying to get to it before I closes
isn't always exactly correct.
Oh, yeah.
So just if that were to be pursued, it being open later
would be a huge help.
That's the reason for the gate.
Appreciate it.
Access.
OK.
Yeah.
Conversations are still going.
Yeah.
What happens?
Something.
Okay.
No problem.
Now, I will say too.
I mean I was there for the first time in a couple of years,
couple weeks ago.
And I was shocking the difference right there
of these massive oak tree trunks or the orange size
that we say is a limit Lavonte happened
to be there, smile on his face.
Frankly, it could be just a totally
different experience, right?
For what I've seen with people dumping
tires and appliance shows and all the other stuff
that doesn't belong there.
So it was the right move But we need
to continue our conversation to figure out
how we can be more flexible with our residents
to correct All right.
So we got the first and second, we've
had 2 or 3 public comments Any other comments before we vote?
All right All in favor.
Signify by saying I, I oppose unanimously.
All right Now, the big one.
We go Let Mr. Hill kick this one off.
Yes, Thank you.
You.
The last council meeting staff was directed
to get some information in regards to the contractual
obligations for the city and what implications
of cancellation, how that would look for the city
We did we did pause the project We did pause the project
and we did not.
But the four cameras up, the three cameras
that were physically installed were removed and are currently
in storage We have contacted flock with the storage location
and they can come pick them up if the council moves
forward with canceling this.
We have been in contact with our city Attorney's office review
the contract There are some implications that are probably
already known but confirmed if the city does move forward
to cancel, we would probably not be
able to recuperate recoup the funding
that we've already expended.
The initial $21,000 for a year one, we
do have a three year contract.
We have received communication from flux safety
that they said that we do have a three year contract
and while they can stop the installation
and remove the equipment, the city
is responsible for the financial obligations
outlined for the duration of the three year term.
There is a a non-renewal provision,
meaning that at the end of the Three years,
we can give a notice to them in writing
which would cancel any future obligations to that fact.
That system.
So the nuts and bolts of it are that we can cancel.
We have the cameras down already,
and they can come and pick them up There
is a financial obligation from the city for the contract We've
had it reviewed by legal and those
are the areas that have been addressed
So I'm open to any questions.
I know Dan's here as well, too Provide any additional feedback
or provide any additional support for your your inquiries.
Question go ahead.
We had allocated some grant money from the state for this
correct And the initial expense of the 61,000,
63,000, I kind of special public safety funding Yeah.
The when the contract was passed.
It was to use the funds from the 2023 public safety money that
was received from the state in the full
amount is there the 63,000.
It wasn't just a 21,000 will All right.
I'm going to jump in.
Since I've been by the most involved in this you
my glasses on here.
So I did ask some questions to our police
chief who forwarded to whoever our flock
rep was, was answering this.
So i just want to go through this thing.
So some of the things I've you know, Jessie and a few others
have brought up some of what I've seen
with other cities and concerns.
So the First question that I had asked is,
does a customer are meaning the owner of the flock Safety Falcon
license plate reader have the only encryption key to access
their data Or does a flock safety company also have
an encryption key ? and the ability
to access data on customer owned selfie cameras?
So i'm just there's like for questions, I
want to read the answer here.
So safety.
This is their response Flash Safety manages the encryption
process as part of the service using industry standard services
like key management service, also known as Cams Data is
encrypted in the device during transfer
and when stored while flock manage the encryption
keys This does not grant slack general access to customer data.
Access to customer data by flock personnel
is contractually limited.
Strictly controlled and occurs only when reasonably necessary
to provide customer support or address system issues.
Access to criminal justice information.
CGI is further restricted to designated cGI
certified engineers who have undergone fingerprinting
and background checks So my second my follow up question
to this was if indeed has encryption key to access data
on customer owned Falcon cameras,
can your flock representative access
that system without the customer's knowledge?
And then is there any way to see a history of one flock accesses
customer owned cameras The response access by flock
representatives is governed by strict policies
and is not performed without a legitimate need,
such as providing customers support or system maintenance
as outlined in the terms of our agreement
All privilege Administrator access by flock personnel
is logged for auditing purpose So I just just kind of respond
and say that I didn't feel like it
was as forthright of an answer as it should have been.
I don't know that if we had these flat cameras up,
if we would know when they would access it,
even if they felt like it was a legitimate reason
without doing the audit.
That wasn't clear to me.
I felt like it wasn't as complete as answer
as it should have been I go on to the next one
here is there any way for entities
other state or federal agencies besides the authorized user
granted access by the customer who owns the flock?
A LPR system to access and view the data?
I apologize.
I was trying to be very specific with this.
But bottom line is I want to make sure that there wasn't any
way they didn't understand my question The response was, no,
other entities cannot access the data unless the customer
explicitly authorizes it.
The data sharing is turned off by default The customer owns
and controls 100% of their data and has
complete discretion over what other agencies
they share data with.
So when they say data sharing is turned off by default that
doesn't feel true to me based on things that I've conversation
I've had with other cities, other information that I've
seen in this conversation.
Schiff and I have had a little bit with our city administrator
people, some of these law enforcement agencies
are recognizing or figuring out that other agencies
are able to access their system, and then they're common is.
And then we realize how to stop it when we put our controls on.
So when they say that the data control is basically,
you know, off by default there are
signs that that's not the case.
When these when these systems are being put up.
I guess with these different cities and law enforcement
agencies So I'm giving you my observation my opinion,
based on these answers that they're given.
Next question Are there any pre-installed
visual or audio record features on the Falcon LP cameras?
If so, are they simply pre-installed but not activated
So the response, unlike traditional security cameras
that continually record video locks,
LPR cameras capture a point in time images of vehicles
traveling on public roadways and does
not provide continuous real time tracking
of any individual flock.
Cameras capture objective vehicle information as vehicles
pass through a final occasion, and they go on
to describe what's in their promotional material
in the follow up on this, because they didn't ask
my question about the video part Yeah So I followed up and asked,
are there preinstalled video, Android recording capabilities?
But they're not activated So I asked that a second time.
Get it down to.
OK.
So Chief got the answer for me.
So their response.
They has the ability to be viewed live,
but it lacks that recording feature,
allowing only a real time view.
Currently this feature is not enabled
for your department All PR does not have audio capability
is again, my opinion.
I felt like it was an incomplete answer If there's the ability
to be alive, it feels like there has to be sometimes
a power to it, to a source of some type that
could be viewed recorded didn't like the response.
I felt like they were.
I feel like I had to keep asking the questions to make sure I got
a complete answer There's been a lot said
about the encryption of the information from the cameras
to the system.
I do think that that's probably, you know fairly safe.
But when they talk about encryption key,
they do have encryption key factors
And it's not clear to me, like I said earlier,
whether they could access it without us knowing it,
unless we did an audit.
So I wasn't real fond of that answer
The other thing, too, is it was said by one of our residents
earlier about in their promotional material.
So of course, I started getting stuff on Facebook right?
It popped up all over the place But they did talk about they
were promoting the data, is owned by the customer,
but yet they were boasting in their advertisement
that they could gain access to a national network right?
So on one hand, I felt like they've been trying to pivot
and say, no, it's controlled by this, by the customer
But then in their ads, they kept promoting this,
you know, gain access to national network.
Right?
So that to me, that was conflicting on the privacy
concerns that people have.
So I definitely saw that recently.
I think it was last week they came out with a couple
modifications So, you know, one was to reduce the data retention
default rate, which they said was off But two,
to other to other agencies.
But now data retention, they said 30 to 7 days.
Well, the customer had already possessed the option
to control the data retention timeline So in my opinion, what
did that do?
The chief already knew he can restricted to one day
if he wanted to, right So I don't know what that
accomplished And I've seen other law enforcement agencies
talk about the 30 days.
Right.
And they never mentioned that they had the knowledge
to be able to further restrict that or control that,
that the retention timeline And again, this
goes back to for me personally was
floc provides in the right type of knowledge and instruction.
One, these cameras all these cities were issued that hey,
here's what you need to do to control
who accesses your system.
Here's what you can do to, you know,
if you want to decrease the length of your 30 days
down to whatever days there are signs that cities
did not know about this yet.
They were still, again broadcasting or promoting
that, you could gain access to national network The other thing
that I really found disappointing
is that they blame the police with
and there were some incidents right, where they're
accessing unauthorized access to the Fox systems
attracting people.
They weren't supposed to unauthorized use
But I felt like instead of taking responsibility for some
of the things, some of the missteps
some of the misinformation that's been put out there
over the past months or the past year,
I felt like they put the blame just on the police.
And I found that to be a responsible.
I hope that you all feel like we have a good police department
here.
We have a policy just like whether you have medical
or attorneys or whatever.
I mean, they're prone to be violated
by people that, you know, have a will to want to violate.
And we have to hold those people accountable all.
But at a local level, my opinion I
think Chief Meyer listened and saw what he,
you know, with other county, some issues They had immigration
and he learned from that and try to tighten up the policy.
There's probably still some more.
We could do to make it even tighter.
But again, for Flock to come out like that
and and I watch a couple of the interviews with the CEO,
I just thought that that was not taken
the appropriate responsibility for some of these missteps that
have happened in my opinion, the city north branch should not
owe anything further to this contract I know what the city
attorney said, but I think there's a lot out there a lot
of misrepresentation, a lot of answers
that were not brought forthright with, with enough completeness.
And I think we should fight it.
So that's why I'm out with this.
I'll love you Let them have two most loyal and good in you know,
obviously, and I can probably talk
to Jesse because I feel like we've got
a lot better situation here.
But or in interaction.
But I do think that, you know, there's been enough signs
that there can be good.
You know, you supported this type of technology.
But there's so much mistrust.
And that's kind of where I'm going with this is,
I think for the safety company, created so much mistrust by not
being forthright when questioned about
their product that we as a city cannot defend
many of these allegations.
And I feel like it put us in a very difficult situation as they
have other cities, counties, wherever those agencies are
And that's why I make the statement that I am.
I think that we have to continue to look
at technology to help our law enforcement,
to keep our public safe.
But let's have expanded conversations.
Let's make sure that everybody understands
the Delta, what that means.
You know, I certainly learn a lot over the summer.
Yes.
I don't know if we can agree on everything but I do understand.
I have listened and there's a lot of things
that I'm seeing evidence.
Right, of some of the concerns, the privacy And so that's
where I'm at with this point.
I have felt that we should push towards council on the contract
just because there's too much mistrust that we can't we
can't resolve right now And I think
we have to have a continuing conversation with our police
department and our chief and make
sure that we are on some emotional values tonight.
So that's big for me for our public safety value.
So if we value our public safety and there's things
that we can do to help make it better
or help our law enforcement enforce or catch
these criminals, I'm all for it But with this technology,
there's just too much up in the air right now.
I just when I said pause, I just meant like a long term pause
to say, we need to look at this deeper before we implement it,
because it's just taken over the country right now.
So i know if there's any comment or feedback from the council.
But i've done a lot of digging too,
and a lot of watching different council meetings
and public comments and stuff.
So Mr. Mayor, go ahead.
Maybe.
Or the Public Safety Committee bring that up and maybe
invite the city attorney during one of our meetings
to see what avenues we have.
Yeah, that would be my suggestion. is there
a discussion off for three?
You know a free service, right.
To counties for several months.
Right.
And we were showing concerns and areas
that we can't defend because of what I in my opinion,
I'm not going to speak for the rest of you
or misrepresent Haitians.
Not answering some of the questions
complete enough where it feels like there maybe
evading some of the answers.
I feel like we have a right to fight this
and that's why I have ever been such a big help.
See what happens.
We have OK.
That's what I'm like, you, I think, for safety It
just they really did.
They did a disservice to themselves
by not being forthright We answered When you asked
questions, I ask questions and and some of the
give and take between the Q&A that we had for the past year
and seems like we've been deceived.
Maybe that's too rough.
It's like we had to draw information out to them.
This is we could do this one, two, three, four, five.
So i think that the I think the technology is there.
I want the technology there for our law enforcement
our law enforcement.
There's some investigation.
I hadn't I was on the street.
I wish we had put the find kidnapping,
murder before the person was murdered.
Okay I've seen a whole town devastated by a young lady that
was murdered because of the actions of a
you know, of an individual.
So i wish the Fox safety could have been doing a better job.
I I'm of the opinion, this mayor Yeah.
Their response tells a lot to our proposed action
I would recommend we also never do business with flock again.
I would just.
Well, that's the other thing too.
I mean they've got other technologies,
but there's not going to be any business from, say, North Branch
if you know the approach they're going to take and not want
to hold themselves accountable responsible for some
of the things that have happened It's happened to many places.
And that's the sense I got from appleton, Wisconsin,
and Brooklyn Park Columbia Heights,
a little bit is the answers were not forthright enough
until they get a question.
And so it creates mistrust.
And again I'll say it again, we as a city cannot defend many
of the allegations because of their actions and the way they
responded So to your point, I think they
shot themselves in the foot.
Sure.
And you know, us and others are paying the price
You know, the comments are our response are, Matthew, anything
you questions you have or nothing at this time,
I just would like some specific direction or direction.
That's what I would say.
Should we provide at least the written notice portion
and then seek council advice on how to go forward?
I think so.
I think the right answer is to just say we want to cancel it,
but we've already paid in the first year.
But I have no intention to approve of your two and three
right.
And furthermore, I'm not even sure we should even
pay for the full amount just because
of everything that's happened, that that's my personal opinion.
Yeah, but we've already paid it, right.
Legal action on that afterwards.
But there's nothing holding up right.
Written.
Exactly.
So I'll make the motion to provide formal written
notice to flock safety, to terminate
and cancel current contract.
I'll second that.
OK.
And not to renew and not to renew.
And we have a second.
And the other guidance you need, Matthew as we
move forward So the contract is signed, the middle of May.
So we've got time on that.
First we got time to work through.
This is my point.
Right.
So.
OK.
All right All in favor.
Signify by saying I I opposed zoom type
assignment takes up for this needs All right move
on to the budget.
So I know a lot of you came for flock
and encourages day for the budget to if you can.
But if you can't I understand so our finance director Sharon
right to kick us off mayor and council
thank you so the on the proposed levy spreadsheet,
I have it marked out that it would require a 2.29% increase
to not increase to not do anything other than just
the Berryman, which is the the pay increase and then
from there it would just be sorry it.
So let me start over with that.
OK The current budget analysis indicates
a 2.29 increase in levy revenue is
needed to maintain general fund expenses at the base level.
Thank you.
Maintain what we have.
Yes Not to not do nothing right.
So that's all the difference there So the citywide estimated
market value is projected to increase
6.68% from 1.6 8,000,000,026 to 1.8 billion and 27.
This includes approximately 32.6 million and new construction
applying the 6.68% estimate of market value growth would result
in approximate only 7 million in levy revenue about 288,228 out
of the additional revenue could help offset increase staffing
and health insurance costs three potential new positions zoning
and increased health insurance cost total approximately
489,000, leaving about 201,000.
That would need to be addressed through an additional levy
increase.
The proposed contribution for the equipment
replacement fund has been reduced from 300,000 to 150,000.
Even with this reduction, the levy levy revenue increase
is currently estimated at 8.69.
I think that might be a typo before accounting
for the additional staffing costs
Now that is the it's correct this correct.
Appreciate it.
Is.
Okay.
After including the potential staffing costs,
the current proposed levy increase is approximately 11.37
over the prior year.
So these potential staffing additions
would include a community service officer or that
would take over the code enforcement that is currently
taking up quite a bit of our building
Inspector slash code enforcement person Stein And so
with the current situation with the building department
it would free up some of his time to be able to help more
with the building inspections And that would give
a person to the police department who could help
with nonstop on tasks that need to be accomplished
and then another patrol officer to try to give us moving
towards that staffing level that was
discussed with council by our H, our general list
earlier this year.
I believe he had to many as the ideal number
for our size of entity in order to have
proper staff at all times.
And then a parks manager that would function similarly to what
Nate used to do before he became the community development
director And that would help with Gill as well
as the management of the concerts and the parks,
the skating rinks and helping to guide the structure and improve
payments in the parks areas So for health insurance,
the budget initially assumed a 5% health insurance increase
and a request was made to budget for a 15% increase, which
adds approximately 118,000.
So that was put in through that number
that 2015 88 that leads to the 11.37 increase based
on discussions with staff and the city self-funded plan
through the 49 ERs fringe benefits
program because that's a self-fund a plan.
The increase is expected to be closer to 10%
and we will continue to move monitor
insurance costs and other budget factors as the levy is refined.
The current budget discussion reflects an estimated 11.37
levy revenue increase driven primarily by potential staffing
additions health insurance costs and the need to maintain funding
for city operations While the equipment replacement fund
contribution has been reduced to help manage the overall increase
I would like to mention that when
we add the debt to that it does bring it up to 12.65% increase.
Which jet are we talking about?
The debt that's paid out of the levy?
OK So with that, if you have any questions, Sharon,
how i would have liked to have seen that like a mandatory stuff
The health health insurance increases, right?
The stuff that has to happen.
Right The debt bonds before we add anything else on there
because you're moving up to a different percentages.
Right.
And all of a sudden, up to 11% with the debt bonds.
But we take out the three positions
and anything else that's maybe we don't have right now.
What is that percentage?
Can you bring up a spreadsheet?
Yeah, it is broken down.
And it's a little bit Good question Yes, Thank you.
That one.
So the way this is laid out is so that we
can do that with these and see the percentages
as they increase.
And because the most of this is affecting the general fund where
the debt is affecting that funds that's why the debt is down
further on the spreadsheet.
So if you if you look at the bottom if you scroll down,
right, you can see the 2.29% with the arrow which shows where
we would be at with just the general fund where it's
at without insurance increase, without the insurer increase
to 15%.
And but that's without staff And no equipment So
then when we add the when we bring it up to the 6.6,
8%, that is what the county has estimated at the market
values that that increases.
That's what gives us that 288,228.
That was an up higher right there So that is money that
if we match the county at that 6.68, we would have
$288,000 to go toward wards.
It could be the insurance it could be staff it could be
equipment So any of these that would
be considered optional or new would fall into that category.
Sharon, you have a separate break
out where because right now we're kind of mixing what we
could do with the anticipated natural increase in the home
values right We put that aside and just look at the budget
and say, all right, we know we're going to have increases
in labor whatever the inflation was for equipment, supplies, all
that stuff So do you want to look at the the expenditures
themselves Yeah, because and this is kind of the hard part
is it's really buried in the right
was kind of historical right Hey we're going to get this revenue.
So we got to spend this money to match it, right?
That's what I'm struggling with.
And the I would like to think that that
isn't what we are trying to do.
We're not trying to say that we have more revenue so we need
to spend it right That's why on this budget form,
the second column to the right that we need 27
proposed without new positions that
is what the total cost to do.
The bare minimum, the base amount for 2027
would cost the city That's no new positions,
that's no equipment.
But that does not include an increase in the insurance
because that that would take me quite a bit
to try to enter that across the whole city
and get it reflected in these.
And if we're not applying that, then I have to take it back out.
So that's why I treated that 15% increase as an addition to what
we have with so with the 5%, I want to be smarter
to just add the 15% in there.
And then once we get our numbers in October,
if it's less than that, then when we go to our final.
Yeah, it was my recommendation to go to the 15
because estimates initially at 12 to 20 was the,
I think the number you gave me.
That's why we said go to 15, especially
with the budget process, right?
We cannot raise our initial right September vote.
So I wanted to play it a little bit on the side
And Sharon, I think I think we're close
and how we lay this out, I think I just
want to clarify on the 2.29%, that would be the annualized
salaries for everybody.
We hired this year, correct So a full year rate.
And then planned increases in salaries.
Yes.
So the union contracts have stated that employees are
to get the 3.25% increase with the exception
of the police It's a little less union,
which has not been reached yet.
And this would also include funding of all the general fund
items for every department, you know, like equipment for police
department and gravel for public works
or whatever would be applied.
So on the equipment that would be out of the equipment fund
and they're currently in this the second to last column
There is no equipment in that number When I say equipment,
I'm talking more about, like, the standard amount of equipment
that this chief would buy today or, you know,
like you have traffic signs in there.
For example, it's standard budget line items
to continue running the city.
It's not like we're starting from zero in every department,
right?
So, yes, that that's what I'm implying Yes.
And so I think the real question Kevin, where
you're going with this, too, is, okay,
so now we have that baseline.
If you add in the 118,000, I think
for insurance that's the kind of do nothing plan right?
Well, maintain, maintain our current standard, right?
Yep.
And then then entertain a additions.
Correct.
And then really list that full list of additions.
And we have that discussion.
What we're trying to do right now
is just kind of give it all on a page
to understand where we're at kind of on this back and forth
a little bit.
And I think the numbers even moved a little bit since we
saw insurance be one of them.
But it is pretty fluid.
This time of year Yeah.
So One of the things that I had asked to is with the three
positions, I had a conversation with Matthew
about this all like I don't the parks manager thing, who's doing
the gas right now, who is doing this because of my understanding
that was Ryan is a city planner, was
taking on more of that stuff.
So now I've got bigger questions about between this position.
Ryan, the city planner and the parks manager position
There's bigger questions about how they all interact
with each other that we're not going to solve tonight,
but it helps me make a decision on
do we think that's a priority right now You know,
so our position descriptions, you
know how you know what it looks like, right place, same thing.
I mean, I'd love to see and i love
to have more police officers, you know,
if it's going to help with coverage.
People are sick training all those vacation
in a perfect world, right.
We have coverage, but it's not always perfect world each week,
right, Jeff So but you know, if we add one
or if we don't add one, that's my question.
I know that you have asset to you and Sharon, too,
but if we don't do something help paint the picture.
What's the negative impact going to be for 2027?
I mean, for it or against it?
Just paint a picture for me that helps me understand whether I
need to push towards, you know, putting that in our budget
or not And then how I can defend that,
you know and explain that with our residents, our taxpayers.
I know I put that in my 2027 goals.
Is the position descriptions is as well.
Are we utilizing then to each employee?
No.
Other aspects Asians and responsibilities and you
know during either the course of appraisals or one
on one meetings.
So I mean, that was one of them too.
Is that we is making sure that we're best utilizing,
you know, each you know, government
employee or city employee Yeah.
And one thing I mentioned this, Matthew to Matthew in my email,
I think Sharon was on there too.
But you know we're going to be getting a survey, a workplace
cultural survey, and there's some things on there
about some from some employers.
And I don't know what it means yet.
But you know does he you know I think there are some concerns
that employees don't maybe don't think their council understand
what they're going through some of the hardships, some
of the extra hours And I don't believe anybody on this dais
doesn't want to support them, doesn't want to add
personnel where we're needed and equipment.
But I'm not sure that we're getting
a complete picture either.
And when we're talking about, you know, a couple of years
ago, we had, what, almost 10% increase
in our budget and then 12%.
And then last year, it dropped off to 4.4, something like that
But, you know, and I mentioned this
I'm sure Sharon and Matthew are going
to be talking about the average inflation
of the last five years.
But I have to factor that in because, you know, people
are being impacted by this, you know,
with their household incomes.
And, our increase is our average increase over the past five
years has outpaced inflation by 2% each year
But we have that we have to be able to tell that story
about why how did we get there.
So when you're looking at it outpacing inflation
are you also looking at the fact that we are a growing
city and we've got between 2% and 3% increase in our growth
the same time?
So is that being computed into the factor when you
say we've outgrown inflation?
Yeah, I think the impact is to the individual homeowner.
So the city may be growing, but their taxes
are going up at a faster pace than inflation.
And I think that's what strong people obviously, they
bought a house five years ago.
And it was getting taxed at X dollars
Now here we are five years later The taxes are 30% higher.
Rothman so if you had a house Five
years ago at $300,000 let me pull
up my spreadsheet real quick.
And you make good on the value of the house portion, right?
But I didn't buy that house recently.
I bought it at a certain price a while ago, right.
They've done nothing.
And that's where the price goes up.
I think that's where it's hard for everybody
to absorb all that.
We've heard it from many residents.
Right.
I think that's our concern We also know we don't have
a blank checkbook just to spend way
and that's part of the reason why
we were looking at leaf pickup.
Right.
So we have to look at being efficient with dollars as much
as we can.
I also don't think this patrol officer includes a cop, a car.
Correct.
And the equipment to go with that It does not that there's
that's part of what the equipment replace month money
would of would apply to you.
So when we hire police officer obviously,
you got to give the equipment do their job too.
And that's one of the things that I think we have to make
sure we take into account.
And that's one of my goals for next year
as well as we kind of link the two, right?
Don't approve one without the other.
So Mayor 2 point.
And I'm bring this up way too late in the process.
But maybe an idea again for next year
i can talk more about this in the goals.
But you know come working in another government
body with the county that I work and has spent end of July
through mid-August.
Evan department proposals and Watkins through you
know hears from the sheriff's office
the human services to probation here's our budget for next year.
Here's why it's important here's the impacts
there's the strains from the state
from the budget year over year.
And I think that does do a nice job
to help not only from the diaspora so the public.
So that would be something maybe that you guys think about is
going Florida, you know, maybe it's
to work sessions in summer that actually help help
with that narrative of why the budget is being proposed as it
is instead of us asking maybe some of the granular details
last meeting.
Yeah.
And I think just throwing that out there, I
think that is why I think Sharon,
you recommended a working session that maybe two.
Yeah.
And I agree over but I think for the prelim here.
It's more directional to understand where we're at.
I think we definitely need that as we
get towards the final budget.
Yeah.
Wherever it fits.
But you know, again it puts some of that ownership
on the department heads, but it also helps with that,
I think, educational piece and maybe that connection with some
of the staff to see, you know, exactly where that money's going
and what they're doing in their day to day struggles Well,
and for me, I want our employees understand
in our department heads that it's not that we
don't want to support you, bye.
Know at one point Sharon maybe was last year.
But you gave us a ten year CFP right
and how that might impact again, Estimated right
increases each year in our budget and our levy.
It was basically 8 to 11% every year for ten years.
That's just not sustainable for the average person
So I'm not saying that anybody's wrong or do anything wrong,
but I am saying that I just don't think it's sustainable
So we have to figure out another way to reach our goals I don't
want people to think that we're not going to try to create goals
and create steps to get there.
I want people to have hope that they're not going to be,
you know having to, you know, to work extra hours
or to feel like they're not given good enough
service because they're overloaded.
But I think as a council, we need to be mindful of what that
looks like long term as well.
Couple years ago, we had issues with cop cars.
We tried to get a few more police officers a ladder truck
for the fire department tanker.
There's things that we follow were critical that could impact
insurance For example, for the ladder truck or emergency
response times of vehicles are broken down
or you don't have enough overage or coverage with your place.
I felt like that we had to spike it for a couple of years
to try to alleviate some of those critical things.
But right now, I'm not hearing the critical things
with details.
The me personally, I'm not I can speak for you gentlemen,
but you know, so I just need i need that picture
painted with more detail.
Yeah, really try not to, you know,
kick the can down the road.
You know, in previous, you know previous years.
And that's where we really I thought,
made some really nice effort last year.
We just have to continue that effort You know,
in the years to come Well, and share.
And I appreciate the 300,000.
You know, we can't just get all one time while we're still
grappling with all these other inflationary expenses
for the city, too.
So you drop it down on a 50.
I mean, that's definitely a better start passing 175.
Well, maybe we can't start that new.
We got to start at 50.
But we also have potential.
The pot of money And again, I you know,
Matthew and I have conversations.
You know, he hasn't could be 70.
We don't know.
But maybe we just lower down to 50 as an estimate.
Right.
That there's another pot of money that's
not falling on property tax.
Property taxes themselves.
And that's part of the reason why we want to do this Right.
So we can alleviate some of that pressure on our property owners
find other sources of revenue that just the question
on personnel and safety Committee,
did you guys discuss these same positions?
You're aware of these?
I'm the police officer stuff.
I would say.
Yes.
That was mentioned Yes.
But it wasn't clear to me was going to be asked this year You
know, okay, community service officer, I'm still
kind of learning about that.
And that was one of the things that I had brought up
is is from a personnel committee standpoint,
if this is going to get brought forward,
then i think we need to be that there needs
to be more in depth conversations
early on before it gets to this point.
And that's kind of start with the Finance Committee, right?
We don't know what was discussed in your right
to understand Well, what should the priority be?
You know, that's really what comes up from now
until the December budget line.
Yeah And this the first time you see the parks manager Yeah.
I think it was talked about the parks manager
as we discussed it, but I think we put it right like this
But again, position descriptions would help me understand
I can compare it to in order to name and Ryan too,
so I can understand who's doing what because I thought Ryan had
taken over the gist of most of that
is gone to WSP or the county right?
So in the picture, how much are we paying for those services
and how much could that offset you
know, not pay in the savings?
Right.
Where this position we don't know that, right?
Yeah.
Well, it's kind of like the return on investment right?
For that, for that person Right.
So I forgot to ask during what, you know,
one of the previous ones.
But the money that was initially spent
on the flat from that 2023 grant money how much is in that fund
do you know?
So there was off the top of my head.
There was just over 100,000.
And there.
OK.
Total that's remaining Yeah.
The 60 was going to take a good chunk of it.
OK.
So and we haven't paid the whole amount yet.
We've only paid 121 So whatever So we
were at 150 or 160,000 before we did the first payment to.
Block Is that what I'm hearing?
I think she said 100 and minus.
It was like, what I heard higher.
I did.
I thought it was around 150.
So did I. This is a while ago.
So I could be wrong But so I think the second question was,
is to utilize those funds for an additional police
officer or car or equipment.
Yeah.
So Chief I'm going to ask you that for just follow that
So what have you been earmarking those special funds for?
Like, you know, you've had a for a few years now
or are you hoping to spend on.
I mean why not or things patrol car or other equipment or ran.
I think we had a close to 400.
So we we've used.
We bought two civil defense sirens that was approved right.
We had purchased a speed trailer.
The new speed trailer fire department had some turn out
gear, radios We did purchase a squad car,
one squad car already with that we had
some training costs in there.
I think that was I want to say was 2024, that it was brought
to the council with those.
OK And what's the point?
So at the end of 2025, it was 140,897.
We were pretty close right?
So minus the 21,000 now, correct And all right.
So what direction are you looking for right now?
Just what we're willing to entertain what you can hone
in on better for the next meeting
you're going to miss, Mr. Glenn.
You're going to miss the second meeting in September,
correct So that's why you want to have an approval
while I was here?
Yes And that's also why I requested the one on one
meetings with the three of you who I haven't talked
to because I I really do want to get your feedback I
want it to be counted.
I want it.
I want what we're bringing to the September ninth meeting
to be within the grasp of passing the prelim unary levy,
knowing that it can't go up, but it can come down So whatever we
set that meeting, I want it to be ballpark enough that you guys
are comfortable passing it on the ninth
saturday in the preliminary.
Yeah, yeah I've made my point or my stance
pretty clear right now, at least as with the information I have,
I'm, you know, I'm more in the stance of less maintainable.
We have for another year if we can
Is there some critical with one of these positions?
I need more information about it.
I'm factoring in the inflation, the stable with the economy I
know last year and all we finally
got it down below five for a final I
don't know if that can happen again this year,
but I'm just trying to do the best i can to maybe
kind of pause and figure out if we
need a committee service officer,
how do we integrate that, right?
Or maybe over time couple years, patrol officer,
how do we prioritize?
It wasn't there a conversation about some of and a camera?
It was in this report from two weeks ago
that the community service officer is also budgeted
with revenue increases coming to my memory serves me correctly
I just wanted to acknowledge that the building department has
its own revenue sources with its building permits
and with the projects that we currently have going on
in the future projects that we have expected to come on
in an industrial park in our continued
growth with our building projects
our permit fees have been increasing So the increase
in those fees, our building department is kind of
at a net zero right now.
We make enough to cover the cost for that department, etc.
And if we utilize 50% of the cSO in the building department
to cover the nuisance violations and the code violation
and the revenue sources could potentially
cover a portion, if not all of that 50%
allocation for that position.
But then as presented in the budgets as of now
is for the full cost of the position as opposed to That's
correct.
With revenue?
Oh, yeah And then one of the things that has come up
is that there have been some situations lately
about the safety of having someone
go out to a house by themselves with no way to communicate.
If we have a CSO he would have he
or she would have a radio and a vest on.
Whereas when our current employee goes out,
he is unpretty And this, it would just
give a little more safety and quicker backup
if something was needed.
If the CSO took over the Code Enforcement.
Yeah.
So this is the first time I'm hearing
this from a personnel standpoint that there's an issue there.
Right.
And we're supposed to make a decision
in a few weeks on our fund.
I mean, it's a tough why don't why don't we budget
it again, just for that position?
I'm sure it's for similar positions
Why is it brought forward that we're budgeting
for the full cost of the CSO versus the projected revenue
increases for that position And in the follow up would be
or where is that projected revenue increase
allocated in the budget?
So we don't have a revenue increase projected right now.
We have LP that was like the the big one this year,
which covered everything for the building department that's
due to costs and fees or from a revenue perspective covered all
the costs for that department.
We are speculating and we don't speculate in the budget.
So that's but we expect additional growth to continue.
And so those there's potential for it.
The revenues off of growth not necessarily on the position.
Correct.
Thank you Just a quick clarifying question, too.
So I know we're trying to decide on what items, bye.
Think what Matthew and Sharon would really like to know
is would we feel comfortable that like a 9%
increase for the September vote here in the prelim?
And then we work through these detail and how we allocate those
funds and into a final number for December What is the 9%
providing this?
Well, what I'm looking at here, just looking at the sheet
that Sharon provided you get to basically you could get
through the support equipment.
Yeah, I would also include the 288
for some of these current additional resources.
Appreciate it.
Would subtract out basically the the 2015
88 for some of the additional resources
that were refined here.
I don't know where the insurance would fall into which bucket
Jericho you're referring to on call it the staffing ten year
plan you efforts of 201,000.
That's got the insurance in or not.
But it's somewhere between three C That's my question.
Staffing ten year plan is that 201,000 a year.
Correct.
So this is.
Yeah.
So basically yeah, snap the line there.
Whatever we want to trade back and forth.
We can discuss that.
Yeah, that's it.
I would not vote on positions until I had more information.
I just can do it.
Yeah, I agree.
But we're not specifically voting on positions, right?
We're we're voting on a levy.
Max.
That goes back to the budget.
What are we trying to support?
Right.
And that's why that's where I want to set the number based
on what we're trying to specifically trying to support
You could say that to on to go towards fill in the support
the equipment fund and making sure
that we have money to buy a leaf,
pick up that truck Yeah you know it
doesn't have to be towards staffing right to Jeff's point.
So you know it's Yeah right now it's a number i like eight 8.99
better than nine.
OK We can negotiate this for that.
Sharon Yeah Yeah.
I mean I guess I could.
I could do that on preliminary, but that's, I don't know.
We need more from you.
Yeah When is your next personnel meeting?
Would it be before September 9th?
Well one this Friday if we have this Friday,
I think we're going to have that result by that.
And so with the positions I don't know.
I'm just I'm just looking at the trend
over the last several years.
And I agree.
It's tough.
That's what i want to know.
If we don't do something, what's the impact?
That's my biggest question right now
and helps me decide whether i push for something or support
something does it behooves us to have a work session
meeting after your one on one meetings with Sharon
and and Matthew and then we can I've got other town
three questions for finance.
The stuff that you don't understand about revenue.
But so I don't know.
I mean if you want to set a consensus,
you can i agree we need to start equipment replacement fund.
again, we're not deciding where the dollars go.
I'm basically saying give guidance to them to come back
and say, you did 90% prelim budget would be, you know, 9%
or 8.99.
And then we could refine where we apply those dollars
between now and December.
And that's right through the process.
We went last year, right?
Yeah.
What is it, 3% higher than likely.
Correct You want some cushion?
Right.
So if something goes bad we have some flexibility
there in sharon.
Continue to look for other avenues and other savings.
And all the department heads didn't.
I mean, we all worked together over the last couple of months.
I wouldn't expect that any different this year
So sharing that the 2.29%, that's if we
just maintain what we have now.
But that's not with the increased
health insurance cost right?
Correct.
OK And we don't have any estimate on health issues.
Cost of 50%.
There's no no, the HR Person had contacted them and Lisa that's
too early and they can't give a good estimate
But whatever our expenses were for this year, can't we
are 14% of that.
Yes, they have some type of an estimate and that's what i did.
Yeah.
That's 180 housing.
The 118 what we have in the inlet column it take.
And add 118,000 to that or so, you've got
9823867 and add 118 more.
Okay And just Yeah.
During our advisory committee that we won
we're realistic number right.
So we'd have to start an 18,000 to the dollar
amount that has the 2.29%.
OK That's what I'm saying.
This is help me if I understand what's going to be required.
Absolutely required on this.
Right.
If we wanted to maintain and then work from there.
But it's kind of mixed in.
I'm having a hard time tracking percentages.
And we we don't know that that 15% is going to occur
And so I wanted.
We've got a lowball estimate of 5% included in that 2.9.
And then the extra 10% is the 118,000.
OK So just like we're trying to handle
that more than maybe we were hoping
to give us a little cushion.
Right.
For the final I'm asking you to do the same thing
for the medical or the health.
Why can't we just add in the 50%?
And then if it's not that much then we're
able to either take that off or use it towards something else
with a fine It's a cushion.
Yeah.
We Yeah, because we weren't going
to have that number before the preliminary No we never do.
Yeah.
Oh, is it right Yep.
Yeah.
So that's why we or November even.
Yeah Yeah.
My point is, why not add it right to what
you think the worst might be.
And then if it's less than that right,
we can't have we can take away Yeah, that's, that's what
you have an 18,000.
Right.
OK Yeah, that's what I like.
I'd like to know where the increase is for 15.
And what we have with an anticipated 15%.
Even if it comes back at ten, give us a little cushion
on the health of it.
Doesn't come back at 20.
But no Yeah.
Well, the numbers are thrown 12 to 20.
Yeah Right.
So I think Matthew had the dart board, so we did that.
And that's my quarterly and nine humor.
Okay well, if you guys want to add a consensus,
I just do like the 9% for now.
That's fine.
I'm happy to 9% right now.
Yeah, that's a number that Yeah, 9%.
You shouldn't be happy, but it is it is a number If you
want to do the 8.99 and it.
But yeah but it's you can do the math Sharon and what 9% is
so yeah a 9% increase over the prior
year for just the general fund would be 7 million to 28 008.
And so are you doing the math to i mean oh oh
right that's on that bottom part of the sheet that's
already calculated or we should bring that up to that that,
that.
Yeah.
So that includes the debt.
Yeah The 9%.
Yeah.
Yes, it does, Larry So that if we all.
Yeah, for sure You didn't do it with these exact numbers, the
nature Well, just add on 9%.
I was just asking if she could quickly do the math,
but we move on this move, Jim, it's quarter nine.
Come on OK, so at 9% with 118,000 for insurance,
it would give us about 323,000 for the extra debt
as well as any other costs.
But so it goes was $260,000 outside of the debt to just
allocate Yes that Sharon, how much
did we how much to the drop in our loan debt by selling to lPI.
What is that number.
There's a savings there per year.
So the the loan that wasn't paid by exit
was it was paid well it was paid,
but it was through the LDH or a so that's
a separate bucket than what we're talking here
But to take that one step further,
though, we have taken out our city,
call it funding of the E.T.A., correct?
Yes.
We took that right.
So there was a savings, right?
Yep.
All right.
OK.
Sounds.
And I think the council has to keep
in mind, too, that there is an increase in the EDA budget
as well.
So Yup.
Shows up on the property taxes and I
have no idea where the city or where the county
is going to be this year.
But I. Or the school.
Yeah Yeah, yeah All right.
Anything else, Matthew or Sharon, that you
need for direction on this?
No, I think that i have enough that I
can put it together and get the a pretty good document.
Or the night And we can discuss it when the three of us
meet, we discuss anything that I haven't thought of.
But you guys want included Okay.
OK.
I think we're done, then.
Right.
For the budget discussion.
So All right.
Thank you, Sharon.
Appreciate that.
Thank you So I'm a mayor, City Council staff.
Do we want to just table.
This to the next meeting?
I think so I feel like it's going
to be a 20 minute conversation, at least
it's not anything I know it doesn't matter to me.
I mean, we if I remember right.
Last year, budget season from this meeting until Thanksgiving
we met for three hours.
I felt like every I know.
Yeah, I agree.
This is simple.
So I mean we can just say, hey, if we all agree,
we can just table it for the next meeting.
Maybe it's a table until we get to that right night
where we have we right?
Yeah.
OK Well, let's, let's do that.
So just information.
Do I actually officially have to table
it since it was on the agenda for information only ?
OK.
All right.
I'm going to make a motion to table ten A
and ten be on the agenda to our September ninth
ninth regular council meeting.
Second, second, December 1.
The second.
All in favor, signify by saying I. I All right.
I'm going to make a motion to adjourn at 8:48 p.m..
Do we have a second?
Second, Mr. Mayor, all in favor signify
by saying I i we are adjourned.
Please keep your copies of your council goals for the night