I will go ahead make sure this is screwed on. Call the meeting to order. Uh we'll start with a roll call. McKe here. Lantern >> here. >> Hendrick >> present. >> Bingamp >> here. >> Councelor Nicholls is I think out of town this week. So and we are good there. Um if you'd like to stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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. >> Agenda approval. Uh saw we had item 6J added. Does any sta staff have any thoughts? >> That's the only thing, Mr. Mayor. Resolution number 202574 was on the diaspora. >> Perfect. Anything from council? I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda as amended. >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Second. >> I think that was very whatever you want to do. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All righty. Uh, no presentations today. on to open forum and Jay will walk us through for items that are not on tonight's agenda. >> Yes. So, anybody who's here uh if they have something they'd like to speak on that's not on the agenda, please step up to the microphone. Uh I have one card. Uh please address it to the council. The council uh will not engage at the time, but they will listen and consider for future action. And uh you have five minutes to speak. You have any other questions? I have one card, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Jamp. Perfect. Hello, my name is uh JD Camp. I'm here representing your res address for the >> name and address. Yeah, sorry about that. >> Okay. Uh name is J Camp. Address is 9998 Jack Pine Lane. That's in Cork, Minnesota. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> What? >> Okay. My question is Jay Hampton here representing some of the residents in the Bellweather neighborhood. Um, corporate passed a policy in 2025 requiring builders to complete escrow work within six days of from closing causing major issues with homeowners that closed their homes in 2024. The result is esport and py homes built and homes built in 2024 not being completed in a timely manner. Corin's new 60day policy is allowing poly to delay escort work on homes built in 2024. Currently there are 13 homes just on my street alone that fall into this pre2025 policy. There's no incentive for PY to complete house work at homes that closed in 2024. We get emails updates from PY from time to time and push back the timeline for es work to be completed. Today we received an email pushing back again esco work some 60 days due to rain amounts while homes that closed recently had escal work done in the rain tile company sent letters to homeowners asking to extend escort work to another 120 days frustrating to see homes that closed last week getting their yards completed and homes that closed over a year ago still don't have any final grades sprinklers or I just want to show you this is kind of one of the better homes that you see out there. These are very expensive homes and that's what it looks like out there. Very discouraging. Um unfinished escort work delays homeowners completing projects like decks or patios because they can't do it until final grade is done. Can the city of Corpin help us the newest citizens hold large corporations like PY to their obligations? Suggestions that would help us relax a new policy for new bills to allow PY to complete the final grade and saw all work on homes that were built in 2024. Basically putting a pause on that policy until they get caught on homes that were built a year ago. Um would be enforce the city ordinance about mowing weed yards. I mean, some of the weeds are three or four feet tall. Some of the homes up there, uh, for homes closed in 2024, allow residents to build their porches and decks regardless of when PY completes some of their escrow work. And lastly, which I think will be most effective is temporary issuing building perform. They are caught up on 2024 escros. >> What can Cochran do for us as new citizens? Thank you very much for your time. I really appreciate it. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Mr. Camp, can I please get your email address on the back of the card? >> Sure. Sir, could I could I ask you what are you asking for? You're asking for uh the last one was to cease issuing permits to PY until they're caught up. >> We're asking for help. Anything you can do. Um some of the suggestions we had is like maybe the probably the most logical one is to delay their 60-day policy for uh closing escro accounts on homes that are just recently built. maybe relax that for PY until they get caught up on the homes they built last year. I know right now they're building. So basically the policy they're telling me is that homes that closed in the last 60 days got to have the rest done within 60 days. So basically home that was completed last week's already got the final grade. It's already got the sign got the sprinklers next door house that was last year sitting there. >> Yep. Yep. I hear you. So, we're asking for some help either by postponing the policy for them so they get caught up 2024 or um worst case scenario maybe let them get caught up. They're building houses so fast they can't finish escro stuff. Maybe put a hold on it till they get caught up. Um there's an incentive there for them to complete it. They just don't have enough because there's no no teeth in the rules. There's no city inspectors go out there. There is uh no one coming in there looking at the yards and there's no one following up an escro. We're we're out there by ourselves as big corporations keep saying well we'll get it next next year. Some homes were built over 18 months ago. We still have nothing done to them and just ask some kind of help. I those are suggest I had you may have other suggestions that would be more effective. I just we need help make them fy hold their obligations. I mean as a city court we love the city and all that but we're getting a bad a house look like this. >> Sure. >> That's a million dollar house right there. >> Is that crazy? >> Appreciate you bringing it to our attention. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, if I can get your email address and and uh for council's awareness, we're we're aware of the problem. Part of the reason the policy came into uh into the scene for everyone's awareness is because this has been a problem throughout this development and so we had to create a solution in order to try and solve the problem. Unfortunately, this is a second order effect of that. So, so we'll look at what we can do to help. Uh, but there's also some market realities is that there's a limited amount of Assad and and so they they can't do that because we we have worked with them and talked with them and with with the materials that they have. Uh, it's not just them. Some of the other developers also are having just the reality there's so much happening. Uh, SAD is not as available for a lot of different reasons. I don't understand all those but we will continue to to talk uh and um I'll loop back with you right >> appreciating you can do it even if they move it forward to prepare for the side right now if the side pain we're two weeks off for housing get it ready >> I mean there's no water lines in there there's no nothing >> other homes are getting side >> ones that are supposed to be completed within 60 days they're getting side they're getting completed >> but the 24 homes that closed are side came in last week. It's not even just >> we're going to have a deep >> just give us your name and address for the record, please. >> Yeah, email. >> Could you please state your name and address? Um, so it's not just the side issue. They have delayed the whole grading point. They're just starting to last fall. They just got the water and they haven't landscaping. So there's a lot of prior issue, which doesn't appear to be the case. They're putting down homes that are under policy currently. Um some of us frankly is a large corporation I don't think it matters to them so I the the reason the policy exists was we we have heard concerns about that before and we are proactively trying to support residents with their concerns. This wasn't an unintended consequence and we'll look at it. >> So I understand that we we recognize that we'll take a look at it and I'll close the the loop with him. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. Jay, if if I could sure. Um, >> what policy is this that that uh included 20 25 homes but not 2024 homes? >> I don't think it was written like that. I think that's how it's looks like it's being applied. So, so, uh, it it went into action on January 1st, 2025, but we we don't have a look back ability. It's when we enact a policy, it's looking forward. Uh, and so the policy that we created became came into effect on January 1st, 2025, and that's been the consequence of it. Uh, >> and it was, if I may, Mr. Mayor, it was related to PY over behind Jeremy. So I mean same thing >> not just multi but when had faces has faces that >> and been decad >> going forward we can hold their feet to the fire but >> well >> right now it's kind of hard >> we we'll talk at the DRC on Wednesday and and uh we'll communicate with residents on on what we're able to do. Staff is aware of it. Uh we we were just talking about just on Wednesday what what we can do uh and we've been talking >> that specific I think that council was asking about is a escrow tied to the building permit. So that was the action that started January 1st escrow specific to individual building permits. >> Okay. All right. >> So that's the change. So >> thank you. Is there anything um preventing this council from amending that policy to include homes from 2024? >> I I'd have to have staff do some more analysis. And we also want our attorney to weigh in on that. At this time, I can't answer that question. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. And um since it sounds like they're having troubles uh obtaining certain materials, I assume that they would have no issues if this council voted to cease the issuance of uh future building permits. Correct. >> I can't speak to that either. I'd have to talk with staff uh because the second and third order over effects of that would be significant. I John, do you have any thoughts on that? >> Uh mayor, council, I guess, correct me if I'm wrong. Once to start, are we we're talking about the the housing escrow ordinance, correct? That it was an ordinance, was it not? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, the and so the the effect of that obviously going forward. So, as far as your your previous question, as far as retroactive applicability being tied to the building permit, it would be difficult to do that. Now, um as far as conditioning future approvals, it would really depend on the budget development agreement. And so, there are specific requests related to that. There may be some some authority we can pull on there, but I think that's got to be part of what we look into is exhausting all options for what we have at our school. >> Yeah, I I understand. that, you know, we can't go back and change the rules retroactively, but moving forward, I would I would like to see us cease issuing building permits until they do get caught up. >> We we can definitely look at that as an option, but but there we there are some potential legal implications that we want to make sure we don't put ourselves in a >> in a position that we don't have the authority to put ourselves in. I can't answer that right now. There's probably two two ways to look at it or two areas to look at it in terms of future developments that don't have a development agreement yet and maybe link you to want to include and looking like you said John at the development agreement for that for bellweather or for whatever development that has having the same issue and seeing what that >> well said Mr. I would I would say that that that's maybe one one way that the lens through which you view this would be if your authority is linked exclusively to the building permit. You probably don't have a lot of option to do that. If you have under some other agreement, there may be a remedy. We have to look into the individual agreement. >> You need some time. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We have no other uh calls, emails, or cards. All righty. Then we will move on to Let's see here. Consent agenda items 6A through 6J which was added. Does anyone want to pull anything? Going once, going place. >> Motion to approve consent. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Okay, moving right along. We have no planning business tonight. No unfinished business. On to new business. Uh we have 9A the 2024 audit update. >> I'd like to invite Ryan Schmidt uh from Schlenner Winter and Company uh who conducted our audit. Uh before he speaks, mayor and council, I would just like to say how how proud I am of our team. Uh if you recall, uh when I started in December, we had a 2022 audit that wasn't complete, 2023 audit that hadn't happened, and we had some significant things to fix. And I'm super proud of the hard work that uh everybody has done. Uh the work on the escrow has been remarkable in order to fix that. The work in our accounts payable read has done a fantastic job uh all across the board to the point that uh what Ryan's going to talk with you about is the minor findings that they found were frankly either out of our control or something that we've already resolved. And so we have a clean opinion which not where we were a year ago and I'm super proud of our team. >> Well done you guys. >> Can we part of the rodeo >> absolutely >> Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor, if I may. >> You all ain't got to sit through this. >> Of course. >> But if you're leaving, >> if you're leaving, I better see you in the rodeo after I leave. >> Really good burgers and dogs and everything, guys. >> Thanks for stopping in. Thanks for coming. >> When I saw the crowd, I really thought here. >> He lied to me. >> I could I could make him stay if he want. >> There's a rodeo. >> I don't blame you. >> You got three minutes. >> Just kidding. >> You can assume we've read this. >> Yeah. All right. Well, you know, Jay really, you stole my hunger here. >> He He does that a lot. >> Yeah. Yeah. Basically, what I was going to say is that things went really well, but I'll I'll go through the the presentation here, which I passed out. I also pass a financial but large reports but we'll walk through the presentation and feel free to interrupt me and you know ask questions as we go. >> Sounds good. >> Yeah. So the the first page here I always like to start out with just a quick recap of you know what is the audit process and what's the purpose of the audit. So in a nutshell, really high level, an audit essentially consists of us reviewing your financial record from throughout the past year and really drilling down at that transaction level detail and looking at the supporting documentation transactions that are in your accounting system. So invoices, bank statements, reports from the states, etc. That combined with various analytics, inquiries, other procedures allows us to express an opinion on whether or not we feel your financials are accurate. The opinion that we've given you this year is what's called unmodified opinion. Next page. Uh this is basically where we just have to tell you how the audit went. So yes, you got that clean opinion, but did we see anything unusual? Did we have any difficulties getting the information we need so I would say that the audit went very smoothly? In fact, it went more smoothly than I maybe expected it to at the front end. being our first year auditing the city and there always being more work in my first year getting to know the city and also you know there were findings last year and I anticipated having to dive into a few of those things went very well and you'll see in the next few pages here that those those things are cleaned up. So as part of the audit process you know we don't just look at the numbers we also look at the processes and procedures that are behind the numbers. So we look controls you have in place and then we often times have internal control related findings to report. So the two items that I've bullet pointed on this page first one is audit adjustments. So many of the audits, I would say most of the audits we work on end up having a finding of some sort in their report for material audit adjustments. And this is a finding that you had last year. And what this means is that during the audit process, if we find errors, we help make corrections. We make adjustments to fix things and clean things up so that we can still give that opinion. Well, this year we actually did not have any significant adjustments. The numbers were already clean and things were already accurate. we started the audit. So, we were able to get rid of that. The next item on there, um, you know, when we first started the audit, we looked at last year's report and there were findings for segregation of duties and bank issues and escrosial audit adjustments. You know, during the audit, we went through each one of those areas this year and every single one. So we actually didn't have any internal control. We also review your compliance with Minnesota statutes during the audit. So the state gives us checklists related to each one of the areas listed out here. And the only item that we ran across this year is actually what I consider to be a pretty minor thing that happens from time to time. Um the the banks the balance that you have in deposits the bank increase and as a result it to the point where it was above and beyond the collateral that you had assigned. there's a statuto requal and those balances rise above and beyond that collateral then techian violation. Now this was a simple fix and it's already been resolved after year end of the issue they assign. Next page. This is a new thing this year. Um, whenever you receive federal funding that's over 750,000, there's what's called a single audit that needs to be performed, which is a little ironic because it's actually kind of like having a secondary audit in addition to the normal audit. But basically, this is an extra audit of your compiance with that federal program. And this relates to the HUD funding that you received for the water function project. So, We had your compiance with the federal program. Essentially, make sure that you did proper reporting, spent enough things you needed to, so on and so forth. And we had a clean opinion on compiance, a clean opinion on what you reported for federal expenditures. And then we did have one internal control related item here which I would say is one that we almost always run into when we have a city that doesn't often times get recurring federal awards and then you get this federal award that pushes you over the threshold audit and then you you know you didn't realize that you needed written policies in place to govern various things like how do you assess what costs are allowable conflicts of etc. So my understanding is that this policy in written terms has already been adopted last month. So you're compiance as well. All right, with that we'll get into the numbers a little bit here. Um really big picture just looking at the general fund for starters trend analysis here 2022 to 2024 and then also the budget thrown on there as well. Just from a really high level, you can see revenues exceeded budgeted amounts by about 542,000 and expenditures also exceeded budget amounts by about 640,000. So overall, you had budgeted to essentially break even for the year and your actual results are very close to that. You had an increase of about $55,000. Now the next two pages take those same revenues and expenditures from the general fund. break it down into a little bit greater detail. The revenues page here, not a whole lot to talk about. Each one of these categories is pretty close to budget. Property taxes, of course, the largest category right on budget there. And then licenses and permits was the biggest budgetary deviation there. You had about $365,000 more than Next page, same layout, looking at expenditures broken down into smaller categories. I'll talk about the first three real quick just because those are the larger categories. Under general government, we were over budget here about 680,000 uh various items related to this professional services. Next category here, public safety. over budget 126,000. We fighter were actually both under budget. It was the building inspection costs which pushed you budget which makes sense based on the additional and then public works here you were under budget about $260. And then the next page here we have your fund balance at the end of the year. the unassigned portion of your general fund balance and we have this turned into a ratio which is very common way. So we have your unassigned fund balance here as a percentage of your annual budgeted expenditures. You actually have a policy in place to have about five months worth expend that. We'll move away from the general fund and just talk quickly about some of the other major funs. The have a little more activity, a little bit more going on. Um, park capital fund here revenues about a million yearly parks expenditures 335,000 and overall an increase in your fund. The city center drive fund here you had bond proceeds in the prior year in 2023 and not much for revenues in 2024. Just have expenses for that project to the point where you had a deficit at the end of the year balance just next capital fund increased steadily up to about 5.28 million over the past couple years and that city center drive fund cash balance there is oh about negative 1.7 million which is currently at the end of 2024 being general I believe you have some amounts that are due from the state municipal state aid and next page those the debt service fund. Very standard activity here. Taxes and assessments for your revenues, debt service, principal interest payments for expenditures. Slight increase in fund balance there for the year. And then your non- major funds in aggregate decrease there about 746,000. There is full detail on each individual fund in the back years. proprietary funds here for starters. The graph at the top is focusing just on operating revenues and expend expenses over the past three years. And then there's a little more detail down at the bottom. Looking at operations, operating revenues increased about 185,000. Operating expenses increased about 176,000. And then there was quite a bit of nonoperating activity as you can see down in the table at the bottom here. So the nonoperating revenues increased quite a bit about three million of this is that HUD even though it didn't actually didn't actually receive that until after year end overall increase in that position Next page, sewer fund. Same layout. Operating revenues here increased about 135,000 versus operating expenses actually dropped off 72,000. Overall net position here about a million dollar connection. And then the next page just shows the cash both of those funds over the past few years. Um you can see the sewer fund has been on a bit of a steady rise there. And then the water fund a while back in 2023 you had bond issuance cash came in from that shot up and then dropped All right, with that we'll move away from the individual funds and just look at things really big picture here citywide with everything wrapped together. So this now includes not only current assets but also your capital assets. The next page here we have a page for liabilities which includes longterm capital assets just a slight increase here mostly converting that cash into long-term infrastructure and then on the liabilities page here just a slight decrease in liabilities as you're And then this page shows those same assets and liabilities and then the green is the net between the two. You can see the assets and liabilities trend together a bit on a net basis that increase. Then I just have two final slides in here forformational purposes. Um essentially this is this is long-term debt. This is not the balance that's outstanding, but this is the payment that is due each year until the debt is paid off based on debt that was outstanding. So this first page here is your governmental activities debt. This is the debt that's being financed primarily by property taxes assessments. And the next page is your business activities. The vast majority of this is your water information very quickly questions. I >> think we're good. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Well done. Congrats everybody. Good work. >> All righty. We don't need any motion or anything on that, right J? >> That's correct. All right, then we'll go on to 9B, which is the public works on call policy. Okay. >> Thank you, Mayor and Council. Included in the packet is a draft form of an on call policy that staff is recommending that council consider tonight and approve. Um, with the addition of the new critical infrastructure um, and recent organizational adjustments to compent class, it is necessary to implement an on call policy in public works. Um we consistent with a previously adopted council philosophy, the average compensation of our seven comparable cities was used to evaluate the program and policy in front of you. Um and I did want to note that of the other seven comparable cities, all of them had standby policy, which is really the biggest adjustment. All the other cities had standby policy. We did not. So it's a pretty big gap that we're trying to fill with policy recommendation. I do have I kind of pulled out some of the data here for the standby to just show you ranges and means if you have any specific question I'd be happy to dive into that. Um I did want to note that we will be tracking all of our own calls. There's actually one tonight I believe I go through. So it's you know we're growing up as a city with all the infrastructure. So it's a real deal that we have coverage 24 hours a day. Um and we're going to be tracking that and monitoring our program. But we do anticipate needs and those demands to grow. >> Yeah, I have a question. So, um I see you know it says uh weekdays Monday through Friday 1 hour, weekend Saturday, Sunday 3 hours. These are minimums, right? >> No. Well, just to clarify that's so there's a couple elements. I'll step back. So, in the on call policy, there's standby pay which is which is essentially what we call holding the phone, right? So, you're on call that first point of comes through you that rotates through non-exempt employees in this policy. So basically the compensation you get for being the standby person is what's outlined there. So Monday weekdays Monday through Friday they would get the equivalent if I made $40 an hour they would get $40. Their base salary is one hour times their base salary they would get to just hold the phone. Then there's a call back, there's verbiage and there call back means once there's an action, once there's an event or whatever a call, then some of those other milestones kick in, right? So if you're on a call, you get a minimum of two hours. It's if it's a three-hour event, you get that. If it's one hour, you get the minimum two. >> Okay? So if it's a if it's a call back, there's a minimum, right? So if if someone is called back for 30 minutes on a on a Saturday night, what what's the multiple? >> So let's just in that example, sometimes you could do hypothetical, right? So in that example, an individual's on call $40 an hour because it's a Saturday night. They're already getting paid $120 just to hold a phone in Saturday, right? Three hours three out three times 40. Um if they get a call, now they're in call back pay mode, right? call back pay. Uh they're there for 30 minutes. Um they would get two hours of time and a half. Two hours time and a half. So another 120 for that specific event. So >> that makes sense. >> Yeah. Yeah, it does. Thank you. >> Uh and I I you know, just proposing the next pay period will be effective July 19th. Um in terms of uh paying for it, uh there's kind of primary components. There's utilities and there's operations which is streets and parks and stuff. So, uh we would propose basically prorating and tracking it. So, they'd be paid for the sewer and water fund. Uh for those uh we anticipate approximately $25,000 to cover each of those divisions for a year. That's based on an average, you know, average employee, right? It's based on the hours just based on their base pay. So, it can vary by individual. And then the other $25,000 is out of the general fund for the operations that we are betting. So we're going to defer uh we have one vacancy for maintenance worker. We're going to defer that to the fourth quarter to cover 2025 and then we'll make a budget adjustment in 26 to cover this. So with that, I'd be happy to dig into any more further questions. Just want to go through a high level. >> Yeah, I I guess my only um other question. So let's say it's the weekend, you have a minimum standby of three hours. Let's say there's a call back of one hour, you know, whatever it is. Um, is it a total like does the one hour call back eat into the on call or can they overlap? >> So there's so standby is its own kind of compensation, right? So that's holding the phone. So you can park that. That's an automatic day. compensation. Once you're in a call back scenario, that's kind of the window, right? So, let's say it's 700 p.m. and we have an issue with the lift station. You're you get the call, it's an issue, you get the alarm, you you head in, it takes you, let's just say three hours. Okay? You get compens that individual comes in, get compensated an additional three hours times one and a half. Gotcha. If if they're if they're in in the city working and they get another alarm because the power is going out, they got to go to a different lift station, they're still in the call back window. So, if it let's just say it takes them another hour, they're just they got the they're in that call back window. So, they would get 3 plus one for four, right? In a different scenario similar to that, Saturday, they get in, they leave, they pull in their driveway, they take a shower, 10 minutes later, they get called again because the uh then they would be back in a new clock for the call back period. So say so in theory you could come back in for 30 minutes and get a full two hours. So each time you're back home and get a call it can reset. If you're in working and you get a call that's just part of the original call. Sure. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Seems fair. >> A quick question. So like if somebody has would you have overtime in that week then? So this addresses basically so this addresses B the policy addresses any like there could be scheduled work outside of it. So anything outside of the regular 40 is a time and a half. Holidays are two times hey. So if you if like I know the treatment plant's going to have daily check-ins here when we're operating. So, if they're scheduled to come in for uh their rounds, uh that's schedule time. That's not part of call back, but then it's compensated at time and a half. If you're snow plowing at 2 in the morning, it's time and a half. We we've been working full 40our weeks for quite a while now, but so this is this policy is really intended to look at outside of the full 40hour week. >> Does that make sense? >> I think so. So, they wouldn't they would be entitled to overtime then. Like, so if you're on call and you get a call at 11 o'clock at night and you work till 10 o'clock, you're still going to get paid overtime for those >> whatever four hours from 4 to 10 or 6 or 9 or whatever it is. Plus, then you would >> then then this policy would kick in after they got home at 11 o'clock and had to go back or something. >> So, if it's scheduled work, that's not considered call back, right? So, let's say it's scheduled work rounds on the weekends to look at the plan. That's that's part of scheduled work. It is compensated proposed compensated time. >> Um, typically the person that's on standby is going to be the person doing the scheduled work on the weekends because that makes sense, right? And you know, so let's in that scenario, I've got my 120 hours for carrying the phone on Saturday. I'm doing my call it two hour rounds. So I get two hours times time and a half and then I'm about to get home in the shower and the phone rings. Now I'm in the call back period and I could be eligible for a two hour minimum or whatever it takes to do the work. >> Does that make sense? It depends on kind of like what queue you go into, how you analyze that. So, >> we'll track all that. It'll have to be monitored by our superintendent. You know, we we're relying on quality employees to take care of our quality infrastructure. That means a lot. So, you know, I think it makes a lot of sense for a community to go this route. To your point, it depends on what queue you're in, kind of how it's compensated. But in general, outside of the 40 hours, this policy uh regular non holidays it's time and a half for holidays it's two times which current policy is two times anyways for holiday >> the nexus for this is the fact that we have so much infrastructure that needs different attention uh since this time last year we've now added three employees in order to take care of that infrastructure and uh truth be known we probably needed something like this with the way that our employees were responding previously uh we just weren't at a place to be able to do it >> uh and so to Kevin's point we're going to sharing this opportunity across the board. Uh but the primary folks that are going to be carrying it a lot are our utilities team. >> Is there um is there a need for like additional vehicles or do they have enough vehicles to utilize to do something like this? >> We have that all planned. >> Um we're waiting on a couple new ones that got delayed for two utility folks, but yeah, we've got that accommodated in previous approval. So no additional vehicles. >> Okay. >> Quick question. The second sentence of this policy um reads uh employees who are on call must diagnose and respond within 15 minutes or less. What do you mean by diagnose? >> It means sometimes we get like a false call, right? So someone's call and sometimes we get calls from Cork in California like so I mean that's an we get that but if it's someone calls from California and you diagnose it like wrong number call your zip codes, you know, 616. So that's kind of a false call. So that diagnosis period is just, you know, sometimes sometimes it's more important to recognize and diagnose the situation and call other people in. So some emergencies require getting other people to get there. So it's the diagnosis period is almost more important. Some of the stuff like the treatment plans or whatever can be done over the fall. You can talk a resident through shut off the water and it's good until the next day. So I might not need to rally the Right. So that diagnosis period is super important to get everyone there as fast as possible. So and so we wanted to highlight that because not not always do you have to go in to actually solve the problem. And so it gets kind of nuanced and you know we'll be documenting the types of calls and leaning on your team to do that. Um but I think that's what that's really intended to be is that diagnosis is more critical than getting in the truck and driving because when you're driving you can't really you shouldn't be coordinating type you know that type of stuff. So just slowing down assessing the situation, getting everything moving and then getting in here is the diagnosis was actually more important. So, we wanted to highlight that >> in medical terms is triage, >> right? >> Do we have like a backup plan too? So, like let's say this never ever happens, but like something's happening at the water treatment facility and it's tied to the water tower. Is there like a backup person in case we need two people? >> Yeah. And so, that's addressed in there. So, if you're not standby, you get called in uh your have a three-hour minimum because it's more of a surprise. Um, we were going to have to lean on our superintendent and this folks Joe the superintendents are still going to be the relay, right? So, if there's a employee that's like, oh, this is, you know, fairly new or I don't know. He should he's going to be trained to recognize I got to contact my supervisor. I need additional assistance. So, you know, that's a primary backup. We have um you know sewer or utilities and ops will both have standby people that are ready and then we have other people. We're a small team so everyone any large event almost everyone still gets called in individually. We're just really trying to address those you know nightly calls in some cases that just you know we have to pick up but we don't want everyone to be burdened waiting for the phone ring. So we're trying to kind of funnel the information through a call person. This is very common reiterating, we're the only one of the seven comparable cities that don't currently have that kind of approach. And so we're not reinventing the wheel. Everyone is a little different. We're customizing it to our needs. So every one of these is not the same. So we just we took the average and said, "Hey, this is general, you know, compensation and this is where we think it best fits our needs." >> It definitely the way that the team has operated and will continue to operate as they have each other's back. >> No, I think it's really good. I think it's been something that's been in progress for like the last at least five years. So, it's good to see that it's finally something that's coming to fruition. >> Yeah, I think I think it'll be very much appreciative of our staff. We lean on our staff for a long time and capacity like our peer cities have. So, I strongly advocate this consideration tonight and >> we'll do our best to monitor and keep bringing value to to our customers. >> Mayor, can I make a motion to approve? >> All right. I'd like to make a motion to approve as staff presented. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> That is a draw. You get to pick. >> I'll let Mark have. >> All right. Uh, any further discussion? >> All right. >> All those in favor say I. >> Not that I'm trying to speed it up. >> On to 9C. This one should be quick. Um, wershed commissioner appointment. Uh Jeremy, Kevin, Lauren, and I uh interviewed a couple interested candidates um last week. Oh, this is Were you in there? >> No, we talked about it that it all blends together. Uh but it was good interviews. Um, and Jeremy and I discussed afterwards and we uh wanted to and I'll go ahead and make the motion to appoint uh Lauren Evanro to the Elm Creek Wershed Commission. >> I'll second. >> Any further discussion? >> He's the resident that's lived here for 40 years. >> He >> or is he the one that, >> let me see, >> came in two or three years ago? >> I think he's the the newer resident. Um trying to remember what he had on his he is a newer res >> what he had on his application. >> Three years. >> Yes. >> And just why why that choice? If I I'm I'm in agreement, but why that choice? um the they both had different but kind of I think uh experience that could be applicable but we thought maybe this his specific experience was okay a little more directly tied that um there's going to be a learning curve regardless but um >> you know >> uh it was a I don't think we could have gone wrong either way I think it was just he stood out >> thanks for doing it you guys very much >> of All righty. So with that we have a motion and a second. That was the discussion. Um all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Perfect. And then we are done with major item staff reports. >> So uh first thing uh mayor and council uh construction on the park will begin next Wednesday. Uh pretty exciting. Uh this is a clip that is currently on social media letting everybody know that the park will be closed. Uh except for the areas, those fields that have been identified beginning uh Wednesday the 16th. Also, night's coming up quick. Uh in case you forgot, mark your calendars. Uh question J, Mr. Mayor, if I may, on the parks closing. Um there was somebody on the on Facebook want to know if they could purchase the old playground equipment. >> So So staff has to talk about that since I saw that. >> Sounds good. You guys saw that. Perfect. Uh and and then with that, one of the things that's been identified in this process as we're closing it is unfortunately Emerald Ashbbor has attacked like crazy, like terrible. Uh staff has done a good job finding someone that can remove those uh trees at a at a good >> uh expense for us, only $150 per trees. There's some other things involved. High volume of trees. So uh we're up with over 30 in the park. And then we have additional trees that are adjacent on the property that we purchased last year. >> Uh so that fence will be coming down and those trees will be coming out. Uh so a lot of trees. Uh and we got a good deal on it. Um I don't think we have anything yet on that Kevin. >> So no, I think we're going to recommend like authorize that work to go through and figure out a way to pay for it. It's um between those two. I think it's uh >> it'll be within my authorization. It'll be like 16,000 but high value like I said and that includes disposable something that we couldn't self-perform so we wanted to >> we doing a bonfire >> uh don't know how they're going to dispose of it as of right now they cut them up they grind the stumps and they haul them away >> so it's high volume unfortunately it's going to look a lot different but there if you haven't been out there it's >> I would I would have bought marshmallows and Hershey bars and graham crackers if we were doing something >> two quick things. One is I believe Met Council and or the state has a program for some funding for this type of removal. >> There is a grant. I was going to suggest the same thing. >> I I'll double check on on the language on that. I think the fact that this is they're cutting all the trees down next Wednesday. >> I don't know that we'll be able to apply for grants. >> No, for that one, but like for future grants and it also applies to residents in your city, too. >> Oh, that's helpful. This might be a good opportunity for us to educate on that. Um, and then the other thing is for, you know, you were talking about how it might look a little different with all the removals. I believe we have in our one of our policies about landscaping on new developments when they can't fit on the site that they can go to another basically. >> Oh, maybe we can get them to plant trees there. >> Yeah, >> there you go. Good idea. >> Yeah, we'll talk about that next week. Uh, and then next one, uh, remember we were having the photo contest for what to put on the wall behind me, and the winners are, these are our three winners. Uh, so Lindsay wowed us with the Shy Farm. Uh, second place was Leslie, the 1907 barn, and the serene view at home from Hannah. So, these are the three pictures that uh, the public voted on and selected, and they will be >> uh, printed and placed on the wall behind me by the next council. >> That that second picture looks awful familiar. >> So, uh that's >> great choices everybody. Good job. Public public did the voting, right? >> They did. >> Great job. >> Uh so so that's with that. Uh I have two more things for you. One, we have the opportunity uh Continental reached out to me and uh we're going to be meeting with them next week. They're having a difficult time trying to meet council's guidance on finding a commercial uh retail partner because of what's happened with the market. And so they have actually gone out and they've engaged someone to do a market rate study on their property. And then they reached out to me and this might be an opportunity for the city to save some money since they're paying for part of it. If you recall, we were talking about examining that corridor on what we could do uh because we've had some challenges trying to do this. So if they're going to do our last market rate study for that area was in 2008 and so our understanding of how the market worked in 2008 is way different than how it works in 2025. And this is something that we would want to do as part of the comp plan anyways. So doing this work now and having somebody else pay for part of it, uh it's a good opportunity, but I don't know what it's going to cost yet. I just wanted you to be aware that we're meeting with them next week to see if this is an opportunity for us to cool >> to seize. Uh the last thing is I followed up uh on the guidance that you've given us and uh our director of public safety and I have been meeting with our fire service partners. We met with two of them today and we'll be meeting with one on Monday. made them aware that um that our space needs study is out uh and gauging their interest in uh on the civic campus for filling a fire service space. So, it was a really productive conversation today. We're having the same conversation with each of them to see how they're interested in. Uh they will also all be at the work session on the 24th. Uh so that was one thing. And then the thing that I need guidance from council on is I have heard from uh fire chiefs that there's been interest to them uh from some council members to attend the quarterly fire meetings. Uh the concern that I have and that they may have is if we have more than two council members at a meeting, we have to public notice it or we violate the open meeting law. >> And so I wanted to get some guidance on how you want to handle meeting attendance. Uh uh in historically um my understanding is it's been one of two ways. We've had a fire service committee which we can discuss on the 24th during the work session uh or for the last probably year and a half it's been the public service public safety director and the mayor. And so on the 24th uh hoping to get some clear guidance on what you want to do with that. Um, but if we have two or more, please let me know if you're going because we do have to provide public notice. >> The other thing we could do would be like uh like we do for interviews for commissioners like rotating me and >> to quarterly meetings. >> Yeah, something like that. >> Um, and one of the concerns that came up as I was talking with them uh is how some of their other partners will respond if they find out that we have two or three council members attending. are the other cities also gonna and then it becomes a really hard manage meeting >> stand out and if we have more than two I've never seen typically it's just the mayor um and staff occasionally it will be another council member in place of the mayor and maybe one or two times then a council member and a mayor so >> Mr. Mayor. Yeah. >> Never thought I'd ask and be excused. Go to the road here. >> My rights. >> Appreciate it. Thank you guys. >> Thank you. Got to have priorities. >> We're good. >> Have fun. >> Good. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you. >> I got to be selfish once. >> Um so just >> so I'll bring it back. Uh when when we meet on the 24th uh we we can talk more if you want to think about it more but but I do need to get some guidance on that so that we don't unintentionally violate the open meeting law >> how much effort is it to issue a notification is that a lot of work to do >> it's not a lot of work but the timing of it is what's critical >> okay all right >> uh and >> I think the point that Jay made about how the other cities might react is maybe the bigger issue because I do feel like >> so so I only experienced it once uh so I don't go to the council because I recognized that we were having too many people there. So, our public safety director goes and and then he back briefs me. Um, and when we when they were talking about some of the mergers going on and and there were some specific districtricting, those meetings got pretty crazy. >> Yes, it did. >> Uh, so the mayor was attending remotely and some cities had as many as five people there and it just >> the meeting was logistically a nightmare. >> Not great. uh because it's supposed to be just an update. Uh they they send us the quarterly report. It's not even supposed to be that kind of exchange. It's supposed to be informationational exchange. Um so that's that's just my request is that we know so we don't unintentionally violate the open meeting law. >> Sounds good. >> That's all. >> Looking for another one. There's only three of us. Um okay. Anything else? >> No sir. >> Anyone else? Work session starts at five. >> Five. Okay. Write that down. I definitely have 5:30 in my calendar. >> Um, anything from council other than we got rodeo going on obviously and country days coming up and >> night to unite before that? >> Uh, that's what I meant actually. And then country days and then uh in between there actually there's Birchville. Oh yeah. >> Schoolhouse Summerfest >> on the 10th I believe it is. And then in September we have park in the park. >> So question with the park closing. >> I don't have an answer about park in the park yet. >> Okay. >> That that has been a discussion to be determined. >> Uh there's been some recommendations but I don't know what they landed yet. >> Sounds good. Worst case we can do it at my house. I already got two. >> All righty. Um >> be pretty rough. But um we're off. He'll be here all week. Um with that, we've got our city council schedule on there. Uh obviously living document can change, but we all we got coming up. And with that, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I.