[0:00] Jason Lindahl: enforcement. And so we'll be running through that information. [0:12] Jason Lindahl: I'm sorry. It looks like we've got the wrong slides in here. I'm sorry about that. Um I can um most of what I was going to cover for you is in the—Can you hit next one? Keep going to black. Okay. [0:12] Mayor: Okay. [0:29] Mayor: It's okay. [0:29] Jason Lindahl: Sorry about that. So, um, most of what I was going to cover of you tonight was included in the slides, but it's highlighted in your staff report. Um, and what you can see from this is uh the the data in the um is is included in the tables that are attached to the staff report, but they're summarized um in the paragraphs included in the staff report. So basically um the overall takeaway from the report data would be that um overall um building activity, building inspection activity is down about 3% from last year. Um and but is leveling out from the decreases we've seen over the last couple years. back to what I've some of the council may remember me talking in previous reports is we're really kind of returning to what was kind of the normal level activity kind of we had a we had a significant spike in 22 and 23 that in that really were the result of the school district's activity in the community and all the things that they did in the investments in the schools and the Lochner apartment building that occurred in that time period and then also just kind of the postcoavid bump that um all the world experienced in activity increases that were kind of pent up from from the pandemic period. Um so while again activity is generally down it's um really leveling off um in a trend if we look at the data even back like the last 16 years we're still on a a general overall increase in activity. Um looking at code enforcement, we have seen some declines in uh code enforcement activity this year compared to last year. Um we would really um attribute most of that decrease into the fact that we had a staffing turnover in the last quarter of this year. So we um um filled that position basically at the end of the year and I would anticipate we're returning back to normal activities in 26. Um if you look at zoning activity, there actually was um a slight increase uh 7 and a half% compared to in 2025 compared to 2024. Um most of that increase is in the category that's in the table um would be in the um meetings and inquiries and kind of um questions category of that of the zoning activity. So generally I would I would say that those are the that's the category in the zoning activity that would be a leading indicator category that would say there's still a lot of activity, a lot of questions, a lot of things, projects that are people are either doing or planning to do. So I would say that that's a positive trend. Um and then looking at rental licensing activity um that breaks down um into um over if you look at overall numbers kind of into we've broken it down into um rental licenses for single family homes or multifamily units. So that's really anything other than a single family dwell a single family unit that could be rented. And if you look at those numbers for White Bear Lake, um multi- uh single family amounts to about 78% of that activity. Um and multifamily is 22%. But keep in mind multifamily, if you look at on a unit comparison, the multifamilies would be a lot unit total unit count would be a lot higher. Um if you look at that activity um in Madameidi for example, they're at about 84% single family licenses to uh 16% uh multifamily. And if you look at um the breakdown of the rental licensing activity between the two communities that we work with, White Bear Lake and then Mameidi, um we do about 78% of the activity is in White Bear Lake and 22% in Mameidi. And so that's a quick summary of the information in your staff report. And with that, I stand for questions. [4:59] Mayor: We might have a presentation if there are any charts you wanted to go over. [4:59] Jason Lindahl: Okay. or maybe not. [5:12] Mayor: It's okay. [5:12] Jason Lindahl: Okay. Um, yeah. So, I'm sorry I don't have the slides available. Um again the major takeaway is I feel like the the the building department activity and the um number of permits and the revenue that's generated for that is while declining returning to what kind of our normal activity was and shows a long-term overall positive trend. [5:43] City Manager: In the past we haven't really touched on the rental in in your presentation. So that's some new information um that's we've started to include and in the slides I think you were going to talk um a little bit more about Mameida. So that's just not in this one but um looking for feedback um you know any ways that we can improve for the future. Thank you. [6:03] Mayor: Yeah, Council Member Edberg. [6:03] Council Member Edberg: Uh thank you Mayor. Um Mr. Lindal, with regard to that rental, housing licensing and so forth? We had conversations about long versus short-term rental, have we learned anything about that uh as a result of our, you know, kind of this new annual processing and so forth or is that something that's yet to come in a uh this year or a future year? [6:29] Jason Lindahl: So, I'd start by saying it is yet to come, but we have been doing research on that. Um we've comp um gathered information from a number of kind of similar kind of context communities um as White Bear Lake. Um we'd also look we've also looked at um some professional uh planning resources and gathered some data on best practices and how how to set up your system and those kind of things. So we have been preparing to bring uh more information back to the council on that. [6:58] Council Member Edberg: And do you have a sense of like is that a late 26 middle 26 kind of I'm I'm just trying to get in my head the kind of cycling that we're on for for when we might take that conversation up and the related how do we how might we then once we have that information or if we get that information what's the um regulatory stance on short-term rentals? [7:23] Jason Lindahl: Yeah. Um uh mayor, members of the council, so I would say that staff is prepared to bring that information back to you in the first half of this year. Um the timing of it um I would want to discuss a little bit uh more closely with the city manager be because um what we're really doing here is you may remember that we when we did the zoning ordinance update, we actually had some standards for short-term rentals that we in that were originally included in the in the first draft, but the council decided to take out um in the final draft. and then directed staff to bring um both the rental uh excuse me the zoning standards and the licensing standards together in one package. So really the process that staff envisions is to um put together some recommendations on both zoning and licensing and bring that to the council in a work session to make sure that we're heading in the right policy direction from a council's perspective. And then we take the planning, excuse me, the zoning side of it back through planning commission because the zoning ordinance, the planning commission has to have a public hearing and and vet that zoning side of it. Um, but at least we'd have those two things coordinated and check in with the council first that we're moving in the overall correct policy direction. [8:48] Council Member Edberg: So, my sense is that no action is is even realistic, but probably not even warranted in 2026. the those who own short-term rentals are already renting out space and and so forth. So, from an economic standpoint to disrupt that without reasonable notice is probably not something we want to do. Um but um to have something potentially in place for 2027 um does that sound like a reasonable expectation or is that something that we ought to have more conversation about? [9:24] Jason Lindahl: Uh, mayor, members of the council, I mean, staff is prepared to bring the information to you in the first half of this year. Um, I I I I think it is, you know, noteworthy that kind of most of the vacation part of short-term rentals would be kind of happening in the summer months. I I you you raise a fair point there. Um, so you know, we can bring you the information again in the first half of the year and then we would look to the council as to kind of the appropriate implementation point for that. [9:58] Mayor: Okay. Thank you. Okay. Does anyone else have any further questions for Mr. Lindal? Comments? No. Okay. Thanks so much for coming in. Thanks for all your work. Absolutely. All right. Up next is item 5B. We have the Sports Center annual report. For that, we have Mr. Chuba. [10:25] Mr. Chuba: Thank you, council members. Good evening. Uh we had another great operational year at the sports center in 2025. uh we remain very fortunate to have a dedicated staff and a wonderful community of uh of customers who frequent that place and uh creates a really good environment there. So the sports center serves as the home of White Bear Lake girls hockey, the home of White Bear Lake Area Hockey Association and the city's own figure skating program. highlights from this past year. Uh you can see them up on the board. 12 high school girls hockey games, 32nd annual figure skating competition, 32nd annual spring ice show. It's amazing that those things have been going as long as they have. Seven youth tournaments and approximately 100 uh separate youth games. And the youth tournaments and the youth hockey games are all run through the hockey association. Um, facility improvements in 2025 include flooring replacement, which you can imagine is a constant at a place where people are walking around with blades on their feet. So, we do quite a bit of that uh annually to try and keep up on that. Outside of that, uh, you can see the pictures on the wall. I hope you can make sense of that. The one on the left is uh, the White Bear Lake um, the second part of the wall of tradition. We had last year I looked back at the slides and we had the first part done. Uh, now the second part is done. So that's really um celebrating the uh all the people that have come up through the hockey association, the accomplish accomplishments that they've made. So um you know, the Stanley Cup winner is listed on there, a Hobie Baker Award winner, all of the uh division one hockey players uh that have come up through that program. So it's a fun thing to celebrate if you ever get in there. It's a it's a good piece of history to look at. And then uh the picture on the right is a a new plaque this year that uh celebrates all the uh high school girl hockey players who have reached 100 career points, which is uh quite a feat for high school hockey. And so our our staff and the hockey and skating community continue to come up with ways to celebrate uh the traditions and the the victories that that uh happen there and and there's a lot of pride. So it's fun to see the different things that they come up uh year by year. So next time you're in the facility, check that out. It just keeps growing and growing. It's uh it's really fun to watch. Uh this year was the second year that uh the solar panels were up and fully operational and so far we've achieved a little over $50,000 in energy costs through that program. So, uh it's nice to see that up and running and functioning. Uh within your packet, there's a revenue summary. Obviously, we won't have a full financial picture of the year until uh until the audit's done with and and we can get more in depth on that at that time if you'd like. Uh but very much from what we can see it was a normal operational year as far as hours of ice rented and uh all the things that went on there. So uh another another good year when it comes to that and then uh just a plug also so that uh this will now be the 33rd annual uh spring ice show is April 24th to the 26th. Uh the year's theme is enchanted skates. So it's always fun to see what they come up with and what they come up with with for a program. It's a great showcase for local talent as well as all the work that uh that our staff and coaches put into that. And uh so if the Olympics have you inspired to be more of a skating fan, uh keep those dates in mind and swing through there. It's it's always fun and it's fun to see uh like I mentioned earlier that that environment and the community that's created there. It's a really it's a happy environment and people are excited to see their uh their kids showcase uh all the hard work that they've done. It's a it's a fun thing to be part of. So with that, I can stand for any questions. [13:59] Mayor: That's fantastic. Um, can I ask what the Live Barn online streaming service is? [14:06] Mr. Chuba: Yep. Thank you, mayor and council members. So, Live Barn is is a automatic camera system that's in there. It's a subscription system. So, uh, people if they want to tune in to their their kids game or their grandkids game or whatever it may be, they can sign up for that for a nominal fee and then they can get in and and watch those games live. and the the camera follows the movement and and uh gives you an opportunity to see what's going on there. [14:30] Mayor: Oh, that's great. And where do people learn about that? Is it just the coaches tell them that it's available or [14:36] Mr. Chuba: And yes, mayor and council members, it is uh it's plastered all over the sports center, the the ability to get in there and it's always uh available on our website as well. [14:47] Mayor: Excellent. Thank you so much. Does anyone else have any questions for Mr. Chuba? Council member Edberg, [14:53] Council Member Edberg: just one. Um Mr. Chuba, you said uh as regards the was it $50,000 in energy savings, is that over two years or one year? And do you have a sense of what the total bill on that is? What's our payback estimate on that? Do you have any sense rough math? [15:08] Mr. Chuba: Uh thank you, Mayor, Council Member Edberg. So that that is the the to the total uh since they've been up and operational. So about $25,000 a year is what it's been yielding. Um, and I think that that system costs around 500 or $700,000 to install. [15:28] Mayor: Okay, great. Thank you. Great. Anyone else? All right. Thank you, Mr. Chuba. Thank you for being here. All right. Item six, public hearings. We have nothing scheduled. Item seven, unfinished business. We have no unfinished business scheduled. Item 8A, uh, conditional use permit request at 5045 Division Avenue. Uh, we have Mr. Lindahl. [15:54] Jason Lindahl: Thank you, mayor, members of the council. Um, as you mentioned, the item before you tonight is a conditional use permit amendment for the high school to add parking in three locations on their site. Um, so the slide before you summarizes the application and indicates the three locations on the site where the applicant is proposing to expand parking. So, um, again, the property is the high school at 40 50, excuse me, 5045 division. Um, and, uh, they're proposing again to add in three locations. The planning commission reviewed this item at their last meeting and held a public hearing and there really weren't any comments uh, from the neighborhood on this. The application is before you um in a discussion format tonight because um the both the planning both staff recommended approval and so did the planning commission but their vote was uh 5 to 2 in favor of recommending approval. Um and the discussion of the item and the two votes against that recommendation for approval um really focused around condition six in the attached resolution uh which focuses on um an access point to one of the parking lots that they're proposing. So that'll be the focus of the discuss.