City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, we'll call the meeting to order. Please stand if you're able for the pledge of allegiance [clears throat] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Good evening everyone uh and welcome. Bri, take the role please. Mayor King present. Council member at large Austin present. Council member Hely present. Council member Baskin. Council member Posma present. Council member Obala present. Council member Fischer present.

Council member Waller present. Mayor King. We have a quorum. Thank you Bri. Item number one is a motion for the adoption of the agenda as amended and with the addition. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Item number two is a motion approving our minutes from January 5th, 2026. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Nothing. Under recognitions and awards under item number four is a motion for our consent agenda. So move. Second. All in favor? I opposed.

That motion also carries. Item number five is resolution under public hearing for a public hearing on our 5-year capital improvement plan. Uh Emily, good evening, Mayor, Council. Uh tonight we ask approval to adopt the 2026 through Sorry.

2030

20 Yeah, I apologize. I lost my my spot. Uh we're asking approval for you to adopt the CIP for 2026 through 2030. Um as we have discussed previously, this plan um proposes um a spending of approximately 132 million um during the 5-year period. But as noted um the funding sources and um sorry are um the funding sources are not assessed for a particular project um and the project would need to be put on hold if the funding is not available.

Thank you Emily. Yeah, it's just a it's a nice document. It is a planning document. Uh sometimes I know a lot of road projects do get kicked down the a little bit depending on other priorities but it is a very nice nice fluid document. So we discussed it uh for a few hours last week or last meeting looking for a resolution to this public hearing. Anybody here in the public want to speak on item number five. [clears throat] All right council any questions? If not looking for resolution. So moved. Is there a second? Second re. Council member Obala. I.

Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. I. Council member [clears throat] Posma. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6.

Thank you. Bri. Under petitions and request. Item number six is requesting approval for the abatement uh of the or amendment to the point of sale ordinance. Stephen, at the previous work session, we discussed uh the outcomes that came from the point of sale working group. One of those uh recommendations from that group was to make uh a few changes to our current ordinance regarding point of sale. uh in your backup packet there are um some highlighted areas in yellow and then there are um areas in red and those items in red are generally what was discussed and came forward through the point of sale working group. Um some key points of those are um an expanded definition of what is a a home sale. So, with the assistance of uh city attorney Bum, he uh included language there that ties it back to the Minnesota deed tax and and what they define as a a sale. So, there's a little more clear direction on that. Uh in addition, item B there was to narrow the definition of what a non-compliant inspection was. And really what we did there was we removed um uh roots and mineral deposits as a failure. So we'll still note those on an inspection because we feel that that's important for a buyer and seller to know um the level of roots and the amount of maintenance that's required. But generally roots aren't alone causing infiltration into the line. So from what we were looking at from an INI standpoint, we didn't we felt that we could um give a little bit on that and eliminate roots as as a failure component. Uh also in item C in the

ordinance, there was a lot of discussion about the requirement for a licensed plumber. So we have clarified that a bit in that um a licensed plumber is not required for the televising of the sanitary sewer service. Uh but a licensed plumber is still required for the sump pump inspection. Uh the difference there is that uh the city is involved with reviewing the televising of these. So we kind of uh take the place of the need of a licensed plumber when it comes to inspecting the sewer service. But actually the city is not involved in reviewing or looking at any videos or anything related to the uh sump pump inspection. that requires a someone that is knowledgeable on plumbing, how those sump pumps should be plumbed in order to fill out the proper paperwork and confirm that is in compliance. So, we held the licensed plumber in that portion of the language. Um moving down under uh compliance and ex expiration, we we have combined both the sewer service and the sump pump into uh a 10-year period for um approval and and duration of that certificate. Also, a new home that is built that will automatically receive a 10-year certificate of compliance. uh that date and timeline goes into effect [cough and clears throat] once that home receives a certificate of occupancy. Certificate of occupancy are standard in the new home construction business and those are um it is standard for those to be on file with our city building department. So, we felt that that was a good trigger and a good document that would give us the start of a 10-year period on a new home. And then finally, um, we looked at if if a home is put on

the market and a homeowner, uh, completes their inspection and sends it to the city. Uh, originally we indicated there that that homeowner would have 90 days to make a correction, but we've increased that to 180 days, which complies with other dates and timelines in the remainder of [snorts] this section of the ordinance. So to be consistent with that, we added another 90 days or 3 months to it to make it 180 days. So those are the changes that were brought forward um both from city staff and from the point of sale working group and the official ordinance and its u modifications are also included in your backup and we present it to council for approval.

Very good. Thank you, Stephen, and thank you. And Joel's here. Thank you for your work on this. I know it wasn't easy and there was four meetings and a lot of back and forth and so uh in the end I think we got what seemingly [clears throat] everybody's going to be able to agree to. Council, any questions on item number six? We're looking for a

Yeah, I want to echo what mayor said. I think this is great where uh where we ended up uh with the changes we have made and also the people who have been working in the background the committee um you know this is what um our community [clears throat] advocacy look like because um extending it too. So I think that give community more aware uh what is coming and what is happening. So we're protecting our investment and also anyone selling uh buying home that going that they don't get surprised with anything. So good work there um Mr. Lang and the team that have been involved. So I move approval.

So looking for a motion for 6A is a motion for the preparation of the ordinance. So move. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries 6B. Uh looking for adoption of the ordinance ordinance. So moved. Second. Bri.

Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. I. Council member Posma. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Ordinance passes 6. Thank you. Item number 6 C is for publication of the ordinance. He's a res resolution, please. So move. Second. [clears throat] Three. Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Waller. I. Council member Posma. Hi. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6.

Very good. Thank you. Bri. Item number seven is resolution setting our 2026 street assessment rates. Stephen,

in your backup material is a a a bunch of information, a bunch of numbers. Um, and really what we we put this together each year to show how we are progressing with our street assessments based on our construction costs. As construction costs continue to go up, we we try to keep up with that with our assessment rates. Over the past uh five or so years, we've had about a 7% increase in our assessment rates. And uh with those increases, we're assessing approximately about 30% of the construction cost to the adjacent property owners. So in looking at that, it'd be about 15% of the construction cost goes to one side of the street, 15% goes to the other side of the street, and then the city through tax levy pays for the center 60% of the street. As you know, our our goal for assessments is to be closer to 40%. [clears throat] But in order to get that high of an assessment amount, it would take a very large percentage increase um to our current rates. So, um, in continuing with what we've been doing, uh, past years, we would continue to recommend a 7% increase, uh, from our 2025 rates to 2026. And just to give you a little bit of a breakdown on that, um, believe we have a short table that indicate. So when we get into our older neighborhoods, a lot of our older core neighborhoods have 50 ft of frontage for their for their lots. So some some people may own a double lot, so it may get up to 100 ft, but generally in those older neighborhoods where you have home after home after home, um those lots are about 50 feet in width. So, a residential if if approved in 2026 [clears throat] for a 50-ft lot,

a reg a residential assessment would be $3,682. Um, a commercial lot that would be kind of in our core downtown area. A lot of a lot of those downtown lots are also 50 ft in width. If we did a downtown street commercial street reconstruction, it would be $5,258. And then we have there in the table uh showing uh examples of 2026 street assessment amounts. If you had a 75- ft lot, a 100 ft lot, or a 125 ft lot, what these assessment rates would um correlate to for your appropriate property. So with that, we would recommend a 7% increase in our rates for 2026.

Very good. Thank you, Stephen. Council, any questions or comments? Otherwise looking for a resolution. So move. Second. Bri. Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Waller. I. Council member Posma. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6. Thank you. Item number eight is a motion approving uh pool lot parking signage as well as the library parking signage. Mr. Lang.

Yes. In your backup uh it just refers to the pool parking lot, but we also want to request [clears throat] approval of similar signage for the library as well. And what this is um looking to prevent is long-term parking, overnight parking, and uh just kind of abandoned vehicles in these city lots. and uh working through the process with multiple departments, we found that uh our best way to do that is to sign these lots as no parking from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Uh that would allow the police department to work through their enforcement measures to help get these vehicles moved. Uh the pool parking lot, our recommendation again would be no parking 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. except during snow emergencies. The pool parking lot is a designated safe spot for folks during a snow emergency. So, we'd like to um keep that language there. But for the library, um we would go with just a straight uh no parking 1000 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. So, with council approval for this additional signage, we would then um work forward to make these signs, get them installed, and then they would be there for future enforcement by our police department.

Very good. Thank you, Mr. Lang. Uh Julie, Jason, McKe, anything to add on this council, any questions or comments on the parking signage? Um why the start at 1000 p.m. versus something a little bit later? I mean, I get we're trying to eliminate folks parking there overnight or longterm, but doing like a midnight to 4 or midnight to 6 would do the same thing, wouldn't it? Um, in this case, we tied the 10 p.m. start time to when parks close at 10 p.m. So, that was the mindset behind starting it at 10 p.m. Could be adjusted if desired, but that was the mindset for where we came out.

Chief, I know you talked a little bit about, you know, issues with the amount of time it takes to do parking enforcement. Um, I'm just thinking of, you know, they're they're public parking lots. They're not really for parks. And we do have events and things that go on in downtown. We have restaurants, bars that go past 10:00. So, I could just see I'd like to maybe push that to say midnight. Would that be any issue with enforcement if it was midnight to 6:00 instead of 10 to 6?

Um, you know, we'd probably like to see it more in the 4 hour block. Uh again, this for us one, the starting spot here is right now there's nothing we can legally do if you leave a vehicle longterm in a city lot that does not have rules posted by signage. That's a city ordinance. So, if you've driven by the public pool all fall and winter, there's a big RV park there, but we can take no action on it until the city council sets rules and we sign it. The library has had two vehicles. One we were able to find the owner and move. They've got a current one now drifted around. no license plates. There's a backstory to it, but at the same point in time does not have a prognosis to getting moved anytime soon. And we just can't begin the process of ticketing it to get it to a tow. And again, our preference is not to tow. We do try to work with people, but ultimately we've talked to the people with the RV. They're not going to move it short of this. And so, like I said, we would like would like to see it go beyond um 4 hours. Uh we we've got some legal things that have to have over four hours if we're going to go that particular route in sighting before we remove a vehicle. Uh it's one of the problems. Like I said, we wouldn't normally be able to sight and remove a vehicle from the 2 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. places downtown absent a snow emergency. So again, I we'll leave it up to console. I mean, it was set for the various park hours when they're supposed to close at that pool lot being a park. The library obviously is is in a park. Um, but I would defer to uh Julie and Jason on whether it's 10 o'clock or or midnight. So I for the park, you know, I have I a little concerned especially with the park. I agree like after 10:00 when we look at the summer, you know, uh let's look at Tart Park. Sometime during summer the sun will not go down. soccer

will not even start until after 7 o'clock and sometime will go 9:00 they're still playing there because it's still out. So I think if 10:00 no vehicle there that mean you know they will be out. I I went to Tart Park sometime and they're still playing by that time. I think will that not be in issue there with uh our resident

uh you know Todd Park isn't on the agenda tonight for altering whatever their rules are and again I'm not sure Todd Park already may not have some various rules to recognize the u the lateness of it certainly again we're understanding um of of it especially like at Todd Park and being different you may the people who make the good choice to leave their cars there after playing softball all night. That happens. I mean, this is just we we've been faced with a couple extremes and we have no tool to to deal with that. And so, like I said, I think this sets a a reasonable expectation for people and how they use those lots versus some of the again broken down cars or long-term storage we're seeing in it. But again, we're definitely mindful of some normal uses to those areas. I [snorts] would say that that that is a good point because at Todd Park, it's a little different. There is also a bicycle cabin that we do reserve and people can be parked in that area until after 10:00. And there are times that our adult softball league goes uh not much later, but a little bit later than 10:00 p.m. at Todd Park. So, um, it's something that we considered looking into, uh, the ordinance right now states 10:00 p.m. parks closed 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., which is why, um, I recommended to Stephen that we just stick with those hours. That doesn't mean we have to do that uh, for parking. There's nothing, I believe, in that sign that references an ordinance. So,

we could change the time. Yeah. I guess I think for when I think of those the pool lot, I guess specifically the library lot, you know, but it's probably easier if we have them at the same time. I just, you know, as we continue to grow downtown with more businesses and things to do, I could see folks using those lots past 10 p.m. going to a show, going out for a drink, that sort of a thing. So, if midnight to 6 accomplishes what we need to, when it sounds like it does with more than a 4 hour window, that would be what I would propose. [snorts] Well, in all practicality, I'm sure the police aren't going to be jumping into these parking lots right away at 10:00 every night either.

I think they're probably going to only be watching for situations like we have now that we're trying to address. Anybody else want to weigh in on this? I [clears throat] was looking for a motion either from Posty to change it from midnight to 6 or Jeff leave it at 10 to 6. You guys want arm wrestle? I'm open to anything. I get the I know the point of it and I know that we're not going to be circling lots waiting people at 10:01 to ticket them, but I I know the point. So, just looking for a motion. Motion to approve as presented. Okay, we got a motion to approve it from 10 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Is there a second? Second.

Got a motion and a second. Uh, Bri, you want to take the roll call to leave it at 10:00 a.m. or 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.? [snorts] Council member Obala. Nay. Nay. Yeah. Council [snorts] member Fischer. I. Council member Waller. I. Council member Posma. Nay. Council member Hely. I. Council member large Austin I who would have thought parking I was going to say you can get four to two on a lot but when it's a twohour difference

what was that B what was the four to two the motion passes 4 to2 hot I dodged a I dodged a tie break I think uh okay that that was approved then uh item number nine is resolution approving our agreement with more accounting for the law enforcement center. Craig,

yes. Thank you, mayor, members. Uh hopefully this is less controversial than the parking signage. Uh thank you for your support. Uh going back to Mau County asking for uh inclusion of some more uh option for us to audit the charges that we we received. uh because of your uh help with that, they came back with an addition to paragraph 4A uh that allows one person from the city to have access via their gov AP system. So, we'd be actually be able to um audit any of the charges uh in a given category. So, this is probably even better than I'd hoped for. Um but hopefully that accomplishes what we were trying to achieve. Otherwise, it's the same as you'd seen previously.

Excellent. Thank you, Craig. All right, council. Any questions on this? Looking for resolution otherwise? So moved. Second. Bri.

Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. I. Council member Posma. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. Hi. Resolution [clears throat] passes 6. Thank you, Bri. Number 10 is resolution approving our m a mountain bike trail agreement. Jason, thank you, honorable mayor and council. Austin Utilities has requested that [snorts]

uh a mountain bike course a easement donation agreement be brought to the city council for review. This agreement is between the Austin Utilities, Southern Minnesota Bicycle Club, and the city of Austin. Uh the agreement is for the use of the Austin Utilities property located west of Todd Park and north of the Horell property that's uh currently being used for the uh mountain bike trail as well. Um the agreement was drafted by city attorney Craig Byum and it mirrors the agreement currently in place for the Horell property that's located south of the Austin utilities property. I did have some initial concerns about maintenance and inspections required throughout the agreement, but after meeting with representatives from Austin Utilities as well as the mountain bike club, uh I feel much more comfortable with recommending [snorts] the improvement uh the agreement be approved as written. Um I did bring it before the park, recreation, and forestry board at last week's meeting. They voted unanimously to recommend city council approve the agreement as written. So staff's recommendation this evening is that the city council approve the proposed agreement and authorize the mayor and city recorder to execute the agreement on behalf of the city. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Thanks Jason Council. Any questions? Mr. Sehan otherwise looking for a motion to approve the mountain bike trail agreement. So move second. Council member Obala. I council member Fischer. Hi, Council Member Waller. I council member Posma. I council member Hely I. Council member Large Austin I. Resolution passes 6. Very good. Thank you, Bri. Moving on to item number 11. Uh approving uh three labor agreements for 2026 to 2028. Craig.

Thank you, mayor, members. I'm proud of the team that has brought the bargaining agreement forward. And by team, I mean both the city's representatives and the union members. I feel this agreement finds the right balance between being competitive and supportive of our most vital asset and our employees while recognizing we have limited financial resources. Our engagement efforts are making an impact and we've opened important avenues of communications and allowing employees to better make their voices heard. There's critical relationships being developed and I think employees have a better option of sharing their opinions where more people can appreciate the challenges of their jobs as well as employees can value other pressures on our local government. The budget process was a challenge but I think that made outcomes of this agreement in some respects easier and I appreciate council providing clear direction to the city's negotiating members. Providing resources for a market evaluation also was extremely helpful and we had important we had an important assessment tool to prepare for contract discussions and make sure our offer was fair and equitable. I personally feel we've made important strides forward and these agreements speak to that reality while more work remains to be done. I want to personally thank Tim Fixen, Jeff Dudika, Tony Hill, Kurt Schmidt, Tim Rogers, Rally Whitell, Dan Peterson, and Brian Schaefer for their cordial dialogue and coming to a workable agreement. Uh the terms are consistent with the uh direction that we've had from council. I'm happy to answer any questions. Each of the three agreements need to be approved individually. Um otherwise, I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Craig. Council, any questions of Mr. Clark? If not, we'll take them in order here. 11A is a resolution approving labor agreement uh for UAW street and sewer. So move second. Bri, council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi. Council member Postma. Hi. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6. Thank you. 11B is the United Auto Workers Wastewater Treatment Plant. Need a resolution. So moved. Second. Bri.

Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Waller. I. Council member Postma. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6. Thank you, Bri. Last one. 11 C United Auto Workers Parks need a resolution. So moved. Second. Bri. Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Waller. I. Council member Postma. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I.

Resolution passes 6. Thank you. Item number 12 is a motion approving the 2026 council boards and commission appointments. Is anybody looking to jump off of their already scheduled appointment? I see some of them are highlighted. Is that reason? Are those highlighted the one we approving or we're going over all of this? Well, the ones that were highlighted were the ones that we were approving. Okay. [snorts] Unless unless anybody has any other changes. Now would be the time beginning of the year we'd have no election to work from. But if everybody's happy with what they have, we'll just keep where they at. I I actually want to change with um I think the buses trans the

You want to jump off one? I want to jump off that because I haven't to make it. Um which one is it? I think it's for their I'm still scrolling. Smart bus. Oh, smart transit. Yep. Smart transit there. Been on that before, Paul. You've been on that before. Yeah. So you it's a time you can't make generally. Yep. Timing. Anybody looking to get on the Smart Transit? It's actually a pretty good board. Meets. Is it monthly or quarterly? Uh quarterly. Anybody looking to jump on the Smart Bus? Wheels and bus go round and round. When do they meet? Very early in the morning at 10. Monday morning like that. Yeah. That's really in the morning. Yeah. You'll take it, Ross? I'll do it.

All right. Change Obala to Paul. Thank you. What's the other one on there? There's another still scrolling. What was the other highlight Brad? You know, page 166 of your packet. Let me see. Posting is highlighted and I'm tall. [clears throat] So there it went. Post highlighted for housing and redevelopment authority. Sticking on that, aren't you, Posty? Yep. I am for parks and wreck. Correct. I'd like to stay. and Postma's going to the Salvation Army board. Yep. Uh Postma was staying on HA and those were the only changes they had.

Okay. All right. So, I move to approve with the uh edit of Paul Fiser taking the Smart Transit Authority Advisory Committee and Obala jumps off. Okay. Obama jumps off with that. Looking for a motion to approve. Oh, I need a second. Sorry. Second. Second. All in favor? I opposed. That does carry. Thank you. Uh item number 13 is resolution approving a resolution um in support of local option sales tax. Craig.

Uh thank you, mayor, members. Uh we need to approve a resolution of support for a local option sales tax for a future law enforcement center. Um we have to do that ahead of the legislative session. If we're to introduce that and have that considered in the legislature, they go to the chairs of the [clears throat] tax committee and uh ranking minority members. Uh for both those in the house, they'd be co-chairs. But um otherwise, we uh looking for approval of that. They have they have specifics that are required in the resolutions. We've included that uh in the resolution and uh hope for consideration in the legislature

in the process. Craig, that was uh they've had a moratorium on local option sales tax asks for what two years? Yes, for two years. So that that's um expired. So we're eligible or realistic to know enough to know that those that were there uh when the moratorum was put on are largely still in place. Um but if the legislature has some accommodation for some of our revenue challenges, certainly the local ops and sales tax is an important one uh for us uh both currently and in the future on a project like this. Um hopefully they can see some accommodation to that. Time will tell and if if legislation if the legislature approves then it go to the voters of Austin

then it would be approved [clears throat] by referendum and we would only adopt it once the flood local option sales tax was was sunseted. That's correct. And that um can be no the current local option sales tax can extend no longer than March 31st of 2027.

Right. And I I know that the initial discussion was to have a law enforcement center joint with APD and and the county and I believe at this point at this point the county is saying no thank you they will stay but the needs of the APD is still there. So and it maybe as time goes on um before this is built they will come around and want to join us but at this point it'd be APD only. Any questions council comments? So, so to just sort of restate what you're telling me, we're applying to the legislature for permission to do local option sales tax. If if we get approved for that, which is not a sure thing, there would then be a community discussion about building a law enforcement center and is that the right use of our funds or not. And we're still hopeful to collaborate with Mau County because, as our study showed us a few years ago, it's more efficient to collaborate with the city and the county. Y

Okay. Um, and then yeah, your your process is right, but I thought I had something else to add, but it skips my brain. It'll Oh, yeah. It'll require a public vote public vote for the local option sales tax actually go into effect. And they did refine the local option sales tax to only include what, like a justice center or law enforcement, something.

Yeah, that they've tried to thread the needle. Some of that discussion was on um where the referendum was not required if it met specific um criteria that from differing opinions on that, but from my read on it, they were looking at more of a like a in the metro area where several communities got together and uh created a police department and those types of centers would be sort of automatically approved for um going to the voters and not needing the uh legislaturator's approval. So, there's different pieces that are being considered related to local option sales tax. Um, ours is kind of because it would just be APD at least potentially. Will they look at that as h being regional in nature? Our our community is a regional hub. I think that, you know, has an interstate that passes through it. We bring in a substantial amount of people from outside the community to work in our community, shop at our community. Um, so h how do those people best help support cost? Um, you know, APD responds to any call that comes in. We don't ask their if they're Austin residents. So, is it fair to ask people through their sales tax to have a contribution to support our law enforcement? I think we we answer that affirmatively. um legislature is concerned about how sales tax impact regionality and taxpayers outside of a community, but um our study that we commissioned from the University of Minnesota uh shows that 40% um outside of Austin help pay for that sales tax. So I think that's a may not be the best and most finite tool to use, but I think it's probably the best tool that we have to have others pay towards something that's necessary for not just our residents. [sighs]

But yeah, more to come. So just looking to approve the resolution for the local option sales tax legislature. I'll move to approve. Second. Three. Council [clears throat] member Obala. Hi. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. I. Council member Posma. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member Atlarge Austin. I. Resolution passes 6.

Thank you. Item number 14 is our addition. It's a resolution approving an I90 bridge replacement project design service contract. Amendment number three. Stephen. Uh the city is a party to this original agreement between Mandot, the city and SRF consulting group for the design services for this large um overall I90 bridges project. And before you tonight is amendment number three which uh does not have any financial impact to the city but again because we are a party to the original agreement we are part of approving this as these move move through the the process. So there are additional costs that have uh been identified in the design and construction engineering portion of the work. In your in my memo, it identifies those cost increases to certain um fund drivers in the contract related to labor um and and a variety of other things there, subcontractors as well. It increases the total contract amount from 4.3 million up to something a little greater than 4.6 million. Uh in the next section of the agreement kind of paraphrased for you there is that the state it's identifying that the state will cover the 100% of the cost increase as per amendment number three and there is no adjustment to what the city will pay. our our amount is still at the previous amount of $74,283 toward the overall construction uh design services. Um also in the scope of work there are items identified as to what this actually relates to. Um uh there's about what five or six items there. Some of them um it relates to some design related to the pedestrian bridge that we've talked about over I90 on the north side of of excuse me that'd

be the pedestrian bridge over the Cedar River on the north side of I90. Also different design changes in and around Fourth Street as they may relate to the signal light poles or other things along around that interchange. So um feel comfortable recommending this as there is no cost increase to the city. So, I'd recommend council approve uh amendment number three so we can move this forward to mind and the other groups involved. Very good. Thank you, Mr. Lang. Council, any questions? Well, seeing it doesn't cost any us anything, I think we should move it quickly before they change their mind. All right. Is that that a motion? No. Yep.

Second. Okay. Um Rick. Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. I. Council member Posma. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6. Very good. Thank you, Bri. Are there any citizens in the chambers here wishing to speak to council on items that weren't on the agenda? Please come to microphone, please. I the only one and just name and address for the record.

Hello. Mayor, council members, voters of the city. I'm DJ Ryder and I'm just here with some items of concern. I swing by earlier today and dropped off a letter that has become internationally important from the Bear Cross Lake. And I just wanted to see if that was something you had received before today. If you've had the time to look it over.

Sure. Yeah. And I don't necessarily want any comments on that. I do encourage um Thank you so much. I do encourage that with the uh the third and final round of signatures. I I would love to see your signature on that. Um [clears throat] I do want to address the issue of graffiti at 104th Avenue Northeast. I am not sure whose property that is, but it has increased in obscene and obscure graffiti that draws a negative vibe to our community and I think encourages uh unwanted behavior among some of our teens that don't have appropriate direction. Um I also wanted to I have a list of things I just want to address as fast as I can. Uh Angie's Angie Craig's visit uh noted by Alpha News to ramp up rhetoric. This is not her district. I'm not sure why she was here. Uh there's a video that has again gone international. Um, I'm sure you're all aware of some of the things we're addressing as a state and it's unfortunate, but to have Angie Craig come here to ramp up rhetoric was absolutely unacceptable. And I did notice in the video several of those members are part of our special needs community. I did ask for an investigation into where this event was located because if we are ramping up rhetoric among the minds of uh people have a hard time making decisions and seeing some of the outbursts that we've seen [clears throat] other places in the state of Minnesota like the recent outburst the church unacceptable

[clears throat] and addressing the fraud at the state level over 19 billion and growing. What can we expect regarding the integrity and transparency addressing the trickle down impact of the fraud and how that will affect Austin? With international attention of exposure of the billions and fraud being discovered in Minnesota more than ever, the people need assurances. And my question is what's the plan to address this issue publicly? Austin has a significant role in the American history which we should all be very very proud of and there's definitely place for uh Austin developing a stronger and more secure future not just for Austin not just for Minnesota not just for America but for the world. We are a worldleading community and we need to be strong. We need to be a beacon of uh integrity, transparency and uh provision. We would be speaking German and under communistic rule if it wasn't for Austin, Minnesota. I think we can all agree on that. It's a it's fact. And I just want to claim Austin for Jesus. We need to get back on track as a godly community. My first time here was in 1996, pregnant with my my first kid and visiting my husband's family for the first time. They're one of the oldest families in the city of Austin or the community of Mau County.

Um, and I take that role very seriously. I've uh started farmers market. Another issue I want to address. There is a serious lack of integrity uh between the dynamics that I do want to address. I've met with uh Craig Clark. Thank you, sir, for your time. And I'm not sure where the disconnect was. I was brought on to the board of directors without even knowing it and met with Mr. Craig, met with Holly, met with a few other people and all of a sudden I was off the board without rhyme or reason. They're not following their own guidelines. And it's uh [clears throat] it's reflective in the disconnect we have as a community. We have two failing farmers markets. I think it's disgusting. We need to pull together as a community as a whole. And that should be something we all focus on. I'm the only farmer in Austin that's not in the farmers market and that's obscene. Absolutely obscene. I've uh stood in front of city council for 16 years addressing issues that I feel are incredibly important and I hope you guys take those to heart. When I first stood here it was addressing legalization and uh of course it was under a different merit and I remember standing here and talking about the compassion that we have to offer here. We have the world's leading cancer research clinic. World's leading. And we're still at a disservice. I would like to see your signature on that letter. I would like you to address it publicly because right now a lot of communities are wondering

where we're going from here. And with that, I would like to invite all of you to please check out Reset Minnesota Res Minnesota. And what we're doing is we are networking with some of the the best leaders Minnesota has to offer because we are going to go through a reset. We have a failed administration. Absolutely failed. Disgustingly failed. and that's going to trickle down to every community including Austin. Let's get some clarity on that farmers market. I think it would be better if it's just shut down at this point. There is an investigation involved because uh what happened with whoever is parading as the president or whatever she thinks she is uh she's ripping our community apart more. So, please address that. I appreciate your time. I appreciate the opportunity to be uh a flex in our community because we do have a lot to offer and I just want to give you you guys did a great job. Amazing police department. I'm aware of some of the uh events that have happened in our community. They did beautifully, flawlessly, and without any complications. So, God bless Austin. God bless our community. God bless our our servants. And it's uh it's important that we work together and take Austin up to the top again.

We good? Thank you, Mr. Yes. Let's do it. Thank you. [laughter]

All right. My I guess my uh if you're looking for my public comments on do I sign that mayor of Cross Lakes the my stance has been and always has been with my time on council whether council member or mayor is that this is public service not politics and that weighs into the politics side that I'm trying to avoid. our our conduit for getting change and our voice at the legislature is is through Gene Dornick, our senator, and and our representative Patty Mueller. And they're they avail themselves beautifully to us. Uh they're always a phone call away. I have I give them information and that's the way the process I think should go. Whether my signatures on there or not, I I just feel that my stance as being a public servant, not politician, is uh is where I'll end it. So I will not be signing that. I'll just continue to be use our voice through our legislators.

And I think that making a a public statement about that for other people to uh see, whether that's through the news media or TV people, I respect that. I do. Um and I do have to go and address Mau County. Sure. Because we do have issues on the city and county level. Thank you. But we just need to reel it in. And uh I wish you all the best. I feel your passion. Thank you. I appreciate and I appreciate that you feel that cuz Thank you. 134 year farm. We have a lot to offer. Sure. So, God bless you guys.

Thank you, DJ. Um, moving on to honorary council member Lindsay comments. [snorts]

Um, I I guess another interesting night. Thank you for the opportunity. Um, I was able to attend uh the uh Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation um presentation on data centers last week and I thought it was really impressive the panel that they brought of environmentalists and um you know folks that actually are um building data centers and the the really great information. Um, so, um, I was actually, um, surprised at how far and, um, and and some of the things that I've heard and seen about data centers, um, that aren't actually true. Um, so it was really great information. Um, and I'm grateful that Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation chose to host it in Austin and I was able to attend. Um but yeah, it was really good valuable information on communities, what the DA data centers are doing and what environmentalist environmentalists say about it. So

what we got? Very good. Thank you. Appreciate you being here. Lindsay. Uh Paul, nothing your honor.

Um Mayor, um I just want I just want to um add something. you know, as the state going through what is happening uh in Minneapolis. I think the last few weeks um we've been uh had a little shake here within town and um and um what I what I want to say to um the city of Austin to um to stay calm um so that we don't uh see um the situation that going on right now is uh is not perfect for our state and uh also uh for our city. Um I support um any um law enforcement, our local law enforcement, they're doing great job here uh dealing with um uh criminals or uh uh servicing their community. Um but uh the other hand um I think it's not right for uh anyone being stopped in the city or dragging out from the hospital uh like what happened um in here uh last time. So a lot of business closed down due to being city being panicked with that. But I'm glad uh it fade away now. Uh but it's not it's not that it's going away. But um to everyone that out there uh please please um stay in your place, be peaceful and um and always um speak your voice and please do not um try to cause any anything that can harm your family and then protect your family. So it's just for me myself I'm a citizen and uh it been really a shaking it it difficult for me to go to work every day carrying my passport um um going to a city in Rochester having on my passport with me being a stop and then you being afraid to be stopped uh and so forth. So um I just want to put out there for everyone who is um in a fear right now walking around the city

that they don't know when they going to being stopped by ICE. Thank you Abala. appreciate those comments, Laura.

Um, [sighs] that's hard to follow up. Uh, I have a number of things uh to talk about. Uh, one is I wanted to um say thank you to the um city staff, especially the human resources department for scheduling a strategic planning event on February 21st. So, um this is uh uh one of the outcomes of uh the unmarked report that came to us in November. will be um having city staff and elected leaders work together to set um mission and vision for the city and start working on a strategic plan. I think that's very important. It's something we've been working out for working without for a number of years and so I'm happy to see that moving forward. Um the culture and arts commission is um looking for uh art to um provide graphic wraps to our utility boxes. Um they're frequent targets of graffiti and so we've got some funding to put some graphic wraps on. Now we need art. We did a call for youth art and we got a few submissions um and we got permission from our funders to open it up. It is now all ages and we'd love to get some more entries um of art, something that uh would work well as a repeating pattern. Um details are on the Austin area.org website. Um please spread the word. Um the culture and arts commission is also seeking members. Um so please uh apply or encourage others to apply to serve on the commission if they would be good. Um I want to thank CC Croc. um she has been the um school board's liaison with parks, recreation and forestry for many years. She was um I think just about the only through line on that group um as we went through a couple directors and and there was a lot of change over on the board. And so I want to uh thank her for her service as of today. We approved um

that role moving to uh someone else on the school board. So thank you CC. You've been a great partner um to work with. I want to say um thank you to the Human Rights Commission for the Martin Luther King Day event um they held last night. It was um a very nice event and um great to see so many in the community out um engaging uh with that including the Austin Bruins um serving the dinner. And then um finally, I'll I'll just echo Obala's um comments that this has been a really hard season um for Austin. Um, in my opinion, uh, uh, Austin runs on immigrants. Um, uh, they've always been a a key part of our community and and still are. And so, um, uh, please watch out for your neighbors, know your neighbors, um, do your best to keep people safe. A real tangible thing you can do is, um, patronize immigrant-owned businesses. Um, right now there's lots of grocery stores and restaurants. And um please uh stay connected uh with your neighbors. That's it. Thanks.

Thank you, Laura. Jeff, uh nothing, your honor.

Uh two things, and they'll sound pretty familiar, but I I I do really want to make a point. Uh thanks to the Human Rights Commission for the lovely event yesterday, uh the fact that we're able to come together and feed folks uh in celebration of MLK Day. thanks to the First United Methodist Church for hosting. Uh Austin Bruins were there volunteering. The Reed Seed was giving away books. Um it was just a great event. Uh and then secondly, kind of to echo um what Laura just mentioned, you know, it is a tough time in Minnesota right now and I know for small businesses honestly January and February are always probably the hardest two months of the year. [snorts] Um and this is going to compound that. So, if you are feeling frustrated and not sure what you can do to help, I just strongly encourage you to patronize your local businesses. Patronize your favorite ones. Maybe patronize one you've never been to before. They really could use it right now.

Thanks, Mike. Becky. Yeah, I just want to say congratulations to the Austin dance team. uh they took uh the Big Nine champion on championship on Friday night and actually in team history they swept the competition and they were able to get first place in jazz and kick. So the dance team was doing great things this year. So if you have an opportunity to support them they have a show coming up in just a week or so. So great job girls. Can we get them in here? I bet they smell better than the hockey team. Um yeah

that sounds like a shot. We [laughter] I just want to caution because I'd happy to have everybody in here, but when we can't get everybody in here to recognize them, I get letters to say, "What about this, this, or this?" So, it has caused some consternation of if you can't do everybody, [clears throat and cough] you shouldn't do anybody other than what you've just said. Thank you for that. Well, congratulations, Dan. We've done first and second, but there's there's other people that we haven't. Yes. And there's that that caused some letters, so I just get a little nervous when I try try [laughter] All I do is try, but sometimes it's just so. But thank you for recognizing them in this public setting. Craig.

Uh, yes. Uh, department heads met with Dave and Mark as part of the strategic planning process. Appreciate council availing themselves to, uh, meeting with him. So, that work continues. Um, and as Laura mentioned on the 21st, uh, important work and, uh, we'll keep keep moving forward. So, did did go well with staff. had some discussions on it at staff meeting today as well. So, we're excited about the options for that and the importance of having guiding northstar. So, very good. Thank you, Craig. And I have nothing further to add than what's been set up here already. So, take a motion to adjourn to our work session.

I'm sorry. Motion to adjurnn to our next meeting, February 2. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. All right, we're give a fivem minute break to the work session. Thank you.