Based on the context provided, here is the transcript with speaker names added. I have corrected the spelling of the names in the labels to match your official list (e.g., Fasbender, Wietecha, Haus, Leifeld, Linscheid). [0:40] **Council Member:** Ready [0:50] **Council Member:** lens. >> Okay. Ready gang. [1:05] **Council Member:** Breathe deep. >> Ready. [1:22] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Good >> time being 7 o'clock, I call the Hastings City Council meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge of >> allegiance. [clears throat] I alian 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. [1:49] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** >> Welcome. And let the role reflect. We do have a majority and a full council tonight. [snorts] Okay, I got to breathe here. Tonight we will be reading a proclamation in honoring our chief of police Dave Wilski. Council member Pemble, would you please begin? [2:13] **Council Member Dave Pemble:** >> Certainly. Whereas Hastings Police Chief David D. Wheatsky is one of 56 police chiefs to lead Hastings Police Department during the 169 years of history and will be retiring after 29 years as police officer and literally nine years as with the city of Hastings effective March 31st, 2026. [2:43] **Council Member Dave Pemble:** And >> whereas he served this the city of Hastings with distinction, including five years as deputy chief and four years as chief of police. And >> whereas he helped bolster public trust and revitalize critical departmental programs such as the police reserve unit. And whereas he served on local boards providing service and support for the Hastings Family Service and Special Olympics Minnesota. And >> whereas he expanded collaboration with key community organizations such as the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, the Downtown Business Association, uh, School District 200 and private schools, the YMCA, the Ministerial Association, Idea of Hastings, 360 Communities, Dakota County Social Services, and law enforcement agencies [3:28] **Council Member Dave Pemble:** in Dakota and Washington counties. And whereas he strengthened school safety by increasing the presence of school resource officers in local schools. And >> whereas he expanded department equipment by securing grant funding for a variety of critical resources, upgrading the department's facilities. And >> wherein he enhanced the department's award-winning records division and assisted with launching a part-time embedded social worker position to better support community needs and mental health responses. And >> whereas Chief Wilsky served the city of Hastings with distinct distinction, provided steady leadership and the department for the department boosted morale and engagement and strengthened partnerships and collaboration. And now [4:14] **Council Member Dave Pemble:** therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor Mary Fastpender, and the city council of the city of Hastings do hereby declare March 31st, 2026 as David D. Wilski Day in the city of Hastings, Minnesota. [4:31] [applause] [4:37] **Chief Dave Wilski:** Mayor, can I just thank everyone? Thank you so much. You know, I don't like to talk. [laughter] >> Mayor and city council members, I just want to thank you for the support over the years, not only for me, but for the entire police department. This isn't really about me. It's about your police department. These are the best men and women that I've ever worked with in my career and that I have ever seen uh in the profession of law enforcement. Uh you know, law enforcement, it it's an interesting career. Um I want to thank my son Jack uh for how old are you? 24 now. 24 years he's been putting up with me. Missing baseball games, missing downhill ski meets, uh leaving on weekends, leaving dinner at the drop of a hat. Uh for my wife Kate as well, um [5:26] **Chief Dave Wilski:** daughter Natalie, just missing weekends, uh phone going off at 3:00 in the morning. I'm not going to miss that, but I'm going to miss the camaraderie. I'm going to miss the officers. I'm going to miss working with you. I'm going to miss this community. Uh because it is a great community. They support us just like you do. I know that will continue. I'd like to uh Oh, look at we have some officers right here. Thank you, gentlemen. Um, also, Commander Kyle Lynshide, uh, who we're going to be talking about later today. I'd like to thank him as well. [5:55] **Chief Dave Wilski:** Um, it it takes a team really to to run a police department. It's not just one person. But thank you again. It's greatly appreciated. [applause] Here [6:28] **Photographer:** we go. Three, two, one. [6:43] **Photographer:** One, two, and three. That was one of the party. [7:12] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** >> Chief, I'll say one thing. I'm so proud that we were the city that made you a chief. >> **Chief Dave Wilski:** Yes, I am as well. Thank you. >> **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Thank you for all your work. All right. Uh, council members, are there any corrections to the minutes from the March 2nd regular meeting and workshop? [7:32] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** All right. Comments from the audience at this time. We would hear comments from the audience. Anyone wish to speak to the council at this time? And no one on Zoom. Any items to be considered? Council. [7:49] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Okay. If not, I would accept a motion for the consent agenda. >> **Council Member Dave Pemble:** Council member Pemble, **Council Member Tim Lawrence:** Council Member Lawrence. **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Any discussion? Councel. All those in favor of the motion state by saying I. >> **Council Members:** I. **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Opposed to that motion state by saying nay. And that motion prevails. [8:07] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Tonight under public safety we have an appointment of our new police chief and for this item we will have a presentation by our city administrator Dan Waticha. Dan [8:12] **Dan Wietecha:** >> not sure about a presentation but maybe some some introductory comments. Um a and just as a brief explanation uh our city charter uh has that department heads such as the police chief are my appointment subject to council's approval. So uh that that's why sort of the two-step process here. Uh we we had uh a number of interviews over the last few weeks and and pleased with where we're at this evening. Um, one of the pieces that I do want to point out, um, this was an internal [8:55] **Dan Wietecha:** process and that was deliberate. Uh we have over the last few chiefs, uh, taken a real, uh, effort to, uh, building up the strength of our department. Uh working on engagement and the culture, the morale of the department, making sure we have, uh, skilled men and women there. uh giving them the experiences and opportunities to grow uh as we can uh and felt it was very important to uh maintain that. Uh so posted this as an internal position. Uh we did have three strong candidates uh which I think uh speaks to the leadership and engagement uh and dedication of of our department to have that much interest in the position. Uh in the end, uh my [9:43] **Dan Wietecha:** recommendation is Kyle Lynshide. >> No surprise there. It's been out for a week or so. Um and it's based on a number of things. Uh one, his experience. Uh he has been with Hastings Police Department his entire career, uh since 2008. Um the last several years in the commander position, which oversees the patrol side of the department. Uh so uh very much uh uh uh on the street uh that that uh key experience that that's necessary. [10:15] **Dan Wietecha:** [snorts] Uh I also think that uh he cares for our community and that's important for the department. It's important for Hastings. Uh when interviewing him uh he commented about the lives that he has changed and that's different than putting away bad guys. [10:34] **Dan Wietecha:** that's part of the job, but but really the matter of having an impact on the community. Uh and and I know uh earlier in in his career, he had served as the school resource officer. He still maintains contact with some of those students, now adults, years later. Uh that speaks volumes. Uh the other key piece I think is that uh he has a strategic approach. uh he has the ability to have vision and goal setting uh both for near-term as well as uh a longer term what what is the direction to be taking the department. Uh so that combination of pieces really uh I think sets us up well. Uh it it is my recommendation that we appoint uh Kyle [11:21] **Dan Wietecha:** Lynshide to the chief position April 1st or effective April 1st. With that I suppose I could stand for any questions. Uh maybe you want to put uh uh Mr. Lynshide on the spot and have him him speak and defend himself, but uh it it's an important important uh vote that's before you this evening. [11:44] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** >> Any council discussion? Council member House, [11:47] **Council Member Angie Haus:** >> more so a comment. Um, I would like to thank everyone who's been involved in the interviewing process as it has been a uh community partners panel with representatives from Dakota County Services, 360 communities, IDEA, Ali Supportive Service, Hastings Ministrials Association, and Hastings School District um as well as um Hastings uh public safety advisory commission as well. I'd like to thank all those partners because it does take a community to pick and chief. Um, so I am grateful of them and want to move forward with the motion to appoint officer Kyle Lynshide as police chief effective April 1st, 2026. [12:25] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** >> Thank you, Council Member House. And a second with Council Member Layfield. New discussion, Council. Okay. All those in favor of the Sorry, Council Member Lifel. [12:35] **Council Member Lisa Leifeld:** >> Thank you. Thanks, your honor. So, thank you, Council Member House. As the chairperson of the public safety committee, I was fortunate to be in on the interviews as well with a couple other of our council members here. And to just to reiterate what um um our city administrator Dan Waticha said, you are in in my purview exactly what we're looking for in this age of policing, right? We're looking for those strong connections to the youth of our community. um we're looking for someone who's going to be an active participant in finding solutions instead of just [13:12] **Council Member Lisa Leifeld:** pointing out the problems. And so from our standpoint, it was an interesting process. We didn't get to recommend anyone. We just did these wonderful interviews and really got to know the three of you really well. And knowing no matter which direction it was going to go, we knew we were going to be in good hands. Um, but from my understanding and what I know of policing in this day and age, I'm just really excited for where you're going to take our community and the um, not just the Lynch name, but the city of Hastings as well into the future for policing. So, I think I speak for, you know, the public safety committee and commission to say congratulations and what an excellent job you've done and the interview was [snorts] fantastic. So, thank you so much, Chief Lynch. And that's not a April Fool's [13:58] **Council Member Lisa Leifeld:** joke, right? This is like a solid [laughter] April 1st. I just want to make sure. >> **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Thank you, Council Member Lifelt. All those in favor of the motion, state by saying I. >> **Council Members:** I. **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Opposed to that motion, state by saying nay. [14:13] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Welcome, Chief. [applause] [14:22] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Tonight under administration we will be going into a closed meeting pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.05 and um at this time we will read announcements and then we will come back and go into close session and I have those announcements. All right. We recognize Saturday March 21st as World Down Syndrome Day. Hockey or sorry, Hastings Tastings is Monday, March 31st. Hastings area restaurants provide samples of their specialty menu items to guests. There will be silent auction items and raffle. Hastings tastings occurs during the Minnesota Food Share campaign. Therefore, all [15:10] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** proceeds raised at this event are proportionately matched by Minnesota Food Share. Tickets are available through Hastings Family Service. The Friends of Pleasant Hill Library have a used book sale going on uh April 16th to April 19th. Happy birthday at the end of the month to Council Member Dave Pemble. [15:34] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Meetings move coming forward Tuesday, March 17th, 700 p.m. Hastings Preservation Commission. Wednesday, March 18th, the Parks and Recreation Commission has been cancelled. Thursday, March 19th, public safety advisory commission, 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 23rd, Parks and Recreation Committee is at 700 p.m. and planning commission meeting is at 700 p.m. [16:03] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Tuesday, March 31st is operations committee at 7 p.m. Saturday, Mar uh April 4th, C 8 a.m. Council will be having a retreat for strategic priority session. Monday, April 6th, 5:30 p.m. [16:20] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** workshop will be strategic priorities and 700 p.m. regular council meeting. With that, council, I would ask for an adjournment. >> Council member Pambo to go into close session. [16:36] **Council Member Dave Pemble:** >> Close session. >> **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** We're going into close session. >> **Council Member Dave Pemble:** Oh, sorry. Yes. Sorry. Motion. >> **Council Member Dave Pemble:** Motion to go into close session. Sorry. >> **Council Member Angie Haus:** Second. >> **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** All right. Council member Lifel and Council Member House.