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City Council Meeting Feb. 4, 2025

Edina City CouncilWednesday, February 5, 2025
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[0:13] February 4th 2025 our apologies for the slight delay and getting started here at [0:18] 7:10 we were doing some preliminary work on budgeting for the years ahead uh [0:24] upstairs in our work session and um meeting with our Police and Fire Chiefs and uh talking about their operations so [0:31] uh again my apologies for the slightly delayed start to the meeting um as [0:36] director benro said we're continuing to do these meetings in a hybrid sort of way uh we've been we did it all the way [0:42] through covid pandemic post pandemic now we're continuing that same process [0:47] sometimes we have a public hearing and there's always public comment opportunity for Community comment uh no [0:53] public hearing this evening as director benat indicated uh but there will be an opportunity for Community comment if [0:59] someone wants to speak to the council about a matter that's not on the agenda this evening or scheduled for a future [1:04] public hearing you're welcome to come forward if you're in the uh audience you'll have three minutes you'll get a [1:09] yellow light the warning light to come on when you got 30 seconds left should be thinking about wrapping up your comments so we can treat everybody the [1:15] same from a time stpoint uh and then we'll do the uh folks that might be turning in uh tuning in virtually after [1:22] that so uh having provided that information let me now ask our clerk Sharon Allison to call the role cleris [1:29] Council member agnu here council member Jackson is absent council member Pierce here council member Risser here mayor [1:35] hubin here uh next is Pledge of [1:41] Allegiance allegiance to the flag United United States of America and to the [1:46] Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with libery and [1:52] justice for all thanks everyone uh and now we have a uh form of [2:00] meeting agenda in front of us this evening is there anyone who wishes to [2:06] modify the agenda on the council from or from a staff standpoint is there a motion to approve the meeting agenda is [2:11] published so move second we got a motion by member Pier second by member rard to adopt the [2:18] meeting agenda as published any further conversation on that issue all those in favor of adopting the meeting agenda say [2:24] I I I oppos carried uh before we go to community comment I I don't know if [2:29] anyone in the AUD audiences here with regard to item um 7.2 which um was [2:35] intended to be a second reading on um uh possibly adding to the code the language [2:42] uh dealing with the sale of inhumanely bred animals the sale of inhumanely bred [2:48] animals and uh council member agu has been working on this matter and she's had some conversations I think with [2:54] folks whose input we would like and she would appreciate and I'm going to turn to her now uh and uh I think we're going [3:01] to be tabling this matter but I'll let member U take it from here yeah absolutely thank you um so I had uh [3:06] members of The Humane Society reach out and one they're really excited that we're looking at this as a council but [3:13] they also um had some suggestions on incorporating it back but they just got [3:18] back to me today on um some of those suggestions so I just wanted to give us proper time to integrate those consider [3:25] um the feedback and the impacts that it would have to the ordinance and hoping to address table this until March 4th [3:32] okay so you would you would move that the uh 7.2 the second reading of ordinance 22501 be tabled to the March [3:40] 4th 2025 city council meeting for further discussion yes all right yes is there a second to that a second all [3:47] right we got a motion a second to uh table uh item 7.2 which is ordinance [3:53] 20251 which would amend chapter 8 concerning the sale of inhumanely bred animals to the March 4 25 meeting any [4:00] further discussion on that matter all those in favor of tbling the matter stated to March 4 2025 meeting say I I I [4:08] oppos carried all right thanks member U for that update uh now we're going to go back to um Community comment and um [4:16] we'll take folks I see a few of our residents fellow residents in the audience uh who may want to uh come up [4:22] and address the Council on a matter of concern to them that's not on the agenda uh or scheduled for a future public [4:29] hearing so if you feel feel welcome to come [4:34] forward hello danie Weston 6136 Brookview Avenue I'm back um at the last [4:41] city council meeting two weeks ago um on the agenda was the um item of [4:49] an a um so-called conservation easement [4:54] uh that was discussed and what came up in that regard was the process and that [5:01] the city does not have a set process um or guidelines of how to do that sort of [5:08] a thing um one thing that made me um sit up a little little bit more in [5:16] my chair in the remarks toward the end of all of that discussion before the vote or maybe it was after the vote [5:22] whichever um mayor holand said we used a process that was kind of customized to [5:29] the situation we had a unique process we used then a little further into that [5:35] same minute he referred to a conversation he'd had with a retired [5:41] County engineer that told him and I'm quoting exactly as it was in the [5:47] recording Jim don't let that concern about process cause you to kill a good [5:53] project don't ever let process kill a good project [6:00] and I have an issue with that because process is [6:07] something that gives us fairness it gives us set [6:15] guidelines and when you do not have a process and you do not [6:20] follow a process even when one is established what can happen is the city [6:29] can be responsible for code violations violations of what state [6:34] statute says you are to do and it can cause [6:40] favoritism and I have seen this happen personally with a house that was built [6:46] starting in 2008 two doors down from me the city code was not followed it was [6:54] allowed to be placed where it should not have been placed by almost 8 ft [7:00] and there were many violations of our city code as far as building procedures [7:06] process inspections it ended up with the house having a stop work order finally put [7:13] onto it a month after the first complaints and the city was sued this [7:21] causes the taxpayers money lawyer time and this is not okay because [7:29] process code was not followed we need to make sure that this [7:37] is that we do not do things as they may have been done in the 60s 7s when ah I [7:44] know you you're good it's fine you can pass but that's not okay anymore process [7:52] and following what the city code and statutes State statutes say you are [7:57] supposed to do is extremely important when those are not [8:03] done it becomes a very shaky dangerous situation and our federal government [8:10] right now is seeing huge issues because of that very thing happening so I don't [8:17] want to see this done at a local level if we've got the rules follow [8:23] them thank you yeah thanks M Wesson I appreciate your perspective on it I'll address it in the few minutes [8:31] here context um anyone [8:51] else good evening mayor H and council members my name is Steve Brown I live at [8:57] 5528 Halifax Lane I want to comment in support of [9:03] your use of Tiff for redevelopment projects one reason for my support is [9:09] that I believe that Tiff is good for taxpayers how our taxes are calculated [9:14] is incredibly complex but this chart illustrates one very simple [9:24] concept this was brought to my attention by a presentation made in 2019 by by [9:29] then council member Mike fiser council member Fischer said that [9:34] we can think of the city's tax capacity as a pie that big green circle that you see there each resident share of the pie [9:42] is represented by the small orange slice this slice here and then if you think [9:48] about a typical Tiff project it typically will involve a large piece of project and so it's represented here is [9:54] this large yellow slice the yellow [10:00] when property under goes Redevelopment the property increases in value typically and its share of tax capacity [10:07] increases so that yellow slice gets bigger when that happens the share of [10:14] tax capacity for the resident decreases because the pi is not changing [10:20] all that much in total size and they pay less taxes they would [10:26] than they would have paid if the project hadn't happened so so one key question is have Tiff projects increased in value [10:32] over time and Mike answered that question with a example from Grand View [10:38] Square [10:44] project and this was a project that took place between 1984 and [10:49] 2010 and it involved the new library that was built into din at that time and [10:55] what Mike did was had the city resources put together this chart which showed [11:01] that over the time period for that project the slice of that that yellow [11:07] slice of P grew by 830 per. that was almost eight times faster [11:14] than the overall tax capacity of the city so the city grew but that [11:19] particular project grew a lot faster and that meant that every single residents [11:25] share decreased a little bit that's a good thing for [11:30] taxpayers so the second question is how have other Tiff projects performed over [11:36] time so in the recent H year in review they published this chart and you don't [11:43] have to read the numbers on this chart you just have to recognize that there are a lot of numbers on the chart and [11:50] the fact that there are numbers on the chart says that all of those projects that are listed there the ones that have [11:57] completed Construction are actually paying incremental taxes that's a good thing that's like [12:04] paying interest on a bank account if you were to invest in a bank and it didn't [12:10] pay interest you wouldn't be happy if you're getting the interest you're happy [12:16] in this case all the projects are paying interest and so far in the last six years we've had about 28 million do in [12:24] incremental taxes generated by the projects in which the city invested Tiff [12:30] thanks Mr Brown I need to have you wrap up your comments so I am done okay I don't want to overstate the importance [12:37] of Tiff Tiff is only 1.5% of total tax capacity but I think it's important that [12:43] we all recognize that it's been official to us as taxpayers thank you thank you Mr [12:50] Brown anyone else in the [12:56] audience he let's turn to the virtual world we'll see if we have anybody tuning [13:04] in I do have a caller um I'm going to unmute your line caller and um please [13:10] Begin by stating your full name and record your full name and record your full name and address for the record [13:17] please go ahead caller thank you uh This is Connie [13:22] Corino 4509 Garrison Lane so um [13:29] let's see first I I want to thank you for keeping Community comment on tonight's agenda and I urge you to [13:36] continue to make this important communication tool a part of the community engagement and the public [13:43] input process and just a few moments ago for example there were two residents who [13:49] presented uh issues that um are of community interest and not and and [13:56] Beyond just presenting to five council members in a close door session so I think it's really important that we keep [14:01] Community comment available and my second point it was actually through [14:08] looking for an update on that proposal um to remove Community comment [14:14] from the council agenda that lends me to this next point and it certainly is [14:20] easier and more direct to provide this note via either in person or in this [14:25] virtual uh format then a closed door session just with Council um what I was [14:31] looking for the item I'm looking for um I won't mention it so that I comply with [14:37] your guidelines and rules but I found the new format to view Council agendas online very [14:44] cumbersome um for for instance the item I was looking for it was really [14:49] difficult to find the attachments they were rather buried and I wanted to learn more so I would would encourage you to [14:58] find an easy I uh way to make all of the agenda items with the attachments for [15:04] everything from the consent agenda all the way through the reports easier to access thank you thank you m [15:14] Kino okay all right um yeah thanks Mr Brown thanks M Kino [15:22] and Miss Weston I was probably a little bit too glib when I was commenting on what the county attorney told me uh and [15:29] I could see where you would come up with some concerns about that uh it was in the context of um where you otherwise [15:37] had an adequate and appropriate sort of process that you don't want to [15:42] let the um uh some concerns about the adequacy of that [15:48] process uh you know otherwise kill a project that was worthwhile doing and uh [15:53] that's not even the most articulate way to express it but the concerns that you've expressed uh really don't go so [16:00] much to process as they do to enforcement in my opinion so um but nonetheless I thought your point was [16:06] well taken and um certainly am a believer over the years I've been doing this that the process you employ is is [16:13] very important to follow uh as well now whether we should have a set process for [16:19] dealing with proposed conservation easements um because of the varied [16:24] nature of those things over time um I think that's why they have tended to get kind of customized whether it's 50 I'll [16:32] use an example of a 50 foot conservation easement along one of our lakes or uh [16:38] the one like we discussed at the recent meeting and um but there certainly something we could take a look at have [16:43] our City attorney and staff look at to see if they think that has Merit to create some kind of a process around [16:49] conservation easement so and U manager Neil is nodding his head affirmatively so I I think we said that at the at the [16:55] council meeting too yeah so we are going to work on that all right very good and I don't know if you stuck around to hear [17:02] that but at the last meeting we were going to take a look at that so uh thanks for coming tonight and thanks for [17:07] your observations okay um now we're going to [17:13] move on from Community comment uh into our city manager response to community comments that were made at the last meeting and manager Neil have you got [17:19] anything you wanted to comment on thank you honor members of council uh at our Fe at our January 21st meeting we had [17:26] three speakers under Community comment no question uh we had some folks talking from [17:31] Project the project Earth group from the high school uh we had two representatives from Hindus of North [17:36] America that talked a little bit about some uh uh collaboration they were doing with the police department and uh Miss [17:43] Weston talked about u a public forum Community comment um but offered no [17:50] questions okay all right uh thanks for that now [17:55] we're going to move on to the uh consent agenda and I I know that member rer wanted us to pull items 6.4 and 6.5 do [18:03] any other council members wish to have an item pulled off to consent agenda is there a motion to adopt the items on the [18:09] consent agenda with the exception of items 6.4 and 6.5 so second got a motion second to [18:16] adopt the items on the consent agenda in a single motion member Pierce moves member U seconds the adoption of those [18:23] items on the consent agenda a single motion with the exception of items 6.4 and 6.5 uh uh with respect to the motion as [18:31] stated uh is there any further discussion all those in favor of adopting the items on the consent agenda [18:36] with the exception to items 6.4 and 6.5 which will take up individually say I I [18:41] I opposed carried items on the consent agenda adopted with uh except with [18:47] respect to items 6.4 and 6.5 and 6.4 involves a proposed [18:53] resolution amending the 2025 budget that's embodied in resolution 20254 14 [18:59] I'm now going to turn to member Risser to hear what her concerns are with regard to that matter member rer um I [19:05] was specifically interested in knowing more about the 1% reductions and when I [19:11] look at the table the top item uh and this was to reduce the budget by 1% [19:18] which was agreed upon and we voted and approved that uh but seeing the [19:24] $192,000 reduction from the police department caught my attention and so I thought maybe we could learn a little [19:30] bit more about that and the other items as well sure thank you member rer member of [19:38] council members of council um I think the process uh that that we used uh to [19:44] come up with the these savings is important to understand we went to the executive leader assistant city manager [19:50] lens and I went to the assist went to the members of the executive leadership team we discussed uh the challenge that [19:57] we got from the council and how to meet it um we received back from all of those [20:03] different groups uh potential reductions in their budgets and we used U quite a [20:09] number of them to get to this $545,000 reduction the vacancy placement [20:15] uh uh item in the police department is one that came from them uh it and I [20:21] think the chief discussed it in the works uh work session a little bit ago just the challenges of of moving people [20:28] from civilian to Cadet to police officer and so when they took a look at their [20:33] budget and took a look at what they could possibly uh bring on this year this this amount was something that they [20:40] thought they could uh uh use as part of the reduction and not have a a material [20:47] impact on their Staffing levels thank you um with the elections [20:54] um and administration it sounds like this is a cost that we would not occur [20:59] incur anyway am I reading that incorrectly right that's that's a good one because that's a number that we [21:05] included in that budget um and then when we went back to look at it uh for 2025 [21:10] this will be the first year in I think four years Miss Allison that we won't [21:16] have an election uh this year so that money is not won't be spent because we won't have an [21:22] election so is that a budget reduction or is that just not a cost that we're going to have that's a reduction we're [21:28] reducing that that item in the expense budget in that department okay thank you [21:35] right member rer having uh received that information do you care to move the adoption of resolution [21:43] 20254 so moved second member rer moves the adoption of the amended 2020 2025 [21:51] budget reflecting the 1% service reduction in those different categories embodied in resolution [21:57] 2025-the motion by m member rer as I stated and the second by member Pierce [22:02] any further discussion all those in favor of uh adoption of resolution [22:08] 20254 14 amending the 2025 budget say I I I opposed [22:14] carried uh resolution 2025-the you had as well uh that was [22:23] with respect to the potential adoption of the 2025 through 2030 capital [22:28] Improvement plan go ahead correct um and I did not vote for this and so this is [22:33] again pulling an item um that I previously did not support and being consistent with that I still have [22:40] concerns about the CIP particularly in the introduction um where it's noted [22:46] that there is a significant increase um going from 547 million um that's what it [22:53] is uh from a $300 million plan and listed in that is 16 million for the [22:59] France Avenue Crossing at Gallagher in 72nd and I do still have concerns about that so it's procedural I want to be [23:06] consistent with my vote um sure thank you for that uh this might be a good opportunity for manager Neil to express [23:15] um uh what we do from a process standpoint with respect to Capital Improvement and uh how that that [23:21] fiveyear Capital Improvement plan works regardless of the sequence of years that we're in so so thank you uh mayor [23:28] members of Council the first thing that we do is we take the existing 5-year plan and we try to make try to build [23:34] some consistency in whatever that CIP has into the future CIP it's important [23:40] that if we have a project that has uh Council support uh that we include the [23:46] project even if it isn't fully funded uh so that when we as we March out towards those out years towards 27 28 29 uh we [23:55] we are constantly reminding ourselves that we have a project there that a council or a previous Council wanted to [24:02] do and we need to build funding for it so we will build if this is if this item [24:07] stays in the CIP and it stays in the next CIP as we get closer to it it gets more serious and that gives that gives [24:14] the council the city and the city staff uh the The Authority they need to go [24:20] forward and make plans so year one ends up being uh in the capital Improvement plan ends up [24:26] being something as part of the budget for the but even in that situation like our last [24:32] budget we removed some items from the capital Improvement plan uh to uh to get [24:38] the budget reductions that we wanted to see as a council overall so just because some an item is in the CIP doesn't give [24:45] staff 100% uh discretion to just go build it right um in most cases those [24:52] projects exceed the $20,000 level so it does give us the authority to plan it and to uh maybe [25:00] acquire Professional Services to work on architecture or engineering um but we still come back to the council to [25:07] approve a project and to award a contract any other comments questions member [25:13] rer um briefly with this one it's a project that has not had gone before the [25:19] public for an event and we've talked about you know possibly having something like that but I I really do have issues [25:25] with it and continue to have issues with that um so thank you I want to ask you [25:31] if you'll move the matter then thank you is there a motion to um adopt uh [25:38] resolution 2025 or excuse me adopt the capital Improvement plan for the years 2025 through 2030 as suggested by staff [25:46] so moved second ra moves member Pierce uh seconds the uh adoption of the 2025 [25:53] through 2020 2030 Capital Improvement plan any further discussion all those in [25:58] favor of adoption of the capital Improvement plan for the years 2025 through 2030 say I I I opposed n carried [26:08] uh the 2025 through 2030 Capital Improvement plan is adopted all right [26:14] that completes our work in the consent portion of the agenda uh we're going to now move on to the reports and [26:20] recommendations portion of the agenda and we have um one matter remaining in [26:25] that portion of the uh agenda this evening and that's a plan review by some enterprising young [26:32] gentlemen who uh would like to get some Council [26:37] feedback on a proposed project uh they're thinking about on 5 at 5516 [26:42] Vernon Avenue and cry tar community development director has the matter and then we'll ask the uh applicants to come [26:48] up and uh present their version of the project and we'll have a conversation about it so director CH yes thank you [26:55] mayor members of council I'll just quickly Tee It Up and then turn it over to the potential applicants so this site [27:02] is located west of Grand View the Grand View area it's located on [27:08] Vernon property zoned R1 single dwelling unit district it's guided in our [27:14] comprehensive plan for low density residential which is our single family uh residential area here's an area look [27:22] at the site it's about 38,000 Square ft so it's a large property located south [27:29] of Highland School there's another very large property to the east [27:36] 5508 little subdivision culdesac off of Vernon to the west and Vernon Avenue to [27:42] the South here's a look at the site this is the site we're looking at and then [27:48] the adjacent single family home you can see it's um there's a row of trees that [27:54] kind of separate that that little culdesac to the West The Proposal is to tear down that single [28:01] family home and build two town home or duplexes they would be two story [28:06] structures about 3,000 square ft in size a formal application would require an [28:12] amendment to the comprehensive plan to low density attached residential that [28:18] would allow those two dwelling unit or town homes on the site a rezoning to [28:24] prd2 and a site plan review just quick quickly looking at the [28:29] prd2 zoning standards this project would be in compliance with [28:34] those if you tuned in the Planning Commission I mentioned a potential varia [28:39] regarding usable lot area we've recalculated that looking at the definition and actually this project [28:46] would comply we um the code only excludes [28:52] Front Street setbacks and side street setbacks so the the area that I [28:59] demonstrated at Planning Commission the required setback areas are included in [29:05] that that usable lot area so there would be no variance there issues and [29:10] considerations these two sites kind of sit on their the uh somewhat isolated from [29:17] adjacent properties when you look at the two sites together there's that Wetland [29:22] to the East Highland School to the North and the single family uh homes to the [29:27] West so the amendment to the comprehensive plan staff would suggest that both those [29:33] lots be included to rezone to low density attached the existing single [29:38] family home to the east could remain under the low density attached [29:44] designation in their comprehensive PL a single family home would be allowed also want to touch on a somewhat [29:52] similar situation to the West it's the old Vernon development [29:58] here's the site we're looking at so it's just to the West this was a site that [30:04] was rezoned from R1 to uh to the prd2 that we're looking [30:11] at this evening it was it was the difference however is that it was guided [30:16] in the comprehensive plan for low density attached residential that took place in [30:23] 1997 another thing just wanted to mention this would be considered missing middle not necessarily affordable [30:29] housing but in the the construct of the development itself they're looking at about $7 to [30:35] $800,000 uh for values of each you go back to Old Vernon for just a moment sure yeah and so that was zoned low [30:43] density attached it was zoned R1 zoned R1 okay but it was guided in the [30:50] comprehensive plan for low density attached residential okay and what did [30:55] it end up getting reson to to prd2 okay so uh it doesn't necessarily [31:03] mean that you have to have buildings attached because those aren't attached to each other correct they're on zero [31:09] lot lines they are but that you have that flexibility too under this code [31:15] designation attached correct okay okay thank you [31:28] anything else I will turn it over to the applicants okay let's check to see if anybody has any questions for you first [31:33] before we let you sit back down uh council members questions for director te member Risser can you go back to the [31:44] Chart so with the proposed um rezoning it's not prd2 but [31:51] it is um going to result in a potential of [31:56] five units per per acre not six per acre I only asked because I believe when [32:03] I watched the Planning Commission there was suggestions that they bump it up from 4 to 6 and I kind of thought does [32:10] that really work with what is being requested yeah if if that were to happen [32:16] it it could bump it up into a medium density right okay designation yes thank [32:21] you okay other questions from Council Members for director Teague all right [32:27] let's uh bring our applicants up here and um gentlemen if you could introduce [32:32] yourselves as you come up um so that we know I see three names in the agenda [32:38] here and I'll let you uh tell us Who's Who and then we'll hear about what you'd [32:45] like to do over there at this particular location in on Vernon Avenue good evening good evening good evening thank [32:51] you all for having us uh we're excited to be here um and then am I pressing [32:58] just the the arrows good okay cool cool uh my name is Jordan Crockett uh with [33:04] abundance properties um today we're going to walk through Mr Crockett would you give us your business address too [33:10] please U for the record off the top of my head 6417 pin Avenue uh South [33:17] Minneapolis yeah thank you um but we'll talk a little little bit about us uh the [33:23] proposal the plan uh and then we'll walk through some questions uh as well here [33:29] very good so uh again my name is Jordan Crockett I'm the uh operations project [33:35] manager here at abundance good evening everybody sorry it's a little loud want [33:40] to make sure I'm channeling my inner Rockstar like Jennifer said I'm Rashad Kennedy co-founder of abundance [33:46] properties along with Jordan and Daran I also own and operate a separate entity keny property development uh specializ [33:52] in new developments uh remodels mixed use multif family [33:58] um you you name it we've done it uh we I believe you guys have a a packet that [34:04] shows some our track record so that's a little bit about KY proper vment as well and I'm Daren Fletcher and uh we [34:12] make abundance properties and uh at abundance properties our mission is to create abundance through rehab and [34:19] development of communities while empowering and educating others to do the same so there is a project actually [34:25] that we' love to highlight that we worked with with a nonprofit out of South Minneapolis PPL and we have a [34:31] video that really shows what that project meant to us as an organization but more importantly the [34:41] community what's up y'all it's chy holworth with abundance properties y'all [34:47] it's cold out [Music] here it's cold out here when we first [34:53] started this project it was warm out the sun was out we had drone shots none of [34:59] that's happening now it's cold but we still got work to do we've already done Roofing siding Plumbing electrical [35:07] whatever you can think of we've done it on this rece project and the last part of this is the windows and that's what's [35:13] happening right now we're doing Chicago Avenue and Portland Avenue windows and uh we getting it done the crew has been [35:18] amazing and this has been a fun project um that we've been doing with PP so what I'm most excited about with the receip [35:24] program is how it's allowing emerging developers to add to their portfolio but [35:31] not have to take on so much risk with grabbing properties that need a ton of work steel so this is a great [35:37] opportunity for people within the community to now be able to continue to invest back into their community and not [35:44] take on as much [35:51] risk our team here at abundance properties have been excited doing this project with PPL because it's bringing [35:58] forth Equitable transformation here in South Minneapolis the time is now and [36:04] Legacy starts [Music] [36:11] here all right and that that was uh our our partner chony who's not currently [36:16] here um but that's just kind of emulates our team and and what we've done so it's [36:22] excit I'm sure that was a nice partnership for you with PPL it's it's a great organization yeah absolutely [36:29] absolutely um well sweet so while we're here today is uh 5516 Vernon uh Avenue [36:35] which we're proposing town homes and a rezone all right so here's the meat meat [36:42] and potatoes for y'all um why does it work right so uh the uh visual that [36:49] you're seeing is actually from you guys's uh or a third party U ofm study that was done uh recently believe 2024 [36:57] but um it shows essentially the recommended areas where density and [37:04] rezoning uh should occur um and as you can see our site is right there in those [37:14] zones uh which are recommended to be uh increased in [37:20] density uh and then that U ofm study that was done um when it kind of comes [37:27] down to it it breaks down just the value of density uh and what's recommended in [37:33] or the purpose essentially which you know more density uh allows for more [37:39] residents to work the jobs in e um which then decreases the vehicle [37:45] miles traveled uh which therefore uh decreases the greenhouse gases and [37:53] everything as well and uh overall more usage of the transit system system in [37:58] Idina which uh is is very clear uh that you guys have noted that you have a goal [38:04] in 2030 to uh increase uh by double uh [38:10] the usage of the transit system so this is all all in the line in in in a circle [38:16] with that um as far as the land use efficiency right so if if the question [38:22] is you know if somebody would give you an acre and you have the the city in [38:28] you know as a single family what you would decide to put there right so that's kind of the question there [38:36] um and the last kind of piece is is our team uh we're a very Dynamic team we [38:43] have a track record of success uh and we are extremely capable uh we also are [38:49] invested in the we own the lot so we're here to partner with you guys and really do something special here [39:01] all right so four units as we can see on the site plan 3,000 sare ft each three [39:06] beds three baths now I want to touch uh talk a little bit about some of the materials that we're going to be using [39:13] so I'm going to start with the lp Smart Siding lap shakes board and batting low [39:18] emission manufacturing process with renewable materials and then resistance to moisture rot and insects reducing [39:24] maintenance and waste aluminum s in fascia 100% recyclable make it one of [39:29] the most sustainable materials requires little maintenance eliminating eliminating the need for a frequent [39:37] repainting windows and doors Anderson 100 series made from fibrex composite [39:43] 40% reclaimed wood fiber stronger than vinyl low eass Coatings reduce UV and [39:49] infrared light penetration and then energy efficient exterior doors insulated core reduces heat transfer and [39:56] then low E glass prevents excessive heat gain low vocc interior and exterior [40:03] paint improves indoor air quality by reducing harmful emissions eco-friendly with Fe pollutants contributing to [40:10] sustainability and then some of the Mechanicals I want to touch based on high efficiency Heating and Cooling 97% [40:16] high efficiency furnace uh gas tankless water heaters reduces standby heat loss improving [40:22] efficiency by up to 30% and then some of the electrical and [40:27] Smart Energy features LED lighting uses 70% 75% less energy lasts 25 times [40:34] longer than regular light bulbs smart thermostats remote control of heating cooling to minimize energy waste energy [40:42] star appliances reduces overall household energy consumption high efficiency exhaust fans [40:48] reduces humidity while using less power and then pre-wiring the garages for Ev chargers for um electric [40:55] vehicles and then with all that to say we have carefully chosen materials that prioritize sustainability Energy [41:01] Efficiency and durability our focus is on reducing energy consumption and waste [41:06] while enhancing long-term value for homeowners in the community and then the goal for the end would be um owner [41:14] occupants and then each townhouse would also be plotted uh for ownership uh by [41:22] surveyor in the county thanks Mr Kennedy [41:28] all right so when it when it comes down to it um you D's comprehensive plan the [41:35] climate action plan the transit plan everything leads to this goal of [41:40] increasing density in targeted areas um [41:45] the location and the size you know the stars are aligned here where we own the property we're ready to partner um in an [41:54] area that is a busy cour Corridor uh where there is going to be a [42:00] lot more Transit and as well as the size of the lot we can really do something [42:05] special with um and the last piece uh it's super exciting what we're doing [42:11] here um not just with the intention of this project but a lot of the other projects we're doing um you know we have [42:18] the experience the capabilities to really like overd deliver so we'd love to share too um Rashad can uh give a [42:25] little bit more context to some of the products we we've done uh you know even some of the other stuff that uh he's [42:31] done in udina as well so thank you guys yeah thank you uh I think good place to [42:37] start might be if you scroll back on your presentation to that uh site plan [42:42] there you go just go back there you go maybe that might be a good place to start I'm going to turn to my colleagues [42:48] here and see uh who has uh any comments they want to make or questions they have [42:54] member Risser um first I want to thank you for bringing a sketch plan that really [43:01] reflects the um resoning that you are requesting okay and I know that during [43:08] the Planning Commission meeting there was a lot about another project that did not get approved that was going for a [43:14] comprehensive plan Amendment and the difference between what you are [43:19] presenting and what was presented for that it's just very extremely different [43:26] okay and the ask that you're making is one that is like a a little [43:33] step not a huge leap and so I just wanted to get that out there now my [43:40] understanding is this is going to be architecture slab built how am on okay the one question I [43:47] have is can you talk about you know you got severe weather um I've heard some slab homes [43:54] have sort of a a safe space in case that they're 's you know a big storm that comes up [44:00] um I did actually experience when I was growing up a slab house that had a [44:07] Sellar that you could access through the garage and I'm just wondering what what kind of space can somebody go to when [44:14] that tornado warning happens yeah I appreciate that question so when you walk in the front door to the right [44:20] there's a door into the garage and then to your left there' be the staircase that goes up underneath that staircase [44:27] there's an area right there as well as like the mechanical room so as far as like tornado or extreme weather out of [44:34] the that space I feel like that would be the best location underneath that staircase um next to the utility [44:41] room thank you yes thank you uh member EGU thank you and thank you for a great [44:47] presentation I also love the video that was was great um so when I'm looking at [44:52] this obviously it's it's just showing the unit you mentioned a garage and you just re iterated a garage here um can [44:59] you just give me maybe a little bit more insight into what the makeup is visually [45:05] of that cuz I'm trying to imagine like driving in um seeing kind of garage [45:11] after garage and then there's also this parking area slab um so just walk me [45:16] through a little bit more of um the vehicular experience of the site for [45:22] sure so facing the let's say unit four and unit three let's say you're facing [45:27] that so the garage is on the main level I'm going to call it the main level uh for both we all four units to the left [45:34] is your entrance you need to walk up the stairs to get to I'm going to call it the second floor then that's your [45:40] kitchen that's your gray room there's a powder room right there with a toilet vanity um Pantry on that main level so [45:47] as far as the parking it's on on the first level I should say on as far as the parking it's on that main level um [45:53] underneath the kitchen great room and the powder B bathroom so it takes up the [45:59] bulk of that space correct yes okay that's helpful in that garage is the utility room and along with the space [46:04] that I Hadad mentioned as far as um potential um seeking safe place if needed okay and then is there also a [46:12] driveway element here or or not like I'm thinking of a driveway in the sense of [46:19] parked cars in front of a garage or does it kind of taper off pretty quickly and [46:24] there's not that space for it so you would have two spots right there in front of the [46:29] garage okay so they have two spots within the garage and then [46:35] two guest spots or however you want to think of it in front of their garage um then speak to me about the idea of [46:42] having than that additional parking and vehicular slab [46:47] and kind of like where my mind always goes is um you know I do there is quite [46:52] a bit of yard especially with units one and two in the backyard area but wanting to really focus on where are the kids [46:59] going to play how can we reduce the impervious surface I think I said that the correct way um so yeah talk to me [47:07] about the the thought process there please yeah so a little bit about the thought process it's really just having the opportunity for guest parking as far [47:13] as like the street parking is limited being that's that busy road so really just keeping guests in mind and then [47:20] people that may have more vehicles um you know being that it's going to be a um common interest Community we would [47:26] put something in in the Declaration um giv rules and guidelines as far as you [47:32] know who has what space just so that you know unit tools not filling up all four [47:37] spaces all the time um but that's kind of our thought process just more parking for guests as well as not really having [47:43] options for street parking okay that's helpful thank you um [47:51] what does it feel like then and all of this would obviously come out in like a actual proposal um from like a visual [47:59] standpoint um but on Vernon unit 4 does [48:04] that feel like it's the front of that home or what does it look like from the street view yeah so that's the side of [48:10] the house okay so yeah so the staircase is on your facing it be on the left side [48:15] and then there'd be a few windows on that side okay cuz I always think about [48:20] like what's the experience with those homes on the street view as well um and [48:27] I I live in a house that there's only one way and you have your driveway and so the bulk of your house is the front [48:33] of your house is just the garage right um I've dreamed of a corner unit where you can have like the front of the house [48:40] be welcoming and then like the vehicular component is on the side or on the back [48:45] and so I think that this could be an opportunity here to kind of at least with unit four move in some way the [48:54] front of the house to be on Vernon um just when you think about kind [49:00] of an inviting look and feel um and I understand that there's multiple other units and that might not be as easy but [49:08] by having that garage kind of tuck in then to the side and have it still be kind of a statement front piece I think [49:14] it could be really beautiful and inviting um I don't think I have any other [49:21] questions at this point should I also be giving General other feedback I know I kind of embedded some feedback okay um [49:29] overall I I do I like it I like incrementally increasing um I love having a a [49:36] statement of support as well from our affordability um housing managers is [49:42] really supportive of this as well it seems like um so the the feedback that I [49:48] have is more of like how can we continue to make it jive with the [49:53] neighborhood um and so when I see like four parking stalls in addition to I [50:00] would at least in my kind of understanding of this neighborhood there's probably no other sites where [50:05] you're going to have additional parking in that sense um so I just think of like okay what's what's the use case for that [50:12] um thinking even into my own neighborhood like yes I do have street parking for when I have holiday parties [50:18] or whatever um so I understand that balance um but I also want it to still feel like a home [50:27] um and so I know that's kind of hard feedback to see sift through um I would [50:32] like to get rid of it from a character and an appeal a visual [50:38] appeal perspective as well as optimizing and focusing on the Green Space um but I [50:44] also understand there are other constraints that you're working with and you probably know your target market more so that's kind of how what I'm [50:50] weighing in my head right now I thank you for member Pierce uh thanks Mr mayor [50:58] um so this this uh location is around [51:04] the block from where I live so when I walk past there I've often looked at [51:10] that house off in the distance thinking why it would be really neat if somebody [51:16] would buy that and redevelop that for medium density um and so I I applaud you [51:25] for the uh creativity and the use of the space [51:32] um I I had a similar question in terms of when you're walking by there it's [51:38] actually in a unique spot where the houses aren't [51:45] traditional uh where they face the front Road like a typical neighborhood would be like there's one in the back there's [51:53] another one that's kind of tucked away so it's a little unique in that way um and so I thought [52:01] um it was very creative um actually to [52:06] have some parking within the the lot uh for that reason um I totally get where [52:13] member Anu was going um but I did like the way you you kind of thought through [52:18] that um I like that its owner occupied I think it's a really well [52:25] fought out it's really well thought out and planned the the way you um have have the design so far um I wouldn't increase [52:33] it to five or six I would stick to four [52:39] um and actually for the same reason that remember AGN Gabe I think you know five [52:45] or six starts to not in my opinion kind of fit in with uh the neighborhood I [52:51] think four Town Homes to me feels like it would would fit better [52:57] um I do want to see more of the interior [53:04] and then I got a question for you um and it may sound odd but how much money have [53:10] you put into getting to this point yeah so um great question we like [53:18] Jordan said we are committed um we bought the land I had a vision for it from the beginning before we closed on [53:24] it and um you know so we've had engag with our draftsman our our our architect [53:31] um civil engineer um they had to work together um as well as surveyor to do [53:36] our to get the certificate of survey the topography all that um so we're at least [53:41] a few thousand in okay and it would be more if I didn't have those relationships already if I was engaging [53:47] with um people that I haven't worked for 9 plus years um we could have been 10 15,000 in just to yeah get to this point [53:55] and so excluding the cost of the land I I could have said it that way that's what that's what that's where I was [54:02] going because I I felt like what you presented and it's kind of the member [54:08] risser's Point earlier it felt like to me what I think a sketch plan should be like you had [54:17] three slides four slides one slide that really talked [54:22] about the project and then you spoke to it to get feedback and then what I think you will need to [54:29] do then is take that feedback and then go to the next step um and so it it feels like it's the right balance to me [54:37] for um a sketch plan so that was why I asked that question um and then the last [54:42] thing I'll add when we talked about affordable housing uh I'm going to say last year I [54:49] was doing work with uh um Stephanie Hawkins and we talked about are there [54:55] ways to to get other developers into udina to do smaller projects like this [55:02] we talked about emerging developers um and um like that's what [55:09] that's what this is to me bring being able to find a developer that can come in have some expertise smaller scale [55:18] that can Now understand what we want as a community and then figure out how to [55:23] make that happen um so I like this the [55:29] last piece of feedback I give you you're going to get a lot of feedback um I think [55:36] it's it it there is TP there's a danger and this this is also going to sound [55:42] weird into listening to all of us for all the things that we want and then taking that as we have to [55:52] go do this and that's not what we're looking for so if there are things that you're hearing we would [55:58] encourage to dialogue right um just as you did for the the parking um so don't [56:04] shy away from um giving the DI engaging in the dialogue and giving us uh um [56:11] hearing our feedback and then asking questions to really understand uh what we're looking for but I I like it and I [56:18] would encourage you to keep going to the next steps member rer this dialogue has [56:24] caused member rer to think of something else she wanted to talk to you about um people do care a lot about trees [56:31] especially oak trees mature ones and my understanding is there's three clusters of Oaks on this site um I haven't [56:39] actually gone out to see it but um when you come back if you could have those [56:45] trees and if there's a way even if you have to shift a little bit so that you can preserve some of those the other [56:51] thing is just you know having pounded the pavement running for office going down Kellog in the summer you feel it [56:59] when you're in front of all the new houses that don't have a mature tree and then you get to the older part and it [57:06] just physically it felt so great and then there's also the value of if you [57:12] can preserve some of those Oaks it lends an air of you know this kind of idea [57:19] that the place has been there for a long time and I think that would add value and just the temperature differential [57:25] during the summer if you can sit under a tree instead of not having a tree but I did and to member U's Point anything [57:34] that you can do to reduce the amount of impervious surface would be fantastic and you know I don't know if [57:41] some of that could be the surface material you use for the driveways and the parking areas or something like that [57:47] I have no idea but um that could be a really good thing and then I did just do [57:56] a drop down on Vernon Avenue with Google Maps and a lot of the houses that are along Vernon it's the side view not the [58:03] front view and so I I kind of feel like I see where member U is coming from but [58:10] I think that would be a really big ask to you know turn and put the front of [58:15] that first house facing Vernon I think that would be kind of a a tall order so [58:23] there's that and then just also to member Pierce's point the last um project that was mentioned [58:29] many times at the Planning Commission um when it came back for final review it had tandem parking near the entrance [58:38] between the dumpster and the entryway because of all of the suggestions that [58:44] had been made okay you have to reject you can't I mean and and I [58:52] really do think the four units work beautifully they fit really well we also [58:58] have an Adu ordinance and I don't know with the amount of space that you have [59:04] and I haven't looked at the regulations for that but you know potentially somebody who purchased one of these [59:10] could also pop in an Adu um so I I think what you have here Works incredibly well [59:18] and I just want to emphasize that thank you member rer could you get that site [59:24] plan back up there again please I don't know what happened to it there you go thank you um yeah so you're going to [59:32] hear us say some of the same things different ways and uh some may resonate [59:37] and some may not uh but I thought a remember eggner idea was an interesting one on unit number [59:43] four uh you know and at least have your architect look at it uh I get what she's talking about in terms of facing Vernon [59:50] and I understand member rer Point as well but it wouldn't hurt to at least ask the architect if we if you're [59:56] rotated that unit number four 90° uh that's still your common wall on [1:00:01] the North side right and there's no there's no windows there's there that's a common wall so there there's nothing [1:00:09] on that wall anyway so uh and that's a good wall to have nothing on facing north uh anyway take a look at that [1:00:15] issue uh in terms of the member U's issue about the uh or not issue but the [1:00:23] uh comment she raised about the guest parking those four stalls and making it [1:00:29] feel like there's a residential uh transition that's that's real soft and [1:00:34] gentle from a single family neighborhood to let's say four units and I think we're all in accordance that four fits [1:00:41] nicely on the site me we you got guided very well by our planning department who [1:00:46] helped you look at prd2 and land on prd2 and total compliance with prd2 that's a [1:00:52] really good thing so um you could look at uh where those guest [1:00:58] spots are I think a look at the prvious pavers where the grass grows up through [1:01:03] the pavers so it feels a bit more like yard but it still accomplishes the same purpose of providing a place for people [1:01:09] to park just a suggestion or idea you can look at um uh the trees was top of [1:01:15] my list member rer went back to that in her second comments so I think you know to the extent that there are uh fully [1:01:23] mature trees along that West lot line you should try to preserve as many of those as possible for the reason she [1:01:29] expressed and if you haven't looked at our tree ordinance that will give you encouragement to preserve as many as you [1:01:36] can I've seen it and some of it you know in terms of the building pads you're you're going to [1:01:43] get some forbearance there you know on what's required uh and we see that some [1:01:48] of these things are inevitable that you're going to to take some of those trees down but I'd say the extent that [1:01:53] you even had to move things a little bit further east to accommodate trees on the west uh don't be afraid to think about [1:01:59] that either and we're just giving you ideas to think about uh remember Pierce asked about the interiors and there's [1:02:06] one one of your first slides I think had a beautiful photo of an interior and I [1:02:11] don't know if that was kind of what you're striving for or right there if that's if that's a level of finish [1:02:17] you're striving for it looks beautiful you know and uh I know the next go around that we'll see more detail around [1:02:23] all of that uh uh and um but that's you know that what [1:02:29] you chose there to show us is really quite striking quite beautiful [1:02:35] um and then as mentioned unit count interior uh pricing range any [1:02:41] expectation yet on what kind of range you'll be in price-wise per unit yeah so the as far as the range it [1:02:48] is closer to and and you know a lot depends on construction but it is around [1:02:53] that you know 750 to 950 okay range yeah we I mean we've we [1:02:59] understand that I mean we had you know if you saw the ones further up Vernon behind Wells Fargo Bank we thought we [1:03:05] were going to get the missing middle there and the missing middle for us we all had a different definition than the new missing middle but there in that you [1:03:12] know that's they're may be a little bit more expensive than that but in that same range so we we kind of understand [1:03:17] that we wish they were lower priced but uh we we get it you know land labor Lumber it's a it's a different world out [1:03:25] there now so uh I think that me I think the level [1:03:30] of finish that you put on them is is going to be important if you're at that price point so people are going to [1:03:35] people are going to be expecting a high level of finish exterior and interior and and I take it it's a um double [1:03:42] garage correct okay not not tandem but just side by side corre D conventional [1:03:48] double garage okay uh that's about all I had um so I [1:03:55] think think you probably between the Planning Commission and the city council you've you've gotten enough food for thought and U you guys L to make the [1:04:03] decision sounds like you B the land so you're going forward you got it yeah okay well we'll [1:04:10] wait to see on the next goore round all right thank you gentlemen thank [1:04:19] Youk all right we're going to um thank you handled member egg news matter uh [1:04:25] the beginning of the meeting I don't think there's been any new correspondence that's come in during [1:04:31] the course of the meeting I'm going to turn now to manager comments uh thank you your honor I [1:04:38] wanted to give the council an update on a couple of things uh first our tactical [1:04:44] Training Center project out at the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility uh during the uh early stages of that [1:04:51] project that all early stage projects involved digging a hole in the ground um [1:04:57] we encountered some obstacles that they weren't expecting in in that process so that project has kind stalled for the [1:05:04] moment um they are going to resume the the uh grading and the construction of [1:05:10] the project and do still believe they can make a a summer a June July um 2025 [1:05:17] deadline for the construction of the of the site when we do have a site ready for for occupancy uh we'll do some kind [1:05:24] of an event and council members out there so you can see what it is uh State Legislative activities even [1:05:31] though the the house is not uh seated uh we are still we are still having [1:05:38] meetings with uh members of the house and members of the Senate with regards to our uh legislative platform uh we've [1:05:46] already had a discussion with uh house leaders on the bonding Bill side talked a lot about our we had a discussion to [1:05:53] talk about our Bridge Project and the pool uh Aquatic Center project we spent [1:05:59] the entire time talking about the The Bridge Project and mindat did not get to [1:06:04] talk uh about our pool project so we will uh be talking to Senate uh leaders [1:06:10] about those projects and about the extensions that we're requesting for um [1:06:15] two Tiff districts sometime next week and have the first discussions around [1:06:21] that uh also wanted to give you an update on where we are with regards to kind of uh monitoring our federal funds [1:06:28] um we as a our city government does not receive much in the way of federal funds [1:06:34] if you look at our our total spend for proposed uh 2025 or approved 2025 it was [1:06:41] right around $211 million that that's all the dollars we spend on people [1:06:46] Commodities Professional Services Street conu uh construction projects of all [1:06:52] kinds Etc of that total uh about 595,000 of it comes from uh Federal sources [1:06:59] that's just that's about a quarter of 1% so it's not very much um of that total [1:07:06] 595,000 425,000 of it is in the general fund and [1:07:12] and about 170,000 is is um cdbg Community Development block grant so [1:07:17] again uh small percentages we are monitoring it's not insignificant money [1:07:23] uh we have somewhere around 2 million ion dollar um in Grants in addition to [1:07:28] those operating funds that we're looking at here um some of our funding that is [1:07:33] uh money that's obligated but no contract available to sign so that's money at risk is a US doe Energy [1:07:40] Efficiency and conservation block grant $119,000 but we have a number of other [1:07:45] uh grants that are that are uh that have been funded and have been and we have signed contracts for we expect those con [1:07:53] those contracts to be fulfilled and we're also looking we're also working with League of Minnesota cities [1:08:00] and also the US Conference of Mayors they both have set up uh resources for cities and and elected officials alike [1:08:07] City staff and elected officials if you'd like to go on and see this kind of information they've on both their [1:08:12] websites they're pretty easy to find and I uh Jen can we turn on [1:08:18] the so part of what I I wanted to do I I think I said this at our last uh council [1:08:23] meeting is sometimes uh when you're considering a policy change it's good to have something to [1:08:29] look at and and pick apart um I I've drafted a proposed uh change to [1:08:36] community comment based on some of the comments that I've heard from Council Members previous to tonight again this [1:08:43] is this is something that will look a lot like what we already do work sessions would start at 5:30 and would [1:08:50] be completed at 6:30 that we'd take you know a few minutes to come down and get settled and get in front of get on the [1:08:57] dis uh Start Community comments at 6:40 and no later than 7 because council [1:09:02] meeting would start at 7 Community comment would be conducted in the city council chambers and per the same kind [1:09:09] of rules of procedure that already apply about what's what's eligible to be commented on what's not eligible uh [1:09:16] there's no back room or closed door any more than there there is today um all [1:09:23] current rules still apply community comment isn't televised or recorded in this in this scenario and I would give [1:09:30] you a recap on the previous meetings Community comment just like we use today [1:09:35] so uh there's there's a thousand ways to do this this is one way to do it if it's [1:09:40] if you want further discussion on this as a group this is your first time you're seeing this uh I wanted to share [1:09:45] it with you in this format if there's a if there's interest in pursuing it we can pursue it at another [1:09:51] meeting I think uh in furnace to council member Jackson who had to be uh in De [1:09:58] Moine for a family medical situation I'd like to have her input on sure this and so I think giving us kind of a sneak [1:10:05] preview of what your thoughts are uh based on the input that you've gotten both from the council and from for some [1:10:11] council members and and uh and the public um I think we should take this up [1:10:17] another time when she's present so that we can have her uh input as well I had no expectation of action tonight I just [1:10:24] wanted to give you as you said a a preview of it so that you could be ready to have some discussion about it and [1:10:29] maybe have some questions about how it could work even if we decided we wanted to stay Just The Way We Were I think [1:10:35] still we need council member Jackson here okay yeah member U thank you um and [1:10:42] maybe even prior to that or if we build it into a broader conversation I think [1:10:48] in addition to the slide that you had on there having something that and it can [1:10:54] be a part of our convers ation focuses in on the goals like what are we hoping [1:10:59] to achieve by doing this I think would be a really good way to root the conversation um so whether you we [1:11:06] collect that ahead of time and have a a visual to denote that or whether it becomes the focus as we initiate that [1:11:14] conversation when we have it I think that will be important to carry [1:11:19] through thank you uh member rer this is a topic and I have received a lot of [1:11:26] email about it and I know residents are concerned a lot of I think pretty much [1:11:32] everyone who has written to me has said that they want to keep it the same format and what's frustrating is I heard [1:11:39] a lot of people say I'm looking at the agenda I don't see it I heard at the last meeting that we were going to talk [1:11:45] about Community comment at the February 4th meeting that it was announced and I don't see it on the agenda there's [1:11:51] nothing there and do you know what happened and I could couldn't respond cuz I didn't know what happened and now [1:11:59] I see on my screen um item 9.1 is community comment [1:12:05] proposal that's not on my agenda that I have before me it's not something that the public was able to see and so I I [1:12:13] think on this one we have to do better when it comes to transparency and you know we can talk [1:12:18] about waiting until member Jackson is here and I do think that's important um [1:12:24] but it's also important to let the public know when we're going to talk about it so if we're going to talk about [1:12:29] it at a future meeting I think what we're going to talk about needs to be on [1:12:35] the agenda I think item 9.1 needs to be added to the packet that is available [1:12:40] online and the slide that we just saw needs to be added to that as well so the public can see that um I think that's [1:12:48] really important thank you maner Neil I think this has been entirely transparent um [1:12:55] I've sh I'm sharing it with you in this format is an act of transparency if you choose not to advance it that's that's [1:13:03] okay um but I just wanted to give you something uh to start with and nine the [1:13:09] nine items are just the items that are under my comment and sometimes I'm developing that list um right up until [1:13:16] the council meeting the day of the council meeting so that's where that comes from yeah okay I think Aon in a [1:13:24] situation that I is the fact that it wasn't on the agenda allowed the person that called in to talk about it which [1:13:30] was would otherwise been inappropriate so uh nonetheless a point taken member [1:13:36] Risser and um I think when we do get to the point where we want to have a a broader conversation about it uh we can [1:13:43] you know it'll be I'm sure if you've got some slides put together they'll be part of the part of the agenda [1:13:51] deck um any other comments you wanted to cover manager NE Neil that's all okay uh [1:13:56] going to go down to member U who I've ignored for starting for a couple weeks or a couple meetings I think I feel like [1:14:03] I'm always first but oh well no I maybe it's just personal bias um I [1:14:12] so I didn't put together like a a ton of thoughts on this necessarily [1:14:18] but there have been a lot of things happening at the national level [1:14:25] um within our community and I know that we're starting to think about an experience ways that it's impacting us [1:14:32] locally as well um you know personally um my daughters three and five go to [1:14:40] Spanish Immersion daycare here in Indina um we absolutely love it it's been an amazing experience for them but we got [1:14:47] an email this week that talked about the impact of changes to immigration um and what that might mean [1:14:56] for Staffing levels and being able to provide the same level of um care and so [1:15:03] I think that that caused me to have a conversation with Scott Neil and just think about um what are some of the [1:15:09] other ways that we're starting starting to feel this within our [1:15:14] community um and I guess I even have a question I don't know putting you on the spot of what what does some what do some [1:15:23] of these changes mean and I'm kind of looking over um at Chief Milburn here um cuz I don't know if you can even reflect [1:15:29] on if there's any impacts to our police department and the ways that we're doing policing within the community um but [1:15:36] before I hand it over like that's just something that is top of mine for me um and I like I said I didn't have a ton [1:15:42] more to say about it but I I think we are starting to feel some local impacts if you hold that thought I was going to [1:15:49] bring up the Polar Plunge that you're participating in which is ice of one type and then we can go to member 's ice [1:15:55] uh discussion as well so hold that thought till we get a little deeper here remember [1:16:02] Pierce nothing from me tonight okay thank you um so well let me talk about the Polar [1:16:09] Plunge I did a mayor's minute on it tonight and that is uh at Lake Nomas on [1:16:14] February 28th it is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Minnesota and our [1:16:21] police department has a team um and we're trying to raise or they're going to try to raise $22,000 that's their [1:16:28] goal and there's a website that you can go to to donate to the cause and that is [1:16:35] reg r. plungemn.org [1:16:40] team SL Edina Police Department oh no one will ever forget [1:16:46] that URL so just but just in case I read it again rig. plungemn.org teamed [1:16:55] police department and those participating in the February 28th event for the city of Vian police department [1:17:00] at Lake Nomas will be the chief uh lieutenants Jake Hecker and Ryan Schultz Community engagement [1:17:07] Officer Nick Donahue officers Evan Miller and Nick Nas Cadet Mar Kaya Riley [1:17:13] and Reserve officer Steve kanig so uh council members too keep in mind if you [1:17:19] want to help support uh our team and uh competing against other police departments and special [1:17:25] Minnesota uh you know think about uh getting on that website and making a contribution or maybe you can do it [1:17:31] right through the PD special you have to go on the website mayor yep we will for sure have a link [1:17:40] the video this this is important to follow the process here y yeah well I was thinking it would the check could be written to Special Olympics Minnesota [1:17:46] not to the adop PD but nonetheless okay we'll follow the process [1:17:52] um and then um the to the federal issues that member U [1:17:58] alluded to generally I I sent to uh I don't know if she's got these out to you or not I got a document from the US [1:18:04] Conference of Mayors and if you if you click on the various categories of immigration energy and environment [1:18:10] Transportation Health Technology Innovation you'll see what the potential impact is on cities in some of those [1:18:17] areas uh and then with respect to uh immigration um I [1:18:22] think did everybody get an email from some reporter looking to talk to somebody about how we would act compared [1:18:28] to the City of Minneapolis and I thought well that's a good topic as you sort of instinctually thought member U let's ask [1:18:35] the chief about what our position has been from RPD uh first of all thanks for doing the [1:18:42] polar plunge and then we'll move on to the ice in a different way sure yeah thank you mayor yeah it's it's cold I [1:18:49] did this last year and so uh I'll do it again this year it's fun for it's for a good cause I'm looking forward to that [1:18:55] uh as it relates to immigration uh I've been through this before about eight years ago and so everyone knows I used to work in Brooklyn Park and back there [1:19:01] we got a lot of questions about same similar topics that we're going on um [1:19:06] that experience prompted me here internally about a month ago to start working on a policy that we have just to [1:19:12] kind of reinforce a practice that's been in play now for a number of years and that practice is ice people need to look [1:19:18] at ice it's different than local authorities and so they operate in a different space than we do so in other words we get a lot of questions about [1:19:24] during traffic stops do we ask about immigration status we do not that's not the focus of our work we look we look at [1:19:30] local and focus on local issues enforcing State Statute ordinances and things like that and that's a different [1:19:36] threshold than what ice operates under uh we get questions about sweeps if there are sweeps going on do we [1:19:41] participate in in that and we do not ice uh has a civil process with detainers [1:19:47] and holds and there was some work that was done with the H County Jail several years ago and they spelled out that they do not participate in that either so as [1:19:54] ice goes in the federal um thresholds and the things that they look at they have information on the back end right [1:20:00] so if somebody's booked and processed they have access to that data understand that somebody was booked or arrested for [1:20:06] any particular crime and they can do their followup accordingly but they don't ask us and we don't participate in that so there's just these differences [1:20:12] that are in practice the policy that we put together really just spells that out so it's really clear for Community it's also clear for our staff on what what [1:20:19] those guard rails are we ran that through our Mac Group which is our Multicultural advisory committee and we showed that to them about 3 weeks ago [1:20:25] and they were really appreciative of it and gave us good feedback out this this meets what our expectations would be for the local authorties as well so we're [1:20:32] just uh on the very back end of that policy um completing that and we'll post it to our website all of our policies [1:20:38] are on our website and we'll publish that so everyone can see exactly what our roles and responsibilities are in [1:20:43] this matter the only difference is if we're working and looking at a local crime so if we have a local assault for [1:20:49] example and there's some kind of an immigration tie to that that ice might be looking at as well there could be a [1:20:55] connection that way but we have to operate under uh a warrant that might be issued for anybody or an active local [1:21:00] criminal investigation those are the only connections that we would have a focus on or any kind of interactiveness with this topic uh moving forward so [1:21:08] I'll stand for any questions on that though y questions for the chief or follow on for information no oh yeah [1:21:15] thanks for that could I add one thing too a lot of communities are going through this and so we at the henip county Chiefs level put together a [1:21:21] statement and that was released about 2 3 days ago uh to all local media just to kind of explain her position and and all [1:21:27] the police departments in hen County U that I've talked to and know are all operating under the same threshold as [1:21:34] well good thanks for that I only had one other item and it was I've had a personal experience on this and then uh [1:21:40] people calling me on the bag fee and I was in Walgreens and the guy [1:21:46] said well that'll be a dime I said well I thought it was a nickel uh and he said well we we rais it to a dime and then [1:21:52] today I got a call from a resident who said uh he was at some grocery store and they said uh it was going to be a dime [1:21:59] or 15 cents and so I asked manager Neil and U about this issue I thought that we had [1:22:06] set the fee uh on what it was going to be at a nickel uh but apparently the ordinance [1:22:13] is crafted in a way uh Mr Kendall will no this as well that they could they can [1:22:19] charge more for the bag if they want so it kind of beg the question for [1:22:26] me of uh did we did we head in a good direction I know I was the only one that [1:22:31] didn't like the idea of it initially but uh with the merchants now raising [1:22:38] the fee for bags we're the ones that are being looked at as being responsible for [1:22:44] whether it's 10 cents 5 cents 10 cents 15 cents whatever the price of the bag is they think that we're the ones that [1:22:50] caused that and maybe we maybe we were with the or but um just a little food [1:22:57] for thought and uh I'd like to look at look at it in a little bit more depth I don't know quite how to go about it if [1:23:03] we should have the energy environment commission look at it again or what would be the appropriate [1:23:08] mechanism if the council wanted us to look at it again I think that's probably the threshold question not not just me [1:23:14] it would be yeah we would want some kind of council Direction decided on a majority basis whether or not they [1:23:20] wanted to revisit the bag fee issue you know we could we could certainly do [1:23:26] some some analysis after defined length of time maybe it's a year maybe it's something else to give you a sense of [1:23:33] what what's been the impact of this but um our ordinance just set a floor you [1:23:40] know a five cents and if people want to if merchants or retailers want to charge more than them that's it's just like any [1:23:46] other product in their store they set the price of it and one of the eries of it is I had a [1:23:53] young woman s me I was over at Jerry's and I was in line and she came up and she had a plastic bag full of asparagus [1:24:00] and she said this isn't costing me a nickel but the bag they put it into is going to cost me a nickel you know and [1:24:08] the meat I just bought in the plastic container that doesn't cost me a nickel you know so there's this [1:24:14] um I don't know if you'd call it inconsistency but uh it's it's a mixed [1:24:20] message you know I think but um so anyway when member Jackson gets back [1:24:26] here maybe we can talk about the issue a little bit more and decide in one of these little more formal conversations [1:24:33] at the end of the meeting if we want to send it back to uh hrrc to look at it a little bit more in [1:24:40] depth I do think and I actually remember member Pierce really pushing on this of [1:24:48] coming back with the data and I know that that was a large part of the discussion that we had of being able to [1:24:53] see is this having the impact that we want it to um working with retailers to [1:24:59] understand kind of pre and post numbers of bags being used and are we decreasing [1:25:04] that number um and if I recall we did expect a year of data and I think it [1:25:10] took effect in July so my recommendation would be we still talk about it this [1:25:16] year but we wait for that year mark to hit and get the data compile the data um [1:25:23] and then bring it up maybe later in the summer early in the fall for [1:25:30] discussion so we're at a year and a half so Marissa is trying to collect data right now she's collecting and [1:25:37] requesting the information right now that's correct but the it went into place in July so we are we've sent out [1:25:45] letters to all of the businesses and we've issued press releases and other Communications with the requirement that [1:25:52] they report by the end of March for their experience from July through the end of [1:25:58] 2024 m is about seven months on the topic of plastic bags my thing is that I [1:26:05] have taken the plastic free challenge and on Sunday I did go to the Grand View library and we had a really amazing [1:26:13] presentation from Gabriella Roso who is the green core person for Ein and she [1:26:18] did just a fabulous job and so I did for the first time bring my own [1:26:25] durable plastic containers to the co-op to get refills on oatmeal and all that [1:26:30] and it wasn't that hard but I had never done it before so anyway there are things you can do to re reduce the [1:26:37] amount of plastic bags um that you're using or just try to step away from [1:26:42] plastic and I am really trying to be dedicated about capturing the plastic [1:26:47] that flows through my life including the little plastic ball that was in my non-alcoholic Guinness can [1:26:55] which is really weird but it's there so it's there everywhere and that is all I [1:27:01] have right I thought you that's a good suggestion remember let's wait get the data after a year and take a look at it [1:27:08] yeah especially with it being right around the corner yeah mayor just one more comment on [1:27:15] that I think the city can be clear that the ordinance requires the 5cent charge [1:27:20] it doesn't require anything more than that if if Merchants want to charge more than that they're free to do that I [1:27:26] don't think the city could probably stop them from doing that but the ordinance only requires the 5cent [1:27:35] charge appear that at least one argument would be that we gave him a pretty good [1:27:42] idea um but M A has raised a great point and that is let's see what the impact has [1:27:49] been and and then we can look at absolutely we can we by we'll have more feedback from I think our residents too [1:27:56] about the experiences they're having on increased bag fees so okay that's all I had manager Neil I [1:28:05] had one more one I'm sorry one final thing that I had on my uh list here but didn't get to that is uh last week uh we [1:28:13] were able to honor our own Chad Milner who was selected as city engineer of the [1:28:18] Year from Minnesota City Engineers Association all right [1:28:27] just for this one year though that's all and then somebody else gets it after that well maybe he'll get it again but [1:28:32] he got it at least this year we're very proud of it in the world of being honored it then has caused me to remember that while I was out of town [1:28:38] last Friday they had the funeral for Willard aola and I'm sure that was quite a great celebratory event so our our [1:28:46] best thoughts to his family and all of his friends that cared so deeply about him all those students that he had all [1:28:53] those lives he influenced is just uh was he was an incredible human being so um [1:29:00] that's it for the evening of February 4th 2025 is there a motion to adjourn so [1:29:05] move I second pece moves member U seconds a motion to adjourn the city council meeting for the city of udina [1:29:11] this Tuesday February 4th 2025 at 838 [1:29:17] p.m. all right any further discussion those in favor of adjournment say I I I oppos carried City Council