[Music] I might as well do productive things. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Oh, shoot. >> Right. It is 7 o'clock. I'm going to call this meeting order. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda, please? >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Motion by council member Sar. >> I'll second. Second by council member Conrad. All those in favor say I. >> I. I >> oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. All right. Community comment. Um, presenters are welcome to address the council for matters relevant to the city of Carver's authority for up to five minutes on matters that are not listed on tonight's agenda. Specific result requests for information may not be immediately available, but we'll do our best to follow up uh with a presenter sometime after the meeting. The city council should not be expected to act immediately upon requests. However, we will follow up accordingly and may schedule items for future consideration. Good evening. >> Welcome. >> Hi. >> You guys can introduce yourselves. Give your names and your address, please. >> Do I have I just push this on? >> If the lights green, you should be set. >> Okay. Um I'm Patty Iden. Um and >> yeah, we're >> 6535 >> Augusta Road Chasa. >> I'm Tim and I guess you know why I started all this mess. >> I recognize you from Zoom. >> Yeah. Yeah. You're much taller in person. >> Yeah, I say I'm no public speaker and all this and if I say something wrong, tell me. So, yell at me and I'll apologize. But I'm just here I'm going after GRE right now. >> And Minnesota Valley is claiming they don't know nothing about this at all. All this trouble we had and and that's why they're supposed to have hired GRE, Minnesota Valley Electric, and they're going, "Huh? What are you talking about?" >> Their reports are >> Yeah. Didn't you watch that video? Well, yeah. They're they're taking the route I suggested. And I'm going, why does an old dairy farmer from Augusta plan your electric routes? You know, why is it? Well, GRE is supposed to be doing that. And I said, they put they had to put in three plans. They said, yes. And they put in two plans they know that are going to fail. And then they put in their preferred plan. So now that line that I suggested cost $25 million, $5 million a mile. And the lot, their preferred plan is under $2 million. mile. Yeah. And then that the same thing. It's easier to build my line than their line. And that's why and Minnesota Valley is going, "Well, we don't know nothing about this." So, all I'm asking is the council send them a letter with your experience dealing with this and GRE in Victoria and everything else and because they're just saying, "Oh, we have this is just that Densler is out of town till Thursday." He's the CEO of Minnesota Valley Electric and today we talked to the VP of operations um Mike Deetsz and he was he was very good in in talk talking to us and he's willing to meet with us privately before any and I want to get everybody together like at the ballpark and then you know Carver's here's here and all the land owners around there and then drill them and tell them all their personal and he says can I just meet with you first and actually look what you're talking about and I said Sure. Anytime, 24/7. I got a side by side. We'll take Well, we don't have to go that far. Yes, we're going to go that way. >> We're going for a ride. >> Well, I know. I mean, too. Cuz beyond me, there's a swamp back there that's 40 ft below the railroad tracks. They want to go through that swamp with a pole cuz that whole thing at the beginning with the trees and everything. Oh, we love trees. All them trees that they want to cut down by me are 100 year old oaks and everything. >> And that whole council, oh, we love trees. And and that's and you have to read in a lot of that. Oh, I went through Carver. Did you catch the beginning of that? You can. >> Well, yeah. >> I mean, you can catch you can. It's still on video. Anybody that wants to see it. >> I went through Carver. Not to say anything bad about Victoria, but I love downtown Carver. >> I would rather live in Victoria in >> Carver than Victoria. He's slamming Victoria. And he >> We're okay with that. >> I know. Yeah, I know. And then he's praising that you guys are doing a good job here. The way you're doing this. And I mean he but he couldn't say that but he was saying that you know and and but what was the other thing all a sudden he went home well that's a double meaning he's got oh that's what you know them trees wait and that's why >> great river never said it was we'll cut down these trees now all of a sudden when I brought it to these guys now all of a sudden they pushed the poles in my side or in Milner's field. Now the trees on the line they ain't touching anymore. So now we're supposed to farm around their poles. >> Okay. They're not going down the line anymore. So, I mean, they're slimy and they're greasy. I don't That's right. But, but I I mean, too. And and I said then he goes, "Well, what's in it for Victoria?" I said, "Basically, how many houses can you get in 100 feet for a mile?" I said, "That transmission line, that's what Victoria's gaining out of this. And this is what Carver's losing." And he goes, and he was just speechless. He was like, "Oh, oh." You know? So, I mean, that's all right now tonight. If administrator, everybody just sit down and tell them Minnesota Valley what you thought of their experience dealing with them because they have a big campaign. You want to get that brochure out. You know, what is it? Experiencing >> they have member meetings. >> What's that phrase they got? What's >> Oh, it's >> it's something to make every memorable experience with Minnesota Valley nice or something. And I thought this this has not been nice. your trusted energy partner creating exceptional member experiences. So >> I actually I fell far short there for me >> but that's in there. >> Yeah. >> But today I was hopeful talking to Mike and like he like he really >> he he doesn't get the details. I think he gets a GRE's report and I'm sure it's not complete. >> Yeah. Um, so I may volley some of this to Brent, but so you guys testified in the meeting that was since our last meeting, the public utilities commission. >> Um, and I think >> you guys did a great job. I think >> I it wasn't polished. >> We got told number one. We were number one three times going down there. Got honked once and we get out in a bunch of the homeless people. I I I was it was again it was >> so what I think um and this is where I'm going to volley it to Brent the way that I understand it is it's going back to the administrative law judge and they will do more research to figure out if that and I forget the the preferred route that we want D was it >> no B >> B the one with Kelly Avenue if Kelly Avenue >> and you guys know all your neighbors you were talking about different farms and parcels and Our information for that route came from um power um linesmen, one from Excel, couple from Minnesota Valley Electric and Chaska. >> So our gripe with this from the city's perspective is that all of this happened in a vacuum without us knowing >> and that's what we want you to tell Minnesota Valley Electric. >> Yeah. Well, >> they know. I'm going to follow it to you as far as council as far as how >> this guy says he has no clue of all of this. >> Yeah, but I think What I'm anticipating Brent's going to say is that we're going to more follow the process because it's going through the administrative law judge. >> And then at the end of the day, >> we need to have a good relation, you know, like I joked about Victoria earlier when you guys said something, we have great relationships with the city of Victoria. The mayor is part of our monthly regular mayor's meetings. The city manager lives in the city of Carver. Like we're good friends. We kind of have to maintain a relationship with Right River Energy because at the end of the day, all of Carver's growth is going to put stress on the system and we >> we need these. >> We just need to kind of discuss and figure out where the best place for them is. >> We're just disappointed that due to Victoria's lack of planning and and way 10 years ago, it gets pushed into our problem. a commissioner on the right, you know, all about keeping Victoria's infrastructure up. And then all Yeah. And then all of a sudden there was a little phrase at the end. So quick trip can build. I don't know if you caught that in there >> up there in 11. It was supposed to start at the end of May and everything. They haven't there's a port there tipped over. They haven't touched anything yet. >> Yeah. >> Because they don't have enough power and now I'm finding out they're low on water. for is they need 1250 gallons per minute or something like that and they only got 790. >> So, and Quick Trip is supposed to have a car wash in there. Well, if they can't open the car wash, Quick Trip ain't going to build it. >> Yeah, you I I don't know anything about plans for a Quick Trip, but I don't know. But I mean that's why and you weren't here but I went down to that meeting when you annexed that part up the 43 in the rail railroad tracks that orderly annexation on this side is down here in the old church by the river 20 25 years ago something like that. >> Okay. >> And Victoria was there and they were worried about getting landlocked. They wanted Dog Township. >> You know >> that is before my time. >> Yeah I know but it ain't before unfortunately it ain't before my time. And it's like same thing. And then Victoria has almost defaulted how many times before? >> You know, >> I don't want this to turn into a Victoria. >> Yeah, I know. But I mean that's why >> but we're we both have the same concerns. I think we're both looking at this issue through the same lens is that it's a nimi issue, right? Like I mean that's >> we want to be more planful about where this goes. >> Yeah. And that's why I don't this what you were experienced with Minnesota great river energy because min Minnesota Valley electric is going we have no clue this is there's nothing wrong out there >> so I can sh I'll share three things uh uh one for those watching this is this commentary is related to a application from great river energy via um Minnesota Valley Electric for a high uh transmission line through kind of the north side of DRA uh township kind of south of Angler. Uh two Joe Green with Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative was out here with representatives from Great River Energy and uh there was the council did share uh their disappointment in the process. So I think that I would offer that box has been checked. And then three, um I shared an update with the council. the public utilities commission did uh revert uh the application back to the administrative law judge uh for some additional study and record development. And so I would advise the council to work within the framework of that process because that's where >> the record will be established where the >> the public utilities commission will get all that information. So, I think if we collectively work through that process and avoid maybe some sidebar meetings or at least from the city perspective, that'll develop the most robust record for the public utilities commission to get all that information. I I wouldn't discourage you from having your meeting, but I would advise the city just to work within whatever design process the administrative law judge uh um creates. >> So, I think we're on the same side of this. Yeah. >> And that side is frustrated, right? like this has been a tough process. >> Um, but we are going to continue to to advocate for that >> option >> that takes it kind of down the western side versus area >> and that basically that Victoria is running out of time to get this done and that's why that whole thing of get it done by J January, you know, and that's >> I don't think it's a V. Well, I don't know, but this would take it out of Victoria. I think it was more of the issue with the company and meeting certain deadlines that they needed to meet for what happened to that public utilities commission meeting. >> But I mean, you said you met with Joe Green and according to this guy today, he has no clue there's a trouble out here with the power line at all. And what we found out is they'll say one thing to your face and there's no report filed back. >> And that's why we want to keep it in the process. If we say, you know, it would be like if you guys were residents of the city of Carver and you had a meeting downstairs and said, "Hey, >> we've decided, I'm trying to think of an outlandish example. We decided that we are going to the clone sheep tear down every tree in the city of Carver and we're going to start it tomorrow. We got our chainsaws, you know, like we want to keep within the framework of the rules >> of this process." >> What What are you talking about? Yeah, >> we have no clue of this, >> you know, and >> and that's all I'm saying is make sure if they tell you something, just don't take it as face value. Make sure everybody knows about this. >> Yeah, I kind of think it's a it's a let them. If they don't want to be in the loop, that's fine. There are some really serious meetings that are taking place that's going to determine the future of their vendors that are putting this in. So, >> yeah, >> we'll we'll keep involved in the process. We're going to keep advocating. We're not going anywhere on this issue. So, >> okay. That's just I'm just making sure everybody's kind of same boat. And that's why when she came down here and notified you guys and I thought, well, that was a lot of good. Didn't hear nothing from you and all you show up at that first meeting, you go, we didn't know nothing about this until a resident came in. God, I got to talk to this guy, you know, and that's >> that was me. >> Yeah. You know, and and that's and even at you kind of said that that's no way to do business here. >> Yeah. Um, we it's it's weird because oftentimes we will hear from residents who aren't happy with something that we're doing. So, it's I think it's an really great experience to be on kind of the other side of the argument to try to band together and fight. And we have all attended meetings and we have most of us have given comments and shared testimony in terms of why we don't want this and kind of the supporting points for it and how we weren't involved in the process. And that's really what those folks from the the PUC were. >> I don't think it would have gotten this far if you didn't show your >> show up at night because we're losing faith. I mean, >> get involved >> because they they do intimidate you. They don't want you coming back to these meetings, you know, even that people who see me. You don't even know what I walked into >> a room >> 100 ft long, suits and ties, you know, and I come in blue jeans and okay, I had dirt under my fingernails, grease on my hands. I thought you want a farmer down there, you're going to get one, you know. And >> that's why you do the virtual meetings. >> That's what I said. Then also computer locks up. >> Mayor Johnson and my five minutes are probably >> Mayor Johnson for me too that >> Thank you guys so much for coming. >> Point down there. N >> you go down there with that dirt on your nails. You let them see you. You don't sit by >> John. You don't know how intimidated you're walking in this room with suits and ties and computers and addressing the council madam council and all. >> Yeah. No, I >> thank you very much. >> Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> Be Johnson, I was just going to say for the sake of time, can I make a quick request to Mr. Merrick and that is if you could resend um the version or plan B. I feel like I may have lost track of the different things that were circulating. All right. >> Thank you. Good evening, Eric. >> Good evening. >> How are you? >> I'm good. I'm good. Thank you. And thank you for not cutting down trees on my property. I'd hate to see them all go away. >> I couldn't think of a crazy idea. >> Well, uh, my name is Eric Ason. I live at 223 Carver Creek Place. Um, tonight you guys are going to be looking at your um setting your maximum levy for next year. You think you're looking at an 11.4% increase in property taxes. Um, now I understand and I do understand there will be more opportunities to voice concerns and to share opinions about this, but you know, and I don't want to sound overly cynical, but it's my experience that it's really hard once you get to the end of a process. You're talking public hearing sometime in November, got to get your levies to the county in December. It's really hard to really make any changes and to impact what the levy might look at. So, I think it's always better for the public to share their concerns earlier with you um than than later. So, um while the county the or later while you still have a chance to actually debate and and address some of the concerns um if you approve increase the city share of my property taxes will have increased 47% 47% since 2023. 47% increase. This means that the city council has increased property taxes on an average of about 11% annually since 2023. I don't think this is a sustainable approach to uh taxing in uh for the city. Um we do have a stagnating economy. The economy is kind of in flux. I read today that there's about a 40 some sort of a recession or a dip in the uh in the market. That's a pretty big risk to be taking at run at this at this point in time to be increasing um a levy by about 11%. Um I would much rather see you take the time this year to look at ways to decrease the the levy um at least to flatten it out or even possibly reduce it. Uh the better we until we have a better understanding of where this economy is going, where the housing market is going. I I mean, I just talked to a realtor um largely because it's getting really expensive to live out here and it's it's we're at a point now um since I'm retired and Mike will be retiring very soon, the opportunity to grow income is is just not there anymore. So, it's it's hurting especially people who have lived in this community and would like to retire in this community. So, what I'm asking at this point is asking what is causing our taxes to increase? What is causing our city property taxes to increase about 11% per year? Inflation is at about 2.9% today. It's been a little higher than that in the past. What are the projections for property taxes over the next five years? I've always wondered why government doesn't do this. Why you don't project out what is your revenue projections? what are your expenses projections over the next five years? So, I can take a look at it and say, "Okay, um, next year you're looking at a or in next year you might be looking at 11%, but the following year you're looking at 4% and then it's going to be a 6% and so on." You can project that out. It's not that hard to do. >> We do. >> I' I've not seen that. >> I'm sure our financial plan. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um uh and then to start looking at okay if we're looking at a challenge in the market right now and I I can tell you what my realtor told me is that um the values the the market has slowed quite a bit for real estate. The value my neighbor was in a bidding war with his house here three years ago, two years ago, three years ago, I don't know. Um that is no longer there. It is now becoming more of a buyer market in this area, especially for existing houses. Um the um uh uh so I guess the question would be can we look and see what the levy would be if you just were to say we're going to do essential services until we figure out what's going on with the economy and the housing market. Let's put together a proposal for existing essential services. Is there a way you can restructure some of the spending? I know there's some policies in place where you want to spend um you want to pay a lot of the stuff up front. Is there a way to actually flatten that out a little bit um to in order to reduce it so we can actually have a flatter levy across the years rather than up and down levy? Um are there services or capital expenditures that we can simply live without? I would argue that there have been things in the past that services that can possibly be reduced. You know, you're on I think I saw on your in your docket, uh, my street is on a mill and overlay plan for next year. Is that necessary? Can we push that off for a year? Can we push everything off just a little bit longer until the economy stabilizes some? Now, I I would love to have the mill and overlay on my street, don't get me wrong, because that's going to increase my property value, but I'm also don't not loving an 11% increase, so I understand there's probably some things that um uh could be done to reduce that. Um, so I would really like to see a breakdown of what are the costs of essential services. Take a lot of the stuff out and say what do we need to do to keep those doors open on on the city. Um, what what is it that you want to do in 2026 versus what can be done at a later time like we were just talking about. Um, are there services and expenditures that are dis discretionary or that can be provided at a lower level? I've got some suggestions in this area, too. Um, you know, I I like a lot of things that you provide, but if you're dealing with a tighter economy, is it necessary to provide these things? Um, what fees are set by statute or what revenues or what fees are set by statutes and which fees can be revenue generators in order to reduce the budget? You know, I I thought it was very I very interesting to listen to the perspective of the two people that were here a little bit ago talking about the impact of development that's happening. Are there ways that we um should be looking at development a little differently and ask ourselves, do we want to encourage development? Is it is it good for the city to encourage development? Is it good for the city to slow it down a little bit? I thought it was interesting that uh I didn't realize Victoria was running out of capacity in their their water systems. That's kind of a, you know, sign of poor planning if you ask me. Um, not that I want to harp on Victoria. >> Um, so what is the cost benefit of analysis and are we offering incentives, tax incentives such as TIFF and other things to encourage development that are actually we're paying for in the long run. So, you know, neither Mike or I are extravagant standards. If you've ever seen our place, you know that we're we don't live we don't live big. Um, but if you approve an 11.4% budget increase, our taxes are going to go up. So, what I have to do, and I think I said this in the email I sent to you, what I need to do is find or we need to do is find a way to spend less so the city can spend a little bit more. I don't have an opportunity to make more money. I can't ask social security. I can't ask my pension. I can't, you know, I can't manipulate the market so I get more money. So, if you increase your levy, I've got to decrease my expenditures. And I I I realize this sounds like a rhetorical question. Um, and we certainly have this discussion in our house all the time, but what would you like us what would you like me to cut out of my budget so I can give you more money for your budget? Because that's really the question we've got to ask ourselves. So, thank you. >> Thanks, Eric. >> All right. Um, we have no presentations and reports. We don't have any public hearings this evening. Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Motion by council member Pasco. >> I'll second. >> Second by council member sir. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Post. Same sign. Motion passes. All right. Over to business items. The 2026 preliminary levy. Miss shooty. >> Thank you, mayor. Good evening. Good evening, council. Uh tonight we're here to consider the adoption of resolution 129 uh-25 to certify the 2026 preliminary tax levy. Um the certification must be submitted to Carver County by September 30th, 2025. Um as you know, the importance of the preliminary levy is we're setting the maximum amount um of the levy for 2026. This cannot be increased after tonight. It can only be decreased. This allows flexibility for further refinement um between now and December uh before final adoption. Um so as you know during the de budget development process, council has held multiple budget meetings to evaluate the general fund expenditures. Some of these have been estimated because we don't have the exact costs yet. Those would be health insurance um and then some other insurance amounts. Um, these discussions have shaped the proposed levy amount that is before you tonight. Um, and as we gather more information in the future, as I said, council would have the option to decrease the budget if they choose to do that. Um, capital equipment levy transparency. So, this is the second year that the city council has chosen to list capital equipment as a separate levy. And we are doing that just for transparency reasons and to show the residents that we are making a dedication to invest the money in capital. Um we did the same thing with street maintenance. We are showing the residents that the money that we're asking we are putting back into the streets of the city of Carver. Um this also helps reduce the general fund balance requirement aligning with our fund balance policy of a minimum of 40%. Um this year a new thing is we're using a strategic debt service adjustment. Um so our overall levy we're just taking a shift because we have excess fund balance in a couple of our debt service funds. So we're taking a pause on a couple of those asking um for debt service for those three payments and we are just shifting the levy. It's a strategic plan. We won't end up with excess fund balance at the end of those debt service um payments. So by reallocating the fund balances we will temporarily temporarily reduce the debt service increase the capital equipment levy but altogether it's the same amount as we would would have done originally. When we move on to 2027 it will shift back to what we normally would have. So next steps tonight's action is not budget adoption but we are setting the maximum levy. Staff will continue to analyze budget conditions and update council with any changes. And a truth and taxation hearing will be held on December 1st for public input. And then the final budget adoption and tax levy adoption will occur on December 15th. I'm open for questions if you want to see the presentation again. I have the memo here ready to pull up. I know that I have presented a few times so and nothing has changed. um thoughts on seeing the presentation again? Just feel like for the benefit of the folks that we have, we never have guests. So, because we do um who would like to see the presentation by a show of hands. >> Oh, that's not the way I thought it would go. >> Well, I was going to say I I don't have to see the presentation, but if you wanted to email it or send it, >> it was in the packet. Oh, the packet that you just had in there. >> Yeah, the packet that you responded to and you emailed us. >> Okay. I just I just can't I didn't have a chance to look. >> So, we're happy to go through it. >> I've seen it. >> I looked at it in the work session. >> Okay. I really didn't think it would go that way. Okay. Um Okay, council, this is our turn. Um you know, I think um so thank you for being here tonight, Reed. Thank you for being here tonight. I appreciate um that 11 34% uh or 11.39% seems high, but that's kind of, you know, taking a look at it. You said going through and figuring out wants versus needs. That's what we do every year when we do the budget cycle. Um we have a relationship with staff where they know that we don't want to see the wants. This is a robust budget that has all kinds of needs for the city of Carver. Could we remove some discretionary spending? Absolutely. Always. What do you want to remove? Cleanup day. >> Fire protection. Wait, wait. Sorry. >> Sorry. You had your your time. But we could, you know, cleanup day could go away. The recreational agreement with the Chaska Parks and Wreck could go away. Crime service could go away. the police coverage for steamboat days could go away. This is all uh Lynn did a really great job in the presentation where there is kind of if we wanted to get down to a certain percentage, how much money we would have to cut out and then the dollar amounts of what we could go on the chopping block and what could be removed. So I think for me right now um because it is a $1125 increase per month on a average value home in our community. I'm comfortable with setting this at this level right now for the preliminary levy. I'm always a little bit worried and I feel like I've been doing this long enough to know that we will occasionally get an October surprise and I want to make sure that we're in a good place. I also um want to set it at this point. We will have our next public hearing on the budget will happen in at our first meeting in December. Um, and that's when everybody will have their property tax statements in hand so they will have an idea of what their impact will be based on their home's unique value. Unfortunately, it's not as much of a science of saying it's going to be exactly this. There's a little bit of guesswork that's involved in it at this point until we see those property tax statements. So, um, I I am in favor of moving forward with this budget. Chrissy. So, what do you Okay, I don't want to jump again. I I don't want to jump in front of anyone. So, I I hear what you're saying. Um, how much do you have to give up of your income that now goes to the city income? Um, or what the city needs? Um, it it is a hard budget. I it's a hard budget for me every year to go through because I see as it goes up it affects people and it affects people who may have a tighter income than others and we I think it's always prudent to remember that although someone in our in our community may be making x amount triple four digits triple digits um that we that not everyone does and that as as you have said when you go into um the time of retirement um you start to see that your your your being able to have that income to grow any income at this point, it levels off. And how do you stay in a community that you've lived in for a number of years? I don't know how many. Um but do are we how are we pricing people out of this community? Is it happening? What does that look like? Growth communities are difficult. They're very very difficult because all of the new has to come in to support um everything that's coming for the future because we can't just say okay we put up 300 houses a developer bought the land they're within everything and the and the um annexation agreement that we have and all of a sudden we say well great these houses are coming in but we can't now we don't have water for these homes or we don't have sewer capacity for these homes or whatever that capacity looks like. So I think it's um it's definitely a a balancing act. I looked back at and I'm looking at what we have here in our packet for the last couple of years and what that um that tax increase was and we were much lower in 2023. Uh the world was pretty shut up, you know, just coming out of a really shut up time. Um and then things started booming and so we have come down some obviously in what our increases have gone 24 25 proposed 2026. I agree with having a levy knowing that this is the outside number and I generally had >> ceing number, right? >> The ceiling number. Yep. Sorry. The ceiling number of our levy and year to year I have generally had issues with um the tax rate or the percentage and how things are raising. But I do understand that things come up and we can't leave ourselves short either in case something does come up. We are waiting for a few things. We're waiting for our health insurance, which seems like that would be a small number. It actually has quite a significant percentage amount in here when we get that back to find out. We can only speculate on that right now. Lynn, can you say when you're expecting those numbers to come in? >> It's usually toward the end of October. >> Okay. And then we're currently looking at the different transit options that we have uh for the community and what that can look like in the future. we continue funding prime or there are other options out there that um we've been discussing countywide. Uh I um I think in the past I have I have stated my issues with the park and recck agreement that we have with Chesca for the amount that we pay for what we get back. Not because I think that the what they do provide here isn't good for the we do have some things and when they do do them generally they're they're just fine. Um, and it does add a subsidy to Carver folks to go to the Chaza Community Center and the golf course and their rec programs and things at a discounted rate. But for me, we're still paying a large amount of money that not every that doesn't apply to every resident to get a subsidized rate there. Now I understand that the families who use it enjoy it or the people who use it for um you know whether it's the exercise room or whether it's the child care there that that is helpful to them. I personally don't feel that uh it's equitable to all of our residents because not all of our residents in Carver proper are using it. I also think that the city of Chesa while we pay them n I'm sorry I don't have the number here as we're flipping through. Do you have the number for the Is it 939 something 93 93,000 that we're paying to the city of Chaza. On top of that, they are also um keeping the the additional revenues because this doesn't cover your entire membership at the Chesa Rec Center or your entire childare. So, we're spending almost $100,000 of our tax money to pay Chesa to have them also have revenue from our from our residents who are using it. There's a flip there. We don't we can't offer all of that to our community at this time. But I do and now that they're going into all of their renovations and things that they're doing at the community center, how much more are they going to ask every year? How high do we go? When do we say that's enough? You either take 93 or we you take nothing. Do you want that or do do you not? Because I just think that they're kind of running this right now and they're saying, "Here's the number." Great. Take it. Um, so I want the two people in the audience and anyone who's watching to know that I look at these things very closely. I know the rest of the council looks at these very closely. And I often come back to what what does this look like? I'm one person on here. I mean, I'm sure that other council members will have different ideas on different aspects of the budget as well. So, I'm not going to go on forever. Um, I do want to say though, I really truly 100% look at this as this is the ceiling. This is the top and whatever we can do to come back from that top, I will work to do and I will be looking to see what we can can do. I don't mean to say that any council or staff would be isn't and won't be doing the same thing. But I think from my past years on the council, I have generally seen that we have been able to come down a little bit as we get a little bit further into it. But we we have to be careful that we don't, you know, cut off our noses by our face and that we're too early and now we can't go back and something major has come up. So that is my long diet tribe about that. But those are the those are the three things that um kind of those are the things that uh that really kind of get to me. just a couple of those I guess extras that we have. But again, we are really we are waiting for the health insurance to come back that will help and then I think some more transit discussions are very uh are very prudent for this group to have before we finalize this lobby in the end. Thank you, Kim. Um I agree with much of what council member Conrad um has stated. For me, I've heard I've heard concerns from residents who are retirees on multiple fronts. I know my neighborhood um is a third to a half retirees and they moved to Carver, you know, five, six years ago and as property taxes go up and their incomes stay the same, there are some real concerns there. I am very much looking forward to digging into this once we have all of the information in front of us to try and reduce this as much as possible. My big concern going into the final levy process is that we don't have health insurance numbers and we have seen over the years that there can be huge swings in how much health insurance costs and that's one of the biggest things that drives the our budget is the benefits and salaries of our staff which is really important. Um, and especially with some of the whisperings that are coming out of the health insurance market right here, we're looking at probably some pretty major increases for the next year. Um, so with all of that in mind, I want to approve generally a levy that I am less comfortable with on the high end right now, knowing that we'll be working to bring it down, but that we also have given ourselves room so that we can deal with those health insurance costs without sacrificing some of those things that are essential services. Um, you know, essential services aren't just keeping the lights on in city hall. They're snowplows. They're, you know, they're making sure, you know, you said Mill and Overlay. One of the big things that the city council has done that I really respect and I'm the newest member so I'm still kind of getting it under my feet but they have made a really robust plan to make sure that we are not costing the city big dollars long term by taking shortsighted um opinions now and Milan overlay is one of those big ones. If you catch a Millan overlay now it's about what fifth or a tenth of the cost of a full reclamation. What's the number there, Brent? >> So, double >> double. >> The cost of a mill and overlay is typically double for a reclamation. >> And it can be one season between a mill and overlay and a reclamation. And I've seen that one year on this council, and I've only been on this council for nine months. So, um, you know, it's things like that that seem non-essential now that end up costing the city big dollars in the future. So, I'm looking forward to when we get our final numbers, those final budget numbers, being able to dig into where we can make cuts. Um, but right now, I am happy with a slightly higher levy knowing that there is at least a possibility this year in particular that those health insurance numbers are going to come back really high. Uh I agree with um the mayor and other council members of just to respond to some of the comments is I to me it's important that we be good stewards of what we own and or are responsible for. So this the pavement street management plan um as part of that um and as well as planning for growth. Um I really like early in the process we've I was looking at my notes July August um kind of how we got those numbers about some things that some people might think aren't essential you know the the cleanup days the extra patrol or you know there's the various things is we're always able to ask and say okay remind me or like show me again how much do we pay so it's like anything that we've asked they've been able to come back and say this is what we get this is what's in the budget so every year I see just a little something change, but um I feel confident that we have good um visibility into each line item and if we wanted to dig into it, we can. So that's why I feel very confident about where we're at. Um I do want to ask um Mrs. Shudy just to clarify. So the the motion in front of us for that dollar amount, that's the 11.39 proposed ceiling. Okay, this I want to make sure I still do like the same percentage and um this also is the no new debt services for 2026. Yeah, so I think that's a huge win for the city. With those things, I do support it. >> All right, we don't anybody else left here to say the same thing again. I know >> I'll make a motion if we're at that point. Uh, I'll make a motion to adopt resolution 129-25 certifying the 2026 preliminary tax levy in the amount of 5,458,933. >> Motion by council member Sarah. >> Um, second the motion. >> Second by council member Pasco. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Post. Motion passes. All right. Um, again, that's the preliminary levy. We will know more in November when we get our property tax statements in the mail and we will have a public hearing at our first meeting in December. So, >> this isn't really a public comment. >> Just a question. >> Can you follow up with the email? Do you mind >> or we can chat at the end? >> Other than is there going to be an opportunity for discussion about this at any time or there going to be all public hearings? >> Public hearing. So, >> yes and no. discussion is always available. Tap any one of us on the shoulder on our way out of here. Um, email us. Again, we'll continue to get you answers to your questions and any information that you want to know. The public hearing, the format of a public hearing, and it's it's tough because it's got to be standardized, but people come in much like you did tonight, say your piece, and then we digest it. We used to do, this is more information than what you want to know, Eric, but we used to do it where we did the public hearing and then we voted on the uh the budget that same night probably a handful of years ago. We started doing the public hearing in one night and then we kind of digested it and kind of staff took direction based off of the comments that we received from there and then we made the decision on the final levy at our second meeting in December. We're going to continue to do that process. um this year where we'll do the public hearing. We'll take all the feedback from the public and then we will digest it, synthesize it, give staff direction on what we want to see based off of what we hear and then the decision on the budget will be made two weeks later. So, all right. Um moving on to the design, development, professional services for the future public services facility. >> Good evening, mayor and council. So, uh, tonight we'll be talking about, uh, design development for public services. Uh, at your August 4th meeting, the council authorized proceeding with that phase of the project. Uh, and just as a reminder, design development is a pre-construction activity. So, you're not, uh, in line for a date or moving forward. It's essentially a process to develop what the council and the community participated in with the space study or space assessment and make it into a project that can be reviewed by the council, reviewed by the community. It'll give you a layout of the building, some views, uh but probably most importantly refine cost estimates. uh having uh Andrew and his team uh participated kind of and along with the council developing that as a part of that process the the council adopted six guiding principles for that design development what are listed in your packet. Uh we also had uh two of the three major phases of design development uh architectural and construction management. Those services represented by Ortel and Terara construction at your August um excuse me at your uh previous council meeting in uh September at your September 2nd meeting. Um, connected with this overall project, uh, the council at your August 18th meeting approved a purchase agreement for about 22 acres of land owned by, uh, Bruce and Nancy Jer. Uh, there's a a public hearing related to the financing portion that will be coming up at your August, excuse me, August, October 6th meeting. Lots of dates here. Um, so there's two contracts in your packet for review. one related to Ortel for architectural, one related to Terara for uh construction uh management services. Um engineering services is provided under our existing uh agreement with Bolton and make for civil engineering. I'm going to pop this uh screen up on the or my screen up here. Um just kind of want to review kind of the financial pieces here. So uh architectural uh so that's related to kind of building design uh structural design uh the council had mentioned some pieces related to um sustainability uh solar etc. So that's about 831,000. Uh Terra Construction is uh essentially discounting uh their construction management services. So this initial phase of design development is at 15,000. And then civil engineering uh for 205,000. So that's related to kind of sighting the space survey work um storm water management which uh you all are familiar with as can be a significant piece in the development of a property. Um using kind of the council's direction um both embedded in within the strategic plan and just in budget discussions. there's been a a desire to avoid uh debt as relates to equipment certificates. Um taking that same strategy, uh we're giving the council an option or a scenario to uh pay for design development services uh just over a million dollars in cash. Um using the kind of the the theory that there is an option to do an interfer loan. Um but in some circles that could be viewed as kind of when you have that billion dollar obligation to pay off sometimes that inadvertently puts stress to move forward with a project at a certain time to pay back those pro of that debt service. Um because the only way you pay that off uh theoretically is through taking out a bond for that bigger project. You could pay it off through uh levy work or levies uh going forward. Uh but uh we've spent a lot of time and Lynn mentioned it in her presentation for the preliminary levy. Um we have 382,000 approximately dollars within the 2026 budget that's reallocated from debt service and put into uh the facility CIP. Um the thing that I would say that's a little outside of the box that we and we've verified our ability to do this through uh our bond council and our auditor. Um, we have when Levi Griffin Road was constructed back in 2011, uh, the majority of that project was outside of city limits and frankly with the exception of United Properties recent annexation is still out of city limits. Mills Fleet Farm prepaid their assessment. So, they were done. They owned the south side and the north side of the road. Uh, there are three remaining properties that had deferred um, assessments until they were going to be annexed. Um because those properties haven't annexed, the city has been paying approximately $115,000 per year out of in its debt service levy to fund that debt. So in essence, kind of prepaying on those assessments. Um what this strategy would do with the uh annexation of United Properties and that anticipated payment sometime in 2026, uh you would apply that payment and instead of putting it towards that as an assessment since that has theoretically already been paid over the last close to 15 years, you would be placing it um to be used as paying in cash, if you will, um the design design development costs. And as you can see, uh, the 1.1 million covers, uh, the 1,51,000. So, you'd theoretically be whole. You'd be through the design development process and not, uh, have an obligation to pay off uh, unless you proceeded with a project at some point in the future. Again, you would have an opportunity to say, "No, we don't want to do that. We're going to apply that to the Levi Griffin Road project." and then say uh we're going to do a uh similar $1.1 million interfund loan from the sanitary sewer fund and I we Lynn and I would have to do some analysis on what would the right fund would be uh to do that in consultation with uh Northland. Um so that's kind of the finance and I can walk through any of that specifically. I know that's um it worked in my mind and it took me several times to explain it to everybody in the right way for it to like land. So, uh, if it doesn't kind of quite hit, I'm happy to kind of review that again. I have your packet. You have the proposals from Ortell and Terra as well as Bolton and Mink and then the contracts were prepared uh, by the city attorney Dave Anderson. So, happy to answer any questions that you have. >> Questions? >> Motions? I'll make a motion to approve an agreement with Ortell Architects for design development services. >> Got a motion by council member Conrad. >> I'll second by council member Sarown. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor say >> I. >> Oppos same sign. Motion passes. >> I'll make a motion to approve an agreement with Terara Construction for design development services. >> Motion by council member Conrad. >> I'll second. Second by council member s. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Same sign. Motion passes. >> Right. >> Just one more thing, Merritt. I'm not sure if this was I think Dave has we would bring back a resolution I think to kind of clarify the financing. Is that what you're going to ask? >> Well, I was going to ask Bren um thanks mayor and council. Um just if there if you needed separate council approval for Bolton and Mink's proposal, which is in there as well. These were just for the other two agreements and I know there was the separate proposal from Bolden Mink in your presentation. So, I wasn't sure if you needed them to give you direction on that as well. >> Uh, I'd defer to you. I I assume that it was kind of under their kind of um regular city engineering work, but if you think it's appropriate, I'm happy to >> I think just a formal motion to proceed with Balden Mink's proposal is sufficient at this point. Um, I just want to make sure we don't miss that if there's any need. >> Y >> All right. I got it. I'd like to make I'd like to make a motion to approve civil engineering services proposal from Bolton and Mink. >> Motion by council member Conrad. >> I'll second. >> Second by council member Sar. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Same sign. >> Motion passes. >> So just one followup since this was related to that. So when we when we get the payment from United Properties for that Levi Griffin Road, Lyn and I work together and get a resolution just so you can be because it's such a large sum of money. We want to be on the record for that. >> Y sounds good. Thank you. Um, all right. Council communications and then we also skipped council requests during the work session. So if you have any, you want to go first? >> No communications. Uh, just a big thank you to everyone who helped make River City Days such a success this year. Sorry, River City Days. >> Steamboat Day. >> Do a great job in a great job there. Steamboat Days. Steamboat Days. I'm gonna blame the baby. >> Yes. >> I'm sleepdeprived. And yes. No, Steamboat Day. That made Steamboat Day such a success this year. >> Well, speaking of Steamboat Days, Chrissy, why next? >> Well, we had Steamboat Days in Harbor. Um, it was good. It was cold. Um, we want to say since we're in this setting, um, as the manager of the event, I want to say thank you to the city staff, um, for all that they do to help, uh, whether it comes from agreements or getting cones out, whatever it might be. Uh, public services has done a great job. Obviously, Vicki and Dave worked on some contracts with fireworks and things like that. We had to deal with a little bit of a different area looking area for fireworks and we got that taken care of, too. Um, if we could have had maybe 30 more degrees on Saturday night, we would have been fine because you could everyone could see their breath, including the singer of the band. So, >> they kept saying or no, that was Friday night. They kept saying, "It's great to be in Mononia." >> Did they? >> I almost called you because I was like, "Somebody better tap her shoulder." >> Oh, I didn't hear that or I would have stopped. And I was listening to the band most of the time, but we'll just leave it at that. Um, >> so >> maybe I was immortal. Uh we and then the sheriff's office. I know we worked kind of hard with them this year. Um I I again the crowds were a little bit smaller because the weather was uh cold on Saturday, but when it came to what I have to deal with on the parade morning and having cars moved and streets closed and things like that, it went much more smoothly than it has any year that we've done this. So that is fantastic. So again, thanks to all city staff um because so many people had a hand in it. Um I will say thank you to the steamboat days committee also because um they work very hard for as a small group throughout the year. So uh my only other thing is that I uh didn't wasn't able to attend the HPC meeting but I am going to be at the business alliance meeting this Friday morning. Morning. Can you remind me what time that is here? >> 11. >> 11 a.m. So >> come hungry and then always >> she brings snacks. All right. That's all I have. >> Uh no updates or communication today. >> All right. I have a bunch. Um, so we talked a little bit um about the public utilities commission meeting. I sent out an email kind of with the highlights of that. Um, but and I so it's wild to see other commissions and other forms of government. This meeting, Commissioner Tuma kind of took the lead in it and he was talking directly to me um and thanking us for expressing our concerns. He was really shocked and upset that we weren't included in the decision- making process, which was great to hear because we felt the same way. Um, but he kind of walked me through and helped me understand the process. In short, the cliffnotes version is this is going back to the administrative law judge and they will make a decision that have a finding and then report back to the puppy utilities commission. That sound right? Um, you're not tracking, right? You don't remember? >> I don't remember. So, >> okay. I was like, >> um, there's a deadline coming up. Two residents and then, um, Jeff Thompson from Dogren Township was also there. It's a little bit of a bummer because he was trying to speak and he was in this meeting room and he kept messaging. I was emailing the administrator and he didn't get a chance to speak until the end of the the hearing. Um, and he was a little disappointed that he didn't really get his option to speak and I'm not sure what the snap food was because really clear that he was messaging. I sent a couple emails. Um so that was one thing. Um I sent a link in the email that I sent there's the link to the public utility commission's decision. There's the recorded meeting. Um the thing that was really um noteworthy in that is another one of the commissioners that very towards the end of their discussion um kind of took the applicant and kind of gave them the grandma finger which is what we called this my family but said like hey these are residents in our communities because I think the uh England's had mentioned like we're being told we're just on farmers which hurts my heart a little bit, >> but he kind of took them to task and said, "Listen, you got to remember that these are the communities that you live, you know, these people live there. You are just here to do a project and you need to treat them appropriately." And I forget what the words were and he was so much more eloquent than I just was. Um, but he really took them to task and I think Brett and I were like, whoa, somebody just got scolded. Um, so that was noteworthy as well. But I think um more to come on this. It did not go the way I thought it would and that I was anticipating it was going to come to some kind of conclusion. Um it's the conclusion is to be continued. So >> did you guys have any questions on that? >> Um mayor, >> can I just jump in related to that? >> Yeah. >> There's there's a comment made by um Mr. All right. And tonight with I just want to clarify there's no reason to believe that Victoria is experiencing any issues with the water was repeated later by another resident. We've been on the other end of misinformation. If people have questions related to water, they should go directly to and call Victoria City Hall. But I have not heard that and I don't want that to um spread like somehow that's a matter of fact u without just addressing it and saying there's no reason to believe that is occurring. >> Thank you for saying that. That was a little bit of an uncomfortable moment and I don't want to be the one to tell a resident that they're wrong publicly in a meeting like this. Um so thank you for mentioning that. I really appreciate that. Um let's see. On uh September 4th I had mayor's office hours during Stebo days. um had a decent turnout because it was a warm place to come in. Uh during Steamboat Days, um let's see, Steamboat Days weekend. It was always well done and so much fun despite the cooler temperatures, which I thought was going to bring out more people than if it was like sweltering hot, but I didn't appear to. >> The night was so cold. >> Yeah, it was a little chilly. Um on September 9th, I visited Carver's newest business. Uh it's Ivy Aesthetics Med Spa. The owner is Britney. They have one location right now in Chanhasson and then this is their second location that they're opening up. They are just on the southwest corner of the roundabout in between chiropractic specialists of Carver and uh Healing Hands Veterinary Clinic. So, um they specialize in providing this is from their website, the highest quality aesthetic injectables along with IV vitamin therapy. So, they've got three treatment rooms. She gave me a little bit of a a tour and you guys been in there with the previous user, you the space looks completely different. Um it's very very different from what was in there. Um and is very like Graham worthy. So very nice looking um business that she's built for herself. Um also on Tuesday I went to the HPC meeting. The theme of the evening was window replacements. Um one was approved because it was wood and kind of original materials. the other was not because they wanted to put in a vinyl window. So, um, good to see that the HBC is kind of doing the right thing in terms of not allowing those vinyl windows. On the 10th last week, we had the ribbon cutting at Carver Place, which is providing 60 units of affordable housing in our community. Um, and was really cool. Not only was it the ribbon cutting for Carver Place, but it was also the I think it was the 45th anniversary of the CDA. Um so celebrating that anniversary with them. Um I invited everyone who is on city council in 2015. That's the council that made the decision for Carver Crossing. And I firmly believe that we would not have had a river river cutting for Carver Place had they not made the decision that they made. Um so Mike Webb showed up, Glenn Henry showed up, Jim Wand showed up. Um and then Reed was there as well. also invited the the council members who had a role in >> the planning process for that. So, um that was fun. Also went through and did a tour. There are one, two, and threebedroom units in there. Um and just some of the nicest apartments that I have ever seen in unit washers and dryers. Um it's a really nice building. There's a workout room, you name it. Um let's see. Last Friday on September 12th, there was the SWCTC meeting. We went, that's the Southwest Corridor Transportation Coalition meeting. We went over the Arboritum Transportation Plan. Um we heard from Eric Hansen at Southwest Transit and then we got a legislative update. Um so the next couple of years where there's kind of been um road construction kind of all over the place in the county. It's really going to focus on the arboritum and highway 5 for the next two years. And what's >> Oh, so we'll only have maybe one section of detour and not 100 like I think selfishly but from a cargo perspective which is applicable. It has been tough to get through Chasa to get to 212 this summer. It has been tough as we've talked about to get to Victoria this summer. You know like >> I think and >> right but like for those of us in our little bubble I don't know that that's going to have as much of impact um unless you're looking to get to the the arboritum. So um but that is coming. And then um on Sunday, yesterday I did a hike to the cheesecake. So had about 10 people join me. And um I planned it intentionally for the weekend after Steamboat Days because traditionally the weather always drops off and it's a little bit of a cooler day. It was not yesterday. It was funny, but we all made it. So it was uh was good to see some folks doing that. So that is it for me. that I would entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. A >> motion by council member Conrad. >> I'll second >> and a second by council member sir. Any further? All those in favor say I. I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. Good evening.