:30. So, I'm going to call a meeting to order and this is the uh regular city council meeting for Minatrista August 18th, 2025. Uh first order, please put your cell phones on silent and second or is please join us me in 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. >> So, good evening everyone. There's nobody else here in the um audience, but good evening to those watching on YouTube or good day whichever time you are watching. Uh first I'll make introductions. I'm Lisa Whan. and mayor. And next to me are Kathleen Refkin, Claudia Lacy, Peter Vicky, Brian Govern, um council members, and then staff present this evening is uh I'm going to start at the end because the chief always goes last. So I'm going to say chief, the chief is here. Um let's see, not Paul Falls, Craig Squires. It's such a habit, you know. So Chief Squires is here. And then we have Brian Groom, our finance director. Jasper Krugal is our city administrator and then we also have Gary Peters who is our public works director and then also um remotely joining us is our city clerk and Meerhoff. And with that um we have a couple items uh before we approve the agenda. I'm going to ask that we add um under business items our budget um approvals. We're going to be approving our preliminary 2026 tax levy. And then I also want to add approve our debt levy at 100% of our 2026 bond payments. And I also want to add that we will um let's see our date for our public comments for our 2026 levy. So those are the three additions that I have and I think that's all with that. Um is there approval to is there a motion to approve the agenda with those changes? >> So moved. Thank you, Miss Refkin. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Lacy. Any further questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. So, we'll move on to a consent agenda. We have no persons to be heard. And we don't have any special presentations. Yep. >> I'd like to say something on the consent adjusted. >> Okay. Which one do you want to >> Item F. >> Item E. Um, we don't have >> F. Kirk. Mike Kirk. Oh um okay except resignation for um you would just want to say something about that. Okay so what we'll do is we'll approve these and then you can say okay um so consent agenda items A is approve a work session meeting minutes from August 4th 2025. B is approve city council meeting minutes from August 4th 2025. C is the West Tanka school resource officer agreement. Uh D is accept resignation of community service officer Caleb Vanderlass and E is accept the resignation of Lake Minnitanka Conservation District representative Michael Kirkwood effective December 31st, 2025. >> There's another one for approved claim. >> Yeah, >> you see >> it's not on here. >> So what I'm thinking happened is uh the >> this >> that agenda is kind of a draft agenda. So if you look I don't know if you can see it on the screen that there >> now I can sorry I was given this so sorry. All right and then also see that's why you said F and I said it's E. All right approve claims. So any questions on any of those >> hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. All those opposed motion passes 5. >> Oh sorry is there a motion? I got distracted. people, Mr. Gard. Is there a second? And this and Peter Vicky made that second. Okay, we already took the >> take the vote again. >> So, we're going to uh take the vote again to approve. So, a motion was made by Mr. Govern, seconded by Mr. Vicky to approve consent agenda items A, B, C, D, E, and F. All those in favor? Same by I. Are those opposed? Motion passes. Mr. Vickery. >> I just want to say that Michael Kirkwood has done such an incredible job of, you know, balancing the ecology needs of the lake with the demands for recreation and and uh uh of course he's been great on the planning commission, too. So, I hope he's not thinking of walking away from that. >> But uh anyway, >> doesn't give us a pet >> the incredible contribution he's done. >> Yeah. Thank you. And I will um I I I concur. Uh he's done a great job and he's done this for quite a few years and I think so far we don't know that he's resigning from the planning commission. Um but the Lake Mitanka Conservation District does take up an enormous amount of time and so um we are very very grateful that he has done this I think for six years if I'm not mistaken. So, we're very very grateful to him for his contributions and his time and commitment not just to the community but to the lake as well. Thank you. Um, so we'll move on to our business items and they will uh first we're going to do approve our 2026 and this is the preliminary tax levy. It is not the final. The final will be adopted sometime in at our December 8th meeting. Um, Brian, do you need to would you like to just give us a brief overview and >> birds? Yeah. So yeah, thank you, madame mayor and council. So yeah, as far as just the uh preliminary tax levy that's before like city council. Um we've had few different u meetings on this. We you talked basically uh back in June about you know just a general overview and and outline what the what the city council felt comfortable and and what staff was um you know just the needs of the city and how to fund those appropriately. Um and we've also met at the work sessions now on August 4th and then earlier today on August 18th and there seems to be a good consensus that um the plenary tax levy like the the mayor has stated is is sort of the uh the ceiling or the maximum tax so that um I think um we're at a good spot and I to uh adopt that and and certify that to the county. There'll be the uh the regular letters that'll go out in um November to to residents, you know, that has the the preliminary tax levies of the city school, all the different or county, all the different entities on that. And then we'll have the um um look to adopt it back in um in forward meeting subsequent meeting in in December 8th and we'll have some probably discussion on the different budget items, you know, the tax levy as well as some of the enterprise funds in the coming months. And um yeah, I guess as far as the uh proposed um levy to be um for 2025 collectible in 2026, the preliminary amount is the 7 million838 365. That's um been presented and discussed. And I guess I'll stand for any questions from the council or >> All right. I know we had um questions and comments uh during our work session uh and the Yeah. And so again, um this is the preliminary and we're going to be reviewing this a number of times before December when we pass the final. As you all know, we can um if we do the preliminary, uh we cannot raise it between now and December, but we can always lower it. So any other questions or comments? Right. Staff has done a great job um uh providing us with a budget that meets the needs of the community as well as our goals and priorities. Any So, do I have a motion to approve the 2026 preliminary tax levy? >> So, moved. >> Thank you, Miss Refkin. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay, Mr. Victory seconded that. Any further questions, discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. >> I. >> I. All those opposed. Motion passes. And then next, um, we have a resolution to approve the debt levy at 100% of the 2026 bond payments. As you know, we are cap we are able via state statute to um levy 105% of our bond payments, but we have always chosen just to do 100%. Is there um are there any questions or Brian, do you need to add anything? >> And the main reason is we've had a good or a very well u good collection rate within the city. So that 100% of the levy for the principal interest, the bond payments has worked well where statutoily we could levy up to 105% more to guard against any delinquencies or whatever. So, um, no, I think it should be should be good to go to looking at fund balances to do again this year. So, >> okay, good. Any other questions then? Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the debt levy at 100% of the 2026 bond payments? >> So, moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Governor. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Refkin. Any further questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. I. >> Motion passes. 5. And then um also we want to approve the 2025 date for the public comments on our 2026 levy budget and budget and that would be December 8th or at at our December 8th um regular council meeting which is 6:30. >> That's true. 6:30. >> I just want to make a comment 6:30 on December 8th not 7:00. Again 6:30. Just keep that in mind. And uh we would would be taking uh public comment at that time. Is there a motion to approve that date and time? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Miss Lacy. Um, I always want to call you Miss Gladia. >> You are just a Miss Claudia. Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Vicky. Any further comments or questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. I. All those opposed? Motion passes. 50. So, just one other comment real quick is because we've passed um all of these um resolutions, the preliminary levy and the debt levy and the date for our public comments, we will be cancelling our September 3rd meeting. That would be our next uh scheduled meeting. And so, our next meeting would be September 15th. And again, we'll we'll have a work session starting at 5:00 and a regular meeting starting at 6:30. So, with that, we'll move on to administrative items. Um staff, >> I don't have any updates at this time. Um >> I know that you you you went to the Everly Farms the table. Um I did send an email out to the group about that. Hopefully if there's any questions, let me know. But >> um everything that they've done has been allowed through either their cup or their IUP. >> Um and uh it's good to have a new restaurant in town. So although I'm going to have to check it out next time uh I have some availability. >> Yeah, they have um a beautiful facility. I don't know if you ever were there prior to um Esther and Frank, I can't remember their last name. They're the new owners taking over. They've spent several years now um refurbishing the facilities. It's just gorgeous. I mean, just beautiful. And um their their menu just sounds fantastic. They are, I think, open I think they're still going to be doing the wine and pizza on on Wednesdays and then their restaurant is is open Thursday through Sunday. So check it out if you have time. Um, yes, I did the ribbon cutting yesterday, so it was really fun. Um, anything else? >> I don't have anything else. >> Okay. Thing and I don't think there's any planning commission meeting, Gary. >> Um, I just brought to my attention if you cancel the September 3rd meeting, that's actually when the public hearing for next year's project was going to be held. >> Okay. >> All right. Can um would that is that going to be easy or hard to change? You're right. I I forgot about that. >> Yeah, it um trying to think if we can notice it. We'll have to talk to Allison. We'll have to make the decision to see if because I think notices got sent out. >> I believe they did. I >> I think they did. >> But you just put notices have gone out. >> They have. They have gone out. Yes. Okay. >> So, we can't really cancel the meeting. make it a really short one. >> There's no Is there any act what what are what's the action I guess? Um >> I think it's public comments. >> Yeah, just no action item. >> Yeah. So, we'll still need form. Let me >> Okay, let's see this. We won't cancel for now. Check with staff, you guys. See if you can work it out if we can move it to the 15th. without a huge >> Yeah, we can have time to renotice it. Um, >> yeah, I mean that should be >> I think you have to have 10 days. >> Yeah, we have about four weeks. >> So, if we could >> Okay. >> Okay. So, I resend the cancelling September 3rd meeting and it's in flux. So, if you're planning on coming to the September 3rd meeting, check our website and or city hall first before you come. >> Yeah. So, okay. Thank you, Gary, for pointing I I thought about that earlier and I forgot. Okay. >> Then we can work with Sarah and >> Okay. >> See what we can do. >> All right. Um it's right after the holiday and I know people are sending kids back to school and it's kind of a busy time, so it might be nice to do it on the 15th. Um with that then we Any other reports from council? >> Um Peter and I attended a personnel committee meeting on the 13th. We discussed the uh police workout on duty and then um just some payroll stuff and then um my mound fire meeting that was supposed to be on August 7th got moved to September 4th. So I will be getting an update on moundfire then >> and the fire partnership meeting was again cancelled. I think they're really struggling to try and figure out how to meld the two um pension plans. That's the biggie. So, probably I'm gonna say probably the fire partnership um might won't happen in 2026 um because of that because it's a pretty big dollar amount that Mound would have to come up with or that the Mound um district which we're part of um would have to come up with. So, I think um yeah, we'll have to they're going to be working on that. So, >> um not an insurmountable problem, but um we might but yeah, very expensive and I think we might want to be talking to our legislators to see if because we're not going to be the only ones in this uh um situation in this vote. Um there's a lot of um communities that are looking at uh combining um fire um departments and so I think this is going to come up more frequently and I think they're going to need help financially just like we might need help. So we'll keep you posted on that. >> Anything else? Uh well, I also attended the Pioneer Sarah Creek watershed district and uh it was kind of a strategy uh session and um really the only thing um that would affect Minatrista would be the whale treatment next year but other than that we don't have any projects pending in in our city. >> Okay, good. All right, >> to report. >> All right, report here. >> All right, with that then is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Miss Refkin. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Vicky. All those in favor signify with I. I. All those opposed. Motion passes 5. And we'll see you maybe on the 15th. We'll see. We'll keep you posted. All right.