[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] Good evening. It's February 2nd. This is a regular city council meeting. I'll call this meeting to order. Uh plea, if you're able, please stand for the pledge 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. >> Thank you. Um, Miss Larson, please call roll. Rome >> here. >> Kley, >> here. >> Foster Bolton >> here. >> Wilburn >> here. >> Calvert here. Shaq here. All right. Um, our first item of business is approval of the agenda. And we do have an agenda. Mr. Funk. Thank you, mayor. Good evening, council. Uh, two items for your consideration this evening. First is related to item 6A, which is boards and commission reports. The recommendation in the staff report was motion to approve the report. And after you hear this evening's reports from our boards and commission members, uh what staff recommends is to modify that motion to motion to accept the reports and approve the work plans. So we want to make sure we acknowledge the the good work of our boards and commissions and to then acknowledge that through the approval of their work plans. The second item for your consideration is related, it's a new item uh which is 10F. So staff proposes to add a consent item uh which would be again after 10E would be AMA status in the state of Minnesota versus Gnome United States District Court file number 26-CV-00190. Again as I noted this item is proposed to be added to the agenda and then materials related to that are submitted uh in your council packets for your review. Uh with that, mayor and council, motion to add item 10F to the agenda and approve the agenda as a as amended is recommended for you this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Funk. Uh Council Member Calvert. Thank you, Mayor. I would like to approve the agenda as amended. >> Thank you. Do I have a second? >> Council member Wilbur. >> I'll second. >> Great. I have a motion [clears throat] by Council Member Calbert, a second by Council Member Wilbur. Miss Larson, please call RO. Rome. >> Yes. >> Sorry, Mayor Shek. Just just to um be a stickler for detail, we should since it is a new item, um we should the motion should include adding the new item to the agenda and then approving it as amended if possible. >> Excellent. So, we'll add item 10F to the agenda. And Council Member Calbertt. >> Yes. And I I would like to move uh to add item 10F to the agenda and then approve the agenda as amended. and council member Wilburn. >> Second. >> Excellent. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Larson. Please call roll. >> Romeley, >> yes. >> Kley, >> yes. >> Foster Balden, >> yes. >> Wilburn, >> yes. >> Calbert, >> yes. >> Shaq, >> yes. Motion carries. On to item five, and that is approval of the minutes. And we have three of those. Council member Calbertt. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I did talk to Mr. funk and I gave him I think four changes to the minutes which he uh later messaged me were made and with those changes um I would like to move approval of um study uh December 22nd 2025 study session minutes January 12th 2026 regular meeting minutes and the January 23rd 2026 special study session legislative breakfast minutes. >> Great. Thank you. And a second. Council member Foster Bolton. >> I'll second. >> We have a motion by Council Member Calvert and a second by Council Member Foster Bolton. Miss Larson, please call RO. >> Rome, >> yes. >> Kley, >> yes. >> Foster Bolton, >> yes. >> Wilburn, >> yes. >> Calbert, >> yes. Shaq, >> yes. Motion carries. And we'll be getting into item six, which is special matters. Before I do that, I just want to um remind people that we this year started a little bit of a different process as we look ahead to item 8, which is um citizens [clears throat] wishing to discuss items not on the agenda, and then also to item 13, which is public hearings. To the extent that you have something you would like to um comment on, we have these little comment or signup cards out in the lobby. Please fill that out for us. And um I also remind folks and you can leave them there. We'll somebody will go out and check that box before we get started. As you think about what your comments are going to be, you know, it looks like we're going to have several tonight. So, we're going to ask people to limit their comments to to no longer than three minutes. I I will be um cutting you off at three minutes. Not because we don't want to hear what you have to say, but because there's a lot of you and you know, we have to just uh try to be as efficient as possible and allowing everybody to have an opportunity to provide their input. So, again, please, and you can do that as we work up here. That's no bother. People can come in and out as they need to. um please go grab a card. All right, on to um item number six and that is um boards and commission reports and we will um we've offered for our uh chairs of each board and commission to provide their report and um some of them were able to make it and some of them couldn't fit into their schedule. So, we're just going to go in the order that we have this in our packet and we are going to start with um the charter commission and the chair uh John Northrup's unable to be here tonight. So, Mr. Nelson will make that report. Mr. Nelson. >> Thank you, Mayor Shack. Council members, good evening. Uh the the charter commission is the uh city's essentially standing constitutional convention. So they they handle all matters that would touch the city charter um which is the document that organizes the city and provides for the city's core legal powers subject to state law. Um the charter commission is an independent um commission or board. The members are appointed by the chief judge of Henipin County. And so um they they are they are technically not subject to city council policy 1.2 to which applies to council appointed boards and commissions but happy to give um a report of their activity for the preceding year. The charter commission held their annual meeting in November. Uh and at that meeting they passed on two amendments of the city charter that the council has also now had fit to uh see and approve. Uh one was to establish a fixed membership number for the charter commission consistent with historic practice which is nine members. uh added wrinkle with the amendment was the ability to flex to 10 members with the um additional appointment of a sitting council member. Uh and that was approved. And then the uh second amendment was to clarify some of the requirements in the charter for resident election petitions as they uh particularly as they apply to initiative and referendum which are provided for in the city of Minnetonka charter. Both of those amendments, now that they've been approved by the council, will be effective 90 days from the date they were published. Um, as a business matter, the the charter commission for next year decided to move their annual meeting from November to September. And so that meeting will now be reflected on the official SE city calendar, which is adopted in October of each year. And then finally, they expressed an interest in beginning to have an initial discussion uh very um first time discussion on a potential move to even your elections. Um and so that was um raised as a as a um discussion topic for the next meeting in September of this year. That's all I have. Stand for any questions. >> Thank you, Mr. Nelson. Uh council, any questions for Mr. Nelson? This is usually a pretty straightforward one. So, we will uh not seeing any. We we will move along and we have next up um the DEI commission and I believe our chair is here, Miss Chen. >> Oh, excellent. Both. All right. Um welcome. Thank you for coming. And um please go ahead. Uh thank you. Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Martin Kintana of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission. Uh I am the vice chair. Uh thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. Um the DEI Commission exists to serve in an advisory capacity to the city council. Um our charge is straightforward but also very important. Um, we advise on projects and issues referred to us by council and we proactively recommend initiatives, policies and strategies that help Nitakan continue to be a city where everyone feel safe, welcome and able to participate fully. Um, in addition to that, we also serve as ambassadors to the community, uh, listening, engaging, and helping translate community experiences into actionable insights for the city of Minnotonka. This includes outreach, education, and partnership with residents across backgrounds. Um, our commission started in spring of 2024, and over the past year, the commission has focused on listening, learning, and showing up. Uh we met with city departments to better understand how policies and programs are implemented on the ground and where residents may be experiencing barriers to access. Uh this helped us ground our recommendations in the realities of city operations rather than assumptions. Uh we convened a DEI and human rights commissioner forum to share practices and strengthen regional uh collaboration. Excuse me. We also volunteered in sensory rooms at city events, ensuring that residents with sensory sensitivities um and their families could participate fully. Uh community presence has been central to our work as well. Uh we participated in the city and fire open house where we gathered stories of belonging directly from residents. Uh we co-hosted Black History Month uh Junth and Latino Latina community events in partnership with the city of Hopkins and we participated in Tonka Pride. Uh this past year was focused on understanding, learning, trust building, visibility, and making sure Minnotonka residents see themselves reflective refle reflected excuse me in civic life. >> All right. Um, looking ahead, our work plan centers on three connected goals. First, removing systemic barriers and expanding access to city services and programs. So, this includes providing feedback on the DEI commission web page to improve clarity and accessibility, conducting a barriers to access assessment, and collaborating with at least one other board or commission to embed equity equity um across city governance. Uh, second, um, centering community voice and co-creation. Um, we are working to improve opportunities for ongoing communities in key city decisions, assess meeting access and virtual participation, and establish new partnerships with community- based organizations that bring equity that bring an equity lens. And then third, um, advancing community belonging and representation. Um, this includes continued outreach events, um, an essay contest to elevate, um, resident student voices, and a project focused on uncovering Minnotonka stories, past and present, so that our city's narrative, um, reflects the full community. And, um, before we close, um, I just want to say it would be a little bit tonedeaf if I didn't speak clearly about the moment we are in and the responsibility we as a city, um, hold right now. So, as we all know across Minnesota and our city and communities, um our residents are experiencing fear and trauma due to escalating federal immigration enforcement. Neighbors are being detained and taken by ICE and families are afraid to go to work, take their children to school. And um I just wanted to be clear that the DI Commission's work plan is intentionally flexible. Um while we've outlined these priorities for the year, um we understand that community needs and city realities um evolve and um especially in a moment of crisis. So, we stand ready to pivot and support um residents in the city where needed. Um so, in closing, um I just wanted to say that um you know, again, the the commission is ready to stand with residents and city staff um and to help lead um with courage, compassion, and concrete actions to protect our community members. So, thank you all. >> Thank you very much. Thanks to both of you. Appreciate um council, [clears throat] any questions or comments you have for these folks? Council member Calbertt, I just want to say I uh you know the work you're doing is so especially important right now and that um your [clears throat] final comments about pivoting. You know, I don't want to get into the weeds on, you know, we all know what the many needs are. We also have some legal constraints about what we can do directly as a city. But um I just uh am so appreciative of the work of uh your commission and uh we also I'm sure stand ready to support the commission and um you know we're busy getting the word out about the many things that we are doing to support the community. that uh I just you know my phone number's on the website so uh please call uh if you need an ear or you just need to noodle on something because there is too much for a small group of people to uh fix. So we're all in it together and thank you so much for what you do. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you council member Kell. Council member Romey just real quickly um thank you for that we had a little bit of a conversation before the meeting. So, I appreciate that you're already hearing from community members and dealing with that. And to reiterate what Council Member Calbertt said, please feel free to reach out to us um you know, directly um or through staff to let us know what we can be doing or what you're hearing so that we're also in touch with the residents that you're talking to. So, thank you for your work. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? Well, I'll reiterate briefly, yes, thank you so much and your comments were really appreciated. And I will say we're, you know, we're talking I'm talking with staff about how, you know, we can leverage this resource um that we have with you folks. And that's um we're we're really glad to have you and appreciate the work that you've done. And it's not um easy to stand up a commission and we've you folks on this commission are the are kind of the inaugural members and so we appreciate your commitment, your willingness to do that and just being here tonight. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. We appreciate your support. Thank you all. >> All right. Thank you. All right. Moving on. We have the Economic Development Advisory Commission and I believe we have the co the vice chair uh Mr. Heg here tonight to provide the report. Mr. Heg >> Council mayor, um I'm going to delegate that to our very capable Alicia. Great. >> That's great. Thank you. We agree. So, we'll let you we'll let you take it. >> Good evening, Mayor and Council members. Um the economic development advisory commission provides expertise and advice on economic development related matters. This includes redevelopment through property acquisition, redevelopment projects, implementation of the comprehensive plan objectives and area housing goals. also development and finance through tax increment and tax abatement requests and the various other funding sources that um make our programs possible. through housing by providing affordable and modest price housing programs, home buyer and home rehabilitation programs, and homelessness response. through business by providing business engagement, outreach and programming and lastly through transportation which includes light rail and bus transit operations. In 2025, work highlights include supporting Minnetonka businesses in partnership with MCCD and Elevate Henipin. 24 businesses received 327 hours of one-on-one technical assistance through over 30 different providers. In addition, the EDAC and city council received the results of the business survey and commercial market analysis reports and staff increased outreach visits by visiting 63 unique businesses in the community and participating in five city sponsored events which include the thriving Thursday business technical assistance series and the Minnotonka business council series with Weisetta Mes West Metro Chamber. On the housing front, uh the EDAC recommended 850,000 in financial assistance for affordable units at Marsh 3 and recommended the establishment of a forgivable loan program for homes within reach. And lastly, recommended the approval of the economic improvement program, the budget, and the H levy. Looking ahead to 2026, the business um priorities will continue with implementation of those efforts from the business survey that include creating a story map of Minnetonka economic development data, building relationships with the business community and se celebrating existing businesses success through storytelling. On the housing front, there will be discussions on short-term rentals, single family home ownership projects, zoning rewrite updates, and the economic improvement program, which are all set to be discussed at the July 20 city council study session. The EDAC will provide feedback and a recommendation on the 2027 EIP, 2027 budget, and HA levy, and continue to review requests for financial assistance for redevelopment projects. On the transit front, um the group will work to enhance transit offerings through a new transit co cooperation agreement with Metro Transit in preparation for the opening of Metro Green Line Extension in 2027. >> Excellent. Council, any questions or comments? >> I do have just a few remarks I'd like to make. >> Please do. Um, I'm just want to I joked earlier, but there's a lot of technical and financial complexity in the work that we do. Unfortunately, we have really great staff to lean on. Um, I just want to compliment them. One thing that was newish in the last two years is the kind of housing visual dashboard, which you haven't seen it, definitely look at it. It does a really good job of helping contextualize all the data that helps us figure out where the needs are in our community for housing. Um, second, uh, I just wanted to add that there's been a lot of work done in the last couple of years. Again, increasing outreach to the community, the business community specifically, trying to understand how things can be improved. There's the site visits they spoke of. There's the annual survey that we're now doing. The one recommendation I was going to make, I think this was made to Morris Leman when he was here, was to over sample the newer businesses to make sure that we're getting a lot of new businesses, not just the survivorship bias isn't coming through. we're not just reserveying the successful businesses, but encouraging the new ones. And the last bit is, of course, we're all very curious to see what happens with the housing uh zoning rewrite because that'll have some hopefully good downstream effects and what we can do on the EDAC to spur more affordable housing. >> Thank you, Mr. Heg. I really appreciate that. Any comments from council? Uh council member Kelbert. >> Thank you. I just think uh this is sort of an unsung commission and it really is so highly technical that people you know I'm I'm always looking for having sat on on it as liaison for eight years um to have not just the staff but some of the members um it's very humbling. they have a lot of uh knowledge about various aspects of um economic development. And so for people that are interested in it, that's really who we're looking for because you do need a certain level of expertise um to sort of jump in with both feet. Although it's you you can you can learn it, but it's helpful to know. And I just if you think about all of the different aspects, the housing, the economics, the uh transit, uh the business, it's very diverse and the ne the kinds of um topics that EDAC covers uh are so vast that um I think one of the best things that we do are things like the dashboard and the economic improvement plan or or program. um where it lays out all the different programs and sort of where we at where we are at in those. And so um I just think the work that the EDAC does and the staff that supports it is really outstanding and um really does help support our community and our businesses. So thank you, >> Council Member Romey. Thank you, Mayor. Um I just wanted to thank uh Congress or sorry, Council Member Congresswoman, I'm elevating you. Um, councilwoman Council Member Calbat for her service over these past eight years. I will be the uh new liaison and I'm looking forward to it as somebody who has owned two small businesses and also worked in the field of affordable housing. This is an area that's of a great interest to me and so I look forward to serving and kind of being the the in between between council and uh the EDAC. So, thanks for your work. Looking forward to it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else? I'll just make one quick comment, which is um a lot of the really good work, the work we're most proud of in the city, um couldn't happen without kind of the money part, right? I mean, the affordable housing, we need the money for that. Um and the EDAC, for all the reasons that were mentioned, is so valuable in propping that up. So, it's not, you know, there are a few things we do that aren't super glamorous and I'd say the EDAC is one of them, but they're so integral and I'm appreciative um of of that work that you all do and and for volunteering your time in that way. So, thank you so much. All right, we will move on to the park board. Sorry, Miss Maxwell, you're ready to go, too. [laughter] Uh we have Mr. Ingerham here uh with Miss Yetka. >> All right. >> Hi. Um um I guess you introduced us so that's great. Um just want to start with you know in in challenging times which we're in right now as we learned with COVID our parks are a real asset to our community and uh we're fortunate in Minnetonka to have uh a great number of exceptional parks and natural spaces and we have a terrific uh team of dedicated professionals that take care of that and I wanted to thank especially the staff that does that work um and the teams that they support. Uh our as you know our our primary role is to advise the council on on matters pertaining to the parklands, park facilities and programming within the parks. Uh and we review natural resource initiatives and recreation programming there. We meet about 10 times a year. Highlights from uh last year. Uh we spent a lot of time the last Oh, I do am I supposed to push the button? Okay. [cough and clears throat] uh last last two years really spent a lot of time relative relating to uh off leash dogs and and Purgatory Park and the master plan that was completed in 2024 for Purgatory Park largely focused on that single issue. Um but uh that happened was concluded last year and the park regulations were updated. Uh we participated in as we do every year in the capital improvement plan. We saw the draft of the co [clears throat] cullen nature preserve master plan kicked off uh the big willow master plan which we'll talk more about on the next page and then had reviewed the habitat restoration and restor and maintenance plans for seven parks listed here. And every year we review uh the usage of our key areas like the marina, the uh shady oak beach, the athletic fields and every year we also update our strategic plan and work plan. Although this is I guess technically the first time we're we're laying out the work plan for you. Thank you. Um this year a lot of our efforts really focused on the master planning um the Cullen Nature Preserve. Uh we're going to be reviewing actually this Wednesday the final draft of that and I'll coming to you for review and potential approval and that's a very exciting development. Um, we are also moving forward with our first formal first draft formal draft this year. Uh, on Big Willow Park and from what we've seen in the early work, that's really exciting because that's what a master plan should be like. It's really comprehensive. Uh, looks at the at the park on a whole lot of levels. It's not a single issue park. It's got a lot going on there and it's pretty exciting what staff has done. Uh, there's also a Glen Lake park coming up. Um, as you know, there's been discussion around a skate park as an opportunity there, and that's one of the points we're looking at. And then Lone Lake Park, uh, that's not master plan this year, but we'll be talking issues and opportunities about the development of that as the next master plan. In quarter three, we'll be going through the Red Barn feasibility study to see what we can use that that space adjacent to Purgatory for. Um, as we do, we'll have the community forest management plan, habitat restoration for two parks this year. Lone Lake and Tower Hill. And then uh as we did talked about last year, of course, we do the CIP and we do the annual review of of the various uh programs. So with that uh any questions, council, any questions? Not seeing any any. I will say, you know, this is this is more glamorous work, I think, because people really do um use and thank you for your commitment. It's not easy work because of the um profile of it. It gets a lot of attention and and uh opinions and we appreciate that. So, thanks for taking your time to volunteer for us this way. >> All right. Now, Miss Maxwell, we will turn to the planning commission. And we have our chair uh Miss Maxwell here and Miss Thomas who is on the uh with staff >> and uh Mayor Shack I'm going to start and then I will turn it over uh to chair Maxwell. Uh as the council knows the planning commission's purview is land use and the commission is actually scheduled to meet 25 times a year. Unlike other bodies they do not have a work plan. Those meetings are all focused on review of land use applications that are submitted to the city. The commission does serve as a primary forum for public input on all of those applications. It has the authority to make final decisions subject to appeal certainly to the council on certain applications and then it always makes recommendations to the council on other uh larger land use items. Ultimately, as Chair Maxwell says at the beginning of every planning commission meeting, the commission is really charged with uh sometimes a very difficult balancing act, balancing individual rights and community responsibilities. And so with that, I will turn it over to Chair Maxwell. >> Uh thanks, Miss Thomas. Uh thanks, Mayor and Council for having me. Uh we had a bit of a slow year in planning commission this year. We only reviewed 83 uh applications. Um, and I asked staff to put together this map that outlines the location and the type of each one of those applications. I what I was really looking for here is um, are we seeing concentration of development in one area or concentration of a certain type of development in one area of the city? In here, yellow are conditioner use permits uh, or interim use permits. Green are variance or expansion permits. Blue are subdivision and you can see those are distributed relatively equally among the four wards in the city. we're not seeing concentration um anywhere there. And the work that we do does impact uh the entire city as you can see here in that um in that map. Um and I'd like to highlight just a couple of those. I'm not going to go through all 83 of those, but a couple of the more memorable applications that we had this year. Um the first one is Marsh Run 3, which is a multi- um housing unit uh north of 394 uh near the Veil and the Burke up there. Um and the D uh um EDAC also highlighted this that it got um $850,000 of funding for to have units at that um 50% AMI level. Um this was an interesting uh project in that staff recommended approval. Uh planning commission recommended denial and then um council ultimately approved it after lengthy uh public hearings for this particular um particular project. Um, the second one I'd like to highlight is the first international bank building. And while a bank maybe not seems like the most exciting u thing, this is a really unique project and that it was a redevelopment of an existing building. So rather than raising it, tearing it down, they're putting on a new roof, um refinishing the outside so it will really look uh welcoming and inviting and so revitalizing something that's existing um in a unique way and that will be improving the um the e uh uh the efficiency of the building overall as well. Uh so that's what I wanted to highlight. We also did some subdivisions, some concept plans, but these were the sort of two interesting ones I wanted to highlight. Um any um questions for me? Excellent. Thank you. Um any questions council comments? No. Again, this is I mean this is the roll your sleeves up work. So [laughter] I mean we uh some of us came from the planning commission and it's a good way to learn the ins and outs of city operations and and that planning piece. and you're um not mentioned here, but we know you have your work ahead of you this year as we start to review and um ultimately hopefully approve the new zoning code. So, might not be as quiet this year as it was last year. Thank you so much again for your work. >> Yes, you're welcome. >> All right. And and last, but not certainly no, not last, sorry, I'm ahead of myself. Okay. Uh moving on, we have the senior advisory board and we have it is uh Miss Moore here. Excellent. Come on up. Is this a good height? You want to go down a little bit? Maybe. >> Yeah. Thank you. I'll go first here. >> Okay. Thank you, mayor, and thank you, council members. I'm Kaylee. I'm the staff liaison, and this is Susan Moore, the chair. Hi. Okay. Um to the staff and the uh mayor, I want to explain the senior advisory board. Um we advise the city council on needs and status of seniors in the city recommending ways in which those needs may be met. that determines and assesses existing resources in the city which may be utilized by seniors to meet their needs. evaluates and assesses proposed programs, grants, and other governmental activities that may impact seniors and recommends PA policies, goals, and objectives for operation of Minnotonka senior services. As far as our 2025 highlights, we had the annual book and pie sale and it was a resounding success with more than 10,000 books donated and an estimated 350 community members in attendance. Members of the senior advisory board volunteered throughout the event and we assisted with book organization, cashiering, and kitchen support. Over $5,600 was raised in support of the senior scholarship fund. Secondly, the annual senior housing fair fair was a successful event with attendees noting that it was both informative and enjoyable. The fair provided a valuable opportunity to build community connections while increasing awareness of available senior services and housing objectives or housing options rather. Uh we continue to strengthen our commitment to becoming a dementia friendly community by offering dementia friends classes, hosting memory cafes, and providing a series of educational presentations focused on increasing awareness and understanding of dementia. These efforts supported individuals living with dementia, their care partners, and community members by fostering inclusion, reducing stigma, and promoting compassionate informed engagement. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Any questions or comments? >> Excellent. Thank you. Qu uh council member Kley, >> I just want to say um you know thank you for all the work that you all have done um in the senior uh committee. Um I mean that's amazing how many books was donated and how many books were sold and all the um fundraising that you all did. I mean I just yeah I just want to say thank you for all the work and um just wonderful group of folks just doing the work. So thank you. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Kley. Council member Romey. >> Yeah. Again, thank you. I just had a quick question. The landing is still um you're still operating that as well. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, give a quick plug for uh if you want to for the community to go visit the landing, which is over by uh kind of Trader Joe's area. It's a wonderful little building and uh you know, seniors who uh make creation or senior artisans in the community uh put their wares out for sale there. So, uh, highly encourage that as well. It's another way to support our seniors and our senior programming. So, thank you for that as well. >> Thank you. >> Excellent. >> Anybody else? >> Well, I council member Kley covered it for me, but great to see the seniors so engaged and active and it's certainly something that folks in our community comment on appreciating when we do our survey every year. So, keep up the good work. >> Well, thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Now we are on to the sustainability commission and we have Mr. Gold here to share with us last but not least. Good evening madame mayor, city council Alli Sutherland, sustainability coordinator. I'm also the staff liaison for the sustainability commission. I'm here with Brian Golib um who's also the chair. So, um, I'll actually be presenting most of the slides and then Brian will say, um, a note at the end. So, thanks for having us. Um, I'll kick it off by running through the duties of the sustainability commission. So, these are defined by city code. Um, there are three overarching duties. The first is to be uh sustainability ambassadors to the city council. And we see this as a way of researching and proposing programs for the city council to consider to advance sustainability either internally or externally within the community. Um second is to be sustainability ambassadors to the public. So we do this through outreach and engagement. And then on a related front, we also uh seek to cultivate community relationships. So that's new partnerships and then uh partner just network building to advance sustainability externally. And then lastly we report on progress like we're doing tonight. Uh we meet six times per year. So that's every other month beginning in January. And then uh the commission um typically meets around 20 times per year to perform outreach initiatives which is really exciting. We have a very dedicated and passionate group of resident volunteers. So, I'm very fortunate to be able to work with them um and to have their enthusiasm to sustain this work. I just click and then um looking at 2025 highlights. So, there was a several page document in your um packet tonight. I won't review all of those. Um those have updates of everything that the commission accomplished, but I did want to highlight just three um main items or some key takeaways. The first is that the commission and then staff myself spent a significant amount of time prioritizing and operationalizing the climate action and adaptation plan. Um so when I first got here uh at the very end of 2024, we took a look at this document and we realized that there's this amazing list of 50 uh strategies or otherwise you could consider them as like policy directives. We realized pretty soon that we really need like these to be broken down and translated into actionable tasks. So, we spent a significant effort breaking those down um into what we're calling as a quarterly Gant chart. And this is a uh flexible document that will be updated, you know, essentially every time the commission meets. but it's a way to align our staff work plans and our uh sustainability commission work plans such as the 2026 work plan that's in uh the packet for consideration to align um in this sort of um coordinated fashion if you will. So uh we're also working to I don't know I think sorry I think this is a a different version than I had included. Um we have metrics in the packet as well that we're actively reporting on and that's a process um that's incorporated into this uh prioritized and operationalized version of the CAP. Um and then the the commission spent a significant amount of time planning outreach and um doing the actual implementation in 2025. So that was for both residential and business outreach. They supported 17 initiatives which is pretty phenomenal. Um it was just under a hundred hours that they uh volunteered outside of their regularly scheduled commission meetings and they engaged approximately uh just under 3,000 community members in their work. And then looking at 2026, uh the commission's really excited to align with that prioritized and operationalized work plan that we have now. So that 2026 plan um aligns with that. We're also working to collect um and expand upon the metrics that we're already reporting for the green subsidies program. So you might recall that program. There's around 150 metrics that we're reporting through there. So we're expanding upon that. Um we've just recently requested um updated uh greenhouse gas emissions data through 2024 through regional indicators to be updated on that data dashboard that you see at the bottom right hand side of this slide. Uh so that will be available hopefully within about a month actually. So you can expect to see that soon. 2025 will be available at the end of the year once the data sources are available. So stay tuned for that. Um, some other I'm not going to go through this whole list, but some other things I wanted to call out is that this year through discussions with the commission, we did a menty to kind of or mentter um kind of like polling process to figure out how the commission wanted to engage. And they decided that they liked this idea of subcommittees. So, they're actually meeting outside of their regularly scheduled meetings to help more with planning um and organization of events so that we can have more capacity to host more engagement opportunities. So, I'm very excited about that. Um this year we're going to expand to two reuse swaps and then two business blitzes where we go doortodoor to uh various businesses within the community with Center for Energy and Environment um offering energy uh resources for those usually small to mediumsiz businesses that might not have it at their fingertips as much as the large um larger facilities would. And then um just to end it on the the piece that city council requested to add, uh city council asked the commission to look into environmental and greenhouse gas impacts of drive-throughs. So as staff were researching that, the commission will research that as well and review our staff report. Um and we'll provide that summary report to the planning commission and city council in about May is the the time frame for that. So uh stay tuned for that as well. But uh before I ask for questions, I'm going to just have Brian say a couple comments here. >> Thank Thank you, Ellie. [clears throat] Good evening, mayor, council members. I want to present some what I consider to be high level uh comments addressing our work in 2025 and in 2026. First, I think we have been and continue to be a useful ambassador to our city residents while pro while promoting many practical initiatives to the general public. Secondly, I don't want to focus on any one particular action as we were very focused on many many activities as Ally pointed out and I won't belabor that point. Third, through our actions we have and I'm proud to say we have positively impacted our residents as seen [clears throat] by the metrics included in your packet that you have. Shifting to 2026, for example, I am excited that our work plan that was developed by Ally and my fellow commissioners will primarily support important actions identified in our climate action and adaptation plan. So, we've got our work cut out for us. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Goldman. Miss Southern uh quiet council council member Wilburn. Um, not a question. I just wanted again to to thank the sustainability commission and all of the the members. An incredible amount of work has gone into like just the work with the client action and adaptation plan alone and it's very impressive to um come up with with action items and metrics. Um, and so I appreciate that work and um, the amount just the amount of time and effort that all of these volunteers have put in is is uh, very very impressive and we appreciate it and I look forward to hearing the results of the drive-through study. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Council Member Calbertt. Thank you. Um, also I just wanted to mention, you know, just looking at the the long list and like you say, you're expanding, you have subcommittees, there's so much work to do. It's literally endless and um I think it just reflects on the passion of the members of the um sustainability commission, the extra hours that they're putting in um which I'm really gratified to hear about. I'm on the energy, environment, and natural resources committee for the National League of Cities, and it's a passion for me, and it just makes me so inc I mean, all of the commissions and boards make me incredibly proud because we have such capable um people that are making such an incredibly positive impact on our community. And um you know in a time where funding for [clears throat] many of these initiatives have dried up, it really is just going to come down to the passion of people in their own communities to drive that change. So thank you. Thank you, Council Member Calver. Anybody else? >> All right. Well, I will just reiterate or or say that my colleagues had have I agree with what they've said. I will also say, you know, I go to a lot of events and I see you folks there at every event and the heartening thing is there are always people stopping and checking in and taking advantage of the resources you have. And so, um, I know it takes a lot of time and it's nights and weekends and and so the commitment, as Council Member Kell said, is really impressive. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. All right, council. At this point, so are the we are asked to um accept the reports and approve the work plans. Council member Romey. >> Thank you, Mayor. I'll make the motion to accept the reports and approve the work plans. >> Council member Kley. I'll second. Thank you. I have a motion by council member Rome, a second by Council Member Kley. Miss Larson, please call roll. >> Rome. Yes. >> Kley, >> yes. >> Foster Bolton, >> yes. >> Wilburn, >> yes. >> Califer, >> yes. Shaq, >> yes. Motion carries. Thank you. On to matter 6B, which is proclamation for Black History Month. And I have asked Council Member Kley to read that for us. City of Minnotonka Proclamation, Black History Month, February 1st through 28, 2026. Whereas in 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard scholar, established the observance of African-American history to reveal the contribution, achievements, and involvement of African-American people in the development of our American democracy that were overlooked, ignored, and even suppressed by the writers of history textbooks. And whereas the month of February has been officially designated as Black History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the profound contributions of Black Americans to the cultural, social, political, and economic fabric of our nation. And whereas Black History Month reminds us of the enduring legacy of resiliency, innovation, and leadership within the black community and challenges us to continue to advancing equity and justice in all facets of society. Whereas the month of February gives us a chance to honor the many heroes who are unknown and unnamed who have contributed to the struggle of for freedom and justice for all. And whereas the city of African-Americans who call Minnitonka home, those who work here as well as those who visit and create here and appreciate the contributions to the success of our community. Whereas Emmana is committed to true inclusion and continuing to create a community where all people feel safe and respected and diversity is celebrated. Now for now therefore be it resolved that Minnetonka city council does hereby declare the month of February as Black History Month in the city of Minnitankka. >> Great. Thank you council member Kley. All right. Item number seven which is reports from city manager and council members. Mr. Funk. >> Thank you mayor. Good evening again council. Just want to first start off by saying and acknowledging uh the boards and commissions. Again, I I know you you recognize the great work that they do. Uh from my perspective as city manager, I also get to see that work also more behind the scenes and really get to really as I communicate and hear from our staff leaison that you saw this evening just a real sense of collaboration and we say that a lot here at the city just teamwork and how we work together and really just appreciate our board chairs and our boards and commission members and the collaborative work that they do with our staff leaison. you can really see that synergy around the work they do and so just want to acknowledge that there's a big body of work there and really doing a lot of great work on behalf of the city. So real good shout out and kudos to all those involved. Uh next just want to mention a couple fun things that we had and I say fun things in the city here the last couple weekends. I had maybe mentioned this at our last meeting recently that uh we had the Minnitankka Fire Department had their family fun day that was on Saturday, January 24th. We had roughly 600 participants. Down a little bit from previous years. I think a lot of it had to do with the weather at that time. Rewinding the clock, a lot of negative temperatures. Uh so I think it affected our our event a little bit, but with great participation, a lot of uh folks were there. I think um many of you were there as well. So you got to see and interact with some of our families. So really love to see that community event. And then this uh yesterday se uh Sunday, February 1st, was kids fun day and we had roughly 1,500 participants. Perfect weather uh for that event yesterday. Perfect in terms of this time of year. Uh very fun event and really fun to see the community coming together and engaging with our staff and all the great things that happen here in our community. And then last, we just want to touch on a little bit regarding ice activities. I know that's been on our forefront. has been on our a lot of our conversations council here the last couple weeks and just thought I'd highlight for the community a little bit of the things that is happening here uh at the city. Uh first is the coalition. Uh council I know you're aware of this and again kind of more speaking to uh those that might be in the audience and those that might be watching or listening live that the city has been active the last couple weeks really working with 11 other communities on forming a coalition. uh this coalition has come together rather quickly and I can't underscore kind of the big lift that has been the last couple weeks as cities in this together and I think what we've learned that collectively we can do a lot more as a collective voice versus each city trying to address the concerns uh with these operations uh council again as you know that coalition uh is formed has now formed it's come up with a name which is cities for safe and stable communities we do have 12 cities uh that again have banded together. Perhaps Mayor Shaq will speak on that as well as she has been instrumental in conversations with the mayors of these 12 cities as I've been representing staff in these. The three key messages that have been developed uh out of this coalition have been first community safety over politics. And with the current activity that we're seeing that certainly were concerned about undermining public safety and creating risks that expand that extend just beyond our city and any single city. Uh certainly escalation certainly deescalation is needed and that's part of uh this conversation. Second is economic destabilization. Uh, Operation Metro Surge is disrupting local economies well beyond city centers. From small business closures to workforce instability, the impacts we're seeing are rippling across our communities. And then last, local control and constitutional rights. Uh, this this again is not a city specific issue. It is a governance issue. And cities are responsible for the well-being of schools, our hospitals, our businesses, our neighborhoods. and we must be able to act be able to govern locally in coordination with our federal partners. Actions taken without local cooperation create risk for entire communities. So that's the basic message uh that I again want to share with you here this evening. Then some of the more specific action steps that we've been taking. One uh we did have a press release go out today. So that is fresh uh as of this afternoon. So that has been posted on our city's website and across our social media channels for anyone that hasn't seen that. I turn uh folks attention to that. Uh also then last week there was a amicus brief that was submitted. So the city of Minnitankka participated with uh a number of other cities uh with regards to the lawsuit and that again is part of agenda item 10F uh that was introduced earlier. Uh also then last week the Minnesota Police Chiefs Association uh presented some information to a number of city managers and these 12 coalition cities. And so we've been able to understand the work of the Minnesota Chief Police Association. they've been instrumental in these conversations and so can't underscore their participation uh in this. Uh also uh there's been other press releases uh aside from today again I'm looking back at last week there's been a press release that was to the Star Tribune uh Mayor Shaq and other mayors uh participated in that press release that another press release was also provided to the New York Times. I don't know that that one has been uh uh printed yet. Uh hopefully that will occur as well. Also then last week uh here in the state of Minnesota there was a special senate committee meeting and we had two mayors participate and provide testimony to the senate just regarding a lot of the concerns that have been raised by cities kind of really regarding the three key takeaways or three key messages that I briefly mentioned. So that occurred also last week. Uh another activity last week was the US conference of mayors and so this is an annual conference where mayors across the country go to Washington DC. has happened to coincide with that conference coincided with what's happening here in Minnesota. So, there were a number of mayors that represent our coalition that I just spoke of that were able to meet with Minnesota's legislative or congress or congress folks delegation. Uh so, there were meetings that took place between mayors and Minnesota's uh congressional delegation last week. Uh we'll have more of an update for the council on that. And then lastly, I would just mention just the work of staff uh that we're doing behind the scenes. So, we do have a team that meets weekly. Uh we um part of those meetings are we're receiving updates. We're discussing any observed or anticipated impacts of ICE activity within our city. And this weekly coordination is to ensure that we are proactively supporting community safety, maintaining continuity of our operations, and making sure we're aligned in our response. Our focus continues to be ensuring that our actions are thoughtful, consistent, and positively impactful for the community that we are serving. And then lastly, I just want to mention part of that is uh with the work of community development. So with Miss Wishnack and her team as well, just a lot of community outreach in terms of reaching out to businesses, uh apartment complexes and housing uh units as well as nonprofits to really kind of understand what they're experiencing and so that way we can have a cohesive response to that. So, we're going to continue those weekly meetings at a staff level. Council, as you know, we're updating you on that. Um, and then I think that what I want to say at this point and turn over to again, Mayor Shaq, uh, to also supplement anything that I might have missed. So, with that, Mayor and Council, turn it back to you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Funk, and thank you for that comprehensive report. I think it's really helpful. Um, you wouldn't ordinarily remind the audience of this, but tonight, you know, I think I anticipate and council will make some comments that um are passionate or emotional. We're really going to work hard tonight at just we got to stay neutral. It's important for how we run our meetings. No clamping, cheering, booing, whatever. We're just going to let people say what they need to say. And it doesn't mean we don't care about these things, but um as my predecessor said, it's really, you know, for some people to make statements, it's very nerve-wracking and if it's perceived that it wasn't as popular or is is negative or whatever, it I think it tamps down people's willingness to make comments. So, we're going to really focus on that this week and going forward. So, with that, I will um I will open it up to the council for any uh reports or comments they'd like to make. Council member Calbertt. Thank you, Mayor. First, I'll I'll start with the fun stuff. Um I was I was a little under the weather and I I missed our our fun day uh yesterday, but I did go to um the event at the firehouse. The chili was good. Um, but it wasn't from Minnitonaka, so I'm lobbying hard for Minnitaka, Chile. And um, you know, it was a nice crowd and I'm sorry. I think there were a variety of reasons that it was depressed, including the weather. And, um, and I will just say, I mean, [clears throat] I have a I have a fair idea of why our audience members are here today, and that is because we love our neighbors and we love our community. And um I just want to thank our incredible staff, especially um our police chief, the community development director, um our uh city attorney and the um city manager because uh and the mayor, frankly, because it has really just been pedal to the metal 24/7. Uh the city manager and I have spoken at nine o'clock on Saturday nights and it's work. So um we're all working really hard and uh we're all mere mortals grappling with situations that we never anticipated having to grapple with. And um I will just say that since we last were here in this chamber, another person lost their life trying to protect their neighbors. Um and uh it didn't need to happen. And um we all took an oath. Every single person uh in uniform or up on the day is here took an oath to uphold our constitution. I personally take it really uh very very very seriously and um because of that constitution and many other statutory limitations um it might feel like we're not doing enough but I have been sending residents long emails very long emails with all of the things the city has been doing. I know that there's a variety of people in the room that have written they want um eviction moratoriums which is really um governed by the state and I encourage everyone that is concerned about it as I am to contact uh the governor's office and your state legislators. Um, and uh, you know, we're very concerned about the violence and the violation of people's constitutional rights. And um I think if you uh start seeing what we put out in the press releases and the incredible work that all of the staff that I mentioned are doing, the lawsuit, um the press releases and the actual work in the community, we are um doing all of the things that we can do. And I also just want to remind people that the policies that our police department follow um are do in all practicality achieve the separation between federal law enforcement and um our local law enforcement or federal immigration enforcement and our local law enforcement. So in in all practicality, they will never ask anybody's immigration status. Um they are there to protect our community and our residents. And please call 911 if you see um activity that um is concerning. Um and so they'll come and they'll put their body cameras on and um keep the temperature down. um and they are there to uh protect our residents no matter what their immigration status. So I just wanted to put that out there and I just want to say that in my heart every day I have a moment of silence for the people who have lost their lives unnecessarily and um I just want to express my love for my community and my incredible pride in our state for showing the world what real Americans are. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Calvert. Council member Romey. Yeah, what what council member Calbertt said. Um, but thank you for that. Um, I think we as a city have been devastated. Um, but it's also been a time when, you know, Minneapolis and Minnesota, Minneapolis especially, has shown resilience and resolve and support for our neighbors and our constitution and the rule of law. So, that has been kind of the the silver uh lining in the cloud and the fact that we are inspiring so many people in the country and and the world. Um, you know, I think, uh, our city manager did a great job outlining kind of what we are trying to do as a city and council member Calbertt talked about some of the constraints that we're under. Um, I'm going to start in with, you know, kind of something I'm some things that I am doing. Um, within the community, kind of related to my role as city council member. I, uh, organized and moderated a gathering at which Congress member Kelly Morrison and a nonprofit director spoke. this past week about the federal incursion and uh what what they are doing about it and what we can do to help our neighbors and democracy. Um I also organized a constitutional observer training at St. Luke's Church um that was put on by an amazing uh homegrown Minnotonka uh based organization called the Immigrant Defense Network. um that um you know I had the opportunity to welcome people from all over the metro to Minnetonka and Ward 3 and um the immigrant defense network did a wonderful job in training people on how to respond and um make sure that our neighbors constitutional rights are being upheld or to document when they are not. Um, I was surprised that uh this weekend a friend who is a BBC world news commentator read on air part of an email that I had recently sent her that uh tried to describe what it's really like in Minneapolis and in our own city right now. Um, and so between what each of us can do as individuals and I what I think you know I and my fellow council members are doing whether it's here officially or kind of adjacent in our roles as community members. Um, you know, we hear you and we feel you and I I thank all of you who and anybody else who's listening who has reached out with your concerns, with your, you know, suggestions. You know, it it really heartens me to know that we're a community that cares and that we're willing to step up for our neighbors and their constitutional rights um of of everybody around. Um for my part, um I'm really again heartened by what the city has done officially. Um I also look forward to some additional conversations that I hope are are going to be coming uh soon and some actions. Personally, I believe it's time for us to translate our words into one or more resolutions and ordinances or ordinances that, you know, kind of demonstrates our own values and our commitment as a city and a community to standing up for the constitution, the rule of law, democracy, and our neighbors. Um, I think they, you know, publicly commit our community to those values and expectations as an as an entire council and community. And they also set a marker by which to set expectations and accountability in the future. So, um, while some may say that may not be enforceable, again, I think that's puts down a marker that we, uh, will set ourselves as a community up to upholding and expecting others to uphold while in their community and and looking forward to, uh, look back in the future to see uh, you know, was was that done or does there need to be an accountability or do we need to improve going forward? Um, so again, thank you for reaching out. Thanks to those of you who are here and are about to speak or um are just here in support of of your community and your neighbors. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Romey. Anybody else? Council member Wilbur. Sorry. Um I'll just be real brief. Um, I just wanted to to echo that. Um, it's not often that I I uh am presumptuous enough to speak for my fellow council members, but I I know that everyone up here is is horrified and heartbroken and outraged and all of the things that we're all feeling about what is going on in our state. Um, and everyone up here is doing something and not everything that is being done is going to be publicly visible. Um, so again, I know it seems like maybe we're not doing anything and maybe we don't care and that couldn't be further from the truth. Um we we're doing or we are having conversations as a city about what we can do, what what legally we can do, um what's what's the best way to act and then all of us individually are doing uh what we can. So I just that's it. Yeah. >> Thank you, Council Member Wilurn. Council member Kley. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to say um I know that u we've been talking a lot about what we're doing and been talking about a lot about um what our staff has done and I just want to thank everybody for all the work that they have done for the city but also um the time that people are out there just really you know being involved and caring about the neighbors and caring about your neighbors and caring about community and all the work that the staff and Mike just gave gave a really good update on what our city have been doing and um what the mayor has been doing. Um but one thing I I do want people to think about me coming out of the domestic violence world and um one thing that when I worked um at Cornerstone, one of the things that we were reminded of is self-care. Um, I I truly believe in self-care and I know that everyone here probably's been doing a lot um taking care of their neighbors, taking care um being involved in the community, sending the emails, all of the things. But I just want to remind people to make sure that they're taking care of themselves, especially um people who are our first responders and you know just on the front line like we really got to take care of oursel because if you cannot take care of yourself, you can't be good for anyone. And I I truly believe in taking care of self. And so um I'll give a quick little story. Someone called me and asked me to speak um at a um a protest and I said no. And I said no because for me I don't feel safe um speaking in public when I don't know who's coming at me, who's not coming at me. And so I I said no. And it really made me feel bad because most of folks know me as a person who's willing to take on anything. But I had to remind myself, I had to tell myself three times, and I learned this in therapy, that it's it's okay to be safe to want to be safe. It's okay to say no, and it's okay to um do what you can. And so I know um when you're you know doing things or people are asking you to do things and you you're you're not um always doing what you think you should or want to do, just remind yourself that it's okay to say no and take care of yourself. So, I just encourage everyone here to make sure that you're taking care of yourself, especially our um staff and first responders because I know this is this is really heavy for our chief and EMTs and you know, like and and and furthermore for residents. Like I tell Mike all the time, this this doesn't just impact um immigrants or black folks, white folks. It impacts everybody. It's impacting everybody. I don't care if you what side of the aisle you on. It's impacting everybody. So, just take care of yourselves. So, that's all. Thanks. >> Thank you. Thank [clears throat] you, Council Member Kley. Good reminder. >> I'll just go ahead. Just say that. You know, to say anything more would be repetitive and posturing. So, I do agree with all my thank you for saying it. And Council Member Calbert, thank you. >> All right. Well, thank you so much, everybody. I'll just I'll keep it brief because I think Mike or Mr. Funk provided a nice summary and and my council I agree with everything that was said. Um just briefly uh the coalition I can't emp emphasize enough how incredible it's been to get together with a group of communities and many of them are like-minded but not all of we don't agree on everything but if you can imagine 12 cities coming together 12 mayors um that text chain is wild some nights [laughter] I go to bed you know and it's still just buzzing um to get together within really three weeks to have something meaningful come out of it. And we believe the coalition will grow. And we really feel that there our influence is in um joining arms with our neighbors and trying to have amplify our voices and to lobby. and we're really working to get the attention of the lawmakers who have real power in implementing change and um alleviating some of the the things that are happening to our neighbors and our community members. Um I if anybody wants to know more about this, you know, we're working really hard. We're meeting on a regular basis. Um, I, you know, uh, I've been mayor for four weeks and and I have two full-time jobs now, I will tell you. >> And those are the longest four years of your life. Yeah. >> Because Yeah, exactly. Is it time to run a a campaign again? Um, the um, if anybody wants to talk about that, I mean, again, my my number is on the website. I'm happy to chat with anybody about the work that's being done, but it we're going to amplify our voices. I think you're going to be seeing a lot from us. Um, the second thing I wanted to talk a little bit about, you know, I I've emailed a lot of people over the weekend about an eviction moratorum. I think an eviction moratorum does very little for our vulnerable community because in the end of that they still have rent due and that means the eviction moratorum ends and they are evicted because they have rent due. And so I think where we can be provide meaningful impact and Minnetonka is committed to doing this is um in uh rent rent um rental assistance programs and we Minnetonka has a robust program that we have made sure our entire community is aware of in our nonprofit partners, our faith partners, our schools and most importantly our landlords so that these folks can get through this terrible able time and get to the other side and have be able to see light and not see darkness of rent that has been accumulating throughout a moratorum. So I would shift I my humble opinion is to shift the focus on encouraging the state and our neighboring communities. I think a lot of them have rental relief or rent assistance programs but to we've had ours since 2020. It's funded. it'll remain funded and um or my faith is I shouldn't speak for my council council colleagues but my faith faith is that it will remain funded and I think that's really how we can prop up our vulnerable neighbors. Um, I had an opportunity to meet with Dan Nar from a last week and you know he he made a comment and was kind of just on the fly that they are um they are sending out food in a week that's equivalent to what they typically send out in a month. So, um, you know, remember that. Remember ICA or other food, um, food shelves and community partners when you're t thinking about what to do with your resources of time and andor financial. Um, and then also I've been talking a lot with our faith communities and you know, my council colleagues and I as we talk there's some some people don't want to talk to us because we're with the government, right? Um, and so we're really trying to prop up the folks, the safe people, the faith communities. And I met with some folks today who are doing really, really good work. Um, some of this work is done in the background for that reason because people who need the help do not want to get highprofile help. And so, um, you know, I would love to shout from the rooftop, this is everything that we're doing and we're trying to be very careful and sensitive. I'd love to amplify some of this work. They don't want it amplified. They want it to happen, you know, in back channels. And so, um, that is my caveat. I think we sound defensive and probably we sound defensive because we're fielding thousands of emails and knowing that we're working tremendously hard it feels a little I'll be honest it can feel a little demoralizing at times. Um but I want mostly I want to reassure everybody because you all our community I have I know this I was out there I've talked to thousands of you in the past year and you're wonderful people. We have a wonderful community and we're propping up our neighbors and we're engaged. And I went to, you know, family um funday, the fire department. It was excellent. It was a incredibly sad day, but you could see parents trying to have something positive to bring their kids to when they've been cooped up in the house all week. and um Winterfest and all of these things uh is our way of continuing to support our community and making sure that we know each other. We can look each other in the eyes and we can have faith that we all um most of us want what's best for our neighbors. So, thank you for being here. You're we're going to give you we're moving on. We're going to give you your opportunity to speak. Um, thank you for indulging us in sharing in this way since it's been several weeks since we've had an opportunity to kind of update you folks in in real time. All right, so we're moving on to item eight, which is citizens wishing to discuss matters not on the agenda. Um, I think it looks like we've got around 10ish 12 cards of folks that have signed up to speak. Again, we're not going to cheer anybody on. We're just going to kind of keep it low-key here. Um, the thing about this process is we typically hear from speakers and um, we don't it's a limited public forum. So, this isn't an opportunity to initiate council discussion. We'll hear from you to the extent that there's something we want follow up on or that needs to be followed up on. We will do that. um we will direct staff to help us do that and talk about it in another uh another forum. As I said, we're going to limit everybody to two no more than 3 minutes. And then um depending we may pivot just slightly from our ordinary course tonight if council feels that they want to make some very brief comments afterwards. I will tell you that that is not ordinary course and we won't get in the habit of doing that. So, um I'm going to do this. I'm going to read the first three names and I ask the first person to come up and speak. Um the second person to get in line ready to speak and and so on and so forth. And we'll just keep that going that way. So, first up we'll have Cindy Reich. Um, behind her will be Sarah Alman and behind Sarah will be Angie Heightsman. So, Miss Wright, >> pronounced Rich. >> Rich. I apologize. >> No problem. Uh, thank you very much for this opportunity and thank you to Minnotonka for joining 12 with the 11 other suburban communities in coalition and calling for ICE deescalation and [snorts] for an end to constitutional violations in our state. I I really appreciate the steps that you council members have taken individually and the city as a a whole and I understand how deeply concerned all of you are about what's going on. Um in these days of this siege though I'm very concerned and uh about the possible loss of people's one safe refuge which is their homes. And I'm here tonight to ask you in spite of what the mayor said a moment ago for the Minnotonka City Council to pass a resolution requesting the governor to declare a state of emergency, enact a statewide eviction moratorum, and provide rental assistance to ensure long-term stability of those sheltering in place. Uh I understand the issues of a moratorum. We have experience from COVID. We know that landlords need to be paid to make be made whole. I agree that we need to ask the legislature to do something. But I am afraid that by the time the legislature has an opportunity to act, it will be May. People will have been evicted. They will have been kidnapped and deported. Uh, and I think we need to act more quickly. While we should still encourage the legislature to do something, uh, I appreciate very much this city's rental assistance program. I'm concerned based on uh what we heard about what's going on at a the pace and the size of the demands that our community is expressing that we are unlikely to be able to keep pace with the needs just through our local assistance programs. That's why we need something at a state level. The governor has the power to uh enact a state of emergency and an eviction moratorum. We need bold local leadership. You could join the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Roseville in asking the governor to take this action. As cities, as part of this coalition, and as leaders, your voice with the governor carry great weight. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. We have Sarah Almine. Uh and then Angie Heightsman and Asa Reeba. Missine. >> Uh good evening all. Uh my name is Sarah Almine and I am a Minnetonka resident in Ward 4 um since 2018. Although I'm relatively new here, my spouse and his family have lived and worked here since the 1960s. Um we go back a long way. I'm speaking on behalf of both my immediate neighbors and the larger community. First, thank you for the support that you have shown our neighbors who have been negatively affected by ICE, both directly those who are experiencing or have experienced real and immediate risk of abduction and indirectly to those of us who are helping and supporting that first group in so many ways. I sincerely appreciate your efforts. Second, thank you for choosing to participate in the Cities for Safe and Stable Communities Coalition. I recognize that that choice may come at a cost. Not all folks, either local or otherwise, will agree with that decision, and I applaud your willingness both to choose to engage and also to embrace the discomfort that inevitably comes when taking a position in a situation that is not without controversy. Finally, and this is my most urgent point, we all the affected folks need you to continue to be loud and then even louder in your supportive and advocacy for efforts to protect us all from unconstitutional and inhumane activities by ICE. Be persistent about the city's position. Please do not settle for a statement on the city's website. Please do not settle for quiet agreement in individual conversations with constituents. Please do not settle for general statements. It could easily be misinterpreted by bad actors. Be loud. I recommend flyers on telephone polls, too, just as an aside. Be specific about what our city stands for and about what you will do to protect both our immigrant neighbors and those of us supporting, defending, and caring for them. Share this information everywhere so no one has to look for it. And thank you again for your leadership this far. And I very much look forward to seeing what you will do next to support and defend our immigrant neighbors and all of us. Thank you, Angie Heitzman. And then Asa Reeba and Mark Oak. >> Miss Heightsman. >> Yes. I'm going to speak quickly. Um so thanks to all of you for um the opportunity to speak. I'm Angie Heitzman, a resident of Ward One. As a resident and advocate, I want to thank you all for the efforts to support our neighbors who are affected by recent ICE activities. Was very happy to learn today about um Minnetonka and our mayor specifically being instrumental in developing and joining the cities for safe and stable communities. The points made in the statement of the coalition were strong and needed. Also wanted to thank Deb Calbertt for recently our recent meeting. I appreciated all the time that we had. Um, as most I am concerned about ICE traumatizing our children, targeting people based on skin color and accents, targeting observers, protesters, and those supporting their communities, causing local businesses to flounder, draining city resources, and causing people to hide in their homes. Federal government is trashing constitutional rights, as you know, and I only anticipate it'll get worse. Uh the community supports emergency efforts everyone's done so far and we look for additional support measures. I would like to specifically address city support for our vulnerable populations during this time. One aspect is related to disability. As a lifelong disability advocate, it is clear that ICE does not care or consider disability related concerns. An example of this was evident in the case of a Minneapolis resident with autism and other disabilities when she was abducted by ICE in her car. There's videos on that. I'm sure you've seen an organization called Minnesota NEAT, which is Minnesota networking and education and assist of technology provides forms anyone can copy, complete, and um carry on their person for encounters with ICE and also uh encounters with helpers, including law enforcement. One example is a form on which each each person can write down their disabilities, diagnoses, medications, names and contacts of providers and any accommodations they might need, wheelchair, sign interpreter, whatever. Um, I will provide you all with a link to the website and to the forms and I would ask that you consider um having these available um at city hall online and in any other manner available. Um they're in various languages as well. Um but it would offer tremendous support to our most vulnerable residents. Also uh uh ability to pay rent is something of concern. Um major concern for residents of color including citizens, those that are in process in process of citizenship, those with legal rights to be here, those who are undocumented and inability to cover rent. Um, some people are so afraid to leave home, as you know. I have friends that um are stuck in their houses because they're afraid of driving while brown or black. And um please consider um assistance for rental stuff. And I'm done. >> Thank you. And you can leave your notes with Miss Wishnack there. She'll make sure we get that. Thanks. I have Aisha Reeba and behind her Mark Oakern and um Linda Rule. Okay, go ahead. >> Yeah, good evening. My name is Aia Reeba. Um I've been a resident of Ward One in Minnetonka for over 10 years and I'm a naturalized citizen. I remember going through my naturalization ceremony very well as a child. I was about 10 years old. My son now attends Groveland Elementary and I'm so grateful, really grateful to every one of you up here and to my entire community for coming together in this time and for up until this time the the privilege to live in this safe, diverse and welcoming community with the infrastructure for families. It's unparalleled. Um so thank you for everything you do. Thank you to our elected officials. Thank you to our city staff and police. um you've worked tirelessly and I've so appreciated hearing about all your uh efforts over the last month in this moment of crisis. So, thank you for the transparency there. It's it's been very meaningful to be here today. Um unfortunately, I am here today for the the first time in front of city council because we are in this moment of crisis and people are suffering in immeasurable ways that that have been mentioned. Lives have been lost. Families have been torn aunder. Um and I also don't want to pretend that that's only starting now. It's it's just becoming more visible now. Um I will share I had not planned to share this but I have shared my I have carried my passport card with me for over five years. So um I I would like to share just a few comments. as a parent very specifically um I I worry that there are still those who think that it's only certain members of our community who are impacted and the rest of us are making a choice to be empathetic or generous that is true and I am proud of all of us for doing that for those of us who are doing it but I would also like to share a few points about how um our community at large is being impacted and will be impacted for a long time into the future The first point I'd like to make is that the Minnotonka school district is I think no one would argue one of the main reasons that people come to Minnetonka to families live choose to live here. People we have a huge open-enrolled population and the immersion program is one of the school's crown jewels. That program cannot exist without our incredible diverse staff and it will not continue to unless we show them our unwavering support. I think we've discussed how we can do that here. Um, again, our staff and many families are terrified to come to work and to school. Lives have been disrupted and a trust will need to be rebuilt and that will not happen overnight. So, thank you for everything you're doing. Please continue to be transparent and loud as others have said be before you and um please continue to reiterate where we stand as a community. It's it's very important and it's difficult um to feel safe if it's not said out loud. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. All right, we have uh Linda Ruell or excuse me, Mark. I apologize, I got ahead of myself. Behind you is Linda and then we have Alisa. Um no last name on the card. So, Mark, go. >> Thank you. Uh good evening, Madame Mayor, members of the council. I'm here tonight as a resident of W 2, speaking on behalf of myself and in support of any Minnotonka resident who chooses to stand with those who cannot safely be here with us tonight. In a time of significant tension, your efforts to support our vulnerable neighbors and those peacefully standing for justice are not going unnoticed. I want to thank you for the statement that the city put out today announcing Minnitankka's participation in the city's for safe and stable communities coalition. I recognize that as local officials, you're placed in an incredibly difficult position that none of us asked for. You're navigating a complex landscape right now where federal actions and local responsibilities directly collide. You face the challenge of balancing jurisdictional boundaries with the moral imperative to protect the people who call Minnetonka our home. The statement that you released matters. It acknowledges what residents are experiencing that Operation Metro Surge and federal overreach is not contained in Minneapolis. It's felt in our neighborhoods across the entire region. That it continues to place a tangible strain on city resources, disrupt our local economy, harm families, and that it continues to erode the trust that we have in local institutions and agencies that we need to rely on. So tonight, my message is simple. Thank you. Thank you for stepping into a unified local voice and please keep going as you engage our state and our federal leaders. I'm asking you to please keep centered that which is most important the protection of vulnerable motans who should be able to live and move in our community with dignity and without fear. I want to acknowledge the vital work being done by untold peaceful observers, community- based and focused businesses, and groups like Isaiah and the faith leaders who are supporting these same goals, their efforts alongside yours and alongside all of ours. That's what's going to keep our community safe and stable. I hope you'll continue to share with the residents what this support is going to look like in practice, the guidance provided to the city staff, your expectations for local partners, and most importantly, how we, the public, can best support the city's actions alongside our own. Thank you for your leadership, and thank you for your service to Minnetonka. >> Thank you very much. All right, Linda Ruel, Lisa, and then Samantha Jervase. >> Thank you very much. Um, I was at the meeting, Paula, when you were um last week at St. Luke's and heard you say we should come and tell you our thoughts and mine is a little from a little bit different vein. Um, but first, thank you so much for everything you have done to support our neighbors who are affected by ICE activities. And thank you so so much for all you've done to protect our kids and to keep ice out of our schools um or as as best you can. I'm an elementary teacher in the milit in the Minnotonka schools. And I just want to say that we as teachers, we talk so much with our students about what it means to be a great classmate. Um, in my class, my students, they have to we identify traits like kindness, integrity, courage when you're confronted with bullying, how to be an upstander. Um, we talk about how everyone is special and we brainstorm ways to be kind and we practice how to do that. Um, we help we talk, we emphasize how to help the new kid and the the student that comes here not knowing how to speak English. Yet, as you know, this is just the opposite of what is happening in our federal government. So, I had the privilege of um hearing Tish Jones recite her poem at a at a Martin Luther King event that I went to and it's titled The Children Are Watching. And I can say that yes, they are here in Minnotonka in my classroom. Um, they are watching us, the adults. Last week in my classroom, we were talking um the vocabulary word was displaced and we talked about how Native Americans were displaced by our government. And I had one of my little one of my students raise his hand and he said, "This is what it's like right now in Minnesota. People are in the streets. They have masks. They have guns. And they're displacing people with black and brown skin in our community. And I would I teach seven and eight year olds. Um so this was a pretty profound connection to what we were learning in our classroom. So yes, they're watching us. They're watching us, the adults. We are teaching them what adults do when they're confronted with bullies. Um and we have to be the upstanders. and I and you have been, but I just want to applaud you and ask you to continue with what you're doing. I implore you to continue doing everything in your power to assist those in need and to get rid of ICE in Minnotonka, in Minnesota, and more broadly everywhere in our country. And so, but mostly just thank you for what you're doing and just wanted to give you a little different perspective from the classrooms. >> Thank you very much. And thank you for what you're doing. I know that's hard work right now. We have Lisa uh Samantha Jervase and then John Mav. >> Thank you, mayor and council members. I'm Lisa Bender and I live in Ward 3. I want to say thank you for all you're doing to protect our community and to take a stand against the disruptions and violence caused by ICE. We've had ICE activity along a local school bus route while kids were going to school. We've had ICE stationed at local businesses, including those who um serve and cater to families and children. And we have too many neighbors who are afraid to leave their homes. The other parents I talk with are horrified by what is happening. When we see images of kids being taken to the Whipple building and sent to detention, it's easy to feel helpless. But across our community, people are taking whatever action they can. Right now, our community is coming together to support families in need with rent money, food, warm clothing, and supplies for kids who are afraid to go to school, which is hard to even say that that's the reality for our kids. I want to express my support for both immediate and long-term actions to make sure that our community is a safe and welcoming place for all. The public statements that you have made like the mayor's letter that you signed along with your colleagues and your leadership in forming the city's for safe and stable communities coalition are really meaningful and they help show that our community supports our immigrant neighbors. I support the city taking whatever legal action is available, including exploring ways to bar ICE from working out of publicly owned buildings, parks, and schools, or filing amikas briefs in coordination with other units of government to stop ICE violence and to create accountability. And it was great to hear that that has already happened. I [snorts] also support your long-term work to the city's departments and advisory boards, including the awesome leadership from the DEI Commission and the city's efforts to support affordable housing. I support any measures you can take to support renters facing eviction, including creative solutions that could be maybe done in partnership with our community organizations that are working so hard right now. There are so many of us, it's actually hard to keep track of all the different groups of hundreds of people organizing that I'm only connected with through the other moms at school. Um, and so I just want you to know that there is so much support in our community for what you're doing and just want to cheer you on and and know that you have so much support from all of us. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. All right, we have Samantha Jerves followed by John Mav. Good evening. My name is Sammy Jery. I'm a Minnotonka parent uh resident here. I have two elementary age children and I'm the past PTO president at one of our local Spanish immersion elementary schools. I've had the honor of teaching dozens of English language learners, working with some of our newest arrivals to this country. I know that diversity brings richness and strength to our country and our community. Yet, when I stood on a street corner with fellow Minnetonka parents, bearing signs to that effect, a man hurled racial slur at us, showing the racism and bigotry that underpins this federal action. We've seen the repeated presence of armed federal agents within blocks of my children's school. Teachers, parents, and children will not soon forget the impact of Operation Metro Surge. And I know that there will be lingering trauma long after ICE is gone. Families in our school are lifting our community up in ways great and small, including collecting 3,000 pounds of food, household goods, and hygiene items for the ICA food shelf in the past two weeks. Parents are working with impacted community members to provide essential needs and financial stability to the best of our abilities. But we know it is not enough and it is not sustainable if the presence of federal agents stretches on. Our city and school district benefit tremendously from our immigrant communities, particularly our exceptional immersion teachers. The immersion programs draw students and families to our district, and open enrollment in Chinese and Spanish immersion have helped the Minnitankka school district adapt to shrinking school budgets. Our teachers often have master's degrees and doctorates in education and are all legal to work here with thorough background checks. They show up for our children every day despite reporting significant anxiety and stress and often putting themselves at personal risk. We owe these community members support and safety. I would like to thank the city of Minnotonka for signing on to the safe and stable cities coalition. I would also like to encourage our city leadership to continue to speak out against the aggressive and excessive presence of federal agents and enact policies including restricting the use of city properties for staging and enforcement activities. offering financial support programs for those directly impacted and providing transparency around ICE activity in Minnotonka to keep our schools, residents, and community members safe. I appreciate the current advocacy and ask that the president present leadership continue to use their voices to affect positive change. The phrase I've recently heard is that this is not a sprint or a marathon. This is a relay race. Thank you to the community members and city leadership who are taking up the baton. Thank you very much, Mark Mavon or John Mavson. I apologize. We're going to shift gears a little bit on this one, I think. >> Thank you, Mayor and Council members. I really appreciate all the words that you're saying tonight with regard to standing up for the rights of others, and I appreciate everyone in the audience who's standing up not just for their rights, but for their human decency. I have a lengthy letter uh that I obviously don't have time to read and what I'm requesting is that I be allowed to submit this to the council for your review. Uh it does ask for a some action on the part of the council as well as a response and I have included my email address for that. So may I submit this to the council for your review? >> Yes, absolutely. if you leave it with Miss Wishnack there and I've been briefed on your um on your concern and we'll get somebody in touch with you on just how to follow up. >> Okay. And again, I do appreciate all of you and everything that you're doing with regards to our neighbors. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Um so that is all that I have for cards. I will take a moment to thank everybody for um the grace and the um compassion that you've shown. I mean, you've reflect exactly what I said and and our wonderful community. So, I thank you all very much. I'm going to give the council um an opportunity just to provide some brief comments or discussion points. I'd ask you each to kind of try to keep your comments to about a minute and we can um at least have an idea of where if if there's anything that the council wants to do action-wise. Um but not that we have to, but I just understanding kind of the dynamic that we're in in trying to operate flex nimly. Unfortunately, we're back there, but um I'll turn it over to anybody who wants to share anything more. Council member Kley. [snorts] Uh I just have one comment. Um I want to thank everybody for coming out and expressing themselves and um you know for the deep concerns that you have for your um neighbors. But I did want to make one comment in regards to the um u rent moratorum. Um, one of the things that I don't know if folks are really thinking about or have considered this, but um, as someone who um, daughter went through um, eviction process during um, co COVID um, after you know the moratorium was put in place, she was renting in Minneapolis. She didn't have to pay her rent um because she was not working. But then soon as the moratorum was up, her rent was paid through a program. But soon as her rent was up, her landlord still wanted her to move. I heard this story over and over again. I had several friends who went through the same thing. The rent was paid, but then the landlord still forced them to move. So, if we're going to ask the governor to put this in place, ask our legislative folks to put this in place, you have to go a step further and ask them to put some type of policy or something in place to keep people from getting evicted once the rent is paid because this has happened to many people that they were still evicted even though their rent was paid. And I don't think that we would have control over someone um property. So, I would just encourage that. Thank you, Council Member Kley. Council member Calbertt. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, there's a very long list of federal impacts to cities that the League of Minnesota Cities put out, and I urge you all, it's really long, and I have sent it in a link to anyone that's written to me, except for the people that have written in the last 24 hours that I owe emails to. And it includes things like, you know, can we prohibit um federal agents from using public property? And the answer is no, we cannot. So there are spaces within public property, private offices and whatnot. So it clearly [snorts] lays out the legalities. We can put all the ordinances we want out there. And some of the reason they're not enforceable is because there are um you know there's a supremacy clause and there um superseding laws at other levels of government that don't allow it. It then becomes performative and occasionally um puts us in an adversarial position when we're in fact doing so many of the things that we're doing. So, you know, I'm I'm trying to urge everyone to go to the correct level of government and that is one of the things that that that document is so great at kind of laying out. So, when it comes to uh wearing masks or wearing a body camera, etc., etc., that is federal policy and I have contacted my federal legislators about those matters. So, um, I just urge you, you know, if it's, uh, you know, we, I personally, I'm just going to go ahead and put it out there since a public meeting. I am absolutely committed to making sure that our, um, rental assistance is funded. Um, and, uh, but, you know, the moratorum isn't something that come can come from us. I also I'm many of us talk to our legislators state uh and I actually have connections at the federal level and I have been talking to Kelly Morrison um about the federal issues. I've been talking to our state legislators about the state issues and I urge you to do the same and for the things that really are municipal issues. We're your people and please don't hesitate to call, don't hesitate to write. I will get together with you. Um, and I just want to say something about the children. I think I think the tide started turning in public opinion when they started seeing the children and when Liam and his little bunny hat and his little Spider-Man backpack. It offended decent people everywhere. And the if you have not read Judge Bry's court order releasing Liam, I urge you to find it and read it in its entirety because it is one that is going to go in the history books. It is inspirational. It is um blunt and it is truth. And um we just need more we need more people uh in the courts to to uh speak that truth. So we are all showing up. I am not I am not talking about all the things that I'm doing for a variety of reasons. And I think um Council Member Wilburn said the same thing, but trust me, we're helping a lot of people and we're doing a lot of work. And if you want to know about it, I don't really want to talk about it up here on the deis. But um thank you all. We are showing up again. I am so proud of you. I am so proud of our community. I'm so proud of our state. We are um a bright light, a beacon in the darkness. So, thank you. Anybody else? >> If if Yep. Okay. So, I what I'll say is um if you want to follow up, it was League of Minnesota Cities wrote a an opinion um or an advisory um it's a memo. >> Yeah, it's a it's a it's a very long memo that literally lays out anything from like use of drones by local law enforcement to have eyes on ICE to I mean you you name it. anything that's happening with ICE, the economic impacts, the human impacts, the legalities of everything, if you go to the League of Minnesota Cities uh website, and I think it would just be federal impacts to cities, um you'll find that document, or you can write to me and I'll send you the link. >> Okay, let's we'll go to Council Member Rome and then we'll wrap this um item up. >> Thank you, Mayor. uh just wanted to thank everybody who so eloquently expressed their views and you know some of the things that you're doing in the community and and thank you for that cuz uh you know that's everything that's why we're that beacon of light. Um keep reaching out to us um or to me at least and I know others have said the same. So I have a constituent coffee hour every week at the marsh. You can write to me. I can let you know when and where that happens exactly. Uh happy to talk with you by phone. Um you know, talk about ideas of of ways to if you're not already connected to connect in and doing some of the work that you know, so many of us up here and and out there are already doing. Um, yes, there are definitely things that are difficult for us to do um as a city and there are reasons to turn to our state and our federal electeds and I encourage you as well to do that. Um, I will say again that even if things aren't necessarily um enforceable or may seem symbolic, um, I will continue to advocate for us to do those things to either have resolutions or do ordinances that make sense and uh, make a statement and uh, chart a record of expectations uh, that can be set up against accountability potential accountability measures later. So I, you know, respect all of my colleagues up here. We may have you, we all, we all want to get to the same place and we all have the same things on our heart. We have different ways perhaps of getting there. And I just, you know, want to express my thanks to all of them for all that they're doing. um and and you know look to you, look to all of us, look to this community to continue to step up and and show the country and the world um what peaceful um resistance and standing up for our neighbors looks like. So, thank you again for coming out tonight. >> Thank you, Council Member Romey. Thank you, everybody. We're going to just There's been a request from uh the deis for a brief break. So, we've been at this for about 2 hours. We'll come back at 8:00 on the dot and we'll finish up what will hopefully be an efficient uh substantive agenda. Thank you all. All right, let's get back at it here. All All right, our captain is missing. Um, we'll get going. Mr. Funk will show up, I'm sure. Um, all right. So, moving on to uh where are we? Okay, I got to scan way back up. Okay. Uh, nine bids and purchases, we have none. 10, the consent agenda items. These are um items that are considered routine in nature and so we can pass them all in one vote. If somebody would like us to pull an item um to for further discussion, you can reference that, let us know and we'll pull that item um and then pass that separately. So consent agenda item A, resolution approving the Henipin County residential recycling grant agreement. 10B, resolution for the Cedar Lake Road and Trunk Highway 169 signal agreement with the city of St. Louis Park and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. 10 C agreement with Minnitankka school district for school resource officer services. 10D, a resolution correcting title issues on Marsh Run 3 project, and 10E, a resolution for the 20 26 Sherwood lift station force main replacement project, and 10F, which I don't have here, which is the um the Amicus status in of state of Minnesota versus Gnome with the United States District Court file reference on that item. And would anybody like would anybody like to pull an item? Otherwise, I would take a motion to approve the consent agenda. Council member Calvert. Thank you, Mayor. I uh move approval of consent agenda items 10 A, B, C, D, E, and with great enthusiasm 10F. Thank you. >> Thank you. and a second. Council member Wilburn. >> Thank you, Mayor. I second. >> Okay. I have a motion by Council Member Calbert, a second by Council Member Wilburn. Miss Larson, please call roll. >> Rome, >> yes. >> Kley, >> yes. >> Foster Bolton, >> yes. >> Wilurn, >> yes. >> Calbert, >> yes. >> Shack, >> yes. Motion carries. on to uh 11, which which is consent agenda items uh requiring five votes, and we only have one of those. It's 11A, Firehouse Subs Foundation Grant. Would take a motion or a comment. Council member Oh, council member Foster Bolton. Sorry. >> That's okay. I make a motion to adopt the resolution >> and the second. Council member Wilburn. >> Second. I should know better because I always was on the right side of [laughter] ignoring. Uh I'll do better. Uh I have a motion by Council Member Foster Bolton and a second by Council Member Wilburn. Uh Miss Larson, please call roll. >> Rome, >> yes. >> Kley, >> yes. >> Foster Bolton, >> yes. >> Wilbur, >> yes. Calbertt. >> Yes. Shaq. >> Yes. Motion carries. Uh item 12 which is introduction of ordinance. We have none. Um 13 public hearings. 13A temporary on sale liquor license for the Rotary Club of Minnitonka Foundation for an event at 14600 Minnatonka Boulevard. Miss Wishnack. Thank you uh mayor and council members. This is for the mayor's state of the city event which is being held here at the city uh community center and the Rotary Club is partnering with the city to provide on sale um sale of uh beer and wine at the event. Um, and the event itself, if you don't remember, is 4 to 5:30. And so there's a social time and then, uh, we would move into the program, uh, at 5, I'm sorry, 4:30. And so, uh, with that, uh, they have done other events in the city. We've had, uh, Summerfest, Lynx, and Libations. I'm trying to think, the annual holiday party they did at the marsh. So there's been some uh track record with their organization and providing this at various events in the community. Again, they do it for fundraising purposes. So um it kind of goes with the theme of the state of the city which involves nonprofits in the community. So with that, mayor, we're recommending approval of the temporary liquor license. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Wish Council. Any questions? Not seeing any. I'll open the public hearing. Any umbody from the audience like to weigh in on this? I'll ask one time, two times. Anybody? Not seeing anybody. I know that my Rotary colleague who is usually here to to pump the Rotary was unable to be here tonight. So, um I don't think we have anybody speaking. I'll close the public hearing. Council, any comments about this item? Council member Kelbert, I'm just very much looking forward to the event and the Rotary does incredible work, not only here in our community, but around the world. And um I'm not a member, but I've been to meetings and I know that it is more fun than anybody than you want it to be. Um especially at 7:00 in the morning. So um yeah, please come and enjoy uh and please support the Rotary cuz as I understand it, it is a fundraiser. So, thank you, Council Member Calvert. Yes, I'll just briefly pump Rotary, really good organization. Uh, does I'm a member, does a lot of great work in the community, meets at the marsh at 7:30, so not 7 um on Wednesday mornings, and it's a nice real prompt 1-hour meeting, um, opportunity to hear a speaker, fun event. So everybody's welcome if you have an opportunity to come and mostly I'm going to also promote the state of the city which is February 25th again here in the community center. It's going to be my first opportunity as mayor but it's going to be great event. We're gonna have pizza from various um pizza shops around the city and um and like I said or like uh Miss Wishnack said featuring a conversation with our nonprofit partners which was coincidental but a very timely discussion. So we're really looking forward to it. I hope everybody can come. And with that, I will, unless anybody else has any comments, we'll take a motion um to grant the temporary liquor license for the Rotary Club of Minnotonka Foundation. Council member Romey. So moved. Council Council Member Calvert. >> Second. I have a motion by council member Romey, a second by Council Member Calvert. Uh Miss Larson, please call roll. >> Rome, >> yes. >> Kley, >> yes. Foster Bolton, >> yes. >> Wilurn, >> yes. >> Calvert, >> yes. Shaq, >> yes. Motion carries. Thank you. All right. On to item 13B, which is items concerning elev 253 and 255 Plymouth Road. And Miss Thomas, this is yours. >> Yes. Thank you uh Mayor Shack and uh council members. This is again items concerning those items being preliminary and final plat uh floodplane alteration permit and vacation of easements and staff is recommending ultimately that the council make a motion to adopt uh those various items. Four votes uh are needed for that. The council will likely recall that between 2023 and 2024, uh, Lake West development proposed a series of different, uh, subdivisions on the east side of Plymouth Road and ultimately an eight lot elevator project was approved. Uh, it met all minimum ordinance requirements. What the council may not recall is that following that approval, the site was actually sold uh to Swanson Homes, an entirely different uh developer builder. And Swanson Homes worked with city staff to amend the grading plan uh slightly, resulting in lesser grading and tree removal, tree removal than was originally approved. Swanson Homes then has acquired the two properties immediately to the north of Elev, which we're calling Elev uh second edition. Those lots currently share a driveway out to Hopkins Crossroad. Uh until recently, there was actually a home on each of those lots. Those have uh been removed in recent months. So, the property owner, Swanson Homes, or or any property owner, uh, really could um Sorry, Miss Wishnack is reminding me it's Plymouth Road, not Hopkins Crossroad. Sorry about that. Thank you. [laughter] Um, an owner, whether Swanson Homes or any owner, could build, uh, two single family homes here, uh, one on each lot in their existing configuration. Swanson Homes, however, is proposing to uh first shift the common lot line between the two lots, creating properties that are more equal in size. Right now, the easterly property is significantly larger than the westerly property. They're proposing to shift the driveway access off of Plymouth Road and onto uh Emerald Trail. They're proposing to change the configuration of a 100red-year flood plane areas both on this site and then the site to the south which again they are now the owner and developer of. They're also requesting vacation of several easements. the uh diagram on the top of the page or the is the existing easements on the properties and the diagram on the bottom of the page is what would be dedicated. Staff could actually administratively approve the lot line adjustment as well as the relocation of the driveway. Um this project is before the council due to the flood plane alteration and the vacation of easements. Um we do support the proposal and the requests for a few reasons. Uh perhaps first and foremost is that there are no new lots created here. We are starting with two lots with two homes and we're ending with two lots with two homes. Uh relocation of the driveway is something that supports the county goals uh for their county road. The change in the flood plane actually increases uh flood plane storage on the site. the trees that would be impacted would not exceed the thresholds allowed by the tree ordinance. In other words, this proposal meets that 35% 50% threshold. And again, the easements that would be vacated would be recreated to um correspond to existing um development patterns. The planning commission did review the proposal at their last meeting and uh concurred with staff in our recommendation. So this evening, both uh staff and the planning commission recommend you uh adopt the resolutions approving preliminary and final plats, the floodplane alteration permit, and the easement vacation. And with that, I would turn it back to the mayor. >> Thank you, Miss Thomas. Council, any questions? Council member Calvert. Thank you, Mayor. I I asked Mr. funk this uh question earlier today and it had to do with you know this is basically a separate property that was purchased by a different developer but in total um when this was a owned by a single property own when when that whole area was owned by a single property owner that's just been the elev uh one was before it was developed, there was a woodland preservation area on it and you know it a lot a lot of trees. So, and there are a lot of trees on the Elevator 2 um property and it meets ordinance. But what I'm wondering is if if in total because the tree loss and devastation is so shocking. I'm sure it's shocking to people. They still write to me about it even though it's been under construction for a long time. Would it in total have met our tree protection ordinance? Uh, Mayor Sheek and Council Member Calvert, I'm not sure if I can answer that. I think if if you'll recall, um, Ele and I'm sure you do, Elev uh, the original under the previous developer that did exceed those 35 and 50% numbers. >> Um, but the lots were over an acre in size. And so my my guess is that even in including these two lots, had they been included in the first, we may still have been over. These individual lots are not. Um, not to take us too far back, but if you recall, the very first plan that came through actually showed a street through this location and then an extension of Emerald Trail to the south. And then is the in elevator one is in the middle there's kind of an island of trees. Is that the what's left of the woodland preservation area? >> Uh mayor and council. This is a portion. This is a steep sloped area. That's why um this area >> is there anything left or did we just let them knock it down? uh mayor and council members um we would have to have another tree inventory done to see what's remaining. Typically a woodland preservation area that's classified different than high priority and significant trees. Woodland preservation areas need to be at least 2 acres in size um regardless of property lines. So, I could say definitively that there's not a woodland preservation area on the site anymore on the Elev one site anymore. Um, there are still high priority and significant trees there. >> I I see a a tweak to the woodland preservation area regulations coming up. I'm just going to say thank you, Thomas. >> All right, council. Any other questions? All right. Not seeing any. I'm going to open the public hearing and um if anybody, including the developer, would like to come up and speak, welcome, Matt. State your name and address, please. >> Uh my name is Curt Swanson, owner of Swanson Homes. Um I live at 1235 Jennings Cove Road in the Minatrista. Our office is in Madina, but anyway. Um so uh I I want to thank you for I wasn't involved in the in the de in the uh process in the elevator first. Um I uh came into it later in the stages uh just as information to the council that um we had worked with Lake West on other areas in the past and they came to us and initially I was just going to buy a few lots from them once they approved it and he said well why don't you just take the whole thing. So that's kind of how that happened. Um but uh yeah, the two lots to the north, it made sense to combine them with these to make the the all the drainage work properly. And to me, it makes sense to get that uh uh driveway off of Plymouth Road. I think it just makes for a better situation for pretty much everyone involved. seems like it. Then I've met with the one neighbor to the north of Woodbridge Ridge Trail and answered their questions and they um seem to be content with uh what's what's happening. Um but if there's any questions of me or what we're doing there, I know this is for the second edition, but if you have any others of the the first, we're we're real excited about the neighborhood. Uh we've got some good activity in there. There's a model home being built. We will have it in the artisan tour in June. So, um uh to uh showcase and uh yes, there's obviously some trees that came down, but there's a lot that have stayed. A lot of them that um I came down, there's a lot of dead trees in there. I know it's hard to tell then, but even now we went I've met several times with the with the forester on site looking hard at every tree in there. Um, and as you know, there is a tree uh replacement plan that is in place. We'll be planting uh hundreds of trees in there as as we we're going to do it as we build each house so we can thoughtfully do it and do it so that it really works nicely with the architecture and and the topography of of the neighborhood. So, anything any other question any questions you have of me? >> Thank you, Mr. Swanson. Council, any questions? Not seeing any. Um, this is [clears throat] a public hearing, so I would offer the opportunity for anybody to come up. We don't have any cards, but All right. Not seeing anybody. Um, I will close the public hearing. And any questions or insight from council that you'd like to share? Council member Celver. Um, I'm the tree lady and anything you can do to preserve more trees would be most appreciated. And uh um I do think that the lot lines u moving the lot lines so that they're more uh equal makes a lot of sense. I think it's a win for the county um to get a driveway off of Plymouth Road and onto um Emerald Trail. And um I'm sure these homes will fit in with the other homes that are being constructed there. Um and this was a really special property. you weren't involved in it before, but it was a really special over 10 acre property, all wooded with a lot of wildlife in there. And um it's been a huge adjustment for a lot of residents. And um I also want to encourage you to try to keep the boulevard trees because there's a uh there's a development across the street and the trees along the road were removed and it it is just not the look. Um this is a treeline community. Um people like the boulevard trees and the you know it helps provide the urban uh prevent the urban heat island by shading the pavement and so um I'm just urging you to keep that treeline street feel and um all the buffering you can and um you know trees are trees are good for our community. So that's that's my plug. But I in general I agree with uh there's no reason to deny the decision. And there are some winds including additional flood plane. >> Thank you, Council Member Culver. Anybody else with another perspective they'd like to share? All right. I will just add one quick thing as in the voice of a word to um former council member and it is um noteworthy that the Emerald Trail neighborhood has not weighed in on this and are not here tonight. I spent a lot of time with them um over the years regarding this property and so to me that's a testament to um how they feel this probably fits in with their neighborhood. So I do appreciate that. You know, we do have some still carry with us some hard feelings about what happened with the trees in that area, but that's not this. And so uh I would be happy to take a motion on this project. Council member Calbertt. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I would like to make the motion to adopt the resolutions approving the preliminary and final plat with flood plane alteration permit and easement vacation. And a second, council member Romey. I'll second. All right. We have a motion by council member Calbertt, a second by council member Romey. Miss Lararsson, if you please call roll. >> Romeley, >> yes. >> Kley, >> yes. >> Foster Bolton, >> yes. >> Wilurn, >> yes. >> Calbert, >> yes. >> Shaq, >> yes. Motion carries. Thank you. And thank you, Mr. Swanson. And look forward to having I'm sure everybody including um some of the present company are looking forward to all the construction and those projects on Plymouth Road being done. So, this will kind of finish up that that area. Thank you. Good luck. All right. Item number 14, other business. We have none. That brings us to item 15, appointments and reappointments. 15A, park board and planning commission appointments. And Mr. Funk, you have this report. >> Excuse me. Yeah. Thank you. Uh, mayor and council. I'll make this brief. Uh, just backing up to our last study session, which is a week ago. Uh, council, you interviewed applicants for openings on the park board and the planning commission. uh you had provided those comments uh as your role as council of interviewing the applicants. Uh the mayor did review those and is recommending Ryan Cadet to the park board to serve a 2-year term effective February 3rd, 2026 and expiring on January 31st, 2028. And then for the planning commission, Mayor Shack is recommending Gretchen Shir to the planning commission to a two-year term effective February 3rd, 2026 and expiring on January 31st, 2028. Again, these are kind of repetitive in their um [clears throat] terms. And then Sandra Johnson to the planning commission to serve a two-year term effective again February 3rd, 2026 and expiring on January 31st, 2028. uh that is per our charter uh as the mayor does make these recommendations and uh certainly Mayor Shaq can weigh in with any of our recommendations but those are being presented to you this evening and there's a motion to approve the appointments to the park board and planning commission as noted. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Funk. I'll just add a couple things and then if there are any questions please feel free council. Um we this time around we had kind of a process that we used and council gave recommendations on interviews and ultimately on um the appointments and I will say that you pretty much followed coun well not pretty much followed where the where the it broke down on the council recommendations. So this was pretty much a consensus of how um the feedback that was provided on these candidates. I'll also say we had some great c I mean we had a lot all the candidates I think even all the applications highly qualified very hard to pick who to interview and then ultimately who to appoint. Um we anticipate some vacancies throughout the year just given what some of our commission members have shared with us about some of their commitments and and living situations and whatnot. So, um, we'll hang on to all of those applications and, you know, if we have to do more interviews, we'll certainly do that. Um, or, uh, go back to the well of folks that we've already interviewed as those vacancies, we anticipate those vacancies might come up throughout the year. So, I will, um, open it up to questions or comments. Anybody? Not seeing any. Since this was my appointment, I will make the motion to appoint uh Ryan Cadet to the park board and Gretchen Sher and Sandra Johnson to the planning commission. Council member Wilburn. Second. We have a motion by the mayor, a second by council member Wilburn. Miss Larson, please call role. Rome. Yes, >> Kley. >> Yes, >> Foster Bolton. >> Yes, >> Wilbur. >> Yes, >> Calbert. >> Yes, Shaq. >> Yes. Motion carries. And thanks again to all the folks who are interested and and please continue to apply. We had two seats. We had kind of limited spots open this year. Two seats on the planning commission, one on the park board. I think we got more applications for that one park board seat than we did for the planning commission. So, something to keep in mind. All right. Then we move right along to item number 16, which is adjournment. Council member Wilburn. >> I move adjournment >> and a second. Council member Calvert. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Council Member Wilbur and a second by Council Member Calbert. All in favor? >> I I post. Motion carries. We are adjourned. >> [music]