00:00:00,000 members, both men and women, at L, a. Thank you and good night. Good evening. I’m Rebecca Hawthorne, president of the League of Women Voters of the Lake Minnetonka Plymouth area. 00:00:21,800 I’d like to welcome our candidates, our audience and our viewers on behalf of the League of Women Voters, Lake Minnetonka, Plymouth area, the League of Women Voters is a 106 year old volunteer, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through advocacy and education. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. 00:00:51,600 The views expressed in this forum this evening are those of the candidates, not those of the League of Women Voters. It is our purpose in sponsoring forums such as this to provide you with an opportunity to hear candidates discuss, face to face, the issues that are important to you. 00:01:10,330 This is a non-partisan forum and we ask that campaign buttons or campaign T-shirts not be worn, nor signs or literature distributed in this room. Please silence your electronic devices. There is no photography or recording allowed during the forum. 00:01:34,000 And now I’d like to introduce your moderator for this evening’s forum, Patty Robles, a certified moderator and member of the League of Women Voters, Brooklyn Park, Osseo, Maple Grove area. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Tonight’s forum is provided to give you the opportunity to learn about the candidates running for City Council wards two, four, and at large. 00:01:53,030 There’s never enough time to cover all the issues in a setting such as this. If your question questions were not addressed, feel free to contact the candidate directly, either after the forum or reach out to them. The League of Women Voters post complete, unedited recordings of its forums. Editing is authorized only for official media reporting. 00:02:15,400 Only the full, unedited recording may be used by other persons and organizations. The rules for tonight’s forum are as follows. Candidates will be allowed a one minute opening statement to state their experiences, platform and objectives. A question and answer period will follow the opening statements. The questions will be confined to one minute unless designated by the moderator. 00:02:39,930 Opening statements will be given in alphabetical order by office, being sought, and questions will be answered in a rotating order. A 15 second warning will be given to the candidates, and here are your timers up here, so keep an eye out for them. Um, the candidates will also be given a two minute closing statement. 00:02:57,600 Candidates, please finish your statements quickly when you see the stop sign, or I will, or you will be interrupted respectfully and gently. But no reference of a personal nature will be tolerated. A person’s public record may be examined, but not their character. This form is made available to encourage the voting public to focus on the issues, and not on personalities. 00:03:19,170 We ask that there be no demonstrations in support or opposition to the candidates or their positions, and that candidates be allowed their full time to get their points across, because one minute is really short. The public has been encouraged to submit questions online in advance of this forum. 00:03:34,530 For those in the audience. If you have a question, write it on a three by five card available from our volunteers, and raise your hand to have it picked up. Audience questions will be taken for the first 30 minutes of the forum, and the timekeepers will alert me when 30 minutes have elapsed. 00:03:54,770 Uh, that’ll probably be about 755 questions that are unclear, hostile, or of a personal nature will not be used. Those that fall in the same general area may be consolidated. The city of Plymouth Plymouth has three races on the ballot. City Council one. Ward one. City Council Ward two and City Council at large. The candidates running for Plymouth City Council. Voted for. 00:04:15,500 Oops! I’m so glad that everybody’s paying attention. What a great audience we have here. Uh, and the candidates running for Plymouth City Council Ward two are Sarah Anderson, Scott Rae Johnson and Julie Peterson. Candidates running for Plymouth City Council Ward four are Julie Poynter and Adam Schmidt. 18. 00:04:41,100 Oh, gosh. You know, I don’t know how many times I reread this and I missed that. So sorry Aiden. So sorry. Is my sign right in front? Yes, it is. And I like to say your first and last name. So that kind of reinforces for your for the voters the canton. And now that we have it right. 00:05:00,600 That’s perfect. The candidates running for Plymouth City Council at large are Angela Bassett, Adele Braun and Jesse Maverick. Uh, we will begin with City Council Ward two candidates to give introductory remarks. State Street, starting with Sarah Anderson. And then we’ll move on to Scott Rae Johnson. Sarah. 00:05:21,170 Good evening and thank you to the League of Women Voters for hosting this forum. And to the residents of Plymouth for listening and learning. Local government matters. I’m Sarah Anderson and I’m running for Plymouth City Council, Ward two. Ward two has been home for me since the early 1970s. 00:05:44,870 I’ve watched Plymouth grow from beautiful farmland Into an award winning city in a large part of Plymouth’s success is due to the long history of citizen focused, fiscally responsible leadership. 00:06:09,330 Since becoming a Green Step City in 2023, it feels to me that the primary focus of leadership has shifted from the citizens and fiscal responsibility to following the Green Step Program for Sustainable Development. I am running to represent the fiscally responsible, citizen focused model of leadership that has made Plymouth a great place to live and will and raise a family, and it will keep it that way in the future. I’m Sarah Anderson and I would be honored to serve you. Thank you. Scott Ray Johnson. 00:06:28,400 I’m Scott Ray Johnson. I’ve lived in Plymouth, Minnesota since 1968. I moved here when I was 11 years old with my mom and my stepfather. We still own the same property. In 2004, we put a bigger home on that property. Um, Plymouth is a great place to live. 00:06:52,670 I served the Navy for eight years or seven years. Excuse me. And got two honorable discharges in that time. In 1984, when I got out, we just me and my wife decided we would settle in Pennsylvania. And we ended up in Maryland. After that. 00:07:23,470 And in 2004, I moved back here to help my mom put the new house on the property and why I’m running for city council is I get involved. I’ve been here for two years, going to every council meeting, and now I’m with the Citizen’s Academy. Thank you. Thank you very much. Julie Peterson. Thank you to the League of Women Voters. And thank you, Patty, for hosting this event tonight. 00:07:42,470 And thank you to my fellow candidates for participating. It has been an honor to serve the residents of Plymouth, Plymouth for the last four years. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished as the number one city in Minnesota, with the fourth largest economy in the state and one of the lowest tax rates in the metro. 00:07:59,270 We have invested in our infrastructure. We’ve overseen a rare redevelopment opportunity at the Boulevard, keeping green space a priority, launching Hello Plymouth to bring visitors to Plymouth to enjoy all that we have to offer and to support our local business community. 00:08:18,000 We establish a police and fire cadet program to ensure we have the public safety staff that we need instituted a housing fund and inclusionary housing policy, and created a path for auxiliary accessory dwelling units so that we’re adding ways for residents to call Plymouth home. 00:08:37,770 We’ve changed our approach to proclamations to be sure that our community members can know that they’re valued and seen and established listening sessions, so we can keep listening to you. Thank you. Um, next, the candidates running for Plymouth City Council, Ward four, and we’ll start with Julie Pointer. I first want to thank the League of Women Voters, residents, fellow candidates and my family. It has been an honor to represent Ward four on the Plymouth City Council. 00:08:58,000 And before that, I was the vice chair of the Plymouth Planning Commission. When I ran, many neighbors talked about the surprise tax bills that they received from street assessment assessments. Once I was on the council, I led the work to cap these costs to residents and also help you plan. 00:09:13,430 So now you can go to the city’s website and find out when your roads are going to be assessed. No more surprises. This is a great example of how the city council and staff compromise to get something done. I’ve also championed affordable housing. 00:09:30,670 I’ve helped Plymouth become a more environmentally resilient city, all while keeping Plymouth’s tax rate among the lowest in the metro. But we’ve got more to do. We’ve just begun drafting Plymouth’s next comprehensive plan. That’s the guiding document for our city’s future. 00:09:49,400 I’m running for re-election to ensure a welcoming place for all residents with more housing options, safe street, thriving businesses, a government that listens, and I would be honored to earn your vote. Thank you. Aidan Schmidt. Yes, I want to thank the League of Women Voters for putting on this event and Patty as well, and all the candidates that showed up tonight. I think we’re going to have a great time answering questions. 00:10:04,370 I grew up here in Plymouth since I was two years old. I, I’m not quite a native born resident, but I like to think I’m pretty darn close. I attended Osseo High School and after graduating I worked at Bühler, a company in Plymouth in the industrial sector, and I now work there full time. As a quotation specialist. 00:10:20,200 I’m running for city council because I think young people are often underrepresented in government, and I’m here to make a difference. I have firsthand experience shopping for a first home in Plymouth. I firsthand experience working two jobs in Plymouth. 00:10:34,330 I know how tough it can be to try to build your future as a young person, and I think it’s important that someone in the city council understands that and is able to represent it. So once again, my name is Aiden Schmidt, and thank you. Thank you. The candidates running for Plymouth City Council at large. We’re going to start with Angela Bassett. 00:10:50,030 Hi. Good evening. I’m Angela Bassett and I’m running for the At-Large position. I have 20 plus years in healthcare leadership and nursing. I’m actually a doctorate trained nurse practitioner. 00:11:12,500 And really, the bread and butter of my career has been working overseas and within the United States, helping to improve access to care to vulnerable populations, mostly with women’s reproductive health care. I’ve had the privilege of starting my career in Washington, D.C., and I’ve had the privilege also of working in East Africa, West Africa, Haiti, and most recently in collaboration with Johns Hopkins. 00:11:32,800 I helped to introduce the nurse practitioner role in Saudi Arabia to improve access, as well. Um, I’m currently an adjunct professor, helping to train the future of nurses right here in our community. I think my unique background, my leadership style brings a unique perspective to the City Council, and I’m pleased to be here. Thank you very much. Thank you. Adele Braun. Thank you to the League of Women Voters and. 00:11:54,270 For the citizens for being here tonight. My name is Adele Braun and I’m running for Plymouth City Council at large. I’m a wife, a goalie, hockey mom and a civil engineer. I’m running because I want to give back to the community that I care for. 00:12:10,670 For the past 20 years, I’ve worked on public infrastructure. That work has taught me to examine the details, question assumptions, understand cost and risks, and weigh today’s needs and long term consequences. My priorities are straightforward protect what works. Plan carefully for Plymouth’s future and invest responsibly. That means maintaining infrastructure and services that our community needs, making thoughtful decisions about growth and land use. 00:12:36,270 Protect what Plymouth. Protect those things that matter to Plymouth, and being careful about taxpayer dollars. I believe my experience would be a useful perspective to the City Council. Thank you, Jesse Maverick. First of all, happy birthday to my mom who’s watching online. Uh, thank you to the league for this opportunity. 00:12:58,630 And thank you to my fellow candidates for participating in democracy. My name is Jesse Maverick. I use him pronouns for those who can’t see me clearly. I’m a white, middle aged man with short blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a gray suit with a white button up and a green tie. I’m a husband and father. 00:13:16,330 I have 18 years experience in finance. I work in fraud prevention at a top five bank. My roots in Plymouth are deep. I’ve lived in Plymouth for over a decade. I’m a percussionist in the Plymouth Concert Band and I play Plymouth Rec league softball. 00:13:36,070 I am running to make sure our community is a safe, affordable and inclusive place for all who call Plymouth home. I look forward to the conversation tonight. Thank you. Thank you. We’re going to now start with the questions and rotating order. 00:13:56,130 I’ll announce the person who’s first up and the one following when I when I ask the questions, please feel free to ask me to repeat a question if you need to. And you have one minute for your your for your responses. Um, so we’re going to start first with Sarah Anderson and then Angela Bassett. If elected, how would you obtain and consider community input regarding city decisions? Sarah Anderson. 00:14:17,170 One of the things that I’ve thought about doing is having continuing the listening sessions, which I found personally as a resident, to be wonderful. I also think that it would be good for us to have opportunities like that. 00:14:33,730 Maybe in the winter time in local establishments to help us get to know our restaurants. But I do think it’s very important that the city Council has greater exposure with the citizens and the residents. Thank you, Angela Bassett and then Adele Braun, Angela Bassett. Thank you. Would you mind just repeating the question? Sure. 00:14:55,100 If elected, how would you obtain and consider community input regarding city decisions? Okay, great. So I feel like I have a pretty good handle on that already. I’ve done a ton of door knocking, which of course is the first hand of of connecting with residents and getting to know them and hearing their priorities. 00:15:11,800 I would also utilize things that already exist, um, part of not being the incumbent is doing a little bit of research and utilizing the residence surveys from 2025, which has been really helpful to understand what the priorities in Plymouth here with the residents, and also reaching out and connecting with the organizations that already exist here. 00:15:30,970 Um, I think just keeping it transparent, open door for residents to be able to contact me directly is also very helpful. Thank you. Thank you, Adele Braun and then Scott Johnson. Thanks. I, I think that learning what the citizens want is extremely valuable. 00:15:52,470 Um, the, the listening sessions that were added, um, definitely allow for the citizens to be able to voice their opinions. I think we need to expand those in any way we can. Um, I agree with what was talked about at the earlier meeting that just the 15 minutes in front of the mic is not necessarily enough. 00:16:07,870 We need to be able to have that back and forth conversation to really understand what it is that the citizens need and want, and open up that dialogue. So I would I would be in favor of of doing anything necessary to open up the dialogue. Thank you, Scott Ray Johnson and then Julie Peterson, Scott Ray Johnson. Repeat the question. 00:16:28,030 If elected, how would you obtain and consider community input regarding city decisions? I would pretty much continue what I’ve been doing. I’ve been a resident advocate for two years now, coming to every city hall meeting except for one and a two year stretch. I’ve also gone to the meetings before the meetings. 00:16:48,400 I also do a lot of door knocking. I’m also known as talk a lot. Scott. Um, I find out what the people want. That’s how I started coming here, because my neighbors were saying they gave up on City Hall because they don’t see nothing getting done. And that was my message to begin with. 00:17:13,000 I applaud Councilman Gregor and Peterson and Patterson for getting them listening sessions. I kind of feel sorry that the other three that aren’t running for this didn’t keep them going, which because they’re very important. Thank you. Thank you. Julie Peterson and Julie Pointer Julie Peterson. Thank you. If you haven’t already heard, we have these things called listening sessions. 00:17:34,200 They’ve been very popular and I’m so glad that we did them. And I helped to champion that change that we brought to our community. But you already know about that. And I definitely want to keep those going. 00:17:47,100 And they’ve been a great attribute partially for you, partially for us, because we want to be able to engage in in a dialogue with you. And that’s not provided as an opportunity in our forum. So we’ll keep those going for sure. But there’s other opportunities. We have the My Plymouth app where you can submit your input or get things fixed in the community. 00:18:02,530 We do flash votes on issues from time to time with our excellent communications department, surveys of the community about engagement, so we know what matters to you. And whenever we are doing big changes, there’s always an opportunity for the community to come and share their perspectives about what is happening in those changes. 00:18:19,830 For Plymouth, we value that tremendously and we’ll keep doing those. Thank you. Thank you, Julie Pointer and then Aiden Schmidt. I was part of that decision on listening sessions. Um, and I uh, super was super excited to schedule those and had a lot of fun. 00:18:40,930 The other ways that we can get involved in do things is, um, making sure that we’re out and about in the city. That’s the one thing that we’ve tried really, really hard. At least I have. And I know several of our council members, and they’re here tonight, too, because the only way to get to know what people need is when you’re with them. 00:18:55,930 The other thing is that my predecessor didn’t believe in answering emails. I’m not kidding. One email, maybe. Um. And I have answered try to answer almost every email that we have had and to say to somebody, I’ll answer your email or take your phone call. 00:19:13,530 Maybe sound simple, but when nobody takes your call, that’s really important. And I will always take your email and your call. So I think that just getting out and about is a big part of it. Thanks. Thank you, Aiden Schmidt. And then Jesse Fabric. Uh, yes, I agree with the listening sessions. I think those were a great opportunity. 00:19:30,070 And I’ve attended one and I had a great time. So I definitely support those. And well, door knocking. I actually spoke with someone who used to live in Bloomington, and I talked to him about this exact issue about communication, and he brought up that in Bloomington. 00:19:45,600 They would send out a survey, a quick little vote about what projects they should move forward with in the future and how they should spend their money when building up highway exits or new buildings, all that sort of stuff. And I think that’s just a great idea and a great thing to have here in Plymouth. 00:19:59,400 That way you can make sure when we’re building things, it follows with what people want, and we’re making sure building the limit that people will enjoy in the future. Thank you. Jesse. Fabric. I also support the listening sessions. Um, so I have a unique perspective because I not only support city activities, I participate in them. 00:20:22,530 So I’m not just going and listening to what community has to say and participating with community. I think that’s important. Um, I want to continue connecting with residents in those ways as well as in my campaign, doing driveway discussions, hearing directly from our neighbors on what their needs are. 00:20:43,900 Um, we also need to remember that Plymouth, uh, 30% of Plymouth residents are not white. So we need to make sure that diverse communities also are represented in the city meeting with groups like our Plymouth, um, diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group. 00:21:00,870 Um, and supporting things like the West Metro Asian Fair, which brought 10,000 people into our city to spend money. Um, the city can do more to, you know, add events like that to our calendar so that other people know, help with marketing and help with transportation. Thank you. Um, our next. Question, we’re going to start with Angela. Bassett and then Julie Pointer. 00:21:20,730 Uh, Plymouth is nearly fully developed and beginning to experience redevelopment. What are your visions, priorities, and goals for Plymouth’s further development and redevelopment? Angela Bassett great. Thank you. Um, I think that’s a great question. And I assumed it would have come up because, um, as we know, Plymouth is developed. 00:21:40,570 There is no more greenfield development to be had. So we are now at the point where we are redeveloping, which is a very different strategic approach. Um, and I think one of the things that we have to be very careful on when we redevelop is using that land very purposefully, um, because again, we don’t have a lot of land left to, to develop one 00:22:02,930 thing. That’s one of my priorities is housing. We want new families to come in. We want our seniors to stay in Plymouth after they’ve spent 30 years paying taxes. 00:22:21,500 So when we talk about redevelopment, we need to make sure that we are including the infrastructure that supports housing for the lifespan as well. So really, just when we think about redevelopment, making sure that we have those infrastructures in place to support those, um, those projects, thank you. Thank you. Julie Pointer and then Scott Ray Johnson, Julie Pointer. This has been a super fun topic for me. 00:22:42,300 Uh, why I joined the council was to get into what else can we bring to Plymouth? What can we do? Um, housing. Of course, if anybody talk to me and they’ll know I’ll geek out on housing. But senior housing specifically, if you knock in Ward four, you will find out constantly. And I have been begged and people have cried. 00:23:00,500 Seniors want options that are not rental. They want co-ops. They want condos. They want buildings that they have ownership in. Not that they rent. Um, we have been working hard and our legislators in this room will tell you I bugged them constantly to help me get the condo rules changed. 00:23:21,830 The other thing that we’re doing that’s super fantastic is using our industry and looking to that to change. And what else can we do with those buildings? We put in soccer and pickleball and all these different things. 00:23:36,230 So we are moving and switching and redeveloping and rethinking about what we’re going to have done and have in our city. Thank you, Scott Ray Johnson. And then Jesse Maverick Scott Ray Johnson. Yeah, it’s true, Plymouth is totally built. I like I said, I’ve been here since 68. I saw most of it come up. 00:23:54,430 Um, there is one stretch of land left, the Bear Farm north of the high school. But we need to focus on redeveloping, bringing in the right developers to develop our city the right way, at the right pace, financially, even though we are sitting financially stable right now. 00:24:20,070 Um, that’s mainly because of our high industrial base, and we don’t want to lose that. So when we do redevelopments, let’s not take industrial out to put a section eight housing in, um, the the trade off in taxes is on the stable. Thank you. Thank you, Jesse Maverick. And then Aiden Schmidt, Jesse Broderick. 00:24:46,700 So part of our vision for the future is the comprehensive plan, which we’re going to be talking about a little bit later this year. But it’s very important that anyone elected to the City council understands the plan and the vision there and is able to implement those plans going forward. 00:25:02,770 For me, what that looks like is not necessarily a traditional downtown area like you might see in other cities. Plymouth was planned for urban suburban sprawl, and that’s kind of what we got. 00:25:23,030 Um, so we’re going to have a different look, which might be mixed use areas where we can build some higher density residential, along with maybe some restaurants, businesses, um, so that people can live closer to where they shop, where they eat, hopefully where they work. Part of that is going to be transportation. Um, as a metrolink commuter, that’s something that I’m very passionate about. Um, we need to have a range of different ways to get around Plymouth. 00:25:40,630 If your primary mode of transportation is not a car. Thank you, Aiden Schmidt and then Julie Peterson, Aiden Schmidt. Uh, yes, I, I think it’s very important we redevelop Plymouth. Um, cities can go stagnant once they reach this limit that we’ve reached. And it’s important that we avoid that. 00:25:58,530 And we keep ourselves as the number one city in Minnesota that we’ve been for so long. I am fully in support of housing, and I’m glad the City Council has that priority, and I keep pushing that forward in the future. One important thing, though, that I think is missed is when it comes to road infrastructure. When we add these new developments. 00:26:13,930 I live near the new Coburn’s and I love that place. It’s a great place to shop, but with those new apartments being added, there’s going to be more people, there’s going to be more traffic and I’ve already had to take backroads to get to my house. 00:26:27,770 My whole family does it because we’ve been hit multiple times, sitting, waiting to turn, and there’s no turn lane off the northwest. And so I think making sure we make the proper changes to handle that population, I know in Vicksburg and in parts of Schmidt Lake Road, we already have those center left turn lanes. 00:26:43,330 I think we added those in northwest and other places where we’re adding more housing. I think it’ll be a lot safer and we’ll have less issues in the future. Thank you, Julie Peterson and then Adele Braun, Julie Peterson. Thank you. The comprehensive plan is a document that’s updated every ten years, and the next council will have the responsibility to update that document. 00:27:05,570 That document sets the blueprint, and it ties the hands of the Council on land use decisions for quite a while. And it’s incredibly important. And it will play a foundational role in that redevelopment that the community is going to be entering. Um, one of the greatest assets in our community right now is our industrial corridor. 00:27:22,570 It is the reason that we’re the fourth largest economy in the state. And somebody years ago had the bold, visionary idea to create it. I don’t exactly know what’s going to come out of our comprehensive planning process, but I want the decisions that we make to be bold and visionary so that people 20 00:27:39,630 years from now think back to the council in the mid 2020s and said, wow, that was a great idea. I’m glad they had the forethought to think about that because these changes take a long time and they require a vision, but it takes good leadership to get you there. 00:27:53,070 Thank you, Adele Braun and then Sarah Anderson, Adele Braun. As it’s been done, the comprehensive plan will be a document that will guide us in our decisions. My infrastructure background actually helps support understanding what needs to go in as we develop these areas. 00:28:14,430 Understanding that we need to make sure that we have the services that can support any development that comes our way. We can support the traffic, we can support the water or the electricity. Anything that’s needed as we redevelop, as we grow, and we need to do it thoughtfully and carefully. 00:28:32,570 I agree there needs to be a vision, but we also don’t want to take out what makes Plymouth so special. We need to make sure that that stays intact. Thank you, Sarah Anderson. Um, I would agree that 2040 comp plan, um, is very helpful. Helps you understand. 00:28:52,530 So if you haven’t looked at it, I’d encourage you to take a glance and educate yourself on where we’ve been going, and it’ll help you understand the direction we’re going as a city. Plymouth is a very special place. Everybody seems to love it. Nobody seems to have issues with Plymouth. 00:29:10,570 And so as we reimagine and we think about this next stage of development and redevelopment, I think one of the biggest things the city council needs to wrestle with is to not lose the unique character and nature of Plymouth that has made Plymouth such a great place to live. We don’t have a destination, we don’t have shopping districts and restaurant districts, and yet people love Plymouth. 00:29:27,700 And so as we think about where we’re going in the future, I think it’s very important that we’re mindful of what it is, which seems almost intangible. That makes Plymouth such a special place. Thank you. All right. For our next question, we’re going to start with Julie Pointer and then Jesse Fabric. 00:29:47,330 The Plymouth City Council previously approved seeking legislative legislative authorization for a 0.5% local sales tax to fund 135 million in major recreation upgrades, including the Plymouth Ice Center, a new field house at the community center, and a sports complex at the former Four Seasons Mall site. 00:30:14,170 If elected, how would you approach funding these large scale community projects, and would you support bringing the this half cent sales tax referendum back to the legislature and voters? Let’s start with Julie Pointer and then Jessie Fabric. Julie Pointer. First, I need to make it clear that this was an option from the state that we asked the state legislature, along with a bunch of other cities. 00:30:32,370 It wasn’t just Plymouth making this ask. Um, we asked them for this half cent we it could have been it totally different amount. Once this was asked is then just to get permission to bring it to the voters. The things that we have in Plymouth need updating. Things in Plymouth are out of date. 00:30:51,070 Things in Plymouth, um, need to grow as we’ve seen were redeveloped. We’ve talked about it up here. We need things that to grow in Plymouth. And so the sales tax we one of them. Am I for it. I don’t all I did when we made the decisions. 00:31:06,530 My part in it was to decide what were the important projects, what could we put there. The decision is up to the voters, the decision on what to do in the council. We all decided to help with where would we put this money? And it’s a regional project. It is not something that’s just for Plymouth. 00:31:23,430 It’s projects for the region. Thank you, Jesse Maverick and then Julie Peterson, Jesse Maverick. So as someone who has participated in sports my whole life, I support the projects that this sales tax, this half penny sales tax would help to fund. That being said, I would reiterate that there are two steps. 00:31:47,100 So it has to get passed by the legislature. And then it goes to a ballot and voters get to decide for ourselves whether that is something that we will support or not. I trust the voters in Plymouth to make right decisions for our community. 00:32:05,030 That being said, with a sales tax, you’re going to have a regressive form of tax, meaning that the people who have the least amount of money are going to be disproportionately affected by that tax. 00:32:23,170 Um, so what I would like to do in terms of funding is look for state partnerships and county partnerships that I’ve helped build those relationships over the years, as well as private and public partnerships to see if we can fund it in a way that doesn’t affect our most vulnerable communities. Thank you, Julie Peterson. And then Sarah Anderson, Julie Peterson. Thank you. 00:32:43,430 The initiative was called Play It Forward, which was why it was, you know, focused on these recreational opportunities for the community right now. Are we have three sheets of light at the ice at the Plymouth Ice Center. And our hockey community rents out the equivalent of an entire sheet of ice already in other communities. The need for that is there, but the cost is also high. 00:33:00,570 Um, it’s better than maybe putting it directly onto residents property taxes by allowing drawing a lot more into our community, enhancing our local economy, and providing more opportunity for our residents who already live here. And some of these items require some maintenance costs in the future. 00:33:22,570 Anyway, the dome at the Plymouth Community Center is in the end of its years, and it’s very costly to maintain, so something will need to be done with those things anyway. And as they’ve already said, asking the legislature for permission is just so that we can get it to the voters. 00:33:36,430 And you can decide, I don’t want to be the gatekeeper of that decision for the community. And I know that there’s a lot of interest in it, and everyone would benefit. Thank you. Sarah Anderson and then Angela Bassett, Sarah Anderson. 00:33:54,500 Um, while the amenities that this tax could afford would be lovely, um, and I do think that it will come if we decide as a council to move that forward to the residents. Ultimately, um, I do think there’s a place of being cautious that all of our wishes and desires that we consider those most vulnerable, financially vulnerable among us, and the hardship that it could be on them, whether it’s our city building and programs 00:34:13,100 that we’re doing that could increase our taxes and the demand on our basic services that we do need to serve our community as we continue to redevelop and grow, as well as these extras, which we’re fortunate in Plymouth that we can have such wonderful amenities, and we do need to 00:34:28,970 take care of the ones that we have. Um, so ultimately, obviously it would need to go to the residents, um, here. But I do have concerns that we’re placing burdens on those most vulnerable among us. Thank you. And Angela Bassett and then Adele Braun, Angela Bassett. 00:34:45,670 Yeah, play it forward. I mean, as a as a sports mom, I think it’s a great idea. I think Plymouth has a number of great sporting, um, recreational areas, but they do need to be renovated. And so I, as a resident was very excited about this. 00:35:05,000 I also do agree that these needs to go through the process, and our residents need to decide on this, which I think is a great process as well. My understanding is as also that, um, you know, even though there is a sales tax that these structures would generate, people coming from outside of Plymouth and they would come in and they would also be participating in pale. 00:35:24,170 So the sales tax from outside residents, and they speculate maybe 55% would actually be paid from people outside of Plymouth. So I think that’s also, um, a, you know, a good thing to look at that it wouldn’t just be settled on Plymouth residents to pay for it as well. 00:35:40,870 But yeah, I think it’s an exciting project. Thank you. Thank you, Adele Braun and then Scott Ray Johnson. So ultimately if a taxes is proposed, it would be up to the citizens. So um, not as much about the tax but about if this is the infrastructure that we would build. 00:35:58,430 Um, I think we need to consider will it be self-sustaining? Um, we need to make sure that, um, ultimately, if we do, um, put in an additional sheet of ice, can we, can we get that money back? Um, I’m a hockey mom. 00:36:14,370 Um, I know how much people spend on sports. Um, and it is it is exhausting. Um, but it is one of those things that that is a pride of a community, and I, I think we need to, um, be very thoughtful in this and, and making sure that the right, um, the right selection is going to 00:36:35,300 for any of the taxes that we generate. Um, but also but ultimately, I do worry that it needs to be self-sustaining. Thank you. Scott Ray Johnson. And then, um, Aidan Schmidt, Scott Ray Johnson. Yeah, yeah, the half a percent sales tax is a lot better. 00:37:00,830 Alternative than a property tax, because the property tax only affects a certain small amount of people in Plymouth, where a, where a sales tax gets everybody, um, 90% of the people that eat at Arby’s every day, because I eat there every day don’t live in Plymouth. And that’s across all the areas here. 00:37:28,570 And as far as worrying about buying a big item purchase in Plymouth, they don’t exist. We have no car lots. We have a locals and and uh, and uh, Home Depot for your appliances. So the cost would be minimal. And it’s another way we could do this is with a recreational cannabis shop owned by the city. Anoka is on track right now to get $4 million. 00:37:55,270 Thank you so much. Um, Aidan Smith Schmidt. Uh, yeah, I want to echo what Jesse and Sarah said. I think we have to be careful with the sales tax, because that does affect, um, a lot of people, especially younger people who sometimes can’t afford that. 00:38:08,630 And, um, I do think it is great to add another sheet of ice. I have door knocked with a lot of hockey moms, and they have concerns about how hard it is to get ice sheets in this area. And so it is good that we add it. 00:38:21,200 I think we just need to look into other areas of taxing and gaining revenue in another way. We’ve talked a few times, a few people up here about that industrial tax base that we have, and again, that was built for a reason. It was built so that we don’t have to tax the people who live here as much. 00:38:34,770 And so I think looking at that and maybe using that to gain extra revenue would be a better spot than just throwing a sales tax on the people where it could affect some people that can’t handle that extra cost. Thank you. 00:38:50,230 Um, for our next question, we’re going to start with Adele Braun and then Julie Petersen. Plymouth recently adopted a one year moratorium on data centers. If a data center was were proposed in Plymouth following the moratorium, what benefits and concerns would you consider and what standards or conditions should apply? Adele Braun and then Julie Peterson. Thank you. This is a great question. 00:39:13,330 The reality is data centers that are built in the US are not done in a way that’s environmentally friendly. Um, we do not consider utilizing the heat that comes off data centers like we like is done in Europe. It, um, they use an immense amount of electricity and water, um, when they’re being built. 00:39:31,300 If one is proposed, the reality is we need to have we need to make sure that it’s done in a very safe way. That will. And it won’t over, um, use the existing infrastructure that we have. Um, we have to make sure that we have water for our citizens, not just for our data center. 00:39:50,700 So, um, it’s going to be it’s going to require a significant amount of planning to do it in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Thank you, Julie Peterson and then Jesse Maverick, Julie Peterson. Thank you. With the moratorium that Plymouth has passed, the city now has time to study it. Take our time. Be methodical. 00:40:12,500 When a land use application comes in, there’s a clock that starts running and we didn’t have any, um, any ordinances that contemplated exactly what a data center is or what the current version of a data center is. 00:40:32,230 So thanks to council Member Pointers leadership, she put that proposal forward, and now we have the time to be methodical, take our time, not be on the clock. Get it right for the community and the residents of Plymouth. And I’m really glad we’ll have the time to do that. Thank you Jessie. Maverick and then Aiden Schmidt, Jesse Fabric. 00:40:50,830 First want to thank Council member pointer and council member Peterson and the rest of the council unanimous decision to place a one year moratorium on data centers. I also support the moratorium until we can establish good neighbor ordinances or state legislation for data centers. 00:41:14,570 To address some of the issues we’ve talked about the size of the data centers that are allowed, uh, decibel levels, water and electricity uses, usage and pay rates and other environmental concerns. Data centers can provide essential digital infrastructure and tax revenue, but they also strain our local power grids, and they consume massive amounts of water. Even if you’re using a closed loop system to try to keep the water clean, there’s still a volume issue. 00:41:37,370 So in Plymouth, we are self-sustaining. Financially. I don’t see Plymouth as a good home for data centers at this point. Thank you, Aidan Schmidt and then Julie Pointer, Addie Schmidt. Uh, yeah, I think the moratorium was a great idea, but when I get elected, it’ll come to us at some point. 00:41:53,900 And I can say right now, at the current state of data centers, I would say, no, I don’t think Plymouth needs a data center. It adds so much electricity, so much water. It’s going to cost so much more. For all the residents of Plymouth. And it’s just going to lower the quality of life all around. 00:42:07,400 And sure, it’ll offer jobs and tax opportunities, but I just don’t think that taking money to make the quality of life worse is a good idea in any sense of the word. And so when it does come around where the moratorium ends and we do have to vote for it, I’d be against adding a data center. 00:42:22,130 Thank you. Julie Pointer and then Sarah Anderson, Julie Pointer. Um, I am a researcher. That’s my job. Um, and an analyst. And I learn a lot of things and listen and watch and what I saw coming and happening with data centers across the country was starting to give me concern and pause. 00:42:41,400 And I brought to the council the idea of, let’s just wait, especially after watching what happened in Inver Grove Heights, what happened to them is a costly, um, event, and they eventually had were forced to do something. The city of Plymouth has been forced to do something that we didn’t want, and I didn’t want that again. 00:42:58,500 And so I offered and asked to please do the moratorium. And I was very thankful that the council agreed. And I think the next step is, is listening to what staff finds out. And the research that we’re going to find on this. 00:43:16,100 Um, from what I’ve been hearing, especially about the diesel, I didn’t know about the decimal part until I started reaching researching it. So I appreciate this opportunity for us to pause and learn. I think that’s the most important thing. And that’s the again, for the comp plan. Where would we put it? It’s all that’s all out in our future. Thank you, Sarah Anderson. And then Scott Rae Johnson, Sarah Anderson. 00:43:35,270 Data centers I would have a lot to learn. I would be very interested to hear what our commissioners come up with. And, um, where our council is at, there are definitely benefits to data centers creating a lot of revenue done. Well, perhaps it could be a benefit. 00:43:53,870 I think a lot of people have huge reservations about data centers for all the reasons already mentioned. So I think Plymouth, if we move forward with the data center, would need to be very cautious. And I think the residents need to be listened to. Thank you, Scott Ray Johnson and then Angela Bassett, Scott Ray Johnson. 00:44:13,730 Yeah, data centers is a hot topic before the moratorium, Plymouth didn’t allow data centers here in the first place. It’s our zoning. Don’t allow them. But the council took it upon themselves to put a year moratorium on it, which I agree with. Um, Plymouth doesn’t need data centers. 00:44:36,730 Not at all. We don’t need the money. We don’t a we don’t have the land. There’s nowhere to put them. And even if we had the land to put them on, it’s too expensive. The margins in that data center won’t work in Plymouth. 00:44:59,700 It’s too expensive to live in Plymouth to build a data center, to build industrial. It’s expensive here, and that’s what keeps these negative projects out of Plymouth. And I like that. I like the direction Plymouth is gone. Thank you. Thank you. Angela Bassett. Yeah I mean, I think I would echo probably a lot of people. And this is something we probably will all agree on. 00:45:20,770 I’m very grateful for the moratorium. I think that was a smart choice. I think when you’re looking at any new projects, doing a, um, a feasibility and a fiscal long term study needs to be done. Obviously, there are benefits to data centers. 00:45:39,100 There’s a revenue that will be generated, and that’s something that could pay for play it forward, something like that. But obviously there are a lot of environmental concerns. The noise pollution, the use of electricity, the use of water. So I would echo everybody up. 00:45:57,030 I think everybody has mentioned that, you know, taking this time, doing it right and making sure that it fits with the Plymouth culture. And I also would agree that I would think that it probably will not come to fruition. There’s so little land left left in Plymouth, and that land is quite expensive. 00:46:12,300 And these data centers are huge places that, you know, need kind of vast, cheap land. So it might be something that’s kind of a moot point anyway. Thank you. Thank you. All right. For the next question, we’re going to start start with Scott Rae Johnson and then Aidan Schmidt. Uh, this question is the recent cybersecurity attack on drinking water systems in Plymouth has been in the news. 00:46:33,100 How will you address cybersecurity related to city infrastructure and services? Scott Rae Johnson and then Aidan Schmidt, Scott Rae Johnson. Well, being that I’ve been coming to all the council meetings for two years and the work sessions, I’m quite in tuned on what’s going on with the cyber attack. 00:46:53,100 It didn’t affect us at all. We caught it right away with the systems we have. If our systems wouldn’t have caught it, I’d say let’s tighten upon our systems. 00:47:10,770 Um, it’s a lot of the reasons why I don’t do Facebook or none of that stuff because of the hackers out there. Um, I live a very simple life, and I think that’s how putting everything over the wire inside. So if we can keep it more in-house is the way to do it than putting it over the web without safeguards. Um, so, yeah, safeguards. But we got through it quite well. 00:47:37,630 Thank you, Aiden Schmidt and then Sara Anderson, Aiden Schmidt. So the way the city works is, um, you have that city manager and he controls all the actual running of the city. And so I think working with him would be important to figure out what happened and why it happened. 00:47:53,770 It’s not necessarily a city council job, unless if we wanted to push forward changes. And I think the only change that I would bring up is maybe a cybersecurity person to watch issues like that and make sure it doesn’t happen again. 00:48:08,230 Luckily, it didn’t get too far that it caused severe issues, but most of all, I would trust our city employees and our city manager to handle the issue and make sure that it doesn’t happen again. Thank you, Sarah Anderson. And then, um, Adele Braun, Sarah Anderson. 00:48:26,830 In terms of the cybersecurity, I think it was a wonderful wake up call as we didn’t have bad outcomes. But it is a reminder that we are living in a different day and age. And this is another one of those unexpected, not talked about costs that’s going to be added going forward. 00:48:44,430 Cities need to be very mindful of the cyber threats that we’ve are faced with, and they need to address that with added funding for the departments. I know we have an IT department that actually works with the cybersecurity stuff. The police chief also that department addresses some of those things. 00:49:03,170 We just need to be sure we’re allocating additional funds with all the other things that we’re wanting to be doing right now, to the very things that keep our basic infrastructure and our citizens safe. Thank you, Adele Braun. And then Jesse Maverick, Adele Braun. Thank you. 00:49:22,630 So I’ve done a lot of work on infrastructure like hydropower and what you do when you design anything that’s online is you actually contemplate how it could be impacted, how what is the cybersecurity of your system if somebody can actually get to it? Sometimes you have systems that are 100% offline intentionally because they’re that secure. However, other systems you need to run remotely. 00:49:43,700 So when you design them, you take them into account. And you you go through essentially a checklist to make sure these processes are in place. Plymouth did a fantastic job. They did everything right. And we need to we need to, um, encourage that that continues that they do it how they’re supposed to design things. 00:50:04,570 Um, and they put those safeguards in place moving forward on anything else that we build. Thank you, Jessie Fabric. And then Angela Bassett, Jessie, Jessie fabric. Thank you. I have personally worked in risk management for the past 18 years. So I can tell you from personal and professional experience, the best way to deal with risks is to prevent them from happening in the first place. 00:50:29,200 And that takes a risk mindset and planning ahead for these types of attacks. I want to echo that. I think the city employees who reacted very quickly to this emergency so that it didn’t affect us as residents, um, also want to thank the city for being transparent about the fact that 00:50:49,000 this happened. Not every city who was attacked actually told their citizens about it. Um, so I appreciate the transparency from the city on this. Um, I would just say not only having that risk mindset planning ahead saves us from the attacks themselves, but also saves us financially. 00:51:06,670 It’s a lot more expensive to deal with these things after they happen. Thank you, Angela Bassett and then Julie Pointer, Angela Bassett. Um, I think this is, um, you know, a lesson learned. It’s a great wake up call. As Sarah mentioned. 00:51:27,330 Um, of course you don’t want anything bad to happen to your city as far as cybersecurity, AI, you don’t want these things to happen. But in nursing, we call this a near miss when something happens. But there is no mortality or morbidity that comes from this. And it’s actually a great learning experience. Um, and I also commend our city officials for being very transparent. 00:51:48,700 I am sure we will touch on this later on, but I think the same things can be learned when we think about flock cameras and data security. All of those things as well is how are we are safeguarding that information. And that’s very important for our residents. Thank you. Thank you Julie. Julie Pointer and then Scott Ray Peterson, Julie Portner. 00:52:07,270 Um, I think that enough thanks can not be given to our city staff. Um, not just from the staff worker that found the issue, brought it up the chain all the way up to wherever it needed to go. And it was acted on immediately. 00:52:30,470 We had staff members voluntarily coming in off of their vacations to help, because that’s the kind of staff we have. I am making sure and I made sure that on this budget we have, I needed to see the cybersecurity line in the budget because it is important. It is 2026. 00:52:44,100 This is what we have and this is what we have to do. Um, I think that we have the staff keeps up to date. We we allow them the, the resources to do this. And I am very proud again of our staff and what our city did to control this and be transparent. Thank you. And how about we hear from Julie Peterson said. 00:53:05,000 Thank you. Um, my day job is in critical infrastructure and related to the electric grid. And so every day I’m surrounded by conversations about cybersecurity. 00:53:23,630 It is a is a huge challenge, and it is only going to get worse and get worse fast as AI, uh, continues to come into our world, one of the most important things about cybersecurity is your defenses need to be robust. 00:53:40,270 But you also on the other side, sometimes it’s not a matter of when or if, but when and being able to be resilient and responsive when it happens is as important as trying to prevent it from happening. So the fact that our staff was able to quickly switch over what’s an everyday automated process and shift it to manual. And they knew how to do that. They’d been trained and they were prepared. That’s part of resilience and that’s really critical. 00:54:00,000 So prioritizing the budget as well and our our transparency response, not just being transparent but being the first one to be transparent and open up with our community about what had happened. So, um, a lot of lessons learned, but a lot of emphasis needed to keep that strong. Thank you. All right. We’ll start with Jessie next. And then Julie Peterson. 00:54:18,670 Um, Plymouth currently uses 18 automated license plate readers known as flock cameras. What benefits and concerns do you see associated with this technology? What policies or safeguards should govern their use? Jessie Fabric and then Julie Peterson, Jessie Fabric. Thank you. 00:54:41,870 I do not support the extension of our contract with FLoC in its current form, there is plenty of evidence to show that automated license plate readers have been used for good as a father, especially with Amber alerts. Uh, that’s something that we definitely want to have a quicker response. Um, public safety officers should have access to innovative tools to help them keep us safe. That’s a separate conversation in my mind with Flack. 00:55:04,070 There are big issues with who owns the data. Uh, it’s not the city, um, how it’s stored and how it’s shared. So I have unique skills and experience in technology and risk management. I will make sure we have proper security in place to balance your personal privacy and public safety. Thank you, Julie Peterson. And then Aiden Schmidt, Julie Peterson. 00:55:27,470 Thank you. The city is holding a study session on this topic on Tuesday, September 22nd at 5 p.m. it’ll be in the room next door. So I do encourage residents to come out and hear that that session, it’ll be really important. 00:55:46,100 Until then, officially, I’m keeping an open mind because I do want to make sure I’ve heard all the facts and information about the issue. But with that said, I have heard from many residents who are opposed to the continued use of FLoC Alpa. Alpa cameras in Plymouth, citing concerns about privacy, data security and misuse. I’m trying to parse facts from misinformation. There’s a lot of that going around as well. 00:56:06,500 Um, and on the other hand, established guardrails can address many common concerns we hear about in the news. Um, well, the cameras have been used to solve multiple crimes. I’m not yet sure that what we gain is worth what we give up. 00:56:22,100 It is a paramount thing that our community has trust, not just in our law enforcement, but also in the tools that they use. Thank you, Aiden Schmidt. And then Angela Bassett, Aiden Schmidt and Aiden, could you speak up a little bit or pull your mic a little closer? Thank you. So the police chief. 00:56:39,500 Has spoken about this, and he does say it’s a valuable tool that helps out the police. And I think that is an opinion to consider. But in the long run, flock cameras are not security cameras. They store database on where you’ve gone based on your license plate. And at the end of the day, that’s not security, that’s mass surveillance. 00:56:54,570 And I think that’s just not something I’m willing to have in this city or anywhere around here. And I think there is a very good reason on why we’re seeing so many people fight against it across the country and even close to home. I think it was, um, Winona down south of Minnesota. 00:57:08,430 They were moved, all of them in one night. And I think it’s important that we take the opinions of what people are saying into considerations. Very clear. People don’t like them. I don’t think they’re a good idea to have. And I would get rid of them. Thank you. Thank you, Angela Bassett. And then Sarah Anderson, Angela Bassett. 00:57:25,500 Great. Um, yeah. I support advanced technology to help our public safety officers. Our police officers. I think we live in a day where a police officer can no longer sit in his car and catch the bad guys. 00:57:42,570 The other thing I think we keep in mind is, you know, violent crime is not. Of course, it does happen in Plymouth, but really, property crime is what we deal with mostly in Plymouth. So helping our public safety officers in the in the best way we can. 00:57:57,730 With that being said, I’ve spoke with the public safety leadership and I also have spoke with a lot of residents. When I door knock and I hear that there’s a lot of concern. And what that means to me is there’s a disconnect. There’s a discord of information. What public safety is saying that our data is secure and residents feel like it’s not. 00:58:14,100 And I think as the city, as a council, our job is to bridge that gap and either find out if it’s not secure, then we need to change. If it is secure, we need to do a better job of convincing the consumers. And the consumers are our residents. Um, and so again, I am still in the the fact gathering space. 00:58:30,130 Thank you, Sarah Anderson. And then Scott Rae Johnson, Sarah Anderson. The Plymouth Police Department has done a great job of keeping Plymouth safe, and has done so long before flock cameras were installed, personal privacy is daily sacrificed through smart devices, appliances and vehicles with a warrant. This voluntarily sacrificed data is available to law enforcement. 00:58:58,470 It’s one thing to be recorded on Lowe’s camera. It’s another thing to have a governmental organization recording data and storing it. About me. The, um, the topic that also touches on is our right to privacy, our Fourth Amendment right to privacy. 00:59:20,830 Um, and the right in the fifth, at the 14th amendment. That speaks to the presumption of innocence. Photographing our license plates without any cause is assumes that maybe there is a reason that they need to be photographed. Thank you, Scott Ray Johnson. And then Adele Braun, Scott Ray Johnson. I don’t believe in plaque. The company itself. There are other companies that kind of do it. 00:59:47,300 I’ve had in-depth conversations with this, with another gentleman that keeps coming to the aisle or to the podium. Um, I embrace the technology. We need it for Amber alerts for security. If they’re used properly, like when they were first introduced, you put them in key locations, not everywhere in town. 01:00:15,300 You put them in key locations to keep police from having to do high speed chases and things like that. Not every intersection, only certain ones and the data should be deleted within 30 days. Thank you. Thank you, Adele Braun. And then Julie Pointer Adele Braun. 01:00:36,270 When I first heard about these cameras, the first thing I thought was, what if something happened to my daughter? Um, so that honestly biased my view. However, there are obviously privacy concerns. And I started to, you know, dig more in because of all the concerns that people voiced. Understanding those privacy concerns and really weighing it against, um, the potential safety of what it brings. 01:00:59,670 Ultimately, can you have the the guardrails necessary to have these cameras? I don’t know, um, there is going to be that session on the 22nd, and I look forward to learning more. I think it is something that before we completely dismiss the system, I think we need to learn more. 01:01:17,300 But I definitely don’t think we should expand it without learning more. Um, I think we are just in a data gathering session right now. Um, and, and maintaining what we have, but not going either extreme until we understand it. Thank you. Julie Pointer. 01:01:39,670 I, um, trust our Plymouth Police Department, and I like to separate the police department from the tools that we give the police. Um, I personally feel that I need to have all the information in front of me before we make a decision. That’s my job. That’s what we. 01:01:58,830 We took this job to so we can seriously get all the information and make a decision. Um, I think hearing from residents, I hope that you come on the 22nd and listen, you can’t talk there, but you sure can come to the forum. You can share emails, you can call us, you can do anything you want. We need to hear from you. That’s the important. 01:02:17,530 But I am hearing about privacy, constitutionality. Um, misuse. And then I hear that the guardrails are in place and we catch the people that are misusing it. The officers that are misusing it. So it’s up to me to take this information and make a decision. 01:02:35,200 And, um, I’m hoping that we can get some more information and help our police have the tools that they need. Maybe this isn’t the tool. Thank you. All right. For our next question, we’re going to start with Aidan Schmidt. Julie Pointer. We’ll be after him. What matters of public safety, if any, do you believe require change in city policy, ordinance or funding? Aidan Schmidt. 01:02:59,130 Yeah, I want to start by saying that we do have a great police department here in Plymouth. Chief Fadden does an amazing job at making sure that they’re trained. 01:03:14,030 They’re able to handle every situation and that they’re well prepared for all the many, many things police officers have to deal with every day. Uh, one thing that I have heard is that the Plymouth Police Department is understaffed. They’re authorized for about six more officers than they. And I think it’s important that we go out there and make sure it gets staffed. 01:03:28,770 I think reaching out to high schools and trying to get people who are looking for a career future would be a great place to start. If we want to hire more police officers. I also think that we need to focus on the road infrastructure. 01:03:46,400 As I mentioned earlier, because part of public safety is being able to drive and making sure that you aren’t getting into car crashes and that you can drive around safe. And with some of the roads we have, like northwest, that I live off of, I think there are improvements that can be done to improve public safety and make everyone’s lives easier. Thank you. Julie Pointer and then Angela Bassett. Julie Pointer. 01:04:03,730 Can you read the question again? Huh? What matters of public safety, if any, do you believe require change in city policy, ordinance or funding? I think one of the biggest changes we’re trying to make and are currently working on is, um, how our fire department is asked to be used. Um, there’s a lot more medical things that are happening. 01:04:29,370 People who fall and they need help getting up. And so we we have been talking internally about what we can do to support our fire department. Um, and, and what changes do we need to make in equipment? Do we need to give them so that they can they can attend to these calls because that’s one of the 01:04:47,830 medicals are the largest call. Um, I have heard talk in different times about getting electronic vehicles for the police, but they’re not there yet. That technology isn’t there. But I would like to look to that into the future with how much those vehicles. But I really think we need to support our fire department. 01:05:06,730 Thank you, Angela Bassett. And then Adele Braun. Angela bassett. Yeah, this is a great question. I mean, the majority of our money that we spend in the city is on public safety. So it’s a great question to think about. 01:05:25,530 Um, when you look at the how Plymouth residents feel, 94% of Plymouth residents feel that they are safe, but that also means 6% don’t feel they are safe. So I think we still keep this in the forefront of our mind. Um, staffing, you know, it’s not a great time to be a police officer. So recruitment and entertainment is pretty difficult. 01:05:41,700 Um, I’ve spoken directly with the chief of police, and, you know, he’s got some things, and he thinks by next year he will be fully up to staff, which is great, great news. But also, um, retaining them. 01:05:56,570 One thing that I was really happy to hear, and again, from my nursing background, um, is that on Plymouth staff, we do have a behavioral or mental health specialist so that when an officer goes out, it’s not just a uniformed officer that is responding to mental health or behavior issues. Um, and there is also a social services network within it, which I think a lot of, um, our residents would, would, uh, value. Thank you. 01:06:16,670 Thank you. Adele Braun and then Julie Peterson, Adele Braun. Ultimately, I think we need to make sure that the, um, the public safety, um, has the tools and the funding that they need to operate. 01:06:35,970 Um, when when they spoke with all of the council members that that were, um, on the ballot, they did actually, they did talk about the behavioral unit, and they also talked about the potential need for the housing of that. So we make we need to make sure that, um, they do have the housing for each of the elements that they have in their system. 01:06:53,130 And maybe looking outside of the existing infrastructure, maybe there’s another maybe we can find unique solutions to help them along that doesn’t add additional, um, additional cost. Thank you. Julie Peterson and then Jessie Barrick, Julie Peterson. Uh. 01:07:19,830 Every time that our public safety, uh, needs have come before the council, from a budget perspective, we’ve ensured that they have the resources that they need to keep our community safe. And they do a very good job of that. Um. Our mental health piece of it is still a big focus as well. Um, that’s something that a lot of law enforcement departments are still grappling with, making sure they have the right resources to navigate that increasing need in our communities. 01:07:44,770 Our fire program is got some some needs ahead of it. So there may be some programmatic programmatic restructuring that comes, uh, in the future related to our fire department. And then in terms of recruitment, we do have what’s been a very successful program. 01:08:04,030 But the cadet program, which allows them to bring on younger people, to train them to become part of our full time staff. And that’s been a really successful measure for them. So there’s a lot more going well than not in our public safety departments. Thank you. Jesse Maverick and then Sarah Anderson, Jesse Babbitt. So as our community continues to grow, our public safety needs also grow. 01:08:26,970 Uh, part of that is potentially utilizing a fire station that isn’t currently operating at 24 over seven. A lot of the other points have already been said. So I’m going to take this a little bit different direction and talk about e-bikes and e-scooters. Uh, something that a lot of people have brought up. 01:08:43,430 Um, cars have laws about wearing seatbelts. We currently don’t have laws about whether kids operating these vehicles need to be wearing helmets. I think that’s a huge public safety issue. Maple Grove recently amended their city code to help with some of the enforcement. 01:09:04,370 Um, so the way that they did it is a rider that has violated the law would be issued a warning. After the second warning, they could be issued, issued a citation if they are underage, that citation could go to a parent. I think that helps us understand the laws better and protects our community. Thank you, Sarah Anderson. And then Scott Rae Johnson, Sarah Anderson. 01:09:25,170 One of the biggest issues I see in facing our public safety departments is as we do this redevelopment and add housing density, population density, um, it’s going to demand more from our police and our fire department, and we need to make sure that we’re nimble enough in our budget and our debt load 01:09:46,130 that we’re able to sustain what we’re going to need to take care of our residents. Thank you. Scott Ray Johnson. I keep I talked to the chief Eric, quite often. Um, over the last two years. Yes. We need more officers. He’s really working hard on that. 01:10:09,630 But right now, there’s a stigma on becoming a police officer. Um, we. The fire department needs station one to be opened. And Chief Axel is working on that. He needs to get firefighters hired to staff it. Because I brought that up with the new projects up at the Boulevard, three, four more apartments going in there. 01:10:36,830 Got the apartment going in at Plymouth Plaza. We’re really putting a stress on our resources by adding all of these extra apartments, and we need to step up on our our public safety and our, you know, more about it. I’m taking the public safety Citizen’s Academy for the next 12 weeks. I’m learning. Thank you. About the subject. 01:11:03,400 All right. For our next question, we’re going to start with Julie Peterson and then Sarah Anderson. And this is going to be our final question before closing statements. Um, Plymouth has funds to be used for local affordable housing aid, since there are many eligible uses for these funds. 01:11:21,570 What ideas would you support? Julie Peterson and then Sarah Anderson, Julie Peterson, thank. You. Uh, affordable housing has been a really important topic to this current council, and I’m glad that we’re trying to do what we can on a very challenging problem. 01:11:44,230 Um, some opportunities, I think, that are before us is preserving NOAA the naturally occurring affordable housing that’s already here. Um, we need more options for our seniors who are here now, and they want to stay in Plymouth, and they’re looking for a place where they can do that. Um, also and again, council member pointers leadership on this has been great. 01:12:03,170 But looking for ways to have more housing that isn’t rentals so that people can own something and grow their own wealth. As residents of our community. Um, and then also, I think there’s a real opportunity for us to explore co-ops as another housing tool in our community for people to have an affordable place to live and keep calling Plymouth home. 01:12:22,870 Thank you. Uh, Sarah Anderson and then Julie Pointer, Sarah Anderson. I would like to see the affordable housing money that we have allotted used to. I would agree. 01:12:43,770 Sustain the homes that we have that would be considered affordable housing, entry level housing, which I’m not really sure that we have any of those in Plymouth. And so what I would love to see is an effort put forward to actually build housing that would be entry level, whatever that looks like in 2026, so that people actually can have a pathway to ownership, not just rental, which feels like a lot of what we’re we’re doing right 01:13:03,230 now is putting a lot of money into more rentals and government subsidized housing. I would like to see more paths, creative paths, and effort to create creative paths to homeownership. Thank you, Julie Pointer and then Scott Rae Johnson, Julie Pointer. , the average age of the first time homebuyer is 40 years old. 01:13:22,700 Think about that for a second. We have all these youth coming up there having to live with their parents or they’re having to rent. They’re being forced to rent. Buying a home is hard enough and unusual times. And now it’s made even harder. 01:13:39,230 Um, you stole a lot of my words, but I have. I do study this a lot, and I again, this is, as I said, my geek out time. But I do believe if we can get some co-ops, all the people that I talked to want to stay, they want they can’t. 01:13:53,700 My mom and dad are 82 years old, and they don’t want to drive to new places. They know where their target is, they know where their grocery store is, and that’s the only place they drive. They have a right to live in their city. We need senior housing. Just think for a minute. 01:14:08,800 If we could move 20 houses out of my ward four into a co-op, that’d be 20 houses that we could free up for first time homebuyers. I think that the LA money and all the other funds that we’re setting up are a great place to start looking at helping seniors and helping keep our Noah. Uh, thank you, Scott Ray Johnson and then Angela Bassett, Scott Ray Johnson. 01:14:29,400 I want to echo Julie’s points. I’m also I’m a senior. I want affordable housing when I get older, older, and I can no longer take care of my property. I want to be able to stay in Plymouth until I die. Right now, I can’t. 01:14:48,630 There is nowhere for me to go and I want to work with Julie and get affordable housing for seniors. What I’m hearing from the seniors in Ward two, they don’t want to own anymore. They want to rent. They like my tiny home community that I’ve been pushing. 01:15:12,200 That’s what I would like to see Plymouth invest in Plymouth city owned tiny home community to be able to keep it low for our seniors that have been paying to build this city over the last 50 years. Thank you. Thank you. Angela Bassett and then Aiden Schmidt, Angela Bassett. Thank you. This is a great question. Again, this is something that’s pretty important to me. 01:15:31,130 And I was one of my priorities. Um, when you look at housing and we are talking about growth and development and redevelopment, you know, the Met Council says by 2050 that Plymouth needs to prepare for at least 50. I’m sorry, 5000 more residents. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but it is a lot. 01:15:50,200 And so we have to think ahead and think purposely where these people are going to go and think about lifespan housing. You know, a single person, a young couple coming in, they should be able to move into the city and be productive citizens. 01:16:07,870 Um, the other thing that really and this has been brought up several times, and I found this so many times when I Dornoch and it breaks my heart when you, when you chat with a resident who’s been here for 30 years and have paid taxes for 30 years, and when they want to go downsize, they are not able to remain in Plymouth. 01:16:22,630 I think there’s a lot of creative things the City Council can do. We probably can’t solve all of the problem, but there’s a lot of creative ways that we can help support seniors and young people moving in. Thank you. Thank you, Aiden Schmidt. And then Jesse Maverick, Aiden Schmidt. 01:16:39,270 Yeah, this is a very important issue for me as someone looking to buy a home in Plymouth. It’s not easy, especially for young people who don’t have capital to build off of. It’s something that I’m very glad that the housing fund was created, because it’s something we need, and it helps out a lot of people my age. 01:16:54,700 I, as Julie said, you have to be 40 years old to reach the average age of a homeowner. That’s not something that’s sustainable. And I think that’s something that if we can change in Plymouth, that’ll go leaps and bounds. And so I would love to use the housing fund for that. 01:17:08,870 Also with senior housing, as someone who I’m not a senior yet, but I would love to live in Plymouth until I am a senior. I would love for there to be more options for senior housing. Co-op housing is a great opportunity and I, I think if we can move forward, helping both ends of the age spectrum, that’s a great place to put this money. 01:17:23,470 Thank you, Jesse. And then Adele Braun, Jesse fabric. Thank you. So as a young working family, uh, who moved here over a decade ago, if we were trying to buy a home in our current neighborhood, we would be priced out. We can’t afford it. So this is something that’s very personal to me. 01:17:43,230 Um, before I got into fraud prevention, I actually worked as a mortgage closer, and I was a certified credit and housing counselor. Uh, so I taught first time homebuyer classes. This is something that I care about a lot and have experience with. 01:18:00,930 I also sat on the homeless Advisory board for the City of Sioux Falls. So a lot of what we’ve talked about with affordable housing has already been mentioned. I’m going to transition quick to inclusive housing, which is the idea that with some of the affordable units that we want to see, we can actually create mixed income communities. So various incomes within the same community. 01:18:24,530 Um, another thing that I care about is pet inclusive housing for renters. People like me who had a golden retriever who was a little too big for most rentals. Adele Braun. So, Jesse, you took what I was going to say when I’ve thought about this question. 01:18:41,970 Um, I couldn’t move into my neighborhood now, and I am a civil engineer with 20 years of experience. My husband’s a professor, but we couldn’t afford our house if we tried to move there today. And I do think that’s a concern. Um, the city can encourage, um, housing variety and and help to remove barriers. 01:19:01,200 But ultimately, we can’t do it alone. We need to work with the county. We need to work with the state. We need to work with private, um, private equity or private developers to for different solutions. 01:19:20,430 So I would actually say that the first thing is a workshop bringing all of those different entities together to say, how can we do this? Because the council alone isn’t necessarily going to have the solution to this. Um, so we need to work and we need to gather the ideas and then put together a plan. Thank you. All right. That’s going to end our question portion. 01:19:37,500 And now I’m going to start with the closing statements. You’ll have two minutes. This will also be in rotating order. We’re going to start with Angela Bassett and then Julie Pointer Angela Bassett. Great. First of all, I’d love to thank the League of Women Voters. This has been a spectacular event. 01:19:57,300 And the residents who have showed up here who’ve also sent in questions, um, I think it’s a great opportunity for Plymouth to show off its candidates. And to be honest, I think whoever wins Plymouth is in a pretty good shape. We’ve got a number of really high caliber candidates, and I feel honored to be up here with them. 01:20:14,300 I would just like to close, I think one of the questions I was expecting, and it didn’t kind of didn’t happen, was why we were running. And that’s how I would like to close. Um, for me, public service and my family is really valuable. 01:20:29,830 Um, I’ve mentioned that I lived I’ve lived in four other countries and five other states. Um, as a returned Peace Corps volunteer, as a nurse who’s always worked to improve health care in every country we lived in. My husband is a retired military officer, um, public service is just something we do. 01:20:48,170 Um, and so when we moved to Plymouth a number of years ago, it was kind of a no brainer that I would get involved in every community I’ve lived in, I’ve always really grown roots and and I feel it’s not only a responsibility, but it’s a privilege to give back to the city of Plymouth. Um, so that’s the first thing. 01:21:04,030 The second thing the reason I’m running is Plymouth is a great place to live. I mean, we are, you know, it’s one of the top rated cities to live in. Um, it’s a safe place. We’ve got green spaces. Our taxes are typically pretty low when you compare to other cities. Um, you know, we’re triple A bonded. 01:21:22,700 We the city has worked within its budget. All these things are something that we should really be proud of. We’ve had great leadership in Plymouth, and I want to be a part of that. Um, my husband and I got a late start. We’ve got a couple young kids. 01:21:36,200 Um, and I want the city to be great in. Ten, 15, 20 years. And so that’s really why I’m running. Thank you all very much for your time again, Angela Bassett, running for At-Large position. Thank you. Thank you, Julie Pointer and then Scott Ray Johnson. Julie Pointer. 01:21:55,270 I want to thank the League of Women Voters again for allowing me this opportunity to share my experience and hope for Plymouth. Was I, when I was running four years ago, two things became very clear. One is people were upset about the street assessments, with upwards of $15,000. 01:22:12,370 The second thing is housing for older residents who wanted to stay in Plymouth, but in a smaller home, I was able to solve the first by getting a cap. Um, the second one is a work in progress to help with the second. 01:22:29,900 Since taking office, I’ve championed an inclusionary housing policy new TIF districts for affordable housing, a housing trust fund adopted an Adu policy, creating real options for Plymouth families. I’ve led the work on the data center moratorium because Plymouth and Plymouth, we know what it’s like to have our choices taken away. 01:22:47,500 I also delivered a citywide compost collection, supported solar supported fire and police cadet programs, and worked to reduce accidents on our major roads, all while keeping Plymouth tax rate among the lowest in the metro. I have served on local, state and national housing and Economic development committees. I’m an analyst, a program manager and evaluator by day with real budget experience managing large departments budgetary needs. 01:23:03,700 I hold several degrees and a master’s in organizational Leadership policy development from the University of Minnesota, and I was also a single mom who fought to keep her home, which means I watch every dollar and I am an experienced leader. What’s next for Plymouth future is we are looking what are we looking at in the next 20 years, 10 to 20 years? And those decisions will be made in the next year. 01:23:19,030 While we look at our comprehensive plan. This is a guiding document for our city’s future. I see a city well positioned to withstand this new economy because we are fiscally responsible. The biggest drivers of our city’s budget, almost 90%, is a combination of public safety, public works and parks. 01:23:36,100 These are the backbones of our city. I appreciative of our staff and thankful to be working for such a great city. I hope I have earned your vote and thank you very much. Thank you, Scott Ray Johnson and then Jesse Maverick Scott Ray Johnson. 01:23:53,770 I’d like to thank the League of Women Voters for holding this event. Um. A lot happening in Plymouth that I’ve observed over the last two years. Um, the reason I’m running for City council is because I started as a resident advocate, and I saw some things in my neighborhood. The electric company backed over a boulevard. 01:24:23,270 I went to the homeowner, he said he called, um, the electric company, and they had no knowledge. I went to Mr. Thompson and it was fixed in two weeks. I did that to another situation in Plymouth that didn’t look right, and that got fixed over by, uh, Midwest rubber. I do things for the city. I’m a helper. Um, it’s my fabric. 01:24:44,430 I was in the Navy for seven years. I learned how to to help. I served my country. Now I want to serve my city because I believe in my city. I love my city. Or I wouldn’t have been coming to this council for two years. I mean, I’m I’m I’m unemployed. I’m not unemployed. 01:25:06,370 I’m retired. Um, I have all day to address your concerns. If you send me an email, my reply is going to be, when can I come meet you? It’s not going to be answered in an email. I want to come see your problem. 01:25:27,170 I want to add my show and tell God I know and I’m not from Missouri. Thank you. Thank you Jesse fabric. And then Aiden Schmidt, Jesse Maverick. Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts on issues that are important to all of us. If you need more information about me, please visit Jesse. 01:25:51,700 Years ago, my hometown of Saint Peter, Minnesota, was struck by a tornado. In a matter of minutes. Our lives completely changed. Our homes were heavily damaged and trees were uprooted. But what stuck with me was what happened right after the storm passed. Neighbors immediately stepped out of their basements to check on one another. Total strangers showed up to clear debris, share meals, and rebuild. 01:26:13,370 That moment taught me an unforgettable lesson. When the unexpected hits, we survive and thrive because we are part of a community that shows up. That belief is exactly why I have spent the last 20 years volunteering for causes I believe in, and supporting the local officials who represent us. 01:26:33,900 For me, public service is about doing the hard work of reaching out and connecting. Eight years ago, I carried my baby over to a neighbor’s house to meet state Representative Jeannie Cleburne. Building meaningful relationships takes time. It doesn’t happen by chance. 01:26:56,370 It happens by consistently showing up for years because of that shared foundation, I am honored to be endorsed by all of our current state legislators and county commissioners. I appreciate their support and looking out at this room tonight. I am grateful to see so many familiar faces and friends in the audience. My campaign message is built on these decades of volunteer work. 01:27:16,270 As much as I value official endorsements, the support that matters most to me is from my neighbors and friends. I cannot do this alone, and seeing how this community is showing up for me now is humbling. 01:27:35,430 I want to bring this spirit of collaborative, resilient community to City Hall to ensure a safe, affordable and inclusive place for all who call Plymouth home. Thank you and I hope to earn your vote. Thank you, Aidan Schmidt and then Julie Peterson, Aiden Schmidt. 01:27:51,930 I also want to take the time to thank the League of Women Voters for putting on this event, and to thank you guys for listening to us talk about politics for an hour and a half. It’s been a great pleasure. So we’re about six weeks from Election Day at this point, and our races are coming to a close. And I’ve been working since about the start of June. Every single day, almost every single day, knocking on doors and talking with residents. 01:28:06,670 Because my number one priority is I want to listen to every single person in Plymouth in Ward four. Right now, while I’m running, I have to listen to those people, but when I get elected, I will listen to the entire city and take their ideas into account. 01:28:19,100 And you can tell I have the proof of this. When you look up and see my signs on the road off of northwest, off of Schmidt Lake, off of Rockford, they’re not in those political clusters that you see every single year. They’re standing on their own. 01:28:34,070 Because I went and I met with that homeowner, and I spoke with them. I listened to them, and I took their issues into account, and they were lucky enough to decide to put a sign in their yard. 01:28:47,000 So I want to take that into city council and make sure that listening stays the top priority and that we take everyone’s opinions into account. I wanted tonight to show that I don’t want to hide anything, and I am willing to communicate. I’m willing to talk to you. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out. You can find me at my website, Schmidt for Plymouth. Or just feel free to call me (763) 559-0735. I’ll answer your call. 01:29:08,570 I might have to get back to you if I’m at work, but I’ll try to be quick about it. And, um, yeah, I’d be honored if you would take the time to vote for me. My name is Aidan Schmidt, and I hope you have. Guys. Have a good rest of your night. Thank you. 01:29:19,400 Thank you, Julie Petersen and then Adele Braun. Julie Peterson. Thank you. I do want to touch on something that, um, Miss Bassett said about our financial management here in Plymouth. 01:29:36,730 We are triple bond, rated one of only ten cities in the state, and we’re exceptionally well managed from a financial perspective. And we didn’t get a chance to say that tonight. So I want to say it, um, thank you for the great discussion tonight. I have a baseline level of respect for anyone who’s willing to put their name on a ballot. 01:29:49,970 Uh, four years ago, in my closing, I told you that my campaign is about leadership. First, the idea that I care as much about how someone approaches a problem as I do about the solution. It is my foundational cornerstone, my passion, and my drumbeat. 01:30:08,130 It’s also why I led the council in passing the awe and adopting the civility pledge that we we adopted as a council to ensure that you have the leaders that you deserve. This commitment still holds true today. And now I’m looking forward. It has been said that the pace of change has never been this fast, yet it will never be this slow again. I’m going to say that again. 01:30:26,330 The pace of change has never been this fast, and yet it will never be this slow again. Let that sink in. I do not know what lies ahead, but I know that we need leadership that is prepared for the times before us. We need deep thinking, analysis based in fact and credible information. 01:30:45,400 A penchant for creative thinking, and a desire to keep both the excellence in our community and the beauty in our humanity. I invite you to reach out. Let’s get a cup of coffee. Stop me when you see me out. Really discussing these topic is what fuels me and inspires me. I’m proud of our community. 01:31:04,770 I’m proud of my service and all that we’ve accomplished so far, and I’d be honored to continue to serve you in Ward two on the Plymouth City Council. Thank you, Adele Braun and then Sarah Anderson. Adele Braun, thank. You for the opportunity to be here this evening. 01:31:22,270 I wanted to close by coming back to why I believe my experience was relevant to the City Council. For the past 20 years, I’ve worked on public infrastructure and more recently on infrastructure financing. This means working with the type of physical assets that the city regular and leading, regularly, needs to make decisions about. But the work is much more than designing or building infrastructure. 01:31:42,030 It means understanding that every decision has competing needs, limited resources, risks and long term consequences. It means asking whether something is needed, whether the proposed solution makes sense, what it will cost today, what it’s going to cost to maintain tomorrow, and whether maybe there’s a better way to accomplish the goal. 01:32:03,630 It also means recognizing that the least expensive option today isn’t necessarily the least expensive option overall, and that sometimes the right decision is to maintain and protect what’s already working instead of assuming something’s better. That experience shapes how I would approach decisions on the city council. I can understand the assumptions behind recommendations, how to examine the information, to ask informed questions. 01:32:29,430 Well, considering the costs, the risks, and the long term impacts. And then I’ll make informed decisions. My priorities are straightforward protect what works. Plan carefully for the future and invest responsibly. For me, that means maintaining the infrastructure and the services residents rely on. 01:32:54,570 Approaching growth and land use decisions, thoughtfully protecting qualities that make Plymouth special, and understanding not only what something costs today, but what communities are making for in the future. I’m running because I care about this community, and I believe my experience would bring a valuable perspective to the city Council. Thank you. Thank you, Sarah Anderson. 01:33:17,200 I’m running for City Council because I care about Plymouth and I care about my fellow residents. As I’ve gone door to door and met many people, many people do share the concerns that I have, the different direction that they’re sensing, the city taking. I’ve noticed an increase in our debt load while we are still a triple bond, triple A bond rated city. 01:33:34,570 I would like to be sure we stay in that lane at fiscal responsibility and citizen focus is what I would like to see us driving our planning and development, and I would be an honor to serve you. City Council Ward, to thank you. Thank you. 01:33:57,630 This concludes the Plymouth City Council candidate Forum. We close with several thank yous. First, on behalf of the League of Women Voters, we thank the candidates for being part of the democratic process by running for office and for for being willing to serve our community. Please join me in thanking the candidates with applause. Thank you also to the League of Women Voters. 01:34:27,970 Volunteers. Our audience here and those viewing this event virtually for your participation in this candidate forum. Thank you to the Plymouth City staff for supporting this event and the media for broadcasting live, live streaming and recording. Tonight’s Forum on demand viewing. 01:34:52,570 You can let all your neighbors know who haven’t weren’t here tonight can be accessed at. Dot org for additional election information, but no. For additional election information, we encourage you to visit. Vote 411 dot. The League of Women Voters award winning one stop shop where voters can register to vote, find their polling place, and learn how candidates stand on different issues on the November ballot. 01:35:21,400 Minnesota voters will be asked to vote on a congressional amendment that says that asks, Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding? Going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is a fund that supports school districts without raising individual income or property taxes? 01:35:42,630 Effective July 1st, 2027, over 50% of voters must vote yes to approve this constitutional amendment, leaving the question blank will count as a no vote. So note that leaving the question blank will count as a no vote. Please be sure to look for the amendment and vote. 01:36:07,470 Early absentee voting by mail or in person begins this Friday, September 18th. Please remember to vote in the November 3rd election by absentee ballot or in person. Your voice, your vote is your voice. Welcomes new members, both men and women, at. A thank you and good night.