I actually like property. >> Then you told me to call somebody and I was on the agenda. >> Yeah, it says it's a car. >> Like uh and whatnot. >> Oh, yeah. We got lots of those. >> A lot happen very often. >> We used to. We don't get a lot anymore. This is this is basically abandoned property because the owner hasn't picked up in 5 years. >> Yeah. >> 5 years. >> 5 years. >> Well, you lost a lot of money. It depreciated. >> So, this will get sold like you sell all of our stuff on >> Supreme Court ruled on that. I saw it, but then they took it back. >> Oh, not process. >> I wore my jacket all day long. So that's [Music] >> you know the smokey [Music] Call to order a meeting on Monday, July 21st, 2025 at 6 p.m. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> Pledge allegiance 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. >> Roll call, please. Jenny, >> Mayor Bogle, >> here. >> Council members Muower >> here. Fers here. Advik here. Robinson here. Uh, thank you, Jenny. Do I have a approval of the agenda? >> I'll make a motion to approve tonight's agenda. >> Motion by Councilman Muower. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Councilman Fonis. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Pull the same sign. Agenda passes on to the consent agenda. Do I have a motion for the consent agenda? >> Make that motion. >> Motion by Councilman Robinson. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Council second by Councilman Udvig. Uh any discussion? Okay. Seeing seeing he's checking up on me. Seeing none. Uh all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Pull the same sign. Consent agenda passes. On to meeting open to the public. Anybody here wish you to speak tonight? come on forward to the podium, please, and just state your name and address for us. >> Uh, yes, my name is Paul Cook. Um, I I I believe there is an item on the agenda, but yes. No, there is. Okay. Uh, I don't know if I need to say anything then or >> I I I I mean it it's going to be coming up here under uh where is it here? >> 9A 9 >> nine n under due business. Okay. I'll allow you I'll allow you to speak then. So, if you want to wait for that, >> be fine then. I don't need to say anything. >> Sounds good. >> All right. >> Come come come forward. State your name and address. >> Ryan Lawrence, 12147 293rd Avenue, Northwest Princeton, Minnesota. I uh have the honor and privilege to serve as your state representative. Just wanted to stop by tonight to uh say hello. Uh see if there's any questions that may arise throughout this evening. Are happy to answer them, but uh just literally wanted to come and sit in and hear a few of the things that are going on in St. Francis at this moment. So >> appreciate it. Thank you. Anybody >> you think? >> Very nice to see you here. >> Absolutely. >> Glad to be here. >> Appreciate that and I appreciate all the work you're doing for us on the Highway 47 project too. >> Well, we didn't get as far as we wanted, but uh we're going to continue to work down that walk down that path. So >> looking forward to continue working with you on that. So >> me as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? Okay, seeing none, on to the public hearing for the capital improvement plan. Darcy, >> mayor and council, before you tonight is the capital improvement plan for 26 to 2026 to 2030. Once a year, we have to uh update this plan. Um and then you guys have to have a hearing on it and sub subsequently adopt this plan and then it will be used in the budgeting purposes. Um you do have to uh adopt it by August 15th per the charter. The plan covers capital equipment, building, street, parks, and then the enterprise funds. The capital equipment fund includes all equipment for admin, police, fire, and public works. That fund has a levy for 2026 scheduled of $410,000 and transfers of $40,000 which is split evenly between water and sewer because we have some joint equipment that the public works uses. The building fund covers the large maintenance costs on the police public works building and then this building as we move forward, say a roof or whatever would need to be replaced at some point. Um, and that has 50,000 going into it. The street fund, which we set up several years ago, covers all the street improvements and um the but not the water and sewer. Those are covered by the enterprise funds. That has a levy this year in 26 proposed at $720,000. We've been able to cash flow all of our street improvements. we haven't had to sell a bond. Um, and finally, the park fund has a levy next year of $250,000 for all the park improvements. So, I would ask the mayor to open the public hearing and then we can allow public comment and then afterwards I can answer questions. >> Okay. Just do I have to just make something formal on it? open the meeting for public discussion for the capital improvement project. Opening the meeting here at 6:05 p.m. Discussion. Anybody come forward? State your name, address. Tina Carol 23045 Ambassador Boulevard. Um, with these capital funding, these levies that you're talking about, are they new levies that we're going to be voting on this fall? >> No, all of these have Danny in place. Um, they are going up. There's when we set this up, they each had a, you know, an increment that they would go up to fund our improvements. So like the um what is I think it's like 50,000 it's going up a year for the capital equipment. Um I'd have to look at the form and then um I think the streaks goes up 120 a year. >> So that's already figured into our taxes. >> Yes. At a lower amount for 25 there is an increase but yes. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> I think the levies you're thinking about you vote on too are typically with the school and when the taxes go up here at the city it's it's always called a levy. So there's some levies you vote on, some you don't. >> So >> So we're not allowed to vote on city levies. >> It's just most of the time most of the time you don't unless it's referendum. So >> okay. I'm just not sure how that works. So thank you. >> Anybody else? How about council? Anybody for Darcy? >> I would. Yep. >> Sorry. I'd ask you to close the public hearing if there's no more public input and then we can just >> Sounds good. Thanks for closing the public hearing at 6:06 p.m. >> Uh, Councilman, >> I have nothing at the moment. >> Amy, >> um, do we do we vote on this tonight or do we talk more about this session as well? Um, we normally would approve it right after the hearing, but it's up to you guys to decide when you want to approve it. I mean, you just have to have it approved before August 15th. >> Oh, okay. >> And I'll just add to that, it it would be by motion. If council wants to continue to discuss, we can continue and do that. But if council wants to approve, it would be by motion. >> Okay. Thanks, Dave. >> Anything else? Amy, >> I don't Kevin. I don't think so. >> Nor do I, you know, I only had one real question for Darcy and I understand it better. This is this is done for the year. It's not like we build a savings account to do roofs up over the years. It's what we set aside each year for capital improvements in the budget. So, I I'm I didn't see anything that needs further holding on. So, I'm prepared to make a motion. I don't know if anybody How does everybody else feel about it? >> Almost a motion. >> Okay. Motion by Councilman Udvig. Do I have a second? I'll second that one. Uh all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose the same sign. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes. >> Um I just wanted to throw it out there too for people uh if they wanted to look at it. If you go to the packet, there is a link in the item >> that you can click and uh view the >> capital improvement plan where it shows >> all that stuff. >> Mine wasn't working right now, but Amy's is. So it's it's all right. Thanks for point thanks for pointing that out, Joe. >> Yep. >> Okay. On to uh old business. These are second readings on both of these. So on zoning code amendment, accessory structure size, second reading, ordinance 347, modifying section 106804, accessory structure in the city code resolution 202534, authorizing the summary publication of ordinance 347. Do I have a motion on that one? >> Make a motion there. Motion by Councilman Robinson. Do I have a second? I'll second that one. Uh, roll call, please. Jenny. >> Mayor Bogle. >> I. >> Council members Robinson. >> Hi. >> Edveig. >> Hi. >> Fis. >> Hi. >> Neil Bower. >> I. >> That's passed on to the storm water pollution prevention plan for I'm sorry. >> And we've got a >> resolution. >> Resolution. Sorry about that. And that's just we don't need roll call on that one. Correct. >> That's just by motion. >> So I got a resolution 202534 authorizing the summary publication of ordinance 347. Do I have a motion for that? >> Make a motion again. Mayor >> Motion by Councilman Robinson. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Councilman Odvig. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Pull the same sign. >> Resolution pass. On to the storm water pollution prevention plan for large cities, excuse me, large sites code amendment. Second reading, Ordinance 348, amending the zoning code to modify the off-site treatments from structural BMP standards for the storm water pollution prevention plan for large sites. Do I have a motion for that? >> I'll make that motion, Mr. Mayor. >> Motion by Councilman Muower. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Council second by Councilman Odvig. Uh, roll call, please. >> Mayor Vogle, >> I. Council members Melbour >> I >> Fes. >> Hi >> Advik. >> Hi. >> Robinson. >> Hi. >> Ordinance passes. On to the resolution 202535 authorizing summary publication of ordinance 348. Do I have a resolution? Uh motion for that. >> I'll make the motion to approve. Mr. Mayor. >> Motion by Councilman Muar. Do I have a second? >> A second. >> Second by Councilman Fondness. All those in fa favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose the same sign. Resolution passes on to new business code enforcement extension request that you so mayor and council before you tonight is a code extension. Uh as you know the city code allows staff up to a certain point uh to allow these extensions or to work with the the general public on their on their properties. Uh and then once it hits a point it does need to go to council for a further extension or extension greater than 30 days. So, this property, you could see in the history, has been before you before. Um, they are making progress, but there are still items that that need to be addressed. Um, the individual is here tonight with us, so there's definitely room for questions if you would like to ask him any questions. Uh, what is being asked is an extension request to the September 15th deadline. Um, and then at that time, it would fall back into code enforcement. I'm happy to answer any questions. We got questions for Kate on this one. >> I have one question mayor. Kate, did we is it when I remember when the couple first came to us, was that an extension also or did that with the beginning of an inquiry of that was the first time penalties or discussion about the >> correct mayor and council. So when when we reached out to this property, they came in fairly quickly. >> Um so this is this is an a second extension, but they have been working with us the full time. Okay. And I know our building staff and community development specialists have been out there doing midpoint inspections all along as well. So we have been involved. They've been working with us this whole time. >> Is September reasonable and is it attainable to give them till September? >> Mayor Council, I think it's reasonable. Um whether it's attainable, I I guess I would question back to the the property. Um, it does allow the city that opportunity before it's too late in the winter to go in if it's not completed and get that inventory and figure out the next steps towards any type of abatement. However, an abatement probably wouldn't happen till the spring with our win unless we had a really light winter. So, September is a good set point because then it would take the winter to do the process to get to a potential abatement or cleanup. So, >> I know Mr. Cook is here. Is um can you come up answer a question for us please? Thank you. >> Is that September workable for you? What do you think you could uh I know you're trying to get permission that's other people's stuff on your property and you're trying to >> right >> rest you know get that wrangled up there. Is that September doable or think another extension will be needed in September? Um there are factors that have changed uh since we put in the request for September 15th. Namely, the uh tenant is currently in the workhouse. He won't be out of the workhouse until the end of September. So, it it's it's not practical for him to be getting some of his property off of the property uh by September 15th. So, you know, that that probably realistically would be pushing it into October. Um we were trying to actually find a new tenant and get rid of this guy, but those plans fell through as well. the stuff that you're trying to get rid of is his property or titled are they titled items and stuff and you don't have permission to move them or >> I don't understand renter landlord stuff but >> uh some some of it are vehicles uh some of it are uh boats um that that would be titled um some of it are you know utility trailers apparently we're we're only allowed to have uh three either boats or utility trailers or uh well recreational vehicles. There aren't any recreational vehicles, but we're only allowed to have three on the property. And if you count all the small utility trailers that are around, you know, we've got six or seven, so you know, we have to get rid of some of them. >> Is the home occupied now? Is anybody on site living here dayto-day? >> Yes. Yeah. the um the the primary tenant is in the workhouse, but his girlfriend is still there and couple other people. >> There's somebody there. There's some presence there and some maybe semi-security there as far as not more stuff's coming and going anyway. >> Right. No, there's there isn't uh more stuff coming and going. We've uh uh we've gotten rid of a lot of stuff. >> Sure. Yeah. No, I've been by there. It's cleaned up quite a bit. >> Yeah. Um, so and there there a couple of items that uh my son um you know has has plans to actually get rid of them. He is he's no longer in prison. He's in the workhouse himself and uh so he's taking those that bull by the horns sort of. Um, >> I guess hearing the September is not even feasible. It doesn't sound feasible now. What actions do we take here? >> I mean, we're going we're going to be talking about this again in September. Why wait till September to talk about what's really in front of us here? I don't know where to take it from here, but >> I'm not sure. >> I'm not I'm not taking I'm just broadening our discussion. >> Yep. >> points. Better now than never. Mayor and council, council has discretion on this. If we if council wants to push that out a little bit farther, you can certainly make that in the motion and give us a date if it's October 15th. Um, but at some point, you know, I I think that staff would be coming back to you and if we needed to go through the process, we could certainly go through the process, but there's there there is a little bit of flexibility per council's discretion on that. keep >> and and councils have in the past worked with property owners to to get the job done um in a time frame that works. >> So, last thing I want to do is push this out, but I'm going to ask I'm going to just ask a general question. If we said November 1st, because here here's here's where here's where I'm at. I was talking with Kate before prior to the meeting about this. Uh, I know you're making progress and I appreciate your responsiveness and all this. So, that's that's good. But it just it reaches a certain point where we got a lot of city staff at time and effort being extended and I don't want to extend it out a whole lot further. So, okay, >> I I'm I'm willing to live with something like November 1st if the rest of the council is in agreement, but I'm just saying that would be that would be last that would be it for me. I wouldn't be granted any extensions at that point. So, >> that's that's fine with me. that that's entirely reasonable. And uh yeah, >> one more question. Mayor, >> go ahead. >> When when with that with that timeline acceptable, the individual who you need assistance that has his property there, do you think that'll work? If if he his attendance is in place at the end of September and you have the entire month of October, can that stuff all get done? And is he willing to cooperate? >> Um, >> that you know of him. >> I thought he was willing to cooperate up until the last day that he didn't cooperate in this this previous inspection. So, you know, and and in all fairness to him, he's, you know, I would give him a a grade of 80%. He did well, B+. But there were several items that you know were total failures and you know just haven't really had a a a conversation with him about why but you know I mean at some point I don't care you know we will just have it hauled off. >> That's that was my next question. So if we give you that opportunity and he's back in attendance in amongst the population >> and he's still obstinate about helping out, do you have the wherewithal and the responsibility and the means to get that stuff? >> Sure. >> Finish the job. >> And do you have the legal ability to do so? >> That's what I meant. >> My other question too is I mean that's >> so um I have a few things but that's what I was kind of wondering is are you legally able to I know there's and there I don't know per se I'm going to paraphrase and I'm probably wrong. Um, but I know after you evict somebody, you have to hang on their stuff for a certain number of days. I like 60 or 90 days. But if they're not evicted, then I don't know how that works. And there's a lot of other things that are factored into it. Um, one, I don't necessarily disagree with Mayor Vogle, but if you don't have the legal ability to do so, I'm kind of at a crossroads there. And I did also want to thank you for working with staff and coming forward. Um, we often deal with people who aren't very cooperative and that makes everything harder. And I don't think there's much much else that we dislike more than abatement situation, things like that. So, I do appreciate your good faith effort and everything. Um, but I'm kind of curious about that as far as legalities of his ability to do what he needs to do to comply in that rental situation. Uh, mayor and council, I would say that that is a private issue between them and then the city's issue is separate. And that's how that works. >> I'd hate to penalize somebody for putting the good faith effort forward. Although it's kind of I mean it's it's a it's a rock and a hard place for me in this. >> For clarification, I don't want to penalize. That's that's not my goal. My goal is but I want to start recovering. I want to start recovering costs if we're going to spend more city resources on it. That's that's what I'm talking about. >> I don't disagree with that. I mean that's that's where I was curious. I just wonder what position you're actually in or your ability. I mean having to hold off's one thing I guess then you'd have to deal with the private party as far as legalities if they felt they were wrong I suppose but >> okay >> mayor so that that that's a fair statement >> okay >> so I would I would agree with you as far as November 1st I think is >> is doable >> you have to have a resolution on it >> um it would be a motion to approve the extension request request for the code compliance until November 1st of 2025. >> And I will make that motion, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Councilman Muar. Do I have a second? >> I'll second, Mayor. >> Second by Councilman Robinson. All those in favor signify saying I. >> I. I. >> All the same sign. >> November 1st, sir. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Good luck. God speed. >> This point, we've got the uh meeting open to the public again. If somebody would like to come forward, just state your name and address. Anybody? >> Seeing nobody, we're on to reports. Todd, >> mayor, councel, before you is a second quarter report for the police department. And this report gives you an overview of the police department activity during the second quarter of this year. Uh, it's been an active spring and early summer with about a 6% increase in generated incidents over the first quarter of this year and approximately a 21% increase over this time last year. And this includes group A offenses, group B offenses, and traffic stops. Um and we had a total of 265 incidents during the quarter. Uh officers performed 785 traffic stops during the quarter and issued 227 citations and most of those were traffic related. Officers also participated in numerous TCD events during the quarter. Uh they focused on seat belt, speed, and impaired driving enforcement. Uh and just yet another reminder uh that all of the TCD hours worked by all of our officers during these initiatives are fully reimbured through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Um and the TCD initiative officers and staff were very active with various types of trainings during the second quarter completing 148 hours of training uh in many areas and I'll I'll list most of them here uh including use of force firearm cert qualification first aid CPR emergency medical responder SFST or standardized field sobriety test training munitions instructor uh crisis response conflict management autism and cultural diversity university. Those are the main ones. Uh we did have two officers also that completed a multi-day training to become uh department field training officers as well. So that'll be a good additions. Hopefully we won't need them anytime soon. Uh and as always, the quarter was busy with efforts to connect with the community uh including events such as the fifth annual citizens academy, the 9th annual bike rodeo, and our dog clinic in May. Uh we have a lot more events to go throughout the remainder of the year including of course national night out in August uh calling with a cop in August and our drug takeback day in October and of course Santa at the end of the year in December. So that's an overview of the police department activity for the quarter and I can answer any questions if there are any. >> Thank you Todd Kevin. >> Um any uh very good report by the way always enjoy reading it. Have you guys not done the Friday uh updates? you used to do some Facebook posting lately. I haven't seen that as of late. I think it's beneficial. >> Yeah. So, the way that works, I usually take a lot of the information that we generate for the offe memos. And we'll revise a little bit for for the public um >> me being gone the last period. I was on vacation for a couple of days. That didn't get put out. Um but I do anticipate that'll be put out um this coming from it. So, yes, we are still doing it. There's just been a little lapse there. So, >> that's all right. Well, you certainly want some personal time off for crying on those. Um, no, I think it the public. Um, also, can you answer anything to the the 6% increase over last year or any any of the percentages going up to account for anything? >> I think the 6% increase just over the first quarter this year just comes with, you know, summer, spring, and things like that. The 21% increase over last year. Um, you know, without looking at every single field, I I don't have a perfect answer for that. I know in the spring uh we did our house checks and business checks really picked up. We had a lot of requests to to do them checks daily. Um so we do generate case numbers for that activity. So that could be part of it. Um I know our traffic enforcement numbers also went up, our traffic stop numbers and things like that. So that contribute to it as well, but there's several different fields that probably incre contributed that increase over last year at 21%. >> Okay. And still again, 700 stops and 200 citations. Education rather than enforce, you know, education rather instruction rather than Oh, what am I trying to say? Education over enforcement. Anyway, that's that's uh education over over Oh, I'm losing it. Anyway, very good report. I appreciate it. >> Yeah, >> yes, a good report. Um, it's as always your officers do a great job just being out in public and engaging. That's my favorite thing to see is that they're not just riding around in their cars. They get out when they see people, they talk to them. I I just I can't stress how how important that is and how that builds such a great community for continuing to do that. >> Thanks, sir. Amy, >> I don't have anything. >> Joel, I just thank you for everything you've done. I haven't had the pleasure to be at a lot of the events that we usually try to get to. Um, but it looks like a lot of them have been successful. So, I do appreciate that. Um, continue to do what you do and send our appreciation to staff. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> And I just uh good report also. Uh, and I just I'm going to ask you one thing though as we build this K9 program, whatever else. I I'm just I want to make sure I think St. Francis is building and I'm going be addressing the same thing with Chief Schmidt here, but uh I think we're building something really good here. I think we've got a really good fire department and police department. And what what I'm concerned about is I don't want other cities to sit back a little bit and rely on us for mutual aid type of situations. and and so I know we've got a mutual aid reporting factor with there, but what what I'm what I'm just saying is going forward at the end of the year or whatever else it's I'm gonna want to see how many mutual a calls we want on especially like with K9. We got a specialized K9 program. How many people are going to be using our dog and is it become a point where we're subsidizing other cities using our dog? So I I guess I guess all I'm asking is that we have a tracking in place for those mutual aid situations where we know how many manh hours were spent and where they went out. >> And I think we can track that in a similar way we track our UAV deployments. We do uh track every single deployment whether it's training or an assist to another agency or just our own city. Um and we can have a spreadsheet and and track the canine activity the same way. So it shouldn't be an issue. >> Thank you. >> Just a clarification on that too, Mr. Mayor. Then are we going to track how much help we get from others as well? >> Oh, I think I I think that's fair to say. Yes. >> And then do we want it separate by each city or who helps and who does that matter? I mean, is it I'm just curious. >> Well, I know the I know in the fire report we'll be seeing it says what city it was. I don't know how the >> probably mostly sheriff I'm sure with >> large percentage of that is going to be the sheriff's office >> and vice versa. Goes both ways. We're surrounded by the sheriff's office. So, they are the ones that we would most likely be deploying our K9 or UAV to to go assist and the same with them. So, >> and don't make don't just don't dis misunderstand me. I'm not against mutual aid. I I am. I just don't want to see another city having just the facade of a police or fire department and relying on us to come to all their calls at our taxpayers. >> And there's mutual aid requirements that we have to meet to and we've discussed this. Um, so all the officers are aware of the requirements when they leave our city. Um, and what when they should be leaving our city and our handlers are going to be no difference. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> And I I've had a few individuals always question me about when we're giving mutual aid and we're, you know, we're paying for other city services and it's like we do help too. So that's why I say you want to be fair and look at that ratio. >> Fair statement. I agree. Uh, anybody anybody other questions for police? Thank you, Todd. Uh Dave, >> mayor and council for review is the monthly report for the month of June for the fire department. For the month of June, we had to 85 total incidents with a 4 minute and 56 second average in route time and a 9 minute and 10 second a average onseene time. The graph below is how we categorize our calls post incident and the bottom graph is the distribution between station, all call, duty officer, etc. followed by the second page the the dispatcher coding um is that graph on that page and again the distribution between fire and EMS and the graph we are much like the police department experiencing a 132 13.28% increase on run volume year-over-year and we average 2.83 83 calls for service during the month per day. Uh our incident count by hour are uh 3 3:00 hour was the busiest hour of the day for the month of June and Tuesdays were our busiest day of the week for the month of June. Um average firefighters responding by day. Tuesday or Mondays was our busiest day. We had 6.9 uh firefighters responding on average on Mondays. And the most amount of firefighters returning for calls again remains that four to five o'clock hour when people are coming work and before they're even starting up. We had 32 fire incidents on the month, 53 EMS incidents, and our average onseene time per call for the month was 23 minutes and 29 seconds, which is down pretty significantly from the previous month. We did report $500 in loss from fire on the month. That was uh it was in the off-week memo a few weeks ago. There were some golfers on the golf course that noticed a small fire at deck. um initiated 911 and actually assisted in extinguishing the fire. So, uh sometimes timing works out really well for us. Uh we did give four mutual aids on the month. We received zero mutual aids on the month. Three of those were to now then one was to East Bethl. And with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Just going to start by continuing the conversation. So when you when you should have the mutual aid stuff, is there a way of breaking that down to number of men men and number of hours man hours spent? >> Yes, we'd have to pull each one of those calls out individually and run a report. Um, so the way that it's set up right now, I can tell you time that we're on scene. I can tell you I can show you a heat map of where we actually responded to within those cities. I can show you call types, but the aggregate number of firefighters responding, I would have to go another layer deep and probably pull those out individually. I get you an average, but for each call, I'd have to go in individually and mark those. >> So, yeah, I'm just again going forward. I don't know if there's a way to mark it because I'm just looking at end of the year. I'd like to see that. I'm not asking for it now or anything like that, but I I'd like to see the breakdown. >> And I could pull any timeline. So, if you even want to see quarterly updates to track it, I could show you the the amount of times we've been to different cities and the amount of times that they've been to us. So, much like our graph that says where we're going when we receive mutual aid, we also see where it's coming from. So, we get to see that both ways. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Thanks for the report, too. Um Joel, >> I don't have any questions. Um again, thank you for your service and pass it on to the staff. >> Thank you, sir. Amy, >> I don't have anything. >> Sir, >> I haven't either. Just about >> De, >> on that same note for mutual aid, um we also didn't we in the last month or so, we got invited to with Oakrove to uh take a part in a structure fire practice on their turf. >> Correct. And we're also doing another joint training with Oakrove on specifically our steep banks along the river. So kind of we'll call it low angle rescue training. >> Nice. Um, so we do do joint training opportunities, not as much as we used to. Um, but we're also going to do another joint training burn with now then this fall. So, >> well, just the fact that there's some the >> Oh, absolutely. >> invitations on both sides. So, >> the specialized training gets quite expensive and to try and do it on your own can be >> cost prohibitive. >> That's cool. That's very good. That's all I have. Thank you. >> You're welcome, sir. >> Thank you, Dave. You're welcome. Anybody nothing else on there on to uh councilman council member reports. Uh Amy >> um I don't have a lot to add. The um I went to the EDA meeting. Is that last week? Blends together. Um, I thought we had a really good discussion um at the end of the meeting about um um tiffs and and um lots of different topics as as it pertains to um well, we were talking about the property behind subway. I thought it was a really good um candid conversation. You can go back and watch it or um you know see it in the minutes. I thought that was really good like um just brainstorming different things and I thought that was good. That's all I have to add. Thank Thank you, sir. >> Um I went to the farmers market on Wednesday. It's been quite a couple weeks. Um it's it's good to see it was kind of kind of finishing up raining, so there wasn't a whole lot there this this week either, but I I think in the next couple weeks we're going to see our vendors expanding. So, I'm excited to continue grow. >> Thanks, sir. Deon, >> I went to the uh St. Princess Hardware Rembrand open house so to speak and it was it was well attended. Um whenever you offer some free food and root beer it's uh you get some people but I stopped in the other day to make a purchase at the hardware and Tim seemed kind of upbeat. He said there was more positive than negative out of there and some of the ideas that I saw posted on Facebook after Michelle did the compilation of stuff was very interesting as as well. But uh in the long term Tim seemed pretty upbeat. Rich, at the day of the open house, Rich, I spent just a couple minutes talking with him. He didn't seem as positive. He said the state seemed pretty heavy-handed and pretty steadfast in what they didn't want to see happen there and what we couldn't what they couldn't do there. But, uh, again, talking to Tim on Saturday, it was um he's got more of an open mind and and felt it was more positive vibe anyway. So there's there's hope out there and there's uh like Kate said, it's going to take some money, a lot of money, but I mean with the right people to come come aboard, um something could happen here. I also attended the Bethl JPA fire meeting that's getting closer by the week, which is really good. Everything seems there not much for wrinkles and uh we're again set setting the template for future advancement for other cities to maybe come join us or make the the district bigger and save cities money. That's the bottom line and service and improve service overall which is that's the bottom line not the money part Improvement in service is the bottom line. also attended the uh PNZ meeting. Um it was interesting to see some new new people there, some local residents that are in that area. We're talking about the 125 acres north of town. Uh they were a little concerned that 300 living units coming in D. Well, we all seem to forget and as myself included being less on this has been going on for two years plus. So it was a dormant project and all now people are got pitchforks and torches kind of but it's like this is nothing new folks we it's just been quiet and the economy has been quiet so there's kind of a re-education for I think on both sides of the table in the audience as well as here so um it's something positive there's some new homes that could be built some living living spaces and the people in the audience were concerned about DNR involvement and uh their own involvement as far as it was going to impede on high turf and what's you know what's going to take place 300 living units would be a good thing uh for the city sewer and water fund as well. So uh but again just the fact that it really hit home that it was a project that was talked about two years ago. There was some reming and discussion and again the people that live nearby but again it never died. It just it got just was in sleeping mode and uh now it has some promise again. So things change, the neighborhoods change, environment changes. Um that's what cities do. If if you don't do that, then you fall behind. You can't afford some of the things that you need to to as you know, wages increase and expenses increase. So it's an important thing. Uh also popped in on recycle day and talked to Paul a little bit here this afternoon when I came in and kind of a quiet turnout for recycle day and gloomy weather, but uh maybe spring and fall is better overall. It seems to be a lot of hustle and bustle then. So, um, that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thanks, Kevin. Joel, >> I attended the EDA meeting as well. Um, and other than that, I was kind of working with Parish as far as, uh, working with the salt situation and doing some testing with him. Um, I have an older softener at home, so, uh, he took some readings of what I had and then adding salt and setting it to different settings and whatnot and testing it. So, the goal with that is to lower the salt going to the plant. um something the state is looking at and um hopefully we can get that information out to the people and the people are going to be accepting of it or you know we don't have that I'll use what I want attitude. Um the reason being is if we don't lower our salt going to the plant um the other options are not great and can be very costly. So um obviously we need people's participation when it comes to that. There's I'm sure there's going to be more information coming forward here um over time. So, please pay attention to that and hopefully uh we can all work together to save us all some money. >> Thanks, Joel. Uh I also attended the Rum River event. I can't thank them enough for putting events like that on. I It's fantastic. I just if nothing else it was just really nice community and I know I know ideas and enthusiasm were shared there as well for it and we'll we'll see where it goes. They're maybe talking about doing another one so we'll see. Uh attended sat in on the chamber of commerce on the 16th and sat in their meeting up here and very very uh very impressed by the amount of ideas. That's a very creative group that's got a lot of great brainstorming and it's primarily focused on Pioneer Days, but they've got a lot a lot of other things going as well. And there's just a lot of very good brainstormers in the crowd. So, it was it was a good meeting. I enjoyed that. St. Francis uh fire and Bethl Fire attended with Kevin as well. And long story short is this next meeting we're hoping that the JPA is written that we have an enough in it, then we can hand it to legal to have legal review it and then obviously it's going to come back here at some point in time. But hopefully after the next meeting we can pass it off to legal and get their weigh in on it. So we'll we'll see how that goes. The biggest biggest discussion item now isn't really so much the working agreement between St. Francis and Bethl. It's just the agreement written for other fire departments that want to join us. That's really what been the focus of our meetings the last couple of them. expandable. >> Expandable. Correct. Uh I watched the EDA meeting and I totally agree with Amy and it was I thought it was a very very good discussion. Um I just want to preface I I I feel like I have to address some of the things that were said there and I I do think it was a very good discussion and I'm glad for it and I do encourage people to watch it. Um, I want to just start by saying I am not anti-development. If development wants to come to this city, I'm all for it. If we can remove red tape, if we can help you with zoning and code issues to get you in here, I welcome you with open arms. My struggle is simply when they come and look for taxpayer handouts. That's the bridge too far for me. And I I stumbled on I stumbled on a really good post and I actually want to read it because it just kind of summarizes how I how I feel about it's it's a it's from a Jeff Seagler a revitalizer die. Let's cut to it. Bigger is not better. It's just bigger and chasing growth for growth's sake. That's not a strategy. That's a sugar rush in policy form. Quit quick hit long crash. Recently, while working in a community, someone someone asked the golden question. Should cities focus on growing their populations, jobs, and development? Absolutely not. That's the most common, most misguided approach in the playbook. It sounds bold. It sounds visionary, but it's lazy because not all growth is good growth. Think of it like this. If I told you that you personally needed to grow, what would you picture? adding muscle, getting healthier, gaining strength, or just putting on weight. Because if it's just about numbers, you could you could sit on the couch eating eating gas station nachos and drinking Miller Light. You'd grow, but you wouldn't be better. Same goes for our cities. Sprawl isn't strength. More strip malls doesn't build resilience. A dozen new fast food joints doesn't make your town self-reliant. It just makes it easier to get a cheap burger. Growth should be the byproduct of getting better, not the goal itself. If your town becomes more beautiful, more walkable, more connected, more locally focused, guess what? People will notice. They'll visit. Some will stay. That is healthy growth. But it starts with improvement. We've got to stop measuring success in square footage and traffic counts. Start measuring it in dignity, joy, pride, and resilience. Does this new project make your town stronger, more self-sufficient, more livable? Ask that every time because bad growth is easy. Good growth is earned. It's time we stop chasing size and start building substance. Better beats bigger every single time. I I couldn't I couldn't put it any better. And and I just feel that going forward here, we're gonna be working on the St. Francis forward plan over the next couple years. And I I I I it's just my belief that's that should be our focus. Good growth, not just growth for numbers, just not more people or more traffic counts. It's what are we really trying to accomplish here. So, I really think we need to look at that and I'm looking forward to the discussions like the EDA had. I think that was a great starting discussion and I I'm looking forward to those discussions as we move forward. So, just wanted to put that out there. >> I don't disagree with that article, but I think we see it two different ways. >> Who was that author, Mary? May >> the offer was a Jeff Seagler. I could give you more information on that. That's the a that's the author of it. >> He's got he's got a lot of other material out there as well. And lastly, I just want to end up with National Night Out. I know the city has on August 5th from 5:00 to 7 pm. I know I want to attend cake. Do we want to start like a signup sheet for a couple hours for each person kind of a thing? >> I usually just post it >> and then by posting everybody can be there whenever. >> Okay. So, >> so we will we will post it so all of you can attend. >> Okay, perfect. >> If you would like to stand with one of the departments or interact with departments, you're more than welcome. A lot of times council's wandering just meeting agreed. >> Okay. So I I I don't I don't I plan on attending soon. Sarah, Kevin, Amy, I don't know if you're going to be around, but if you are, I'm guessing you'll be there. So >> if I'm here, I will. >> Okay. Uh any anything else? Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Make that motion, Mr. Mayor. >> Councilman Muower. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Oberig. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I pull the same sign.