City Council - Regular Meeting

I had no idea I had a mango tree. It took the neighbor to point it out to me. Full of mangoes.

Yeah. One of my favorite skits is when him and the rock though are the monkeys and the It's like it's coming from Yeah. I can't figure out It shows better.

And if we talk through our mics, it's a little Nope, it's still there. I don't see that. I'm running any second Hello. Hello. Hello. Okay, that fixed it. Okay, we were having some um mix minus in the council chambers. All right, we good. Correct. Okay, it's Yeah, no problem. It's 5:30. I will call the work session to order. Let's talk first about the 10-year fire department equipment plan. Chief Walsh, good evening. Good evening all. How are you?

I am doing well. So, I'm just going to pull that up for me. Is that microphone on now or did we turn off?

Thanks for the reminder. Let's forget about that. So, you can skip right to the that page right there. So, our 10-year plan, we've gone through this, looked at it. Um, next year, we are planning to replace a command vehicle, and then in 2028, we're going to replace our rescue 11, move that back to Grass 11, and get the um UTV in a trailer and then convert our uh current grass 11 into a utility. We're going to be able to do that with the uh funding and stuff that is in the account.

Tim, I I need I'm sorry. I need a little bit. I need you to say that again. So, you're moving 12 will be grass 11. Yeah. So, our uh rescue 11 current today as a pickup. We are going to move that and call that grass 11. The current grass 11 will get moved to utility. Okay. So, those are two vehicles that we're going to move. And then the UTV and the trailer will be a complete replacement. Okay. So, the conversion part is making rescue 11 to be able to do the grass. Correct. Okay. Yep. Correct. And then we'll we'll get a new um rescue 11. Okay. Chief Walsh, I have a question also on that um replacing the command vehicle? Yes.

Then will that vehicle be put up for auction or will that stay in the fleet and be used by someone else? No, that will be put up for auction. Okay. Yep. Because it's a I think a 2013. So, and it by then it'll have probably 80ome,000 90 some thousand miles on it. So, we'll get rid of it. And then the um update to the 10-year plan was in 2034. We uh put in there the boat and motor and trailer. So, we added that in into that uh into the plan. We already have one, right? It's a that would be a replacement. Yep. Okay. Yep. We already have one. It's probably used as recently as last week.

It was It was Thank God we don't use it much for those types of things. We use it more for training and that kind of stuff on the river. But yeah, now with these developments and stuff, we're looking at something a little bit different and then add more of a um raft type that we can get on some of the Nerf ponds and things like that just in case kids like to go through the ice and that kind of stuff. Oh, so we're looking at that with all the new developments going on and what we can do to make things better. But that is all I have for updates for the 10-year plan, unless you have further questions.

I have a question for you, Tim. Um, so when I'm looking at the Cavan Command vehicle for replacement um in 2027, so when I'm looking realizing it's 2013, so it is an older vehicle, but it only has 68,000 miles on it right now. Um, that doesn't seem like a lot. So, I don't know if there's other things that are going wrong with the vehicle, but I mean, if we look at even our personal vehicles, right, most of us keep them I shouldn't say that. Many of us, some of us keep them past 100,000 even, right? So, when I'm looking at replacing a vehicle that only has 68,000 m on it, can you help me understand why we would want to replace something

with these vehicles and um the wear and tear on them versus a regular residential driver type of thing. Um there is more wear and tear on those. We actually just replace some ball joints on that vehicle and it seems to every year pick out something different that wants to. One of the things we have noticed with that particular vehicle is some transmission issues and we're hoping we're hoping we're going to be able to make it until next year so we can replace it other than putting a new transmission in it.

And we are getting some rust spots and those types of things. We did buy that used a couple years back from a fire department and it was used there for the same type of thing. Okay. Um do you know how many miles it had on it when we Oh, I'm sorry that was you. I was like, "Oh, do we have feedback again?" Um I do not I don't remember what we had on it when we bought it. Okay. I'm just curious as how many miles we're actually putting on it every year. Yeah. So, I could take a look anyway. Okay. Is that what you're driving, Tim? Is that what's parked outside tonight? Okay. Yep. The red one. And then if you we replace it when we're looking at the $90,000 for it to me because it's a pickup, right? Or is it a uh SUV? It'll be the picture. Oops. Y right there in front of you.

Yeah, there's a picture of talking and looking at the words, not the picture. Okay. So, is there a reason that it's $90,000? Because I mean I there's many SUVs out there that don't cost quite $90,000 and the state bid will come with that. We just don't know what the other products are going to be like the box we put in the back, the light packages. Um I know um Chaza just purchased one and got it outfitted for roughly 85. Okay. And that was going through the state bid and buying the equipment and stuff for it. So we figured 90 would be a pretty good number to start with. Okay.

We're hoping I was say, can you explain just a little bit more what it gets outfitted with? Because if residents would see this and they say $5,000, I want to be able to respond with, well, here's why it's outfitted. Like for one, in in these vehicles, we put a box in the back, and I call it box because it takes up the entire back, but it's got drawers in it. It's got a cabinet for our gear. It's got a uh place for SCBA, um, fire extinguishers, and then it got an area in there for the medical bags and things that we carry. So, AED and our, uh, kids pack and those types of things. Okay. Of course, then it'll have a lighting package in it, directional arrows, and then there's a council that gets put into the center. So, that holds your siren box and your um radios.

Okay. So, there's specialty that has to come with it. Yes. Okay. Yep. All right. That's great. Thank you. You're welcome. My experience is upfitting can be 25% of the cost of the vehicle. Yeah. Yep. Roughly thereabout. Tim, I had the same feedback. would I was um I think the sheriff's department starts to think about replacing their vehicles at $120,000. Yep. I can get behind this one. If you're hoping that the transmission is going to make it another well through the end of the year, um no problem. But I'd like to see I'm a drive my cars into the ground kind of person. I would love to see us do that a little bit more with the fire department.

Yeah, we can certainly look into that. We just looked at some of the other departments are doing and they get a little bit more value if they're in that 60 to 80 range. Okay. To get a little bit more back, but we could certainly look at that. Okay. But I think Courtney too, if we're buying new or new this time as opposed to used, I would like to see a much longer life expectancy of us holding on to that vehicle. Um because obviously we're going to be in looking at what 2027. though not 2020 2013 which if you add the years really

well I'm open to if you can do a good use case of like if we sell it at 80,000 we can get 20,000 for it and that's that makes a $90,000 vehicle 70 like I don't know where like that access is of where it makes the most sense but uh my other question was just thinking about the state of the world today with gas prices going through the roof probably understanding that just need a larger vehicle for all of the reasons that you're talking about that goes into that box. But are there any fire departments out there that are running hybrid or EVs or anything? I know about the EV fire trucks, but for this kind of use, is there any?

Not that I'm aware of. Okay. Because I know like in theory, in my mind's eye, it's short trips, city trips, but I know it's a lot of idle time potentially when you're at a scene and potentially long nights in the winter, which isn't really a strength yet of EVs. Yeah, I'll certainly look into that. You know, and for me, I guess the re the reasons that you just stated that the gas fuel powered truck is more than fine with me. Yeah. Um, but I I mean I see what you're saying, right? Kind of shot my argument. I'm just curious if there's We've had some success obviously with the building inspections and stuff because it's shorter routes, but again, if you're at a house fire all night and it's minus 30 out, um,

like you said, I don't ask the plugin. You can't ask the plugin. Yeah. No, I'm just curious if there's any and I don't look I don't know that I've got my mind wrapped around the EV or hybrid vehicle market, but I don't know that they make anything that large of a fullsize vehicle. Yeah. And I I nobody around me that comes to mind. Okay. You know, recently, but there may be some bigger departments out there trying some of that stuff to see what it does. But yeah, I'll do some nosing around. Okay. Thank you.

I have a question about other kinds of equipment. So, I know we've got uh an IR equipped drone. What about, you know, next generation where we can deliver Narcan or a defibrillator pack? Is that even on our radar? I know I've been to a couple of uh classes where they have talked about doing that type of stuff. And I think some of the bigger departments now they're deploying drones to go to those emergencies first to kind of get there and assess what's going on. some of that is going to start happening where they're, you know, dropping Narcan and, you know, epipens and that type of thing. We have not played.

It used to be cost prohibitive, but I mean, in the last just three years, it's dropped precipitously and and the which opens up the door to smaller communities that would never have thought to do something like that before. So, I'm just I'm curious if you've been to a class and you you're you have some awareness of it, but I'd like to stay aware of that as that drops into our scope for what we could afford uh for our residents. Yeah, absolutely. I said some of the bigger departments are starting to play with that. It just hasn't come out, you know, to more of the rural areas, but definitely keep an eye on that.

Any other questions? Um, how many command vehicles do we have now? Do we have three? Correct. Okay. So, the fourth one technically doesn't come in until 2033. So, okay. And that's you. Can you tell me who is all driving those? You have one 24/7. The chiefs use those. Okay. And then the captains and we have a couple of right front seat folks that are training to be into the captain spots. Okay. So, there's eight, nine of us. Okay. That are able. You have one all the time and Yep. When I'm in town, I usually have one and then it's based on who's on call. Yep. Okay. So, there's a chief on call.

Yes. So, we try to have um a duty chief and a duty officer from 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. in the morning. Okay. And then if they're able to, if they're around during the day to respond to calls, but really it's from that 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Okay. So then we'd only wake up two people versus, you know, the other 30. Sure. Okay. Great. Great. Any other questions? Nothing from New York. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thanks.

Council, do you want to are you happy with the way this is and you just want some followup or do you want to see another draft? Um, understanding the transmission issue, I'm okay with the way that it is. Does anybody feel differently? I'm fine. That was my thing, too. I'm fine with that. When I heard the transmission might make it till replacement, I'm much more comfortable with this. Yeah. But I think you understand the direction we're Absolutely. Okay. All right. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Um, up next, we've got the 10-year public services and community development department equipment plan. Mr. Simmons and Miss Smith.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. Let's see if I can find out where the share the screen button is.

Did I get it? Yeah, I said allow.

Oh, sorry. It's different on the video here. Okay, this information was all provided in the packet as well, but um so this is the 10-year update to the equipment plan. Um just some highlevel things from last year. Last year we did kind of a really big update. Um and this year is pretty much status quo from last year. a few changes. Um, one of the largest changes is moving the replacement of the 936 cat loader from 2034 to 2029. That cat loader is from 1989 and has recently caused some expenses on uh some repairs last year. Um the this plan update also has reduces the contribution from the general levy over the course of 10 years. Um and we're still able to make the plan cash flow. Um most of that savings is going to occur uh in that window from I think 2029 to 2033 uh where as a city we have some larger expenses coming up. Uh the plan update also includes two equipment items in 2036 the new plan year. One is the replacement of a 2016 plow truck and then the other is the city's sign truck which was purchased from Carver County. Um so same kind of plan goes from year to year. Um

can you give me a definition of sign truck?

Yeah. So currently our sign truck is a large truck that was built out for the county. So, we're able to put signs on it. It usually has a crane, um, a air compressor for pounding posts and things of that nature. So, we can go install signs ourself rather than having to pay someone for that replacement. Um, one of the things I envision for a city of our size and our sign truck is something uh, reduced. Um, so currently in the budget I have in there, um, it's a large number, $270,000. And I would envision that number to decrease significantly uh as we have time to research because I would right now it's on the same cabin chassis that a plow truck is on and I would do like a one ton and then add on the compressor maybe a welder so we can have more functionality so when we do have a mechanic uh in you know 2030 or something like that that that truck is able to be deployed in the field if something breaks down, they can fix something. Um, and it has all the equipment right on it. But I think it's going to be a reduced from the 270. The 270 is a number that if we had to replace that truck right now, that's probably what it would cost. Okay.

Which is not a number that I would really like to Sure. I know it's a ways out 2036. So, um, it's hard to know, but if is 270 is that like a thou 100,000 over? Is it a thousand over? Is it 50,000? I mean, is it something that we can reduce to be a little bit more realistic in this because we know already that we don't want the size of what we have. It sounds like I think it would get down to quick math in my head, it was probably 200,000 would be a better number for that. Okay. Even considering the like the inflation of being out that far, 200 would be a better number, you think? Mhm.

Okay. So is that something we want to adjust in the plan then so that it reflects that a little bit more accurately

I'm going to look at we can I'm going to jump up to Brett like that's your direction we can certainly do that

right um Brett what are your thoughts on that too if it's if we're stating it as something that we know might be excessively high at this All things being equal, I would keep it. The what you have there for a number isn't going to impact what you contribute to the equipment levy. So um if it was like a 100,000 plus but at 70 I think a lot of things can change and it's you know at that conceptual phase and so

it might change again. It it tells us what the replacement of our existing vehicle is. Uh but we've seen a lot of changes in what we think we need from year to year. So the superconservative part of me would say leave it, but I think there's certainly an argument to to change it. The the conservative part of me feels like it doesn't impact anything in your plan other than what like your the last year of your plan. So we can make a note of it. But again, it's nothing that I feel strongly about. Okay. So leaving it in here as this right now really isn't it's not affecting anything. It's just our projection of 10 years. 10 years. Yeah. So, I mean, it's

leaving it that way is it's not going to be to our detriment at this point if you But if you Yeah. If you wanted to make sure it wasn't going to be that, even though it can change from year to year. I mean, you you certainly have there isn't any downside to changing it either, other than it's always harder to go back up than it is to come down. I mean, it's it's it's a decade away, so I think it's fine. We'll just leave it. We might be 60 by then. What? I might be what? We might be 60 by I'll be 61 by then. But I'll take 60.

No, thanks for Thanks for I have a question on the sign truck. Could we start getting information together on about how much we spend a year or maybe how much we spend every two years? And I realize it might be really hard to quantify on signs. Yeah. Because are we we're not out outsourcing any of it. We do a little bit. Yeah. A little. Okay. Or maybe to kind of see if there's a cost savings history on what that purchase looked like. I mean, right now it's a 2003 chassis that is not going to last forever and at this point it would be replaced when it's 33 years old.

What are you trying to figure out with that? um that when we have um the yearly discussions on like checking in on a 10- year plan, then when we're talking 9 8 years, we've already started to gather the data. So, I'm not looking for anything in the past, but just to be able to say, oh, you know, here's we're going to save money in this area.

My hope would be that we have a like it's even in the name like sign truck. We don't want a vehicle that just does one thing. So the more Andrew and his team can think about what other things we can do with a vehicle or piece of equipment, the better. And so that's where I sit on that 270 number is it gives us more options. Um, but I think it' be fair to say we don't collectively we don't want to spend 270,000 on a vehicle that just puts signs into the ground because even that you only do six months out of the year. So then you think of so what else could we do with it? Um, and the department has shown a lot of creative ways. If you remember, I forgot what it was called, something like a hitch and go where you can have a bunch of different attachments where we have the garbage truck and we have a plow truck and it does some other stuff. That's really cool.

So, technical terms for all the stuff stuff um for stuff. Um, I'm wondering then if we because it's not just a sign truck that we maybe would want to put sign something on here. So when we're looking at it, we realize because again as we were asking when I see please give me the definition of a sign truck because to me I'm thinking how many signs are we putting out every day? Right. Right. So maybe and in 10 years like just think how many more streets we have and like like all that stuff just compounds. So um so you could call it like a service service truck or street maintenance truck or Yeah. something of that something. I mean you can leave sign slashservice something but I think we need a little more in there than just sign. Yep. Okay,

good comment. Any other feedback?

Um, so let's zip back to um we can look at the funding if you would like to reduce funding numbers. Um and then 2027, what's actually next year? Um so next year we have replacement of a 2012 truck. Um Eric Madigan drives that truck around right now. Uh if you've seen him around town in that blue truck, that's the one that will be replaced. Um we have a 2005 mower and sidewalk uh blower and then the Toro grand stands replaced for next summer.

Same with the fire department stuff. Do we take the ones that we have now and we'll try to sell them at auction?

Yep. We'll try to auction them off. Um, and that is a big part of really I would say the young part of our plan right now is not realizing how when we turn and burn some of these vehicles, what the actual true replacement cost is. And that's where I'm hoping that we're going to be very successful in if we take care of our equipment. The replacement value is really high. So if we look at uh next the 2028 year, we have replacement of a 2018 Bobcat skid steer. So the Bobcat, if you were to go buy one right now in the state contracts, $85,000. I'm hoping that we get a pretty good value on our current skid steer of at least $30,000. So where this money can is really not captured in our uh financial plan.

I'm hoping that in the future we can reduce it more. But so then do we have a I don't know like it doesn't policy it doesn't have to be a formal policy but whatever we get from the sale goes right back into the capital fund. Okay. Um, can we talk about the 2018 replacement of a skid steer? It's less than a It'll be Mhm. nine years old, 10 years old.

That's where looking at where the value is going to be at the replacement. So, um, where it's not an $85,000 that we're going to outlay completely. And if we can get 30 to 35,000 for a piece of equipment like the Bobcat that's used almost on a daily basis, um, especially in the winter time when they're doing trails and sidewalks with it. Um, that's where these numbers are not the net price. They're there. But is there anything wrong with the 2018 or we're just trying to turn it in when it's still worth some money? Trying to turn it in where it's still worth money.

Okay. So, I think there too I think there's a discussion about like do we want to do that or do we want to run them into the ground? I think you definitely want to have a schedule and stick to it because when we hold on to a piece of equipment longer than necessary, those sneaky repairs like the transmission, those large repairs, they pop up and then we're on the hook for it. Nickel and dime where if we can get rid of those and still maintain a strong value for them and re trade them in, then our plan starts to work and rely less on the general fund. Okay. Um, how long is a warranty on something like that?

That's a good question that I don't know. Okay, that would be nice to know if we're, you know, let's say for the 2018 even, I mean, if we had warranty for 5 years on it or whatever, you know, right? that that period that that helps I think with the argument of why not only do we get more money back for when we do a resale of the one before it but if we know that we're covered for three years 5 years whatever I have no idea what it might be I think that also can justify because again any nickel and diamond things that might happen over that time which are not likely but can certainly happen that we know are covered

so another thing uh with equipment I mean when I would like to get away from putting the boxes on the trucks that you see a lot of cities have. Those boxes are like $30,000 and at the end of the day when you're trying to sell that, you're not getting that return on that and they go largely unused. So, um, for Eric's truck right now, he has the boxes and it would be getting a pickup and maybe like a topper on it. So he can lock stuff up and not have all those unnecessary boxes for a large dollar amount.

So when you're talking about the box, you're talking about the boxes that you're just holding like your tools and stuff. Yeah. You know, like those utility boxes on the side of the trucks. Those added like a significant amount of dollars to those trucks. Now when I think of topper though, I do think of people having to like crawl into the back end of the truck. So are we okay with that? I mean they have some slide out things, too. Okay. Um they have toppers with, you know, the boxes like on the side. Okay. So they have like a side door that you can lift and get tools and irrigation stuff, but uh at a significantly less cost. Okay. All right. That's that makes me feel better. I just don't want to see a bunch of public works guys having to like crawl into the bottom of their truck all day long with the toppers on.

What's the price of a topper? Do you know? I would say uh depends on if you're going aluminum or fiberglass, but um probably three to five. Okay, great.

So, getting back kind of the overall plan is pretty much the same as it was last year. Um we have the planning vehicles sprinkled in there. I think 2031 is the new one, Aaron. Well, I think 28 is a replacement and 2031 is an additional with the staff addition of a inspector.

So, I have another question and I like to see it, right? Um, but it looks like many of our years the dollar amount has dropped by, you know, roughly 25,000 or something like that. Um, that's great, but how are we bringing that down or why did why are we bringing that down? Do we just tighten up numbers a little bit or um I don't we don't have it on here. It's frustrating. Um, the cash flow buildup was a little too robust. Yeah. Okay. So, okay.

Um, we're trying to trying to be strategic on when some of these purchases come and hopefully try to reduce the impact with all the other stuff coming. So, very happy to see it. Just usually things don't go down. So, well, and I think that's great. Thanks for saying like, "Nope, this is a little too much. We're good." Like, thank you. I think that's fantastic. Well, I think a lot of it is a testament to Andrew's work. I mean, we haven't had this um thorough of a plan and we've tended to borrow and so the trans transition to cash and Andrew working his way through it.

There's always a I think or tends to be an anchor of like we need more and we need all of this. But when you put it on paper and you that one slide that he has in with the colored boxes really gives you a sense of the consistency and thoroughess and by the time you got to the end of the plan we were approaching like a million dollars in cash and that's not what we want to do kind of to the council's point from the last meeting. um work and we use that in other places and so that's why you see the reduction in part um Erin for the EV and 28 is that a replacement for the compass that we have not the Mitsubishi correct

okay and how long we've had that for a couple more years than we had the EV do you know what year that is 2019 do we own that yes okay but we started releasing it. Is that right? We had it with Mark Pistol. Oh, okay. Okay. Thank you.

Any other questions, comments? Eric, anything from you? No, nothing from me. I agree with the plan to move these through our move life cycle them sooner to avoid some of those expensive repairs because it isn't just the repair is the impact to everybody when it's not available. So, anything from you? We're on board with that, too.

Um, two things. I really I love this whole idea and I really like specifically the trying to introduce a tractor because you could use it summer for mowing lawns and then uh in the winter clearing snow. And also um your analysis of like seeing that vehicles just kind of come equipped for with the extra storage boxes on the side that are substantially expensive. And that's probably meant more for someone who's at a job site far far away from their shop or they need their all the equipment for the week, right?

And I feel like in the city the cost savings not needing that. Yeah, there might be a few more trips to the shop, but we're so clo everything's so close. It's worth it. Yep. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, okay. Up next, we have the city manager report. Mr. Mayor, we got an whole 48 minutes for this, so take your time. 48 minutes.

How's this? I'm fine with it. I don't think Christy loves it. No, it's all over my brain. Come on.

The seasonal hours start on Tuesday. So that uh if you remember, public services works that same uh 7 to 4:30 shift. But uh throughout the year, and then 7 to 11 on Fridays, uh the Tuesday after Memorial Day, uh city hall staff will move, uh to that same schedule again, Monday through Thursday, uh 7 to 4:30. And then Friday 7 to 11:00. Um we as like a department head team still have I would say pretty robust coverage after hours just like we would after 4:30 on a Tuesday. Um we won't respond uh to like a weekend report of concern. But if there something comes in at 3:00 on a Friday and we can't handle it, we're going to take care of it. Um, but Brenda and her team have done a really good job of there's a lot of things that you can do on the website. Um, and so for like the transactional stuff, a lot of that is still available to folks. Um,

so it's 7 to 11. What? Tell me the hours time for city hall. Yeah, 7 to 4:30 Monday through Thursday and 7 to 11 on Fridays. Um, and then like I would say salaried staff might not always keep those hours. So you still might find one or all of us working here on Friday afternoon depending upon what the needs are for that week. Okay.

Uh kind of an odd thing that came up last year and now you can kind of see it this year. So, I'm going to um this is our 2026 assessment from the Carver County Assessor's Office and uh we won't often see a market reduction under commercial and industrial and in 2025 uh some of the private utilities, I think it was namely Centerpoint, maybe some of Excel, uh they went to tax court on the value of the rightway that they have and ended up winning. So, not just Carver, but really every city in the state is seeing some type of percentage of drop of that market value. It's offset by uh some of the new construction that we've had and obviously the new construction residential, but um there haven't been many times in my career here in Carver where we've seen uh negative increases or reductions in overall market value. So you can see uh nearly 3/4 of a percent on residential and uh 4 1.5% on commercial industrial and so an extra set I would say of discussions and calculations that the council and staff will need to kind of prep for you. Uh but normally we would do like well your tax would be $100 and if your value went up by three and a half percent it would go to $10350. Um but in this instance if you don't change anything the the tax um responsibility goes down. So uh which we haven't experienced very often and could have you know a number of unintended consequences to how you think about the budget uh globally. So, I just wanted to bring that to your attention. I'll have this teed up in the budget preview. I think that's at your next meeting, but I

just wanted to give you some line of sight to that. Um, the Carver County Mobility Study, I believe they're taking the findings to the county board tomorrow. um work through some kind of issues in the background, but I at the end of the day, uh it looks like the plan shows Carver County funding uh Southwest Prime Services in Victoria and Carver. So, um on the plus side, uh we wouldn't have about a $50,000 allocation, which we had been doing for Prime Service. There's some tees that need to be crossed and I's that need to be dotted, but that looks like the way that we're heading. Why are they going to take it on? Specifically, why are they going to take it on?

There's a new source of funding uh from the state of Minnesota and part of that funding needs to be dedicated to transit. Okay. And so that that uh was the impetus for the county to conduct that mobility study with I think it was Stantech. Uh they came out and did a presentation and so um they're going to be adding service prime service to Laconia. um increasing some circulator routes like in Norwood, Young America, Cologne, etc.

Um but it's a sizable amount of money which allows them to not just cover our cost but the subsidy that Southwest Transit had identified as what they were kicking in and not being reimbursed for for the service. Okay. The reason I was wondering is because if if we're paying for it here, the county takes it on, do we just see the raise on the county side of the taxes rather than just on our side? So, but it's coming from state state money. So, well, there's still our money, still everybody's money, but there's a little bit bigger pot. I have a related question for Eric. Uh, Eric, have you heard anything on whether or not they're going to revive the consolidation bill for transit next year?

No, I haven't actually. I was wondering that myself. Okay.

Uh moving on, we pushed the utilities infrastructure uh 10-year plan review to your June 1st meeting. Uh there's some pretty significant infrastructure that we want to make sure that we're getting right and aligning in the proper years. Um lift stations, uh water treatment plant, uh etc. Um, one of the bigger ones is getting I think you remember we need to get sanitary s another sanitary sewer service. Say that 10 times fast. Sanitary su sewer service under 212. We have an existing 10-in line, but we need to get a 36 or 30 inch line. And we're looking at potentially phasing that. Um, if you think of the property west of Fleet Farm, there is some capacity to service that with the existing line, but once you get further west, uh, we are at capacity with the line, not the network, but just the line across 212. And we think there's an argument to be made to make sure that we get sewer service there because that's prime industrial commercial property. We want to make sure that as you probably know when these folks come along they want to get started yesterday and so if we can have a plan in place to bring that across that will help I think uh make sure that we're in better harmony with what we expect for anticipated development. Uh Andrew and his team are uh really doing a lot of work on the public services design review. The uh plan uh floor plan and building elevation stuff is really coming in well. We got uh some updates on costs and so we're planning for a pretty I would say significant meeting on July 20th where we're probably going to want to just take that whole work session or we um and I wanted to get some feedback from the council.

You know there is a you know you could uh move that to the regular meeting and uh not be constrained for time. I'm not sure uh how much time or the environment that you want to take in that information. Uh but at least I wanted to highlight. You don't have to provide that response now, but I just wanted to tee it up for you. So, what are you looking for? You just That'll be the only thing on the work session. Yeah. I mean, do you have a I mean, that's fine if that's all

It's not often that you have a a meeting like that. Um, and do you want to take it all in at a work session if you did it at a regular meeting? Uh, maybe opens up if you have people in the audience that want to have a question or something. You know, you could certainly I mean we we'll do dedicated engagement, but uh think about that and we'll I'll check back in at a meeting in June to see how you feel about that. Uh Creekide Park, the dog play areas are opening on Friday. I sent a message out the um although the grass has come in in parts, it looks better from the road than if you actually walked out there. There's some kind of barren spots. Um which I think we should expect that. You know, we chose as a budget measure not to irrigate uh or to bring in or export. Was it export or import? import soils um as a cost-saving measure. So over time it'll develop, but it's certainly not going to be like front yard type of grass. Um but I also don't think that there's an appetite uh in the community to like try to let that go and wait a whole another season. So, um, and I think there's a certain, not attempting to be like negative, but there's a certain element just from watching other dog parks and conversations about that where I think we are going to get some complaints about the dog park, whether there's too much dog waste people aren't picking up or interactions between dogs. And so I just wanted to name that and if the council had direction for staff ahead of time or um just for you to let go pine on how

you feel about that. Um I think now would be a great time to kind of get that feedback from you understanding that some decisions were made in advance for how that area is going to look and feel. There is uh we are going to we are marking the trees that are dead. They're under warranty, but they haven't actually finished their warranty. So, we're playing a little cat and mouse with the contractor cuz they still have time for them to bloom, but some of them are obviously Well, good luck. Yeah.

Um, but just wanted to pause here and and get some council feedback, especially for like Andrew and his team. I think it'll be helpful to understand how the council feels about that related to expectations and ongoing maintenance. open it. Let's get it open. It's time. And if we have to look at I mean possibly doing some dormant scening in the fall to you know get it going again for next year. That's fine. I don't want to see it closed any longer. It needs to get open.

I think the conversations that Brent and I have had about this is like I'm just imagining dogs at Mach 10, right? And that's not very like not always grass friendly just at a baseline. So, I think while the grass might not be pristine, it might not look like a fairway right now, it's not going to get any better once the dogs get in there. So, I think like let them play. Dog products, they're it's going to be what it's going to be, right? I mean, you're going to have a dog out there that digs a hole somewhere, right? Like I mean, it's going to be what it is in the area where the grass is the best. Yes. Right. Like the greenest spot is going to be get torn up for sure. Yeah.

Eric, do you have any thoughts on the dog park? Oh, I think people are just going to be thrilled that it's open, so let's open it. Great. I have a couple other comments for the dog park, though. Okay. Uh I didn't want I didn't know if you were moving on to the next one. I was okay. Um this one, Erin, I had talked to you last I don't know, fall, something like that. We had talked about benches or something for inside the dog park. People like to sit down. Um have we thought anymore about having getting something installed? Yes, it's been on our to-do list to reach out to the Lions. Okay. Okay. So, we do have a meeting on Wednesday night

that I'm planning to be at. Would you like me to bring it up while I'm there? We had a map. Yeah, you made it. Yeah, I think we have I think the lines have a bench that has not that has burned that has not been placed yet. So, I was going to call Dean, but I didn't want to if you guys had some other plan, I didn't want to start. We made a little layout once where it is. I don't know. I still have it. We like labeled how many benches we would like to have. Okay. Um, if you can find it before Wednesday, that would be fantastic. And then I'll just bring it up. I can double it up. Okay. And I don't know. I You see what you did there?

And I can't speak for what the Lions may or may not do, but it'd be worth asking for sure. Okay. You can't contribute all of them. We can get them all set in at least. I think we decided like four. I think it was that thing. I think the last meeting Christie, they were talking about they have them and they're happy to put them where the city wants them. They just didn't know where the city wanted them. And I think they're getting antsy to get them. Yeah. Put somewhere. Y. So, okay. I'll bring it up then. Thank you.

Uh the Miriam Junction Trail Bridge. Uh it although it looks to be open, it's not open. There's a fence on the Scott County side. I think there's some actually talk about moving that up to the Carver County side if that's accurate. Erin,

it's there right now, but I met with Scott County last week to talk about while the trail is not open on the Scott County side, how far do we let people go from the Carver side? So, we made some we had made some thoughts. I'm going to run everything by Josh Baker that if we put it like the center point being on the Carver side, you can see where focus could be or if it's closer to the Scott County side. There's not a a straight visual. So, more to come on that. The work is still being actively done on the Scott County side right now. Did they remove the fencing that was on the Carver side? No, it's there right now. Oh, okay. But you're saying they're going to remove that and open up

moving it back so then folks could at least experience walking on the bridge instead of being just at that the entrance of it, but also safety on the Scott County side. Okay. I'd love that. And I'd advocate for putting it on at the end. Me, too. At this landing on the Scott County side as far as it can go. Yeah. I mean, maybe not in a climbable accessible jump around it distance, but like Yeah, that's that's exactly what I was going to say. Even I'm happy. Go past the halfway point if you can. Like if it can go all the way to the Scott County point or 10 ft from the end or something.

Yeah. And the workers are on the other side and they're fine. Great. Push it as far as it can go. That's good feedback. We're going to check with the contractor too just to see what they're comfortable with if it were folks right there. Like depending on what they need for so more to come, but we had a really good meeting with Kver County and Scott County related to signage and safety and what our plan is in the is not open all the way, but folks are eager to at least experience a part of it. Yeah, people are super excited. I planted my community garden yesterday afternoon and the acoustics down there are such that you can hear everything that's going on at the trail and like it is a talking point for folks and everybody's excited about it. And then the other We're still on the Riverside Park.

I have a question for Riverside Park though. Are you still on that or are you moving? I'm going to hit Riverside. Okay, perfect. I don't know where you're at. I was like we the mall and like is he going to staff later? So the uh I think is it tomorrow or tomorrow morning?

Tomorrow morning Paul and Andrew are meeting with uh the contractor and doing a walkthrough of the park and I'm going to highlight areas that need to be addressed prior to the opening. But I'm not sure what that list is. So I can't prognosticate when it would be open. Um, and you know there based on what Paul and Andrew share, there could be we could open it and then just say like this stuff is going to happen while the park is open. I just don't know what that list is today. So my question then for saying the park isn't open but the gates are open and you can just drive into the park. Are the gates open right now?

I believe you can drive right into the park. I could be wrong but that I believe you can drive right into the park. So, we haven't opened the gates, have we? If the gates are open and we don't want the park to be considered open, I would suggest we make sure just make sure they're locked. So, baby Andrew, after the meeting, drive that direction. Um, cuz from what I was told, it sounded like they were open. There was a sign that said park closed, but it sounds like there wasn't anything to really stop you from going into the park. So, if you could recheck on that. Yeah, we haven't received anything from Scott County saying it's open. I don't think they have the keys to that unless Paul Oh, that's right. They probably have keys. So, they could have done some work and then not closed it back up.

So, will we just recheck that because I got questions over the weekend and I I guess I when I even came home from work today, I didn't even look down there. So, but I guess I made the assumption from what they were saying that it was wide open, just a sign. Um, so then that would take then take care kind of the boat launch isn't open, but when do we do we have any expectations yet when that'll be open? based on I haven't I don't know what the condition of the boat launch is. So when Andrew and Paul take a look at that. Yeah. Paul's gonna really drive that discussion tomorrow. Okay. With his knowledge of the park really. I haven't been to that park once. So when it you know I haven't really seen what it looked like. I've never seen what it's supposed to look like.

So Paul's really going to drive that conversation. I know he's already he's been down there and has a list in his mind what needs to be done. Okay. Yeah. And I know Paul goes down every year and they get the muck out and stuff, but there are some anglers who are bugging me about getting out on the boat watch. So,

if we can get it open before the weekend, we'll get it open before the weekend. Um, we don't uh plan to open the campsites uh because we're going to be closing the park probably sometime this fall with the levy project. Um, the archery targets are down at Creekide Park. Um that's it on Riverside Park. Did I answer your question? Do we answer your questions? Okay. Yes, thank you.

And then uh uh we had a great training exercise uh all staff uh leadership training under the milestone program. So we brought somebody in uh hit kind of a bunch of areas within leadership, interpersonal skills, dealing with conflict, etc. Um here you can see uh staff uh put together either like a word or a phrase related to how they define a good leader. Um so it was a really good exercise. we found out um a need because one of the exercises was to like what's a question that you've had a hard time asking and we heard a couple of like things that were interesting and so we want to as a leadership team create more spaces for folks to ask those questions or better yet like us ask like what do you need what's working not working uh so in the end I think a great uh exercise and a I think a a benefit benefit that we're that the milestone program promotes that intentionality of doing that where maybe previously people would have done that uh independently. And so there was a value uh we did pizza afterwards of of doing that together, having that experience and then having some fellowship if you will uh after the training. So that's all I have unless there's a update that you're looking for that uh I didn't share. I have a question on number two, the market values

for the agriculture. Um, is the increased market value or is it the number of like acres that have additional acres because of annexation? Correct. Annexation. Thank you. Any additional questions, Eric? Anything? No, nothing crew me. All right. Any council requests? Uh motion to adjurnn. I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Motion by council member Conrad. Second. Second by council member Pasco. Any further discussion? Can you do a roll call vote, please? Council member Pasco I. Council member Conrad I. Council member I. Council member Pman

I. Mayor Johnson. I. Motion carries. We are journed.