This transcript has been formatted with speaker names based on the provided city official list and contextual clues within the dialogue. **Transcript:** [0:02] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** I'm in a snarky mood and I don't need the public. [0:14] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Thanks for that, Heather. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Just told you. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Plus, my hearing aids aren't working real [well]. Speaking of... 6 o'clock, we will call the Faribault City Council Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 to order. Our first item is roll call. [0:36] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Council member Barnes? **Mandy Barnes:** Here. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Doumbouya? **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Here. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Ross? **Royal Ross:** Here. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Rowan? **John Rowan:** Here. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Van Sluis? **Peter van Sluis:** Here. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Thiele? **Chuck Thiele:** Here. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Mayor Spooner? **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Here. Our second item is pledge of 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. [1:08] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Our second item is approval of the agenda. Anybody like anything changed? **Mandy Barnes:** Mayor Spooner, I make a motion to approve the agenda. **Peter van Sluis:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Barnes, second by Van Sluis. All those in favor of the agenda signify by saying Aye. [1:25] **Council Members:** Aye. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All opposed. Agenda is approved. Presentations. We have one presentation, but I'm not going to read it tonight. Um, just so everybody knows, it is a proclamation declaring April 23rd, 2026. In a few months, Faribault will be—Southern Minnesota Initiative Fund will celebrate its 40th anniversary here in town and uh it will be the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Day here. [1:58] They've done a lot of good work helping businesses jump start here and it's been a great partnership for 40 years, but we have a proclamation. [2:12] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Okay, we'll move on from that one. Approval on the minutes of March 10th city council meeting and March 17th special city council meeting closed session. Anybody? **Royal Ross:** Mayor Spooner. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Yes. **Royal Ross:** I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of the March 10th, 2026 city council meeting and the March 17th, 2026 special city council meeting closed session. [2:35] **Chuck Thiele:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Ross, second by Thiele. All those in favor signify. **Council Members:** Aye. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All opposed. Minutes are passed. Request to be heard. First up tonight, we have Amy Stadler. You have three minutes. Come to the podium and please state your name and address for the record. [2:56] **Amy Stadler:** My name is Amy Stadler and I reside at 1728 Heav Place in Faribault. Mayor Spooner, members of the Faribault City Council, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I currently serve as a senior accountant in the finance department here in the city of Faribault. I learned about this restructuring plan on March 13th. [3:19] Later in the day, I spoke with the HR and finance director. At that time, I found out that my wage would be significantly reduced, but no definite numbers at that time. I was also told that I'd be given the choice between the two accounting technician positions. [3:36] The day after last week's work session, which I attended, I was asked by HR if I wanted—if I'd be interested in a separation agreement. At that time, I explained that I was still trying to process the information and had several questions of the two different positions. I believe the accounting technician AP and GL position is a better fit for my experience and my skills. However, I was told that I was not being offered that position and I was only being offered the accounting technician AR and UB. When I stated that I believed I had a choice in this decision, I was informed that this was no longer the case. [4:18] I'm the only employee being significantly and personally impacted financially by this change. The restructuring is projected to save the city just under $12,000 in 2026. While I would individually lose approximately $14,000 during that same period. When I was hired in July of 2021, I came in as an accounting technician accounts payable, which was a part-time position at the time. [4:46] I was told at the interview that I was overqualified for the role given my 31 years of accounting experience and there was concern whether I would remain long term. But at that time, I chose that position because it was a better fit for my family's needs. That role then became full-time as it found it necessary in that position. And then I was promoted to senior accountant in May of 2024. [5:12] Over the past nearly five years, I have worked diligently to support the finance department. During periods of staff turnover, I helped train three accounts payable technicians, assisted with utility billing, and stepped in wherever was needed to help the department. [5:27] I have more years of experience in the finance department than all but one current staff member and that experience has shaped my commitment to responsible financial management. I was also concerned to see that a job posting for the accounting technician accounts payable and general ledger position was recently published on the city's website. My understanding is that this restructuring had not been approved by the council and I was unclear to why the position had already been posted. [5:59] I respectfully asked the council to consider the significant and uneven impact this restructuring has on me personally. I thank you for your time and consideration. [6:16] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All right, our next person up is Gail Burke. Please come forward. **Gail Burke:** 717 Spring Road. Good evening, Mayor Spooner and city council members. I was last here on February 10th, 2026 to discuss my concerns about animal welfare in the city. As I mentioned before, a neighbor is trapping cats very close to other properties and he is not following the proper procedures for where these cats are taken afterwards. [6:52] In fact, he does go on Facebook to make insensitive comments with two other individuals where they jokingly say things like, "Oh, take the cat to the farm or drop it off in North Minneapolis." Simply dropping them off at a friend's farm is cruelty to animals. It is against the law and should never be condoned. [7:14] Other people associated with them on Facebook do not condone this behavior either and have voiced their opinions. I did have the chance to meet with police chief John Sherwin today. We had a good talk for an hour in his office. He loves cats, too. [7:32] We spoke about the current ordinances and I'm wondering if there is a different way to word the ordinance so that it clearly specifically addresses trapping and inhumane handling. By adding this clarification, we ensure a transparent humane process and protect these animals. I hope that you will take careful consideration in your decision to add the topic of a revised cat ordinance to your agenda so that we can take a closer look at it and find a real solution that protects these animals. Thank you. [8:13] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All right, that closes the request to be heard. We have six consent agenda items. **John Rowan:** Yes. Do you have a question regarding the terms and what that identical part means? [8:51] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Hey, do you want Heather to just clarify? **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** So, just there's different um laws set in statute regarding um who can sell liquor um and how they can sell liquor. Um so, if you're a current liquor license within the city um you are able to serve liquor if requested at a community event um using your current liquor license. Um, however, at this point, we don't—most don't do it that way anymore. Most of them pull a 1 to 4 day temporary liquor license. [9:26] However, we if we want to go back to past practices, that would allow for them to be able to do that. They have to be deemed a city event in order to use their current on-sale liquor license. **John Rowan:** So, that change is not included in this one yet. All right. [9:46] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** There is no change. It would just allow for that practice to happen if one of our local establishments was requested by say Heritage Days to serve liquor rather than Heritage Days pulling their own 1 to 4 day temporary liquor license. [10:03] **John Rowan:** Happy with that? **Royal Ross:** Mayor, I think we should probably pull item K. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Discuss it now or you want to just... **Royal Ross:** Let's pull it and have a discussion and approve the other [items]. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Entertain a motion on 6A through 6J and 6L. **Chuck Thiele:** Moved. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Thiele, second by Van Sluis on 6A through 6J and 6L. All those in favor signify by saying Aye. [10:56] **Council Members:** Aye. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All opposed. Those are all passed. Now let's pull out 6K: Resolution 2026 [Adopting the Budget for the Final...]. **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator):** Yeah. So, we were trying to figure out what was the best way to take the conversation that we had at the last meeting because you ultimately don't approve job descriptions and things when there's a change. Those aren't things that are coming before you. And so, as we looked at this, we looked at what was the adopted budget for the finance department across all funds because the finance department provides a significant amount of support for utility billing. And uh ultimately what changes were proposed by [11:42] restructuring from um a senior financial analyst, senior accountant, two accounting techs, and an administrative assistant to four accounting technicians and assistant finance director. And so what you have before you is the savings that would be realized across those different funds by that. And so, um, that is what's before you tonight is to approve a budget adjustment that would make that change effective. [12:14] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Uh, yeah, I guess my statement would be, you know, we went back and forth about this last week, two weeks ago, last week. Um and you know some of us were uncomfortable with it partly because of the uh change in employment for some of our staff and partly because we certainly don't want to micromanage any department you know. So is there an appetite from the council to table this and discuss it further or would you like to move ahead? I mean, I realize I can't do it by myself. So, if nobody else has the appetite, then we'll just move forward, but we were uncomfortable with it. [13:00] **Royal Ross:** I think we should bring it back to committee work session because there's a lot of stuff that I got to wrap my head around. And you're right. I don't generally think it's our job to be handling matters of the way the departments are laid out and reassignments. So I would support you, Royal. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Do we need a motion? **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator):** You would need a motion and a second to table it to the April 7th work session. **Royal Ross:** All right, we'll give it a shot. I'll make a motion to table item consent agenda item 6K and bring it back to the April 7th work session. [13:50] **John Rowan:** I'll second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Ross, second by Rowan. All those in favor signify by saying Aye. **Council Members:** Aye. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All opposed. Motion passes. All right, on to public hearings. A: Ordinance 2026-04, amend the city charter sections 3.05, ordinance procedures, and this is Administrator Jessica. [14:22] **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator):** Yes. Uh, and city attorney Scott Riggs is here to add anything in or answer any questions that you might have as well. Um the charter commission met back in September um to talk about uh a few different items and the one recommendation that did come forward um that was brought there at the recommendation of myself and staff was an amendment to section 305: our procedure on ordinances and resolutions, changing the requirement that there be two readings on every ordinance to one reading at an ordinance before it was effective. Um, since we had kind of talked about this last at the end of January in a special work session, I did go back and pull some data because I think there were some questions about what's the impact of [15:08] this. And so when we look at calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025, uh there's been more than 60 ordinances that have been adopted by the city council and the list was there for you. And the key words that you're really looking for to figure out when, how often is this an impact are those vacations, anything related with uh zoning, annexation, um you know, things like that. But there's also some hidden ones in there where we made some changes to some different ordinances related to peddlers and transient permits and different things. And so when I totaled things up very roughly, more than 50% of the ordinances that you have approved over the last three years have had an impact on a business where there was a [15:56] necessary two-week delay, which is probably greater than that by the time you look at when something has to be in to be on an agenda because we issue our agenda 72 hours in advance. And so there is significant delay that is involved when there are things that are trying to move quickly in the community, whether it's related to something that's coming on the planning and zoning side and preventing somebody from filing a plat and getting plat approvals or whether it's a transient merchant or a mobile food truck that was looking to operate in the city of Faribault over the last three years. And so when we looked at that, that is something to think about. [16:36] Ordinance charter amendments don't happen very often. That was the other piece in looking back at this; it was 2023 was the last time that you had charter amendments before you when there were four of them that were brought forward at that time. All four were approved in 2023. Uh I think you can also see from this there's very few times where something doesn't pass. Um there was only one ordinance out of the 61 in 2024 that failed and that was related to food truck licensing and how long somebody could stay at a location or in the city in total. And so really we haven't seen a history where there has been much additional deliberation beyond a first [17:22] reading or significant changes over the last three years. And I know that it's not very often that we have a charter amendment and that's probably a good thing. That means that our charter is working how we would like it to. Um but as we've really gone through starting new initiatives with Allison Brunette of how do we make improvements to our processes to make development more business-friendly and to ensure that things are happening as quick as possible from the city side. There are definitely other things that we're working on and more changes that will probably come before you, but this is always going to be there as that thing that is going to require a at least a two week minimum if not longer by the time you add in the front end and the [18:08] backend dates of getting something on the agenda and then ultimately getting something approved. And so that's where uh I would recommend approval of this. As a reminder, because it is a charter amendment, it does require unanimous approval of the city council. [18:25] **Chuck Thiele:** I appreciate the breakdown, Jessica. Thank you. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Can I just make a statement or? **Chuck Thiele:** Yeah. Well, I got an open public hearing, so it's up to you if you want. If you got a question, not a comment. Questions please. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Hey, I'll entertain a motion to open public hearing. **Mandy Barnes:** So moved. **Peter van Sluis:** Second. [18:59] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Second by Van Sluis. Aye in public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on this matter, please come forward. Please state your name and address for the record. [19:15] **Nate Cunningham:** Nate Cunningham for the business owner of Might Fine Coffee, 409 1st Avenue Northwest. Um so I actually didn't plan to say much but I am one of the businesses that's affected by it. We have actually—we've started with our new drive-thru and everything like that and we appreciate the—we've made it past this extra reading portion. Uh but it does create about 30 days of a delay before a business can open. And I just have some data for us as a company. That would affect us by about $40,000 a month in revenue that we would give to—net profit, right? [20:02] So that goes to um we have veterans, we have people we're hiring that we can support and put that money back into our community. So that delays us by a month at least that much. Um and I looked up this specific portion. It hasn't been amended since it's come into existence, right? So, it's quite a long time and every city around us already has made this adjustment. Um, plus we are right now in cahoots with a few other businesses that left the city, couldn't come into the city to do business, but we're attempting to help through, you know, what products and [20:48] services are. So we're networking with them as well trying back because they would benefit Faribault. This isn't going to solve everything but it is going to help. [21:07] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** I'll entertain a motion to close public hearing. **Chuck Thiele:** So moved. **Mandy Barnes:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All those in favor signify by saying Aye. **Council Members:** Aye. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** We are closed on the public hearing. Now your questions, comments, concerns. [21:30] **Chuck Thiele:** I just—I don't have any questions. I'll just make a comment that I appreciate the charter commission's efforts on bringing this forward. Um unsolicited and uh it came out of Allison Brunette's advice and consulting. It went through the charter commission. So it followed definitely the correct path for something like this. So I thank the commission for the way they handled this and the way they... [22:02] Scott, just to clarify, you said the proper mechanism that if something goes through, the council always can reverse it at its next formal meeting, right? So when we're voting on this, keep that in mind that this is not an irreversible process. [22:22] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Just clarification on what the administrator said before. The one ordinance that didn't pass before—it didn't pass on the first reading, right? Or did it pass? **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator):** It didn't pass at all. **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I'm sorry. I was confused there. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** It failed first, so it didn't come back. It's all just the first one. It didn't pass. Yeah. Okay. Um Yeah. So is 30 days a delay? Are we the only one who have that 30 days lapse in approving a business? **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator):** Well, I mean the whole development permitting process is a big permitting process in general. When we're looking at this, all statutory cities in the state of Minnesota do not have to do two readings. And so when the charter was established, it was established with this doing two readings, but I believe City Attorney Riggs had specified a number of [23:23] cities have gone back and removed that requirement as an unnecessary step at this point because it does slow things down. It slows things down when you want to enact a new law that might have nothing to do with business. It means that it's delayed for those additional weeks because there is that additional reading there as well as the publication requirement too. So there's things that it just slows down city business in general, but when we get to talking about vacations of easements, vacations of right-of-way, when we're looking at anything that's a zoning text amendment or anything like that, that's where it's slowing down people who are interacting with the city and really depending on those things to move a [24:10] project forward. [24:28] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** I will also point out it's not just a fact of what we see here on council. A lot of these things have been through the HPC, planning commission, whatnot. There's multiple meetings that go before we ever get to this point in time. It's to us it's only a two-week or three-week delay, but it may have been in the pipeline for two months. So to move these along at council is a high priority. [25:07] **Chuck Thiele:** Mayor Spooner, I make a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-04. **Mandy Barnes:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Thiele, second by Barnes to approve ordinance. Roll call. [25:28] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Barnes? **Mandy Barnes:** Aye. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Doumbouya? **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Nay. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Ross? **Royal Ross:** Aye. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Rowan? **John Rowan:** Aye. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Van Sluis? **Peter van Sluis:** Aye. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Thiele? **Chuck Thiele:** Aye. **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Mayor Spooner? **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Aye. [25:50] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Will that come back for a second [reading]? **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator):** It will not. [26:04] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All right. So on to item B: Resolution 2026-099 amending and modifying development program for Riverchase 2. Jake W? **(Note: Jake W. presents technical details off-transcript for the next segment).** [31:53] **Mandy Barnes:** Questions for staff. So, you said you received two letters from businesses that are supporting this. Can you list those businesses? **Jake W. (Staff/Consultant):** (Lists businesses off-mic). **Mandy Barnes:** Got it. Thank you. I have a question, but can I wait? **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Developer would like to say anything on behalf? [32:22] **Ryan Nolander:** Ryan Nolander, Hamilton Real Estate. Um, we appreciate what's before you tonight and the hopeful approval. We've been a longtime partner with you guys. I was telling the mayor beforehand that we do come in and want to be a partner. It's got to be good for the city and it's got to be good for us as well. And this would be our third project that we've built here. You guys have been a great partner with us. As Jake mentioned, [32:55] but for this we can't do this. Um the numbers—people look at it and say "okay it's got to get returns for the investors." But the bigger thing right now is with the interest rate environment that has gone up, which is where we're going for the foreseeable future. Um, we can't cover the debt coverage ratios. And so to get the financing, we actually need to have this. Um, how does that work? Well, over the nine years, hopefully you'll see us paying down principal on that loan. [33:23] You'll see probably some increases in rents and then we'll be fine with our debt coverage ratios. You'll get the property back on the market and getting the whole collection of the property taxes, but for having this we can't do this project. Questions? We appreciate everything you guys have done for us. [33:42] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All right, at this time I'll entertain a motion [to open public hearing]. **Chuck Thiele:** Moved. **Peter van Sluis:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** (Public Hearing conducted). I'm going to entertain close public hearing. **Chuck Thiele:** Moved. **Royal Ross:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All those in favor say Aye. We are closed on the public hearing now. Any comments? [34:24] **Mandy Barnes:** Yeah, I have a question and then a comment. Um, is this—you said it's for 9 years, but it's also for a set amount of money. Is that correct? So if that $725,000—if taxes increase and that $725 is paid back in seven years then it's over? Correct. So I think that's an important piece that we have to make sure the public's aware of is that it's not just an automatic nine years. It's for a specific amount up to nine years. [35:06] Correct. Okay. And then I just have a comment that um and I'm not sure if this would be our engineering or our street department, but my understanding there's only going to be one entrance into this for both complexes. [36:02] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Yeah. And it's on a public street that is Riverchase Court as well. So there is a public street that serves both as well as the city's parking lot and the Excel substation. **Mandy Barnes:** Yeah. So let's just assume there is only one. And my only comment is that um if we could have some cooperation between our departments to see if there's a spot on Willow where we could put a center turn lane turning to the left to Riverchase Court because otherwise if it's a single lane through there and somebody's sitting in that lane trying to turn left, it could get backed up. So, I think the street is wide enough there for a center left-hand turn onto Riverchase, but I'd just like that looked into. Thank you. [36:55] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All right, I'll take a motion. **Royal Ross:** Mayor Spooner. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Yes. **Royal Ross:** Uh, I'll make a motion to approve Resolution 2026-099. **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Ross, second by Doumbouya on Resolution 2026-099. All in favor? **Council Members:** Aye. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All opposed. That passes. Thank you very much. On to items for discussion. Resolution 2026-092: establishing bids for a sewer line project. Director Mark DuChene. [37:16] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** (Presents technical details on the sewer lining project). [39:30] **Peter van Sluis:** Question for director. I assume that the work goes through a manhole where that liner gets pushed in. So, how about the street closures? Is it just like one lane while they're working on it? **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Generally [yes, it's minimal impact]. **Peter van Sluis:** Thank you. [40:49] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Mayor Spooner— **Chuck Thiele:** I make a motion to approve Resolution 2026-092. **Peter van Sluis:** I'll second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Thiele, second by Van Sluis. All in favor? Aye. All opposed. Motion passes. Next three items will be hopefully one presentation. Viaduct Park Phase 2. Parks Director Rochelle Anderholm-Parsch. Getting close. [41:12] **Rochelle Anderholm-Parsch (Parks Director):** I was waiting. All right. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Tonight before you are two related resolutions that are part of Viaduct Park Project 2. I will start with those two resolutions and I'm going to hand it off to Kindra for the third portion of this. Um but tonight we're talking about a procurement package that requires individual approval of each of these resolutions. The first resolution 2026-085 is for site work and this first resolution authorizes a competitive [41:58] sealed bid for project phase 2 of work improvements and this is for the covered refrigerated ice sheet, the pavilion structure, supporting features and associated site improvements. The site work package includes—we evaluated procurement policy and we determined that competitive sealed bid is the best process for this. The estimated cost for this work is approximately $600,000. [42:22] And if approved tonight, we plan on advertising the bid March 25th and bid opening scheduled for April 22nd. If there's any questions on this first resolution? **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** I respect ask that Council approve resolution 2026-085 going out to bid. **Chuck Thiele:** Mayor Spooner, I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2026-085. **Peter van Sluis:** Second. [43:03] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All in favor signify by saying Aye. **Council Members:** Aye. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All opposed. The resolution passed. **Rochelle Anderholm-Parsch (Parks Director):** Next resolution: Resolution 2026-097, which is for the storage garage package. This is for a competitive sealed bid for the construction of the ice resurfacer storage garage and related utilities. This bid will also include an ad alternative for the construction of a monument sign as part of project improvements. And the approximate budget that's been allocated towards this work is about $200,000. [43:44] And again, this would be advertised March 25th with opening scheduled for April [22nd]. [44:10] **Royal Ross:** Mayor Spooner, I'll make a motion to approve Resolution 2026-097. **Mandy Barnes:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All in favor? Aye. Resolution passed. [44:47] **Kindra Papenfus (Finance Director):** Good evening, Mr. Mayor and council members. Um, this resolution tonight is about the public hearing for tax abatement bonds for the funding of Viaduct Park Phase 2. Um, just a quick reminder, the budget for Viaduct Park Phase 2 is $3,815,000 as approximate debt issuance value. That includes 3.6 million in construction costs and 215,000 in first year interest and debt issuance costs. [45:29] Tax abatement bonds are a little bit different than general revenue bonds. Tax abatement bonds require us to identify specific parcels that are near the improvement that's being made. As part of this exercise, we identified approximately 230 parcels that are within 1,600 ft of Viaduct Park. Those parcels' tax base goes to specifically pay off this debt issuance. It doesn't affect the taxes of those properties. It only earmarks those properties as providing the revenue to pay for these bonds. [46:13] So our request tonight is for setting the public hearing date as Tuesday, April 28th for the tax abatement for these bonds. Any questions? **Mandy Barnes:** Thank you. Mayor Spooner, I make a motion to approve Resolution 2026-082. **John Rowan:** Second. [46:49] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All in favor? Aye. That resolution passed. Item C: Twin Oaks Housing Development. **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator):** Yep. I'm going to talk about both of these at once. The first resolution is an amendment to the Twin Oaks subdivision development agreement to place requirements for the developer, Rice County HRA, to be responsible for playground equipment and a monument at the property. [47:26] The second resolution is approving the use of the statewide affordable housing aid in an amount not to exceed $113,000 to Rice County HRA to help cover those costs. As a reminder, Twin Oaks is a subdivision sold to owners at or below 115% area median income level. [48:08] **Chuck Thiele:** Mayor Spooner, I'll make a motion to approve Resolution 2026-095. **John Rowan:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Thiele, second by Rowan. All in favor? Aye. **Chuck Thiele:** Mayor Spooner, I make a motion to approve Resolution 2026-096. **Peter van Sluis:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** All favor? Aye. That motion passes as well. On the bids, we have two of them tonight. Mark DuChene, you're up. [49:06] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** (Presents details on street overlay improvements and bid overages). [51:37] **Royal Ross:** Thank you, Mayor. Um, Director DuChene, I believe this is probably going to be a pattern in the future where because of asphalt costs and diesel costs, we're probably going to continue to come in over budget. So, I just have a request that we look at the projects we have upcoming and see if there's any we can delay for one or two years. [51:53] I'd like to be an optimist and say the cost would come down. Just a request, but kind of take a keen look at the projects that are coming up and see if we can delay any. **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Oh, it's much easier to put it on you. **Royal Ross:** Yeah. On my list, it doesn't end. [53:08] **Mandy Barnes:** Mayor Spooner, I make a motion to approve Resolution 2026-090. **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Barnes, second by Doumbouya to approve Resolution 2026-090. All favor? Aye. [55:10] **Royal Ross:** Now, Director DuChene, can we confirm that this is the "Deer Bridge" pedestrian bridge and it's not a bridge for pedestrians who are deer? **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Yes. And that's probably because it's on Deer Trail. **Royal Ross:** Oh, we have a lot of keyboard warriors out there. So, Chloe [Communications/Staff], feel free to make light of this that it is not a deer pedestrian bridge. It is called the Deer Bridge. Found it hilarious myself. **Chuck Thiele:** Stay off social media. That's my comment. [56:12] **Chuck Thiele:** I'll make a motion to approve Resolution 2026-091 [to reject the bids]. **Peter van Sluis:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Thiele, second by Van Sluis. All favor? Aye. Passes. On to boards, commission reports, announcements. [57:08] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Oh, yes. I forgot about this. The city council has conducted a 2-year 360 performance review of Jessica L. Kinser as city administrator. As part of the evaluation process, the city council and the leadership team evaluated Jessica in several areas of performance which include leadership and supervision. The process reached the following conclusion: Jessica L. Kinser's performance has an average score that is meeting or exceeding expectations in all areas. [57:53] Goals and objectives and areas to focus on were given to Jessica to work towards as per Jessica's employment agreement. By meeting and exceeding expectations, she will receive a one-step increase in wages and receive 4 days administrative leave. This will be effective on her anniversary date of employment of April 1st, 2026. Thank you Jessica. [58:29] **Royal Ross:** Thank you. I'm still shocked you took your job on April Fool's Day, but that's... **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Joke was on her. Thank you for all you do. Anybody else got anything? Thank you, staff. Few of us were here at 7 a.m. this morning and we're going to see each other off tonight. So, at this time, I'll entertain a motion. **Chuck Thiele:** So moved. **Peter van Sluis:** Second. **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner:** Motioned by Thiele, second by Van Sluis to adjourn. All in favor? Aye. All opposed. We are in adjournment.