Based on the context provided and the phonetic clues in the transcript, here is the speaker-attributed version of the town hall meeting. Note: The transcript mentions "Councilmember Brooks" and "Councilmember Lund," who are not on the provided list. I have retained those names as they appear in the dialogue, as they likely represent members present during that specific session. [0:00] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** ...and let the roll reflect that we do have a quorum with one council member absent, Councilmember Brooks. Approval of minutes: Councilmembers, are there any corrections to the minutes from the regular meeting on November 7th and the special meeting on November 15th? Okay. Public comments: For public comments, we have an option of speaking to the council in front of us tonight or on Zoom. For the email comments, they have been forwarded to the City Council and the receipt is acknowledged. Please recognize that items not on the agenda will not be discussed this evening. For live comments, they may either be through Zoom or in person. We ask that the attendees either raise your hand in Zoom and we will call on you, or step up to the podium and we will call on you at that time. Anyone wishing to speak at the council at this time? And no one on Zoom. Okay. Councilmembers, are there any Council items to be considered? Okay. Council, I would accept a motion to approve the consent agenda. [1:23] **Councilmember Lisa Leifeld:** So moved. [1:25] **Councilmember [Unidentified]:** Second. [1:26] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Councilmember Leifeld, Councilmember [Vihrachoff?]. Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion state by saying "Aye." (Group: Aye). Opposed to that motion state by saying "Nay." And that motion prevails. Tonight under Community Development, we have a resolution variance for a monument sign for the Confluence, 200 2nd Street West. And welcome, John Hinzman. [1:37] **John Hinzman (Community Development Director):** All right, thank you Mayor, City Council members. As the Mayor pointed out, we do have a variance request before us tonight for a sign at the Confluence. I do have a map on here—I think most people know where the Confluence is, but I'll pass through that one—right on 2nd Street and Highway 61, redevelopment of the Hudson Manufacturing building. When we revised the zoning code a few years ago, we established what’s called a Downtown Core zoning district, which is establishing a separate zoning district for buildings within the downtown. And buildings within the downtown area generally don't have yards, so the thought was at that time that we do not allow for monument signs because where would you put one anyway? So we prohibited them from the district. We didn't take into consideration at that time that the Confluence would be part of a redevelopment project and, lo and behold, has a yard within it and did have a monument sign previously. So what we're asking for tonight is consideration of a variance which would allow for the placement of a monument sign within the DC zoning district. In taking a look at the criteria for granting a variance, we've gone through that within the staff report and with the Planning Commission, but essentially it comes down to finding something different or peculiar within the zoning—within the situation itself—that is not transferable to other properties. The building here is unique from the standpoint that it does have a yard; other buildings within the DC district do not. So the ability to transfer this ability to other properties is quite limited. When the Planning Commission looked at this, they did recommend approval by unanimous vote with a limited discussion; no one spoke for or against it during the meeting. So before you tonight is the resolution for the sign itself. For a little background information, you can see this is where it would go at present, right near the southeast corner of the site. There was an existing sign there previously that was taken down, so the precedence has been set for it. This is where it would go today on the site itself, and this is what it would look like. When we have our standards for monument signage, the standards that are within other zoning districts are the same as what's here, so we're not establishing any larger sign than we would in any other zoning district for monuments. So I could stand for any questions you have. One quick point of clarification here: because this is a variance, it does require six of seven council members, and with Councilmember Brooks' absence, it would require a unanimous vote tonight. Thank you. [4:06] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Thank you, John. Council discussion? Councilmember Lund. [4:13] **Councilmember Lund:** Thank you, Honor. Yeah, just one question on this: does it make sense to clean up the ordinance in general so that we don't have to have a variance every time if it is limited? Right? Sure. But in 50 years from now, when something comes up and there is a yard again for whatever reason, then we have it already taken care of. I don't know if that's something worth looking at. [4:39] **John Hinzman:** You know, Councilmember, it could be. I mean, I don't think the possibilities of this coming up are going to be very common at all, but we are proposing to move forward with a large revision to our zoning code coming up next year, so this could be one of those other topics of discussion for consideration. [4:56] **Councilmember Lund:** Thank you. [4:58] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** I'll make a motion... or I'll take a motion to approve. [5:02] **Councilmember Lisa Leifeld:** I'll make a motion to approve. [5:04] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Approved by Councilmember Leifeld. Additional discussion, Council? All those in favor of the motion state by saying "Aye." (Group: Aye). Opposed to that motion state by saying "Nay." And that motion prevails. Thank you. Thanks, John. Councilmembers, do you have any announcements? Okay, I have a few. City offices will be closed this Thursday and Friday, November 24th and 25th, in recognition of Thanksgiving. Gobble Gallop is Thursday, November 24th; you can register all the way up to race day, and proceeds benefit Hastings Family Service. Small Business Saturday and the Holiday Hoopla are Saturday, November 26th; enjoy music, crafts, s'mores, cookie decoration, horse and wagon rides, tree lighting, and retail and restaurant deals. Recycle your old lights with the Hastings Holiday Lights drop-off collection; residents can drop off these unwanted light strands at the Joint Maintenance Facility, 920 10th Street West, during the holiday season from December 1st to February 1st. City offices will be closed 11:00 to 1:30 Thursday, December 1st, to accommodate the employee...