All right. Good evening. This is the November 19th, 2025 Cottage Grove City Council meeting, which I'm calling to order. Our first order of business this evening is the Pledge of Allegiance. So, if you'd please rise. 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. >> All right. Will the clerk please do the role? >> Council member Clawson >> here. >> Council member Olsen >> here. >> Council member Theiti >> here. >> Council member Garza >> here. Mayor Bailey >> here. Uh, next on our agenda this evening is open forum. Uh, I will mention we did have a signup sheet out in the entryway and it doesn't appear that anybody did sign up, but we do have our county commissioner, Carla Bingham, is here to share a few things with the council. So, we'll get her going and then I'll ask one more time after she's done. Welcome. >> Oh, thank you, mayor and council. Good evening. Um, thank you for I'm going to be real quick because I know you've had already a long meeting and you have a long agenda, but um, I just wanted to highlight a few things before the year closes out here. Uh we are going to be reopening the Newport Transit Center because there is a bus line that now will be coming from Woodbury to the Newport Transit Center out west to the airport in Mall of America. This is the first public transportation that we've been able uh to have here in the East Metro going west towards the airport which is big. And I I figured the residents of Cottage Grove, even though it's the Newport Transit Center, would want to know that that's going to be an option. and that starts on uh December 6, runs every hour from 6:00 a.m. to 8, 7 days a week. Um, and I really want to thank the Red Rock Corridor Commission and Council Member Garza who serves on that and our local community partners uh and of course the residents for their advocacy to to get that access going. There is an open house at the transit center on the 10th of December from 4 to 6. Uh so hope people can join us. Uh, another uh, exciting expansion is our darts um, circulator is now going to also be going um into St. Paul Park, Newport, bringing folks to the uh, the hub here uh, the shopping center hub here uh, in Cottage Grove and then also obviously our library and basic needs food shelf. And so just a way to meet the needs of um of that and you obviously probably benefit from from some retail uh increases there. Um we also are undergoing our um update to our transit needs study which should be done in early 2026 uh which will have a more comprehensive plan for transit. Um obviously um with the your support um the Park Grove Library uh will be undergoing uh a major renovation and that starts in February. It'll be shut down for about a year. And I wanted to announce that the Cottage Grove Armory will have some programming available that currently is offered by the library. And then the South Service Center in Cottage Grove will have some cataloges of books. Uh and those will be rotated out. Uh and then finally want to talk about um a couple food related things. The food scrap program uh we have 11% uh um across both counties of people utilizing it. 12% in Washington County. Um 34s of Washington County has the program rolled out. The northern part will get that uh next year. Um 10% of Washington County homes uh are enrolled in it. So really appreciate that. But being that the holidays are coming up, hosting food, all that, um, go to foodscrappickup.com and sign up and we'll get you those bags and you can participate in that program that is of no cost to you. And then I just wanted to remind folks that Christmas lights, mayor, and uh, batteries uh, should be properly recycled and we can take those at our recycling center out there in Woodbury. Um, and then I just wanted to note too, it's been a big topic, uh, is the, uh, SNAP, uh, program that had been cut off. Now it's back on. Um, and, uh, the federal shutdown had an impact on a lot of our neighbors that have food insecurity. And the board, cottage, the Washington County Board appropriated 250,000 to local food shelves. Uh, both friends in need and basic needs received a portion of those funds. Um and you know the SNAP benefits were were dispersed but both um basic needs and friends in need have been experiencing over a 30% increase in users mainly of firsttime users. And so I just wanted to say that the needs and the pressure doesn't go away just because that program was turned back on. And I know another thing that's very near and dear to the mayor's heart is holiday train is coming on the 13th. I know you'll talk about that. Um but that benefits friends in need. So, I just wanted to know like during these times too that um the county is doing what we can and I know the community is all hands on deck to help. Uh and finally, um that actually was the last thing on my list. Mayor, I thought I had I thought I had one more. So, thank you. I can um take any questions if anyone has any. >> Any questions? Anybody at this point? I guess not. You covered it all. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Yep. Take care. All right. All right. Again, I don't believe there was anybody that had signed up. Just one last check before I close open form. Is there anybody wants to speak on open form? All right. We'll go and close open form. Moved in number five, which is adoption of the agenda. >> Move the agenda. >> All right. I'll start with council member Thei and then seconded by council member Olsson. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Now we'll move to presentations. We have two this evening. Our first one is the public safety board K9 and equipment donation and our director of public safety Pete Kerner is going to take us through this and then council I think we'll join them down in the front. Pete, you want us down there now or wait? Sure. Okay, we'll come on down. >> Thanks, mayor. >> Yep. [snorts] >> Why don't we get the public safety board up here to join us? >> [snorts] >> Commissioner Bigum, if you'd like to. You were kind of a part of the whole thing way back, but that does mean you do make a financial donation at some point, too. So, [laughter] all right. All kidding aside, thank you, mayor and council, for allowing me to have just a couple moments with you here. As Commissioner Bigum had just mentioned, I know it's been a long day already. you guys were here at 7:30 for EDA and not everyone's retired so I don't know what time everyone got up. I won't I won't look anyone specific. But um tonight we're just going to recognize our our public safety board. And as you're aware through all of our conversations this year um through budget we kept talking about adding an additional patrol dog. Currently we have two. Um so part of it I mean they're great for apprehension, they're great for searches. They've been a really good um public relations tool and also just recruitment and retention. Also, when officers want to come here, they want to know there's opportunities and so a K9 program is is one of the big things. Um they're not cheap. Um and with that, since we first started our first one, um it's been the public safety board that [clears throat] has been the the kind of the driving force behind the the donations, raising money for us, getting grants and everything like so. The continued support's been incredible. Um, when we came to them, I think this when we got Blitz was probably $5,000, $8,000. Now, a new K9's clo we paid just under $16,000. So, um, we've already with this presentation while some of these things we've already purchased. We're getting ready for I hate to say it, but the snow. So, we just we already put the kennel and the slab in at our handlers home. Uh, Sydney Whan, she was the one that was selected through a process this year. And, um, we had to send money for the dog. Just after Thanksgiving, Sydney will take um possession of the dog, but she doesn't start the academy until the um through the St. Paul um police found they do the K9 training, but sometime in January. So, we will have the dog here to introduce, but I want the dog to at least get acclimated to Sydney and so we don't have any mishaps here at a council meeting or whatnot. So, um with that, um we'd ask that council accepts this donation and we'd like to present the check um just over $20,000. So, Fantastic. Look [clears throat] at this. Thank you. [applause] >> I'm gonna hand it to you. Do you want to speak? >> Yes. >> First of all, thank you everybody. And a lot of our fundraising efforts come from the Cottage Grove and some surrounding community cities. So, the K9 dog is also part of the community. And that's what we're here for is to raise funds so that we can purchase non-budgeted budgeted items for the police, fire, and EMS. So, with the K9, I'm sure it might have been used the other night. Uh, one of the dogs probably was out searching. So, >> they're very special for our force and we really need them. And so, purchasing another canine is always beneficial for the community and for the officers. So, thank you community. Thank you board. Thank you city council. Thank you chief. >> Thank you. >> That's all I got. >> Fantastic. Well, just I'll I'll throw in there too obviously thank you to the board and all the citizens and such that have helped with the fundraising and making this happen. You know, you mentioned about the officers and that too. Um, now that we'll have uh more canines, if you will, spread throughout all the different shifts, actually the mental health and wellness of our officers is going to be better instead of somebody working all night and then getting a call in the day and need to take the dog out. So, I mean, all of those things are are benefits, too. So, uh the health and safety of our officers also is a big plus in adding this additional K9. So, uh, on behalf I think from all of us here, even our county commissioner over here, uh, Kadish Grove County, we all >> Wasn't she a council member for the first? >> She was. She was. She was the one that helped get the the the K9 program up and running again. >> So, I do have one more thing when you're done. >> Well, I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you all again. Uh, keep up the great work. We do truly appreciate it. Uh, this means a lot to the community. Um, on the hometown holiday, we're also going to be selling our plush dogs. You can see them throughout the the windows and in the the main office. We sell them in that's part of our fundraising efforts along with the police patches and challenge coins. And we've also done a few other little things. So, I'm going to be doing a bunko tournament at Broadway Bar and St. Paul Park in a couple weeks. And so if you want to come down and learn how to play, donations are accepted under a guideline through gambling. So it's not term donation. It's appreciation acceptance. So thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you. Let's give them a round of applause again for this. This is amazing. [applause] >> Oh, one more. Thanks, Debbie. Yeah, >> thanks, Mayor. >> Yep. And then if you guys want to do the next Yeah. All right, council. We do uh to be official. Um if you notice, there is a recommendation. Uh there's actually two uh recommendations are on the I'm sorry, there's three recommendations. >> Accept and approve the donation of the dualpurpose police dog K9 purchased from Police Service Dogs, Inc. with the value of $15,667. >> Fantastic. Thank you. That's Council Member Morso made the motion. Who takes a second? Second. Second by Council Member Biti. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed. >> And who would like take number two? >> I'll move that we accept and approve the donation of the 7 foot by 14 ft concrete slab purchased from Schultz Enterprises LLC with the value of $3,000. >> All right. We have a motion by council member Theiti, second by council member Garza. All those in favor signify signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. And then maybe I'll swing all the way down to the end here. Would you like to do number three? >> Uh yes. I'll move that we accept and approve the donation of the 6T x 12t enclosed kennel purchase from Midwest Fence with a value of $1,665. >> Awesome. We have a motion by council member Clawson. Do I have a second? >> Second. Second by council member Olsen. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Again, thank you to the board and all those that contributed to the next K9 for Cottage Grove. All right. Our second uh presentation this evening is actually a proclamation. And I did ask uh Council Member Clawson to uh read uh the proclamation. It's hard to believe we're just a little over a week away from Thanksgiving. And so uh I'll turn it over to you. Uh thank you, mayor. I have the proclamation uh for all for Small Business Saturday uh for for November 29th, 2025. And the proclamation is as follows. Whereas the city of Cottage Grove celebrates our local small businesses and the contributions they make to our local economy and community. And whereas according to the United States Small Business Administration, there are currently 36.2 million small businesses in the United States. They represent 99.7% of all businesses with employees in the United States and are responsible for 61% of net new jobs created since 1995. And whereas small business uh businesses employ 46% of the employees, which is 62.3 million people in the private sector in the United States. 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 business at small businesses create an additional 48 cents in local business activity as a result of employees and local businesses purchasing goods and services. And whereas 79% of consumers reported that the small that small business Saturday made them want to shop and dine at small independently owned retailers and restaurants all year long. And whereas Cottage Grove supports our local businesses that create jobs, boost our local economy, and preserve our communities. And whereas advocacy groups as well as public and private organizations across the country have endorsed the Saturday after Thanksgiving as small business Saturday. Uh now therefore, the mayor and city council of the city of Cottage Grove, county of Washington, state of Minnesota hereby proclaim November 29th, 2025 as Small Business Saturday. And I would move to adopt this proclamation. >> Thank you. So you have a motion to adopt the proclamation small business Saturday in Cottage Grove by council member Clawson who has the second. >> Second. >> Second by council member Theiti. Any discussion? Shop local. That's the main thing. Right. So shop local. All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. All right. We're moving along. Uh we're now down to consent agenda. Council, was there anything you wanted to pull off of tonight's consent? No. >> Okay. Not seeing anything uh to pull from consent. I'll look for a motion to approve and a second. >> I'll make a motion to approve consent. >> All right. So, we have a motion by council member Garza. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. Second by council member Clawson. Again, any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. So, if you are here for anything that was on tonight's consent agenda, all of those items have been approved. >> We'll move to eight, which is approve dispersement. 8A is to pay the bills. >> Move the bills. We have motion by council member Olsen. Who would like to do second? >> I'll second. >> Second by council member Clawson. Again, any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Boy, we're moving along today. Uh nine is public hearings. There are none this evening. 10 is bid awards. There are none this evening. Uh then we have our regular agenda, which is number 11. And we have three items here this evening. The first one is item A is a tobacco violation. Uh, I believe it's Giza Incorporated doing business as Monsoon Tobacco, which is 758480th Street South, number 2011. And our director of public safety, Pete Kerner, will walk the council through this one. >> Thank you, mayor and council. You were making good pace and now I get up here. I apologize. [laughter] >> No, you're good. >> All right. Um tonight we have two tobacco compliance check violations to talk to you about. Um kind of listed as two different items. Um but I'll try to get through this relatively quickly with what the procedure is. Um all of you have been a part of um violations whether it's alcohol tobacco in the past. So just um do a couple quick reminders. But uh with the tobacco checks we do do we do them twice a year. Um that's in our ordinance. Um, and we have our whole compliance team led by Sergeant Mike McCormack and we have some compliance check officers that um, make sure they follow the same procedure every time. Um, and back just recently on October 28th, we did our um, tobacco compliance checks in all of Cottage Grove um, with all the uh, license holders and we had two violations. First one I want to talk about is uh, Moonsun Tobacco. Um, and this is their first compliance check violation in a 36-month period. So, um, just to kind of remind you, our our decoys, um, they they were given, uh, specific directions on where to come, how to look, how to dress, everything. So, we're we're not out to trick people, um, not to lie to people, and that they're all kind of listed here with they have to tell their real age if someone asks how old they are, and to present a real driver's license or instructional permit. Um uh it's with that um we review it, we take pictures. So basically collect evidence. It's a police investigation that these can ultimately become. So they're given money that they um go in and their directions are basically going to the tobacco shop and ask for a certain product. And as you can see, it used to be they would ask for a pack of Marboros or Lucky Strikes. And now the younger ones ask for Zen and all these other products that I really don't even know what they are. But I know that you have to be 21 to purchase. So, um here's just a a quick reminder of what our identifications look like in the state of Minnesota. As you can see, it's a portrait when they're under and it's um it is marked under 21. So, there really should be no confusion if they ask for an identification. Um the other picture shows the o, you know, 21 and that's uh landscape. So, as you can see, there's a a difference. You don't even have to do the math. If you look at it, tells you right on there that they're under 21. The first uh violation we'll talk about um you did have the the copy of the police report in your packet if you had a chance to review that. But we did conduct these on October 28th and with this one the decoy did go in went up to the counter and a transaction was completed. The decoys decoy purchase zen pouches and those are like a smokeless pouch that but they contain nicotine and you have to be at least 21 to purchase those. So um ask for the product. Uh the employee did ask for the driver's license and this decoy actually provided an um instructional permit which is the same as the other it's the um the portrait style and it it shows um did not ask for an age or additional questions and then did complete the transaction. Um the person our decoy did go out and tell the officers that they were just sold the product and our officers did go back in. Um, with this one, um, there was she just said there was confusion when she tried to do the the math or something on the on the years. So, um, but with that, uh, she was told she was going to receive a citation for selling the tobacco and the violation letter was sent to the license holder. With that, I turn it over to you for recommendation. I don't know if someone from the business Okay. >> Yep. >> So, um, the recommendation, but we can let the the license holder come up, too. So, >> all right. So, first council, any questions for uh Pete? Would you like to come up and speak? >> And please just state your name and address for the record. >> Wanda Flur. I live at 2581 uh 5th Avenue East, North St. Paul, Minnesota 55109. Um on the night in question, the individual uh was a new employee. She had only been working a couple weeks. She was trained and um I have explicit uh um [clears throat] recommend or not recommendations but you know the things they have to follow um up at the register that they have to scan all IDs and I understand she also told the officer that we didn't have a scanner which is untrue. Um she was trying to get out of it herself. Um, but we have immediately that night she was let go. Um, I finished her shift and I um I took care of everything. But we do have we do have the scanning in place. I have reiterated with every one of my employees and I and I remind them every two weeks I'm messaging all my employees saying, "Hey, don't forget to ID. You have to scan every ID. If they don't scan, be sure you check it." Well, so um but we we have we have taken care of that that situation and have put more rigorous training and stuff in place so that it doesn't happen again. >> Okay. Uh council, any questions? Uh Council Member Olson, >> thank you for being here. First of all, we appreciate it. Um sometimes people just don't even show up, so it's nice to have a representative from the business here. >> I'm very We're very proud of our stores. So, I [laughter] have a I have a couple questions for you. Uh, how long has this business been in business? >> I believe the b the business has been there three years. >> Three years. >> I've only been managing it for um a year. Just over a year. >> Okay. So, three years under this name. >> Yes. >> So, then this is the first violation uh in that three-year time frame. Okay. That's good to know. Um secondly, uh commendable that you as the leader of the business, um you know, took care of the situation. Um informed the employee they no longer had a position with you, stepped in to finish the shift. Um I happen to be a retail person myself, as does the mayor. And so we know that sometimes no matter how many times you remind people and teach people and coach people um their behavior doesn't always sync up with the training they've received. So I'm glad to hear that you took firm and quick action. The last question I had for you is you said you know they have been trained. What does your training look like? Um I am in store with every new hire um for two days uh two full shifts and then they also train [clears throat] with um the people that are working in the store >> um for another um 3 to 5 days before they're allowed to be on shift alone. None of my stores have two people on at the same time. We're always just a a a one person store. So, >> um, until we're very comfortable that they understand and they're they're doing things the proper way and they were during the training, she she was scanning the IDs as she was supposed to. So, >> okay. So, your training is more like shoulder-to-shoulder as opposed to say electronic based training where you actually go through a series of modules and you have >> No, no. All of ours is handson instore. Um >> right there with with the customers and anything that comes up and >> and they also know that if there's any questions they can call me at any time. >> Okay. >> Do the tobacco vendors work with you on anything? I know some of them also have some training programs in place. I'm just curious if they bring those to you to potentially take advantage of their >> Um I personally don't know of any, but the owner might. >> Okay, good enough. Good enough. Well, again, thanks for being here. Uh glad to hear that you took um quick and and decisive action. I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Okay, council. Any other questions? >> Thank you for uh showing up tonight and sh uh sharing what you uh managed with the situation. >> So, council, you can see uh there uh the resolution on number two. Uh should you decide to go that route, we'll need a motion in a second. I'll make the motion um to adopt resolution 2025-170 imposing the scheduled penalty for the first violation in a 36-month period of um of a $300 fine. >> All right. So, I have a motion by council member Garza, second by council member Theiti. Uh any other discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And then we'll go to B, which is uh tobacco violation HY Incorporated doing business as HY Wine and Spirits at 7280 East Point Douglas Road. And uh Pete, our director of public safety is going to take us through this one. >> Yep. And I'm I'm not going to go through the procedure and everything for you in this second one, but um Council Member Olsen, you asked a good question about different provided trainings as well. And I will say that um Washington County Public Health, they also send out um they do a training a couple times a year. We do one right at the service center and our compliance officers will participate in that. So there there are other opportunities too and then they go over some of the the online programs that are available. So >> thank you. >> Yep. >> With that, we'll um the other violation I have was um HY. It's actually um H at Wine and Spirits at their liquor store. Um like the other one, the the police report is in your packet. And when we did these on October 28th, 2025, we had the same a decoy went um up to the counter and the transaction was completed. In this case, the uh decoy purchased VO 7 milligram nicotine pouches. Um the decoy asked for the VO and employee sold the um and gave him change from the purchase completing the transaction. The employee did not ask for age or for identification. In this case, the decoy I believe was 16 years of age. Um after they made the sale went out, the officers did go in um believe it was officer Foster and Officer Lame when they when they talked to her. um at that time she said that the scanner was having problems with her point of sale um and just said I guess I needed to do better. So there wasn't a lot of excuses other than you know that she knew she should have done the ID. So with that the employee was told she was going to be receiving the citation for selling tobacco to a person under the age of 21 and a violation letter was sent to the license holder and we do have a representative here tonight as well on this. >> Okay. Any questions on this one for Pete? Okay. Is the uh owner Yeah. Do you want to come on up and speak? >> And just your name and address for the record please. >> Alicia Egan. Um W1225955th Avenue in Prescott, Wisconsin. >> Okay. Is there anything you want to share on this situation uh before we >> Yeah, there's no excuse for it. Um the scanner was working fine that day. Um there was no attempt to scan an ID or ask for an ID by the employee. Unfortunately, it was just an employee who didn't care. I mean, that's the only thing I can get out of it cuz the uh employee was properly trained. Employee knew what to do. The employee had been doing that all the way up until that point when I watched video camera footage. Uh the employee was let go. >> Okay. >> From their position. So yeah. So no excuses. It shouldn't have happened. >> All right. I'm going to maybe turn to Council Member Brosson because I'm assuming you probably have the same questions maybe. >> Yeah. [laughter] Now, now, um, you know, again, I appreciate that you're here. That says a lot. And I also appreciate that you took swift and decisive action. That also says a lot about, uh, the degree of seriousness of the offense. But I am curious, uh, newer employee, long-term employee. Uh, what did their training look like? >> It was a rehire. a person who had previously worked with us but didn't work in a um the liquor store so they weren't selling anything. Um they had been back with us I believe a month. >> Uh they've gone through all of our training and our our training is uh online based and um on hand or sidebyside with an employee and a manager. Um they were well trained. Our computer systems don't allow you to sell tobacco to anybody without scanning an ID or entering a date. So they bypassed all the procedures. Um >> isn't that frustrating? >> It is. Yeah, I I deal with it. The mayor deals with it. We we completely understand. But again, um I'm glad to hear that you took the sort of action that you did. I think that sends a message to the rest of the team that you know this is serious and and uh we invest in you and your training and we expect you to execute at the time of sale to the degree that you know the company has trained you. So much appreciated. Um, sorry that happened to you, but uh, it sounds like you've taken good care of it. So, thank you. >> Yes. >> Okay. Any other questions for >> All right. Thank you. Thanks for coming in tonight. >> All right. So, again, council, um, if you should, uh, follow the policy or the procedure number two, who would like to take it? >> Um, mayor, I'll move we adopt resolution 2025169 imposing the schedule penalty for the first violation in a 30 month 36-month period of a $300 fine. Second. >> All right. So, I have a motion by Council Member Clawson, second by Council Member Olsen. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Um, uh, Pete, uh, since you're up there right now, >> [clears throat] >> um, I, if I saw right, I think in our weekly update, uh, we just finished up doing alcohol compliance. Was that correct? >> Yes. >> And we're 100% >> 100% compliant. Yeah. So, >> there you go for the H high thing there. So, uh, very, very nice to see that. So, um kudos. >> Our job's easier, too. So, >> it does. I know it does. And we don't like you guys having to come here to have these discussions with us. So, thank you for showing up and and working hard to make sure it doesn't happen again. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> All right. Uh, we'll move to C then on our regular agenda, which is real estate equities apartment project. And I believe Brenda Melanowski, our finance director, is going to take us through this one. >> [clears throat] >> mayor, members of the council, um I'm going to, as the mayor had said, walk you through uh this um real estate equities uh tonight. There are uh three items that you'll be acting upon. uh first the development agreement, the LAAHA agreement, and then finally the housing revenue bond allocation. Uh first, uh here's the the site plan uh for the project. Uh it is down on 100 street and Hadley uh Avenue uh in the southwest corner of the city. Um and project details on it, it's the 164 um apartment uh units. It's the affordable housing. Um and there on the screen is that uh affordability that is in that project. There's three units uh at less than 30% AMI, 15 units um at 31 to 50% AMI, 122 units uh at 15 or at 51 to 60% AMI. Um on the screen there is uh showing at 60% AMI what those income levels um would be uh here uh in Washington County in 2025 to give you an idea on that. Uh the units uh there are 30 one-bedroom units uh 88 two-bedroom units and 46 three-bedroom units. Uh previously you had approved uh the site plan review uh the comprehensive plan amendment and the zoning amendment. Uh that was back in June. Um and before you uh tonight is the developer agreement uh that hadn't been brought uh forth uh in June uh in order to give the city um and the developer time to work through that agreement. And so that is on the agenda for tonight. Um also uh tonight uh is the lo local affordable housing aid agreement. Um we like to call that LAA. In 2023, uh the state uh dedicated um a quarter percent in the 7count metro area uh for LAA or local affording affordable housing aid uh in order to develop and preserve housing. And so this project uh with real estate equities um meets that criteria. And when um they the developer had come in uh previously they had requested a tiff a tiff district um a housing tiff district and now that this these LAA funds are available um it allows that tax capacity uh from that project to go back on the tax roles quicker um and we're able to then fund the project. Uh in June uh you had supported the use of LAA in the amount of $785,000. Um however due to an increase in construction costs and taxes uh there was a request to increase the amount of the LAA funding. Um also since June uh we received our 2025 um amount that we'll receive for LAA and so we're receiving more than we thought in June and so we're able to offer um for LAA on this develop development the $916,000. Um remember that amount it it is supported uh by the financial analysis that was done by our um municipal advisor Ellers and so we just didn't hand out these funds. They had to demonstrate that there was a need for that. Um and they did do that. Um and then if 2026 would be less than what we're anticipating uh that 916,000 would be reduced by that amount. Um these LAA funds will be sent out um as a loan and it'll be a forgivable loan in 15 years if the criteria, specifically the affordability criteria um is reported um and is in compliance for that 15-year period. Um the second or the third uh portion uh that you'll be approving this evening is the multifamily revenue bonds. Uh that's that conduit debt we've been talking about. uh we had uh back been back in front of you um and you'd authorized the the bond issuance amount of $50 million. And so tonight is the execution of that. Um the reason uh that developers that uh have these sorts of projects, this public project, affordable housing, uh they have lower interest rates for the developer and lower issuance costs. Um and then we receive an issuance fee uh here at the city. It's important to remember that these bonds uh they um aren't our liability. They're not on our books. Uh we they won't affect our AAA bond rating. Uh and it's not a moral obligation of the city. Uh we are just acting as that conduit uh between that lender and that borrower on this. Um the project costs are about $56 million and the agreement that you are the resolution that you're approving uh tonight is for that maximum bond issuance amount of that $50 million. Uh with that uh the recommendations are on the screen and I am happy to answer any questions. >> All right. Thank you. Uh council any questions for Brenda at this point? >> Know this has been kind of a long road. Is there any applicants or the applicants in the room? >> The applicant is here. Did you want to say anything or? >> Yeah, if you'd like just come up. [snorts] >> Good evening, mayor, members of the council. Um, thank you for having me tonight and considering these items. Um, all I want to say is, uh, I think we've been working on this since May of last year is when we had our initial council workshop and, um, there's been a lot of different, as you see, things to work through with with staff and, um, planning commission and everything. So, uh, just want to say thank you, um, for everyone at the city for, uh, working on this project with us. Um, these affordable housing developments take a village and uh take a long time and uh to put together. So, just want to say thank you for all the work that uh staff has done um to to support this development. >> Sounds good. I didn't have you state your name and address for the No, that was me for not telling you that. Uh my name is Blaine Barker um with Real Estate Equities, the developer owner and and property manager um office at 579 Selby Avenue in St. Paul. >> Fantastic. Thank you. >> All right. Any questions for you at all? >> All right. Thank you. Appreciate you coming. >> All right. So, council, we have, I believe, three separate resolutions before us. I would move that we adopt the development agreement with Cottage Grove AHI LLP for the real estate equities apartment project. >> All right. So I have a motion by council member Theiti. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by council member Garza. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Who would like number two? >> I'll take it. Um, I would like to um propose a move of approving the local affordable house aid agreement with Cottage Grove AHI LLP Real Estates Equities substantially in the form presented. Final approval and execution of the agreement is strictly pending review and approval by both the city attorney and the attorney for Cottage Grove, AHI LLP. >> Three L's. [laughter] I I love how you got the three L's there. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, we have a motion by Council Member Garza. >> I'll second that. >> Second by Council Member Theiti or I'm sorry, Council Member Olsen. Sorry. Uh any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I >> I opposed. Motion carries. Mayor, I'll move uh recommendation number three to approve resolution 2025160 authorizing the issuance, sale, and delivery of its multifamily housing revenue bonds, the H Headley Ridge Apartments project series 2025AB CD, approving the form of and authorizing the execution and delivery of such obligations and related documents, providing for the security rights and remedies with respect to the obligation, and granting approval for certain and other actions with respect there too. >> Boy, that was quite a legal comments there. >> Cory must have got a hold of that. So, we have a motion by council member Clawson and second by council member. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. >> Motion carries. The only question I might have for you real quick if you would uh do you have a a date where you're going to start construction? I know these are this project's pretty big so it's going to take a little time. if you wanted to share with the public at this point. I know there's been people asking. >> Uh yes, thank you, mayor. Um we expect to close on all the financing by the end of the year and then start in early 2026. Um and then expect to finish construction late spring, early summer of 2027. >> Okay, sounds good. Thank you. >> Thank you again for being here. >> Yes. All right. So, next on our agenda this evening is council comments request. And I think we'll start with the presentation. >> Yeah, sounds good. >> You want to do that? >> Yep. >> So, I'm going to have Phil pop this up. So, uh for the for those in the public that are maybe watching at home, uh we'll have one more council meeting like the day before one of our holiday events that we're going to be having in Cottage Grove. But what we thought this evening uh as part of council comments and requests is to talk uh briefly about these events that are uh coming right down the down the road here uh in the next few weeks and and over the next month uh for some of the neat events that are going to be happening around town. Love to have you come out and help uh participate uh have some fun uh with us in a lot of these events. And this is just a few I I want to say small because they're not small but a few events. There's many more events happening throughout uh the uh community of Cottage Grove and uh encourage you to get active and get uh engaged out there uh with friends and family. And uh what we'll do is uh we'll start with I believe it's going to be our council member Clawson is going to take us through the first item here which is just about a week away. >> Hail to the bird. >> Um November 27th. I remember this starting 15 years ago and >> it started with a family, two families that started um a race Thanksgiving morning and has now grown to I think five to 600 people. I think it might be that many. Um, and the proceeds, if you run in this race, this uh 5K, the proceeds [clears throat] go to the Friends in Need food shelf. And they're also work with the uh CPKC holiday train, which is going to come up in a minute but that's coming on that's up uh next week, Thanksgiving. >> So, yeah, November 27th, 9:00 at Hamlet. And I believe there is uh some information out there, and I see the active.com is where you can register. So, if you are interested, I thought I'd just help you with that one. And uh I do remember too when we the very first time cuz they had me in a big top black top hat uh to um pardon pardon the turkey. So [laughter] >> one of the things I've gotten >> that really happened it it did happen. So, all right. The next >> just gobble that up, don't they? >> Oh my goodness. Wow. >> I did set that up. >> It [laughter] didn't happen. >> Right. >> All right. Then, Council Member Olsen, we got a couple Santa events. Well, thank you very much, Mayor. I'm very excited to announce that uh again this year you will have the opportunity to bring your family to the Cottage Grove Lion Santa at the VFW. This year is on December 7th. It runs from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Uh again, VFW Red Barn, which is located next to Walmart, 9260 East Point Douglas Road South. Uh this is put on by our Cottage Grove Lions Club, uh of which I am a proud member. The price to participate is $12 for adults, $8 for kids, and that uh includes a full breakfast. You'll have uh Santa and Sparkles the Elf to be there as well. We'll have all sorts of games and giveaways and prizes. Um the kids when they come in, they actually get to register for some of the giveaways and we have some pretty nice things to give away this holiday season. So, I hope you can come and attend that. And then right about the time that uh you just start getting hungry again after that big breakfast, you'll get to go to River Oaks for their Santa brunch, which is December 21st this year, 9:00 am to noon. This is at River Oaks Municipal Golf Course at 11099 Highway 61, right across from Zivix. $25 for adults, $18 for kids, 6 to 12, free if you're under five. Uh there's sleigh rides, there's the big North Pole breakfast, there's photos with Santa Claus, and a whole bunch of other things. I know the mayor likes to take the grandkids to both of these events. So, uh you'll probably get a chance to mingle with the mayor as well, which is well worth the price of admission. So, I hope we'll see you at both. Have a great holiday season, everyone. >> There you go. And and the one thing I really like about it this year is that there's actually separation between the two. Not like the same weekend or only one weekend. >> We've made that mistake in the past, and we try to avoid it. Yeah, >> that's awesome. All right, now we'll move to Council Member Bethi. We have the Hometown Holiday in Cottage Grove. >> Yes, the Hometown Holiday in Cottage Grove on December 4th from 5 to 7:00 p.m. at the city hall here at 12800 Ravine Parkway. [clears throat] And you'll have to come and join us for a fun of evening activities. Uh Santa and Mrs. Clauss will be there, wagon rides from parking lots, live reindeer, maybe even Rudolph, games and activities, food trucks, the Park High School choir. Uh it's always a great time. And uh sometimes it's been a little bit chilly, but then you got your hot drinks and and everything else. Uh you know, and and uh so it's just been uh it's been a great time. And I think this is the year number four. >> Cory, don't you guys come with uh some of the hot chocolate and different things? Your your team? >> Uh this year, your honor, members of the council, our firm is um sponsoring. So, we provided a donation for the cookies, but I will do my very best to help the cookie table because as you know, that's a very important table. >> It is. Thank you. >> So, I thought you were going to say taste test the cookie table. [laughter] >> Well, that too. >> I must. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. So that's awesome and that's here at city hall here and that's uh uh coming uh coming soon. And then uh council member G Garza we also have something that's pretty neat that happens in Cottage Grove been for many many years now. I'll kick it over to you. >> Yes, I am glad to share that Cottage Grove has the fun holidays lights tour that happens every year here and registration opened on November 12th. So I would say if you haven't gotten registered for your lights, get on there and get them registered. Um the map will be out for your availability on November 26th and up until December 15th. They'll be adding new addresses. So if you are a little bit later getting your lights up, you still can get on that registration map on by December 15th. But [clears throat] we do an amazing display in our city. So if you haven't gone and rode around the city to see all the lights, it is a beautiful display and it's so nice to go and hang. So >> absolutely. I'm already seeing some pretty nice ones out there already. They're lit up already. my neighbors. H >> how are yours coming along? >> I have I they're coming. I'll I'm hoping to be ready well for sure by Thanksgiving, but this weekend's I'm going to be very busy. So, >> it' be nice out. >> Yes, I know it's supposed to be. That's why I'm happy about that. And then I'm going to uh finalize it. Uh not that this again is the only thing, but it is a big big event here in Cottage Grove for many many years. And that is the CP KC holiday train, which will arrive uh here in Cottage Grove on December 13th, which is a Saturday by the way. Uh it's from 3:30 to 6:30. It's down on West Point or yeah, West Point Douglas Road near the Youth Service Bureau. Um and it, as you noticed, or I should say it's on the screen here. This is the 27th year uh that they've been in in Cottage Grove. And I always like to throw a couple kudos out to our community and the surrounding communities because uh we're one of the largest stops of all of the train stops across the United States. Uh we're also one of the largest uh stops for fundraising. Um I will mention to you that the goal that they've uh shared with me for this year is 125,000. Uh and again that is specifically going to the uh friends in need food shelf uh which supports all of the area uh families uh not again just Cottage Grove Super Park and so on. Um you can come as early as 3:30. Uh there will be things to do, a warming tent, there's music. Um, there's going to be, I'm assuming, uh, glow sticks and all that. Again, uh, snacks to to eat. There's food trucks. Uh, and again, of course, the train pulls in. Uh, usually around 5:15ish, I believe, is what where they'd usually try to get in there. >> Oh, yeah. And Dave's got his little his shirt on. If you can see that. I don't know. They're they're on me at the moment. But, um, the idea here though is uh it's a fun event. Bring the family. if you've been here, people do come every single year to these different events. And uh but if you haven't been to the train and see it coming down the road and and looking at the face of the kids when they get to see, you know, Santa and everybody else there uh and the lights uh that they do. Um you know, kudos to CPKC for doing this. They didn't have to do this. Uh they do it and they always present a a significant check uh to the friends in need food shelf when they're here, too. So, we do appreciate them. Uh, and looking forward to this huge event and looking forward to seeing all my council colleagues and and our city staff. And let's see if we can hopefully it'll be a good weather day. Uh, and if it is, uh, let's just completely fill up that area down there. And, uh, and I last thing I'll mention, other than, um, the fundraising total or goal that they've got, you can there'll be places down there for you to bring cash. There'll be people with buckets uh, that that will be secured. Uh and then if by chance you wanted to donate non or not donate money, uh they do recommend uh you do paper products. So like uh toilet paper, paper towels, things uh you know, essentials that maybe are not something you always think about getting at a food shelf, you know, toothpaste, things like that. So if you do have some of those things, if you want to donate those, you can obviously bring those and donate them there also at that time. >> What about parking, Mayor? Where are people supposed to park for this? >> Great question. And there will be uh wagons or or uh uh that'll be carting people back and forth whether it's down by the park and ride uh which is down there along uh West Point Douglas Road. I also know that people do park up by the armory uh up by the the um uh 80th Street uh what is it? 80 not 80. Yeah, 80 crossings. Yeah. >> Um I was trying to think which one it was, but yeah, 80th Street Crossings All Saints Lutheran Church. So there's plenty of places to park. Uh and there's ways to get down there. So, I encourage everybody to join in and and let's uh celebrate this holiday season together. All right. So, with that, um we will go back real quick to see if there was anything else council wanted to present this evening. So, I'll start with Council Member Clawson. Is there anything else you want to talk through tonight? >> Excuse Mayor. I had a note to talk about the new bus route, but uh Commissioner Bingham talked about that. I even had that's all I had tonight was to talk about uh this new bus route. I'm happy to see that we're finally getting some more transportation in South Washington County. >> I agree. >> Thanks. >> Absolutely. Thank you, uh, Council Brolson. >> I want to remind everybody that, uh, it is Give to the Max day tomorrow, uh, Thursday. Um, you know, the the Give to the Max website for Minnesota has been open for several weeks, but tomorrow is technically the day. And if you are looking for an opportunity to make your annual charitable donations, give to the max day is a really great time to do that. Uh you can go to the givemn.org website and there's a little search engine there where you can search for nonprofits in the area that you may want to support. Um, I would encourage everybody to take a look at Friends in Need Food Shelf, which is listed. Uh, basic needs of South Washington County is also listed. The Youth Service Bureau is another very good uh charitable organization that's listed. And this is an opportunity to uh take advantage of matching funds. In many cases, um, for some folks, their uh, business will also match their funds. For example, if you work for an organization like mine and you make a charitable donation, um my company will match uh 50 cents on the dollar up to a certain dollar amount. And this web engine will allow you to seek whether or not your company plays a role in that or not. But uh again, give to the max day. The need is great. As you heard Commissioner Bigum say earlier, there's about a 30% increase in need for those who are dealing with food insecurity. this holiday season and uh it's our obligation as um you know their their friends and neighbors to make sure that everybody has a a happy and healthy holiday. So if you can even give a few bucks, please take the time to do that. Again, that website is givemn.org. >> All right. Thank you, Council Brolen. Uh Council Bathe. >> Yeah, I'll mention something. I I did do the uh council November council update uh today and and talked about this a little bit too, but you know with the potential of snow, we're kind of getting into that that season and and so uh mentioned about you know the snow plows and they're all getting ready and and uh and everything and and just to remind people that there is a you know parking ban overnight uh from I think it's like 2 to 6 a.m. And uh and then anytime it snows, you want to keep the the car out of the road, you know, it uh otherwise the plows if they have to go around it and everything else and it creates a mess and and and even though they're very very good drivers, you know, I'm not sure I'd want to take the chance of getting the old vehicle dinged up, right? Uh uh also another point that we were talking about is is uh is that the garbage cans, some people put them in the street. Well, that that actually gets in the way of the snow plows also. And those fantastic robotic arms on the on the garbage trucks can actually reach 5t into the driveway. So, you know, even if you put them all the way kind of to the edge of the driveway so that you don't back out in the morning and and run into them or something like that, but uh so keep them off the street so that the the plow drivers have a have a clear path there, too, so that uh they can continue to do the excellent job that they've been doing over the over the years. So, >> fantastic. I think Ryan and his team are happy that you brought that up. So, [laughter] there you go. Uh Council Member Garza. >> Thank you, Mayor. I have nothing tonight. Nothing today. There we go. All right. Same here. Uh the only comment I'm going to ask is uh only because it's it's it's related to the holidays. Uh our public works director, Ryan Burfine, when when do the uh holiday pole lights go up? >> It'll be on uh the day after Thanksgiving. >> There we go. So, you you'll you'll see our uh decorations around the community uh on the street lights in our business areas uh around uh the day after Thanksgiving. So, just wanted to mention that to the public. All right. Uh, next on our agenda is workshop open to the public. We have none this evening. Uh, we do have a workshop which is closed to the public just so everybody knows. Uh, we will be conducting a performance evaluation of Jennifer Levit, our city administrator. Um, and we will be closing that meeting in the conference room uh, pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.05 05 subsection D uh 3A to conduct again a performance evaluation of city administrator Jennifer Levit. So after we're finished with that, we will then uh adjourn from there. Uh everybody, please have a a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving and uh looking forward to seeing everybody at the holiday events or maybe shopping around after Thanksgiving. Uh take care everyone.