This transcript has been formatted with speaker names based on the city officials and staff provided in the context, as well as contextual clues within the dialogue. [0:00] [Music] [0:46] **Mayor Nick Lien**: This is where I was talking. We'll call the city council regular meeting to order for Monday, June 2nd, 2025. Would everyone please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [1:22] **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: Call the roll, please. Councilmember Cordes? **Councilmember Jake Cordes**: Here. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: Mayor Lien? **Mayor Nick Lien**: Here. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: Councilmember Bernatz? **Councilmember Holly Bernatz**: Here. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: Councilmember [Amy]? **Councilmember Amy**: Here. [1:33] **Mayor Nick Lien**: All right. Unless there are any changes to the agenda, I would seek a motion to approve. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz**: Motion to approve. **Mayor Nick Lien**: Motion by Holly, second by Jake. All in favor say aye. **Councilmembers**: Aye. Aye. **Mayor Nick Lien**: All right. First item on our agenda is 51, which is the oath of office for Nathaniel Siem as our police chief. At this time, we'll go ahead and administer the oath of office and repeat after me. [2:03] **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: I, state your name, do solemnly swear... **Police Chief Nate Siem**: I, Nathaniel Siem, do solemnly swear... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: That I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the state of Minnesota... **Police Chief Nate Siem**: That I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the state of Minnesota... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: Against all enemies foreign and domestic. **Police Chief Nate Siem**: Against all enemies foreign and domestic. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. **Police Chief Nate Siem**: That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: That I take this obligation freely... **Police Chief Nate Siem**: That I take this obligation freely... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: Without mental reservation or purpose of evasion... **Police Chief Nate Siem**: Without mental reservation or purpose of evasion... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: And that I will faithfully discharge the duties as police chief... **Police Chief Nate Siem**: And that I will faithfully discharge the duties as police chief... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: Upon which I am about to enter. **Police Chief Nate Siem**: Upon which I am about to enter. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: So help me God. **Police Chief Nate Siem**: So help me God. [2:58] **Mayor Nick Lien**: Congratulations. [Applause] [4:53] **Police Chief Nate Siem**: Mayor, Council, thank you. Um, I am a cop at heart, as you see. I'm a husband. I'm a father, a son, an uncle, and a brother. Those people are here supporting me today. Uh today I also become a leader and what I think to be the best kind of leader as a leader of the heroes that are standing in the back of this room. Um, if I could do anything today, it's just to acknowledge how fortunate I am to work with such exceptional people and how thankful I am that you guys have given me that opportunity. Thank you. [Applause] [5:49] **Mayor Nick Lien**: Say anything? I don't think I have anything today, but I I mean there's so many things I want to say, so many things I could say, I guess, but I just couldn't be happier that you're here. Um, forgive one small town joke, but I can only assume it's that uh Elgin upbringing that does you proud, right? So, no, inside joke, but I'll just leave it there. Um, you know, we're lucky you're tenured. You have the respect of our department. You have the respect of other departments. We see that here. and you love our community. You know its heart. How did we get so lucky? We just got so lucky. So, I'm glad you're here. [6:30] **Councilmember Jake Cordes**: Chief, congratulations. Um, this is a well-deserved honor. Um, I look forward to working with you over the next years uh to come and uh I look forward to seeing the way that you can transform the department and and during your tenure and uh continue to make Farmington a safe place to live. I I think it's one of the really cool things is we got to see you grow as a police officer in this community and I think it gives some of the younger folks something to look uh to aspire to. So, congratulations. [7:11] **Councilmember Holly Bernatz**: Chief Siem, congratulations and we are so fortunate to have your leadership here. 19 years you worked your way up from patrol all the way now to chief and we are very fortunate. You know this community, you care. You know the officers and you care. You care about everybody. Thank you for stepping up and being the leader that you are. I appreciate that. And also I have a note here from Councilmember Wilson that was not able to make it. And so he says, "Congratulations, Chief Siem. You have earned the respect and trust of your colleagues within the Farmington Police Department. And I am confident you will be a great leader for the department and our city." And he's in route with a family um obligation. and although he cannot make it to your swearing-in ceremony, he looks forward to congratulating you in person at our next council meeting. [8:02] **Mayor Nick Lien**: Not a whole lot to add beyond what's already been said. Um, you obviously have the trust of your team. You have the trust of Chief Rutherford. You have the trust of the city council. You have the trust of our community. Um, you are a servant leader through and through. I have no doubt that your tenure as chief, however long you choose for it to be, um, that you will serve at the highest levels and you will continue to increase the standard by which um, you expect out of not only our department um, but also for the departments that are watching. As Jake mentioned, um coming up through the ranks not only gives hope to your fellow brothers and sisters who you now are tasked with leading um but also provides for um aspirational goals for those wanting to pursue um similar forms of leadership within the law enforcement community. uh it speaks volumes as to the number of people that are here but also from adjacent uh and adjoining communities and their respective departments. My only piece of advice, make it yours. Be the leader that Nathaniel Siem wants to be and pace yourself. Pace yourself. But I know that you will lead um you will lead proudly. you will do all the things um as you have throughout your career and we couldn't be prouder to call you Chief Siem. So [Applause] congratulations. [9:57] **Mayor Nick Lien**: It'll be a short meeting, so you all can stay if you'd like. Our next item on the agenda is item 52, which is the Dakota County Farmington Library. Um, our branch manager, Barb Sabot, will provide an update regarding the Farmington Library. [10:13] **Barb Sabot**: There you go. Barb, hello. Welcome. No, thank you for having me. So, Mayor Lien, I appreciate it. Council members, it's always good to come and let you know what's going on at the library these days. Uh, so for those of you who don't know me, uh, I'm Barb Sabot. I'm the branch manager right across the street at the library. Um, come see what we're up to... [Continues presentation on library statistics, programs, and strategic goals]. [25:05] **Councilmember Jake Cordes**: Thank you, Barb, for your presentation. I did have one question. um the self-service hours. Could you explain how that works just a little bit? Sure. Um I'm unfamiliar with the program, so shame on me, but I'd like to learn more. [25:15] **Barb Sabot**: No worries. So, what you do is you have to go uh on our website, there's a page that uh explains how you sign up... [Explains radio frequency card process and 6am-11pm access]. [26:26] **Councilmember Holly Bernatz**: Otherwise, thank you for the book recommendations with a couple of scenes set in Farmington. That's kind of cool. Yeah. uh you know this is I I just think that that the library is one of the greatest assets we have in this community truly. Uh we when we moved here coming up on 14 years ago now, my kids were three and six... [Discusses success of self-service hours and summer programming]. [28:02] **Mayor Nick Lien**: Nick, uh, I think I said the same thing last year, but since my kids constitute about 2,000 of those checked out items, I think every year I really appreciate the, uh, the no late fees change um, because they're the type that will wait three or four months to remind me that they have had a book underneath their mattress for that entire time that I'll find later. So, like I said, I couldn't say more positive things about the library than I already do. So, thank you. I'm sure you'll see us there a lot this summer. We always are. As always, thank you for everything that you and your team do. Um it's just it's like for those of us that grew up around the library... [Continues praising library team]. [29:31] **Mayor Nick Lien**: All right. Our next item on the agenda is our citizen comments. It's a time reserved for citizen comments. Uh anyone wishing to speak, come up and do so at this time. Right. that citizen comments are a time for anyone to address the city council on matters not on the agenda. Those speaking should state their name and address and limit their comments to 5 minutes. Uh we will not engage in discussion on your topic, but those requiring a response will be responded to by the next city council meeting. You're good to go. [30:17] **Jeff Shatler**: My name is Jeff Shatler. I live at 22420 Calico Court, Farmington. Last time I was up here, I said I'd try to come every time you guys had a meeting and talk... [Discusses concerns regarding a developer, proximity to Meta data center construction, and wanting larger setbacks from residential areas]. [34:41] **Nate Ryan**: Good afternoon or good evening, council. Uh Nate Ryan, Cambrian Way. Um your meeting minutes say that I live in Castle Rock. I don't live in Castle Rock. I live in Farmington. I'm a Farmington resident. So I hope that you can adjust those meeting minutes moving forward. Um a few things. So your state of the city address, Mr. Mayor... [Discusses tax revenue, project transparency, zoning definitions for industrial vs. mixed-use, and job sustainability concerns]. [44:53] **Mayor Nick Lien**: Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak at this time? Seeing none, we'll move on to item seven, which is our consent agenda. I'd seek a motion to approve the consent agenda. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz**: Motion to approve. **Councilmember Jake Cordes**: Second. **Mayor Nick Lien**: Motion by Holly. Second by Jake. All in favor say aye. **Councilmembers**: Aye. Aye. **Mayor Nick Lien**: All right. Round table. Amy? [45:15] **Councilmember Amy**: No report from me tonight, Mr. Mayor. [45:18] **Mayor Nick Lien**: All right. Nick, I finally have one. So, uh, if over the weekend you guys heard a lot of whistles going at the high school in Dodge Middle School, that was the, uh, Farmington Youth Lacrosse Association... [Congratulates tournament winners]. [45:51] **Councilmember Holly Bernatz**: Uh school gets out this week, which means lots of additional little humans all over the place again... [Reminds residents to watch for children playing during the summer]. [46:27] **Councilmember Jake Cordes**: Um, I'm gonna keep it short and sweet tonight, but tomorrow is my wedding anniversary, so I know my wife is watching at home. So, happy anniversary, Bridget. [46:37] **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler**: Nothing tonight. [46:40] **Assistant City Administrator David Chanski**: Shirley, nothing for me. Well, if Chief Siem were still here, I'd say congratulations to Nate. It's been good to work with him as deputy chief for the last three months... Um to the council, I do want to say thank you for putting your confidence in me to serve as your interim city administrator following Lynn's departure on July 1st. [47:21] **Public Works Director John Powell**: Thank you, Mayor and Council members. I also look forward to working with Chief Siem... Um two items. Uh we had our pre-construction neighborhood meeting for the 2025 street improvements... [Discusses Union Pacific crossing work on Ash Street and Elm Street]. [48:48] **Staff Member (Kelly)**: Good evening, Mayor and Council. We've talked over the years. We live in a very very generous and giving community. Um on the consent agenda this evening, you approved uh four donation resolutions... [Discusses Rambling River Center donations, Tater Trot registration, and upcoming Helmet Heroes event]. [50:49] **Fire Chief Matthew Price**: All right, Chief. What say you? She stole all my thunder. Right. I got nothing except I really don't want to kiss the pig... [Discusses fundraising and Tater Days]. [51:26] **Mayor Nick Lien**: Thank you to everyone that attended on Friday to the state of the city. There's a lot of information that was shared there. Um Friday is graduation... early congratulations to all of this year's graduates at Farmington Area High School. Um yeah, summer's almost here. It's right around the corner. School's going to be out... be attentive, pay special attention to the crosswalks. So uh with that, I would seek a motion to adjourn. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz**: Motion to adjourn. **Mayor Nick Lien**: Second? **Councilmember Jake Cordes**: Second. **Mayor Nick Lien**: Motion by Holly, second by Jake. All in favor say aye. **Councilmembers**: Aye. **Mayor Nick Lien**: We're adjourned at 7:51. [52:59] [Music]