green light here and then we can get going. There we go. Well, good evening everybody and welcome to the Adina City Council meeting. It is uh Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025 at 7:02 p.m. And um as Director Benerrod indicated, we're continuing to do these meetings on a hybrid basis. Uh just as we did during CO in this postcoavid era, uh folks can watch meetings at home and at appropriate times, whether it's public comment or if we have public hearings, can call in and participate remotely. Uh, and I think that's that's a good thing and it's a practice we're going to continue at least for the foreseeable future. Um, and we'll probably call on folks in the audience first uh when we get to those portions of the agenda that involve public input. So, uh, having provided that information um, uh, redundant to what Director Benrod has already done, I'm going to call the meeting to order and ask our clerk Sharon Ellison to call the role. Clerk Allison. >> Council member Agne >> here. >> Council member Jackson >> here. Council member Pierce >> here. >> Council member Risser >> here. Mayor Hublin >> here. Uh, next is the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you everybody for that. Good way to start a meeting. Um, we've got a meeting agenda that's been published to the public in advance of our session this evening and published to the council as well. Is there anyone on the council or from a staff standpoint that wishes to modify the agenda in any form or fashion? Hearing nothing, is there a motion to adopt the meeting agenda as published? >> So moved. >> I second. >> Member Jackson moves. Council member Agnu seconds the adoption of the meeting agenda as published. Any further discussion on that issue? All those in favor of adopting the meeting agenda is published say I. >> I. Opposed carried. The meeting agenda is adopted. Uh and now we are at community comment which both director Benerat and I talked about and we're going to go to folks in the audience first. Uh and uh and just a reminder, you'll have three minutes. You'll get a yellow warning light when you have a 30 seconds or so to go. Want to treat everybody equally. Uh, and remember if it's something on the agenda this evening or scheduled for a future public hearing, you you cannot address the topic in public comment. So, uh, make sure that it's not on the agenda this evening. And then we welcome folks to come forward and address the council in any matter that's of a concern to them. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Good evening. Uh, my name is Jan Delzel. I've been here before. I didn't want you to forget about me. But seriously, I wanted to thank you for the attention that you have paid to the issue with >> Give us your address, too, Jan. >> No, no, no. She said no. >> All right. Okay. >> We're We're going with the speaker. >> Sorry. I was thinking about something else. Sorry. >> That's okay. >> I'm the oldest one here. I'm a slow learner up here. >> No, I want the remedial mayor. Thank you for those of you and I know it's the majority of you who have either been over to our building to meet with us about the lack of lighting after the removal of the lights in the Grand View Square area and um I also um I know some of you have driven through the area at at night. Um I believe there's a consensus that it's dark and that there should be more light. Now the question is how much and where? I know the mayor, you sent me an email saying that you had been through and realized that the park was very dark. And here I have the map of the area. The park, there's one light now on the side of the park that faces the library. You were suggesting three on the other sides. That would be great. Believe me, the dog walkers would love it. They have been telling me, I can't pick up dog poop when it's dark, you know. So, that's part of it. There's also the safety issue. Some people are very concerned about some loitering that's been seen. So, the more important thing for us though is the lighting along the side of 5225 Grand View Square. Um, the green dots are really the trees, but they all happen to be very similar to where the lights were before they were removed, and that's where we would like to see some some lights put back again. Uh it's important because that area has parking spots, it has curbs, people getting out of cars are going to be tripping over those curbs, and we certainly don't want to see um anyone getting hurt there. We were ho in retrospect, there should have been a meeting before those lights were taken out. Obviously, there wasn't, and now we're trying to make do with what's left. However, we can still have a meeting to determine how many more lights there should be and where they should be placed. And I'd like to request that we do that as soon as possible. >> Good. >> I think that's a it's a fair summary, I think, of what we're thinking about, too. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Good. Thank you. David Frankle. Uh, my concern is the proposed tunnel under France Avenue. I've looked through a variety of documents. I don't see ADA mentioned anywhere in reference to anything except for a video automate a little animated video on the east side of the proposed tunnel that doesn't even come close to being ADA compliant. You know, there has to be more attention paid to ADA Minnesota. Edin is a member and the city managers on the board of directors of the League of Minnesota Cities. They have a web page I'm sure the manager is familiar with. It's called letter of the law incorporating ADA standards into contracts. One of the bullet items is construction. Contracts should have ADA compliance in them. architectural design. There should be agreements. This isn't my stuff. It's Minnesota League of Cities. We send people to those meetings should be familiar with these contracts and what's required. And I've emailed this to city staff and the city council numerous times. National legal cities. We're committed to data and evidence in decision-making. I have not seen any data or evidence about this proposed tunnel. I've heard it's a dangerous crossing. Where's the data behind dangerous? Where's the evidence behind dangerous? I was just out biking today in Edina and Minneapolis at a number of near misses on busy streets. What makes this intersection more dangerous than every other dangerous intersection and roadway in Edina? Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Frankle. Anyone else in the audience wish to address the council on a matter of concern to them? >> Oh, good evening. Good evening. Uh, hello. I won't introduce myself. Um, I'm here to follow up on a topic that I raised uh on the September 16th city council meeting. I apologize. I wasn't able to uh make the last council meeting, but I did see that man city manager Neil um indicated that his team would bring back a package of ordinance changes that would address the appeals process regarding the tree protection ordinance. I would like to understand uh if the city manager could provide more insight as to what those changes might entail. Um, additionally, I'd like to thank council member Jackson for a phone call that we had a few weeks ago, uh where we discussed several alternative paths for consideration. Um I with your permission I'd like to reiterate some of those. Um so uh we discussed three different options. One that we be permitted to plant two trees from the Henipin County list of acceptable trees on our property. Those trees would be of our choosing and not necessarily subject to the diameter requirements of the current ordinance. And this was the path that I originally laid out to the council at the meeting on the 16th. Um, two, that we paid to plant trees of sufficient diameter to meet the current ordinance selected from the city of or the Henipin County list of acceptable trees elsewhere in the city. Um, where the city would be responsible to identify and coordinate the locations and we would have no responsibility for the survival of those trees after planting or three that uh a variance or provision be added to the ordinance based on the preserved trees relative to the lot area. I.e. If the property owner preserves X inches of trees at diameter uh at breast height per 10,000 square feet of lot area, they may be exempted from the ordinance. Um we also did reach out to uh our arborist. She was unable to provide us with a recommendation for tree vendors. She again uh reinforced her recommendation that we start with smaller trees. Um, of the three vendors that were recommended, um, one does not provide any options for, uh, uh, or only sells to, um, commercial and municipal buyers. Uh, the other did provide options that fit the the use. And then the third, um, only sells trees in diameters of 5 to 9 in um, which are very large trees and they do not offer shipping or any planting assistance with those either. Um, so just like to keep this topic uh front of mind for those of you on the council and appreciate your feedback. >> Thank you, Mr. May. >> Anyone else in the audience? >> Okay. Do we have anybody online that wishes to address the council? >> Okay. Uh our practice is to um take the comments we had at the prior city council meeting and um analyze them from a staff standpoint and provide answers online by the end of that week uh where a council meeting is held. And then uh also manager Neil will provide uh verbal information uh with regard to those comments from the prior uh city council meeting that were of a concern to residents and we'll address those at this point in time. >> Thank Thank you, your honor. Uh, as you'll recall, we had a lot of questions at our last uh, council meeting on October 7th. There are seven uh, responses. They were all included on our website. The first question was uh, regarding the Grand View Square lighting. Uh, I think in our response, we said we would add one more light uh, in the midblock area. I think sounds like we're going to revisit that and and have some additional discussion on on what's necessary and what's desirable there. Second question was uh was the Rosland Park uh ped bridge recently hit again? Uh yes it was. It was hit again by by a vehicle. Uh to our knowledge, we don't know if that vehicle was ever caught. Uh but structural engineers from MIDOT reviewed the structural integrity of the bridge and and said it was okay to continue using it. So we are uh question number three. Uh is it true there's a golf ball test for for bridges over railroads? Um, and it's, as it turns out, there really isn't a golf ball test. There is a maximum gap of 4 in on mesh. Um, and uh, our staff staff tells me that they're confident that that that standard, the 4-in standard is uh, is present on the Grand View Ped Bridge. Uh, question number four, uh, was, "How is the Minnesota Council on Disability involved in design review of the Grand View Pedestrian Bridge?" uh they were not in uh they were not involved in the design. They were asked to provide an opinion after the department of justice inquiry. Uh question number five uh this question was about the ECMO truck uh still in fire station number one. Why is it there? The ECMO truck has a vehicle lease agreement that governs its use between the city and the the University of Minnesota. uh we have an agreement uh with them to house this uh truck and we are housing it in station one. It doesn't displace another so we don't have a truck sitting outside that would be in that spot and we have an agreement uh with them uh that that governs how and when we get and we get paid for it as well. Uh question number six was what is the fire department's data collection and analysis software and how is it being used? Uh the fire department uses a number of different software systems to collect data. Uh the analysis uh software we use is called echodat echo data analytics. Uh and it analyzes fire specific data. Staff evaluates this data uh to inform uh operational decisions, call volumes, response times, overlapping incidents, etc. Uh finally, question number seven. Why do mappling uh applications uh show two or more fire station twos in a dinina? Uh right now there are two fire station number twos. They one is operational and one is not. Uh but as we all know that we are flipping that and the operational fire station number two will uh will begin on after the uh dedication event. Um, and after October 30th, the city will update its Google business listing to make sure the public knows uh there is only one fire station 2 and where it is. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, good. Those were a flurry of questions. Thank you. Uh, thanks for those responses. That prompt anything from council members in terms of inquire member. um with the ADA concern regarding the tunnel, I too can't understand how that is ADA compliant um going up into the space that is supposed to be the um east west um extension of the prominade that will run through the Macy's section. So I think it would be really important for us to have a very clear um explanation of how the entire project is ADA compliant, not just the parts like you know part of it going down to the tunnel, the tunnel sections, it's got to be the whole needs to be ADA compliant. So just wanted to say that. >> Sure. Yeah. Thank you. Manager Neil >> staff would agree that uh when we we haven't prepared plans and specs that would provide that level of detail. Uh but if we do uh we need to make sure that that is the case >> and will >> we're on the next phase of assessment here in the analyzation of whether it makes any sense to do it and uh if we ever get to that point you're saying it'll be ADA compliant. >> All right. Very good. Uh Council Member Jackson would that I saw you turn this way. Were you wanting to comment at all? Okay. All right. Um, very good. Thanks, manager Neil. And now, uh, we're going to go to the consent agenda. Did anyone on the council wish to pull anything off from the consent agenda? >> I did. Uh, I wanted to pull the lease agreement or the potential lease agreement with Henipin County. I thought we should walk through that a little bit. um just for clarification purposes and so uh folks in the general public knew too what what we've been talking about uh with respect to a potential lease of um space for a new art center on the second floor of the new Henipin County Library that will it's under construction now it'll be completed we hope I think the estimated date of completion is July 1st of 27 and so in conjunction with us potentially uh having a art center over there. We've got a form of lease that was delivered to us and negotiated. Excuse me. I don't know what happened here. Turn that off. Sorry folks. Um so we've got a form I think Tracy is back there from >> the consent agenda first and then >> park and wreck. Yeah, we can we can talk about that. So, let's um Anybody else want to remove an from the consent agenda? Okay. With the exception of 6.8, uh is there a motion to approve the balance of the items on the consent agenda? The single motion. >> So moved. >> I second. >> Got a motion by member Jackson, second by member Pierce, you want to member Agno. Okay. Beat you to the draw. Uh to adopt the items on the consent agenda with the exception of item 6.8. Any further discussion? All those in favor of adopting the items on the consent agenda in a single motion with the exception of item 6.8 say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Items on the consent agenda are adopted with the exception of 6.8. 6.8 is the one that I wanted to have pulled so we could talk about it a little bit. Um, and Trace, you want to come up here, please? Um, just want to make sure that I don't I don't remember the cost of operating the existing uh art center, but I know it's $200 or $300,000 a year that we've been expending I think over there. Um, I just wanted to get a few of the key terms and conditions understood well on this proposed formal lease. So there's um by my reading of it, there's 67,370 ft over there, and we'd be leasing um we'd be leasing about a third of it. Uh let's see here. >> About 15,000 square feet. >> Yes. Yeah. um our base rent would be about 6,500 a month and our additional rent would be about 10,000 a month. So our total rent obligation over there projected is about 167 16,700 per month. >> Um that's about 204,000 a year. 20-year lease. the the tenant improvements are going to be done by the county. We'd reimburse them for those tenant improvements. Do we have any sense yet of what those tenant improvements are going to cost? >> Um that is obviously that's over the 20-year period. So um in total we have the co total cost of the project. Um >> okay. So that those tenant improvements would be added to the base rent and the additional rent >> that is that's the ba that'll that'll cover and then we'll have tenant improvements. Um, and we'll have FFNE. Um, and then some design fees, but the the tenant the lease covers the the tenant improvements. >> Okay. >> So, >> yeah, I see here we're going to we're going to be leasing um 15,473 usable square feet. >> I calculated at about 23% of the overall. >> Correct. And then there's some common space that we will share um with Henipin County that we will be able to access as well. community rooms, lobby, walking area, the terrace, upper terrace. >> So, we'd be responsible for about 23% of the uh operating expenses of the of the building based on that, which comes in in the form of additional rent, >> right? And so, we'll we'll negotiate that kind of similar to what we do um at the senior center and Hannipan County. We'll do kind of a true up um with some of our shared expenses. So, is there some negotiating left that you have to do or what are you looking for specifically from the council tonight? >> Tonight, we're looking for you to approve the the general lease that's that's before you. Um the other thing that would come before the council would be a separate umou for the green space. So, we can have some shared we'll have some shared expenses with that with mowing, snowplowing, things. And that's more of outlining who is responsible for what duties. >> Okay. And then the other thing was it looked like the lease rate was was good on the base rent was $5 a square foot which and then I think the increases that I saw on the chart were about 25 no 5% a year over 20 years on the increase in the rent which seems like it's market rate. You comfortable with that? >> Yes, I think we're I think we're very comfortable with that. And in terms of the overall uh negotiation with the county and and the terms and conditions that you agreed to from a staff level, you're you're confident that we're we're doing a good we're making a good bargain here, I guess, is one way to put it. >> As we've discussed before, u mayor and council, I think this is the fiscally responsible matter to build a premier arts center in in cooperation and partnership with Henipin County and the library. I think it'll be a unique opportunity for us to bring arts back to the community and in a shared environment um for youth adults. >> Okay. Other questions? Member Risser >> um is there going to be space where art will be hung on the walls in this area? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um go ahead. we need to make sure that we're not just putting in um plaster board. We need to make sure that we're putting in plywood so that it can support heavy works. And so I just want to say that >> we have planned for that both um in we will have the gallery space which is specifically designed for that. Um and then as well as any additional wall space um in kind of our art art space that we will have ownership to kind of decide what we want to do with with public art. >> No, it's rememberers wheelhouse. So that was good advice. >> No, they had to tear out the walls that they installed because they didn't do the proper ones when I did a gallery. So just a heads up. Let's not >> Good advice. Yeah. All right. So we got a we got a 20-year term with 5% increases per year. Five bucks a square foot starting out. Uh looks to me like it's going to cost us less with a brand new building than what we're paying now to maintain the existing art center. >> Correct. And and we would have had to put additional money in just to bring the current one up to code. So >> yeah, that's a that's a good point too that we know that there were millions of dollars in upgrades that were required over there and that's one of the reasons we looked at this opportunity with the county. Member Jackson, any comment? I'm just so excited about this. Every chance I can be excited, I will be. Thank you so much. >> I bet you're excited enough to move approval. >> I will move approval of item 6.8 uh with the lease with Henipin County. >> Second. >> Member Agnu seconds that motion. We got a motion and second to approve the lease agreement with Henipin County for the Adina Arts Center. Any further conversation on that topic? All those in favor of approving the lease agreement with Henipin County for the Dine Arts Center based upon the lease agreement that's been prepared, say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. That's approved. Uh and uh good luck with your end of your tail end of your negotiations there. All right. Uh that completes items on the consent agenda. And we've got some uh uh on the special recognitions and presentations portion of the agenda. We've got our annual report from the Explory Dina. And we've got Shelley Loberg here and some of the folks from the Explore Dana community on the chamber board and uh welcome them up here to um to make this presentation to the to the council. >> Miss Lberg, welcome. >> Thank you. >> And manager Neil, I didn't think Do you have anything you wanted to say in advance? No, I just wanted to introduce Shelley and let her know, let people know she's the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Explorerina. And a few years ago, the the city council asked um asked her to and asked her predecessor to come do an annual presentation to the council about uh the fiscal and operational aspects of of the organization. And that's what she's here to do tonight. That's a rarity. >> See why you're doing that. I see we've got some students here this evening as well. You guys want to stand up back there and >> No. No. Uhhuh. Well, give it give us a shout out about what's what school you're here from. Or is it for scouts? >> Blake School. >> Blake School. All right. Good. Good to have you here. And you all you all live in Edina or you just go to Blake School. This is one of the city council meetings you wanted to attend. Okay. You picked a good one. success. Thank you, Jennifer. >> Good evening, everyone. Um, yes. I'm Shelley Loberg from the Adina Chamber of Commerce and we host the visitors bureau um for the city and it's our honor to do so. And I'm just here to give an annual update on activities that Explorer Edina engages in. So this is um our overall mission at Explore Dina and that is to attract regional, national and international visitors to Adina and we want to increase revenue, stimulate economic development um and promote our tourism assets. This is just a little breakdown um of kind of where we're falling for lodging tax revenue um in recent years um revenue versus expenses. Um we did have some overage which I'll talk about um some of the ways that we're um giving that out in the community in grants. And this is just an overall list of our marketing programs and assets. So we have our website and our online destination guide. Our destination guide is getting printed again. Um we are doing a limited quantity. And then um we have Facebook and Instagram for social media. We do event sponsorship and support. We do some local venue advertising. We do print advertising, local and regional digital local media placements. Um we have a signature event at um Explore Edina which is called Style Adina and that is to elevate our retail community um and promote Edina as a shopping destination and then we have marketing and event grants. So on our website we focus on shop, stay, dine, play and experiences and experiences kind of being the the the key um crux of what we promote because we want to tell people how to enjoy all of the amazing assets that our community has. This is just a highlight of our social media channels. Um, our Facebook following, our Instagram following. Um, we've actually had a 20% increase in Instagram following in engagement and we've had a lot of new engagement opportunities with post collaborations. I'm sure if any of you are on Instagram, you notice that um, a lot of people are making reels and doing collaborations with businesses. It's kind of a fun way for businesses and um channels like ours to get elevation and engagement with people in the Twin Cities area who enjoy talking about how you know their experiences with shopping, dining, spas, hotels, um and other fun things that communities have to offer. This is just a highlight of some paid social campaigns that we've done this year. Um we've had really nice click-through rates. We've had lots of impressions. I think um as I'm looking through digital analytics from a lot of our programs, we had great engagement in particular um during the flower show this year at Galleria. And I think that that things like that tend to be a very large draw for the community and for our tourism assets and our shopping centers. These are more organic social posts. And so those are more um the reels that I'm talking about that are in collaboration um with with other um content creators and just um kind of an increase in views and followers and overall organic views from nonfollowers. Um and we've had amazing engagement. Um, I have a young person on our team who's done a lot of growing of our Instagram channel and just how we're reaching people and collaborating with content creators and it's really grown our our following tremendously. So, she's doing an amazing job. We have um so I'm going to talk about two different buckets of funds. Um, one is a budgeted item and those are budgeted sponsorships. Um, and one of them, one of the main ones is our support of the Adina Art Fair, which is one of our marquee events here in Adina. Um, another one is our support of Fourth of July festivities, um, the Fourth of July broadcast on Adina TV, um, the Adina car show fashion popups. If anyone has been to the Adina car show the last two years, we have um activated our stylist that does style Adina um to work with retailers in the area to do fashion with the cars. And so what's been fun about that is we've been able to um have media placements on local TV to promote not only the car show happening at 50th in France um but then offering those retailers an opportunity to be promoted as well. Um and anytime we're doing things like the Dina Art Fair and the car show at 50th in France, we're always looking for creative ways to have the stores embrace um the event because sometimes it can be disruptive as well. And so we're just always looking for more fun ways that we can actually involve them in the event that's that's creative and gives them visibility. Our budget for that annually um in 2025 and in 2026 was is around $50,000. So you heard me reference the the overage a couple of years ago. And so we had a pool of money that we wanted to make sure got distributed properly. Um and so what we did is open um a grant form where groups can come to us and fill out a form online um with parameters. We ask that the request be between five and $25,000. So no less than 5,000 and no more than 25. and we're just clear that the money has to be used either for marketing campaigns um to support events and activities in Adina or um an actual event that is drawing visitors from other communities. So, this is just a list of things that um grants that have applied for and been approved by our board of directors. And the other key thing that I just want to note is that it's not just my team and I making these decisions. Um, with our grant application, these are coming to our board on a monthly basis. All board members are reviewing the the grant requests and they're being voted on by our full board of directors. So, it just um allows for more transparency. Um, we had the Minneapolis International Film Festival at 50th in France this year. Uh we supported the Adina Morningside Rotary biking event which is taking place for a couple years now promoting our nine mile um bike trail asset. The new Rotary concert series at Centennial Lakes Park was a fun new one. Uh we supported the anti-racism collective and Junth at Centennial Lakes Park. We supported 50th in France association in a number of um grants this year. one was they were voted best shopping district um in a best of contest with Minneapolis St. Paul magazine. When you win an award like that, the magazine will offer you a discounted ad rate and so they asked us for support in purchasing that advertising to promote themselves and we happily um approved that. Um, we also funded their insert with the Star Tribune to promote the Adina Art Fair, which is also something um, we've done as the marketer of the Adana Fall into the Arts Festival. Um, they had a spring marketing in event grant. We also supported the torch light concert and lighthouse night at Centennial Lakes Park. and um also just approved another grant to the association to support small business Saturday events and marketing campaigns and public relations. An overview of print advertising and this is just kind of what some of our branding looks like in a in a print magazine. We have partnerships with MSP Mag here locally, Madison Magazine. Um, we have had partnerships with the Vikings and Minnesota Wild Official Programs. Um, we've been doing something new in Adina Magazine to um, lo locally combine kind of our Chamber of Commerce activities with our tourism partners and give some of those folks elevation um, in business profiles. And what that involves is the business being photographed in their space and then a a write up by one of the writers at the magazine. Um, and it's full page and has our logo on it that's sponsored by Explory Dine. It's pretty cool. People have enjoyed that. Um, we use the Suncurren for the Dina Fall into the Arts Festival as one of our our print um mechanisms. And then we also do the the Star Tribune insert that I just talked about with the Dina Art Fair as well. And that does go to the whole circulation of the Star Tribune. Um gives the festival and the art fair um just some great promotion and then also gives sponsors visibility through ads. Our digital marketing overview um consists of targeted email sends. These are demographically, geographically and behaviorally targeted. So, we usually have very specific audiences that we are trying to reach and many times they are outside of Minnesota. Um, we tend to target a female demographic and we can layer in things like household income um and interest based um parameters as well. Um, one of the biggest things we do and this, um, is in alignment with the experiences tab on our website and is one of the ways that we talk about how to spend time in Edina or online content marketing. And so these are linked articles that have that engage our stakeholders. Um, they're oftentimes quoted and then we can link to retailers, attractions, and lodging properties. And they're they're basically themed articles on how to spend time in Edina. We do paid social campaigns on Facebook and Instagram. Uh we have graphic ads. We do event and seasonal event and seasonal advertising support. So graphic ads would be like digital ads maybe on the Star Tribune website or in partnership with MSP Mag. And those are have almost become like print ads. They're just part of your branding. They're not getting as as much clickth through. um the other content marketing pieces are really the ones that are getting engagement, but but those are also part of um just part of the overall look. And then we've been doing social media partnerships. And so that would be someone that we would pay to go into a business and create a specific reel about an experience. And we did one recently at the Fall into the Arts Festival. Um we'll probably do one during Christmas at at 50th. um anytime there's an event or something special going on, we've created some partnerships where those people are going out um and they're contracted to uh create content for us for our for our social media. And then we we've also created a blog this year. And the months that we don't have content being promoted in the Midwest region, we're promoting our own content um and developing a a blog online just talking about things that are seasonally going on. We've continued Style Adina, so this was our eighth execution. Um that's in partnership with Jod Mayors and Style Partners. Um, and we just uh really enjoy working with her. She has great um great camaraderie with our retail community. And um we actually changed the format of the show this year to have to allow for more people to attend and we had about 225 people in in attendance. And then um we will do media appearances just kind of like we do to promote the car show to promote the the the fashion show. Um and that took place on May 18th this last year. >> Any questions? I can answer. >> Questions for Miss Lick. Go member. >> Um thank you for the presentation. We did not get that in advance. It wasn't in our packet. So if that could be added to the packet, that would be great. Um, and it would have influenced what I came with because I did pull the fall into the arts material from the Star Tribune. And one thing at the beginning of the year when we had the international film festival, I thought, >> yeah, >> explore Dina was elevated very beautifully. >> Yeah. >> And then I was looking for where is the presence of Explore Dina? And I could see the chamber, but I couldn't see Explore Dina. And my biggest concern about all of this, and I wish we were looking at the financials, um, is just being able, as a city council person, the council approved the lodging tax. Um, and we need to be responsible for how that's spent. And I know, you know, there is some overlap, but at the same time, I just feel really uncomfortable not having the data that I really need. And um you know I had concerns before about whether Explore Dino was being sort of saddled with more of the rent than it should and I haven't been visiting and seeing the space and how much space they have over on Metro Boulevard in the office. But those are my primary concerns and so we didn't talk about the data that was included in the packet. We did see a lot of programming, but I I need to have a greater level of detail in order to really discern because it it is important um state law. We need to have those dollars going to tourism and I and I get that there's connection between the chamber, but I just I really feel like I don't have what I need. >> Sure. >> So, basically, that's my concern. I guess my response to that is I'm happy to meet with you individually anytime to explain um all of the lodging tax funds are being used appropriately. Um I've been here in Adina executing that partnership for 11 years now. Um and I've been in the industry of working within CVBS for over 15. Um, and I personally very passionate about tourism and about um making sure that that those funds are are used appropriately. >> And I appreciate that. And we as elected officials are kind of put in the middle between um the public and we need to be able to say we are verifying, we are making sure that everything is kosher and all of that. So help me help um convey that message by getting you know line item details of how the budget for explore um was handled this year. That would be fantastic. >> Okay, I do think that was provided and I am happy to answer any questions about that. There's >> there is a budget in the materials. >> Yeah. >> Would it be helpful if I walked through that? >> Um yeah, that would be helpful. Okay, sure. That's not a problem. Um, so I >> Shel, do you want to display it your handout? >> Oh, sure. >> Okay. So, just move your computer back and use that city seal as a target. >> Oh, fancy. >> That sounded very motan, didn't it? >> Okay. So, this is just a statement of financial position and I include that just so that you see the the most. So we are our financials are are reconciled for both the chamber and the visitor bureau separately. Um we have separate accounts. We bank at North American Banking Company for the visitor bureau. We bank at tradition bank for um the chamber of commerce. Um but even though we exist together in one space um all of the funds are kept separate. And so, um, you can see at the top where, um, we're we're actually we've created a money market for Explore Dina. And what's nice about that is I can take the bulk of the lodging tax and it can earn some money and then when I need it, it's directly um, I'm able to transfer it directly back to North American Banking Company. So when I have any excess instead rather than it sitting in a savings account, um it's sitting in that money market and we're earning some, you know, couple extra thousand dollars a month that way, which is kind of one nice change that we've made. Um so you can just kind of see where assets were at the end of of August. And then what I'll do is I'll go to the statement of activity. And so here you can see um you know under expenditures anything that starts um in the 4200s under promotion and communications I mean this is where we are spending the majority of of the money that is not rent or salaries or sorry um operational expense. Um so you've got design services, mail, printing, public relations. Um that would be anything that we make with a logo on it to give away to promote Explore Dina. Um advertising is our largest expense. Um our website has some expense. Our visitor guides have some expense. And then there's photography. Um media minefield is um an expense. That's that's an old um account name, but basically those are television placements. And so um the the budget column in the middle is through August. So you're not seeing the whole snapshot of the year, but these are financial these are reconciled financials through August. Um and if you want to review those more carefully and then meet with me if you have questions or concerns, I would be happy to have you in our office. >> I would appreciate that. I also and we could also talk about the website for explorina. >> Yeah. Um, I think that would be good. Sure. >> Going to talk about the website now or in this in a meeting with with Miss Loberg. >> Uh, it could be both. I just when I look at it, I keep looking at events and it says that this is under work or whatever. It's It's not showing any um thing. >> Oh, there's one page that's currently not operating correctly, but that's that's not a page that is getting promotion comfortable. Did you feel comfortable doing just one-on-one with her? >> Um, >> yeah, I'd be fine doing one-on-one. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> That page is actually supposed to sync with Explore Minnesota tourism so that it's pulling regional events, not just events that are in Adina because when visitors come, they go other places besides Edina. We're part of a vibrant metro area, a regional community. >> You Yeah, no problem. Other questions for Miss Loberg? Yes. Council member Jackson. >> Yes. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, when we're looking at social media, um, and you've got people creating these reels, uh, have you ever looked into having a YouTube channel? >> Yes. Um, actually, we do have one. >> Okay. >> Um, because I have done YouTube advertising before. >> Yeah. I know just so many people uh, my kids age, they only watch YouTube. They don't watch television or read the newspaper, but they do watch a lot of YouTube, >> right? >> Our demographic tends to be like a 40 50some adult. Um, so we tend to use channels that are in alignment with our target demographic. Um, and actually another thing that we're kind of talking about is the development of a podcast. our um that would be something that we could use lodging tax funds to develop a podcast to talk to promote to talk about things going on in Adina. And we could also offer it as a space for the community to also use. And when our space was built out, that was one of the things that was imagined for the innovation lab that did not occur, but we do have that space in our office and we we certainly could develop it for that purpose. >> Great. And then the other thing is um because your demographic is women, have you ever thought about getting the programs of the links and the frost? >> That's a good question. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. No, not not yet. >> I think that might be your target audience, too. >> Particularly the links probably have a very healthy following right now. >> Yeah, for sure. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. When we have limited budget to split in many different ways, um and the problem with print is it's not trackable, so we keep it sort of minimal. Yeah, but consider that because there there are women's teams and that's your demographic. So, >> yeah. Great. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. >> Other questions on the annual report. All right. Uh you've is your with your involvement with the chamber too. Uh we restructured a loan. >> Correct. >> And um and it was restructured in a fashion where there were payments to be made to the city over time. And I think just you've made one. And what was that? The first amount was 18. >> Uh it's just under 19,000. >> I was going to say 18,000 something. And and >> we'll make another one before the year's end. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Good. >> And that structure has um allowed a comfortable cash flow to the for the chamber to be able to to do that. And it's also allowed us to have more creative services inhouse so that we're spending that we're spending more time on exploratory Dina activities >> and you got yourself involved in one more activity on behalf of the city that's happening tomorrow. >> Yes. >> And you want to tell folks what that is? >> Um I am Oh, we're having a group here from Tennessee. Yes. So, you know, this is interesting. It's an economic development tour. And what's interesting about this, it's a fundraiser for the for the organization that's putting it on. And I was invited to um a happy hour about a year ago with the leaders of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Chamber. And there was a representative from Williamson County, which is just outside of Nashville, and they are were interested in our in our community as part of their economic development tour. and specifically um they were highly interested in both the healthcare and the school system and they're going to a number of places all over the the Twin Cities, but it was kind of um a neat opportunity to have them here in our community. So, they've been working with our school district. School district has been super helpful. Um they are going to be visiting Normandell Elementary and hearing about our French immersion program. And then um actually we're going to be hosting um here at about 10:30 tomorrow um a a forum for economic development discussion and Mayor Hland is participating along with the mayors of St. Louis Park and Hopkins. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And there'll be about 75 people in this group traveling all over the Twin Cities learning about different I think they're going to Mortonson. Um they're staying downtown. So they they have a very robust agenda of visits. >> Yeah. It did seem like they were very curious about learning more about Edina, which is great. >> Yeah. >> Which kind of goes hand in hand with um the the link I got I think a couple days ago I sent to you >> that on Yahoo uh some organization called Islands, I don't know what it is, had determined that uh >> never heard of it. What's the What's the most city-like suburb in the United States? Edina, Minnesota. >> Edina. Yeah. >> Toting Edina as having all these cityed the walk the walkability of the the development of the Southdale area was one of the focuses of the article. >> You can find it on Yahoo. Edina number one cityike amenities for a suburb in the United States at least by islands whatever that is. Um, oh, thanks for being here. >> Yes, my pleasure. >> Okay, so that's the only item we had on that portion of the agenda this evening on the special recognitions and presentations portion of the agenda and thanks to the board members for being here as well. Mark Jessup, Paul Moody, thank you. Thanks for being here and all the good work that you guys do for our town. Really appreciate it. Um, we've got three public hearings this evening and uh, two of them I think we're going to probably deal with this evening. One of them we'll take testimony on and and postpone a decision on it until our next meeting in early November. Uh but the first matter we have in front of us is um I think it'll be fairly routine and it's a potential issuance of a new on sale intoxicating and Sunday sale liquor license for what's called 3945 Market LLC DBA TZ terz or TZ which is it >> theres >> theres theres right it's a new French restaurant that's going in where the Lynhole was you got a good audience here tonight uh Mr. Delpra. Uh, here's a chance. We'll have you come up here, I think. >> Oh, yeah. Don't shy away from that. Not yet. Not. Just hold on. We're going to deal with this license issue first and we you'll come up and testify if you want. But, um, I'm going to turn to our clerk, Sharon Ellison, who reviews all these matters with our police department in terms of issuing potential new licenses or recommending to us that a new license be issued. This is a public hearing matter, so people are going to be able to testify, you included. Uh and uh so let's turn now to our clerk Sharon Allison on this uh potential issuance of a a new on sale intoxicating and Sunday sale liquor license for Terres. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council member, uh Mr. Mayor, you just did probably a half of my job. Theres um a new restaurant uh going into the Lynh Hall space um will be opening early November and applied for an on sale and Sunday uh sale liquor license as uh protocol requires. We did do a background check um and everything uh was found to be okay. And so I am recommending approval. Um, and to deviate from the process of holding over this uh, public hearing for approval at the next council meeting, I'm recommending that you approve this um, item tonight. Mr. Delprad is here in the audience, of course, along with his consultant, uh, Miss Wolf, and would be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have. >> All right, >> with that, I'll stand for any questions for you. >> Any questions from council members for clerk Allison. All right, this is a public hearing. I'm going to open it up for public testimony. I'm going to ask Mr. Delpra or Miss Wolf to come up or both of you to talk a little bit about uh what what you intend to do here and u and then others maybe wish to testify as well. Please give us your name and your business address. I think I can get away with the business address. >> My name is Daniel Prado and I can't remember the business address but uh um it's in there in the uh what is the business address? >> That's it. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Well, you've got so many of them it's hard to keep them keep track of them. >> Well, yes. I love Dina. So, >> yeah. So, uh tell us a little bit about this uh concept and is your chance to this will be going out to our our residents in our city? >> Yeah. The is the name of my mom actually. Um it's a French restaurant. Um modern braser kind of restaurant. It's going to be casual uh brunch, lunch, and dinner. Um uh it's going to be uh a lot of greenery, a lot of uh uh green is the color of the the brand. Uh the menu is going to be we're going to have a 90 seats. The menu is going to be about 30 items with desserts included, all for different me menus, but pretty similar for brunch, dinner, and lunch. And yes, uh it's it's a small kitchen, so we're going to keep it at 90 seats. Uh I don't think that kitchen can operate a bigger capacity. It's all electric, too. Uh, so it's my first electric kitchen, so it's kind of like nerv nervous. I'm nervous, but uh I don't know if you have electric in your house. It's not the same as gas, especially for a restaurant. But uh we're excited. We working on the menu every day. Uh we have like uh the menu pretty much done. And yeah, uh as you know, I love Dina. I love this area. And it was time for uh a lot of new um restaurants open up because a lot they were closing. So >> yeah, we hear Dexters is doing well. We're happy for you on that. >> Yeah, Dexter is more casual. Uh and it's like one block of that way, you know, like uh >> so this one uh there is although it's inside the um Nola mains uh project um I'm I'm very confident it's going to do well. >> I think so. >> We have a lot of uh good already a lot of people interested about um we have a vestabore. I don't know if you saw those kind of like the old like train station things. So, we focusing the branding around that. Um, so yeah, I'm very excited. >> Mhm. Yeah, >> my mom is very excited that I named it, too. >> Well, uh, you should be excited and I I think it's a beautiful space. I think you'll help it realize its potential. So, we're really we're really excited to have you here. It was it was uh I love this space already but I needed to make it different obviously. Uh so we focusing in like not the traditional braser look that is very masculine. I like very feminine uh uh things um uh in design and stuff. So um it's got to be very soft more than feminine. So >> yeah. Well, you just have about 20 25 people right here thinking about Oh yeah. >> Yes. I was invited. >> Um >> they demand action and good food. >> Yeah. Yeah. And then uh there's going to be a bar, but the bar I'm going to come back for the bar portion of it. It's going to have an interaction. Uh not bar, it's uh kind of like um uh hi-fi, you know, like a listening bar and stuff. So it's gonna have an interaction that you can go to. there is and then uh go to have a drink and and listen to music in uh >> okay >> across the uh alley. So >> good. And how are you coming on the bario project that we approved a couple weeks ago? >> Thanks to you uh construction is underway. Um I think it's going to be August uh of 2026. So yeah, we have a lot of uh projects in that area. I'm very excited. So it was very intentional to do the four projects uh at once. I have a big team too. I have to keep it entertained because uh talent in this industry you know it's not the same as before co. So like when I have you when I have a talented team I have to keep them excited entertainmentally and creative. So, um, yeah, after this I'm going to put a pastel. I need a vacation, but uh, >> yeah, you've got a lot going on and it's a good thing you >> like it. It's what I love to do. I love opening restaurants. Uh, I don't know if operating daytoday is my favorite part. >> Yeah. Well, you can you can tell that you love your work and you got you got Miss Wolf to help make sure that nothing goes wrong. >> She's my young, you know, she's my ying young. I'm like the dreamer and she's like we need a liquor license and we need to >> Yeah. Yeah. No, she'll she'll make sure you make budget and do it right. >> Yeah. Mhm. So, >> okay. Well, thanks for being here. This is a public hearing. We'll maybe see if somebody else wants to talk. Uh so, you can go ahead and sit down on >> Yeah. Thanks. >> All right. Anybody else in the audience wish to comment on this matter? Okay. All right. Do we have anybody online who wishes? All right. Um, any questions from council members or is there a motion to close the public hearing? >> So moved. >> I second. >> Jackson moves. Member Agnu seconds a motion to close the public hearing in this matter. Any further discussion? All those in favor of closing the public hearing say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Uh, is there a motion to approve the new on sale intoxicating and Sunday sale liquor license for 3945 Market LLC DBA? >> So moved. >> I second. >> Member Jackson moves. The motion is stated. Member Agnu seconds. Any further discussion? All those in favor of adopting the motion as stated say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Motion's approved. The new Intoxkitting on sale Sunday sale liquor license will be issued to uh 3945 Market LLC. Thank you for being here this evening. What's the timing on everything? >> November 15th. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's the It's the dreamer and the realist working together there. >> All right. >> Thank you. So, this is another matter that that I think we can probably deal with this evening on a public hearing basis. Uh, and Andrew Lataya, who has a good connection to Edina, I think. >> Yes. >> Uh, when we did the 169 bridge, you helped >> us navigate through all of that. Uh, that was a year of difficulty, >> right? >> And you've been here to talk about 494, and you've got another um purpose here tonight. That's 494 related and I'm sure that member Pierce knows all about it. >> That is correct. Yeah. Mayor, council members, it's good to be back. >> Welcome, Andrew Lataya. >> Thank you. Um, it's been a while since I've been at your chambers. Um, hopefully for good. Uh, uh, and how how do I follow the discussion about the restaurant, right? But, uh, so my presentation will be very brief. Uh I'd want to uh so for my agenda so the reason why we're here tonight is to request for minister consent and I'll be kind of uh pointing out the uh state statutes that require men to seek min consent and with new council member faces that I've not uh interacted with what I was getting a chance to remind us of what the 494 coral vision is. And then um the later parts of my presentation talk through the second or the last phase of that corridor vision that we got funding for and the timing of construction for that phase and uh what uh major milestones that we are working through to get us to construction. So yes, why why men is seeking municipal consent? It is uh as prescribed by state statute that uh a project amended project that goes through a community requiring uh acquiring permanent right ofway or expanding or decreasing capacity on a highway or if it is altering any access on the highway it is required to come to that community and seek municipal consent. So for the city of a dinina in this case it's uh for the 494 project is because we are adding capacity on the 494 corridor and therefore we need to request minister consent. Uh so as a reminder uh for uh uh for the public uh the 494 corridor vision runs from uh highway 169 through to the airport. Uh physical construction is from Highway 169 to 24th Street just east of uh 24th Avenue. And that corridor vision calls for adding easy pass lanes from 169 through uh 24th Avenue. Uh reconfiguring the I35W 494 interchange and altering access east of 35W. So between Nicollet Portland and 12th Avenue. And that altering access means we are removing highway access from we we did remove highway access from Nicollet Avenue and 12th and combining all that at Portland Avenue. So what uh for most of the commuters what what they have been seeing out there uh for the last couple of years has been mostly uh focused west of 35W. So between 35W and and highway 100 that was phase one or project one. Um all that pavement is all replaced. Um schedule wise construction schedule wise we're about 95% there with all the pavement replacement in that segment. Uh we are on the east side of 35W. We uh we we Portland Avenue is now closed. It's going to be we're going to start construction for that. Nicolet and 12th, they're about to be done. Uh they will be uh um those who have access uh on people that are crossing 494, they won't have access of uh 494. We have constructed a new pedestrian bridge just uh east of Portland Avenue. So, as I mentioned, construction status wise um we are nearly there. We are for phase one uh substantial completion. We're still targeting uh October of uh 2026. Um for the most part, we we are meeting our milestones uh in getting phase one completed. Now uh once uh and with the support of the city of Adina and other communities along the corridor, we continued Mandat continued to to seek for funding to complete that corridor vision. So back in uh the fall of 2024, we did get federal funds to complete this greater vision and that's why uh we are back um in in in getting the approvals that we need from uh uh local agencies, from the state and from the federal government. So and part of those uh again part of those approvals is requesting for municipal consent. So for phase two in completing that vision we are so from highway 100 uh west so between east bush lake road and west bush lake road we will be uh repaving the grass median to add the uh the easy pass lanes in that segment uh but for the most part but the majority of phase 2 is concentrated on the east side of 35W. It does include reconstructing all the pavement and also work on uh 35W itself between 82nd Street and 76th. As part of phase two, we are also going to be reconstructing the highway 77 bridges. Um yes and it's part as a requirement that we do uh share with the city what their estimated cost participation is and for this second phase uh we are not anticipating any cost share from the city and not really going much in detail but usually some of that cost share is accounting for items that are outside mendat right of where that the city might want to uh include as part of that project. So for this second phase uh that uh we haven't been seeing anything that uh or received any requests for the city that they would want to include as part of the 494 project. Uh >> I'd say in the midst of budget discussions, you've made people in very happy. >> There you go. Right. >> Zero number. >> Yeah. Uh so for proposed staging uh similar to phase one uh we are still anticipating a 4-year construction project uh with the first pro with the first year in 2027 focusing mainly on uh utility relocations and temporary widening uh then 2028 through 2030 we are anticipating concurrent mainline impacts on 494 and on 35W but wanted to point out here that um so generally 494 is three lanes general purpose lanes in each direction if you are to exclude the merge lanes and those that are exiting. So we are trying to keep the same number of general purpose lanes throughout construction similar to what we have done for uh the uh current construction project. Uh milestones wise we have uh kept very close in meeting these uh milestone dates. We uh we've just we've just developed or we just finished a draft environmental document uh and that is currently under review. It will be published. They will have the public will have another chance for public comments for that environmental document. Uh come the summer of next year. So June of 2026, that's when we are anticipating to get federal authorization for the second project. And that's when we start soliciting that's when MED starts soliciting uh contractors to to bid on the second phase uh project leting when we select that contractor is anticipated uh in October of 2026 and then come um through so because it's design build and what that means is that um we have developed the plans up to plary design we will hire a contractor that will advance them to final design and then construction. So that's why you're seeing a a a year gap between when we let the project in October 2026 and when we're anticipating uh physical construction uh starting in uh 2028. So as in my previous slide I mentioned that 2027 will be minor work uh including utility relocations and temporary pavement work. Uh that is what I had for my presentation and I'll stand for any questions. >> Yeah, thanks Mr. Lutaya. Any questions for Andrew? Yes. Go ahead. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. This is a massive project and uh it was very clear presentation. >> Um on the environmental impact um public input is it going on now? H where how how can the public u participate in that? >> Good may council member. So yes um once we have done our internal reviews we are anticipating around December to publish that uh the environmental document for comments. So, and that would be a 30-day window. And it's usually uh it's published in the environmental quality board. So, the EQB usually that's why we publish all the environmental documents. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Terrific. Thank you so much. >> Any questions for Mr. Lataya this point in time? >> Okay. Uh this is a public hearing matter. I'm going to stand by if you just sit down and we'll see if there's some questions from the audience. >> Is there anyone I'm going to open this up for public testimony now because it is a public hearing matter. Uh, anybody care to come forward and testify regarding this matter? It's proposed. Um, so what Mr. Lutai is proposing is that the city of Vana grant municipal consent to the project as he described it, which is actually way underway as we all know. So, um, all right, seeing no one coming forward, hearing nothing, do anybody online that wishes to testify? quiet. >> You can see that director Benrock gets kind of forewarned when there's nobody online and bringing bringing the talk to us. All right. Uh is there a motion to close the public hearing in this matter? >> So moved. >> Second. >> We got a motion by member Jackson, second by member Pierce to close the public hearing in this matter. Any further discussion on that issue? All those in favor of closing the public hearing say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Public hearing matter is closed. Uh the motion then would be to approve the resolution 2025-99 which would grant Edina's municipal consent to the final layout for the uh project 2 phase of the I494 corridor vision implementation plan. Is there a motion to that effect? >> So move. >> I second. >> All right. Member Pierce moves as our uh our good member on the 494 corridor commission and member seconds. The motion is stated. Any further discussion? All those in favor of adopt adoption of the motion as stated say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. The motion is approved granting Edina's municipal consent to the phase two of the I494 quarter vision implementation plan. Mr. Lataya, thanks for coming over this evening. Appreciate having you here. We wish we saw you once in a while, a little bit more often than uh than we do. And then uh the final matter is one that we're going to do public hearing on this evening and and staff is recommending we continue the action to the first meeting of November. Uh and this involves um a potential adoption of a resolution which would amend the spending plan for the South Hill 2 Pentagon Park and 70th and Cahill tax increment financing districts. and uh Bill Nounorf, our economic development manager, is going to walk us through this request from staff. All right. >> Yes. >> Welcome, Mr. Nounorf. >> Good evening. Uh this public hearing uh is pertaining to resolution 2025-101 and it does involve uh proposed amendments to the spending plan for three existing tiff districts. uh this uh this plan is more commonly referred to as our spark program here in Adina. So I'll run a little I'll run through the background uh briefly and then run through the proposed amendment um and then provide some additional information that you had requested when the HA discussed this a few weeks ago and then of course be open for questions and for the uh public hearing input. So, uh, in 2021, the state legislature passed special legislation for the use of cities all throughout the state, uh, where they might be able to use pre-existing tiff monies. These are property taxes that had already been paid and collected to use them to support, uh, job growth and recovery after the pandemic. Um, in response to that state legislation, the city did create our spark program uh, as defined in the spending plan. Uh recently in this year, uh the 2025 legisl legislation uh made some changes to that state law. Uh and we're recommending that we respond to those changes in state law and update our spark plan uh to reflect these new provisions. >> Actually, let's go back to the other slide just for clarification. You didn't mean pledge all available monies. You meant pledge all eligible monies. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Yep. >> This would be the the the funds that would be eligible based on the Minnesota statute. >> Correct. Right. Yep. Everything we're proposing is in accordance with with Minnesota statutes. Correct. >> Okay. So, in 2021, we identified approximately 9.5 million dollars uh in available funds that were retained by the city at that point that could be subject to use in the Spark program. Uh under this new legislation, uh the the state would also allow us to use the interest that had been amassed on those monies to be deposited into this program. And that's about 775,000. So with the available money, the 9.5 million, uh we have pledged that to support a variety of projects throughout this throughout the city um uh with more in the future uh if we do extend the program. Now, these are heavily restricted funds. Um, uh, when the state passes legislation, they get very specific about how the dollars can be used and how they may not be used. And so, of course, we'd follow that state, uh, provision. So, these funds were intended to create jobs, either permanent or temporary construction jobs, and build something physical. Uh, they cannot be used for operational expenses, for staffing. The city cannot grab them and build a park or buy a firet truck or hire new folks. It has to be used for physical construction. And the state law did give cities a lot of flexibility in how they can use those dollars. For example, we could use them as a forgivable loan, as a more traditional loan, as a grant, and as an equity investment. There's a lot of flexibility there, and certainly our spending plan does embrace that flexibility. So today, these are images of some of the all of the projects that we've either funded or committed to so far. Um, uh, the renovation of the Adina Theater, as well as a lot of public improvements on all the areas that surround it, the sidewalk, some parking ramp improvements, those were all eligible and completed that restored that older theater back to uh to where it is today, the actually occupiable and in business. Uh we used some of the funds to build a new public road at the Finch that provides direct access uh into the Fred Richards Park uh as well as access to those private buildings that surround it. We provided a more traditional construction loan to the Adina Chamber of Commerce to support the construction of their innovation lab and their office space. We provided a small grant to open a crepe cafe on France Avenue. And then we've pledged funds to um allow construction of that new underground restaurant with music that Mr. Delprad had just referenced in his previous remarks. So that's a a music club that's currently under construction. While we've pledged the money, we haven't paid anything yet. We typically provide the funding after they've completed it, but they're on track towards completion. And then the last project that we pledged funding to is the redevelopment at the old Macy's furniture site. Uh that's a site that is uh moving forward, but it's moving forward slowly. I did provide a table in your packet uh that has more detail on each of these loans, grants, and forgivable loans. I'm happy to answer any questions on that after I finish up the presentation here. But let's focus on the amendment. What is what is it that we're asking for today? The old legislation required that the spending program be completed by the end of 2025. Um the new legislation allows one more year uh additioning those allowing those additional monies to be spent at the end of 2026 and then it also does in allow the inclusion of the interests that was earned. So it's those two things, a little bit more time and potentially a little bit more funding. The process that we're uh going to consider this proposal is the standard process that we use here in the city. Uh as an HR board, we reviewed this concept back in se in September. Uh this information has been live on our website for about a week or two now. Uh allowing for questions and comments. Tonight's our in-person public hearing and we'll cons continue to take public input for the ne for the next week or so and then come back on November 4th and ask you to make a decision whether or not to proceed as an HA you had asked uh whether or what the outcome would look like if we said no if we just let the program terminate at the end of this year. So, if that were to happen, um we would most likely not use the funds that have already been pledged. The biggest one there is the um the pledged to the Enclave project. Um since they have not yet incurred demolition costs or anything for that site, we would probably just that let that one expire um and try to figure something out in the future. Um, and there could be uh leftover funds uh in the range of $950,000 and possibly more. Now, those funds would go back to the initial tiff district that they came from. Uh, and then they would be turned over to the county. Theoretically, uh, once they go to the county, Henipin keeps about a third. About a third makes its way over to the state and then the remaining third ends up in the city. So the actual dollar amount we would calculate in the future, but um uh that's what that's what termination of the program would look like if we let it expire this year. Our recommendation, however, is to keep the program going for one more year as allowed in the state law. Uh we would strive to invest these dollars uh in business growth and and other eligible expenses here in the city. Uh each of these funds were uh property taxes that were generated, paid, collected, and earned by the city of Adina. Um it would certainly be my recommendation to keep these dollars in the city rather than divert them to the county or the state. And there's a lot of uh commercial projects uh that could be rehabbed, renewed, or constructed, as well as some public improvements that could be uh uh achieved with that. Uh there has been an ongoing level of support and interest in this program. I'm currently working um uh with a couple restaurants and a couple other small businesses who have hit a wall in their financing. They want to keep moving forward. Um and this could be what it takes to to help them move forward. Uh but they would uh I've I've paused any decisions on those until we actually consider uh uh amending this program. So in summary, uh this program was created based based out of the 2021 legislation. Uh we are recommending that we make minor revisions to the program to reflect the new state legis state law. Um and uh that would allow us additional time to invest the monies as well as a little bit of extra money to invest. So with that, I'll turn it back uh to you for any questions. We'll open the public hearing and uh look for your consideration in a few weeks. Yeah, let's see if council members have some questions first. I think member Pierce has one or two for you. >> Uh, thanks, Mr. Mayor. Um, can you you're you're using a couple of terms in here that um I I think I we've used them differently and so if you could clarify a couple of things. Um, and this is a a good slide for one of them. Um, so the first bullet point says these are unobligated TIFF monies. And then we also talk about the when a tiff district is set up, it has to fulfill the obligations of that specific district. Can you talk about the difference between those two terms in those examples? That make sense? >> Uh it does. But what so if one term is unobligated, what's the second term? >> Well, so the question is for the three districts, I'll ask it this way. Um, have the obligations been met? The original obligations been met for those three districts? And when we say the funds are unobligated, where like where are they coming from? >> Sure. Sure. Okay. Now I understand. Thank you for clarifying. Um, so let me go through them case by case. Uh, so in the Pentagon Park District, you might recall that's a larger dis district. It's about 40 acres. Um, in 2021, we had made the city had made funding commitments to the southern portion of the site, but no funding commiss uh commitments to the northern half. So, there were some projects that were starting to move forward on the northern half. Um, but those while they were paying their taxes, those monies were not obligated. They were just being retained in this tiff district in hopes that something in the future might happen. So, we took $700,000 of those unobligated funds and put them towards the Spark program. Um, that was in accordance with the state law that would supersede whatever the typical TIF uh regulation would say. A similar situation in Southdale 2 district uh when that district was getting close to expiring uh there was um there were additional funds in there. At one point, we were uh making plans to turn those back. uh we didn't see a path forward with those and then the pandemic hit and this special law was passed and so we took advantage of the special law to take that 8 and a half million dollars out of the Southdale district and use it to support other projects in the community. And the 70th and Kahill district, same story. That's an older district. Um it was actually created under 1985 legislation which is even more um unique than some of the current legislation. There was about $340,000 left in that account. Uh we had used it over the years to make public improvements to the intersections to sidewalks and trails. Um but we are we were running out of ways to use it in those districts. So when this new legislation um became uh uh approved by the state, we took those additional monies uh and rolled them into the Spark program. So that that's where they originated from. Um and then last question, if if we um allow the Spark U program to end, when would we allow a program to expire? When would we see whatever our share would be of those funds? Any Dina? >> Sure. Um, I'll go back to this table, and I know you probably can't read it. Um, it gets pretty small, but, uh, one of the columns here, uh, talks about the dollar amount that's been pledged versus paid. And then I made some best guesses as far as funds that might be available. So, for example, we've pledged about 670,000 to the Enclave development on France Avenue. So far, we've not paid out a penny of that because they haven't earned it, frankly, at this point. Um, so if that does not move forward, uh, I think those funds could be available for for being turned over. So, when you add up those smaller, uh, projects that have not yet been paid, that's how I get to the $952,000 amount. Um, so if this program were to expire at the end of 25, we would work with our financial adviser and our finance department and our legal adviserss to determine where those monies belong. Um, we originally originally took 700,000 from Pentagon Park. In 2021, there were no obligations. In 2025, there are obligations. So, if we return that back to Pentagon, I'm again, I still want to confer with our legal folks, but I think those monies would have to remain in Pentagon to pay down the other debt. Um, the Southdale and the Cahill uh funds, we'd have to determine where those go and what the future looks like. Um, but if this program expires this year, I don't think they'd be available until 2027 at the earliest. it'll take some time to understand where they belong and what how the state law applies. Um so for looking for a big nest egg to roll over um there might be a small nest egg but it's probably a year and a half away at the earliest. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Member Jackson. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so I think on this chart it shows the projects that would expire if we were to uh to end the Spark program or let it end in the end of 2025. And it looks like it's the Enclave project and um uh I remember we did some um ADA improvements, didn't we, at the 4408 France. It looks like that's not spent yet of 24,000 and then other streamlined grant opport. So that's what we what would not be funded. Correct. >> That's correct. >> All right. And so these other um projects that we've talked about, we those are those qualify for the funds at this time. >> They qualify at this moment in time. >> Okay. So it's not $9.5 million that we're talking about. It's more around the the level of $950,000. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. Um and um so how much of that would be returned to Adina then? >> A third of it is it one third about it's a little bit more fine tuned than that but rough numbers it's about one third to Adina. So about $330,000 um uh could make its way back to the city. Again we still have to do legal review and make sure that that is how it works. Um, but I think that's the high end. Uh, the low end might be about a hundred,000. >> Okay. And then what happens to that $775,000 in interest that's been earned in the meantime? >> That's a great question that I don't have a precise answer for you. Um, to the best of my knowledge, um, those were interests earnings on TIFF revenues. So, I believe they go back to the TIF district by from where they originated. >> Okay. And then so they're different and so the disposition would be different based on which district they're from. >> Correct. >> And that would be proportionally um from what's in the fund. Correct. >> Uh or >> Yeah. I mean the the South Dell district had a larger initial balance. So more of the interest would be returned there. Um so you'd be commensurate with the with the initial balance. >> Okay. Thank you. And then finally the um when we say 1/3 1/3 the third that goes to the state is through this very complicated process of funding schools. Correct. That it goes to the schools but the schools aren't allowed under state law to keep it. So then it reverts back to the state. Is that correct? >> That that's correct. It's a little bit it's even more complicated than that but yes >> I did a complicated state finance of schools. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So the city would turn would re would turn the money over to the county. The county would keep about a third. They'd send about a third back to the city. They'd send about a third back to the schools. Um some shared with the uh Richfield school district, some shared with the Adina school district. Uh then the following year, the state fin state school finance group would notice that the schools had had new money, so they would withhold money the following year so it would balance out. Um, so it takes a little while, but eventually those dollars benefit the state, not the schools. >> Okay. Thank you for clarifying that. It's always a question that comes up when we're talking about TIFF. Um, all right. Uh, those are my questions and thank you. >> Anything? Um, just real briefly, some of that because the range is 950,000 to 1.7 million in one of your slides and some of that interest could make it back um and not just stay stuck in one of the three tiff districts. >> That's what that's what we'd have to investigate with our financial advisors. I'm not certain exactly what would what would happen, but my best um to the best of my knowledge, it would remain in those tiff districts to pay off debts and obligations of those districts. So it's very unlikely that that it would end up flowing into the city directly. >> Okay. And on your intro slide and then on the map that you showed, Wooddale and Valley View was represented and I'm wondering was money taken from that TIFF district as well. Okay. >> Yes. Yes, it was the um the 70th and Cahill and the Wooddale Valley View were both created I believe in 1985, maybe 86. Um, and they are while they're two different neighborhoods, they're one account. They're merged together. So, at some point in time in the early in the late 80s, those dollar amounts were co-mingled. >> And, um, just understanding development in the Wooddale Valley View area, I thought at one point there was going to be signage to mark um, the gateway into that space and that never actually happened. Were any of those funds supposed to go to that? >> Uh they were not. So the state law in 1988 85 severely limits how those monies can be used. >> Okay. >> So for that gateway marker we were planning at at when it was a project we were planning on using money from Centennial Lakes District um because state law allowed those monies um to be used in that manner but not the monies from Wooddale Valley View. >> Okay. Thank you. Just to kind of segue off of um both member Pearson, member Jackson, if we use that um I know it's hypothetical, but one possibility is that we had about $950,000. We'd be thinking about turning back, we'd get about a third of it. Your point was we'd get about 330,000. If you if you extrapolate that to our our our current budget or our proposed budget for 2026, either from a levy standpoint or a total budget standpoint, what what what does that represent? >> You know, I I don't have the numbers off the top of my head, but it's a very small amount. If we look at the levy amount that's proposed for 26, uh this $330,000 or so is less than 1%. Um maybe half a percent in that range. Um, but we wouldn't actually see it in 26. It'd be 27 at the earliest. Um, and again, it there's no guarantee that we'll get 330 330,000. It might be less than that. Um, but as it relates to our overall budget and our overall spending, it's a very minute amount. I don't think it would be noticeable in anyone's tax bill. >> Probably around point.1.2% sounds like if you >> Yeah. look at the total budget versus the levy. >> Yeah, if you look at our total spending as a city, not just what's in the levy. Um I did run the numbers there and it's much smaller. It's about 0.15 or 0.16 of a percentage point. >> Yeah. Okay. Good. Any other questions that prompt anything else from council members? All right. This is a public hearing matter. Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to testify regarding this matter? Lori Gros. Oh, you don't want me to give it. You know my address. Give the money back. City Council, not just this one, previous ones also been addicted to TIFF and it's affecting our levy. It's not free money. It costs taxpayers money. Now, Mr. Newondorf said you have the choice of giving it back or keeping it in the community. Well, if you keep it in the community, doesn't come back to the taxpayers. That money doesn't go into the general fund. It stays with developers. You need to cut the cord and cut it. Now, um, as an example, for the Southdale 2 tiff, if I remember correctly, that amount originally for that district was 5.1 million. And maybe Mr. Nuendorf can tell me, but I believe they collected between 25 and $30 million. That district should have been closed after they recovered the 5.1 and then that money had come from the Centennial Lakes Tiff's District. Money gone back to them. You see it as free money and it keeps getting spent and we can't afford it. Take a look what's been going on with the levy for the last 10 years. You may want something just because you want it. If you can't afford it, you can't get it. You're dealing with OPM, other people's money. Give it back to us, even if it's a small amount. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Gro. >> David Frankle. Uh, as council member um Jackson mentioned last H meeting, economy is getting soft. I'm not going to pretend to be an economist, but talking to seeing what's in the press and talking to business owners. I talked to one of the business owners at the strip mall Wooddale and Valley View that was just mentioned and across the board up there the business is getting soft. All the businesses are worrying about the future. My my point is city council the city of Adina shouldn't be playing winners and losers with this money. When you start giving money to businesses you're determining who's winning and who's losing, who may survive and who may go under. For example, pinstripes, their parent companies in chapter 11. Are we going to bail out pinstripes? You know, where's it going to end? We also have a off different topic, but our municipal liquor stores given what I've seen the number of people going into the stores, those are going into financial problems. That's going to hit the city. But anyway, back to winners and losers. It's the same with TIF. TIFF chooses winner and loser developers. those that want to go after it and those that don't want to or maybe don't qualify. But I agree with with Lori Gro. This money should be return to the state, to the county, and to the residents of Edina. Good evening, Janie Weston. You know my address, too. Um I think the spark fund um it should be closed allowed to close at the end of this year. I do not think it should be extended. That is money that yes if it's given back to um the county, the state. Um we are also residents of Henipin County. we are also residents of the state of Minnesota. That money doesn't go to someone else that we are still part of that the whole community of the state and the county as well as the city. It is money that needs to go back to where it should be going to. Um the spark fund was set up because of co is done. Let it finish. And one problem with also spending um spark funds on a number of these projects is that they have not been successful. They have been a poor investment for the city. The innovation lab was one. That is now gone. It did not work. That was a lot of money. Gone. The >> It's not gone. It's being repaid. >> Okay. Well, it has not been very successful. >> You heard You heard Ms. Wberg say she's making $18,000 payments. Those are the payments in the loan. Well, the bridge that uh is at the Grand View, the pedestrian bridge was done without any public hearing. And that's that's I see that as a problem with how a lot of this money is spent. There's no public hearing as part of the process for it. And things sometimes don't go well, such as it not being an ADA compliant bridge. Now I'm I'm not sure how that's going to be dealt with at the west end of it. So process is very very important. Public input is very very important. When the public input is taken out, I think some decisions are not the best decisions made. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? have anybody online? >> I have no callers online. >> Okay. Um, >> we've got a uh suggestion. >> We're going to leave it open till November. >> Yeah. >> Um, I was just thinking about whether or not we should address some of these issues. Uh, let's get Mr. Nounorf back up here. All right, one other segue question. So, I mean, the question's been raised and the concerns been raised, I guess, is a better way to put it that uh this money uh we should give the money back um and that it money it's money that stays with developers and u from having been on this council and used the spark money for certain purposes in Edina, I don't see that. But I I do see the way it's been used and what what are the things that we've used it for that we might otherwise have had to levy people for in the general fund levy. Instead, we had a we had a fund of cash available to do some things that we might have otherwise had to assess people for. >> Um yeah, there were a great question. There were two projects in particular where we leveraged uh this special law and the spark program to avoid additional levy. So the biggest one was the $2 million expense to build a new public street into Fred Richards Park. Um uh that was one one of the projects where it's I consider them more public private partnerships. The private developer was going to build his building. He needed the rear entrance. In our long-term visions, we wanted a direct road to the park. Um, rather than us taking out levy and public debt for $2 million, uh, we had him build the road to to the city specifications and then reimbursed him with a spark money. So, that was about that exactly a $2 million savings that we did not have to levy. Similar uh concept to a smaller scale at the Adina Theater. There's a myriad of um public improvements in the surrounding vicinity um areas that needed attention. They were just not in the budget. Um uh and so rather than levy um or wait longer to fix things that were on the verge of breaking, we were able to work with the devel with the developer and contractor of the of the theater building and completely redo the sidewalks in that whole vicinity to make them smoother, safer, better. uh we should get another 25 years or so of life out of those uh as well as some essential uh improvements to the parking garage that the theater relies on for its success. Uh the the whole business district relies on that garage for its success. So we put about $400,000 of public investment uh wrapped into that theater renovation program instead of levying for that. we found it more expeditious to get the work done promptly uh without raising the levy. So that's about $2.4 million that we alternatively could have levied for, but you and your predecessors chose not to levy for that and use a different source. >> Right. And then Miss Gross raised the issue of um South Tiff District. Uh I don't remember how much money was raised in that district, but the purpose of setting up that district in the first place was uh we loaned Southtale some money to remodel. And when they remodeled 15 years ago, not this current remodel where they're spending 400 million, but when they when they Simon remodeled this mallif 101 15 years ago now, we set up a tiff district around that mall because we thought it might encourage those adjoining property owners to reinvest in their property too because the biggest piece of property out there, property owner on the 80 acres, chose to reinvest in their uh their business and and that spurred all kinds of economic development around there. But that that TIFF fund was set up for one specific purpose around South District and that was, as I recall, affordable housing to raise money for us to invest in affordable housing in our town. And and do you remember how much money that was and how it was used? I guess that's what I'm getting to. >> Sure. Sure. Uh so your recollection is correct. Uh that was a few years ago. That was 2011 and 2012. Um but back in that era, the Southtale Center was really um not declining. it was declined. Um, and so the city uh leveraged our abilities to finance by offering a $5 million interestf free loan to Simon Properties if they would do a number of of things. Um, they did everything we asked and more and then that led to tremendous spin-off in the surrounding area. So that particular tiff district was amended on a few occasions, probably two maybe three times, I don't remember specifically, but one of the first projects that we funded after after the the mall itself was that 66 West um uh apartment building for youth that had formerly been homeless and needed an opportunity and safe housing. Um so we use some of the money that generated from Southdale to support that project. um that that I believe was 2013 or 2014. And then once that became successful, we recognized that those dollars um generated from the mall um could be used for other affordable purposes and that's what we did. So um I don't remember the precise dollar amount. It definitely was far north of 5 million. Uh that that tiff district was a a roaring success. It did everything we had hoped uh and even more. Now, as I recall, that was all the legislature saying because of the great recession at that point in time, you could set up tiff districts to encourage construction activity again. Uh, but the tiff district had to have a limited sort of purpose to it. And that was why we selected affordable housing, >> a limited purpose and a limited time. Um, so that tiff district only lasted for eight years. Um, different state laws, different rules. So, that was an eight-year term. Um, typically tip districts are 25 years. Um, but yes, in in that circumstance with the great recession, um, the opportunities given by the state were different than they are today. Um, uh, but I would still say that was a very successful program. >> That prompt anything? Yes, member Jackson. Um, so if we were to let this lapse, the money would go back to the city of Edina as the city government, not to individuals. Is that correct? >> So close. So the money would go back to the tiff districts, which are restricted funds. If it gets returned there, we would work with our financial and legal adviserss to see what happens next. Um, I I believe for Pentagon Park, I think the money would stay there. I think the Southdale 2, it's a maybe. I'm not sure what what would happen with that. Um, that's one of the most complex districts we've ever created with all those special laws from that era. And then the Wooddale and 70th um district, um, it would go back to that fund. I'm pretty sure we would return that to the city. That fund the the limitations from 1985 laws are so restricted. Um, you know, for certain we would return that money. That's about $300,000. So, um it would but the when we return it over to the county, they share it with the city. It does not there's no check mailed to individuals. It goes back into the city and then you as a city council can determine how to use those dollars. >> Correct. And uh this is a question for our city manager. Um I believe it's our policy that if we have excess funds that goes into the construction fund which funds our um capital improvement pro program. Is that correct? That's that is normally correct unless there's some other uh some other guidance on how those funds can be used. >> But the default is to go into the um C the construction fund. Um and so it and onetime money we generally spend onetime spending if I remember correctly. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Good discussion. Um the uh staff request is to uh have the council adopt a motion to close the public input in this matter on Sunday, October 26, 2025 and continue the action to the November 4, 2025 city council meeting. Is there a motion to that effect? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Jackson moves. Member Pierce the uh motion as stated. Uh any further discussion? >> All those in favor of adoption of the motion as stated say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Motion's adopted and we will close the public input on this matter on Sunday, October 26, 2025 and continue it to the November 4th, 2025 city council meeting. Thank you, Mr. Nodor, for being here. Um, let me get down to this resolution. We got you know, thanks for your patience out there, our uh fellow residents here as we work through our agenda. Um, we've got the next thing is the uh resolution 2025-102 accepting donations on behalf of the city of Vana. Is there a motion to that effect? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Member Jackson moves. Member Pierce seconds the adoption of resolution 2025-102 which accepts donations made to the city of Vina. Um, any further discussion? All those in favor of adoption of resolution 2025-102 say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Uh for those in the audience uh virtually or lo or here in the uh chambers uh we had a grant of uh from BKV group of $1,875 to the communications department for the photo rights. They bought the photo rights to images of fire station 2 and then the park and rec recreation uh grants were from the Adina Baseball Association. a significant donation of $18,250 approximately for baseball infield improvements at Yansy Park. And then Steve uh Bunning Buuning $350 donation of a tree at Ardan Park and also Anmie Codes $50 donation for general use to the Adina Senior Center. So thanks to those donors to the city of Adina. And now uh we are at um that portion of the agenda where we look at any commission correspondence. I don't think we've had anything come in other than and we've you've disseminated that information already and we are now at managers comments. Uh and I'll turn to manager Neil. >> None. None tonight. Thank you. >> Okay. Um I think if we have let's call it ancillary sort of comments or comments other than one of the topics we've got in front of us under the mayor and council comments is gun violence prevention advocacy. Um I think I you know personally I can hold off making my other remarks until we uh have this conversation but uh I'm trying to uh frame it up and I think uh in the aftermath of uh what happened at Annunciation Catholic School uh and their community uh there was some many strong feelings all over town that many of us went to um uh vigils in parks and and uh tried to show our respect for these uh families uh and the people who had lost children uh children that were injured. Uh and our council itself uh and I think some of you know this in the audience uh passed a a resolution on September 16th. Um the um gun violence that happened at Annunciation happened on the 27th of August and on you know within the first meeting afterwards on their 16th of September with the encouragement I think offline of many of the council members uh we passed a resolution uh that dealt with expressing solidarity with the Annunciation Catholic School community and calling for stronger gun safety protections. The list included I think many things that you're all concerned about as well. uh was ensuring universal background checks on all commercial firearms transfers, strengthening extreme risk protection orders, red red flag laws, which I was with the governor today at noon, and he said they're working extremely well uh by, you know, ensuring timely enforcement of those red flag laws, enacting and funding strong safe storage and child access prevention requirements paired with statewide public education campaigns, uh prohibiting the sale and possession of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. preserving and strengthening Minnesota's permit to purchase and carry licensing system and opposing permitless carry. Uh banning ghost guns, 3D printed firearms, bump stocks, and conversion devices. Expanding funding for community violence intervention programs, and hospital-based intervention models, and fully funding school and youth mental health services so that trauma does not define our children's futures. Um, I think I'm older than everybody in the room and I what I remember growing up is we had fire drills and tornado drills. No kid should have an active shooter drill. No kid, no child should have to be going through that. The things that are weather related, understandable, but not something like this. And so our council has very strong feelings. This this uh resolution, this proclamation was passed unanimously. and and the resolution part of it said the United City Council affirms cities are ready to partner on these issues and we therefore call on the Minnesota Legislature and Congress to engage cities in this work with the urgency, courage, and persistence needed. Our children deserve our best effort together to end gun violence everywhere. I know today that um there was information back in the press uh Melvin Carter over in St. Paul and a group of mayors met a few weeks ago. Uh, and I think they had a proclamation that they put together. Um, at the time I was trying to figure out was this, you know, because of the the ban, the prohibition uh on cities being able to approve measures that might reduce gun violence. Uh, there was some at least confusion on my part about, well, can a statutory city be involved in this situation when there's preeemption? uh these many of those cities were uh um home rule cities, charter cities. I thought is that a distinction? How are we going to get involved in this thing? How are we going to be persuasive? Uh those voices are strong and they matter, I think. Uh but when you think about why the governor hasn't called a special session yet, and as you I said, I was with him today. Uh I don't have a sense that he's ready to call it yet because he wants uh he he's got the same ideas all of us have I think in this room that are kind of framed up around this proclamation that that we passed back in midepptember and and so we're we're we're here trying to figure out what else to do and the associations we belong to like the municipal legislative commission with the governor today it's 19 cities that have similar views of how governance ought to work uh that are part of this association. And that was one of the questions we had for the governor today was, you know, how can we help on on this gun violence issue? And he and and I told Erin, he he was he was forthright about it. He said, just just start making some more noise as a city. You know, where cities are talking about uh abandon preeemption at the state level. Let us do it ourselves. Um he said that may or may not work, but at least your your your voice is being heard and raised. And so our council wants to talk about this and hasn't had a chance to talk about this. And this isn't a public hearing matter where you can participate with us, but we we know you care because we've had your correspondence and we know what you're concerned about in terms of having your city's voice heard uh and your voice heard through your city representatives uh in some broader way. And so that's we wanted to have this chance to have this conversation and I think due to your group, you know, you've you've nudged us along and and helped us move along to this uh phase tonight where we're going to have this conversation about what are the possibilities and what we could do next. And I haven't had a chance to have any offline conversations with my council fellow council members because we have to be careful about open meeting laws. So, uh, I don't even know what folks are thinking about, but I can tell you that I think the feelings are pretty uniform and they're expressed in that resolution we passed. And if we can if we can move beyond that or that yeah, that resolution, if we can move beyond that resolution to some other sort of action, I think we'll we'll entertain that. And I think folks up here may have some ideas on what to do. And I don't know, member Agno, you were early on asking, let's get let's let's do something. Let's get something going here. and you may have some thoughts that you want to lead us off on. >> Yes, thank you. Um and thank you everyone for being here tonight and for all of the correspondents. Um and I I also want to appreciate um Dave Kendall for some of the the thoughts that he'd put together too around I know we have this preeemption in the state level. Um and so I had been over the last couple of meetings also pushing towards is there something that we could do that would trigger in effect within Edina if the preeemption were lifted. Um so I think that there's a a good amount of conversation that we can have around that. Um we have the the memorandum in front of us with a little bit more information on that and maybe um Dave Kendall could speak to that. But I also think that there are some components that aren't preempted um that we could still take action on. Um one of them being, you know, within the limits of EDINA, could we put together some ordinance around safe storage? Um so I don't think that everything is preempted from our capabilities. And so I would love to continue to look at this resolution and kind of what we're calling for and even go like line item by line item of what's preempted like what are our hands tied on right now and what do we have the capability to act upon just to make sure that we are doing everything we can at the city level too. >> Yeah. No, I think that's a great point that we asked our city attorney to take a look at this too, knowing we were going to have this meeting and um and and if I was just going to highlight some of the things that he said there, he said that city regulations there there's underlying information supporting each of these statements that he makes, but city regulations of firearms, ammunition, or components are expressly prohibited under state law. Uh cities likely cannot avoid pres uh preeemption by passing an ordinance which delays the effective date of the ordinance to whatever the state may li to whenever the state may lift uh preeemption. And then even if a city could pass an ordinance that would be effective, should the state lift local preeemption, it may not be entirely enforceable. But he goes on to state and this is something I think it's important to everybody in this room and everybody beyond this room in our community. Assault weapons and large capacity magazine bans are likely enforcable at this time on a local he means on a local ordinance basis. >> But the Supreme Court would likely find assault weapons bans unconstitutional. Well, should we just assume that they're going to do that or should we make our voice heard, you know, on something like this? And so this is something that's uh uh I find quite appealing from a from a concept standpoint. Uh you know the governor talked about this too. Those those uh switches the binary trigger bands that's been that's been ruled on already and apparently we can't do much about that. But the uh assault weapons uh we could you know it appears appears that we could we could do something about that as a council and uh and also with ghost guns uh and I think the 3D printed guns I would assume uh maybe fit into that category uh that we could do something about that. Uh and then we could also think about banning uh firearms in proposed sensitive places uh that are sub and they that may be um something that we can at least think about. But more broadly that that assault ban, assault weapon ban is something that I think we could we could think about as a council. I don't know if folks have thoughts about that. We just got this memo this evening, so we haven't had a chance to study it. Mayor, I just want to clarify that those are all things that would not be prohibited but for the state preeemption. So those are all options if the if the state preeemption did not exist. >> All right. Okay. I wasn't framed up that. Yeah. So that's a peril of not having read time to read the >> Yeah. I apologize for that. You know, the memo didn't arrive until today and I know you had haven't had time to look at it closely. So the starting point is that the state preeemption is is the is the problem for local regulation. There's other states in the country that don't have that preeemption and cities have enacted assault weapons bans for example and those have not been struck down as yet. Um although they could be by the US Supreme Court but they have not. So those would be an option but for the state preeemption in Minnesota. So from my perspective um it would be helpful for the city to I mean the previous resolution supported gun violence prevention. I think it would be perhaps more helpful to specifically ask the state legislature to lift that statewide preeemption allow for local gun violence prevention. Okay. So, of of the things you mentioned that are highlighted in your memo, there isn't really anything that you think we can do with the ghost guns, 3D printed guns, uh, assault weapons, switches, high-capacity magazines because they're all subject to the preeemption. >> Correct. So, that's those are all things that St. Paul is looking at. And I I think St. Paul I mean, they don't speak with one voice, but I think many people in St. Paul would admit that those are all currently not allowed under the state preeemption. >> If they pass that ordinance, it will not be legal under state law. >> Member Pierce, I think you just answered it. Um, can you just give us like legal 101 what uh preeemption actually means? And I I think you were kind of getting at that. So, if we were to pass an ordinance um and it's subject to preeemption, what's the process? Is it just automatically illegal because we know that exists? >> Uh, no. It would not be automatically illegal. There would be a couple of options. Um, if you tried to enforce it, anyone you tried to enforce it against could bring a a lawsuit or as a defense, they could allege that the ordinance was unconstitutional or illegal and therefore void. Um, another option would be pre-inforcement preeemption where they would just bring in a lawsuit asking the court to declare that it's preempted even though you haven't tried to enforce it against anyone yet. >> Okay. So I I just my feedback. I think we have to um this is complicated for me but I think we do have to just kind of face reality for what it is not for what we want it to be. Um and I actually think two things. one, I did write a a piece in the Sun Current um that I I do understand the gun violence issue, but we have so much violence in the US and it's not always predicated by guns. And so I think we have a much deeper issue in our um society where there's simmering hate um across the gamut. And when that hate is allowed to continue to simmer, individuals take some device, whether it's a gun, whether it's a vehicle, whatever it is, and they act out. And I think until we address, we start to really address the underpinnings of that issue, we will continue to see violence in the US. Um, and I talked about everything from hangings to people using cars to kill other people. Um, and so I still believe that. Secondly, when I talk and so that's one reality. The second reality is if we really want to um take action, I think we should just do it. And if we feel like we should have an ordinance in the city of Edina that covers these issues, let's just do that. And if that means that we end up going to the state supreme court for whatever reason or somebody sues us for whatever reason, um at least we're in a very loud way making our voices heard. And so that's the third reality to me. until something changes, all we really have is our our voice. And so making our voices loud, in my opinion, just, you know, having a memorandum, right, that doesn't do it. And so, while it may not be legal and we may get sued and we may have to go to the Supreme Court, that's what's happening today. that that's what our president is doing. Um, and so I think if we're serious about um this particular issue, I think we should draft something and we should we should and we should take the risk that we're gonna get sued and go up to the hill and talk about I and I think that is what Mel that is what Um, Mayor Carter, he and I are fraternity brothers, so I hardly ever call him the mayor. Um, I think that that is what he's um trying to do. So, that's what I would would offer. That's really all we have in my opinion is to make some noise. >> I don't know if I can follow that. Um I uh I I hear what you are saying and the frustration and gun violence now is the leading cause my understanding is the leading cause of um childhood death that has um gone higher than the cause that I am passionate about which is um traffic violence which killed my nephew. So, it's um really hard to not, you know, really hear what member Pierce is saying and looking out at all of you with your red shirts and you're showing up and, you know, this is a really important thing. Um, that's what I've I was actually going to ask u city manager Neil to talk about what he has been doing at the legislature with the resolution just so you hear that we have been active and so maybe you could do that. >> Um, yes. So the resolution that was referenced previously 202586 uh the resolution of support um after the annunciation events we have shared this directly with our our legislative team uh and asked them uh to to assist us with these goals and also to let us know what we can do at a on a local basis to assist them at the legislature because that's where this change needs to be focused at. No rejection. >> So, I have to say I was heartbroken when Aaron emailed me the other night saying that there was a group, a coalition of cities that stood up against gun violence and we weren't on the list. I was speechless because we are passionately against gun violence. I'm a mom. I could have worn my mom's mad action. I wore my anti-bullying pink instead. um this this my number one priority in life is to make this a safe place for our children and the shooting was so awful and I felt just floored that we weren't on that list and I want you to know I don't know how that happened but we would have been first in line if I'd known about it. So I'm hearing a number of things that we can do. We can have an ordinance about safe gun storage and that seems to be within our powers. Uh we could have this be one ordinance and be severable, but I think we should pass an ordinance as member Pierce said um calling for the things, you know, outline the things that we want to outlaw that are in our resolution. And I think we should also send a a message um to the legislature whether we need another re resolution or what we've got is sufficient, but to lift the preeemption if you're not going to act at the state level. I am really disappointed that the mayor that the governor didn't stand up and say bring it. Force these people to vote no against safety for our kids. I I'm just I'm I'm floored by all of this. And so I I would like to um ask that I don't know if we need a vote to direct staff to write this ordinance, but I I'd like to see it. I'd like to vote on it and I'd like to >> Well, I think we should talk about >> make some noise. Kate may have some more thoughts and I've got some too as we as we visit here. >> Yeah. And I think that um member Jackson kind of was doing exactly as I was thinking about it. Let's go through that list. Um so love the idea of which was number three the enacting and um funding strong safe storage like let's do something for Edina in particular for safe storage. Um, I would want to have a conversation. I I won't put anyone on the spot to do that here, but understanding is there any strengthening that could be done or is needed um regarding our extreme risk protection orders within Edina. So, that's an area I just I want to learn more about and it's probably a conversation that we need to have with um our police department. Um 100% agree. Let's put together the um ban on um prohibiting the sale and possession of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines along with number six, which was banning ghost guns, 3D printed firearms, bump stocks, and conversion devices. I think those are like the very tactical. Um the rest are are obviously some of what I think um member Pierce was talking about too. there's the the counterpart to this of just like the the hatred and the mental health components and so you know partnering with our school systems right that's so so imperative for what we're doing um but when I think about what is paper that we can improve and we can vote on as a council it's those actions that I just outlined >> you know it's um think about Erin and I were also in the we had the session Maybe some of you were there uh at United Community Lutheran Church shortly after the Annunciation Church experience. And so I think again everybody's feelings were the same. Um when we talked to talked to the governor today and I I mentioned this to some of the folks that were out in the audience before the meeting started. Um the governor said that he was a uh when he was a congressman, he was in favor of um you know people owning assault weapons, weapons that were designed to kill people u until Sandy Hook. And then you think about Sandy Hook and what hasn't happened since Sandy Hook. um or even if you look back to Colorado years before that. Um it's a little bit as I sat here listening to my colleagues uh and James did a nice job of articulating everything I think that we're all thinking about. It's a it's a little bit like that concept of jury jury nullification where the jury's trying to make a decision in the case. The judge said, "Here's here's your instructions, but you follow the law." And the jury says, "This law is wrong. >> This isn't right. This the right the right thing to do is not follow the law in this cir circumstance." And that's a little bit of what we've got going on here, I think, from a attitudinal standpoint. So, um, and the governor mentioned today, too. He said, "Stand up and make some noise." Um, and and while you might be disappointed, I I think he's maybe working his way towards that point where he's going to make people stand up and say what they think and why they think what they think >> and put people in an awkward position uh that are in favor of not doing anything about this. So, um I you know I'm I'm with my colleagues on this. Um I think we should be doing something. Let's let's pass something. Let's let's um let's be prepared for the consequences of it. Whatever they might be, I what what can they be? We we end up spending uh some time in a courthouse, you know. Uh so I I think this idea of looking at our resolution and and figuring out what we want to do, look at the St. Paul ordinance. We can take a look at that and see what we like about it and what we don't like about it and or how what we you know what we'd modify, I guess, is a better way to put it. what we might want to modify or think or think any we might want to improve it. Um, and there's always a lawyer with a pen, you know, that wants to do a little editing. So, uh, I think we should take a look at it and then we'll just keep this moving. We'll keep moving forward as a community here together, uh, with you and we'll just agree we got each other's backs on this thing. We got each other's backs. We're doing we're doing what we think is the right thing. uh regardless of what the state legislature said, we think we're doing the right thing and we'll see what happens. Maybe there if there are enough voices like this, um we get the change that we want to see at the legislature and that change can happen in different ways. You know, you think back to the think back to uh domestic partner registry, gay marriage, smoking, all of that sort of cities. It's a different sort of factual circumstance because there wasn't preeemption. But it's but it all started with cities raising their voices on these things that were important and then it finally moving up to the state legislature level and them making a change that was consistent with what we had all done already. So this is a variation on theme, I think. Uh and let's see where it goes. And I think we're all on board here with this. And uh let's let's uh let's ask our city attorney, as reluctant as he is as a lawyer, to draft >> or give it to me. I'll stick for a slide. >> Well, I I if you do have some ideas or preferences, we would like to see them. And >> well, I think I think we could start Let's start with the St. Paul ordinance. Let's take a look at that and see what we think about that. And and you probably even have copies of it. I don't have a copy of it yet. Um, >> we can get copies >> and um and then uh maybe maybe we should think about this in terms of separate ordinances so that things that we think we can deal with like storage >> that aren't going to get challenged, we can make sure that they get through so we get we get we get the outcome that we know we'll probably get there. Uh and then with respect to the broader issue of banning assault weapons, the sale of assault weapons in our community, uh we can take that one up and look at the St. Paul model and go from there and and maybe within maybe by the middle of November we could have something that we could look at. I don't know what timing >> two meetings away. That's not much time, but >> And you'll be gone. >> Oh, I'll be just the first first meeting. Not, but not the not the middle of November. >> Mayor, just to be clear, I'm I'm not against curbing gun violence. >> No, no, no. Nobody in here. >> I'm fully in favor of stopping gun violence. I just >> These these women here will walk you all the way to your car if you're nervous. >> I'm just trying to do my job to duly advise you of the dangers of passing a law that's preempted under state law. But I'm hap if you direct me to draft an ordinance that tries to curb gun violence, I'm certainly happy to do that. >> And and we have to be cognizant of the position that we're putting our police department, our individual police officers in, especially when we know that it's it's most likely not an enforceable ordinance to put them in that position. They they've got they have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution and enforce the laws. they have uh they have individual licenses that could be could be impacted. We just need to think about that as we as we draft whatever we're going to draft here. >> So, when we were talking about it today at the MLC meeting with the governor, he was talking about uh prospective, not retroactive. You know, you couldn't take somebody's gun away from them. Uh but, you know, in terms of forward-looking sales, there would be a ban. Um, >> mayor might help with the PD. That might help with the PD. >> Uh, I think it's possible to do the same thing that St. Paul's doing and write something about the effective date stating that will not be effective until the state preeemption is lifted. Um, I don't think that would necessarily save it from challenge. Someone could still try to challenge it even if the state preeemption is not lifted, but it would save the police officers from trying to enforce an ordinance that is technically preempted under state law. Can I? So, I I I think I understand all of those points. We definitely have to make sure we're protecting our police officers. But if I thought about like what measure would say whatever we drafted was successful, like it's actually not that we've taken somebody's gun away. It's probably something like we got a letter from the DOJ that says you guys can't do that, right? It's something like along those lines. We get a letter from the state that says you guys can't do those things because of preeemption, right? And you're starting the the conversation. Um, and so I I I would be thinking along those terms and we could actually get there by drafting an ordinance of things that to your point, things that we we know we probably can't enforce and we may get sued. And we could write that ordinance to say this is going to be our ordinance goes into effect in 45 days and here's everything that's in it. We probably would get some kind of letter before that mark that says you guys can't do this and that starts the conversation. Well, if we can't do it, we think this is important for our community. So then when Mr. Governor, how are we going to make sure this stuff gets done so that it becomes state law? Like that's how I would think about it. And I like the way mayor said, let's do two ordinances. There's one that's things that we can enforce, right? So let's not put those with the ones that we're positive, right? we're going to get our hands slapped for. Get that one done. And I think the other one should just be full of banan this, ban that, ban this, ban that, ban this, ban that. And here's why. >> Right? And our measure is somebody's going to tell us, "Yeah, you can't do that. You have to. The state has to do it." >> And our point is the same that um Mayor Carter, see, I thought about it that time. I and I think it's on the website. It says, "All right, you're not doing anything. You need to do something. Unless you do something, here's what we're going to do." That's how I would be thinking about it. It's easier for us to draft something, if we're looking through the lens of, well, what could we actually do? It's not going to go far enough. In my opinion, that's one of the reasons I like doing two. >> Um, I hear what you're saying. Um, and I am the one who is a stickler for process. And I do have to say I did underline in um the information that was sent to us by our city attorney because a local ordinance regulating firearms would be prompted under current state law. I recommend the city pass a resolution calling upon the state legislature to change state law in this area rather than passing an ordinance which would be preempted. I see the logic of that and it's hard because yeah, I want our name on the document. I want to be part of this. At the same time, I want a pragmatic pathway forward and one that, you know, you can say, "Oh, nothing's working, so we need to do this and that and maybe we get sued and all of that." But um as an elected official who took my oath of office um I I kind of feel I do feel that a pragmatic approach and this does seem like it is the pragmatic approach and it could we could be the city saying hey we really need to have this preeemption changed before we move forward. Um, but I I want to emphasize, you know, I I lived near enunciation. It was so I mean that day I I was numb. That whole day was just a blur. And um we need to do something. The question is what are we going to do and how are we going to move forward? Um and you know I I just feel like I need to say that. I also feel like tonight we can't really make a decision. I think we need to think about the Well, I don't know. That's my opinion. Maybe we we do move forward, but um know that we have been advocating at the legislature and we have been working and we need to approach this in a way so that we can move the needle. And I don't know if we're the city that's saying, you know, let's keep the focus on what the state has to do. U but I I just have to put that out there. Thank you, Mayor. I I would just mention it's possible to craft a resolution, you know, that goes through all the same details that you'd put into the ordinance, whether it be, you know, ghost guns, bump stocks, triggers, assault weapons. I mean, you can put anything that you think should be banned, you can put that uh into a resolution just as easily as an ordinance, you know. So, it doesn't have to be just calling the state to lift the statewide ban. It could be calling the state to do any and all of the things that you've discussed tonight in whatever detail you want to cover it. >> Member. Yeah. >> Thank you. And and thank you member Risser. I I do think it's important to to ground us in August 27th, which I mean was also the day that my kindergartener started school here in Edina, right? And so as we were celebrating that day, there was also this fear and there was this reminder that today our students have active shooter drills, right? Like that is a reality that I didn't have, right, as a as a child. And I do want us to be pragmatic, right? Like I I want action. Um, I want something that will take hold, but I think what the mayor said is just so accurate with what we have right now and that's cities need to lead the way. And I don't think it's leading the way in resolutions. That has to be a part of it. But I think that now is the time for us to put our foot down and say like this is what is important. And so that's where I want us to have a ordinance that is um putting in the stronger safe storage, right? The things that we don't think will be contested. I want us to have an ordinance that is explicitly prohibiting the sale and possession of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, ghost guns, everything that's outlined here. Um and I I think what um member Pierce said of 45 days, what whatever is normal for our ordinances that we're we're putting into place and then let's also have a resolution calling upon the state legislature to to lift their preeemption. I think that those three things together are really a tight package um that I would feel really proud of. >> Yeah, you were you're headed in the same direction I was. because I think we could take our existing resolution and change the uh resolution provision at the end to just do exactly what you're talking about. Ask the legislature to you know do all these things that we're requesting in the resolution. So the three-prong approach I think it's a that's a good succinctly put and well put. Thank you. I I would adopt that sort of view of it too. others. Julie, are you still or member? Are you still uncomfortable with >> I >> I don't know where I am, but I just I felt like I needed to say that. Um, >> but you know, >> you'll have a chance to look at things as we go along here. >> Right. >> Go ahead. >> You should be uncomfortable. Like we all should be, right? If we're It's easy for us to do a resolution and approve that, right? So if we feel a little uncomfortable with that process, >> I think that's fine. That's all. And so I'm respecting how you feel and I'm just saying >> I honor that. We should all feel uncomfortable. I know this guy over here does feel uncomfortable with what what we're suggesting cuz >> well I mean the effect on the PD is something to think about but >> but still um >> yeah that was really well put James um >> we're a we're a council and a town filled with law-abiding citizens. Yes. >> And that's why it creates so much discomfort because we want to be doing the right thing upholding the law. But we're really in a situation here where the we think the law is wrong. You just got it wrong and and we're going to we're going to make some racket about it and we're going to tell you we think it's wrong. We're going to do something in our town about it. And if you want to slap our hands on it, go ahead. But we still think it's wrong. And you better take this up when you convene the legislature, whenever that is, January, February. We'll be there to tell you we think you're wrong. >> We'll be there with a bunch of other cities saying you got it all wrong up here. And we'll be there with all of you who will be there, too. I know you will. Saying you got it wrong. This is our chance to get it right. This is our chance to be a state that leads and doesn't doesn't cow. Doesn't cower but leads. Doesn't shake their shoulders in resignation and say, "Well, what are we going to do about it?" You know, since Sandy Hook, that's what people are doing. What are we going to do about it? Because everybody is law-abiding at their core. So, let's let's just stand up and say this is just flat wrong. That's what we're all saying, I think, is that we're trying to figure out how to express it in different ways. Everybody's done a great job of expressing their thoughts, I think. And you thanks for being here to reinforce us, I'd say, too. So, I think member Agnu had it right. Three things to do. Member Jackson, >> if you have additional ideas, please let us know. >> Yeah. If you've got some research you've done around the country that you've got access to that would help us craft an ordinance, we'd love to see it. We can do the resolution quickly and get that off to the legislature and the governor. Um, yeah, we I've got a I've got a call with two of his staffers tomorrow. I I'll tell them what's coming. You know, we're we're with them on this. Um, okay. I think with member Agnes has sketched out well the pathway. So, uh, and uh, Mr. Kendall, you can still safely go with these women to the car. They'll they'll stick around. They'll make sure you get there. And they hold no animosity. They're they know that you are opposed to gun violence, too. You're just trying to give us good legal advice. Okay. So, um, that enough to work with there? >> It is. I I think we've got a good understanding of what you're what you're asking us to prepare. I'm just We were just looking at our respective calendars. I think we can get this on for your second meeting in November. So, it's like November 18th, I believe. We'll use that as sort of our goal to have it ready for you that night. Yeah, >> I had a physician friend of mine tell me, I think it was after we had that session over at uh Adana Community Lutheran Church on gun violence. He said, you know, uh he does he did a lot of he was a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School and did a lot of work on the messyloma problems up in the Iron Range. He said, you know, we don't have any higher incident of mental health problems in this country than they do anywhere else in the world. It's the same all over the world. The data is all the same. We're the only place that kills people or many where people me with mental health problems are killing people with automatic weapons. Nowhere else does it happen. I just talked to somebody else that was on a trade mission to Ireland and they said that they were just appalled over there. You know, they said we haven't lost a child for gun violence for I don't know decades maybe since >> Yeah. you. Okay, we got a plan. Thanks for getting it back in front of us, all of you. And u thanks to my council, fellow council members as well. We're off on a grand adventure together. Yes. [Applause] We'll let you figure out how to how to give us a brand name. All of us together. Edina something something, you know. I know. Figure it out. You'll come up with a good one. Um, okay. We got some other things to talk about. Member Riss or anything else that you want to cover from a council member standpoint? >> Um, I I have received um four phone calls and a couple emails about our new policy um charging for FOYA requests at $44 an hour. So, I uh want to note that that is something that is being questioned and I am concerned about residents who may not have a lot of money in their ability to get access to the information and I don't know I mean I don't know how many foyer requests we get. One thing um that was noted is maybe it would be possible to put more information on our website if there's something that people are frequently requesting information about. Um and that individual noted that um police reports and the fire reports if that would be something that people didn't have to individually request. Um maybe this is a topic we could discuss um next meeting. Uh the other thing is that we have another film festival going on. There's the Twin City Film Festival and um you can go to 50th in France and that theater is involved in that as well. It runs through Friday and it really hasn't been given a lot of attention. But you know if you're looking for something to do that could be a really nice thing to do on a cold rainy day. And that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, member Jackson. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, I've got a couple of different directions to go here. Um, this afternoon, I was part of a call um for the city's climate coalition, and I talked about this in the work session, but I wanted to let people know. We um heard from state agencies that regulate data centers or or related to data centers. Um, and they had some uh really interesting ideas. Um, one is that that when people decide that they want to build a data center, it comes very quickly. So, I think it'd be interesting to see what all is in and we're going to continue the conversation to see what u the burden is on cities and what city's reaction should be. Um, they said that um there are some creative uses um reuses of water including capturing the heat for district heating um from a data center. Um some data centers can use non- peak energy that help manage and the load of the um electric electrical circuits or the grid that is surrounding them. And it made me think of our um Cahill area plan and and that that is some work that I don't want to be forgotten about that that's still out there. Um so that's it. uh the liquor store has had to consolidate their employees and I wanted to tell them that that I know this is very difficult and that it's stressful and we're with you. We support you and um we don't want you to feel abandoned. Um it's it's hard it's hard to consolidate. Um we're wearing pink tonight. Um the high school is putting on Mean Girls. They're saying wear pink on Wednesdays in support of anti-bullying. Um, I just uh I think everybody at all of all ages needs to be aware of what bullying is and that you stand up to bullies and stand up for your friends more importantly. It's the bystanders that make uh that empower the bully. And so it isn't just standing up for yourself, but standing up for your friends as well. And finally, we've been having lots and lots of conversations about the proposed levy. And I want to repeat what I said last time, and that is we're sitting in a perfect storm. We've had the property values um especially single family homes have dramatically increased in value because we have a shortage of homes on the market. Shortages create boosts in price. We've had a shift in the weight of our tax classification. For many years, we could increase taxes and single family residences wouldn't feel it because it was absorbed by the commercial sector. And finally, uh we're facing some um generational costs. Um the cost of street reconstruction, the cost of replacing the pool pump room. These are things that has just have reached the end of their useful life, have been maintained very very well, lived beyond their useful life, um and need to be replaced. And we've hired um six new uh people in the police department. We are absorbing the six firefighters that were hired in 2020 and we're looking at hiring some more and this all costs money. Um and it and it's coming at a time when uh single family homeowners are feeling the um impact of property taxes much more than they have in the past. So it's a perfect storm. We hear you and we are taking this all very seriously. >> Thank you. Thank you for those thoughts. member of Pierce. >> I think you did something pretty significant. You let off a tough conversation there heading in a really important direction. >> Thank you. >> Thanks for that. >> Yeah, >> member >> more tonight. Thank you. >> Um, a few things. I guess Shelley Lberg mentioned that Williamson County, Tennessee coming in here tomorrow. I'll be here in the morning. Uh they had an event at Southdale last night for some of the new merchants that were open. I just ran out there with my wife to take a look. They're going to do something, I guess, more grand in December when all these stores are open and it's it's really pretty extraordinary what they've done out there. So, uh congratulations to Simon on on what's there and what's coming. Um had a good MOC meeting today around housing, but we talked about that upstairs a little bit. Uh some of you may notice that they're starting to run test runs on the green line with some of the rail cars. And so at some point in time we'll maybe have a chance to go for a short ride on the Greenland extension. And then um last uh what was that? Saturday night or Friday night. Uh we had uh my wife and I attended the motan military appreciation uh fund. It was Friday, Friday, October 17th. Uh Denny Scholstead, who's been such a generous uh resident for some of the sculptures out at Centennial Lakes, invited us to join him at his table. Uh the Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund, you know, raises funds to help families where uh National Guard members in the family are deployed overseas and they don't, you know, sometimes their their employers continue to pay them. Mostly they don't, I think. And so they provide funding support for some of these families. Uh great couple of keynote speakers, two four-star generals, both retired, one recently retired. uh Joe Votel who was um in two totally different personalities. This Joe Votel retired some time ago now, a four-star army general. He was a former commander of US Central Command, but he was also chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. >> Wow. >> And is from Minnesota, lives in the Twin Cities area. Uh and then a guy from Milk River uh is a just retired four-star general from Sentcom uh named Michael Carrilla and he was a main keenoter and gave a really interesting speech about the I would say you know sent central command uh their primary area of emphasis is the Middle East and so uh he talked about what he called the twilight war that we've had for going on for 40 years with Iran and uh that was all really fascinating stuff and and then he was a burly guy. Uh Joe Joe Votel was this thin little wispy guy, looked like a college prof. And then the other guy was this big looked like a football lineman. And uh and he told a great story on himself when he was a kid going up in Elk River on the river up there. Uh in the springtime he went down to the river with his dog and um the ice was starting to move out and so he took a big rod and broke a big chunk of ice off and got on it like Huck Finn with his dog and went downream on the with a with a paddle on on an ice flow. And he said every house they went by the people were out calling the police and they picked him up downstream somewhere. So that gives you an idea of what kind of a adventurous spirit he has. So that was that was quite an event and uh thanks for letting us participate in it. Um and Leonard Blum was there uh Missy Blum who lived over on the west side. Uh and he had his little I didn't have my glasses on. I was trying to see what he had on. He had his uh he had his little blue special forces pin on and I I said, "Lon, what is that?" He said, "Oh, it's my special forces pin." And he was really humble about that as well. Uh anyway, and his his he had a great story about his he has a daughter who grew up in Indiana, went to Harvard, worked on Wall Street, didn't like it, and now she's in the Navy and she's in cyber >> Oh, wow. >> warfare and she sits on a ship with a a signed group of Army or Navy Seals >> and she controls their all their electronics from the ship where they're doing their work on shore or going toward shore and back and forth. Anyway, some fascinating stuff happening over there at the uh Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund annual dinner and a lot of generous people there as well. So, that's it for me. Rattled on a little bit too long. Um, and that caused anybody else to think of anything? Remember Jackson? >> October 30th, we have a grand opening of our new fire station number two >> from 4 to 8, I believe. >> Good observation. >> Yeah. Don't forget, please come by and see it. >> Okay. And we'll continue to work on the budget. towards making a final budget determination in December. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> A motion by member Jackson, second by member Pierce to adjourn the meeting of the Dana City Council this Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025 at 9:48 p.m. Any further discussion? All those in favor of adjournment say I. I. Opposed. Carried. We stand adjourned.