All right, on air. We got the screen on. Let's go ahead and call to order the regular meeting of the Oakdale City Council, November 25th, 2025. Sarah, will you please take the role? >> Council member Moore, >> here. >> Council member Morham >> here. >> Council member Severson, >> here. >> Council member Rich >> here. >> Mayor Zabel >> here. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to [clears throat] the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> First up tonight is approving our agenda. No changes on the agenda in front of us. So, can I get a motion to approve as presented? >> There's a motion. Is there a second? Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. And the agenda is adopted. Uh let's move into approval of the minutes. Two sets in front of us tonight. First up, workshop minutes from November 10th, 2025. Uh council members, any changes or corrections? I'll look for a motion. >> So move. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. And workshop meeting minutes are adopted. Uh last set in front of us are regular meeting minutes November 10th, 2025. Any changes or corrections here? >> I'll look for a motion. So move. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? Second >> motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. And those minutes are adopted as well. Next up, we do have one public hearing in front of us tonight for amending two tiff districts spending plan. Staff presentation. Ivonne, welcome. Will you walk us through this, please? Sure. Good evening, mayor. Good evening, council members. So, let me briefly say that tax increment financing um is basically a financing tool to author authorized by the state law. um that allows revenues uh tax increment revenues to be used to pay for eligible project costs. So the item in front of you is a request for the city council to approve the amendment to the spending plan and and uh what it is is the amendment is an extension of the tax revenues to be spent until 2027. This came about with legis legislation and u a law amendment in 2025. Now um we we uh so so so right a public hearing is required uh which is happening today and then um with the approval of that amendment the city will be allowed to use the tax increment revenues uh for development projects that otherwise would not have um would not happen without uh without without the tiff revenues. So that's it. Any questions >> council members? Any questions for Ivonne? >> No. >> All right. Seeing none, at this time, I'm going to go ahead and open the public hearing. This is an opportunity for anybody in the audience joining us to uh share their comments with us. To do so, please step up to the podium, state your name and address for the record, and proceed with your comments. [sighs] Seeing none, I'm going to go ahead and close the public hearing, bring it back up to the council. Council, any final questions for city staff? All right. Can I get a motion? I move we wave reading and adopt resolution 2025-103 approving an amended spending plan for tax increment financing district numbers 1 through 4 or 1-4 and 1-6 and approving Minnesota laws 2025 first special session chapter 13 article 5 section 17 >> there's a motion is there a second >> second >> motion and a second any final comments >> all those in favor say I >> opposed and resolution 2025-103 is adopted All right, next up is open forum. Before we get to that, I [clears throat] do have one proclamation to read recognizing Small Business Saturday in the city of Oakdale. Whereas, according to the Small Business Administration, there are over 30 million small businesses in the United States. And whereas small businesses employ almost half of all private sector employees. And whereas 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business in the United States stays in the local community and every dollar spent at small businesses creates an additional 48 cents in local business activity as a result of employees and local businesses purchasing local goods and services. And whereas the vast majority of consumers who have shopped on Small Business Saturday agree that small businesses are essential to every community. And whereas the vast majority of consumers who have shopped on Small Business Saturday report that the day inspires them to go small independently or inspires them to go to small independently owned retailers and restaurants all year long. And whereas Oakdale celebrates our our local small businesses and the contributions they make to our local economy and in preserving the community. Therefore, I Kevin Zabel, mayor of Oakdale, Minnesota, do hereby proclaim November 29th, 2025 as Small Business Saturday in the city of Oakdale and urge our residents to support small businesses and merchants of small business on Small Business Saturday and throughout the year. This is an annual recognition that we do. Um, just recognizing all of the amazing small businesses we have in our community, all that they give back to our community. Um, if you're looking for something to do on that Saturday, a great spot to go is our indoor market at the Discovery Center. lots of great local businesses there. Um we hope you can join us at the Discovery Center for that. Um even if you can't, you know, shop shop all day long. Um these businesses, especially in tough economic conditions, need all the support they can get. Um and we definitely want to keep them in our community. So we hope everybody will take part in Small Business Saturday. Uh we're still under open form. If there's anybody in our audience that would like to join us and share any thoughts, please feel free to do so. County Commissioner Carowski, welcome. The floor is yours. >> Thanks. I just briefed myself with the citizens Stan Carowski, Washington County Commissioner District who uh represent various cities, but Oakdale is my primary city by population >> and your favorite city. >> Favorite always [laughter] uh just uh wanted to really come here and uh welcome uh congratulate new council member Rich. You >> Yes. >> Okay. and uh wanted to tell you you know your city council mayor uh staff and the citizens out there uh happy uh Thanksgiving and happy holidays. They're coming up quick and uh just wanted to check in as long as I'm here. If you've got any questions of me, uh I know catch you off guard. I can certainly answer them or get back to you. I'm only a phone call away after this meeting. And that goes for the citizens, too. if they've got a question about the county, they can reach out to me uh various ways. >> Wonderful. Council members, any questions for Commissioner Carowski while he's here? >> All right. Thanks. >> Happy holidays. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh is there anybody else in the audience that would like to speak under open forum tonight? >> All righty. Let's go ahead and move into consensus motions. Council members, we have A through I in front of us. Are there any that we would like to pull for individual consideration? Seeing none, can I get a motion? >> Make a motion to approve consensus motions A through I as presented. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed and A through I are approved as presented. Uh next up, we'll check in with our advisory boards and commissions. First one that met was the environmental management commission. I was not there. I was out of town unfortunately for work. So, um, I will have to check in with them and see what they were up to. I assume they're working on their work plan cuz it's that time of the year. So, uh, Council Morham Parks and Recck also met. You are their liaison. What is our PRC up to? >> Yeah. No, we had a great meeting. We talked about our work plan for the following year, which was good. Um, got to circle back on the Elmo Station Park. They provided a lot of good feedback on that park and there's a lot of discussion about the different options public works put forward and now that is coming towards a more concrete plan and their feedback was really helpful. It's really shaping the way that this park is going to be built next year. So that was really exciting and we talked a lot about the garbage cans in the parks because some of them have a separate recycling and a separate garbage and there was questions about why don't we have recycling at all of our parks? Well, what the commission learned was that we have single sort. So, everything is recycled and we really don't need a separate recycling bin. So, for people who are curious, if you throw something away at a park, it all gets sorted and recycled as a part of the process. >> All righty. Yeah. Uh, thank you for that. Uh, bid or bids? Nothing. Staff reports nothing. City attorney Jim, what do you got for us? >> Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Me council, nothing specific to report, but I'd happy to answer any questions. Alrighty, council members, any questions for Jim? >> All right, let's check in with our city administrator. [clears throat] Miss Vulkers, what do we got? >> You got one. >> Oh, I do. [laughter] Sorry. Still on the single sort recycling thing. Okay. Um, mayor, council, um, yes. What you have before you is a separation and release agreement between the city of Oakdale and the city um of Oakdale employee. So, I would ask that one of you make the motion with more specifics. >> Sure. Uh yeah. Okay. Uh I'll make a motion to approve the separation release agreement between the city of Oakdale and Cameron Mlen and authorize the mayor and city administrator to sign and execute the agreement. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. Uh we can open it up for comments or questions. I just want to adi advise my colleagues that um there's certain protected non-data associated with personnel matters. So if you have high level generic questions, city administrator Vulkers um or our city attorney Jim Thompson can probably answer them. if there are any questions. All right, seeing none, we had a motion, we had a second, we have some Damn, we didn't really have conversation. Uh, all those in favor say I. >> I opposed. And that authorization is given. >> Thank you. >> Uh, Chris, anything else for us? >> No, unless someone has a question for me. >> Anybody have any questions for Chris? >> All righty. >> Thank you. >> Council presentations. >> Let's look over here. Council member Rich anything? >> No. >> All right. Council member Moore. >> Uh, no. I went to the although I went to the Met Council's [clears throat] meeting on water uh last week and I don't have anything specific to report but it's always enlightening to um sit with colleagues and and hear what the Met Council has and what they're thinking of and turns out I've been become a bit of a water geek. So I can't wait to learn more. >> Fantastic. Uh let's check over here. Council member Morham anything? >> No, nothing here. Council member Severson, >> I'm sure you'll cover it, but I'm really looking forward to the Christmas tree. >> I will be. Yes, >> I will let you. Uh, >> Alrighty. Uh, thank you for that. Um, yeah, a couple announcements for me. First and foremost, there's a holiday this week in case you didn't know. Um, so on behalf of everybody here at the city of Oakdale, we want to w to wish our residents and our businesses um, a very happy Thanksgiving. Uh, if you are traveling, please be safe. Um, has it started snowing out there yet? No, not yet. Well, it's it's going to. So, um, please travel safely. We know, what was the number I heard? Something like 90 million Americans will be tra uh driving over the the Thanksgiving holiday and absolutely astronomical numbers. So, we want everybody to be safe. Also, reminder, city offices will be closed this Thursday and Friday for the holiday. As always, emergency services are available uh 24/7. So, if you need them, please feel free to call 911. Uh, this Saturday, as I mentioned before, this Saturday, November 29th, is small business Saturday. Um, and a great way to support our local businesses is to shop local at our Oakdale Indoor Market, which will take place Saturday, 9:00 am to 1 pm at the Discovery Center. Uh, there will be more than 20 local vendors offering a unique variety of items, including holiday goods, baked and canned goods, and more. So, um, if you want to get out and do a little shopping on Saturday, that is a great place to start. There are just a few days left to vote in Oakdale's annual photo contest. Six finalists have been selected and you can vote for your favorite photo on the city of Oakdale's Facebook page by selecting like on that photo through the end of the month. The top three photos with the most likes will be named the winners. Um I also want to offer a very special thank you to everybody that submitted photos in that contest. The contest does not happen without the photography talents across our city. So thank you to everybody that submitted photos. Uh as Council Member Severson uh mentioned, the city's first ever tree lighting with Santa event will be held on Thursday, December 4th from 4 to 8. Nope. December 4th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There we go. Right here at city hall. We are so excited for this brand new event in our community. Um it it really came about um based on some feedback and some ideas from residents. So this is a great example of when residents reach out to us and bring ideas forward, we can bring them to fruition, which is pretty cool. Well, our staff can bring them to fruition. [laughter] Uh this free event will feature Santa on a decorated fire truck. There will be a tree lighting ceremony. We will have a bonfire out there and s'mores, hot cocoa. Um we're so excited to have holiday music performed by the Tartan High School choir. Um all of us will be out there. Hopefully there's a little bit of snow on the ground. That'll that'll cheer things up a little bit, but we really hope to see um a lot of people from our community at this really fun event. Uh parking for it, the the north end of the parking lot will be available. Um so go ahead and park over there. Otherwise, there's additional parking uh by the Walton Banshell. So, uh, hopefully all of our parking lots are full. That'd be a great problem to have. >> Uh, a reminder, our annual truth and taxation meeting will be held in two weeks on Tuesday, December 9th at 7 p.m. here in city council chambers. Uh, at this meeting, the 2026 city budget will be presented. The public is invited to attend uh this person in meeting or you can watch it live on cable channel 14. >> 16. Thank you, Lori. uh channel 16 or you can watch it on the city's uh YouTube page. To learn about the budget, uh you can learn about the budget online um by going to our city website, oakdale.gov, and using our open gov tool. Um our entire city budget, proposed city budget is there as well as our current budget and our current expenditures. Uh in Oakdale, we are fully committed to financial transparency u especially with our our residents tax dollars. So, all of these uh all of this information, all of these tools are available on the city website, oakdalem.gov. We encourage everybody to to check it out. Uh finally, Santa's magical red mailboxes have arrived at city hall and the Oakdale Discovery Center. Uh we hope everybody will help uh your little ones write a letter to Santa and drop it in one of the red mailboxes by December 15th. Be sure to include the child's full name at age and address with each letter, and Santa just might send a letter back, which is pretty exciting. So, um, once again, those mailboxes are here at city hall and the discovery center. [sighs] Lots going on. A lot going on in our community, which is pretty cool. So, um, also I'll just make a plug. I talked about the snow a little bit. A reminder about our winter parking restrictions. Um, they are in effect November 1st through April 1st from midnight to 5:00 a.m. I believe it is, or and anytime it snows 2 in or more. Um, and it remains in effect when it's snowing until the street is cleared. curb to curb. Um, and to dispel the myth that our city does not write parking tickets, our officers have written about 200 uh so far this month. Um, so we are really taking that serious because having those cars off the streets uh gives public works plenty of room to keep our streets clear. Um, prepare for upcoming snow events. Um, it is very important work. So, uh, we appreciate everybody's cooperation in keeping cars off the streets during those hours and during snow events so our city staff can do the very important work of keeping the best cleared street system in the entire East Metro. We will stack Oakdale up against anybody. >> Amen. >> Uh, done with presentations. Claims. We got a claims roster in front of us. November 11th through November 25th. Whoa. 5.2 million. [laughter] >> A lot of bills. >> Oh boy. Must be some bills for public works in there. Yeah, >> some [laughter] construction costs. Yes. >> All right. Uh 5.2 million in change. Council members, were there any uh bills that we needed to pull out for additional information? >> Seeing none, can I get a motion? >> Make a motion to approve claims as presented. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion, a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Bills are paid. Uh can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> Move to adjurnn. >> There's a motion. I heard a second down there from council member. All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you and good night.