All right, it's 6:00, so I'll call the meeting to order. Um, for for members that are wondering why I have the gavl tonight, uh, President Ericson did mention that he may be late or not in attendance tonight. Abby, can you take the roll call, please? Yes. Commissioner Gindall >> here. >> Commissioner Lord >> here. >> Commissioner Roberts >> here. >> Commissioner Wright >> here. >> Treasurer Hoit >> here. >> Um, Vice Chair Langnes >> present. >> And I'll note for the record, our president is not uh in attendance at the moment. >> Great. Thank you. Um, for those able, please stand 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. >> I would seek approval of the agenda or anyone that wishes to alter it. >> I move we approve the agenda. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. We're at the open forum. The open forum is an opportunity for citizens to express any opinions that they wish to share with this body. I don't see anyone in the audience. Do we have anyone online that? >> Uh, we do. We no longer have online participation options. >> All right. Thank you. We'll move on to item number six, the consent agenda. Is there any items that a member wishes to pull? Seeing none, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Motion to approve the consent. >> We have a motion. Is there a second? >> A second. >> We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. We're at the regular agenda item uh acceptance of Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce 2025 annual report. Abby, are you going to kick us off with that? >> I am. Thank you very much. Um, as the EDA is aware, the city or the EDA has a cooperative agreement with Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce to conduct certain economic development services within the city. Predominantly, these are uh related to our business retention and expansion program. So, I enclosed the cooperative agreement for your review. The agreement we signed last year is a three-year agreement. So, we don't have to necessarily do anything with the agreement tonight, but also included is the 2025 annual report from the chamber. That is a requirement of the agreement. And so, um, as I noted in my staff report, overall the the chamber's doing a great job. They're fulfilling the agreement requirements. The only area that the EDA has ever kind of discussed is the BR activity specifically and whether or not there's anything that the EDA would want to see from the chamber in this arena. As noted in the annual report, um the chamber specifically uh Nette who was not able to stay this evening, but um she has been doing a lot more business visits, just dropins. And so the question that I would only have for the EDA, is there anything you'd like her to be asking members in reporting back? Um, as of right now, we we I we don't have that data, but I just thought if you guys want to chat about that and Nette and I can chat about if there's certain things the EDA would like to see. Um, other than that, uh, you know, tonight your action really would be to discuss the report. And if you're favorable to the contents, move to accept the chamber's 2025 annual report. >> Are there any questions on the staff report or a motion to approve? >> I'm sorry, could I just ask a question? Are there any current like questions or things that Nanette asks as she's doing her visits that >> I think a lot of it is just kind of asking right now? um you know how are things going >> more than anything in the last few years we've chatted the chamber Washington County EDA and also Tyler Hilbec with open to business have talked about maybe a more formalized program even if it's just asking kind of the same questions and reporting back each time we haven't been able to memorialize anything with just some of the turnover in the our organizations um but I certainly can ask if there's certain questions she's asking and report back. I was just curious and I just assume that our feedback loop for that information is Nanette attending these meetings and just verbally giving us that feedback, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. for now unless something more formal comes about. >> Others >> I um you know if if she's out doing these visits it would be nice to have I don't know if we have something a packet from the city or something that's promoting both the city and or other businesses or something physically that that we can hand them. >> Yeah. Um, and then maybe some type of a sign thing saying yes, the visit was made and that we can >> there's some followup. There's something that's written. >> Sure. >> That that that she maybe feels the city should be checking out if it's well, if it's city specific, if it's something, you know, I'm reading some of these >> um comments here. Um, says something about uh new business connect with staff. >> Um, >> yeah, >> there was some traffic stuff. I thought I saw here on here somewhere. >> Yeah, it looks like page 21 in your packet, there was like a struggling due to road construction in the gas retail in December of last year. >> Um, so the EDA may remember earlier early in the year 2025, we partnered with the chamber on developing a new brochure for businesses. So I would hope that Nette is providing that to those businesses when she's stopping in that has city contact information, chamber, Washington County EDA, and open to business. Additionally, when we when I am able to attend ribbon cutting, I do also bring that information. Um, but then there's many times that she is passing on new businesses or just general phone inquiries on to staff. We're not always tracking where those come from, right? Sometimes somebody will maybe say, "Oh, hey, Nette said I should reach out to you." Um, I certainly can ask her possibly or that maybe, you know, starting this year that we just have like a quarterly update on just how those business visit dropins are going. Do you think that would be okay or do you want it in writing or >> um either or? I guess it it just doesn't necessarily have to be in writing. Um, when this program first came out years and years ago, it was a little bit more hands-on by the commission where we all took a specific list and some the commission members actually made those visits ourselves. I'm not advocating for that right now with just the extra bandwidth. I know people struggle with but um just you know if something if there's something we can get back either quarterly by you know if she comes in does that report or if there's something in writing that we can have um I think it'd be nice just to know that followthrough is happening. >> Yeah, I did I do know that um I I believe at least that the chamber board had kind of hoped to see more of these kind of dropin visits. That's why you if you're looking at the annual report pages 20 and 21 in your packet, you can see that towards the end of the year there were a lot more visits. Um maybe that's third and fourth quarter you start to see more of them. And so I think that that's um just one of those things that'll expand and as that Nette continues to do that I'll make sure that we try to best kind of communicate um some of that feedback to this group too. A lot of that communication is um available on the chamber website on her newsletters that come through. It's quite informative and especially the new group she's got going which is really great for the trade industry. >> She's um and that's another outlet for her to give us feedback. Um but we can I found it, you know, through the chamber website. That's an exciting group. I think she's got 15 participants. Yeah, I thought I think yeah, a dozen or so I think would Yeah. >> So, she disseminates all the information and the in the grant opportunities and loan opportunities through that. >> Yeah, I think they're doing a great job. But >> it's always good to share data, whatever we can pull from them that she's getting that we need, that would be great, but we have to come up with what we want. So, >> so did she have a sense like from 2025 then based on all of these visits is is there or maybe it's in here. I'm so sorry. like just a synopsis of like these were the top things that I heard that are opportunities to partner with the city or that they need more support for or that are sticking points or you know >> um >> or they get stuck that we might be able to smooth things out. >> Uh no that that I isn't in a report but I think that that's something that Nanette and I can start to work through. It looks like, you know, more towards the end of this uh in 2025, December is when she kind of started to ask, "How can we help?" Right. >> Yeah. >> And so maybe it's one of those things that Nanette and I just um have more regular communication on what she's hearing and then we start consolidating that information and tracking it a little better. >> Okay. Well, I was thinking that would be a great start to know like what the summary of last year was, you know, even if it's anecdotal and just kind of pull together, but then like as a first step to formalize it. You know, some of the common responses could be whether it's an online quick survey or something that she is handing out. These are the top things that I struggle with or that I need help with or whatever. And then of course the other field for anything else that they have, but it'd be a quick way to just aggregate some of the information. >> Certainly. Um, I can chat with Ned about that and then, you know, definitely by this time next year when we get that annual report, see that we can have a little bit more of that aggregate data year over year. >> That's what I feel like I would really like because I mean, as the EDA, you know, it's like how can we help, you know, these businesses or does it feed us information that's going to help us as we talk to or think about new perspective people coming wanting to come into our area or that we want to attract to our area? I don't have any idea what our current businesses are struggling with and I feel like I should have a sure some idea of that. >> Yeah, I can share that with her. Okay, thanks. >> Other comments? >> Is there any inclination to approve the staff recommendation to move acceptance of the annual report? I move we accept the annual report. >> We have a motion. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Is there any discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. We're in item number 7B, headquarters 123 concept plan update. Abby, are you going to summarize that for us as well? Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. So, as the EDA is aware, last year the EDA and the city council had a number of discussions about Headwaters 123. And at the time, the EDA had kind of wanted to change tunes a little bit, recognizing that marketing the site for an exclusive single user might not produce the tax base andor jobs that maybe um a property that's master planned and divided up with multiple users could produce. And so, um, the EDA directed staff to update the job center concept plan and to include changes that would include potentially some retail service along the Parkway adjacent to the existing kind of village area. Um, and then also to allow for some residential in the southwest corner. Um, and then, um, possibly along Fenway Avenue, but that wasn't necessarily a a given. I didn't hear overwhelming support for that. I'm just going to plug in really quick so everybody knows what I'm talking about. And then in addition to um updating this concept plat, the EDA had directed staff to start getting some doing some engagement with the development community um including once that plaque gets uh finished, put it online. We had talked about an RFP, but then we also talked about a developers roundt and I'm still working through the scoping of what that kind of looks like. Tonight though, for your consideration is a proposal from Tali. Uh Bruce Chamberlain, the city's uh planner that assisted with the concept pladding project um has provided an updated proposal or a proposal to update that job center. Oh, I need to I plugged in but I'm not sharing. I'm sure you can all see it, but for everyone who's following along at home, um that job center again updating with maybe some service retail here, some potential uh uh residential down in that southwest corner, maybe along Fenway, but reserving the largest portion of this for that tax base and jobs um types users. So, Tali's included a proposal in the in your packet which would include u updating this at a cost not to exceed now I'm plugged in and I don't have that number right in front of me. >> $2,400. >> Thank you. I couldn't remember if it's >> including reimburseable expenses. >> Pardon? >> Including reimburseable expenses. >> Exactly. So tonight for your consideration is uh whether or not we want to move forward with updating that concept plat and um the moving or if the ED is favorable, we'll move staff would recommend you move to approve the Tali scope of services and we move forward with updating the concept plan. Any questions? questions, comments, inclination to uh move approval. >> So, uh president, uh vice president, um I have just a question. So, on that 24 and and if it if the scope is in here, is that is that coming to this body and meeting with us and presenting, you know, us sharing some of those things or is that already assumed that we've we've kind of shared what we'd like to see that look like? Um and what what all what's the scope in full? I mean for >> sure. So the scope is on page 20 or the um yeah the scope of work proposal is on page 26 in your packet. And what that would do is that would include a meeting with staff on proposed changes, creating a modified job center alternative for review, which I definitely can bring to this body and convey back. uh translating those changes into a concept layout and then sending back for review for any final um input and then providing the materials to us. They would um be willing to come for inerson meetings at an additional service rate of $800 a visit. So if you wanted Bruce to come in and sit down and round table with the EDA, that's fine, but there would be a slight upcharge for that. Mhm. >> He does indicate that he could have it done in a couple of weeks, but that would not be if there was a meeting necessarily. But I do think that um what we could do if the EDA did want to meet with Bruce, I think what we could do is execute the agreement. Um have I can provide him some some um kind of guidance or the EDA could provide him with some guidance. we get a concept plan and Bruce could come in and present that and prepare some feedback for him. >> I I guess not 100% sure it's necessary for him. If if you if staff feels and if the this body has felt they've given enough feedback to staff to move forward with this uh and I I would be fine with with as it states now. It would be nice for him whether it's a another $800 visit to come and present the final product. >> Sure. >> I guess but I don't know if I'd want to pay the $800 for him to come present that. >> Yeah. >> And just for clarification, so these could be I guess it does say commercial or industrial. >> Yes. So the business park district um when we're looking at the concept plat that's on page 25. So that kind of aerial right now. This was looking at really large lot large users. The intent was to try to break that up a little bit more. Our business park district allows for a lot of different types of uses, office, medical, industrial. It will even allow for restaurants by conditional use permit or under different circumstances. And so I think the idea is how can we best design this in a way that could attract a variety of highpaying jobs that will also increase the tax base. >> And just a quick question um we talked before how long are the wetland studies good for where we do that again. Does he use the existing ones or does >> We'll use existing on the updating of the concept plat. But again, this is just a concept. Um the wetland delineations are good for 5 years. We are in discussions with the technical evaluation panel about the existing delineation and whether or not that can be extended or the the prior one can be extended or if we'd need to do a new one. We do know that there's um some drain tile that might need to be repaired in there. We're going to look into that this spring and work with our leie on whether or not we need to do some some more modifications in that area. >> Okay. So, this will not affect his >> This will not affect this at all. >> Gotcha. I'm comfortable with staff um meeting with him and I I don't see a reason why I need to be in a workshop to to go over but if other commissioners felt so inclined I wouldn't oppose it. Um I would I would say though that I have one question on that. Um that maybe would help uh member Robert's point of giving the presentation. It does say in here that it's an in-person meeting or presentation would have that upcharge. Perhaps we could have him >> virtually >> log in virtually and satisfy the the questions that might arise but not have to force him to drive here. >> Yeah, I can talk with them about that. It does indicate that there is a meeting to confirm proposed changes and it could be that even just a committee of the EDA, you know, a couple members might be able to meet me and uh virtually meet Bruce and I virtually and we be able to kind of work through some of that. >> I can talk with him about that. >> Vice President. So I I'm just going to back up just a little bit here somewhat related. So uh as as you all know uh we did separate ways with uh administrators. An email was sent to all the commission members and all the commissions. And so as part of that uh and Jolene Chaika is our interimm city administrator longterm and part of that agreement or or understanding with the council was the desire to have a subcommittee of economic development. And so that uh the council decided that would be you know president Ericson and myself as role in mayor. Um and so just to support Abby and her her department on really things like this. And so maybe is a suggestion if the this board is comfortable that if the availability is there for myself andor president Ericson to to attend that meeting maybe that makes sense um to get have that representation from this board. That makes sense. Yeah, if that makes sense. >> The board's comfortable with that. >> Yeah. Yeah, of course. >> I'm quite comfortable with it. I think we're a seven member board, so actually three of us could do that in a subcommittee. So someone else >> if someone else did. Yeah, absolutely. >> I think that sounds reasonable. I mean, >> okay. >> I think I I mean I have enough direction. And it sounds like the EDA is favorable to moving forward with this work. That we would have a small committee of the EDA and staff meet with Bruce to provide some of that early feedback and then whether or not he could potentially present in a virtual format um to help lower the costs in the final presentation. >> So a question then for for the board here. Um, we tal one of the changes is do are we talking about some retail along the or some type of retail office along headarters and then potentially residential to the south uh along the uh border with the golf course. >> Sure. This is what I at least have heard in our past discussions. Let me log back in here really quick. um is that the EDA was favorable to a smaller portion of residential down in this area that would help better tie the residential that's right along the golf course together because that site has some access constraints >> and there may need to be a through to get this development out of um to to kind of get it through. The other thing I heard from the EDA is that potentially you'd maybe be favorable to some density or residential maybe higher density. Not higher density, I can't necessarily along Fenway um given the fact that we're going to have single family uses across the street. Now, that being said, I think I've shared with the EDA and council if we wanted to sell this whole thing for residential right now, we probably could. And I think that that is a last bit priority of the city, right? We want to first see how the most of this can develop in a non-residential fashion. But then I also heard from the EDA that uh along the parkway in this location kind of adjacent to the other kind of village area that you might be more favorable to a little bit of service, not necessarily retail. It could be, you know, a dry cleaner. It could be um another bank or something like that. Those are all uses allowed in the zoning district and are going to be more desirable from the development committee because the underlying zoning district already allows those. These things about residential over here would require a zoning amendment and a comprehensive plan amendment. And so I think in talking through that with Bruce, how we designed this in a way that that shows that it could be a v not variety of uses, but that that um we're favorable to these potentially is going to be something that I'm going to have to talk through with him. >> At least that's what I heard in past conversations. >> Yeah, I think you you that's correct. I just wanted to make sure if we're going to go forward if the if the commission is still favorable to those potential options. >> Yeah. Yes, I am. >> I'm seeing heads nod. Yes. I don't see any shaking it. No. Other comments on it? The staff recommendation is to motion approval of the uh collaborative concept plan update work proposal. Is there anyone that would like to make that motion? >> I'll make it. >> We have a motion. Is there a second? >> A second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. We're on the 2026 work plan. I believe this is also you, Abby. It is. >> Thank you. >> Um, so over the last couple months, we've talked about um updating the work the EDA's work plan for 2026. As a reminder, we started early conversations about updating the work plan and whether or not we wanted to do another 2 to threeyear period. It was discussed that we probably would just have a one-year period because the council was looking at setting some strategic direction for the city. Um, I still would advocate that we just have this one-year work plan right now, just um, given the given where we are at. So, included in your packet on page 35 is a proposed what I'm just calling a work plan table broken out by quarters quarters. Um, the items that the EDA would focus on uh, this year. Included um, in this is uh, whoops, the highway 61 corridor planning. That was uh kind of the direction I heard from the EDA at the last meeting to really get the highway 61 on there in advance of our comprehensive planning um update and then also in in advance of any sort of mindot actions that would be in their improvement schedule. Um I did also take off the monument wayfinding signage because I didn't hear overwhelming support from that from the EDA or really anybody say yes, we really should do that. Um, I'll be honest, it's a it would be overly um ambitious to have both of those projects on here and believe we could accomplish portions of each of them this year. Um, so, uh, included in it is our policy review, which we're going to start very much, um, the end of now we're pretty much at the end of the first quarter with the EDA, but 2026 quarter 2. Um, also working on that headarters 123, really starting to dive into site incentives after we look up that policy review and updating our policies and then middle of the year towards the end of year really start looking at um some of that community vision and that corridor planning. So, this is up for your discussion. Um staff is hoping you're ready to approve a 2026 work plan. Um, so then that way we can really start to continue our work and our efforts this year. Any questions? So, if there's no questions and the EDA seems favorable, I would re staff would recommend you motion to approve the 2026 work plan um, as presented on page 35 in the packet. >> There a motion. I'll motion to approve the work plan in page 25 of the packet. >> All right, there's a motion. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> So, we have a motion and a second to approve the staff recommended work plan. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Number eight, discussion. We have no items on here. So, we'll move to number 9A. Uh, a city engineer report from Ryan Goodman. Uh, good evening. Uh, asked to share what some infrastructure projects that are going to be happening this summer and I'll kind of go into some later years too. So, give you kind of a bigger picture. Obviously, the big one that's going to have stage two of the Could you please pause one second, Abby? The only computer that's on is um Leif Ericson's up here. >> None of ours are on either. >> It came on for a second. >> They shut off right when those flipped on. >> When what flipped on? >> This the screens. >> The two wall ones. >> Um >> they came on and off. >> Just need a control. >> Just see. Let me shut it all down for a second. There you go. >> Now it's up. >> Thank you. Sorry about that, Ryan. >> It's fine. >> Ryan, could you go to the podium and see if we can try it that way? Please. And thank you. Let's hope this works. just popped up there. >> There we go for Google. >> We have it. >> It's gone. >> Oh, no. It's >> Yay. Everyone hold your breath. Um, >> you might want to spend that 800 bucks on it stuff. >> Let me just try one more. Just reset it. I um apologize because I I know and can do a lot of things around here, but this is one area that is not my specialty or expertise whatsoever. That didn't work at all. Huh. I don't know. >> Well, it was I mean it would have been Yeah, maybe Ryan we could >> It's up. >> No, now we've got it. I think >> it's your It's your laptop. >> I flip it up. I'm not connected to anything. So, it's um I'm not sure how to go about put this back in and get him this. >> Yeah, we could try that, right? We could try one more over here. Can I have you try one more back over here and see? >> I just switched cords. >> I was just wondering actually. Yeah, if it's that adapter. >> There was another one here. I just tried it. >> It was It wouldn't work. >> We've used those adapters before. I mean, the other option, Ryan, is you could come over and use my computer if that's all you're doing is our GIS. >> Don't say a word. Oh, shoot. >> I was thinking the same thing. >> Do you want to mine? >> Okay. So, now we My lace is up. The blue cord down here. Well, there's an IT guy coming to the rescue. >> Usually the reason it comes on for 3 seconds, it's an antipiriracy thing. So, the system, >> it's a newer HDMI thing. Can you run it from your plug? And that's what that adapter is usually for. >> Where we can just run it. He can run this computer system. It's an >> ampire. So, it's actually probably this guy. >> Yep. That's it's hating. Okay. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Do you need a mouse right here? >> Yeah, I'll get you one. >> Ah, we're good. >> Okay. >> Appears to be working, Ryan. Sorry about that. >> All right. Project one area I'll talk about is the second stage of Highway 97. Uh, typically construction starts again when load restrictions are go off. Uh, they haven't even been placed yet. So, it's a ways out. Uh, I believe there's going to be some project coordination meetings with Mindot and the contractor to try to just narrow down a schedule when they're going to start here in March. So, we'll have more details here in a couple weeks, but that second stage of Highway 97, that'll be a full closure uh that'll go from Falcon all the way to Forest Road. And that'll include constructing a roundabout at Fenway and Highway 97. And it'll also have the continuation of the trail, new trail on the south side of 97. It'll connect into Forest Road and there'll be a little short segment that'll come down. So then it'll connect into the Hardwood Creek Trail. Uh so it'll be kind of a a really nice connectivity loop that's going to happen because in 27 uh the city has in a capital improvement plan Fenway Avenue. Uh it'll be a pavement rehab kind of a project, but it'll also have a little bit of concrete work in there. So, we need the pedestrian crossings, the sidewalks will be replaced, and the ped ramps. And there's budget in there for two rectang rectangular rapid flashing beacon systems, the push button, the yellow blink to cross uh to be located within that project. And then that would also include finishing the trail connection right there at Fenway Athletic Park up to the Highway 97 project. So when when we get past into 27, there's going to be a lot of additional trail connectivity down in this neighborhood in the developing areas. And then I mean even like people that are at those all day softball tournaments now, you know, there need to get out of there or parents are waiting between games and want somewhere to go walk. Now you're gonna actually have places to go. >> And with those loops, you gonna you could if you had a really long lake, you know, in between games, they could even walk right up the downtown up the Hardwood Creek Trail. So exciting exciting area that's going to happen in that area with all the projects that are going on that area. And I'll just stay in this part of town while I'm here because the intersection of trunk highway 61 and county road 50 is going through a project uh designed right now with the county. So they've had two public open houses uh been very successful on securing some funding that uh is kind of we're anticipating 2028 construction at this intersection. Uh it will be a definitely intersection control change whether that's ultimately a signal or roundabouts still to ultimately be determined. Uh a lot of things do point that it will probably be a roundabouts but there's a lot of other things they're looking at. This little stretch of forest road in here how they can realign that to get a little more spacing between the roundabouts. uh where does the eye of that roundabout sits uh based on some other large trunk utilities in this area. But this is planned for a 28 uh construction project. So uh definitely a safety upgrade there. The county also just released a request for proposals for the County Road 50 corridor study. And that's going to go all the way from this intersection all the way down County Road 50 out to Manning Avenue or County State Aid Highway 15 in Scandia. So this whole stretch is going to be part of that study and it goes, you know, out the farther part of east side of town before it jogs down here and then outs right here to Manning Avenue. The county did coordinate with the city uh half dozen to 10 comments that we submitted to be incorporated in the study of things that we wanted to be within this RFP. So access management is going to be the big thing, right? Because we got a lot of development that's going to be happening in here and you know stuff's being submitted to the city as we talk. So that's going to be a major thing in there. And then there's also before all our time sitting here, there was a study that showed this county road being realigned through here. >> We requested that they look at that at this time. I we wouldn't be building anything. It's simply going to be a study to scope what's going to be built in the future and what property needs to be acquired, where storm water permitting can be do be done. uh we're requiring them to do a full wetland delineation from 61 to Ingresell because this is all in our Musa boundary. We really need to narrow down just like we did with the southwest area study. Where's the parkway going to go? Right. So, a lot of fun things are going to go on with this study. Uh they the county anticipates that study to be completed at the end of 2027. So, just a lot of stuff going down in that south south area. And then uh quarterly we have meetings with MDOT in Washington County and there's then a lot of the conversations now being ramped up again at the intersection at Harrow Avenue and Highway 97 because of all the development that's happening just in this particular area. You got Chestnut Creek phase 2 that's changed names to Havenwood now that's going to be doing uh street utility work down in here. So lot more stuff coming in that particular area. And then as you kind of just work up the 61 corridor, there's supposed to be an RFP being released by Mind Dots. Uh the city has requested to review and comment on it before it's released to consultants. So we keep thinking it was last month this, you know, so I don't I don't know when that's coming out, but uh they're telling us early spring. So a lot going out that. And then Eureka Avenue you might be aware of. Now before I get to Eureka, um local street work that's going to happen in the city this year is going to be down in this particular area. Basically we'll be resurfacing a lot of streets. Uh and then anywhere there's ped ramps at intersections will make those ADA compliants part of our transition uh to get that ADA compliant there. uh Eureka Avenue. So, we're still waiting on a DNR easement and it's been over a year and a half that we applied for this easement. It's at the federal level. Even the local DNR can't give us direct answers and replies on what's taken so long, but long story short, the property was purchased back in the day with federal funds. And after going through the local level, it all has to then go through the federal level. So potentially that's no work or if any work goes on this year other than searchcharge placements. Uh we already kind of been planning a lot for a 2027 project instead of uh major work this year but we need that DNR per uh permit through here uh be able to do anything permanent otherwise we move forward at our own risk. So that's what the kind of going on with Eureka about Eureka Avenue. We'll also have a trail on the east side of it lakeside coming all the way up the kind of road uh 32 here. We are working with the uh city of Columbus on them trying to secure funding to do their portion in the in the city. So there's can't see it right map cuts off, but there's a portion of Eurek Avenue that's in Columbus that's not improved right now. the their their projects designed. They just need to encumber money for uh that construction. So, they did solicit a couple grants that they're still waiting to hear on if they're successful or not. So, so that's kind of moving forward, too. Uh, another big change that's going to happen is County Road, County State Highway 32 or 11th Avenue from County where the bridge construction stops back in the day all the way up to 61. And now it's going to include the realignments of Forest Road coming up here. They come up to fourth and there will be a roundabout here. But this project will have a trail along the entire corridor as well. This project though is being moved to 28 28 major construction. There's probably going to be some activity out there in 27 that'll be clearing, grubbing. Uh a lot of sir charge stuff will be placed with this project too in 27 with the poor soils in the area and the obviously the wetlands adjacent to it. but major construction in 28s. So with that's a project the county has been chasing for a number of years where we thought we were successful with a large amount of money from uh the states and then it never got awarded and then time goes on and then then we just got the $5 million award which is allowing for the realignment of Forest Road and to buy down a lot of the other project costs that are related to our local share. So, that'll be a nice project when that's all said and done. Uh, the other major project that's going to happen right now from a cooperative agreement standpoint is Highway 8. So, that's going to go from 61 most mostly just like a resurfacing through here and through this area. But as they get uh heading up to Chicago, they'll fully reconstruct that. That'll be a three-year construction project. They want to uh bid it January 27 or February 27. So, they're going to be moving pretty fast on a lot of design, final design this uh this summer. That that project does include a trail connected into the Hardwood Creek Trail and running along the whole entire west or north side of Highway 8 all the way up to Carmeal Avenue in Chicago City, >> which is the extension of the Swedish immigrant trail. So now you're going to have another regional trail come down into the city of Forest Lake which will connect into the Hardroot Creek Trail. So from a serious uh user, you know, trail user, there's going to be quite the route for people to be going. So that uh 27 they plan on starting a lot of the work in here in some of the local roadways and it might bleed into 28s but just some of the local major impacts in Forest Lake that'll be don't know if you're track >> is it his big. >> I think it stops at the county line if I remember right. >> I I should be able to move to nothing, but it's it's froze right now, I think. So, this is Greenway right here that comes up to Highway 8, that first intersection down off of Highway 8. There's going to have a little mini roundabout here to connect the commercial and the residential. We're hoping to get uh some trail brought out of that down to Northshore Drive and Trail because that's kind of one the city's major project planned in the future. That's some work will start on that this summer. Tenatively looking at 28 or 29 construction, but that'll be a full reconstruction. 75% of our lead service lines are in Northshore Drive, and that's obviously something we got to take care of. So, that's that's going to be a nice project. And there's some capacity issues with the sanitary sewer in there, too. So, all that's been budgeted and planning the capital improvement plan. Um, and we'll have to start, you know, going through that project. That would go through a pretty extensive public engagement process. So, the ultimate project, what it looks like, I don't know at this point, but it will include some enhanced pedestrians, uh, trail pedestrians, facility uses that will go all the way along Northshore Drive to Northshore Trail and then out to 235th and Bros. So that was the last major project I was going to talk about. But >> question for you, Ryan, is are we still contemplating related to business here bringing water and sewer over to that good that business park, good view circle? Uh >> y >> correct. >> Uh good question. We actually had a meeting this morning with the county and the consultant that they're working with on the project plans and specs and just timing wise when can we get this stuff in uh when do we need to show it to submit to you guys. So that'll be working through in the next couple months because they they want to get to a a 90% plan by May f May 1st uh and then keep moving that project forward. But you can see the sewer stops right here. Uh there's some water man that's not turned on, but there's water man in here too. But both of them were extending across the road right here and then coming up and just stopping here that could ultimately serve the future development of that industrial park. So and I mean just getting water over there for fire safety too is a big thing. So, that's kind of what we got going on with some of the bigger projects. Obviously, there's a lot of residential development going on that's going to bring a lot of rooftops in the next three years. Uh potentially, if all these developments do go this summer, this will be the most development the city has ever seen at one given time, even between the township and the city days. So, that's pretty substantial. So if your if your staff seems stressed, this is the biggest they've ever seen. And you know, so it's going to be really fun, interesting, but there's going to be a lot of new stuff happening with all this too, right? Um so I do have a question kind of piggybacking off of um member Blake's um comments on Goodview Circle. Is that access of good view circle 28 where it's currently I believe right in right out only is that going to be maintained. >> Yes, >> it will be. Okay. >> Cuz there'll be a median down the road there. So that won't be changing. >> I wasn't sure if they had cut it off. I know they changed a lot of the stuff on the plans further northeast. >> Oh yeah. So, >> will Highway 8 be two lanes for the turn lane or four lanes? >> It'll be like Frenchman Boulevard in uh Hugo. >> So, there the main thing that the project is bringing forward is a lot of access management. So, kind of what Eric there just brought up, you're going to see some switchbacks. Uh that'll be more I mean a lot of the change is happening north of us right this isn't really changing other than the intersection in greenway and highway 8 and forest lake uh and with the trail along the whole entire side. So what I mean by switch back is if I want to go left they don't want you crossing the lanes of traffic. You're going to have to go right which will be an easy way to get out. I do this actually every morning. This is like up where I come from. Uh, and then sometimes when I where I cut through, I hit a couple more actually. So, it's it's trying to avoid playing Frogger between multiple lanes, right? You're going to turn right, you're going to drive a while, get in the turn lane to do a U-turn coming back. So, they're trying to obviously environmental is a major thing along the corridor. So, there's a lot of features like that through the project. Uh, so the the width of the road varies. Uh, intersection control varies between here and Carmel Avenue. Carmel Avenue, I know for sure it's going to have a roundabout. I can't remember what that major intersection at up in Well, it's still in Chicago, too. The one with the driving range. I can't remember. I'll have to look at the plans. I just spend more time down here. So, if there's any other specific questions like what what's it going to look like? I can get you guys more information on that. So, >> Ryan, I thought at one point in time I heard that there would be some sound barriers along Highway 8. Is that where we at with that? >> There will be no sound barriers around along Highway 8. Uh, that was brought up through the project that was shot down. >> Okay. uh got pretty involved with that with a lot of help from elected officials uh because the sound barriers were being proposed to block the commercial property which we all know that commercial wants to be seen right so >> I think they would want to be seen >> any other questions for Ryan appreciate the report >> pros if you need me to move. >> At least you could see it. >> Yeah, it's going to be really busy the next several years. Going to be a lot of growth, a lot of new connectivity with pedestrian facilities, a lot of safety improvements and lot of good things. So >> Ryan, the qu question. So it on the 97 project that the hope is that um for just a short period of time it'll be completely closed off but to get access to Fenway. >> That's what we're pushing on the city side is to try to get that completed from Falcon to Fenway as fast as possible. That way all the traffic coming off the freeway, we don't want it lingering through these neighborhoods like Everton Avenue. if they can get to Finway Avenue and go south at just even a right down south down that's going to uh help traffic flow a lot better. We have obviously you've seen a lot of work going on in our winter. They did allow the tree clearing and stuff like that. We did re the force man. We knew we had to relocate at this intersection. We've already completed that work in anticipation trying to get some of the underground work done prior to this project starting here in the spring to expediate that construction. So, we're trying to do everything and anything that we could have did to get that uh work completed faster. Any other comments, questions? Seeing none, thank you, Ryan. We'll move on to um item number 9B, Washington County Open to Business 2025 summary report. Chris, I assume you're taking this one. I'd be happy to do it. Thank you. Um, Vice President Langness and members, good evening. So, just as a reminder, um, no matter what a business is struggling with right now, there's help available. And we want to make sure that um if they do need help, no matter whether it's um financial planning or looking at sites or a new business plan for some startup entrepreneurs who are thinking about starting a business, we want them to to know that the Open Business program is a resource that's free at no cost to the business to sit down with a an adviser and go through uh their financing, their business plan. um if they're growing, there's opportunities for uh for working capital loans to help them get through the to the next stage. Um and what we did is Abby included in your board packets the 2025 summary of all of the businesses that were assisted throughout the county and you can see there were a number of them in Forest Lake and it's just a good reminder to to to reach out uh to to to talk to businesses that are struggling. Um and no matter what that struggle looks like, there's help available. And so just kind of a reminder to to pass that information along. And I know when Nette go does go out and do the business visits, she brings information along on the open the business program that she can hand out. Um and uh it's been a good resource. So we want to continue to work uh with you and with the businesses here in the community to to get that information out and uh to help businesses whenever we can. Be happy to stand for any questions. >> Are there any questions? I I do have one, Chris. Um, on page 37 your report, you list each of the cities and there's one line that says other outside of Washington County and it it notes 16 on on the first column and 11 on the second. Can you enlighten me more on >> I'd have to check on that one specifically, but it could be a referral or it could be that somebody moved and then another adviser from outside of the county took them. So, uh, Tyler Hilbec is our business adviser for the open a business program. He oversees all of the counties and the adviserss throughout the metro area. Uh, we're really lucky to have him, but he's also the supervisor for all of the business advisors, and it could could have been that he handed that off to somebody in another county. And I'll find out if you'd like to get back to you on that one. >> I was just curious. Yeah, >> it had piqu my interest. So, are there other questions on Chris's report? >> Thank you. Seeing none, we'll move to item 9 C. Um, update from the Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. I see that she's absent tonight. Is there anything that she provided to you, Abby? >> No, not other than the just the annual report, but no, nothing else tonight. >> All right. Are there any updates from members? >> I just note that the uh chamber expo is coming up um here in a couple weeks. Was it March 21st, I want to say? Um so it's a important event for area businesses. Um so something to note for you know if we have a chance to talk invite anybody. >> Okay. >> If there's nothing else uh we can move to item number 10 if someone wants to motion to adjurnn. >> A motion to adjurnn. >> Is there a second? I'll >> second. >> That motion's non-debatable. All in favor signify by saying I. I oppose. Motion carries.