This transcript is from a **White Bear Lake City Council** meeting. Based on the context of the dialogue, the names mentioned in the meeting, and the specific roles of the participants, I have identified the speakers. **Cast of Speakers:** * **Mayor:** Dan Steffens * **Lindy Crawford:** City Manager * **Bill Walsh:** Council Member (Ward 1) * **Kevin Edberg:** Council Member (Ward 2) * **Danielle West:** Council Member (Ward 3) * **Bill Hei:** Council Member (Ward 4) * **Angela Lewis Deelo:** President/CEO of Northeast Youth and Family Services (NYFS) * **Dr. Gail Cederberg:** Metropolitan Council Representative (District 11) * **Tracy Shimek:** Community Development Director * **Rick Juba:** Assistant City Manager * **Public Speakers:** Brian Hansen, Bob Hegel, Fred Ames. *** [0:02] **Steve:** Windy that's right wasn't just one room this was a high school [Laughter] [0:08] **Bill Walsh:** Steve okay what year did you graduate from high school? [0:12] **Steve:** 89. [0:13] **Bill Walsh:** 89. Have you looked on your high school diploma lately? [0:16] **Steve:** No. [0:17] **Bill Walsh:** Take a look. I think my name is on your diploma. [0:20] **Steve:** Oh my God! I know it was on Jones's... you could move it down. No. [1:08] **Bill Walsh:** Didn't grow up right there Steve? Absolutely obviously. So we closed on... yeah well we should. I love his message. Um some other day I will tell you about the rest of the story. [2:12] **Bill Walsh:** You laughed at me when I said to be mad. I'm famous for not doing math. The 2016 election, one on the phone with my colleague Rachel, I jump... it’s 3 in the morning. Phones, hold on I got to talk. And he's like doing the math. Yes Bill, we won! I got to call Rachel. Call Rachel. Rachel we got it! Neither of us can do math so all bummed out until Dallas did the math. It’s like a famous story, the two of us just can’t believe like yes, we lost that one but we won this one. Oh yeah, it’s not actually... do more math before we... [3:46] **Mayor Steffens:** All right we're going to call the meeting to order. Will the clerk please note those in attendance? It will be noted. Thank you. Will you please rise and join me in 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. [4:16] **Mayor Steffens:** All right we're going to jump right into item 2A, minutes of the regular city council meeting on November 26, 2024. I would entertain a motion to approve the minutes. [4:25] **Council Member:** So moved. [4:26] **Council Member:** Second. [4:27] **Mayor Steffens:** All those in favor say Aye. [4:28] **Council:** Aye. [4:29] **Mayor Steffens:** Any opposed? Motion carries, minutes are approved. Item three, adoption of the agenda. Is there any corrections or amendments to the agenda? Seeing none I'd entertain a motion to approve the agenda. [4:38] **Council Member:** Second. [4:39] **Mayor Steffens:** Motion and a second. All those in favor say Aye. [4:40] **Council:** Aye. [4:41] **Mayor Steffens:** Any opposed? Motion carries. We have an agenda. Item four, consent agenda. I’d entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. [4:48] **Council Member:** So moved. [4:49] **Council Member:** Second. [4:50] **Mayor Steffens:** Have a motion and a second. All those in favor say Aye. [4:51] **Council:** Aye. [4:52] **Mayor Steffens:** Any opposed? Consent agenda is approved. Item five, visitors and presentation. We have a presentation from the Northeast Youth and Family Services and we have an annual report and services agreement. Miss Crawford when you're ready. [5:02] **Lindy Crawford:** Thank you, Mayor, members of the Council. Angela Lewis Deelo, President/CEO of NYFS is here tonight to give an annual update to the city council. In your packet, you also have several handouts, their brochure and our specific White Bear Lake report. And then we have two service agreements that we adopt annually and those are also in your packet for you to consider adopting for the year 2025 after Angie is done with her presentation. So I invite you to the podium and there's a clicker up there for you. [5:48] **Angela Lewis Deelo:** Excellent. All right, good evening Mayor and City Council Members. Thank you so much for having me here. I'm excited to do an update on where NYFS is right now and to answer any questions that you have about our services. [Presentation continues through history and missions...] [18:49] **Mayor Steffens:** Thank you. I don't have any questions except to just say thank you to you and your staff for all that you do. It's a critical service that you provide in the community. Certainly support this resolution and support continuing our partnership. So a heartfelt thank you for all that you do. Council, do we have questions or would someone like to move the resolution? Council Member Edberg. [19:27] **Kevin Edberg:** Thank you, Mayor. I've got a couple of different questions in some different areas. So our society at large is going through a whole huge waves of demographic change. Some of that is for youth but not all of it. What are you seeing? [Questions continue regarding workforce and domestic violence stats...] [26:40] **Mayor Steffens:** Council, any other questions or comments? If not I would entertain a motion to approve the resolution. [27:07] **Council Member:** So moved. [27:08] **Council Member:** Second. [27:09] **Mayor Steffens:** I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none all those in favor say Aye. [27:12] **Council:** Aye. [27:13] **Mayor Steffens:** Any opposed? Motion carries. The resolution is passed. Thank you. [27:15] **Mayor Steffens:** All right item 5B, Metropolitan Council representative Dr. Gail Cederberg. Miss Crawford. [27:18] **Lindy Crawford:** Thank you Mayor, members of the Council. As you just said, our Met Council representative has requested to visit with the city council tonight. And so she is here, Dr. Gail Cederberg. The presentation will be on the screen. [27:48] **Dr. Gail Cederberg:** Well thank you Mayor and council members and City staff and community members. I just wanted to talk a little bit about the Met Council, the roles we play, the role I play as the District 11 representative representing White Bear Lake and my contact information. [Presentation regarding regional planning, water supply, and transit...] [45:44] **Kevin Edberg:** So I didn't know you had a hydrology background. [45:47] **Dr. Gail Cederberg:** Oh yes, I spent six years doing groundwater modeling hydrogeology. [45:51] **Kevin Edberg:** So obviously the issues of sourcing drinking water... I'm more intrigued with the question of groundwater recharge. Why are we not looking at the Northeast Metro as a mechanism for waste treatment that recharges our groundwater supplies rather than continually mining our water and shipping it to the gulf? [46:38] **Dr. Gail Cederberg:** That has been a discussion in the work group and I think it is included in one of the options that is going to be studied. [Discussion on water reuse and conservation...] [48:57] **Mayor Steffens:** Thank you again. Thank you Council members. [49:07] **Mayor Steffens:** All right item 6A, the 2025 final budget tax levy and truth and taxation hearing. Miss Crawford. [49:10] **Lindy Crawford:** Thank you Mayor, members of the Council. I'm going to try like quadruple task here so bear with me. Tonight I'm going to present the 2025 general fund and other operating budgets as well as the 25 tax levy. [Detailed budget presentation including salary adjustments, public safety staffing, and property tax comparisons...] [1:06:05] **Mayor Steffens:** Tonight I do recommend that the city council conduct the truth and taxation hearing. At this time we will open up the truth and taxation hearing to the public. First name on my list is Brian Hansen. If you could state your name and address for the record that'd be great. [1:07:05] **Brian Hansen:** Well thank you very much. I appreciate the opportunity. My wife and I live at 4779 Lake Avenue. We have been here for about 35 years. I just wish to be on record in protest for the amount of taxation increase every year. Our property values have been going up 20% and this year is no exception, but the city taxes have gone up 36% and that's what makes me a little bit ticked off. It's just not good policy. Thank you. [1:08:44] **Mayor Steffens:** Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak at the truth and taxation hearing? [1:08:57] **Bob Hegel:** Good evening, my name is Bob Hegel. My wife and I live at 4300 Cottage Park Road. Our taxes are going up 26%. That's unrealistic. It's unsustainable. In a matter of a couple years, we'll be on fixed income. I think I need some representation and it doesn't seem like we're getting it. Thank you. [1:10:05] **Fred Ames:** Well I hate to sound like a broken record, my name is Fred Ames. My wife Christie and I live on 10th Street. My White Bear Lake taxes went up 32.7%. Good Lord, enough. Thank you. [1:10:52] **Mayor Steffens:** Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak to this issue? All right, seeing none I will close the truth and taxation hearing and bring it back to the Council. Council, do we have any questions for Miss Crawford or comments? Who would like to kick things off? [1:11:15] **Bill Walsh:** Mr. Mayor, I will. So the payroll technician is in the budget currently? Well I guess I'll just... do we have to move a resolution before we can move an amendment? I'm just asking questions at this point. [1:11:34] **Mayor Steffens:** Questions? [1:11:38] **Bill Walsh:** Well I don't have any questions I'll just make a few comments. This is my ninth year on the Council, my ninth budget. This is the first time we've had people come to a truth and taxation hearing and speak against it. It tells me we might have reached a point where we're finally putting some pinch on for people. [Walsh expresses concern over the 14.85% increase...] [1:13:50] **Kevin Edberg:** I'm not going to try and diminish the concerns but I do want to provide some context. For the last 17 years, the average year-over-year increase is under 4%. We have been frugal because our taxes are really low compared to Suburban communities. The single biggest thing driving the increase has been Public Safety. We have hired 18 new firefighter EMTs. The old pay-on-call model was no longer sustainable. [1:20:49] **Mayor Steffens:** Well before we get to what sounds like our amendments, which I'm open to, I want to share my general thoughts. I grapple with this a lot. I look at it from the standpoint of: do we want more potholes or less? How's the drinking water? I feel like a lot of deferred maintenance is coming to a head. I trust City staff when they say we're woefully behind the market in what we're paying employees. If I'm going to send a tax dollar somewhere, I have a whole lot more confidence in sending it to my local government than the state or US government. [1:27:55] **Bill Walsh:** Mr. Mayor, I don't disagree with what you're saying. But where I'm sitting here today is that we've gotten a lot of feedback. I think we should cut it a little bit from where we were in September. We've replaced the comms specialist with a payroll technician. I think we should shave it by 2%. I’ll move the resolution to get it on the table. [1:38:30] **Bill Walsh:** I move the resolution approving the 2024 tax levy for taxes collectible in 2025. [1:38:40] **Bill Hei:** Second. [1:38:45] **Bill Walsh:** At this point I would move to amend that resolution. The general fund number would go to 11,113,000. That would represent a 12.85% increase instead of 14.85%. It’s a message that we’re listening. [1:41:37] **Kevin Edberg:** Mr. Walsh, you’ve been incubating this idea... when did you engage with our professional staff on this? I don't think you've honored the respect that you owe to our professional staff. I'm not in favor of managing by Voodoo or putting pressure to go and solve problems that are our job. [1:45:30] **Bill Hei:** I actually was the originator of this idea back a month and a half ago. It is my job to approve the budget, it is not my job to write the budget. My priority is to the taxpayer that lives next to me. I can’t approve this just willy-nilly. Pinch it. I’m sorry, it’s not fun, but do less with it. [1:49:10] **Danielle West:** I totally get it for a lot of the people on limited incomes. But the practical thing is, if you want to cut, you have to choose what we're not going to fund. By saying "just make the cuts," we're abdicating our job. I don't want people paying in 10 years for our decisions today because we decided to keep the levy lower. [1:55:10] **Mayor Steffens:** We have a motion and a second to amend the tax levy, effectively reducing it by 2%. All those in favor say Aye. [1:55:30] **Bill Walsh / Bill Hei:** Aye. [1:55:32] **Mayor Steffens:** All those opposed say Nay. [1:55:33] **Mayor / Edberg / West:** Nay. [1:55:34] **Mayor Steffens:** The motion fails by a vote of 3 to 2. We still have the main resolution before us at 14.85% as written. All those in favor say Aye. [1:55:40] **Mayor / Edberg / West:** Aye. [1:55:41] **Mayor Steffens:** All those opposed? [1:55:42] **Bill Walsh / Bill Hei:** No. [1:55:43] **Mayor Steffens:** By a vote of 3 to 2, the resolution is approved. [1:56:28] **Mayor Steffens:** Item 6B, resolution approving the 2025 budget. [1:56:40] **Kevin Edberg:** Move to approve. [1:56:41] **Danielle West:** Second. [1:56:42] **Mayor Steffens:** All those in favor say Aye. [1:57:40] **Mayor / Edberg / West:** Aye. [1:57:41] **Mayor Steffens:** Any opposed? [1:57:42] **Bill Walsh / Bill Hei:** No. [1:57:43] **Mayor Steffens:** Vote of 3 to 2, the 2025 budget is approved. [1:57:59] **Mayor Steffens:** Resolution committing fund balances. [1:58:25] **Bill Walsh:** Could we slow down just a minute and maybe get an explanation? [1:59:05] **Finance Staff:** Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, this resolution is being done for our Auditors. It says the fund balance in each of those funds is being committed to the purpose of the funds. [2:01:23] **Mayor Steffens:** Item 7A, second reading of an ordinance establishing the 2025 fee schedule. Miss Crawford. [2:01:30] **Lindy Crawford:** Thank you Mayor. This is the second reading. No changes from the first reading. [2:05:19] **Mayor Steffens:** Item 8A, Ramsey County site assessment grant. Miss Shimek. [2:05:25] **Tracy Shimek:** Thank you Mayor. We entered into a purchase agreement to purchase surplus property from Hammer and Northeast Residences. We applied for a $25,000 grant from Ramsey County for environmental assessments. [Discussion on the "strings" of the grant regarding mixed-use housing...] [2:14:00] **Mayor Steffens:** Item 8B, labor agreement with International Association of Firefighters. Mr. Juba. [2:14:15] **Rick Juba:** Thank you Mayor. This covers our 15 full-time firefighter medics and three captains for 2025-2026. Includes a 3% COLA. [Resolution is amended to correct dates and approved...] [2:22:31] **Mayor Steffens:** Item 10, Communications from the city manager. Miss Crawford. [2:22:40] **Lindy Crawford:** Thank you Mayor. Century North reconstruction open house is Monday. Winter Fest is this Saturday. Fire safety with Santa is Sunday. City offices closed Dec 24 and 25. [2:24:02] **Mayor Steffens:** High school students, welcome. You drew the short straw in terms of time tonight, but you got to see the Council do the most important thing we do. I hope you learned a little something. I would entertain a motion to adjourn. [2:25:35] **Bill Walsh:** Mr. Mayor, point of order... we have an HRA meeting also. [2:26:19] **Mayor Steffens:** We’ll sign papers and then convene the HRA. All those in favor say Aye. Meeting adjourned.