And I have to leave for Texas on the 4th to go help my mother-in-law move. So, >> where is she going? >> She's moving up here. >> Oh, really? From Texas? >> Yeah. >> By choice? >> No, my father-in-law passed away. And so, she's down there. They've got a place down there. They've got a place in uh Wisconsin. And so, uh she's selling the house. Let's start. Roll call, please. >> Council member Nordby, >> here. >> Council member Woods, >> here. >> Council member McKenzie, >> here. >> Council member Schwar, >> here. >> Mayor Mongi, >> here. Thank you very much. Motion adopt the agenda, please. >> I'll move. >> So move. Council member Schwar. >> Second. >> Second. Council member Woods. All those in favor say I. >> I. Thank you. >> Oops. All right. >> Come on. We got to roll here. >> Chop chop. >> All right. So, our agenda for the evening, we have one topic, which was the is the history cruisers car show discussion. Unfortunately, um I did receive a phone call that uh they were not going to be able to make it this evening. So, but we wanted to uh continue with the conversation and this is for the public's review. Um, I kind of want to start off with um, they were there were some alarming things in my opinion that were being put on their website and um, I went to their car show meeting last week and just asked them what the issues were that it you know how can we work through this u, what are the issues um, that two items that were brought up to me uh, were were just not true. Um, >> we talked about it. So, one item he had said that uh he had reached out to me a dozen times and I had not gotten back to him once uh through email. So, I uh went down and I have every communication on my computer and uh looked there. He contacted me once in 2025 and it was about Veterans Park, not the car show. Um though we did have conversation on the telephone and we did have um a conversation a couple times at the front desk when he was coming in. But uh so pointing the finger at that just wasn't appropriate and told him I didn't appreciate it. Uh the other item was he had they had expressed that uh we had made them change their insurance um which is not the case. Um that was a decision that they made due to um an issue that happened and came up every year that uh they came in at the beginning of the year to pull their special event permit. Um but their insurance only brought them up to May and by the time their first uh event happened, which was in June, their insurance was expired. So they just had to uh um call down to their insurance agent and uh send us over a form that just says that uh that will happen at that point. and it won't have been an issue. Um, but every year it seemed to be an issue and uh he did change it but u he was claiming that we said that he had to do that and that is not the case. He was not told that by anybody at the city that they had to do that. Um he didn't have any other issues at the time. Um but I think we kind of sell that. I mean we had good relations. It was a good talk. Uh Bob was there and uh uh moving forward uh we just needed to talk about them and them making their change to going every other week on the car show. This has been brought up, you know, a couple times over the years. Um issues that they brought up, of course, is they have members that are in their 70s and 80s. It's a little bit harder for them to get around and um take care of the things that need to get taken care of for the show. Um they also h seem to have issues with uh people being decent down at the car show which is unfortunate. Um you know they they have the rules that they have set aside. Um they're the ones that pulled the permit for the road closure and have their car show and they try to um put those rules in place and unfortunately it's usually met with obscenities and uh why don't you make me do that? Um, so there were issues that uh they were looking at potentially, you know, wanting more security down there or more officers, but it also come down to trying to pay for that. Um, none of that stuff is inexpensive. Um, so we did talk through all those issues. Uh, they did their final decision was made uh that it will be every other Friday. There wasn't any talking to them about it. They just wanted to go that route. So, at this point, we are looking at what other options might be available for us. Um, nothing set in stone yet, but we were um making headway talking to other places that uh may be able to pick up the other Fridays. Um, see what we can do. Anyway, um, but more information to come on that. We just wanted to have that discussion. I know that we met with them and the bars and I mean, the city backs the car show strongly. They uh, it brings in a lot of business. it brings in uh people to our town. It's a nice family event. >> Uh so it's really unfortunate that it's come down to this. I mean, and even their members said, Bob said that, you know, this won't go on forever. People are getting older and they just can't handle that. It's just become harder and harder to stay on top of things. Um that was kind of the justified. Um, they also said that uh they'll kind of see how this year goes on whether or not they want to maybe would they pick it up, go back to doing every week or is it going to be a year that uh just becomes with more struggles and they just want to end it. So that was coming from the car show. Um we were hoping to have that feedback from them but um unfortunately this didn't work out to come in this evening and uh that was kind of the communications that we had but I going to turn it over to council and any input that you want to have and your feelings on the car show and where we can things that we can do um what your thoughts are. My impression is just that uh uh like you said, the uh group, the History Cruisers core group is getting older. And I I get it. They're getting to the point where they don't want to continue, may not want to continue to run this show and run into all the hassles that they're getting. And this is a way they've already made the they had already made the decision to uh pair it back to every other weekend. It wasn't a we want to pair it back to every other weekend unless you know you guys have feedback or anything. It there was no uh opportunity for discussion. It was they had already made that decision. So to me it seems like it's you know their just way of kind of phasing it out on their terms. So >> I agree. We um I was there and so was um Troy um Council Member Woods. He was on the arts and culture which is a great fit for what we do on Friday nights. So he was with us as well just to kind of understand where things were. Um thanked him for for the years of the car show. I mean it was something where it was going to mean that the bars um were there the um of course they're business owners. There's a situation. It's like okay well this we're not going to change their mind. What do we do? So they're open to ideas. They were open to, you know, talk about different things we can do. So that was good that, you know, there's there's an issue. Let's try to try to figure this out. So I was very happy that um everybody was willing to do that. Secession is what I was kind of hoping, but it sounds like they they're not going to pass it down to anything else. So it sounds like like council member Wood said, they're they're probably over the years just going to be fading it out. But uh so it was it was a good conversation with the different things maybe a different style car show with maybe some newer cars farm you know some some different things we were talking about maybe we can do markets or things like that too. So, it was uh it was good going back and forth and um it was a situation that we all kind of got thrown at here when we read the email at the end of the year, but people are having ideas to try to see we want to continue Friday nights with family and the bar stressed that the most out of all of it. We want to have a good familyfriendly environment, music and doing things that we've been doing. You know, how can we do that? So, and that's where some ideas are being looked at and people are looking into it. So, >> okay. I guess then what I would maybe say is what them guys going to every other week, how can our council help them address some of the issues that they have once the street is closed or at 5:00 when the cars are supposed to show up to eliminate the issues of cars parking at 1:00 in the afternoon and either leaving them there with the dummy car or with their classic car, whether it's faced in or backed in, because they really would prefer to have these guys all face them in as the way the traffic flows. That's one of their issues that they're having. And that is probably one of the toughest parts of trying to get these enthusiasts that come in early to understand that they have rules and regulations, but they tell the car show folks, "What are you going to do about it?" >> Right. I would say, >> and that's the worst thing. >> Sorry, I didn't mean to. >> That's right. I would say that, you know, downtown area for North St. Paul is it's a downtown. There's businesses there. You can't close it off at noon. Oh, no. To prevent cars from coming in. >> Um, so in terms of preventing the cars coming in and parking at 1:00, >> I would say, not that there's nothing we can do, but there's not much we can do. I mean, you know, it's a, you know, if they're coming in to do business, if they're happen to be there all day, there's nothing, you know, we want to come in and do business, >> but there's a two-hour parking limit. >> Um, and you know, we put a lot on our uh police department already. I know. So I know Chief Rosales was already there was at the meeting the other night as well and he presented a few options in terms of >> the scenario that they presented at the meeting was not so much that but more so when they have the barricades up, people bypassing the barricades, yelling at the volunteers coming by and going down the street anyway because they want to get to whatever business. >> Um and Ros, uh Chief Rosales came up with a couple of options to prevent that. Um, we looked at, you know, camera options. I know, uh, the history cruisers talked about buying some or and I think they've already purchased them a couple of, uh, webcams that they're planning to put up to capture information like plate numbers and things like that. Um, so I think there's plans to put measures in place um, as much as we can >> um, without negatively impacting our uh, residents and the businesses downtown. So, and our police force as well. You know, there's, you know, again, stretched thin. So, >> so I have a few things. Um, and I've taken some notes. I question regarding Bob because we've worked with Bob and Bruce quite a bit. In Bob's eyes, does he think it's easy to work with the city? >> He didn't have an issue with the city. I talked with him a couple times over the weekend even. So, yeah. >> Okay. because his Facebook post or was it Bruce's Facebook post indicated that we had issue he had in the car show had issues working with the city. So I just wanted clarification in regards to that and has I know that um I've discussed with a couple business owners downtown that they're some of them are aware of the car show going every other Friday. Have we talked and reached out to any of the business association members to see what we can do or how they can assist us with filling in those additional Fridays. >> We've taken steps to reach out to some places. Uh that is going to be one of them. Um at this point it would just be calling contacting maybe board members as opposed to being at the meeting. But uh yeah, there's intention to do. >> Okay. >> Both the bars and the city talked about the business association. both the bars and the city >> during the meeting talked about reaching out to the business association as far as having them be able to help. >> Okay. Um and then regarding the other entities, are you looking at are we working with other car show groups and have we who are we reaching out to? >> Well, I don't know that they're willing to put that out there yet, but there are several groups. We have at least four different ones that we're looking at right now. Okay. >> Um and some have um shown interest. >> Okay. Have we explored It's known I mean we've had this for how long have we explored as a city uh to find volunteers um to possibly fill in those Saturdays as some of us would be working it. I do know that there have been um regulars that have offered to volunteer with the history cruisers and they have never received feedback back saying that uh from Bob or any I think Bob and Bruce that they haven't heard back from those individuals have not heard back from them about volunteering. So I don't I'm just throwing it out there as an option. Have we just thought about maybe taking some of those Fridays cuz these people are going to show up with their cars? They already do. >> Um, have we considered or do we want to consider what that may look like? >> I talked to Bob at their uh meeting about that because they said uh you know, it sounds like since you've put this information out that you've had many people that have actually stepped up to say if you need help with the volunteering that'd be great. Um Bob's response to me was, you know, they think they have the um volunteering covered with what they need. Um that's not as big of an issue as finding the right people and the people that can do the job, but he said that their needs right now are being covered. Um and that's the way he left it that he wasn't um actually looking for others at this point um due to trying to find the right people. >> And that's kind of the impression that we got when we met with the bar owners. uh as well. We talked about the volunteerism and um the opportunity for people to to step up and volunteer and they kind of downplayed the volunteer issue at that meeting as well. So um yeah, that was the main gist of their Facebook post was right >> volunteers getting and we don't have volunteers now all our volunteers are older and things like that. Um they don't have any, you know, we talked about do they have younger members that they could, you know, bring up and have, you know, have, you know, either take it over or step up and volunteer more or things like that. And like, uh, city manager Fandle said, they kind of downplayed the volunteer issue altogether and focus more on the security issue. I mean, I get the security issue, but we weren't fully obviously we weren't fully staffed last year to right >> be to have any presence. We needed police out on I mean, chief knows that. I mean, we just even the fire department couldn't be out there >> that much. So, that's the main that's their main issue is essentially the security piece. And they would make comparisons to, you know, once upon a time that, you know, we used to have a lot of reserves here at one time, too. Um, but once upon a time, too, we'd have one open position. We get over 100 applicants for an officer. >> Those days are long gone. We we just don't have it's not what the way it used to be. >> So, it's a lot harder. And >> part of it, too, is they said, if the person doesn't have a badge, nobody pays attention. So, no matter how many yellow shirts you got out there, >> right, >> they're still like, screw you. We're not going to do what you say. >> Yeah. I guess you know in in a nutshell the fact that they're wavering so much on what they put out there publicly and what they're saying >> kind of in private not private meetings but in you know smaller meetings is so vastly different. >> That's kind of what leads me to believe that they're just this is their way of kind of stepping out of the picture. you know, kind of stepping aside and, you know, phasing out the car show from their perspective. So, >> so I guess on that end, how do we as a city work to keep the car show? I mean, I think it's we should start exercising options and ideas >> with that. I mean, >> and that's where there's a few that >> and that's to to piggyback on that. That's kind of what I would like to do today. My goal, and it's just a personal goal. I'm one of five, was to direct the city manager of Randle to reach out to the local charities and actively pursue and talk with them to see if someone has interest in taking over the other Fridays. >> Mhm. >> Last year, they they stood before us and claimed that they were able to donate $15,000 um in charity uh from last year. if you cut that in half, I I truly believe there's some charities and local charities that would have interest in making that 7500 um for for their charities. So, so I I'm hoping that's one of the big things that's come from today is that we give Brian the direction and authority to actively reach out and start talking to some of these local charities, um especially local charities that have car clubs to see if they'd be interested in the every other Friday. I I don't want to lose a car show. I think it's the part of the culture of North St. Paul and right >> we should do everything we possib will do. So that's my goal is to to grant him the direction and authority to start having meaningful conversations with some of these people. >> So minus the business association steps and reaching out to them. What other steps? Brian, you said you you've taken some steps. What other steps have you taken? >> Well, there's a good three different um car show groups. Um, actually one of them was given to me by Bob when I started talking to him about it. Um, >> uh, the Plymouth car show, there's there's the Hot Rod Group. There's there's a couple other to look at. Um, so yeah, I think there there's avenues to look at, but I even before that happened, the idea was and actually I talked with our city attorney too. Um, what are some things that we can do? And oddly enough, state statute only points out one thing that cities can do. uh if it's not like park related. So if you have a a park event where then your park commission can put that on and and pay for that kind of event. But um for a city like you know just closing a downtown they can offer free music. So you know my mind started going well then we can offer free music and then we start reaching out to the business association you know they can talk to the businesses downtown they can bring their wares to the street. We can have crafts. We can have uh vendors. We can have face painting. Farmers market. >> Farmers market. Yeah. I mean it. >> So there were plenty of options even before we got to doing >> Yeah, I like that idea. >> My wife always complains that farmers markets are during the day and she can never get to them. >> And then would we just have those people >> free complimentary? Like what would that >> No, I mean the intent is to handle it just the way we're handling it now with the car show. um they would have a special event permit and they would handle the situation and you know they would have the insurance, they would uh deal with the vendors and um that would be on them because right now the car show for closing the streets with Ron's group and putting the stuff out and the biffies and all that stuff, the car show pays the city back for that. >> That's correct. >> So the car the city's not doing doing anything um as far as for this event. the nonprofit, which is the history cruiser, they they pay for everything. So, the city's not sponsoring it. It's the it's their it's their show. They just pay us to do the work for them. >> What does it cost to put the car show on for the season? >> For what city cost that we charge them? >> I'd be curious to know the whole cost. >> Do we know from Bob? their part is independent of us. So >> what their books look like as far as >> well we do things for them that help with the costs. Um so the city pays for the bivies downtown and they do that because we can get it at half price. It would cost them full price. So >> sure >> there's different things that we do. We have uh employees come in, we do clean up the next day, uh get the trash and you know those type of things. But so our bill to them at by the end of the year is probably 13 somewhere around there. 13,000. Okay. >> Police plus public works or just >> That's everything. >> Everything. >> Yep. >> And we store their things down there for them at >> They have their trailer. Yep. For the barricades and that's stored inside. >> We come out with that. We put their storage to put inside the building for their storage. Mhm. That's right. >> So, are there other venues we could put schedule out certain weeks where the city could come up with a a venue to specialize for a weekend such as what I was thinking is the last weekend of the show where the car show is. They have the parades on Thursday. They have the car show Friday. Could we move the arts and culture group to downtown on one end on Saturday to make it a full weekend? As long as you have all the BIFFs there already and then there'd be better parking instead of parking all over 17th Mohawk and all that. >> And that is actually the intent for this year that we are looking for >> moving it downtown. >> Yep. Yep. Then at that point, I mean, we could potentially be expanded. I mean, we're not right >> condensed to the boat parking both sides. Yep. >> There's one other thing I'd like to clear up, too, that we haven't discussed yet is they talked about, you know, they had three rain outs last season. So, um, and so every other week >> if there's a rain out during that time, they would talk about maybe we can schedule it for the following. But with the cities with the schedules, the workers and everybody else, that's just doesn't work for the city because that's too fast for try to get everybody right now. You know, we have the people that are set for schedule. So, that really wouldn't work out for the city trying to get everything together and do a turnaround because it rained on Friday to do the following Friday. So, they're going to have to stick with every other week. And if there's a chance sometimes if it rains on one, it could be three weeks in between shows. >> And even for the businesses, they staff, you know, accordingly. So there may it may be too much of a scramble for some of the businesses. Uh some of them said, "Oh, well, you know, their employees will plan on showing up anyway just in case." But um but that being said, there's also a feeling that even though the car show is only happening every other weekend or every other Friday, um the cars will still show up on the weekends. >> And so, um I guess the the question is how do we handle that? You know, it's not a an official car show, but we're I mean, we'll still accommodate them. will still welcome them and everything, but there's probably not going to be any food vendors or anything like that. >> The bars will still, you know, the bars and businesses downtown, restaurants and things like that will benefit. Um, hopefully, and maybe people will still come and visit the, you know, come see the cars and visit the businesses. But, um, >> well, even during CO when we weren't even allowed to be anywhere near it, there was guys parked out there in their little pockets, so you know they're going to show up. >> Yeah. So, how can we build something around that, I guess? inclusive of it >> and you keep it in habit of every Friday and get different things. You know, I used to be my Chris and I used to be a big movie goers before CO. >> Well, then all the time of not being able to do it, you get out of the habit and then you don't go anymore. Same thing here. So, you know, we want to try to keep the momentum going that um you know, it's been a Friday night staple. What else can we bring? You know, there was some excitement too for the borrower, some different things, too. So, when we were discussing it was like, well, let's think outside the box. What else can we do? So, >> in order to give Brian clear direction, um, do we want him to prioritize something? Would a car show every other weekend be the priority or or would something else be the priority? >> I think the only big in talking to the businesses that or sorry, the bars that were there, um, the only big ask was that it be familyfriendly. Um, so it doesn't necessarily, you know, so they said no death metal concerts or anything like that, which I'm upset about, but you know, I'll get over that. Um, but you know, uh, have uh, you know, something that's familyfriendly, whether it be a car show, whether it be a farmers market, or whether it be an arts and crafts festival, something like that. Um, so I think that's the biggest requirement is that it's something that appeals to people of children of all ages, so to speak. So >> I've never I don't think I've been but I never been to the one for White Bear. What's that? Marketfest it's called. >> Yeah, Market Fest. >> Is that what is what what people what groups are involved in that? Is it crafts? Is it what is it? >> Mostly crafts businesses, uh restaurants, >> food vendors. >> There are stages where they have uh performances. >> Uh there is a little bit of a car show off to the side, but not as I mean definitely not as big as you know North St. Paul's. Um but yeah, it's and that goes on every Thursday during the summer >> and we're the next day. So there's that momentum of hey, we're more weightbear north St. Paul area. >> And that was one of the things that we've reached out, you know, we mentioned was there's, you know, market fest, there's festivals, you know, similar types of things going on in in communities surrounding us. Could we reach out to them and say, you know, how do you do this? Who does who organizes this? And what is your, you know, so that because we've got the downtown for it. >> Absolutely. You know, perfect place for something like this. You know, how do we how do we utilize it to the best extent of, you know, our city? So, >> what does it look like to bring back crazy days? Well, >> I mean, I didn't live here when it happened, but that's I've heard lots about it and I've heard lots about it from the community members and we got rid of it. And what does it look like to bring that back? >> The council member was here for quite a while that we kind of headed that up. Um, I know it started getting tougher to uh for her to at least to book some of those things. I know that they brought in a uh carnival at one point um which ended up not being great. At least that one wasn't. Um and it kind of just went downhill and and nobody else wanted to pick it up um the event. Uh it's not to say that they couldn't. I mean there I mean you couldn't you could >> call it whatever you want. I mean, as far as the right >> event goes and if you're going to have all those vendors downtown, I mean, >> still just familyfriendly events >> and depending what you want with crazy days, you know. I mean, >> it could be all of the above. >> Mhm. >> But that's the reason that that went away. It at that time it was put on a council member and that council member didn't want to do anymore and nobody else wanted to pick it up. >> Yeah, I get it. I mean, we have a designated community um events coordinator and working with business association. I mean, maybe they can partner. I don't know. I'm brainstorming out loud, but it doesn't need to fall all on Ava, but it could there could she could head it up. >> Yeah. I mean, I guess ultimately I think for the easiest for everyone, I would like to see it, unless I'm instructed differently, is to handle it kind of the way it is now, that an event coordinator of sorts outside of the city takes care of that because we can only put on uh according to our attorney, a free music festival. When it comes to vendors and all those other things, we are not supposed to be spending tax dollar funds on that, >> right? But but yeah, at least we have a backup for something. But I think uh business association is clearly would be the next step talking as well. >> But I mean it was a productive conversation. It was good to have the talk and talk with them and um >> I was very impressed with the way they handled it because I mean this is this is a big cutting it in half for what they what they're doing and everybody you can tell they're entrepreneurs. It's like okay well we all this is where it is. Let's figure out how to fix it. So I was very happy and impressed with the businesses because they all just dug in and so let's try to figure something out here. >> Yeah. So clear direction from you guys would be great because we we want to move as fast as we can on this when it comes to trying to plan and vendors and all that good stuff as well. >> So I guess to get back to your question that we've kind of all danced around um I think if we could reach out you know car shows make sense. Um that's what people are accustomed to in North St. Paul. If we could do car shows that'd be great. Um I think we do want to leave. you know, it sounds like there's a desire to move the um autumn arts festival, but that's a Saturday though, too. So, um but uh so a car show um I think would be first and foremost. So priority wise, you know, if we can reach out to car clubs and start there, um reaching out to uh those uh charities or >> uh charitable organizations around here, I think would be a good next step to if they have a car show associated or a car club associated with them would be ideal. If they don't, um you know, what is their experience? You know, we're looking for somebody that has experience that can run this because we don't want it. I think if it reflects if it goes poorly, it's going to reflect poorly on the city as well. So, we want to make sure that it's a success and we will do our part as a city council. Um, and I guess I'm speaking for all of us, but I I I feel like I can in this case that we'll do everything we can in our power to make this a success um for the city and for the businesses and for our residents. Is that something where the city can reach out to these different things? Because I know there's the limit of what you can do. So, you have to tell you I know you want to know what uh you know what we want, but we got to know what we can do. That's still underneath what you can do. >> There's nothing wrong with us reaching out to these 501s and um seeing where they're at, what they can do, what they can offer. >> All right. Then I then we start with that. I would like to try to get even something a little bit different in there too, like a farm, but I don't know if there's enough room even for it with because we pretty much packed that whole entire street now. So, >> yeah, >> but there's a little variety, but yeah, we we have a lot of lot of different a lot of different trucks on that. Um, we mentioned something about the the bands. So, would that be like a one band that the city would or music that we can do? Is that what you're thinking when you >> came back to us? We could go that route to where at least where we could >> put a step forward to have some kind of activity, family event down there. But then even on top of that, you'd still want a >> somebody take care of Yeah. You're just not going to have a band sitting out in the middle of nowhere, >> right? Okay. >> Because if there's a band, people are going to want food. Y I mean, >> Yep. >> Not that we want to take away from the businesses downtown, but you know, >> if they could have a booth out front or whatever. I know right now in the car show days a lot of them already do their bands. >> So, and we're not paying for those. I don't want to get into us paying for something and then they have to pay for, you know, I'm just trying to make sure we keep it fair. >> And that was kind of just a backup plan and hopefully it would fall on um the entity to take care of all of that. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Great. >> Anything else? Anybody? No, I guess direction is to find and start researching some other car clubs. I can't recall if he's does hastening still do their car show. >> Yeah, but they scaled it way back. >> They did. Okay. >> Once a month on a Sunday morning for two hours. So, I mean they really >> they really scaled it >> when they redid the bridge. >> Yeah. >> That that really signal the end of it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I mean that's another group to look at. Absolutely. >> So on my end, I would recommend reaching out to other car car clubs to see if they can get filled in. >> Perfect. And just ideas too of other things where she's at, you know, like what market fest if you can get a hold of maybe something white bear. Just ask them, you know, hey, you know, was there good to to discuss that? Because I know that's Ava is just amazing what she can figure out and do as far as that. She definitely has a talent when it comes to uh sniffing stuff like that out. >> She's good. Yep. >> Anything else? Would you like to add anything, Ron? Because I got to pick on you at least once. >> All right, Chief. Anything from you, sir? >> I'm good. >> All right. >> Dan, Randy, Ken, >> don't forget your daughter, >> Elliott. >> Yeah. Has she got a comment? No. >> Any comments about the car show? >> All right. >> That's a pony. We'll have pony rides at the at the car show. >> All right. >> All right. >> All right. >> Thank you all. We got some time in between here. We're going to start up again at 6:30 with the council meeting. I have a call for adjournment, please. >> So moved. >> So moved. Council member Schwar. >> Second. >> Second. and Council Member McKenzie. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you. See you at 6:30.