This transcript has been formatted with speaker names based on the provided city context and the phonetic names mentioned within the dialogue. **Note:** Some names mentioned in the dialogue (e.g., Council Members Trautmann and Whalen) differ from the provided list but are used to maintain accuracy to the spoken record. *** [00:00:00] **Mayor Mary Supple:** So all right, good evening everyone. It is 7 P.M. I'm going to call to order this regular city council meeting. It is June 13th. If you are able, please rise and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Next, we have approval of the minutes for the city council work session of May 23, 2023, and the city council meeting of May 23, 2023. [00:00:30] **Council Member:** I'll move to approve the minutes. [00:00:32] **Council Member:** Second. [00:00:33] **Mayor Mary Supple:** It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All in favor please say aye. [00:00:36] **Council Members:** Aye. [00:00:37] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All opposed? All right, we've approved the minutes. We have a number of presentations this evening, so we've moved them forward in the agenda, but we'll get to the open forum and all remaining business right after that. So first, we have the Minnesota Parks and Recreation Association presentation to Richfield Recreation. And City Manager Rodriguez, do we know who is doing that presentation? [00:00:55] **City Manager Katie Rodriguez:** I don't know the name, I'm sorry, Mayor. Oh, stand up or come up and please introduce yourself, thank you. [00:01:05] **Stephanie Shuda:** Hi, I'm Stephanie Shuda with the city of Shoreview and the MRPA awards committee. Okay, so hello. It is an honor to be here tonight to represent the Minnesota Park and Recreation Association 2022 Award of Excellence in presenting it to the city of Richfield Recreation Department on the project of Augsburg Adventure Park inclusive playground. Before I start and give the award, I would like to take a moment and just tell you a few tidbits about Minnesota Recreation Association, also known as MRPA. MRPA was formed in 1937 to foster the growth and development of Parks and Recreation profession throughout the state. Presently we have around about 850 professional, corporate, board and commission, student, and retiree members throughout the state of Minnesota. Members of the association come from Municipal, County, state, district, commercial, and private agencies. The MRPA awards committee was created around 1987 with the purpose to acknowledge individual members and agencies for their excellence in the fields of Parks and Recreation and Leisure Services. The award committee represents members from across the sections of the association from the state of Minnesota. The Award of Excellence program is presented by MRPA and proudly sponsored by the partner Highway Federal Credit Union. This annual program is created solely to recognize agencies and their staff for their exemplary projects that either were in 2022 or revised substantially in 2022. MRPA members may nominate a project for an Award of Excellence in seven different categories. Nominations received are then reviewed, evaluated, and scored by award committee members. Only the top-scoring nominations are selected to receive the Award of Excellence recognition. On behalf of the MRPA award committee, it is my pleasure tonight to present the Award of Excellence to the city of Richfield Park and Recreation Department for its winning project of the Augsburg Adventure Park inclusive playground. And the MRPA award committee would also like to recognize Amy Markle who nominated for this project as well. Thank you. [00:03:15] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Well, thank you to the MRPA. And Director Markle, did you want to say something? [00:03:20] **Recreation Director Amy Markle:** Yes. It's such a special project that really brought our community together and came together during the pandemic. I know it means a lot to so many people including myself, so I really want to thank people that helped make this project happen, several of which are here tonight. I want to thank the team at Northland Recreation—Mike Dorsey who's here, and he actually designed our playground and worked with me patiently with all the different iterations that we had, and his team, Kevin Hoist, and his construction team that actually built it. We had a lot of funding partners that made this project happen: Hennepin County Youth Sports Grant, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation fund, CenterPoint Energy. We utilized our Roundup program at Richfield liquor stores, the Richfield Optimists, the Richfield Rotary, Metro Sales. We also have multiple project partners that supported this project in various ways: Fraser schools, which helped make it a sensory certified playground and help train our staff in sensory play, Partnership Academy, Richfield Public Schools, Richfield Community Education, and The Optimist Club of Minnesota. We also had several letters of support from Three Rivers Park District, Richfield tourism promotion board, our former mayor Maria Reagan Gonzalez. We had an awesome group of fifth-grade students from Richfield Public Schools that helped vet the design and had a lot of great recommendations to make the playground better. Council Member Whalen, Richfield disability advocacy partnership director Judy Moe and her daughter Raven have been strong supporters of this project from the beginning, so thank you. The Adaptive Recreation and learning Exchange program, the Richfield Community Services Commission, and we had letters of support from several of those commission members. Ultimately we wanted to build a playground where everyone could play regardless of your ability or your age, and it does that. If you drive by almost any hour of the day, that place is packed with people of all abilities and ages playing together. So thank you and thank you to my Recreation team who's been so supportive of programming there as well. We've been able to offer multiple free programs there a month that really bring people together. Just this weekend we had a community dance party; we have Story Time almost every other week there with hundreds of kids. So it's an awesome amenity to our system. So thank you to Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association for recognizing the award and to our community for supporting it. Thank you. [00:05:40] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Congratulations. Did any of the council members wish to speak? Go ahead, Council Member Trautmann. [00:05:45] **Council Member Simon Trautmann:** Thank you. I just—I'm so glad that Director Markle was able to be recognized in this way, and not just her, but I know that award is a reflection of our community, but it is also just a spotlight on your leadership, which is extraordinary in our community. So congratulations, and for everybody who made this possible, and especially Raven and everybody here—congratulations and thank you. [00:06:10] **Mayor Mary Supple:** So congratulations. Moving on, we're going to go to a proclamation celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month. So if the representative from the Human Rights Commission could meet me at the podium, thank you. We are pleased to do this Proclamation from the city of Richfield: Whereas, Pride Month is a positive stance against discrimination and violence towards individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) and celebrates sexual and gender identities; and whereas, the city council and staff identified celebrating diversity and being equitable as core values, recognizing that our diverse culture is one of our greatest strengths and assets; and whereas, the month of June was chosen for Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots which occurred in June 1969 and became a catalyst for the LGBTQIA movement; and whereas, LGBTQIA people have made and continue to make great and lasting contributions to the city of Richfield and to the Greater Community; and whereas, while the LGBTQIA Civil Rights movement has achieved great progress, there remains a great deal more progress to be had; and whereas, the Richfield Human Rights Commission supported this Proclamation at its May 2nd, 2023 meeting and recommended the Richfield City Council do the same. Now, therefore, I, Mary Supple, Mayor of Richfield, on behalf of the Richfield City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of June 2023 as Pride Month in the city of Richfield and call on the people of Richfield to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies and continue to honor the contributions of LGBTQIA residents throughout the year. Proclaimed this 13th day of June 2023. So congratulations, and here's the proclamation. Thank you, Mary, did you want to say something? [00:08:45] **Commissioner Mary:** Thanks, Mayor Supple, and thanks always to Richfield for being such a good ally to LGBTQ people. You've got pretty much everything covered in this city, so that's really good. But as the proclamation said, there's a whole lot more work to be done as evidenced by the nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills that have been introduced—many, very many of them passed this year. And since I've got the microphone, I'm a proud transgender person, and I've spent a lot of my time advocating for transgender youth because I knew this about me all my life since I was three. I want to address some of the things that—there's an awful lot of misinformation going on about transgender youth. First thing I want to talk about is ideology. We talk about gender ideology; there is no such thing as gender ideology. There are just people who are born a certain way who are trying to figure out a way to get through life and be happy. That's all this is. The other thing I'd like to address is the idea that children are being indoctrinated or groomed. That is so hard for me to listen to because in my experience, I was heavily involved with a transgender youth support organization called Transforming Families for six years, and I was the director of that for three years. During that time, I never met a single parent that was happy that their child was transgender, that had announced to them that they were transgender. Every single one of them went through grief. So nobody—there's no parent out there that wants their children to be transgender. But the idea that there are all kinds of parents out there that are trying to make their kids transgender—that's just crazy. The last thing I'd like to address is there are people who are detransitioned that are being paraded around the country. I'd like to point out that the facts are that 98 percent of people and youth who access gender-affirming care stick with it, and 99 percent of people who access gender-affirming surgeries are happy with that. That's a pretty high percentage of people who are good with what I and people like me consider the cure—the thing that gives us hope, allows us to thrive in life. I really wanted to take this time to plead to see the kids. They're just kids, innocent kids. And healthcare that helps them, that saves their lives, has been taken away in 17 states now. That's against the recommendations of all of the major medical and mental health organizations that treat transgender youth. They call it experimental; it's not experimental. Things like puberty blockers, for instance, were approved in 1993 and have been in use for a very long time. They're even starting to now pass bills against public restroom use in some states. We live here in Minnesota where in 1975 Minneapolis became the first city to pass protections for transgender people using public facilities. It was the very first city in the country, and that's almost 50 years ago. In all of those years, there's been no problem. In 1993, Minnesota became the very first state in the country to pass protections for transgender people using public facilities. It is unbelievable to me that we're revisiting that even so. But thank you very much to Richfield, and thank you for letting me have my say here. [00:12:30] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Did anyone in the council want to add anything? All right, Council Member Whalen. [00:12:35] **Council Member Ben Whalen:** I'll just say thank you for setting the record straight on all of that and that I also want to affirm that this is life-saving to be affirming. So I'm so proud that we live in a state where the state legislature for a long time has been aligned with this set of values and has been making Minnesota a safer and safer place even as some other states become less so. [00:13:00] **Commissioner Mary:** Well, yeah, just last month the governor signed a law that makes Minnesota a refuge state for youth that are seeking gender-affirming care. So yeah, I'm lucky to live here right now, but I have all kinds of friends that are on the run. They've had to sell everything, pack up and run to try and keep their kids alive. That's happening in the United States of America. Thank you. [00:13:25] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you so much. And you're also here for the second presentation for the Human Rights Commission? [00:13:30] **Commissioner Mary:** I shouldn't be accepting the Juneteenth Proclamation—we had another commissioner that was supposed to be here—but I'm happy to receive it on behalf of the commission. [00:13:35] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All right, so this is the Juneteenth Proclamation from the city of Richfield: Whereas, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863, declaring that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are and henceforward shall be free; and whereas, this freedom was deferred to many black Americans as slaveholders seeking to maintain their wealth and power kept word of this Proclamation from their newly freed slaves... whereas, on June 19, 1865, Union troops marched to Galveston, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and freed the last enslaved black Americans in Texas over two years after they were declared legally free; and whereas, on that day... over 250,000 black Americans embraced freedom... in what came to be known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day; and whereas, Juneteenth marks the country's second Independence Day celebrating freedom and justice... and whereas, the city of Richfield is committed to doing the work required to deconstruct systemic racism and secure an equitable future for all citizens... Now therefore, I, Mary Supple, Mayor of the city of Richfield, do acknowledge the relevance of June 19, 1865, and celebrate every June 19th as Juneteenth Freedom Day in the city of Richfield and call on the people of Richfield to observe this day... Proclaimed this 13th day of June 2023. Thank you, and so we're going to present it to the Human Rights Commission. [00:15:30] **Commissioner Mary:** Thank you for that. I'm not qualified to speak on this, but you know, all the world over, people just want to be free, right? So thank you. [00:15:40] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Is there anything that a council member would like to add? All right, Council Member Whalen. [00:15:45] **Council Member Ben Whalen:** Just briefly want to say for folks who are less familiar with Juneteenth, I had a resident make a comment as if this was only a celebration for African Americans in the community and just would invite anyone who is happy that there's no more slavery to join in the celebration as well. I know there will be an event this Saturday afternoon at the Band Shell with food and live music and various other celebrations. [00:16:15] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Our final proclamation of the evening is for the Elson family, so if they want to come up and join us, that would be awesome. Welcome. Whereas, John Elson born in Luxembourg in 1860 and his wife Barbara moved to Richfield and started a blacksmith shop in the same location as Elson Brothers Garage today at 7730 Portland Avenue. The exact date the shop opened is unknown, but the best guess is 1893. And whereas, Eugene John Elson born in 1892 joined his father in the blacksmith's trade... and whereas, Eugene had four sons: Richard, Donald, Gerald and Eugene Jr. In 1956 Donald and Richard took over the business, renaming their company Elson Service Garage... and whereas, in 1993 Richard's sons, Bob and Joe, took over, renaming the business Elson Brothers Garage. They have continued to provide exceptional service to the community. Now I, therefore, Mary Supple, Mayor of Richfield... celebrate Elson Brothers Garage and the Elson family as they have watched the community change from farmland and horses to homes and highways... Proclaimed this 13th day of June 2023. Congratulations. [00:18:40] **Bob Elson:** Don't have much to say except thank you. I think our great-grandfather had no idea that 132 years later we would still be here. We want to thank the city of Richfield for everything they've done for us over the years, and hopefully, we did enough for the community to make them proud of us. [00:19:10] **Joe Elson:** Well, I'm proud to be a part of this community, and a lot of the credit goes to my father and his brothers and my grandfather and my great-grandfather. We just carried it on. Thank you so much. [00:19:30] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Did any of the council members want to add anything? All right, thank you so much. Next, we'll move on to approval of the agenda. [00:19:40] **Council Member:** I would move the approval of the agenda. [00:19:42] **Council Member:** Second. [00:19:43] **Mayor Mary Supple:** It's been moved and seconded. All in favor please say aye. [00:19:45] **Council Members:** Aye. [00:19:46] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All opposed? We've approved the agenda. Next, we're going to move on to the open forum. Thank you for attending tonight's meeting. A few reminders about the open forum: please sign in and state your name and address. You have three minutes. The council will be listening and taking notes but will not be responding to the comments. City Clerk Friedrich, has anyone—is anyone waiting online? [00:20:15] **City Clerk Michelle Friedrich:** There is not. [00:20:18] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All right. First, we have Kathleen Balaban... (pause) If she comes back we can add her to the list. All right, so then we're going to go to Ruin or Nissaran. [00:20:30] **Ruin or Nissaran:** I'm at 2421 West 65th Street. On a personal note, my dad would only use Elson Brothers as a mechanic. This letter is addressed to Mayor Supple and council members. I refer you to section 147f of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as revised, which states set approvals must be preceded by a public hearing. The public hearing scheduled and subsequently held by special meeting of the city of Richfield's Housing and Redevelopment Authority followed the signing of bonding approvals. Documents were signed before the sitting of the city's HRA meeting of June 5th, 2023. I submit that transactions taken and approvals granted thereat are unlawful and unbinding. Placing rubber-stamp approval on a ten thousand dollar bonding issue upon a consent agenda presupposes consensus formed prior to the council meeting. Open meeting laws exist to ensure the absence of collusion. When bonding and stop signs are given equal consideration, the public is being railroaded. [00:21:45] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, we'll go to Larry Earnster. [00:21:50] **Larry Earnster:** Larry Earnster at 6727 Elliott Avenue South. The question: why did Best Buy originally request a minimum assessment agreement? Their headquarters was valued at over 150 million dollars and real estate properties were rising. Best Buy wanted a minimum assessment agreement to keep their property taxes down as property taxes went higher elsewhere. Before COVID, the minimum assessment agreement kept the assessed value at 118 million. I say this because if you agree to the Sixth Amendment and a 60 million dollar minimum assessment agreement for Best Buy, you need to be prepared for it to be at 60 million dollars. The sixth amendment carries risk. If the assessment lands at 60 million dollars, Richfield takes a tax hit. I recommend that if you want to go forward, that you settle at 74 million dollars as the minimum assessment agreement. 74 million dollars is the assessed value of the baseline property. How will the drop in commercial property tax be accommodated without shifting the tax burden to taxpayers? Thank you. [00:23:00] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, we have Mary Best. [00:23:05] **Mary Best:** My name is Mary Best and I live at 6727 Elliott. The bottom line for Richfield citizens is this: property values are increasing across the country, but Best Buy is asking us to decrease their value so they don't have to pay so much. It seems like they can manipulate the property value. Am I interpreting that right? Here's another example: Dick's Sporting Goods land—a Best Buy property—is now worth 12.3 million dollars but the building is only worth one thousand dollars. Three years ago the building was worth two million dollars. That is a drastic drop. How much is the Best Buy land really worth? No one can tell us. It looks like manipulation to me, but it feels like no one is listening. I am here because I do not want my taxes to go up. Thank you. [00:24:20] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, we have Isaac Contreras. [00:24:25] **Isaac Contreras:** Good evening Mayor and City Council Members, my name is Isaac Contreras. Today I would like to introduce myself as the Twin Cities chapter past president and current director of governmental affairs committee of NAHREP Twin Cities, the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. We are a national trade organization with over 40,000 practitioners. We are the voice for Hispanic real estate. According to the census, the Latino population in Richfield has grown and is in the top five cities in the state of Minnesota. All of this is to say that we are here to simply introduce ourselves and offer ourselves as a resource for answers and guidance as local policies are discussed and decided on—whether it's for zoning changes, new housing policies, or adjustments to the city's master plan. We don't want a handout; we want a hand up. Thank you. [00:26:00] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Next, we have Dave Koonert. [00:26:05] **Dave Koonert:** Good evening, my name is Dave Koonert. I own a building at 6621 Penn. I'm wanting to place a CBD business there and I just wanted to come here and find out what the feeling was about that issue and if the moratorium would be revisited. [00:26:30] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. And then we have Mike Govallik. [00:26:35] **Mike Govallik:** Hello, my name is Michael Govallik, owner of Natreum Wellness. With HF-100 forcing cities to lift moratoriums, you guys are now facing the position where you have to provide a space for cannabis. I actually have a solution for you. I am a disabled vet who runs a very tight ship. Unlike most legislators who want to say they want to help socioeconomic challenged people, I'm actually putting the foot forward. I encourage you guys to look up my company. If you guys are going to award anybody a position to have a professional environment within your city, I highly encourage anyone who aligns themselves with our management systems and our franchise, because I will vet them and I will make sure they're at the highest level of professionalism possible. Thank you. [00:28:00] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Did anyone else call in online? City Manager Rodriguez, since people were asking about getting questions and information, can you explain the procedure for what happens if there are questions at open forum? [00:28:15] **City Manager Katie Rodriguez:** If a specific question is asked during the open forum, I provide an answer at the next meeting, and if you leave your contact information, I'd be happy to give you some information as well. [00:28:25] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All right, thank you. I believe at this point we have ended the open forum. We're going to be moving on to the consent calendar. I'm going to turn it over to City Manager Rodriguez. [00:28:35] **City Manager Katie Rodriguez:** Thank you, Mayor. The consent calendar contains several separate items which are acted upon by the city council in one motion. On tonight's consent calendar: Item A, consider approval of an extension to the temporary easement granted to Hennepin County for Nicollet Avenue safety improvements; Item B, set a public hearing for June 27, 2023, for a new wine and liquor license for Moho Grill; Item C, an agreement for prosecution services with HJ Law; Item D, site plan review and parking variance for Afghan Halal Supermarket at 6626 Penn Avenue South; Item E, accept grant funds for source water protection; Item F, update public purpose expenditure policy; Item G, grant application for environmental investigation at Portland Avenue; Item H, first reading of cable franchise renewal with Comcast; Item I, affirm monetary limits on municipal tort liability; Item J, first reading of a transitory ordinance for capital improvements from the liquor contribution fund. I submit these items for your consideration. [00:30:15] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Is there a motion to approve the consent calendar? [00:30:18] **Council Member:** So moved. [00:30:19] **Council Member:** Second. [00:30:20] **Mayor Mary Supple:** It's been moved and seconded. Are there any comments or questions? Council Member Hayford Oleary. [00:30:25] **Council Member Sean Hayford Oleary:** I just wanted to mention on the item for the Halal Supermarket on Penn. First off, welcome to the community. It's an interesting example of parking issues. The math starts with 11 parking spaces and works down to seven that we're approving, but there's basically no off-street customer parking on this facility at all. I think the variance is justified and I'm glad to see this move forward. [00:31:00] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Council Member Trautmann. [00:31:05] **Council Member Simon Trautmann:** Thank you, Mayor. I'm really excited to have the store come to our Ward in Ward 1. I also just want to recognize Mirwais and his business partner that are in the back. Mirwais is also a Richfield resident. I've had the opportunity to work with him in community leadership; he's just an incredible neighbor. Could they come and share a little bit about the store? [00:31:35] **Mirwais:** Good evening everyone. My name is Mirwais. We were about 20 families living in Twin Cities, then the country collapsed and we have around 2,000 individuals living in Minnesota right now. I would like to thank every Minnesotan who came forward and helped the new community members. We saw the need for authentic food that was not existing. We chose Richfield because it is the hub for the Afghan community—not only in Richfield but Bloomington, Edina, and South Minneapolis. We are going to add a bread which is especially cultural in Afghanistan. Every time our soldiers were going out on patrol, they would tell me, "Can you get us that Jesus bread?" It was so sweet. We will bring the "Jesus bread" to Richfield. Thank you so much. [00:33:00] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you so much. Is there any further discussion for the consent calendar? All in favor please say aye. [00:33:10] **Council Members:** Aye. [00:33:12] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All opposed? We've approved the consent calendar. Next, we'll move on to consider a request to modify in 2024 and then terminate in 2025 Best Buy's minimum assessment agreement. Council Member Trautmann. [00:33:25] **Council Member Simon Trautmann:** Thank you. This is a motion to consider a request to modify and then terminate the Best Buy minimum assessment agreement. This agreement addresses the largest concerns: it guarantees that the HRA will be able to recoup $851,000 without the threat of future litigation, and it allows Best Buy to discuss a fair market value for its property with the county. Staff and its legal and financial experts recommend approval. [00:34:00] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Thank you. Did staff have anything else to add? [00:34:05] **Community Development Director Melissa Poehlman:** Thank you, Council Member Trautmann. I thought it might be helpful to address some comments from the open forum. The minimum assessment agreement was in place to make sure increment generated was held to repay general obligation bonds. The taxes paid by Best Buy to the city will not change no matter your vote tonight. Richfield taxpayers will not be asked to make up for any loss. Property values are set by the County Assessor, not the city. This agreement is a compromise. City staff and Best Buy worked very hard to come to this path forward. [00:35:15] **Council Member Simon Trautmann:** I move that we approve a resolution approving agreements with Best Buy Co. Inc. [00:35:20] **Council Member:** Second. [00:35:21] **Mayor Mary Supple:** It's been moved and seconded. Best Buy representatives, did you wish to say anything? (Representatives decline). Any discussion? Council Member Hayford Oleary. [00:35:30] **Council Member Sean Hayford Oleary:** Just to confirm, no matter what we decide tonight, in 2030 the assessed value will be the fair market value of that property with or without this agreement? [00:35:45] **Melissa Poehlman:** That is absolutely true. The TIF district will be decertified on December 31, 2025. Going forward from there, the city has no say in what that value will be. [00:36:10] **Council Member Ben Whalen:** I appreciate the work that went into this compromise. I think it's really reasonable. Our primary goal was ensuring the HRA was able to continue its important programs for our community. [00:36:30] **Mayor Mary Supple:** And what has to happen by June 30th of 2023 for the modification to go through? [00:36:35] **Melissa Poehlman:** Statute says the city, county, and school board must approve and it must be recorded by June 30th. [00:36:45] **Tracy Smith (Best Buy):** Good evening. My name is Tracy Smith and I'm an employee at Best Buy. We've had some conversations with the other boards, but we are not on any agendas as of yet, waiting for tonight's result. [00:37:15] **Council Member Simon Trautmann:** I do want to share thanks for staff and Best Buy. I made a comment about "bad faith" a couple weeks ago and I want to say that was not the right word. I think everyone conducted themselves in good faith and I appreciate Director Poehlman's excellent work. [00:38:00] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All in favor of the resolution approving agreements with Best Buy please say aye. [00:38:05] **Council Members:** Aye. [00:38:07] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All opposed? We have passed the motion. Next, we move to the Climate Action Plan (CAP) prioritized actions. Council Member Whalen. [00:38:15] **Council Member Ben Whalen:** Thank you, Mayor. Staff have been working with consultant Pale Blue Dot LLC on a greenhouse gas inventory. The three recommended actions include: fully implementing recommendations from municipal building energy audits; conducting an electric vehicle suitability and fleet assessment; and establishing a coordinated education campaign. I move that we approve those recommended CAP actions and amend them into the Strategic Plan. [00:39:15] **Council Member:** Second. [00:39:18] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor please say aye. [00:39:25] **Council Members:** Aye. [00:39:27] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All opposed? We have approved the plan. City Manager's report? [00:39:35] **City Manager Katie Rodriguez:** Nothing to report tonight, Mayor. [00:39:40] **Council Member Sean Hayford Oleary:** Just to clarify, the gentleman who spoke about the CBD business—I hope you're able to share the timeline for the moratorium at the next meeting. [00:39:50] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All right, moving to Claims and Payroll. [00:39:55] **Council Member:** I'll move claims and payroll. [00:39:57] **Council Member:** Second. [00:39:58] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All in favor? Aye. Approved. Now, Hats Off to Hometown Hits. [00:40:05] **Council Member Sean Hayford Oleary:** Hats off to the neighbors at 64th and Grand for a productive meeting. Also, effective August 1st, you will be able to legally roll a stop sign on a bike in Minnesota. [00:40:30] **Council Member Simon Trautmann:** Hats off to Mirwais, our new Halal market owner, for his profound community impact. [00:41:00] **Council Member Sharon Christensen:** Hats off to Fireside Foundry on Penn—excellent food and service. [00:41:20] **Council Member Ben Whalen:** Kickoff for music at the Band Shell is tonight. Also, thanks to our water utility staff—they emailed me promptly when I accidentally left a sprinkler on overnight. [00:41:50] **Mayor Mary Supple:** Hats off to the class of 2023 graduates. Also, a reminder for the Juneteenth Freedom Walk at 11:30 A.M. this Saturday starting at Veterans Park. We're now moving to a closed executive session regarding the city manager's annual performance evaluation. [00:42:15] **Council Member:** So moved. [00:42:16] **Council Member:** Second. [00:42:18] **Mayor Mary Supple:** We will return to chambers to close out the meeting after the session. All in favor? Aye. (The Council enters closed session and later returns). [00:42:45] **Mayor Mary Supple:** We need a motion to go back into the open meeting. [00:42:47] **Council Member:** Move we go back into the open meeting. [00:42:48] **Council Member:** Second. [00:42:50] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All in favor? Aye. The Council just conducted a closed session for the city manager's evaluation. We will provide a summary on June 27, 2023. Is there a motion to adjourn? [00:43:10] **Council Member:** So moved. [00:43:11] **Council Member:** Second. [00:43:12] **Mayor Mary Supple:** All in favor? Aye. We stand adjourned. Thank you.