This transcript has been formatted with the correct speaker names based on the provided city official list and internal context from the dialogue. Note on phonetic names in the original text: "Teal" has been corrected to **Chuck Thiele**, "Venus/Van Sloo" to **Peter van Sluis**, and "Dumba/Don Booya" to **Adama Youhn Doumbouya**. *** **[0:00] Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025. First item is roll call. Council member Barnes? **[0:03] Mandy Barnes:** Here. **[0:04] Heather Slechta:** Doumbouya? **[0:05] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Here. **[0:06] Heather Slechta:** Ross? **[0:07] Royal Ross:** Here. **[0:08] Heather Slechta:** Rowan? **[0:09] John Rowan:** Here. **[0:10] Heather Slechta:** van Sluis? **[0:11] Peter van Sluis:** Here. **[0:12] Heather Slechta:** Thiele? **[0:13] Chuck Thiele:** Here. **[0:14] Heather Slechta:** Mayor Spooner? **[0:15] Mayor Spooner:** Here. Uh, 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. [0:36] Second item tonight is approval of the agenda. **[0:40] Royal Ross:** Mayor Spooner. **[0:42] Mayor Spooner:** Yes, Mr. Ross. **[0:43] Royal Ross:** I would like to make a motion to move item 8G, the resolution 25-244, acceptance of the 2024 audited financial statements to the beginning of item 8 items for discussion. If nobody else minds. **[0:58] Mayor Spooner:** You understand that? **[1:00] Jessica Kinser (City Administrator):** Yep. **[1:02] Mayor Spooner:** All those in favor of the approval of the amended agenda signify by saying I. **[1:05] Council Members:** I. I. I. **[1:07] Mayor Spooner:** All opposed? That passes. Presentations and introductions—we have none tonight. Approval of the minutes of September 9th, 2025, and the September 26, 2025, special city council meeting. **[1:26] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Mayor Spooner. **[1:28] Mayor Spooner:** Yes. **[1:29] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Through the meeting, the minutes... and I did not see the question on the preliminary tax and vision state. **[1:42] Jessica Kinser:** Those are—those are in work sessions. So, we take notes for those, but we don't ever publish those or have you formally approve those notes. **[1:55] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Okay. **[1:56] Jessica Kinser:** But they are available for inspection in the City Clerk's office. **[2:01] Mayor Spooner:** Okay. So, I'll entertain a motion for those two. **[2:05] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** So move. **[2:07] Mayor Spooner:** Yes. Motion by Doumbouya, second by Ross. All those in favor? **[2:11] Council Members:** I. I. **[2:13] Mayor Spooner:** Motion passes. Tonight, request to be heard. I believe we have one request to be heard tonight. Would you like to come forward? Three minutes. **[2:25] Katherine "Cat" Roll:** Thank you for hearing me. I reach out to the city... they had a lad that came hooked up a hose to, and this is my water and I just was wanting to see if any of you would bathe or drink in this. And I have been being told, "Oh, we're going to fix it. We're going to fix it." And it’s not getting fixed. In 2021 that was—they were going to fix it. I'm sorry, '22. But in '23 it didn't happen. And then in '24 we had the floods. So I thought we'll just be patient. And now it's the end of 2025 and here I am with this water now. No, I don't drink this water. My son put in an RO sink and that's what we drink. But we have to bathe in this and I wash my clothes in this. I mean, I pay my water bill every month. I've never not paid it. It's never been late. Guys, bathe and drink and live with this. If this is what you paid for, that's why I'm here. Because something needs to be done. And I know you can't fix the dead-end water main now that this season is almost over, but there has to be—we—there's a lot of great smart minds here that for my husband and I... and my husband's handicapped in the military and he worked all his life, doesn't deserve water like this. And Culligan water was there at the house when city water technician hooked up the hose to my main. So, they were there and they tested it. I have those results and I'm sure you're not going to problem solve right now, but have any questions of me? **[4:50] Mayor Spooner:** What was the address? **[4:52] Katherine "Cat" Roll:** 502 13th Street Northwest. **[4:55] Mayor Spooner:** And your name? Please state your name for the record. **[4:58] Katherine "Cat" Roll:** Oh, Cat Roll. It's Katherine. Katherine Roll. **[5:02] Mandy Barnes:** Ms. Roll, is your water always like this every day? **[5:10] Katherine "Cat" Roll:** Some days it's a little less. Um, I have pictures. My bathtub looks like when this—this is the worst I've ever seen it. But my shower is indicative of this 'cause the floor and the walls and my husband's shower chair is just red, rust red. My shower curtain—I have to wash it all the time. **[5:40] Royal Ross:** Okay. Thank you. **[5:42] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** And you say it's been like that for the past three years? **[5:45] Katherine "Cat" Roll:** Three years. For the past three years. **[5:48] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** We've been there since 2020, but I reached out in— **[5:54] Mayor Spooner:** How many times would you say you've reached out to— **[6:00] Katherine "Cat" Roll:** Um, in 20—when did he come? 2023. It was four or five times but other than that it's once or twice. They're going to make it so the water doesn't just stop at my house or right after. **[6:16] Mayor Spooner:** Hey, I want to thank you. We're past the three minutes and I appreciate you uh emailing us with this the other night and bringing it to our attention. And we've talked to staff and now that we know about it, uh let's hopefully we can get some progress on this situation. **[6:40] Katherine "Cat" Roll:** Thank you. Thank you. **[6:42] Mayor Spooner:** All right. On to item six, consent agenda items or consent agenda A through 6M. **[6:56] Royal Ross:** Mayor Spooner. **[6:58] Mayor Spooner:** Yes. **[6:59] Royal Ross:** I'll make a motion to approve consent agenda items 6A through 6M. **[7:05] John Rowan:** I'll second. **[7:07] Mayor Spooner:** Motion by Ross, second by Rowan to approve 6A through 6M. **[7:11] Council Members:** I. **[7:12] Mayor Spooner:** All opposed? Motion passes. Hearings—we have none. We are approved agenda. We are going to jump ahead to item G: Resolution 2025-244, acceptance of the 2024 audited financial statements. Jessica. **[7:34] Jessica Kinser:** Yes. Um, I'm going to introduce my role in this will be basically as controlling the presentation. Um, but I do want to introduce Ryan Ingleststead with Bergen KDV. He is our audit manager and is here to do a presentation for you tonight. The um full audit report did go out into the packet. Um, so it is available for you to review, though it is hundreds of pages long and so, um, it's not one that I expected you to review for tonight, but Ryan's going to hit the high points of it. **[8:12] Ryan Ingleststead (Bergen KDV):** Yep. Thank you, Jessica. Uh, good evening, Mr. Mayor, and members of the council. Thank you for having me, and it's a pleasure to be here to present the results of uh the audit work that we did for the city for the 2024 year. [Proceeds to give a detailed 20-minute audit presentation through 28:20] ... So I'll I'll take any questions. **[28:30] John Rowan:** Look forward to reading the full report. **[28:35] Mayor Spooner:** All right. Well, thank—thank you very much. At this point in time, I'll take a motion on resolution 2025-244. **[28:50] John Rowan:** So moved. **[28:52] Mayor Spooner:** John Rowan has the motion. **[28:54] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Second. **[28:56] Mayor Spooner:** Second by Adama to approve resolution 2025 acceptance of the 2024. All those in favor signify by saying I. **[29:15] Council Members:** I. **[29:17] Mayor Spooner:** All opposed. That passes. Thank you very much. **[29:20] Ryan Ingleststead:** Thank you. Thank you. **[29:23] Mayor Spooner:** All right. Back to our original item. A: Ordinance 2025-12 approving text amendments. **[29:32] Jessica Kinser:** Thank you, Mayor, and good evening, Council. Uh, so the item in front of you is actually the second reading of this ordinance. Um, there are two requests tonight. One is actually the approval of the second reading of the ordinance. The other is the uh summary publication that would go in the paper that would accompany this. The summary publication needs at least a 5/7 vote. Uh but with that, I'm happy to take any questions about uh either of these. **[30:04] Royal Ross:** Mayor Spooner. **[30:06] Mayor Spooner:** Yes. **[30:07] Royal Ross:** I'll make a motion to approve ordinance 2025-12. **[30:12] Peter van Sluis:** I'll second. **[30:14] Mayor Spooner:** Motion by Ross. Second by van Sluis. Zoning Tax Amendments Chapter 3 nonconformity. Second read. Roll call. **[30:26] Heather Slechta:** Council member Barnes? **[30:27] Mandy Barnes:** Hi. **[30:28] Heather Slechta:** Doumbouya? **[30:29] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Hi. **[30:30] Heather Slechta:** Ross? **[30:31] Royal Ross:** Hi. **[30:32] Heather Slechta:** Rowan? **[30:33] John Rowan:** Hi. **[30:34] Heather Slechta:** van Sluis? **[30:35] Peter van Sluis:** Hi. **[30:36] Heather Slechta:** Thiele? **[30:37] Chuck Thiele:** Hi. **[30:38] Heather Slechta:** Mayor Spooner? **[30:39] Mayor Spooner:** Hi. Approval of the publication. **[30:42] Peter van Sluis:** So moved. **[30:43] Chuck Thiele:** Second. **[30:44] Mayor Spooner:** van Sluis. Second by Thiele. All those in favor say I. **[30:52] Council Members:** I. **[30:54] Mayor Spooner:** Passes. On to item B. Rice County, Fourth Street Northwest, Second Avenue Northwest. Conditional Use Permit/Variances. Uh, we have Harry here? **[31:08] Harry Davis (City Planning):** Yes, sir. Correct. Uh, Harry Davis, City Planning. Uh, thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh, looks like we're trying to set up the presentation. Um, but I'll just go in with—with the introduction. [Proceeds to explain the Rice County parking lot and office building facade variance through 37:15]. **[37:16] Royal Ross:** Uh, thank you, Mayor. Mr. Davis, the uh—just pertaining to the parking lots—my understanding was the east parking lot was going to be primarily used for the police department. Is that still the case or is it just kind of first-come-first-serve for the general public? **[37:41] Harry Davis:** Sure. Yeah, that's a very good question. Thank you. Um, so the parking lot will be owned by the city and so the adjacent offices does—you know, they—they do not have rights to those parking spaces except for the ones that are on their property. So it will be essentially first-come-first-serve. **[37:55] Royal Ross:** Okay. So we're not having like a—uh—enclosed—police lot similar to what we have behind their building. Correct? It's going to be open. **[38:08] Harry Davis:** Yeah. This is—this is for the public. So this is not for like parking of—of police cruisers. **[38:13] Royal Ross:** Okay. All right. Thank you. **[38:15] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Mr. Davis. I love the building. I think it looks beautiful. Addition. I just have a question on the exit and entryway for the parking lot. It looks like it's facing that—correct? **[38:34] Harry Davis:** Um, so that's not the only entrance and exit. So, the other entrance uh and exit would actually be along Second Avenue and it'll be sharing access with uh Rice County's property. **[38:50] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Only concern is that is a really dangerous intersection because—on-street parking and I've been on that road... if we can look into instead of going out on highway 60 is if we could change it to maybe it only onto— **[39:15] Harry Davis:** So that has come up um but if—if it's kind of hard to see from the the graphic that's presented—uh that driveway is currently existing on Highway 60 and it lines up directly with the uh large Sallyport overhead um kind of underground storage that is the county—that is the county's property. **[39:50] Jessica Kinser:** Mayor, if I could just add one thing to that. So, we uh have uh tried a few times to solicit MnDOT for any uh input on that particular entrance. Uh if we do end up hearing from MnDOT that they are not supportive of that, they would—that they would rather see that go, uh there is uh some discussion about having a First Avenue entrance. **[40:18] Mayor Spooner:** Any other questions for staff? [Silence] Your thoughts on it? **[40:24] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** He laid it out that it's going to be the corner store of downtown. I actually think it's going to be properties that we had west that need improvement development on the edge of that... I'm all in favor of it. **[40:48] Mayor Spooner:** All right. **[40:49] Royal Ross:** Mayor. First one, yes. I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2025-236. **[41:00] John Rowan:** Second. **[41:02] Mayor Spooner:** Second by Rowan. Conditional use permit for offsite standalone parking. 4th Street Northwest and Second Avenue Northwest. All those in favor? **[41:14] Council Members:** I. **[41:15] Mayor Spooner:** All opposed. That passes on the resolution. Second. **[41:18] John Rowan:** Yes. I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-237. **[41:22] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Second. **[41:24] Mayor Spooner:** Second by Doumbouya to 2025-237 approval of variance for building facade materials on the corner of 4th Street Northwest and 2nd Avenue Northwest. All those in favor? **[41:38] Council Members:** I. **[41:40] Mayor Spooner:** All opposed? Passes. On to item C: Resolution 2025-239. Harry Davis. **[41:46] Harry Davis:** Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh great. So, the item in front of you is for a conditional use lease permit for a drive-thru within C2 uh along Lindale. [Proceeds to explain the Culver's drive-thru restaurant request]. **[44:35] John Rowan:** Mayor Spooner. **[44:37] Mayor Spooner:** Yes. **[44:38] John Rowan:** Make a motion to approve resolution 2025-239. **[44:42] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Second. **[44:44] Mayor Spooner:** Approval of a conditional use. All those in favor? **[44:55] Council Members:** I. **[45:00] Mayor Spooner:** Motion passes. We are on to items D and E. We're going to do them together, I would assume. **[45:07] Jessica Kinser:** Uh, yes. Uh, thank you, your honor. Um— **[45:12] Mayor Spooner:** Your honor? **[45:14] Jessica Kinser:** That was my dad. That was my dad. Uh, this is the second reading of the ordinances for Xcel Energy for renewing an electric franchise as well as a gas franchise. [Explains details through 45:50]. **[45:55] Mayor Spooner:** Thank you. Uh, questions for staff? First one: Ordinance 2025-13. **[46:05] John Rowan:** Make a motion to approve ordinance 2025-13. **[46:09] Mandy Barnes:** Second. **[46:11] Mayor Spooner:** Rowan on the approval. Barnes on the second. All those in favor? **[46:20] Heather Slechta:** Council member Barnes? **[46:21] Mandy Barnes:** Hi. **[46:22] Heather Slechta:** Doumbouya? **[46:23] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Hi. **[46:24] Heather Slechta:** Ross? **[46:25] Royal Ross:** Hi. **[46:26] Heather Slechta:** Rowan? **[46:27] John Rowan:** Hi. **[46:28] Heather Slechta:** van Sluis? **[46:29] Peter van Sluis:** Hi. **[46:30] Heather Slechta:** Thiele? **[46:31] Chuck Thiele:** Hi. **[46:32] Heather Slechta:** Mayor Spooner? **[46:33] Mayor Spooner:** Hi. Next one. **[46:34] John Rowan:** Um, make a motion to approve approving the summary publication of ordinance 2025-13. **[46:42] Peter van Sluis:** Second. **[46:44] Mayor Spooner:** Motion by Rowan, second by van Sluis to approve the summary publication. All say I. **[46:50] Council Members:** I. **[46:52] Mayor Spooner:** Passes. On ordinance 2025-14. **[47:02] John Rowan:** Yes. Make a motion to approve ordinance 2025-14. **[47:05] Mandy Barnes:** Second. **[47:15] Heather Slechta:** Barnes? **[47:16] Mandy Barnes:** Hi. **[47:17] Heather Slechta:** Doumbouya? **[47:18] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Hi. **[47:19] Heather Slechta:** Ross? **[47:20] Royal Ross:** Hi. **[47:21] Heather Slechta:** Rowan? **[47:22] John Rowan:** Hi. **[47:23] Heather Slechta:** van Sluis? **[47:24] Peter van Sluis:** Hi. **[47:25] Heather Slechta:** Thiele? **[47:26] Chuck Thiele:** Hi. **[47:27] Heather Slechta:** Mayor Spooner? **[47:28] Mayor Spooner:** Hi. On to the summary. **[47:31] John Rowan:** Yes. I'll make a motion to approve summary publication for ordinance 2025-14. **[47:38] Royal Ross:** Second. **[47:40] Mayor Spooner:** Second by Ross. Rowan moves to approve the summary. All say I. **[47:47] Council Members:** I. **[47:49] Mayor Spooner:** That passes. On ordinance 2025-15, ordinance regarding lodging tax. **[47:56] Jessica Kinser:** Yes. Uh, this is the second reading of an ordinance that basically provides that the lodging tax should be collected um by the Commissioner of Revenue for the State of Minnesota on behalf of the City of Faribault. [Explains timing through 48:38]. **[48:40] John Rowan:** Mayor Spooner. I make a motion to approve ordinance 2025-15. **[48:48] Mandy Barnes:** Second. **[48:54] Mayor Spooner:** Rowan on the approval. Barnes on the second. Roll call. **[49:01] Heather Slechta:** Council member Barnes? **[49:02] Mandy Barnes:** Hi. **[49:03] Heather Slechta:** Doumbouya? **[49:04] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Hi. **[49:05] Heather Slechta:** Ross? **[49:06] Royal Ross:** Hi. **[49:07] Heather Slechta:** Rowan? **[49:08] John Rowan:** Hi. **[49:09] Heather Slechta:** van Sluis? **[49:10] Peter van Sluis:** Hi. **[49:11] Heather Slechta:** Thiele? **[49:12] Chuck Thiele:** Hi. **[49:13] Heather Slechta:** Mayor Spooner? **[49:14] Mayor Spooner:** Hi. Motion to approve summary publication? **[49:17] John Rowan:** So moved. **[49:18] Peter van Sluis:** Second. **[49:22] Mayor Spooner:** All those in favor? **[49:25] Council Members:** I. **[49:27] Mayor Spooner:** That is passed. And we're going to move on to item H: Resolution 2025-241. **[49:33] Jessica Kinser:** Yes. Uh, so this presentation that I am going to do will actually cover um the next two items for the EDA preliminary tax levy and the HRA preliminary tax levy as well. [Proceeds to give a detailed 15-minute presentation on property tax capacity, general fund expenditures, and the city's "Tax Receipt" educational tool through 1:05:35]. **[1:05:40] John Rowan:** Not necessarily a question, Administrator, but just a comment for the thousands and thousands of people that are watching. You had a matrix up there that showed a home at a value of 223,000. I think their property tax, if their home stayed the same, went up like $34—and a little bit less than that—it was $40, $50. We want to keep in mind that's an annual amount, not a monthly amount. So, we're talking, you know, if your house did not increase in value at that median value, it's $3.75 a month. Just want to make note of that. **[1:06:24] Mayor Spooner:** The way people usually pay their taxes—through escrow. **[1:06:35] Jessica Kinser:** And thank you for bringing that up... what we're proposing as a tax levy increase will certainly not reflect a total tax levy increase by the time the county and the school district have set their tax levies as well. **[1:07:09] Mayor Spooner:** All right, we're going to move through these. Adoption of the 2026 property tax levy. **[1:07:18] John Rowan:** So moved. **[1:07:20] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Second. **[1:07:22] Mayor Spooner:** All those in favor signify by saying I. **[1:07:25] Council Members:** I. **[1:07:27] Mayor Spooner:** Motion passes. Resolution 2025-242: Economic Development. **[1:07:40] John Rowan:** So moved. **[1:07:42] Mandy Barnes:** Second. **[1:07:45] Mayor Spooner:** All those in favor? **[1:07:50] Council Members:** I. **[1:07:52] Mayor Spooner:** Passes. Resolution 2025-243: HRA. **[1:08:00] Mandy Barnes:** So moved. **[1:08:02] Peter van Sluis:** Second. **[1:08:05] Mayor Spooner:** Motion by Barnes, second by van Sluis. All those in favor? **[1:08:15] Council Members:** I. **[1:08:20] Mayor Spooner:** Passes. Item I: Resolution 2025-251. City Attorney. **[1:08:26] City Attorney:** Thank you, honorable Mayor and honorable council members. Um, yeah. Uh, you have before you our standard abatement resolution. However, it's got a lot of detail and there's a reason it has a lot of detail—this is a property the city's been dealing with for quite some time. [Explains the hazardous building and public nuisance abatement at 1422 First Avenue Northeast through 1:12:54]. **[1:13:00] John Rowan:** Mayor Spooner. I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-251 ordering the abatement of hazardous property and structures and public nuisances at 1422 First Avenue Northeast. **[1:13:20] Mandy Barnes:** Second. **[1:13:22] Mayor Spooner:** Motion by Rowan, second by Barnes. All those in favor? **[1:13:25] Council Members:** I. **[1:13:26] Mayor Spooner:** Motion passes. Thank you. Bids—we have none tonight. Boards, commission reports, announcements, project updates. Anyone? **[1:13:38] Mandy Barnes:** Yes. So, the Fire Department is having an open house on October 4th at 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Um, then Iris is going to be having a Loss Remembrance Day on October 15th. Farmers Market—final market of the year, I guess, on October 25th. And Bats, Bones, and Bonfires will be at the Riverbend Nature Center October 25th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. **[1:14:19] Mayor Spooner:** Yep. I have a few as well. The Paradise Theatre is hosting uh Joy and Parker Band... Friday, September 26th. The Faribault High School homecoming parade is Friday, October 3rd at 2:00 p.m. Uh, Third and Long on Third Street, you can meet Viking legend Tommy Kramer from 6:00 to 9:00 downtown. And last but not least... 100 Women Gather and Give. Sunday, October 5th. **[1:15:08] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** October 4th is the Fall Festival... and I was approached by a local business to do the chili feed again. I don't mind. But I said yes. And I said to all of you people, I will cook it. I will pay for it. I will do everything, but I will send you out next week. We do not have a meeting next week. So, let you know the details. **[1:15:33] Mayor Spooner:** Anyone else? Anything? Administration? No meeting next week. **[1:15:40] Jessica Kinser:** No meeting next week. **[1:15:42] Mayor Spooner:** All right, let's entertain a motion to adjourn. **[1:15:45] Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** So moved. **[1:15:47] Peter van Sluis:** Second. **[1:15:50] Mayor Spooner:** Motion by Doumbouya, second by van Sluis. All those in favor signify by saying I. **[1:15:55] Council Members:** I. **[1:15:57] John Rowan:** Could you send out the time? **[1:15:59] Mandy Barnes:** Yes. I believe Michelle will be sending out something. I get these in the mail and I'm like, what's going on? [Laughter].