All right. Good evening. Uh this is the January 21st, 2026 Cottage Grove City Council meeting, which I'm calling to order. Uh before we get started, I did want to share something real quick. Um, so, um, before we actually get into the actual, uh, business of the agenda, I did want to mention that we will, um, we typically do, uh, open form at the beginning of the of the council meeting, but this evening, we weren't sure how many people were going to be here. And so at this point uh we do have some people that signed up and I'll talk about that a little bit more later. But I did want to just mention that we did uh move uh the open forum portion to the end of the of the meeting. Though I will tell you our agenda is extremely short tonight. So it within probably 15 minutes or so uh we'll be going into um open forum for people to uh speak uh to the council and I'll share some more information there. So, I just wanted to let everybody know if you were here and thinking that, you know, we're going to skip it skip by it at the beginning of the meeting. Uh we we moved uh the open form to the end of the meeting to uh in case there was a bunch of people that wanted to speak tonight. Um so, again, uh first thing I did here was call the meeting to order. The second item we're going to do is the pledge of allegiance. So, please rise. 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 right. Will the uh clerk please do the role? >> Council member Clawson >> here. >> Council member Olsen >> here. >> Council member Theiti >> here. >> Council member Garza >> here. >> Mayor Bailey >> here. Uh the next item on our agenda is adoption of the agenda. I'm just looking for a council >> move the agenda. >> All right. >> Second >> motion by councili, second by council member Garza. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Uh five is presentations. We have none this evening. Uh six is consent agenda. Is there anything that council would like to pull for separate discussion on consent? >> Move consent. >> All right. So we have a motion by council member Olsen. >> Second. >> Second. >> Oh, go ahead. >> All right. I'll do I'll second it. Second by council member Clawson. >> All right. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all of those in favor signify by saying I. >> I I opposed. >> Motion carries. So if you're here for every anything on tonight's consent agenda, uh they've all been approved. And I want to say congratulations and good luck to Van Meter who is going to be doing a major expansion in Cottage Grove. And we're we appreciate it. Yes. So >> very happy to have you in Cottage Grove. Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Our next item on our agenda is approved dispersement. 8A is to pay the bills. >> I'll move to pay the bills. >> All right. So, we have a motion by council member Garza. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by council member Theiti. Again, any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Eight is public hearing. We have none this evening. Bid awards, we have none this evening. 10 is regular agenda. We have nothing this evening. Um, I will go to council comments or request and our normal order. Um, is there anything? I'll start with council member uh Clawson. >> Nothing to add tonight, mayor. Thank you. >> All right, sounds good. Uh, council member Brosson. >> No, sir. >> All right, council member, >> I'm good. >> All right, look, we're moving fast here. And council member Garza, >> I do not. >> All right. All right. Then we do uh 12 is a workshop which is not which is open to the public. We don't have any, I should say. Uh, and then we don't have a workshop closed to the public. And so the next thing we've got on our agenda is open forum. Uh and this is the opportunity for anybody that wants to speak on anything that's um wasn't on tonight's agenda um at this point uh can do that. Um I did have something to read, but I don't think I really need to do that. Um what we did do just so I could make sure we caught everybody if needed is we did have a we did have some signup sheets out in the entryway and we did get um uh the open form signup sheets for three individuals and all we'd ask you to do is you uh come up to the front um I'll call your name up here uh mention where you're from and then you can speak to the council. Uh we won't be answering necessarily any questions tonight. Uh the idea is if you want to share, make a statement or whatever, you're welcome to do that. Or if you have a question, then we'll get some further information from you that we'll be able to provide an answer to you. Um our clerk over here, Tammy, is going to have a you get three minutes uh per person to speak. And so when your time is up, you'll see Tammy put up a little sign and I'll help you with that, too, if that's the case. So if that's the case, we just ask that you wrap up whatever you're saying if you're getting to that point. Okay? So, uh, I'll just start with what's handed to me. Um, and is it Colin Minan? Colin Minan, >> I'm going to decline speaking tonight. >> Okay. >> Okay. No. All right. How about uh Michelle Mina? >> Where do I go? >> Yep. Right up there. You got her. >> Thank you. Might have missed some instructions. >> And you are resident of Cottage Grove. >> Yes. Yes, I am. Um, just a few minutes away, actually. Uh so my sort of principal reason for being here this evening is obviously uh to address the ongoing destruction that ice is creating in the Twin Cities. And other than asking obviously how I can expect the city of Cottage Grove to respond and provide safety to the community of Cottage Grove, one of the things that uh became apparent to me when I was looking at usaspending.gov gov is that since 2020, the city of Cottage Grove has taken four contracts with the federal government specifically for the Department of Homeland Security with training for ICE at the Hero Center. Now, I understand that we are currently under contract with the federal government through I believe July and August of this year. So, there may not be opportunities to cancel those contracts. However, could we as a community look into refusing to take any additional contracts from them in the future? Uh be more transparent about the fact that we had gone into these agreements with the federal government in the first place? Open it to perhaps the community to vote on or even just be aware is happening that I I'm unclear how this decision was made and why it was continued to be made. And lastly, since I understand that these things are probably larger than myself, uh I think a valid opportunity given the hundreds of thousands of dollars that it sounds like we've received or are supposed to be receiving. I don't necessarily know if we have. Could we be using some of that money to form a fund or be able to provide some sort of restitution to the community members who've been harmed or have opportunities to at least donate the money to the food shelves or other community members that may have been impacted by these ongoing activities, especially something like restaurants that haven't been able to operate for fear that their employees will be taken. So, uh, with that, I think I would just love to have the folks here, um, take that all under advisement and perhaps provide a statement or any kind of clarity around those choices because it really sucked finding out that we trained ICE agents right here in my backyard. And I would like for us to not do that again. And I think a lot of other people in the metro and probably the state at large would appreciate if we uh didn't do that either. So, I can yield the rest of my time if that's something that I can do. >> You You can One thing I'll say, are you going to hang for a little bit? >> Yeah. >> And listen. Okay. Maybe at the end, um, if you want to go up to our staff and give them your address, we'll be able to We're not doing it like we don't have to adhere publicly if you know what I mean. >> Well, yeah, I suppose. Yeah. I wouldn't do them. So, [laughter] >> and what they we can do is we'll be able to provide you with all the information you're asking about. >> Groovy. >> Okay. >> Awesome. Thank you so much for tonight. >> Thank you. All right. Uh, Heather Showler, >> right? Um, I'm nervous, so I'm going to read off my phone. Um, >> okay. And she, by the way, I just I I'm sorry I didn't say this. Uh, you are resident of Cottage Grove. >> Yes. Yes. I live right here in Cottage Grove. I live and work here. Uh, my name is Heather Shoalter. I first came to Cottage Grove 5 years ago. I worked at um major manufacturer here, made windows. I'm sure you know the place. Um [laughter] I now work across the street making doors. One thing that every manufacturing laboring job I've ever had has in common are the people that work there. They don't always look like me, but they are very good, hardworking people. Today, I worry about the friends that I've made at these places here in the city. I worry about the ladies that used to bring me homemade egg rolls. I worry about the Arab man who showed me pictures of his daughter and her cats, how he moved here to have a better life for her. I worry about the Hispanic ladies who became my transportation after the first seizure I had. These are all people again that are very hardworking people in our city. They come here for work. They do not deserve to feel afraid. Everyone, every single person, I don't care what their status is, has worth. [snorts] To borrow a quote from one of my favorite authors, everyone or sorry, I'm nervous so I'm okay >> getting confused here. [laughter] All things have worth and everyone con contributes to the worth of others. That is true of every single human being. I'm here today to ask I'm going to add on to what she said. I do not want them in the hero center. I understand there's a price tag that comes along with that. But I am a very stubborn German woman and I come from a long line of stubborn German women and I believe that when there's a will, there's a way. It might not be easy. It might not be cheap, but I believe there is a way. There is something we can do. This is not benefiting our state. This is not benefiting our community members. They are terrorizing and making people afraid. My own mother, she's almost 60 years old, is she walks with a mobility aid. She needs a walker to get around. She's rheumatoid arthritis. She's terrified that she's going to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and just be knocked over, knocked to the ground. We don't know where this is happening, where it's safe for her to go. Can she even, you know, walk around in a Target and not have to worry about someone tackling her if she's just standing in between an agent and their target. Um, [sighs] I would like to ask for in addition to the ending of the contracts with the hero center again with I would also ask for more transparency, there's other cities right now that are working on things like passing moratoriums on rent, towing fees, um, anything that we could do to alleviate the pressure that is being put on these people. Oh, my time is up. So, >> we could just finish up. >> Okay. Um, like if we could take that, like I borrow from her idea here. If we could take some of that money and use that to help these people pay off their parking fine or the towing fees. Um, the small business owners that are having to close because they their employees are terrified to come to work. Can we use those funds for the moratorum? Just hey, don't worry about rent this month. Don't worry about this towing fee. That's all I have. Thank you for listening. >> Nope. >> And you did good. >> You did well. Yeah, >> neighbor. Thank you, Heather. Appreciate you. >> So, that was the only green slips that I'd received of people that wanted to speak uh in at the in our open form. Is there anybody else that would like to speak one way or the other on open forum is welcome to do so at this time? Nobody. Okay, I will go ahead and close open forum and then I I don't know if council had any comments that they wanted to make or are we good? >> No comments. >> Okay. All right. First of all, I I will just say thank you. Uh thank you for showing up. Thank you for voicing uh your opinion and your thoughts and your comments. Um it is a trying time uh in in our community right now. Um I will tell you I will say this to you. I I said this publicly. I was at an event uh with our director of public safety, Pete Kerner. I know uh council member Olsen was there. Uh was at All Saints Lutheran Church and and it was basically talking about, you know, what you should or shouldn't do or can or cannot do when it comes to uh immigration enforcement protesting and so on. And I made a statement there that a couple of people have come up to me and and commented about. one is um I've been mayor now this is my 17th year and four years before that on the council and eight years before that on the planning commission and there's only been two times >> [clears throat] >> um that I have been like I'll say shocked and dismayed about what was going on in our community. Uh one time was going through our community during the George Floyd protests and riots and seeing boarded up windows. I never thought I would ever see that in our community. And the other time is right now. Um having ICE agents, you know, taking people out of their homes or out of their cars and and such in our community. So, I'm hoping from a legal standpoint there. I know there's a lot of information out there about what's happening, what's not happening. Um but I just thought I would share that with you that I think I can speak for the council up here. You know, we care about our community deeply. uh all our community no matter who you are or what race car it doesn't matter um and that if anybody does need help um I think I can speak for our public safety officials out there um if somebody need call 911 our police officers do not do not work handinhand with ICE um we're not going to ask your immigration status that's not part of what we do that's not our their purview as a police officer but if there's somebody that's in need uh our police officer officers want to help and um please call if that's something uh that happens. And the last thing I'll say on that too, unless I'm looking at my director of public safety back there, um we don't know when ICE is in town or rarely do we ever know that they're in town. And I'm not talking about the Hero Center. I'm talking about if they're in town. Matter of fact, in some cases, our police officers have, you know, somebody called in a suspicious vehicle and they check the vehicle as being suspicious and find out, oh, it's a, you know, ICE is in town. So, they're not even communicating with us as a government agency and they're definitely not communicating with our police department. So, I wanted the public to be very aware of that. Okay. >> Mayor. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> I think I will. >> Council member Garcia, >> will it be okay if I make a statement? [clears throat] >> Yes, absolutely. I did prepare a statement and I wasn't sure if I was going to speak it or not, but I think I will. I think it's still very relevant and I think I should share. It's on. Oh, I just need to lean closer. Sorry. [gasps] Okay. And I'm going to read because I don't want to get tongue tied. Um, so thank you, mayor, and thank you, council. I just want to take a moment to acknowledge concerns that I've been hearing from members of our community about increased federal immigration enforcement and activity, including the presence of US immigration and custom enforcement here in Cottage Grove. I think it's important to say it out loud that this doesn't just affect undocumented people. It affects US citizens too, especially families with mixed immigration status, kids, neighbors, and co-workers. When enforcement activity increases, fear and uncertainty uncertainty spreads more broadly and that shows up in real ways in our community. This isn't abstract to me. My own family is feeling anxiety and fear as well. I'm sharing this because I'm not I know that we're not alone in this and because it helps to explain why so many people are worried right now. I've heard from residents and students who are distracted and concerned about loved ones unsure how federal actions might intersect with our everyday lives. And I think we're seeing that quite a bit. While immigration policy is not something this council can control, the impact on our community is something that we should really acknowledge. Our role is to make sure Cottage Grove continues to be a place where people feel safe, engaging with schools, city services, and local government, and where people are treated with dignity and respect. I hope we continue to lead with care, clarity, and focus on the well-being of our Cottage Grove community. Thank you, Mayor. >> You got it. Thank you, U. Council member Garza. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, uh, before I look for a motion to adjurnn, I'll just mention to both of you now, if you do want to get some feedback on some of the questions that you asked, if you would just [clears throat] go up to our staff and provide your address, we'll make sure that we get some information to you. >> Okay. >> Yeah, those questions, um, by the way, are are not uncommon questions. Um, not at all. Our our public safety team uh has been answering similar questions for quite some time. So, um, they'll certainly be able to give you a very thorough explanation and and answer to your inquiries, but as always, you know, please feel free to reach out, tell your friends and neighbors. If they do have questions, come to us. We're an open book. We're happy to answer those >> 100%. Okay. All right. Council, uh, who would like to make a motion to adjurnn? I'll move to adjurnn. All right. So, we have a motion by council member Clawson. Do I have a second? >> Second. Second by council member Garza. All those [clears throat] in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. >> We are adjourned. >> Thank you all for coming. >> Thank you for coming.