As an expert transcriptionist, I have analyzed the context of the meeting to identify the speakers. The meeting is led by **Mayor Nikski**, with contributions from the White Bear Lake City Council members (**Garola, Engstrand, Edberg, West, and Walsh**), City Manager **Lindsey Crawford**, Police Chief **Dale Hagar**, and outgoing Prosecutor **Rob Olsen**. Here is the formatted transcript: **[3:00] All Speakers (Collective):** One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. **[3:00] Mayor Nikski:** Well, welcome everyone. I'm getting used to a packed house. When I used to come and watch the council meetings, there was hardly anybody here. And ever since I started, there's been packed houses. Ellen, uh, Council Member Garola, I think it's our new status. Yeah. Anyway, welcome and, uh, welcome to the people on TV land as well. Um, we're going to get started with item 2A, approval of the meeting minutes from February 10th, 2026. **[3:40] Mayor Nikski:** All in favor? **[3:40] Council Members:** Aye. **[3:40] Mayor Nikski:** Any opposed? All right. Item 2B, approval of the city council work session on February 10th, 2026. All in favor? **[3:40] City Manager Crawford:** Let’s get a motion. **[3:40] Mayor Nikski:** Oh, right. Is there a motion? **[3:40] Council Member Engstrand:** I'll move it. **[3:40] Council Member West:** Second. **[3:55] Mayor Nikski:** All in favor? **[3:55] Council Members:** Aye. **[3:55] Mayor Nikski:** Opposed. Okay, motion carries. Item three, the agenda. Um, does anyone have any changes or corrections to the agenda? **[3:55] Council Member Garola:** I would like to add an amendment and that is a discussion about the safe and stable cities—or I'm new to this. **[4:21] City Manager Crawford:** I think you're looking to add it under new business. **[4:21] Council Member Garola:** Under new—under new business to be discussed. **[4:21] Mayor Nikski:** Okay. So, Council Member Garola would like to add something under new business. Um, will—does anyone want to second that? **[4:43] Council Member Walsh:** Point of order, Madam Mayor? **[4:43] Mayor Nikski:** Yes. **[4:43] Council Member Walsh:** We theoretically have—but you didn't recognize a motion. We haven't had a second. So technically we could add it by acclamation and then move and second the amended version, or we can adopt as presented and then amend. Which do you prefer? **[5:04] Mayor Nikski:** Dave, which Dave? **[5:04] Dave (City Attorney):** Um, there was a motion. Um, I didn't hear a second to that, although there wasn't really an opportunity for Council Member Garola to make her amendment. I would encourage the council to—um, if Council Member Engstrand is willing to just simply withdraw his motion, she can finish her statement and then there can be consideration of whether to approve a separate motion from Council Member Garola to approve the agenda as amended according to her. **[5:38] Council Member Engstrand:** Withdraw. **[5:38] Mayor Nikski:** Withdraw. Okay. Thank you. **[5:38] Council Member Garola:** So, I would like to add under new business a motion to—um, for the council to consider the safe and stable cities and joining as an ally. **[5:55] Mayor Nikski:** All right, we have a motion on the table. Is there a— **[5:55] City Manager Crawford:** Can I jump in? Mayor, just to clarify, so I assume that's a motion to approve the agenda with that amendment. **[5:55] Council Member Garola:** Yes. Thank you. **[5:55] City Manager Crawford:** Thank you. **[5:55] Council Member West:** Second. **[5:55] Mayor Nikski:** There's a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing none. **[6:15] Mayor Nikski:** All in favor? **[6:15] Council Members:** Aye. **[6:15] Mayor Nikski:** Okay. Um, that will be moved to new business item 8A. **[6:31] Council Member Garola:** I want 8. **[6:31] Mayor Nikski:** No, 8A. **[6:31] Council Member Garola:** 8A. **[6:31] Mayor Nikski:** We don't have an 8A. All right. Moving on. Item three, the agenda. Um, does anyone or sorry— **[6:49] City Manager Crawford:** Consent agenda? **[6:49] Mayor Nikski:** Yeah, the consent agenda. Does anyone have any changes to the consent agenda? **[6:49] Council Member Engstrand:** Move to approve. **[6:49] Mayor Nikski:** All in favor? **[6:49] Council Members:** Aye. **[6:49] Mayor Nikski:** Any opposed? All right. Motion passes. All right. Item 5A. Um, we have uh Chief Hagar here today um to recognize the service of our city attorney prosecutor, Mr. Rob Olsen. Chief Hagar. **[7:14] Chief Hagar:** Thank you, Madam Mayor, members of the council. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to kind of gush on about my friend Rob Olsen here. Um, after my words, I think there'll be a just short recognition and Rob will have a chance to say a few words, even if you don't want to, Rob. Uh— **[7:33] Mayor Nikski:** Can you come up? **[7:33] Chief Hagar:** Yeah, he can stay there. Otherwise, he'll have to stand for a half an hour while I read. Uh, Rob made a huge impact on White Bear Lake and um his um influence extends far behind the courtroom. Uh, for 25 years, Rob has served this city as this city's prosecutor. He has a reputation for fairness, preparedness, and common sense decision-making, which has earned the respect of judges, attorneys, law enforcement officers all over the metro, as well as officers from this department and the community. What stands out most about Rob's career is not just the longevity of service, but the quality of it. His work protected this community and set standards in the area of specifically traffic safety and family violence that will continue to guide those who follow him. **[8:20] Chief Hagar:** Rob's leadership was particularly evidenced during one of the most challenging periods of DWI enforcement when Minnesota faced widespread issues with the intoxilizer machine... Rob was instrumental in helping our department identify lawful practical workarounds so impaired drivers could still be held accountable... On behalf of the city of White Bear Lake, thank you for your 25 years of exceptional service. We wish you and your large family, who most are here tonight, great happiness and a well-earned retirement. Thank you. **[10:28] Mayor Nikski:** Thank you. I'll shake your hand. Okay, thank you. **[10:28] Rob Olsen:** Well, I'll—I'll keep my remarks brief. Uh, this was Dale's idea, not mine. Uh, Mayor Nikski, I learned that tonight. Members of the city council, some that I've known for quite a long time and others that are—are newer. Uh, I want to thank you for the honor of just having me come here. Uh, and it has been 25 years... [Olsen gives a speech about his career, the police department, and his legal team]. I just want to report to you that you're in great hands... Thank you very much. **[17:38] Mayor Nikski:** Thank you, Mr. Olsen, for your years of service to White Bear Lake. We really appreciate it. **[17:38] Rob Olsen:** And don't forget your bear to remember us by! I live in Forest Lake now, but we got one of those big bears in front of our house. **[17:56] Mayor Nikski:** Thank you. All right. Um, item six, public hearings. We have nothing scheduled. Item seven, unfinished business. We have nothing scheduled. Item 8A, new business. Uh, Miss Garola. **[18:11] Council Member Garola:** So, I'll let people leave a minute if they want to take a minute. [Pause as people exit]. All right. So, we had a work session where we discussed the safe and stable cities coalition... [Garola gives a speech regarding allyship, community support, and legislative advocacy]. I would like to join as an ally to stay involved in those conversations because I know we have residents who need more supports. **[22:26] Mayor Nikski:** Thank you, Council Member Garola. Other thoughts? Council Member... oh, Engstrand. Sorry, Edberg. **[22:41] Council Member Edberg:** Edberg, sorry. Thanks. Um, either Mayor or City Manager, what's the update that we have on the cost of joining as an ally if we uh choose to affiliate in that way? What are the other from your perspective, as best you know and understand it, what are the uh obligations and commitments that we make? **[22:59] City Manager Crawford:** Uh, thank you, Mayor, Council Member Edberg. Um, joining as an ally does not cost the city anything. Um, joining as a full member cost—I think it would be about $2,000 with the amount of cities that are part of it, but $2,000 to $5,000. Um, I have just an FAQ here so I'd read this for the group: "Ally membership does not require a financial commitment. Cities receive core messaging and can be contacted for support and advocacy. Allies share information and participate in advocacy at their discretion." So it's really—an ally is really just staying informed... There are 21 cities that are full members; there's one city that is an ally member. **[24:03] Mayor Nikski:** Council Member West. **[24:03] Council Member West:** Um, yeah, I—so, um, I think it's important when we were—when we were meeting for the work session, one of the things that I was thinking about is the strength of coalitions... I think this is a bit of a step towards that to just say, "Yep, um, we do support the Constitution. We support our communities... no matter what their backgrounds are." So, I would support the allyship. **[26:00] Mayor Nikski:** Thank you, Council Member West. Council Member Walsh. **[26:00] Council Member Walsh:** Uh, thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I—I appreciate you bringing this forward. I appreciate your leadership. I think there's a desire to do something. I—I'm going to oppose it... of all the things to go to the legislature and ask for money for, I wouldn't put this at a high level. I just don't have it as a top priority... I'm a no. **[27:31] Council Member Garola:** And I'll just add in to—um, also appreciate your transparency in that and everyone sharing their way of thinking... The allyship allows us to still follow and say, okay, if it's not that, you know, what are our options with funds that we do have... so it keeps us informed. That’s my take. **[28:42] Mayor Nikski:** Yeah, and I—I've done a lot of looking into it and um it's not just about money... the coalition is also in trying to ensure that this doesn't happen again... [The Mayor discusses concerns regarding federal agents, masking, and constitutional rights]. We need to try to get some policies put in place to help us make sure that as a city we can make sure that's happening going forward. **[31:30] City Manager Crawford:** Want a motion? **[31:30] Mayor Nikski:** Does anyone else have anything else to say, or do you have a motion? **[31:30] Council Member Garola:** Since I'm the one who brought it up, I would create a motion that we join the Safe and Stable Cities Coalition as an ally. **[31:46] Mayor Nikski:** Is there a second? **[31:46] Council Member West:** I second. **[31:46] Mayor Nikski:** All in favor? Oh, is there a discussion? Thank you. Any further discussion? Okay. All in favor? **[32:02] Council Members Nikski, Garola, West:** Aye. **[32:02] Council Members Walsh, Edberg:** Opposed. **[32:02] Mayor Nikski:** Okay. Motion carries. **[32:02] City Manager Crawford:** Uh, okay. So, just to follow up on that, uh, being that that motion did—uh, was approved 3 to 2, um, I will—I will be in touch with the coalition and notify them that White Bear Lake is joining as an ally. **[32:21] Council Member Garola:** Thank you. **[32:21] Mayor Nikski:** Okay. Thank you. Okay. Uh, moving on. Item nine, uh, discussion. There's nothing scheduled. Item 10, communication from the city manager. Miss Crawford, do you have anything? **[32:40] City Manager Crawford:** Thank you, Mayor. I don't have anything, uh, today. I know there were a couple events that maybe you're going to share about, so I will let you do that. **[32:40] Mayor Nikski:** Okay. Yeah. Uh, the past week has been kind of busy and just wanted to share some of the things that um some of us have been doing. [Mayor summarizes events including a VFW walk, tours of New Tracks and Merik, and a Twin Cities Live event]. **[34:03] Council Member Walsh:** All right, on that—on that note, I could add—um, I like this update thing. Uh, I attended a meeting of the Ramsey County Dispatch Policy Committee, my first one on this new assignment. Uh, fascinating. Um, they're well-staffed. They have a good staff. They get great data. Their big issue is employees and turnover... so, it was good. **[34:40] Mayor Nikski:** That is great. Thank you for sharing that. Does anybody else have any things they did fun this week? All right. All right. Moving on. Um, we will now have a closed session. Um, so the city council—the—we are now going into closed session pursuant to Minnesota State Statute Section 13D.05, Subdivision 3B... to discuss active litigation between the city of White Bear Lake and White Bear Township related to a fire service contract dispute... Therefore, I request a motion to go into closed session. **[35:52] Council Member Engstrand:** So moved. **[35:52] Council Member Edberg:** Second. **[35:52] Mayor Nikski:** All in favor? **[35:52] Council Members:** Aye. **[35:52] Mayor Nikski:** Any opposed? All right. I'm closing the session. If you have something that needs to be signed, high school students, please come on up.