I'll call the meeting to order. Welcome to the December 16, 2025 city council meeting. Uh members of the public may attend this city council meeting in person or may watch and listen remotely by viewing the meeting on channel 8 WCTV and at the city's website at weisetta.orgwv. Public comment during the public forum and/or public hearing portions of this meeting may be provided in person at the meeting in advance or by logging into teams and raising your hand during the public hearing. When your name is called in the meeting, you will be seen and heard in our council chambers and on the cable channel. You'll be asked to unmute and turn your uh camera on and you may begin your comments. All public comments should include your first name and who you're representing. Uh next on the agenda is our pledge of allegiance. If I could ask everyone to stand if you are able. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. [clears throat] [snorts] Next on the agenda is our roll call. Let the record reflect that all council members are present this evening. Uh, next on uh this agenda is to approve the agenda. May I have a motion to approve the agenda as is or is there any uh changes that need to be made? >> I would make that motion, Mr. Mayor. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. All oppose. >> The motion passes. Uh, next on the agenda is our public forum. I don't believe we have anybody uh on record for being on the public forum. So, we'll move on to new agenda items. Item uh number six is new agenda items. Does anyone on council have any future agenda items that they'd like to discuss or bring up this evening? Okay. Hearing none, I'll move on to the consent agenda. Uh on tonight's consent agenda, it's pretty meaty, is approval of city council workshop and regular meeting minutes of December 2nd, 2025. Approval of the check register. Approval of the municipal licenses. Receipt of police activity report. Receipt of building activity report. Approval of contract with Lexapole policy management for public safety. Approval of our 2026 legislative priorities. Approval of the purchase of replacement gate at the public works site. That would be the city of Weisetta public works site. Approval of special event permit for the 2026 Chile open by the Weisetta West Metro Chamber. Adoption of resolution 552025, accepting a donation to the city of Weisetta from the Miles Family Fund and approval of professional services agreement with West Metro for 2026 building official services. I would accept a motion to approve the consent agenda as uh presented or would anyone uh like to pull any items for tonight? >> Mr. from here. >> Uh, I would like to pull item I, approval of special event permit for the 2026 Chile Open by the Wizetta West Metro Chamber. >> Okay. So, I would accept a motion to accept the consent consent agenda with item I being pulled for discussion. Could I get that motion, please? >> I'll make that motion, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. Can I have a second? Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Those opposed. That motion passes. Um so now I guess we will discuss that item before we move on to new business. So u maybe uh staff if you could just give us a brief overview of the item and then u Mr. Pleish, I'm sure we'll have some comments and start the conversation. >> Yeah, we're just pulling up the >> Yeah, no worries. Take your time. There you go. >> Right there. Yeah, if you could. Um, thank you, mayor and council. Um, so before you tonight is consideration of the special event permit from the Weisetta West Metro Chamber for their Chile open event. This event is an approval that comes before you every year. Um, the event is proposed to take place on February 7th, 2026. So, per our special event policy, they're getting their application in early. Um, if you scroll down just a little bit, um, there's a map included with the council packet that kind of shows the activity for the Chile Open, but for those that don't know, this is a mainly a golf event that takes place on Lake Minnetonka. There is some use of the Weisetta Beach parking lot for um, part of the event. Um, as [clears throat] we've noted in that third paragraph there, um, per our special event ordinance for level two and three events that require tickets for entry, um, we have the ability to impose a fee of either a dollar or 1% um, on the ticket price, whichever is greater. We have historically waved this fee for the chamber. So, the only thing that um you know that could be an item of discussion for tonight, but I do want to make clear that as part of this application, the chamber does pay a special event permit application fee. Um that's of about $820ome dollars. Um and then any public works time associated with cleanup and putaway of barricades and whatnot after the event um is build to the chamber directly and they pay that cost. So, all of the city's costs associated with throwing this event are already covered. Um, this ticket fee would really be above and beyond um that. [snorts] So, I'm happy to answer any questions that the council has about the special event permit. The other other thing I would note that's different this year is there are no Friday events scheduled. So, it's it's just on the Saturday event. Happy to answer any questions you have. >> Okay. Questions of staff. Well, since I'm the one that pulled it, let me just go ahead and start. First off, I'd like to say this is a absolutely wonderful event. It's Weisetta is known for this nationally. I think it's been covered. So, I have absolutely no problem with with uh approving this. Uh what I did is I I wanted to pull this to discuss the fee. I know we've waved it in the past and uh some of my questions actually were answered in your introduction here, which is uh how much does it cost the city to support it? and net and I'm what I'm hearing is net zero that they're paying for it. So that was one of my questions and the other was also I think answered which is if we've always waved it we'd never actually gotten any fees from them. Uh because I was curious about that but I did want to pull it anyway because it is our policy that we collect this fee from anybody who submits a permit request for events like this. And this is unusual. It's it's maybe it's been traditional, but it's goes against what we typically do. So, I wanted to bring it up for discussion to see should we consider getting a 1% fee because after all, we're trying to cut costs wherever we can and we're looking for diversified revenue. Uh, and this would be just a little piece of that. Uh, I don't have a dog in this hunt. I just thought this was something we ought to at least pull out and talk publicly before we approve it. >> So, Sure. Other questions of staff? Is there anyone else that would like to weigh in with a point of view about uh the suggestion for discussion? I think is what I heard. Not necessarily pushing one way or another. Anyone else like to weigh in on the topic. >> You say >> weigh in as Alex on that or >> Yeah. Thoughts on it. So Alex let off with should we consider it? I guess I'm looking for >> should we wave it or not? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, I would say given the fact that they've already sold all the tickets this year, I think it's detrimental for us to go back to them and charge them a fee for that because we're talking about a fee on top of like as per ticket sold. Um, and so if we wanted to consider that, I think it's it's probably it's something that we could maybe consider next year and have that conversation with them ahead of time, but otherwise, they're going to be out whatever fee we charge them and this is a huge money maker for them. So, I'm okay keeping it open in the future, but I think right now because they've already sold everything, um I think that's probably unfair to do that right now, even though it's in our purview. I also think I think I read uh in one of the correspondences that um nonprofit organizations or city-based organizations, which are I I they're a nonprofit organization, have special exemptions for this. >> Yeah. Mayor and Council, I can add um per our our ordinance says the city may reduce or wave this fee for events that are charitable or have a significant fundraising component for a nonprofit, community, or civic organization. So, we don't have the authority to wave this fee for anything outside of those parameters, but you may wave this fee if it meets that criteria. >> Others, any others like to weigh in? >> Uh quick question. Fine. Where does the that money go? What do we to go into just the general fund? Okay. >> Yep. >> Mr. Sornson. Yeah. I mean, I um first of all, I would agree with Alex. I mean, I think this is a great event for the community, for our residents. Um, and so I think, you know, I think a good position for us is to support the event, support um, the chamber in doing this. Um, and I think we're talking about in the range of maybe a couple thousand dollars if it were a a dollar or a dollar per ticket or one percentage or something. Yep. >> It's not a significant amount of money. I just think um it's a good gesture on our part to continue what we're doing certainly for this year and uh wave the fee. >> Any other comments? I guess I would just affirm that uh traditionally it's been waved and that um our policy would say that this is a nonprofit or civic organization. So therefore follow the policy and continue with the exemption would be uh my point of view. Um, so I hear I guess nose count of three, but we still need to have a motion to uh approve this. >> Mr. Mr. Mayor, just I just think to be very clear maybe to add to this motion because it is a city it's discretionary as the interim city manager pointed out. So just that this would be a motion to approve the special event permit with the fee waved. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> Any further questions or commentary? I I'll just close with I just wanted to bring it I thought it was something we should discuss publicly, but I will vote in favor of this. I just I thought it was something we should at least put out there. >> No, I think it's very fair to have the conversation. Appreciate that you pulled it. I would accept a motion to approve uh resolution 452024 uh with specific notation of the um wave waiver of the uh special ticket uh fee. >> Mr. Mr. Mayor, just one correction. That resolution is actually the resolution that adopted the special event matrix. So the the motion tonight is just to approve their >> Let me try again. So let's try uh adoption of resolution 46202. No, that's not it either. >> Would help me out. What is the the actual >> It would be a motion to approve the special event permit for the Weisetta mess west. >> So there's no resolution because it's on the center. Okay. So, I accept a motion to approve the special event permit request from the Wisetta West Metro Chamber, noting that there would be no special ticket fee. Can I get that motion, please? >> So moved. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. That passes 5 to zero. >> Thank you for that. I was looking at the packet and not cross referencing that. So, thank you. Mayor, can I make one little comment about um those fees and that revenue? I think >> as we I agreed with um >> with council member Cook as well that it felt like an 11th hour change. Um glad we are discussed it publicly, but I think we could be a little more targeted with the funds from those fees. something to think about as we have a broader conversation about retail and >> so you're thinking I just want to make sure I understand what you're saying um your suggestion might be if we do collect fees like this that we might uh specify a specific use as opposed to just uh having it go into the general fun >> and and I don't know if that's a good idea or not but something worth um keeping it in our minds. >> Yeah, sure. >> Okay, noted for the record and uh we'll move on to new business, right? And the well public hearing there's no items on the public hearing which we noted before. Um so new business consider adoption of resolution 462025 denying a variance to the required retail area and frontage at 401 Lake Street. I'm turning it over to you Miss Jerger or to Mr. Sharp. >> To community development director Sharp. >> Okay Mr. Sharp. >> Thank you mayor and council. Uh, as uh I'm sorry, this is the wrong >> item. [laughter] >> I'm not the only one tonight, Alex. Thank you. >> No, you're not. >> I need to pull up the folder. I'm going to >> My brain is still frozen from lighting earlier. >> I think we got you off track when I pulled that item. >> Way to go, Alex. You put took us all out of sequence here. >> That's all right. >> I'll take the hit. I will say while while uh Alex is looking for that uh council member Fleckish and I attended the lighting of the manura tonight down at Panaway and it was a lovely ceremony and even was a little cold but our fire department had a candy drop and we had a very nice set of speakers and prayers and acknowledgement uh for uh you know some of the happenings around the world and the Jewish community. So, it was a very nice ceremony this evening. So, >> anything you'd like to add? >> Yeah, I'll weigh in on that. It's um it's it's wonderful that Weisetta was able to host something like this and um not speaking just for myself. I don't know how you all feel about things, but um I will say that I have a very very close affinity for the Jewish people uh in the nation of Israel right now, particularly with all the anti-semitism that's going on uh not only around the world, but even here in our own country. So, uh, I for one want to publicly say that I am very close to that community. Uh, I'm not Jewish myself, but I'm very close to them and, uh, it was really good for us to be able to do that tonight. >> Yeah, it was a lovely ceremony. Thank you, Mr. Pleish. We didn't dance enough time, uh, while we we, uh, are waiting for the uh, presentation, but um, anybody have any good jokes or or uh, uh, >> don't look to me. any good spenoli jokes to channel former mayor? He used to always have >> three or four Spvenoli jokes up his up his sleeve. I'm not I'm not that talented. >> Um I've got some inappropriate jokes, but I won't uh I won't bring them up this evening. >> For the mun. >> Is anyone going to the ugly sweater contest or at the McCormick's pub on Friday? >> They're having an ugly sweater con. You know, Dan, you might think about it. I I've seen you in some >> I I have plenty of [laughter] plenty of viable options for that. >> There's even a prize I heard of like a hundred bucks. Uh and it starts at 9:00. >> 9:00. >> 9:00. I know. And they have a DJ of all things. So, you know, I might have to stay up. Well, I am I plan on staying up past my bedtime to go. So, all right. We've killed enough time. >> Thank you for stalling. We Now we're ready. >> Thank you for stalling, mayor. I >> technology and I apparently haven't been agreeing today. So, I appreciate the uh last minute stall. Um, as stated, this is a retail required retail percentage variance for 401 Lake Street East. The uh owner and applicant or applicant is Studio BV and owner is Fishbase LLC. The site is located at the northeast corner of Lake Street and Manitoba. Zooming in a little bit, you can see that it's across the street from the depot and uh immediately east of Five Swans. The site is guided central business district at uh 20 to 30 units an acre. Uh the central business district is uh allows for a mix of retail, commercial, and office uses. And the site is guided for [snorts] uh C4 central business district which also allows for that mix. However, it does have the caveat of requiring 50% of the ground floor area along Lake Street to be uh a retail or commercial service use. And it also requires that 50% of the frontage along Lake Street have a retail or commercial service use. The applicant's request is to uh essentially expound upon an existing variance that was granted in 2020 uh to reduce that required 50% retail area in both frontage and in area from 50% down to 11%. The prior variance issued in 2020 uh already reduced it down to 22%. This variance if approved would supersede that variance uh essentially increasing the total amount of uh the varied percentage and square footage. These are the existing interior conditions. Right now there's approximately 1,600 square ft and the tenant uh util of retail on the ground floor and the tenant is brick uh plus linen. What the applicant has proposed is to approximately split that 1,600 square feet in half and have 746 square feet uh remain as brick and linen and then 718 square ft approximately to be uh a conference room for Fishbase LLC which is a financial consulting firm located on the third floor of the building that needs additional office space uh for meeting with clients and internally for those that really go into the details on these applications. If we're to look back at the original application in 2020, reducing the variance down to or reducing the required retail area down to 22%. You'll notice that the square footages didn't quite align. And the applicant and staff have worked together very well to make sure that uh as we review this application, they did actually align. Essentially, the explanation is a gross versus net area. Uh the building was originally uh approved with that variance in a concept conceptual form without the individual tenants and design being worked out. And so interior walls uh you can see ramps from the parking uh area to the left of your screen here. Entrance doors and vestibules and things of that nature. uh wheelchair ramps, the actual elevator, things of that nature were counted towards the retail area as they serviced the retail area and were required for access, but uh slightly changed the actual retail square footage as somebody were to look back in that past history. So, they do work out staff did the homework. Uh planning commission was also explained in greater detail. So, if you've got questions, I can certainly expound upon it. But the essential uh cliffnotes version of it is that they do meet or do align with the past uh review. Uh I'm not going to go through each one of these individually, but I did want to have them available for council. They are included within your materials as well. uh but they are the definition of retail sales, retail sales uh general um what that limited would be and then what service commercial and the types of uses. Staff has provided different examples of those types of uses uh just for contextual reasons so that everyone could understand the types of uses that are being sought along the Lake Street corridor. As this didn't have to do with exterior items of the building, engineering did not have any uh particular comments. The normal uh public notification process has occurred. It was uh uh the public hearing notice was uh within the newspaper. Uh signs were put outside and the neighborhood was contacted within 500 ft by both the city and by the applicant. To date, we have received comments at the public hearing and one that was included in your packet. It was not included in the in the public hearing packet uh as it was received after that date but was included in the final planning commission packet for their action on the report and recommendation. Thus far, the comments uh brief summary from staff would be that uh they did not support the application but were uh understood the plight of the landowner and the uh point made by brick and linen of needing to consolidate their space down to a smaller format. When granting variances, uh, both state statute and city code dictate, uh, that the city must must find practical difficulties in the application that the applicant must first establish those practical difficulties, uh, for their application as they move forward. So, um, in this case, the planning commission, uh, went through all of these. As a reminder for the city council, uh all of these provisions in the bottom of the screen 1 through four must be found true. Essentially, is the application reasonable? Uh is the plight of the land owner due to circumstances unique to that property? Does it alter the essential character locality? And then economic considerations alone do not constitute practical difficulties. The planning commission on December 1st, 2025 uh reaffirmed their action of the public hearing and adopted their report and recommendation uh recommending denial of their request. The reason uh they found the following following findings of fact these are uh that the application would not be consistent with the intent of the ordinance or the comprehensive plan. The applicant had not established that practical difficulties were present on the site. The variance request was not unique in nature to the site and the var the variance if granted would alter the essential character of the neighborhood. With that, the action this evening sought this evening would be adopt resolution 462025 denying a the variance to required retail frontage and area at 401 Lake Street East. With that, I stand for questions. >> Questions of staff. Hearing none. Um, I believe the applicant is here. Did the applicant want to offer any commentary or >> Yeah. Just approach the microphone if you don't mind and just state your name and who you're representing. >> Yes. Um, I'm Aaron Foley. I'm representing Fishbase LLC who is the building owner. mostly here to answer any questions that may have come up with reviewing what Alex has presented. >> Questions of the applicant from council. >> I have one. Um I watched the can't remember the December 1st or the previous planning commission where there was some back and forth on what's driving the change and I want to state it and see if I get it correct but the the tenant the retail tenant has a lease that goes through 2029. >> Correct. Yeah. and are finding it difficulty to make that retail part of their business work. And part of the driver from the owner of the building was to try to use this as a solution to provide them some relief while they also were continuing to to to seek a sub lease. >> Correct. >> Can you update us at all if there's been any further activity by the tenant to try to secure >> Not not since that planning meeting. No, they are kind of holding off to see this final kind of approval or denial of their variance and then they'd go forward from that. But yes, originally is the retail component is looking to kind of downsize. Um Walley Capital who was on the third floor is looking to expand. So there's this kind of mutually beneficial use of this first floor to occupy that and kind of make sure there's activity at least still happening on this first floor. >> So So my characterization from watching the planning commission is accurate. >> Yes, correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Other questions of the applicant? >> Yeah. Has Brick and Linen been in there since the building opened? >> That I am not sure. They've been there for a while. Um, and I know they have kind of a retail component, but they also do kind of consulting. And so the foot traffic of people coming in is what's kind of driving their look to downsize their space. >> Okay. Anything else? Okay. Thank you. I'll bring it back to the council for discussion. Um, who would like to weigh in first? Miss McDonald. [clears throat] >> Thank you, mayor. Thanks, staff, for [snorts] that presentation. Um, I was really heartened to see and observe the planning commission's commitment to retail in our downtown. And I support their findings and their recommendation for this application. So, I plan to follow their lead and uh vote to adopt this resolution to deny the variance. >> Okay. Who would like to go next? >> Mr. Cook. >> Sure, I can weigh in. Um I I struggle with this one. I do like I I completely appreciate um the planning commission's take on this. I I was on the council when this building was was built and the approval of that. And I remember several conversations and this was also not just for this property but other properties west of here on Lake Street. The Weisetta Blue building, Ventana Meer Place, uh all those buildings that um where we we kind of flexed a little bit on the retail requirements along Lake Street and it's always been a challenge once you hit Weisetta Place. Um, it's just creates like this wall of like that that's where the retail traffic stops. Um, so the last thing I want is just an empty building uh or an empty storefront on Lake Street. Uh, now I'm not saying we're there yet. And I don't but we can I I think Yeah. So I struggle with that because I don't want empty space that we say has to be retail in an area that we know is tougher for retail to survive. Um, but we gave concessions when the building was approved and cut the retail requirement down at that time. Um, so I I I guess I' I I would um respect the uh the planning commission's findings on this. Um, and uh and and support approved [clears throat] denial, if you will. >> Yep. Understood. Who like Mr. Sorenson? >> Um, thank you, Mr. Cook. Yeah, I I'm in agreement with the comments that that have been said. I think the planning commission did the heavy lifting on it and they made some good uh had some good discussion and some good rationale about where they where they ended up. I mean, this is a variance to a variance, right? I mean, we're down to 20ome% of the of the first floor space being being retail. So, you know, the findings of facts that were stated to us in our packet from the plan commission, I completely I agree with every one of them. Um, I think especially because I think in the future we're going to see more retail space on the west end of downtown and I think we need we need to maintain some retail space um in that area between where it's very dense now east moving west. That said, you know, at a different time and we've talked about this as a council a little bit. You know, one of our biggest challenges is vacant retail space downtown. It's not pertaining to this application, but it's something that um I think we all have agreed is a very significant issue and u and I very supportive of moving ahead uh trying to be creative and doing what we can in our control to fill up some of that space, but I'm in favor of this resolution. >> Mr. Ple, would you like to weigh in at all? >> Yeah. Um, this is an outgrowth of a zoning situation we've got in the in the city that we are trying to force something that the marketplace really isn't accepting. Um, council member Cook pointed out the fact that we when retail shoppers get to Wisetta Place with that long green block, essentially it kind of dies. And yeah, we've got a couple of retail stores further west, but uh it's really not much. And uh it's it's we're I'm going to vote in favor of this too because it's kind of black and white. We don't really have an option. But it's a sad situation where everybody involved there would benefit from granting this variance. The retail shop would get to a right size for their business and the business that is, you know, breaking at the seams would get what they need and it wouldn't change the nature of the building really because um you know the retail is what what it is right now. But we can't do that because the zoning calls for something else. Uh to me it points out that we need to have this discussion again down the road about you know forcing retail where it just doesn't work. Uh that's one spot. But I think Superior Boulevard is another uh that we should incorporate into that discussion because I think we were I was here on council was it two years ago now where we denied a a reformat of that because we were going to again commit to the retail and I think I said at the time I hope we're not here two or three years from now in the same spot and yet here we are. Uh so uh I'm going to vote in favor of this because I really don't think we have much of an option but I'd like to see a better solution for the city down the road. Uh thank you Mr. Pleish. Um I have a couple things to add. I mean if you just look at the standard of the variance, it's hard to find the criteria that would support it. So I am going to vote to deny. But uh like my several of my colleagues have said, you know, the city in partnership with our commercial property owners um and the retail community in general uh particularly those that have uh retails requirement that include the mixeduse commercial residential central business district downtown mixeduse and the five block PUD um at Superior Lake all have got similar uh issues. The one that wasn't talked about is is property tax. And um I think we have to acknowledge now that uh property taxes in our commercial core now are making up anywhere from $18 to $24 of the CAM portion of their rent. So that's driving rents north of 35 upwards of $60 a foot for retail. now just for and and that $60 a foot is being marketed right now uh is what is known as the carish block and you know obviously they've got a lot of costs and hookup charges and I I I like my colleagues have some empathy for solving this because you can go to Rdale and get a triple net lease for 20 bucks and have much more volume and traffic. That's what what these folks are competing against and that's what our local retail community is is competing against. And I think it starts with uh we talked about this in workshop. We got to convene a group that includes a mixture of these stakeholders and talk through different ways that for what we can control we can influence uh the impact there. Um and it starts with the definition of retail uses uh that Alex put out there, but which of those retail uses are going to work in this type of uh market economy for our commercial core? And then are there any tweaks we need to make to adjust what we might be able to recruit to get here? And then there's levers at the state level and at the at the city level uh to provide some relief or abatement or special tax districts. There's a number of different things we can explore that might allow for um relief going to the property owner passed along to a retail tenant, you know, and we need to explore those things. Um, at the end, uh, you know, I think we still need to stand to promote a diversity of retail office service and re residential land use, um, and a high quality development portfolio here in Weisetta that, you know, enhances our ability to be a regional destination and provide services for a resident. And I don't think we've quite figured it out. We got a 14-year history on that superior block that would tell us that every and I was there in the middle of all that and I I'm part of the problem way back when 14 years ago we we had custard's last stand on retail and everybody told us it wasn't going to work and it's not working. So I would support you know I feel for you guys but but just the standard's not going to allow it. I'll stop talking and I hope that we convene that in the workshop format you know with with uh you know uh Mr. Sharp leading us through an evaluation of what could be done. So with that, um I would accept a adoption of resolution a motion to accept adoption of resolution 462025 denying a variance to the required retail area and frontage at 401 Lake Street. Can I get that motion? >> I'd like that motion, Mr. Mayor. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. That passes uh five to zero. Um next up is our uh city manager report. Before before you get there, I just have a couple comments and I know we'll probably cross over at least on one of these, but um on behalf of the city, I wanted to share uh some news about a key member of our city staff. Uh Rebecca Jones, who has served our public works department uh as administrative assistant utility billing clerk for over 20 years, will be retiring on January 2nd. I'm only bringing it up tonight because we won't have a chance to talk about it in these chambers uh before she retires on January 2nd. Um and so, you know, utility billing is one of those, I guess, frontline touch points that um residents, you know, uh might have a question or call. And uh you know, I've over the years called Rebecca numerous times. Um and she handles that customer service with such grace and and helpfulness and and humility. Um I know that the city often gets unsolicited, you know, gushing compliments for Rebecca and her standard of of professionalism and kindness and patience. She set the high bar here for public service in Weisetta. And I just wanted to say, Rebecca, thank you for two decades of service. You'll be missed, but we're really happy for you on your next chapter. And I know you'll probably talk about this as well, but you can amplify further what I just said. And if anyone else wants to comment on Rebecca, now's your chance to do it in public before we all probably will raise a cup of coffee and and a piece of cake here to her on January 2nd. So, anyone else want to offer anything to Rebecca tonight? No. Okay. With that, I'll turn it over to city manager Jerger. >> I'll just I'll add on to your comments about um Rebecca Jones at the start. Um like you said, when a lot of people interact with the city, a lot of times it's with Rebecca. Um their first call is a question about plowing, what's happening in the park, what's with my utility bill. A lot of things that people garbage collection. >> Yeah. Garbage. A lot of things that people interact with in their day-to-day life ends up being a phone call to Rebecca Jones. So, she's not easily replaceable. She's working hard to train her replacement now. Um, but she is definitely worth worthy of all the recognition, the acclaim, um, for her friendliness, her customer service, how much she cares, and I would say what a good teammate she is in the public works department. Um, she really helps bridge connections and she's such a positive force down there. So, yeah, the recognition is welld deserved for Rebecca. >> Thank you, Miss Jagger. >> Um, other than that, a couple of things I want to highlight. um some Clapbridge Park updates. So, I've got a number of things related to Clapbridge Park to update you as a council and the community on. The first is the ice rink. So, we've had a number of snow events over the last week. So, we've done kind of our first couple floodings of the rink. The main rink is we're anticipating to be mostly ready Wednesday, tomorrow. The hockey rink though does need some additional work and we're hopeful to get that up and running by Friday. Either way, our goal is to have both the rink and the warming house open with attendance on Friday. Um, >> warming house as well. >> Yes. >> Okay. Wow. >> Yep. So, we did a walkthrough of the warming house on Monday with our contractors. We're planning for that to be open on Friday. It's missing a couple of things that doesn't have a countertop, but it's functional, so we're going to open it on Friday. Um, as for the playground, with the exception of the hillside slide, um, we're going to open all of that um, Friday. So there will be some things blocking the hillside slide and the reason that's not open is we have to wait for footings to be installed to put the last structural component. So that can't be done until the spring, but the rem remainder of the the park will be open um there. And again, I I talked about at the last meeting, we're communicating it online and in our portal. Um but to celebrate the opening of Clapbridgeidge Park there, uh we are planning a ribbon cutting event for January 10th from 1 to three for skating and looking at the warming house. All kind of family fun event down at Clapbridgeidge Park. So we hope you're able to come. Um other than that, a couple of other things I want to acknowledge. Um I want to say thank you to the community for their toys for tots support. Last week our cso dropped off all the donations and it was boxes and boxes of donations. So we have a very generous community. Um, and I just want to highlight everybody who gave. Just thank you for doing that. Um, and then lastly, next week we will have a couple of holiday closures for city offices. So on the 24th, city hall will close at noon. And on the 25th, we're closed all day. We'll be open our regular hours 7 to 11:00 a.m. on Friday the 26th. So just heads up about a couple of closures. Any other questions or comments from the council? >> Questions of uh city manager at this point? Okay. Um I just want to read one more kind of closing statement for the year and then uh we'll see if there's anyone for public forum and adjournment. But um as we close out this meeting and approach the end of the year, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes to all our residents and their families. To those celebrating this week a very happy Hanukkah and to everyone preparing for the upcoming holiday, a very merry Christmas. I also want to thank my colleagues here on council and our incredible staff for their dedication throughout 2025. It's been a busy and productive year for Weisetta. I wish you all safe and joyous holiday season and a very happy new year and I really look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together in 2026. And with that I is there anyone on public forum on teams or here? >> Mr. Mayor, there is not >> 41 minutes but you're you're responsible for four of it. [laughter] Um, I would accept a motion to adjourn tonight's meeting. >> I'll make that motion, Mr. Mayor. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor? I >> I. >> Those opposed? That passes 5 to zero. Thank you very much. And we're journ. Go ahead, Mr. Pledge. Do it. >> There we go. >> There we go. Thanks.