June 9th, 2026. Uh Sarah, will you please take the role? >> Council member Moore, >> here. >> Council member Morham, >> present. >> Council member Severson, >> here. >> Council member Rich >> here. >> Mayor Zabel >> here. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. 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. >> All righty. First up in front of us tonight is approval of the agenda. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda as amended? >> So moved. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. And the agenda is adopted. Uh, next up on the agenda is approval of meeting minutes. Three sets in front of us tonight. Uh, let's take the workshop meeting minutes from May 26, 2026. Council members, any changes or corrections here? >> Seeing none, can I get a motion? >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion in a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. And those minutes are adopted. >> We'll move on to regular meeting minutes 26, 2026. Uh, council members, any changes or corrections here? >> Can I get a motion? >> So, moved. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> And the regular meeting minutes are adopted as well. >> Last up, special workshop meeting minutes 28th, 2026. Any changes or corrections here? >> Look for a motion. >> So moved. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. And those workshop uh meeting minutes are adopted. Uh next up is public hearing. Where's Glenn? Do you have to go off to your fundraiser thing right away? You're good on time. Otherwise, I'd move you up in the order. >> It's over. >> Oh, okay. All right. Um so then I'm going to move into the public hearings. We have one quick one tonight in front of us. A proposal for conduit debt financing. Uh Michaela, finance director Michaela Hwitt, would you like to walk us through this, please? >> Thank you. Um Mr. Mr. Mayor, members of the council, tonight we have a public hearing on the Washington 3 portfolio housing project um in consideration of the debt financing um conduit debt financing approval. So, as by way of background, the Washington MDG LP affiliated with the Medis Development Group is proposing to purchase, rehab, and own three existing affordable housing projects uh referred to as Gentry Town Homes in Oakdale, Westridge Town Homes in Forest Lake, and Victory Villa in Stillwater. The developer has requested that the city serve as a conduit revenue bond issuer under Minnesota statutes chapter 462C to finance the existing affordable housing projects um including uh costs related to the purchase and rehab of the properties um and um extension of the affordability contracts currently um set to expire in 2027. The aggregate principal amount of the bonds proposed to be issued is estimated not to exceed 17 million. As way of background, the city gave preliminary approval to serve as a bond issuer at the May 28th, 2024 regular city council meeting and final approval to serve as a conduit bond issuer at the November 12th, 2024 meeting. The um it was the same project but a different entity that was affiliated with the Meta Development Group. That project did not proceed and so this new agreement structure is with different financing parties in an increased conduit bond financing amount. The city's conduit debt policy FR023 allows for tax exempt financing to be used for projects that provide a benefit to the city including housing opportunities and there are no requirements in the policy that the projects reside in the city. The project is expected to create a net positive benefit to the city in that it would include improvements and repairs to the existing Gentry Town Home project in addition to extending the affordability contract uh for an additional 15 years. uh financial consideration. The bonds if issued um would be special limited revenue obligations of the city payable solely from the revenues derived from the projects. There is no impact uh the bonds are no impact on the city's credit rating or any debt limit um debt limits applicable to the city. The bond holders have no recourse against the city's property assets or taxing authority. In accordance with the city's conduit debt policy, the city will receive an issuance fee of 1% of the approximate 17 million of the bonds issued. Um, in addition, uh, pursuant to the city's conduit debt policy and the adopted C city fee schedule, um, they're required to pay a 3,000 non $3,000 non-refundable application fee, which the city did receive today. Um so the city council action uh requested is to uh by required by state statute to hold a public hearing uh regarding the request and then it is requested after the hearing that the city council wave reading and adopt resolution 2026-31 authorizing the issuance sale and delivery of its conduit multif family housing revenue note adopting a housing program authorizing the execution and delivery of the note and related documents providing for the security rights and remedies with respect to the note. Uh it's also requested that the city council authorize the mayor and city administrator to sign and execute the uh relevant documents for this um project which the um no signing tonight. Any all documents will be delivered at a later date um closer to closing of the project. So with that we'd be step aside and have the hearing. >> All righty. Thank you Michaela. Um at this time I'm going to go ahead and open the public hearing. This is an opportunity for anybody joining in the joining us in the audience that would like to speak to this agenda item only. Please feel free to do so. We ask that you step up to the podium, state your name and address for the record, and proceed with your comments. Seeing none, I'm going to go ahead and close the public hearing, bring it back up to council. Council members, any questions for our finance director? Seeing none, can I get a motion? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor, I'll uh u move that we wave reading and adopt resolution 2026-31 authorizing the issuance, sale, and delivery of its conduit multif family housing revenue note. That's the Washington 3 portfolio project. Adopting a housing program, authorizing the execution and delivery of the note and related documents, providing for the security rights and remedies with respect to the note, and granting approval for certain other actions with respect there too. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. Any comments? >> I'm just going to make one because I I think if any resident watched that that part of the meeting, they're probably like, "What? What is this?" And when you hear phrases like debt financing, it is an opport it's it's an important opportunity for the city to stop and explain what it is. Um, so the short version is there are certain development and redevelopment and improvement projects that developers can come to the city and say, "Hey, can we essentially take out debt through you? Use your um debt rating um to finance these projects." And the city gets paid a fee for that. It's not the city taking out debt. We're not financially liable in the event of default. there's no net impact on the city other than we actually get revenue um from this debt issuance on behalf of a private party. Um we've done this a number of times before in the city. Um one of the weird I don't want to say weird, one of the unique quirks with this is developers can actually include projects in um more than one city all within a package. And so um this project has I think three different cities uh Forest Lake, Still Water, and US. all three city councils have to sign off on it. Um but it was up to the developer to decide which city they wanted to go go with for um this debt financing. So um you know I just want to note that uh you know there is no financial impact to the city or our credit rating or our debt levy or any of that. In fact it helps with our our um finances in the city because we get a 1% fee on bonds issued under this model that the state governs. So, um, we do it every maybe once a year. >> We have something like this. So, uh, motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. And resolution 2026-31 is adopted. One more item. >> Uh, Mr. Mayor, I move we authorize the mayor and city administrator to sign and execute when and if appropriate the project loan agreement, the funding loan agreement, the regulatory agreement on the Stillwater property, the regulatory agreement on the Oakdale property, the regulatory agreement regulatory agreement on the Forest Lake property, the Forest Lake joint powers agreement, and the Stillwater Joint Powers Agreement. >> Lot of paperwork. Uh there's motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. Final comments. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. And that authorization is given. Do we know has this gone to Still Water and Forest Lake already? Are we the first stop? >> Yep. Good question, Mr. Mayor. The um you are first stop. The um Still Water public hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday, June 16th, and then Forest Lake the following Monday, June 23rd or 22nd, excuse me. >> Great. Thank you, Michaela. >> Uh next up on the agenda is open forum. Before we open up the floor um to anybody, we have two recognition items we want to cover tonight. Uh, council, if you're okay with it, since both of them involve the the same individual, uh, I'm going to go ahead and read both and then we can come down and do photos, um, if that works. So, uh, let's first do recognition of outgoing parks and recck commissioner Glenn Berth. Glenn Ber's four-year tenure on the parks and recck commission can be summed up by words such as selflessness, dedication, and care. Throughout his time on the commission, he helped shape the city's pedestrian and bicycle plan, the park system plan, and numerous park improvements affecting Tanners Lake Park, Golf View Park, Tower Park, and Helmo Station Park. It is evident that Glenn is passionate about his community and helping others. when not attending commission meetings. His long list of volunteerism includes being president of the Maplewood Oakdale Alliance Club who hosts the annual annual citywide garage sale and other events such as fleece and thank you and the this year the community strides walk for diabetes awareness as well as partners with wellness 50 plus on quarterly Red Cross blood drives. Glenn has also been a longtime volunteer at Oakdale Summerfest as well as recently spent hours organizing thousands of pounds thousands of pounds. Yeah, that was a lot of clothes of donated clothing in preparation for the clothing swap as part of the city's 2026 ecoair. On behalf of the city council, the parks and recck commission and the city, we thank you Glenn for your service on the parks and rec commission and the lasting impact you have had on our city making it a stronger and more connected place. The leazison for the parks and rec commission like to add any comments? >> Yeah, Glenn's been amazing to have especially when we walk through Tanners. I mean, as someone who grew up around Tanners, to be able to know the history and tie the past of what Oakdale has been and the future of what it could be is pretty powerful. So, we're going to miss you on the commission, but we know you're still doing good work in Oakdale. So, thank you, Glenn, for all you've done. >> A [laughter] very vocal resident going forward. >> Perfect. Uh we are also I'm also signing a proclamation tonight uh recognizing Maplewood Oakdale Lions Community Strides Day. Whereas the International Diabetes Federation estimates that 589 million adults have a diabetes in 2024. And this number is projected to reach 853 million by the year 2050. And whereas over 50 people with uh 50% of people with diabetes are undiagnosed. And whereas type two diabetes is most common and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes worldwide. And whereas Lions Club International has declared diabetes as a primary global cause empowering Lions and Leos to raise awareness about diabetes education, prevention, and management in their communities. And whereas the Maplewood Oakdale Lions, established in 1967, is composed of men and women volunteers who dedicate their time to the improvement of their community and aiding those in need. And whereas the Maplewood Oakdale Lions is a member of Lions Club International, the world's largest service club with 1.4 million members in approximately 47,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographic areas. And whereas Lions Clubs around the world organized strides community events to help promote awareness about diabetes and emphasize the importance of regular and healthy exercise in the prevention and management of this disease. And whereas the Mapwood Oakdale Lions are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in their community who are living with pre-diabetes and diabetes and are sponsoring a community strides event day on June 20th, 2026 to promote the benefits of regular and healthy exercise. Therefore, I may do hereby proclaim June 20th, 2026 as Maplewood Oakdale Lions Community Strides Day in the city of Oakdale in recognition of their efforts to raise diabetes awareness and supporting diabetes research. Uh this is a a very cool event uh coming up 11 days. Wow. Next Saturday. Um here at the nature preserve, right? Um and so we want to encourage anybody uh and everybody to come on out uh support the Lions Club. Uh support that event. Uh learn more about diabetes awareness. Um and just take part in in that great event in our nature preserve. So I think we're going to take some pictures. Let's have Glenn come up first and we'll uh present your parks uh rec certificate [clears throat] and then we'll bring up all the Lions Club and we'll do the city proclamation if that works. >> Let's put 60 seconds on the clock. >> Yep. [laughter] >> Things to say. >> Have a great week. [laughter] Let's center under. You want to come down here a little bit. >> All right. >> All right. And then anybody from the Lions Club that would like to come up and join the proclamation. >> This is Doug. >> All right, Doug. Come on. >> Can you take a picture? [laughter] >> Two. One, two, three. One, two, three. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. You bet. >> Thank you. >> Send me those. He had his phone on video. >> Can I have two? >> Absolutely. >> Your phone was on video, so I'll get you pictures. >> Thank you, John. >> Doug, the floor is yours. Thank you. Uh, as you understand, we're having a walk for diabetes awareness [cough] coming up on June 20th. The time [clears throat] is from 10:00 to 1 and it's over here in the uh, park shelter. And I would like to invite the city council and everybody here to come and join us. It's an extremely strenuous walk. It's going to be a whole half mile. Anybody can do it. Uh there is no cost but we are asking if you feel comfortable to make a donation to uh the our diabetes foundation. Um if if you don't know about diabetes, uncontrolled diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, leading cause of kidney disease, leading cause of heart problems, um leading cause of nerve damage, neuropathy in your feet, and the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations. So, it's it is a very devastating disease if it's uncontrolled and uh we I feel very passionate about it. I've had two people in my family die of complications to diabetes. So, please come out enjoy this. Thank you. >> Thank you, Doug. >> Thank you. >> Glenn, would you like to say anything? Honestly, I wasn't on the sidewalk. >> Well, or about your service on the parks and recck commission. >> I didn't know what I was getting into when I first signed up for this. And as hard as it is to believe, I really didn't talk a whole lot at the beginning because there were people there that I was intimidated by. But I thank Julie and Jeff Kling for giving me a soft pillow to land on when I till I felt comfortable. And as Andy knows and wherever the boss is, there he is. Um I can't shut up now, but um I love Oakdale. I would do anything for the city. And I just hope my dad is looking down on me and he's proud. >> Thank you, Glenn. >> He is. Thanks, Glenn. >> Uh, we're still under open forum. If there's anybody else joining us here tonight at the Discovery Center that wants to step up to the podium, share anything that's on your mind, please feel free to do so. >> Good evening, Mr. Mayor. I'm Mike Bender. I live at 6051 upper 46th Street and I'd like the city to do something about the deer population. Um, when I have eight deer in my backyard in the all winter long and they're eating my plants down to the ground, I think there's so there's too many. Uh, a couple years ago when I was walking in the park, it was real common for me to see 28 deer and with just a simple walk. And it's also my feeling that because there's so many that they're starting to starve because they eat plants in my yard that haven't been touched in 30 years. So that means they're desperate for stuff. So I'd like this the uh city to consider doing something about thinning the herd. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mike. Uh, is there anybody else joining us tonight that would like to speak under open form tonight? Seeing none, we'll move into consensus motions. Council members, we have A through H in front of us. Are there any that we want to pull for individual consideration? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to pull C. >> All right, C is pulled. Council members, are there any others that we want to pull out? Seeing none, I will look for a motion to approve A, B, and D through H as presented. >> So moved. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. Motion, a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. And those motions are approved. Councilwoman Mor. Item C. Would you like to speak to that, please? >> Yes, absolutely. And just a few words in support of this. Um, the coordinated mental health response has been an over three-year endeavor. The city council has been working with the city, the police department, and I've sat here on the council for now going on almost four years where we've had mental health awareness, behavioral health awareness month, and I can think of the proclamations, right? Whereas we know that this is a prevalent issue, whereas we want to do something about it. Tonight, we get to do something very concrete in the same way that this has been successful for Woodbury and Forest Lake and Still Water and Cottage Grove. Uh we'll be starting this program July 1st. So, I just want to thank uh Chief Newton and his department and our administrator for all the hard work that went into working with the county, the county themselves for being a partner, but mostly I'm just thankful the residents are going to have this resource. This is going to be a huge uh huge resource for people who really have repeat issues with the police, with mental health, that they're going to have someone additional that they can go to and and get the support they need. >> Would you like to make the motion tonight? I would love to make the motion to approve consensus motion C. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion to second. Uh all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. And that motion is approved. Uh let's check in with our advisory boards and commissions. The planning commission met last Thursday. Uh Council Member Severson, what's our planning commission working on? >> Uh yes, they did. They held three public hearings last Thursday. Uh the first on the uh PUD amendment for the Oakdale Marketplace. They tabled that and we'll continue that public hearing on at their July 9th meeting. They held a public hearing for an oversized accessory building on 40th Street. Um there were some comments from the public that were submitted via mail uh but no public uh comments at the meeting. And lastly, they had a public hearing for a site plan amendment u for the energy conservancy at 403 Hayward. Uh no public comments at that one either. And that was the extent of their meeting. >> They had a full agenda. >> Yeah. >> All right. Uh they were the only commission that met. Uh so we'll move into award bids. Nothing tonight. So we'll move on to staff reports. Let's check in with our Nothing from Community Development. >> Wow. [laughter] They always have something for us. Uh sorry, Jim. All right. What do you got for us? You have to pick up their slack. >> Wish I could accommodate [laughter] you. Nothing specific to report, but happy to answer questions. >> Anybody have any questions for Jim? >> No. >> All right. Let's check in with our city administrator. Chris, what do you got for us? I do not have anything more than what we discussed earlier. Thank you. >> Come on. >> Sorry. >> Anybody have any questions for Chris? >> All right. How about council presentations? Let's look down here. Council Rich, anything? >> Uh, no. >> Council work. >> Not tonight. >> All right. How about over here? >> Nothing for me. >> Nothing for me either. Well, I got a whole bunch. So, >> I'll pick up the slack. Jeez. Uh, the farmers market is back. Very exciting. Uh, we hope you will join us out at the weekly farmers market. Uh it began last week on Wednesday, June 3rd. Um it'll run through October. Check it out every Wednesday 2 to 6:00 p.m. Um it slightly different location this year with the construction at city hall in the police department. We moved it over to the west side of the band shell. They're still in Walton Park, but just on the other side of the park. Um public parking is available in the adjacent lot. So we hope you can come out and join us. Um always a great variety of vendors. Always fun to see um the new vegetables and fruits coming on as we go through the summer season. So, please join us at the farmers market for that. Uh, a reminder, city offices will be closed on Friday, June 19th in observance of the Junth holiday. Uh, city offices will reopen on Monday, June 22nd. Can't believe it, but Summerfest is almost here. It's just two weeks away. So, we hope everybody will mark your calendars for June 22nd through the 27th. Um, you can find the full schedule of events at oakdalefest.com. But, I just want to highlight a few um of the the big events that are going on. Starting on Monday, June 22nd, the medallion hunt kicks off. Um clues will drop at 8 am each day. You can find the clues on Oakdalefest.com as well as um the Oakdale Summerrfest community organization's Facebook page. Um always a fun time um even if you're not a hunter to just go and drive around the city and see people looking through tall grass. It's a little weird, but they're into it. Um and it's always hidden somewhere. Really tricky. Yeah. But once you read the the clue solutions after it's been found, then it's like, "Oh, D, there it was." You know, >> um, Summerfest this year, one thing that's slightly different is there's no Thursday night. So, Friday and Saturday night will be well, Thursday and Friday, the whole days will be jam-packed with events. On Friday, the fun starts at 3 p.m. at Walton Park with inflatables, the kids marketplace, uh, which is new this year, food trucks, uh, the beer garden, bingo starts at 400 p.m. Bingo is back this year. We're excited about that. Um, you can stay for the skateboard contest taking place at 5:00 p. p.m. And then starting at 6:30, the concert starts free and easy is back again this year. They will be in the band shell. We're excited to have them. We hope you can join us. Uh, and then Saturday, the the big day for Summerfest, uh, kicks off right away at 8 a.m. with the Oakdale Nature Preserve 5K right here at the Discovery Center. Um, you can still register, visit oakdalefund.com, get signed up for that race. I think a couple council members are going to be racing each other and I'll be watching from the finish [laughter] line. Um, so I hope you can join us for that. Always a good time. Um, included with registration is a commemorative t-shirt. Do we know it's a t-shirt? Long sleeve shirt. Anybody know? Um, always a cool design though. So, I'm sure they came up with something great. Uh, and then after the 5K, head on down to Walton Park. Activities start at 10:00 a.m. Um, so many new things going on this year. There's a makers market, so you can do a little shopping from some great local vendors. Uh at 11 am we have balloon artistry. The kids marketplace is also going on. Inflatables will be going all day long. Lots of food, beverages down there. Um the Ted Birth Grand Parade will be on Saturday and start at noon. Same route as we've always used down uh 15th Street from Transfiguration Church to City Hall to Hadley. Um but we're excited to to have that. Um kind of a middle of the day parade. So we hope you can join us for that. Um the afternoon after the parade wraps up will be packed with events such as a traveling zoo. There'll be a basketball skills competition. The teddy bear band is back hosting a concert. The fire department will be hosting a pop-up splash pad. Uh there will be face painting, more bingo. Hot air balloon rides. Well, you know, I mean, you're still tethered to the ground, but you can ride a hot air balloon 30 ft off the ground. Um uh and then Coyote Wild will perform a concert in the band shell starting at 6:30 p.m. Um and then obviously the big culmination of the event, the fireworks spectacular taking place at 10 p.m. Uh we hope you can join us for that. Uh a big thank you to the Oakdale Summerfest Community Organization for um volunteering. I don't even want to know how many hours they put into pulling this event together. Um it's entirely volunteer uh driven, volunteer run. Um, our city staff play a huge role in supporting them from a logistics perspective and safety perspective. Um, but we're really looking forward to seeing everybody out there at Summerfest. There is so much going on. I mentioned it before, I'll say it again. Check out the full schedule, oakdalefest.com. Finally, every summer, city recognizes eye-catching landscape properties with the Oakdale Acorn Award. Uh, we need your help, though. Um, all of the awards are submitted by residents. Um, and we want to encourage everybody to nominate as many properties as you would like by June 30th. Nominations can be made on the city website, oakdalelemon.gov, and nominations have to fit in one of three categories: business, commercial, public lands, and residential. So, lots going on, lots to look forward to at the end of this month. Uh, well, we got to pay the bills, so that's not something to look forward to, but, you know, has to be done. >> Got to do it. >> Uh, claims are also in front of us. May 27th through June 9th, 1.56 million in change. Uh, council members, anything we need to pull out of there? >> All right. Who wants to make it? >> Make a motion to approve claims as presented. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion in a second. All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. Bills are paid. Always good to get that done. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you and good night.