Maybe she's got her Christmas. [laughter] >> Well, would you believe this is just what I was wearing? [laughter] It really was actually. >> Then I was going to change. I'm like, why? >> I don't have any such leg. >> It's Christmas. >> Yeah, there you go. That's right. >> Hi, Joe. Hello. Mayor, so this is Travis attorney for tonight. >> Thanks for stepping in tonight. Of >> course. [laughter] We'll see how helpful. Like I told Dave, if I like I told Dave, if I start going, don't never hesitate to Sounds good. Yeah. I did. No, I >> There was only one other There was just Pastor Derek and his wife had their kids. We were the last ones. >> Take a long >> There was a long line. Yeah, it was. Good event again. >> That was very nice. >> We got more We got more. >> We got more food this time. That was kind of nice. [laughter] >> And then somebody Tim shows up in his shorts. >> Like really Tim, [laughter] they don't need you getting pneumonia. Yeah. Yeah. [snorts] >> I tried to find him, but he had ran already after >> No, he he Yeah. He came up to me and I said, "Are you crazy?" He said, "You know I am." [laughter] >> Well, it was neat. They introduced Cassie and Right. >> and their kids. >> Yep. >> I love that vintagey Kate though, you step in there, >> walk in the door, your jaw will hit the floor. what they've already done in there. The short time they've been in there. >> Really? >> Yes. >> You haven't stopped in there. You need to stop. >> You have to go in there tomorrow. >> Wait, where are we talking about? >> The hardware store. >> Oh, >> that whole checkout area. >> You will be amazed. I Well, I had to stop there just I went like that. >> What? What's going on? >> And they're open the whole time. >> They are going to stay open the entire time. Yep. You're going to slowly rehab it kind of aisle by aisle by section by section. >> There's a lot of stuff. >> They seem up for the challenge. So, >> but you have to stop there because you will be blown away when you step in the door. >> Slow. >> My computer says I'll be really slow. >> I don't even know what this thing's doing here. >> Yeah. [laughter] Like mine might work. my [clears throat] >> second time to I'm sure I'm sure 90% of it operator really admit >> I'm not very good at computers and I normally don't have any problems with this So I think it is operator error in your case. [laughter] >> Sorry. >> I will I will take that one all day long. >> Earlier than >> that's right. >> The link Call the order of the meeting on Monday, December 15th, 2025 at 6 p.m. Please rise for the pledge. I 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. [clears throat] >> Uh, roll call, please. Jenny, >> Mayor Bogle, >> here. >> Council members Robinson >> here. >> Hudig here. Fis >> here. Mbower >> here. On to approval of the agenda. Do I have a motion to approve tonight's agenda? [sighs] >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Councilman Muau. Do I have a second? >> I'll second, Mr. Mayor. >> Second by Councilman Udvig. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Both the same sign. On to the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to accept tonight's consent agenda? >> Make that motion. Mayor, >> motion by council Robinson. Do I have a second? >> Second. Second by Councilman Muower. Any discussion? Anybody want anything ending poll or any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Pull the same sign. >> On to meeting open to the public. [laughter] >> Little bit uh quieter than last. So this is a this is a a post meeting from your um your meeting la the last time where there is a lot of things said which prompted me to come this evening um on behalf of the parks I am on part of the park commission but sometimes in in talking with people and as you heard at your last meeting too it was like we'll just cut the parks like that's a solution and that I'd heard that from people once in a also and I think um there's a there's a couple things that that need to be said. One is that we that and maybe the community if they're watching this and it can help understand a little bit and hopefully all you council people know too that we on the park commission we follow this park system plan. Yes, it was adopted in on July 18th, 2022, but we still use it to this day. some of the data is a little bit, you know, dated, but yet it's still important. And some of the things um that I just wanted to bring up if you, you know, anyone can Google look up the value of parks. But I wanted you to picture when you think ask what when you think of a park, what do we think of in St. Francis here? Keeping it local. So you just think parks and what just whatever comes to your mind comes to your mind now. And I think of right now in the winter over at the ice rink and in during last winter part of the parks, it's not just something to do in that space comes comes together. People playing broomball, people playing hockey, just pickup games. So, not only are they being active in outside, they're not in front of their screens, young kids, even some older people, they're out interacting with each other benefit. You know, one of the main benefits in an era in our community, in our world where people are trying to be, I'm here, I'm here, I'm right, you're wrong, separate park space brings people together, it closes some of that distance because they're playing together. Okay. So when you So for adults, yep, you play together. And young children, you see this happening on the playground. They'll learn I need to wait in line to get on the playground over um the hockey rink back to um last year and each each year. People with disabilities, we have people in wheelchairs, most people with Down syndrome, they come together with all ages, even old people like me, and we play broomball together. Okay, this is what this space allows. Parks aren't just there's more to them than just on a budget line. This is more this is a sense of community. It's a safe place to go. We know you can look up the data where there are parks. There's less crime. Now, in the city of St. Francis, we're fortunate within uh 10 minutes of walking distance, most people in the city can get to some sort of park space, which is a positive thing. But I also want us to remember in our park system, we are and there's data in in here and that that tells us that we are way on the lower end compared to comparable cities in what we do with parks. We have the school district providing our school activities and any park things. We don't do programming at all. Zero. Okay, which most all cities have some kind of programming with their park system. So we um we're not elaborate at all. Okay. We are like barebone park things. I've been with park commission things for over 20 years in Cambridge, Iani, Oak Grove. So the city of St. Francis is doing very well with a minimal amount. Um so that's that's a that's a point. The other is the community wellness piece. Um so you can look up strengthening heart um strengthening our heart lower blood blood pressure lower um decrease depression anxiety lower ADHD signs improve self-discipline less screen time so these are just things that are pretty general okay there are people they encourage people to control a specific part of our lives we can choose to go for a walk it doesn't cost anything you don't have to join a gym and you you can do it pretty much anytime time of year because the pathways are clear. So, it's it's more than just a budget item. The parks are a deep integral part of the community. Um, take the dog park. If you ever go over there, you hear people, "Oh, I didn't know you were from there. I didn't know you live there." This is this is bringing people together. This is crime prevention. This is community connections. Look at the I was only there a short time at the tree lighting. Yes. Look at that. All the people that came on a cold night. Okay. They get to know they see people. They're less likely to crab at them and complain about them when they know them or have had some kind of interaction. So this is this is part of what the parks do. Um also the farmers market. I think of that when you walk through there in the when that's going on and you hear people, oh, I didn't know you had a business there. Oh. Oh, they're exchanging information. D. Okay. This is these are deeper things that you're not going to see in that you don't see in your budget and that we often don't think of. So, I just want to bring them forward to to to you all. Um let's see the other well the social skills in kids kids engaging with kids of other abilities or differing abilities on a playground. So over at the main city park here you see kids families grandparents they're having a picnic they're playing on the playground. So they learn to interact maybe not in their main social circle at school but outside of that even in their community. So they're learning many things um besides con you know conserving some wild areas improving property values 8 to 20% according to city parks alliance. So you have these benefits that you know we have that our total trail miles are 12 this was from the report average amongst our peers is 47.9. So we are not over the top at all people on what we are doing. Okay, that's uh and according to the report too, the annual budget per capita is the national average is 117 and we're $43. So we are we are not I just want to bring that out into the public and a reminder for all of us. So, um, thank you to all of you for the work you do, listening to us citizens. But this the prevention that the parks can bring is something a city needs to oh, we need to look long term, not just because the grass can't talk and that playground isn't going to talk. So, we need to look at the bigger picture and think of those things as we get to the future. That brings people to St. Francis, when they hear, "Oh, have you been on those trails? You see the kid going around town who's on electric vehicle?" That child would not be out in the fresh air if we didn't have the paved trails for them to ride on. The county helps us a lot definitely with their parks, too. But the cooperation with them is also another really important thing St. Francis has done, and your continuation of doing that is critical. So, thank you for all your work on that if you ever want to see this park system. Mine's getting a little beat up, but it's it's valuable. We look at it in discussion and helping with decision making. So, um thanks to to Paul for leading us and all and the Jen that that help us. So, thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Thank you, Barb. >> Hunter, do you want to break the ice now or later? I was going to wait till >> Okay. All right. [laughter] >> Sounds interesting. >> Moving on to uh old business 2025 code revision second reading. >> Jody. >> Hi, Mayor and Council. This is the second reading of the 2025 code revisions. Um and basically from the first meeting we say staff um identified um the need to um update the code um just general housekeeping things we we came upon but in the first meeting which or the first reading which was on December 1st um it was approved um and basically it's just housekeeping item um front yard setbacks rear yard setbacks um what what a what the definition of a yard is and what a perimeter of a yard is. Um and um the new cannabis um that we had to add the new cannabis ordinance which was for the lower potency hemp edible wholesale and what district it fits in. Um we changed um the term accessory structure to accessory building because it fit better in that section and um and then added you know and updated everything on the use chart. Um uh we also added um or changed revised the landscape alterations which was for the rural and the urban river management district. um there were a there was a setback that didn't match um what we had already had in our in our local code and so we were the plan was to update that and that is in the packet. Um we updated the uh definition of daycare versus child care, what we had what we had intended for that to be which is 500 ft from our childare centers. And then um we also added updated the buildings and um yeah, so it was just general housekeeping. The driveway standards um we had to add a section in 107211 which required a permit because it was in a different section and that wasn't where the residents went to to read about driveways. And so we added that to this. And then um we updated the um section 108209 for securities the financial securities and just um updated it to what we actually are practicing um which is um in the financial security in the form of a letter of credit versus the cash that we required. And so today we are looking at um a motion to approve the second reading of ordinance 352 um for housekeeping amendments for divisions 2456789 of the zoning code and then a motion to approve resolution 2025-61 allowing publication of ordinance 352 by summary. Thank you, Jody. Yeah. >> Any questions for Jody? >> Seeing none, do I have a motion to approve ordinance 352 modifying divisions 2, four, 5, 6, 7, 8, and nine of the zoning of zoning code. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Councilman Dudwick. Do I have a second? >> I'll second it. >> Second by Councilman Fonis. Uh, all those in favor signify by saying, excuse me. Ordinance. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh, roll call please. Jenny. >> Mayor Vogle. >> I. >> Council members Mbower. >> Hi. >> Feess. >> I. Advig. >> I. >> Robinson. >> I. >> On to resolution 2025-61 authorizing summary publication of ordinance 352. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make the motion. Mayor. >> Motion by Councilman Robinson. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Councilman Mulebower. [clears throat] This one can just go to a regular vote. So, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Oppose. same sign. On to new business. Item A, resolution parah SFV pension transfer to the Rum River Fire District. Dave, >> mayor and councel, before you is a resolution to authorize the transfer of the fire department records, assets, and liabilities as it pertains to the PAR SVF volunteer firefighter fund. This is a requirement from PAR to continue uh ownership with the fire district to ensure that we have no loss of service, pension credit, um any of those things as we transfer transfer over to the district January 1st. Um this resolution does not reduce or change firefighter benefits. It does not alter service credit for either active nor deferred members and it does not create any new pension obligations. This is simply a procedural piece that per requires for us to move forward and the fireboard will also have to reciprocate the receiverhip of the pension funds. With that, I can answer answer any questions you guys may have. >> Questions? >> I got nothing. Seems like it's pretty straightforward. It's makes sense. >> Amy, >> uh, just one on this. Um, um, the city used to, I don't know if they still do, um, put in $500 per firefighter. So that that won't be happening anymore. The district will be doing whatever they decide. Correct. Is that correct? Okay. >> And the district intends to continue that elective contribution. >> Okay. >> Anything else? >> Not now, >> sir. >> Kevin, nothing. Sir, I don't have anything as well. So, do I have a motion approving resolution 2025-60 opting to transfer records, assets, and liabilities from the city of St. Francis Fire Department to the Rum River Fire District? >> Make that motion, Mr. Motion by Councilman Muer. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. Mayor >> second by Councilman Robinson. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Oppose the same sign. >> I >> passes 4 to one. On to the fiscal agent agreement with the Rum River Fire District. >> Mayor and council, I will run these next four through. So the first one is with the fiscal agent agreement. There are two pieces. The first is the resolution for to entering into the agreement and signature authority. The second piece of this is the agreement. This is for the approved piece where the city of St. Francis will manage the financial services of the district um and be responsible for aiding them in their budgets, their audits um and then moving forward throughout the year all of their expenses and and assets accounts. And I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Kevin, any questions? I have no questions. Mayor Sarah, >> I didn't have any questions on this. >> I just have one question. So, I just want to make sure I understand the definition of a fiscal agent. You just explained it, but so the so really the district's money will still be in control of the city. Basically, Darcy has the checkbook, so to speak. Mayor Council, yes. However, all of her direction for payments and authorization will come from the district and from Chief Schmidt. So, she will be overseeing the bills that are paid the account have access to all of those accounts. But she is as she is the employee of council now. She will be an employee through contract of the fireboard with them if that makes. >> Okay. >> Um and then the St. Francis being the fiscal agent. I know it said in here, but can you go over how long that will be? Um, we'll be the fiscal agent. I think just for two years, I think it said or or did I not see that correctly? >> No, Mayor Council, I believe we set it for a initial five-year term and then an automatic renewal with five-year terms. So, um, the district would need to let us know and give us that heads up because we would want to be responsible with them for the final audit, but it is for an initial five years. >> I think we talked about this once before. And um, so it that part cannot be changed without council approval and bethl probably >> correct. So this well so Bethl doesn't have any um say in this agreement but in in order to change the terms of the fiscal agent agreement it would have to go through city council on behalf of the city's actions and then also the district board would have to be in approval as well. Okay. Thank you, >> Joel. Just for clarification, the the financial the biggest financial piece that the city gives the budget every year, >> correct? >> When we issue the money to the district, >> that's all I have. >> I I don't have anything on the So, we'll have a motion to approve resolution 2025-62 entering into a fiscal agent agreement with the Rum River Fire District and granting signatory and authority. I'll make that motion, Mr. Mayor. >> Motion by Councilman Uber. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Councilman [clears throat] Melbower. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Oppose the same sign. >> On to the shared space user agreement with the Rum River Fire District. Kate, >> mayor and council. So, same actions. First, we have the resolution with the approvals and then we also have the agreement for the shared space. This is the agreement in regards to who is responsible for what the use of our premise. Um being that the city is the owner of the building and we can't split the building or give them somehow separate access. Um this is the the document that would set those terms in regards to how any future repairs are made, who's responsible for what actions within the building, and then the indemnifications and insurance that protect the city. So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions. Um Sarah, >> I don't hear any questions. >> Kevin, >> no questions. Mayor Amy, >> um may maybe this is in the next section, but um on page 107, it says that the terms for the rental agreement in for lack of better words. Um it says that the term is 99 years, correct? Can you explain that? [laughter] Actually, I may have Travis help with this one. Um, so that we still have the ability to terminate. So it's an initial 99 years, but if we were to if they were to move out, we would do the same steps and go through the process of ending this agreement and council would then be in a vote and the board would be in a vote. And I don't know if you want to add to that, Travis. >> That's essentially correct. Um, the term of 99 years, that's a it's kind of a holdover. It's an anacronistic contracting principle to just for the sake of having a term, we'll put since we can't put an indefinite term, lawyers will use a term that on its face maybe looks a little extreme at 99 years, but it's just meant to signify the intent that the agreement will continue to exist in perpetuity. The controlling mechanism would be, you know, the joint powers agreement or other relationships rather than this document itself. So, >> okay. And then, sorry, I might be jumping around. I think on page 101 it says that we can we either party can terminate the contract with notice and things. So where in this document does it say that if we choose to terminate it or they choose to terminate it, what happens to the assets, the equipment in particular, where does it say in here that we get the equipment back? I I didn't see that and maybe that's not the case. >> Yeah, mayor and council. So that was addressed in the joint joint powers agreement where we discussed the splitting of access um of those assets and then in the JPA we have the five-year divorce clause. So at that point we would be breaking all of that apart at the point in which that initial clause would be enacted. >> Sorry. >> Okay. Um that seems a little black holeish to me to be honest. Um because in sorry I'm jumping ahead but in looking at the um the assets that we are essentially donating to a third party a to a contractor um that's pretty scary. That's a pretty big list. And I noticed that there wasn't any estimated value on anything on that list. And um the the bottom part of the list was the fire the equipment, the fire trucks. I mean, I know how much those cost. That's a lot. I mean, if you look at the whole list, I'm I'm not good at estimating, but that's at least $3 million worth of ass city assets that the taxpayers paid for. And my concern is we're giving them to a a a subcontractor, a third party, uh, with no way to get them back if things go arai. That's that that makes me nervous. >> Yep. And I'll refer over to to Chief Schmidt in regards to the JPA language. >> So if there was ever a dissolution of the district and we have there is some case law on this in regards to Centennial Fire District a few years ago when Linal Lakes peeled off, right? We're not burdening ourselves with the cost to receive the equipment. Therefore, we're not going to burn the cost with the municipality to reacquire the equipment. And that's the way that it's kind of been structured out through our joint powers agree. The ownership piece becomes a necessary mechanism because it pulls the liability and insurance responsibilities off the city and places it with the district where it's most appropriate. The taxpayers are still going to bear the fruit of their purchases for supporting and facilitating and operating fire department. the equipment's not going anywhere. It's not leaving either city. It's still going to be used for the intended use at the time that the taxpayer is. So, it's more of that legal aspect of we become the owner and operator. We also assume all the liability, all of the maintenance, all of everything that comes with it. So, that ownership piece makes that a little bit more seamless as well. But there's nothing in our joint powers agreement that would say it's ours and if we dissolve, we're taking it with us. I don't know what we would do with it. Right? So that all of that would be in a reverse fashion back to the city if there is ever a dissolution from either city or as this grows into multiple cities. That's where you would work with the attorneys and parse out that the equipment components of it. >> Well, I think I'd add to that too though. I mean, it's not quite a true subcontractor. It's not like it's a third party subcontractor that doesn't I mean, there's two people from St. Francis. There's two people from Bethl. So, it's not like it's out of it's a contractor that's out of our purview. I mean, it's it's it's being it's being basically ran by combination of both cities. So, it's not like we're going to say, "Oh, we're going to pull the whole fire district out. We're going to move it to Rapids or whatever." You know what I'm saying? So, >> I get it. >> Yeah. If we don't build a stadium, we're gonna move. >> No stadiums. No. Uh, you got anything else? Um, [snorts] I don't think on this. >> Okay, Joe, >> I called staff earlier and talked to Kate about some of the stuff too and some of the similar things that Amy brought up. Um, I was just wondering where it was in the agreement. She mentioned the JPA, so that makes sense. Um, not that I think that, you know, obviously you just want it in the contract if it's there. Um, and then the other thing that I was curious about and I think it's covered in there too with the uh other situation that we have with somebody staying overnight. so to speak, if all that stuff's covered too in there. And there is some language in here that appears to cover that. Um, and there is also language in there that if it needs to be added, that can be done by the attorney's approval. So, um, I don't have any further questions. >> Um, >> I looked for the language about sleeping in there and for other purposes besides the reason that we have sleeping quarters there. Um, I I didn't find it. Is it on page where you >> got to find it? Article two has some language that kind ofes it. >> I wrote down one page 110. Subleting. Is it in that section? >> No, that's what I thought too. >> Okay. >> Until I talk to somebody. Um, where is it? Is it this one? I think it's six. 106. >> Oh, I'm on >> you mentioned to me earlier. >> Yeah. Article too. >> Yeah. The use. It's in the use section. Okay. Um, and it says that permitted use, uh, the district shall use the premises and common area for a fire station and administrative purposes, quote unquote, the permitted use and for no other purpose unrelated to management and operation of a regional authority. >> So, in other words, that says no sleeping like how do how do >> it says it at the end of 2.2 here. >> Okay. >> The end of 2.2 two reads, "The district will not permit the district premises to be used for temporary or ongoing residential or private commercial or business purposes." >> There you go. >> Oh, perfect. >> Even better. >> Yeah, that's better. >> Thank you for finding that. >> Covered my concerns. >> Anybody else? >> Okay, so on to do I have a resolution for the shared space user agreement with the Rum River Fire District? Resolution 2025-63 entering enter entering into a shared space user agreement with the Rum River Fire District and granting signatory authority. >> I'll make a motion to approve that. Mr. Mayor >> motion by Councilman Mulebower. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Councilman Dudvig. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I pull the same sign. >> I. >> Four to one. On to letter D. Transfer and donation of equipment agreement. Mayor and councel before you is the next step in this which is regarding all of the equipment and the transfer and donation. There is only one truck that is not part of this and that is a truck that was purchased with federal block grant. Uh we will get that to you in one of the next meetings because we're not allowed to donate it due to the federal rules that are tied to that. So we will need to lease it to the district. But this covers all other equipment. With that I'm happy to answer any questions. Uh Joe, >> uh no questions. I would just say too, I mean the donation thing kind of I was like that's kind of weird how you're doing it as a third party entity, but it's like you say it makes sense and without it we couldn't continue. So it it obviously makes sense to me that I don't have any questions. >> Kevin, >> no questions, sir. Sarah, >> no questions. Amy >> um only um in the fact that I wish that there was some sort of estimated value to um these items um because it is a big list and um I I think that I mean we know how much we paid for things and I'm not saying every little flashlight, you know, but the big items, the the the fire apparatus and the turnout gear. Um I I think we could have put some sort of dollar figure on it just to maybe even help us later um if we needed it. It just you you know we as a city donating taxpayer money. We've talked about this even you know when other people have come for donations. It's it it's a big number. It's a big number. I I don't know what it is but I just about had a heart attack when I saw the list. I mean, I know how much turnout gear costs. I know how much the fire trucks cost. I just about had a heart attack. And um and it's it's it's it's not something I'm comfortable with. And >> as part of our acquiring of our insurance, we're getting assessed values of all of those major components that we're more than happy to share so the city can retain a record of that. But that's one of the requirements as part of our insurance through the league is that it has to have a value. So, exactly >> we can share that with the city once all the insurance pieces are finalized. >> Okay. And then speaking of insurance, um I know the district has to cover their own insurance, uh have their own insurance, but us as landlords, I guess in this case, where are is the building itself still covered under our umbrella policy of some kind in case there's a cat catastrophic event and a fire truck blows up and it blows up the building? We're there's still some insurance coverage for us. >> Correct. So, mayor council. So we will both of both the fire district and the city will be covered through LMC. So we'll have it it'll all be under the same umbrella just part of it under a different name when it comes to their equipment, but all of that will still retain insurance to the city. >> Okay. >> Is there anything on that list that doesn't depreciate in value as it's used over time? >> Everything depreciates. And um in regards to like the turnout gear, they're purely a consumable and it's >> they expire too. >> They expire and they often don't make it to their expiration date. So I think insurance in regards to some of those pieces we're not going to see. But pretty much everything we have is either a consumable or has a depreciation schedule to it. >> Any other questions? So, do I have a motion to for resolution 2025-64 approving the donation of property to the Rum River Fire District and granting signatory authority? >> I make a motion, Mayor. >> Motion by Councilman Robinson. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Councilman Mulebower. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Uh, pull the same sign. >> I versus one on to the employee employment transition and separation agreement. Okay, >> mayor council. This is the final piece of all of this. Uh the along with the JPA where we're establishing the district takes over the employees. This is the transfer of the employees. Um the capital improvement funds, the public safety, how we'll handle the transfer of sick and vacation benefits. And I'm happy to answer any questions with that. >> Sarah, >> questions? No questions. Sir Amy, >> I just had a couple questions. So, will um the district employees have their own email address instead of using the St. Francis city email? >> That is correct. We already have our domain name. So, the fire department email domain name will change to rum riverfire.org. >> Okay. >> Can't use the.gov because that's fits into a pretty narrow lane. So, we already have the domain name purchased. That will transfer over to all of our emails. We're going to continue to work with Metro Inet as our IT vendor. So, we won't lose any emails from the.gov accounts. They'll be able to merge all of those together. Um, but we will have our own website. We'll have our own emails. The benefit of staying with Metro Inet is now we don't have to purchase our own servers. They're allowing us to continue to use the city's servers. So, there's pretty significant cost savings there and they have a way of firewalling off so it's not interfering with individual business aspects for either. >> Yeah, I'm sure there's some transfer time. Is that what um I had written this down, but I didn't ask it earlier. Is that on the payment of claims today? Was that the Metro Inet $17,685? Um, I was going to ask Darcy. >> Yeah, without Darcy here, I don't want to misspeak what that payment was for, but I would encourage you to just give her a call or send her an email. >> Okay. >> She's pretty quick to do. >> Um, >> and then the employee manual that you have, I think you said that you just transferred over a whole lot of things. So does that mean we have to take a lot of the fire department language out of our employee manual >> mayor and council? So we aren't taking it out at this time because the district isn't fully launched while we're doing our housekeeping. So potentially some of the language will come out of our personnel policy next fall. Um I have had a conversation with shops as to whether or not we want to take the department out of the ordinances. However, we can also leave it in our ordinances. We just don't have an active department. So, we might have some housekeeping in our personnel policy, but we'll wait till next fall to do that with our next packet. >> Oh, and then we talked earlier about the shared services and the spaces, the shared spaces. Um, and so, you know, all the employees that St. Francis had get when they come on, they get vetted and and everything. And so with the district having some access to well all the access over there but some access to this part of the building um how do we know that they're going to have the same vetting process for new employees or people transferring over? So because they do they will have will will the district employees have access to this part of the building >> limited. So currently only captains and above have access to the city hall side and that's part of that is because there's some administrative interaction that does happen at that level. Access to the city hall side has and will continue to be on an as needed basis as far as vetting our employees. We're not changing how we vet our employees and it's probably more stringent than some other positions within the city. They're going to continue to have a criminal background check. They're going to continue to have drug and alcohol screening. They're going to continue to have Martin and Mallister psychological evaluations. So, our standards being a public safety provider always tend to be a little bit higher than most other forms of employment and that will not change moving forward into the district. >> And all the employees that are transferring over, do they have to go through that vetting process to start with you or >> we have already had them as part of their initial pro hiring process. So until or unless something changes in that regard where we have to react to something, we would and we will. [clears throat] >> Anything else? >> Um, no. >> I have nothing. >> I have nothing as well. So, do I have a motion to approve resolution 2025-65 entering into an employment transition and separation agreement with the Rum River Fire District and granting signatory authority? >> I'll make that motion, Mr. Motion by Councilman Muower. Do I have a second? >> I'll second, mayor. >> Second by Councilman Dudvig. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. The same sign. >> I. >> Or versus lawn. On to meeting open to the public. Hunter. Welcome back. >> Hi guys. My name is Hunter Carlson. I reside at 2612 230th Court Northwest here in St. Francis. First off, I want to start off and give a special thanks to Chief Smith, Kate, and Jenny for all your hard work on getting us a step closer to the Snob Fire District. I'm really excited to see it happen. I hope I get to be one of the first people to get a shirt. I' I've missed it here. I've been off at college and I saw bits and pieces of all your guys' meetings and I'm really proud of all you guys. I know you've had a lot of craziness going on and I saw a couple of it, but you guys got through it and you guys have made a lot of tough decisions and I just want to thank you guys for serving us so well. All of you guys and all of the staff here and I'm so glad to be back in St. Francis. And that's all I have. >> Thank you, Hunter. >> Of course. >> Thank you. I just I don't want Yeah, I don't want to say child because you're certainly not a child, but you're the poster child of civic involvement. I appreciate it, Hunter. Thank you. Oh, one one last thing. Since I've been gone a bit, if you guys could do a little more in depth on your council member reports today, I'd really appreciate it just so you could catch me up. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Hunter. >> On to reports. Uh, Kate. >> Yes, Mayor Council. In your packet is the year-end administration report. I will just go over a couple of the highlights. Um, on page four, it identifies, you know, all of the different administrative duties that take place with all of our departments and and how we cross over. We didn't have any election responsibilities, we had two council changes this last year, um, out of the big administrative projects with the Rum River Fire District and then also the Highway 47 construction. And then we did within the last year open the city hall fire station. And last February, we had roughly 800 people that walked through the building and got a tour of it and and to enjoy our new space. On page six, I highlight some of the accomplishments from council. We had our standard 24 meetings. We didn't have any special meetings and only seven work session meetings, which seems a little low after the last couple years. So, we'll have to bump that up next year. [laughter] So, with that, we had our parks facilities and programming. So, the parks commission met the four times. They had some work that was completed in Rum River Park. They continue to work on the ice rink and warming house. And then the farmers market and dog park work were a huge success yet again this year with numbers that continue to climb. On page seven, I just run through. We had six land use applications that came through and we had the opening of Eagle Point at Vista Prairie and we have um slowly but surely the residents going in there and I believe by now they should also have their memory care occupancy. So they continue to grow in that facility and welcome both residents that were from St. Francis and and senior population that is coming into our community to be new members. [clears throat] For human resources, we have over 20 employees with 10 years. Um and then I've listed out both the the 15 to 19 and the 20 plus years. We've got a great number of long-term employees and hope to continue to see that stabilization stay in place. Uh there were no retirements this year and we did have the life savings award. Our personnel committee did meet um and they continued to look at ideas to that are a good fit for the St. Francis employees and make um just general kind of thoughts and processes come to life and and what would be a good piece to keep the longevity and keep our employees here. [clears throat] >> Our finance department, all of our financial documents are online. If you haven't seen those, you can see our budget in the past. Um, they go all the way back to 2012, some of them. Our long-term financial plan that we continue to work forward, our capital improvement, our annual budgets. Uh, one big thing that Darcy's working on right now is due to the new federal tax laws with the time sheet and payroll system, we're having to figure out how to deal with the uh, no tax on overtime. That is a very complicated issue when it comes to our payroll system. Looking forward, we're continuing to work on our cyber security. We will continue to wrap up pieces with the fire district. Um, and next year, we look forward to working with police department and the K9 unit. The Highway 47 project continues to move forward. Uh, we should see the state taking that over within the next month or so. The Highway 47 utility project, we will continue to request funds for that. Um, we're working on our new website page. We should hopefully see that very soon. And that's not in the report. And then we'll watch the legislation and local government meetings. That is a summary of what we did as council this year and administration. And with that, we move to 2026. >> Yep. >> Any questions? >> Yes. I'm curious why I see chat gtp down here in the lower corner of some of these [laughter] pages. I'm only joking. No, very fine job by you and all your staff. It's uh I feel we did a good job this year. You know, we uh the seven work sessions are know really a big deal. We could do one a month for that. You know, that's what it takes. But appreciate all you do and all the staff that that you uh you guide through this what we do and I'm glad to be here. >> Sure. >> I echo what Kevin says. I appreciate your leadership and walking us through the the tough things that we have to try to understand and putting up with our questions that probably seem kind of boneheaded sometimes. So, I appreciate you much, >> Sarah. Amy, >> um just that I am excited about the 47 project. Is this our council reports or is this just funny? >> I I guess it's the same, but um I'm excited about the 47 project for this year. I think we just really need that. And um I'd like to know more about the personnel um uh committee group department, but I forgot what >> committee. Yep. Committee. I'd like to know more about that. I hadn't really heard about that. So um sometime in the future, I'd like to know more about that. >> Sure. >> And and mayor council. So that's we've had that in place three years now. Three. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Three years. Um, and what it is, it's just a couple people from each department that get together a minimum of two times in the year and they sit down and they've talked about everything from um, you know, they'll they'll look at our benefits against other cities. They've looked at ideas that bring staff together. We've talked about gardens, we've talked about just kind of activities. So, it's it's just a holistic look outside of the policy makers. There's no department heads. I'm not in there. And it's just the staff really coming together and going what's working, what's not, what what can we do to engage. So it's it's just a very holistic employee approach to making it a better workplace. >> Thank you. >> And do they just out of curiosity, so when they come back with their findings or report, whatever you want to call it, do they report to you then with with it or >> Yep. So, mayor council, they'll sit down with Jenny and I and we'll answer any questions that may have to do with personnel policy or how a benefit works. Um, so we go walk through them and then there's times where they'll go get more information and so it's it's a back and forth to really see what's a fit and what's not. >> Anything else? >> No. >> Joel, >> uh, just thank you, thanks staff, appreciate your leadership. Um, you always answer when I call or call me back and every staff member does or email with questions. So, I appreciate all your hard work. Keep >> I'll just close it with thank you. Thank you as well. So, on to council member reports. Uh, Joe. >> All right. I get too ind depth on her. I don't know if you heard my accountability speech a while back when I was on Zoom. I can email that to you if you really want to hear that. >> It's also in the minutes. Um [laughter] yeah, it's online too. Um with that being said, I'll transition to accountability myself from uh last meeting. Um I look very ignorant myself in two separate situations. I was aware that we were voting um that night. It's skipped me in the moment um on the budget, which I'm sure a lot of people in the audience, you know, were saying this idiot doesn't even know what he's voting on tonight. Um I know because I've been there and I've been in the audience saying the same thing to people. So um do understand where you're coming from. if you do feel that way. Um, but I can take accountability for my own ignorance there. Um, I know it's I'm spacing out on what the other thing was, but either way, I apologize for that. Um, I've reached out to staff. I I know Darcy was working on it with me, too, to kind of get more of a breakdown of the budget. I don't know what we're going to be able to find out, but um, from department heads and whatnot as far as, you know, we can see different categories and what different departments do. We already have the budget, but some of it's kind of vague. So, We'll see what happens with that. Uh some of the ideas that I was looking up different ways that a city can save money and whether or not these are going to work or not. These are just things thrown at the wall. Um we'll see what sticks, I guess. But ideas like leasing the 40 acres off Rowan Oak. Um and this next one I'm not in favor of, but it is an option and I don't like the idea of even saying it, but you know, cutting public events such as the bike rodeos, pancake breakfastes, citizens academy, farmers market, things like that. Again, I'm not a fan of that and I wouldn't support that, but that is something that's on there. Um, I was looking into sales tax um possibly instead of raising property tax, but it appears that that may or may not have to be connected to a project, and I'm not that educated on it yet, so I won't say that for sure. Um, growth of business and residential business um is still the the best option. Um, business doesn't typically come until the population can support it. Uh the city does not bring in business per se. Businesses seek out location, does studies on whether a location is worth exploring, uh traffic studies, etc., [clears throat] excuse me. The main tools the city has to attract certain businesses is to offer incentives. And when we talk about some of those incentives, I think a lot of it comes from a lack of understanding too of how some of those incentives work from the public. Um so I kind of wanted to expand on that a little bit. Sorry, this one's long. Mark, >> go go go. [clears throat] [laughter] So offering incentives. So like when you see data centers and other larger businesses coming along, um it's usually due to incentives. Uh from my understanding, and I could be wrong, so don't necessarily hold me to this one, but I noticed like Atlanta gets a lot more of the filming industry now. And a lot of that has to do with tax incentives in Georgia that they did. Um not saying we're on that level or trying to attract movies to to be in St. Francis, but just saying those incentives is what attracts a lot of those businesses. Uh the tools we have are typically abatement and tiff. Um [clears throat] so while you're not paying their taxes, we still get the taxes as if those lots were empty. So we're not losing anything, so to speak, we're not gaining the new taxes. Um and I got another piece on some of that, too. But um you know, the like I said, those are the those are the tools that we have are typically abatement and tiff. And it gets it gets confusing because people what I got from the last meeting is people seem to shout out that we are other people are paying that company's tax and we're subsidizing it. We're not actually paying their taxes for them, but we're not getting the benefit of the new taxes. So again, just to try to make that clear. Um without growth, um businesses can't profit. Um, and you know, I often hear that, well, we have nothing in town here, so why would, you know, why do businesses want to come here or why do people want to move here? It's kind of a chicken or the egg type of situation. Um, do we need the population growth before the businesses come or do the businesses come first to attract the people? Well, oftent time if businesses don't feel they can make money here, they're not going to come here. So, that's kind of what we're looking at. Um, so I just want to throw that out there. Um if we stay stagnant um you know if we stay stagnant the way we are and have no growth because we don't want this or we don't want that or we don't want this type of business then the cost continues to rise um as inflation goes up and all that stuff and then we don't have any new people to help lift that heavier burden of those costs. So the more people we get the better. Again that's a here or there you know argument from people. We're we're kind of a tail of two cities where we have rural and and uh urban they call it. It's not super urban, but you know, we have the the MUSA section with the municipal U uh utility service area. So, um just throwing that out there. Um, my other little bit on TIFF is kind of an explanation that I found kind of breaks it down and I just want to throw that out there and I'll email you this, Jen, so you don't have to listen to all this, but it says TIFF [clears throat] doesn't divert existing taxpayer dollars or create new taxes. It captures and redirects only the incremental property tax revenue generated by the new development itself, which wouldn't exist without the project. In other words, if the butt for test is met, meaning the development would truly truly wouldn't occur without the tiff support due to high costs like uh blight, remediation or infrastructure needs, excuse [clears throat] me, the public isn't losing out on funds it would have had anyway. Instead, it's enabling growth uh in underutilized areas that leads to larger overall tax base, more jobs, and increased economic activity after the tiff period ends. Um so how it works in practice is the property's pre-development tax value the base uh continues to fund schools, roads and other public services as usual with no reduction. Only the additional taxes from the increased property value post development are used to repay loans or bonds for project costs. often taken on by the developer, not the city, ensuring the risk stays private, while the long-term benefits like revitalized neighborhoods or higher future revenues acrew to the community. Without TIF, blighted or stalled sites might remain unproductive indefinitely, yielding minimal taxes and no broader gains. Whereas, TIF jumpst starts investment that ultimately expands the pie for everyone rather than handing out a quote unquote sack of cash from current budgets. So that's kind of a basic explanation of how some of that is and just want to put it out there. I just get the feeling like I say that residents were feeling they were paying for somebody like they're paying for Vista or whatever that may be and that's not how that works with the abatement. You just don't get the new revenue. Uh that being said, I I'm looking I don't know how long I can stay tomorrow. Uh my granddaughter has a uh play type thing, little thing going on at a church in CR Rapids at 6, but I plan on being at Vista. So >> for the tree. >> Yeah. Yeah. For the two. So >> that's what I have. Thanks, Joe. Thank you, Amy. >> Um, thanks for that explanation, Joe. Um, the I just have a couple things, Barb. I wanted to say thanks for coming and explaining all of that about the parks. One thing that when I was going to the parks when my kids were little is it's really great for the kids, like you said, you explained very very well. It's also really good for the moms that like you get to meet other moms that are especially when your kids are like not in school yet. And I mean I kind of missed it after, you know, after my kids were like, "You're not coming to the park with me, mom." You know, and so that to me, I'm all for the perks. I think that um we need but we need to take care of them, which is why we have to spend money on them. Um so I I just wanted to say I appreciate what you what you said. And um Hunter, today I was t I was thinking why haven't I seen him lately? Um so I just wanted to say you don't have to say your address anymore when you come up to speak. You just say your name and that you live in St. Francis. We took that away for like I don't know privacy or whatever. So that that was new since you were here. Um, the only other thing I had was um I went to the schoolboard meeting last week and it was their their version of truth and taxation and there was about as many people there. Barb, you were there. Um, there was about as many people there that were upset about the um tax increases as came here. In fact, some of them were the same people. And um because uh well my for the school portion on my on my um property it went up 27%. So that was a lot. I mean it's kind of a double whammy everywhere people go. So anyway I did go to that. They did even though all those people spoke um it did pass um two to five to two say it. Um there was five votes for it and two against. So it did um go and it was primarily because they needed to add um or replace the >> HVAC >> the HVAC. So anyway, so I did go and do that. And um my only other question is um when do we go through and kind of give our idea of what we'd like to see happen next year? Um is that in January? if any any new things >> as far as committees. >> I feel like there was a time where you asked us come with your ideas. Tell me what we should be working on for this year. Is that in January? Maybe I just jumped that. I don't know. >> Mayor and Council, we we could um add something to the next work session and just have a conversation about that. >> Okay. >> I'm not sure what we have on the list. >> We haven't had a work session lately. >> No. [laughter] I love that. That's good. >> But we definitely usually we come with those kind of questions when it comes to the budget and the priorities there. But if there are projects outside of that, um, we definitely can just have a work session and talk through some things, too. >> Okay. Well, I'll just say it quickly now. I would like us, maybe it's already in the works, which is why I'm asking. I would like us to redo our web page. Um, I find things are hard to find and um, and like the boards and commissions. Um, I'm sorry, Jenny. I think this is what you usually do. I find that I look there and they're not updated with the with the dates and the people and who's and and so and maybe maybe it's not easy to use um to make those changes, but I would like us to do something to make our web page more friendly even if it could be simple things. Mayor Council actually we are we're underway on a new version right now. Our website originally was created back in 2018 and as you know technology is old the next day. So we're running on a very old platform. We're in the process of moving to a newer platform which has more functions that that allow us to update easier and and put the information in there. Some of that is just purely the staff capacity to to maintain the website. We don't have a dedicated communication staff. We don't have one staff that does it. It's literally every department has their fingers in there for different reasons. Um, so some of that will come together as a collaboration as well. So the new website will make it a little bit easier to operate. And then we're having some intentional discussions about who is doing what and when. Um, but we are underway with that and hopefully see something soon. It might not look a lot different. However, we also have to meet the federal ADA requirements in March of 2000 or 27. So, we're working on our ADA, but there's AI components that allow easier search tools. So, I think that'll be really helpful um to just be able to dig dig out with keywords and and and have a different way of pulling some of the data you're looking for. It it should be better. Um, we'll have we'll need a little bit of time to learn it and figure out how we're getting through it. But yeah, there there's information that's outdated and some of that is just the just the capacity to get to it, too. >> See, we're already working on it. [laughter] >> That's all I have. >> I got a fun legal question to add on to that. >> Sure. >> Well, since we're running Feldman 2.0, >> we are [laughter] the beginning of a second term in 2018. >> Yeah. Can we do ads on there and generate revenue or is that illegal? I would assume it'd probably be wrong, but I'm just thinking, [laughter] hey, if you get millions of dollars, click on that baby. >> Like what kind of >> like whatever. Whoever wants to advertise anyone do that. >> I'll have to take that one under advisement and come back to you. [laughter] >> Not quite ready for that one. Yeah. >> People probably wouldn't like it. >> No. Thank you, >> Sarah. >> I'm watching this video. >> Amy, I'm gonna let you know that um I have gone on other cities web pages and they're all they're all horrible. I mean, none is better than the I mean, I agree. I've been on different ones for different reasons and >> it's it doesn't seem to matter. It just seems to be there's a lot of information on there and it's hard to pick it out. But I I agree there. It is frustrating when you're trying and you know how long you've been on council. People expect you to find things faster. Anyway, >> um so um I did I I was at the tree lighting this year. It was a great event. I I enjoyed that greatly. Um I did check out the winter market at the strip mall, as we call it, by open box. Um there was it was not as well attended. um they said there weren't as many people there this week and there weren't as many vendors but that is still going on every Wednesday now through end of December and they're going to announce um 2026 dates. So um it's kind of a spin-off of the farmers market. They felt that it went they they enjoyed the farmers market. So the ladies decided that they keep going. So it's been kind of fun to do that. Um I am planning to go to Two of the Trees at Vista Prairie. I'm also going to pop into Santa at the fire department and Santa at the police department. Um I do I do want to give a couple shout outs. I do want to thank Barb for her continued um involvement coming to our meetings. Um I remember sitting out there um if this means you're going to run. Yay. Um [laughter] I'm kidding. Um but I do I want to thank you for your your leadership on the parks department. I s it on there for the council and I appreciate your your time and your effort that you put on there. And then I also just want to um thank firefighter Evan. Um he's going to be missed. He he did a lot. He did a lot for our community and um he's he's going to be missed. So I just wanted to thank him very much for his service. >> Thanks, sir. Kevin, >> well these guys have tough acts to follow here. >> I don't have much. I did the fire district meeting last on the 2nd uh December 2nd. We have a meeting tomorrow as well. Um we're also figuring out a way to we are recording them for posterity sake as well as we will be televising them I believe at some point. That's we're plotting there rather quickly on that. So I'd also like to thank Barbara for showing up. She does a she's been in this community as long as I've long as I've been around here which is well over 35 years. So we appreciate what you do. Um also if you get an opportunity the chamber uh St. Francis Chamber has still u Michelle and the vice president do they do a podcast if you get on the chamber website it's pretty good and even if you put on the background where you're doing whatever I've listened to tidbits my wife listens to it religiously and also is um keeping up on the chamber calendar but the podcast is if you want to hear local tidbits and nuggets and news and some maybe some over the fence gossip the podcast it'll do it for you so business uh related and otherwise Um, let's see. That That is all I really have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kevin. >> Can I add something? Sorry. I meant to say, um, um, Paul, did your do you and your people get any sleep after all the snow? >> May council plenty. We're good. >> Oh, good. All right. [laughter] Because it they just kept coming. So, good job on that. So, thank you. >> Uh, what did I do here? tree lighting a fantastic event and I mean there's lots of people to thank but primarily thank the bridge for putting for putting that on. So just super event and I thought they did a nice job with it. So, also attended an online smart salting class that the Minnesota Minnesota puts out and there are some a few good nuggets from that thing because it all goes down to our uh issue with the chloride and there's it's not no rocket scientist. The two main polluters with chloride are the road salt and the water softeners. But the one takeaway that I kind of took from it, and I kind of knew this, but the way they presented it, it kind of clicked in my head, is chloride is like a forever chemical. You put it down, it's not going away unless you remove it, you can you can dilute it, but it's it doesn't go away. So that I think that's an important message that our residents need to understand. You put chloride down is a forever chemical unless you remove it. And as we know, removing it might mean our old system or a desalination plant which is very I don't even want to consider how expensive that would be. So anyway, so it was it was a good class. Uh I just want to give a quick shout out. I mentioned it earlier, but if you haven't been in the hardware store, stop in there. The the new owners, Danny, Cassie, and their son Preston are they're just doing a fantastic job of slowly rehab it. They're going to stay open the whole time they rehab it. And once they get the hardware store done, then they're going to start thinking about what to do with the rummer bin. But they got some great ideas. They got great energy. And if you haven't been in there, like I said, go in there because you're you'll be blown away by what they've got done already. Uh fireboard tomorrow. Unfortunately, it conflicts a little bit with the Vista Prairie tree thing, but I hope they hit the opening of the Vista Prairie uh let's just say open house for their for their trees. And then there is a chamber meeting up here on Wednesday, Wednesday morning as well that I encourage people to attend because I again I have the chamber really you want to get to the heart and soul what's going on that you'll get a lot of it from the chamber. And so last I just got to say merry Christmas to everybody, happy holidays, happy new year and anybody got anything else? No sir. Seeing none, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Make that motion, Mr. Mayor. >> Motion by Councilman Bar. Do I have a second? >> I'll second it. >> Second by Council Farnest. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Pull the same sign. Meeting adjourned at 7:04