[00:00] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: So let's go ahead and call to order the uh January 10th—nope, we're not on there yet—there we go. Let's go ahead and call to order the first Oakdale city council meeting of the year, January 10, 2023. Uh, Sarah, will you take the roll? [00:15] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Council member Morcomb? [00:17] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: Here. [00:18] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Council member Ingridson? [00:19] **Council Member Ingridson**: Here. [00:20] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Council member Olson? [00:21] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Here. [00:22] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Mayor Zabel? [00:23] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Here. Uh, at this time I'd like to invite everybody to stand if you are able and join us in the presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance from local Scout Troop 580. [00:35] **Scout Leader**: Thank you. Color Guard, attention. Color Guard, advance. Please remove all non-religious headgear. Please recite the Pledge of Allegiance. [00:45] **All**: 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. [01:05] **Scout Leader**: Post the colors. Color Guard, dismiss. [01:10] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: You may all be seated. I want to thank uh Scout Troop 580 for joining us tonight. It's always nice to have them here joining us. Now the fun part: uh, we get to do it every two years, we get to swear in our new elected officials. Um, we're gonna do it a little different this year. We're gonna do it up here behind um behind where I'm standing. Um, and we'll save picture taking opportunities with family and friends until after our meeting. It's a pretty short agenda, so anybody that wants to stick around, please feel free to do so. We also have cookies over there, so please help yourself after the meeting. Uh, with that, we're going to go ahead with the oath of office for Mayor. Um, if we can move our chairs... [02:00] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Okay, please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Kevin Zabel... [02:05] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: I, Kevin Zabel... [02:07] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America... [02:11] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America... [02:15] **Sarah [City Staff]**: The Constitution of the State of Minnesota... [02:18] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: The Constitution of the State of Minnesota... [02:20] **Sarah [City Staff]**: And the ordinances of the City of Oakdale... [02:22] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: And the ordinances of the City of Oakdale... [02:24] **Sarah [City Staff]**: And that I will faithfully and impartially... [02:26] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: And that I will faithfully and impartially... [02:28] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Discharge the duties of office of Mayor for the City of Oakdale... [02:32] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Discharge the duties of the office of Mayor for the City of Oakdale... [02:35] **Sarah [City Staff]**: For the term for which I have been elected... [02:38] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: For the term of which I've been elected... [02:40] **Sarah [City Staff]**: To the best of my judgment and ability, so help me God. [02:43] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: To the best judgment or to my best judgment and ability, so help me God. [02:48] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Congratulations, Mr. Mayor. [02:50] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Thank you. [Applause] So next we're going to swear in Andy Morcomb as a council member. [03:00] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Okay, ready? Raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Andy Morcomb... [03:05] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: I, Andy Morcomb... [03:07] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Do solemnly swear... [03:08] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: Do solemnly swear... [03:10] **Sarah [City Staff]**: That I will support the Constitution of the United States of America... [03:13] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: That I will support the Constitution of the United States of America... [03:16] **Sarah [City Staff]**: The Constitution of the State of Minnesota... [03:18] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: The Constitution of the State of Minnesota... [03:20] **Sarah [City Staff]**: And the ordinances of the City of Oakdale... [03:23] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: And the ordinances of the City of Oakdale... [03:25] **Sarah [City Staff]**: And that I will faithfully and impartially... [03:27] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: And that I will faithfully and impartially... [03:29] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Discharge the duties of office of council member... [03:32] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: Discharge the duties of office of council member... [03:35] **Sarah [City Staff]**: For the City of Oakdale... [03:37] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: For the City of Oakdale... [03:38] **Sarah [City Staff]**: For the term for which I have been elected... [03:41] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: For the term for which I have been elected... [03:43] **Sarah [City Staff]**: To the best of my judgment and abilities, so help me God. [03:46] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: To the best of my judgment and ability, so help me God. [03:49] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Congratulations, Council Member. Was Susan already a council member also? Yes. Okay, so Council Member Olson, please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Susan Olson... [04:00] **Council Member Susan Olson**: I, Susan Olson... [04:02] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Do solemnly swear... [04:03] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Do solemnly swear... [04:04] **Sarah [City Staff]**: That I will support the Constitution of the United States of America... [04:08] **Council Member Susan Olson**: That I will support the Constitution of the United States of America... [04:12] **Sarah [City Staff]**: The Constitution of the State of Minnesota... [04:15] **Council Member Susan Olson**: The Constitution of the State of Minnesota... [04:17] **Sarah [City Staff]**: And the ordinances of the City of Oakdale... [04:20] **Council Member Susan Olson**: And the ordinances of the City of Oakdale... [04:22] **Sarah [City Staff]**: And that I will faithfully and impartially... [04:25] **Council Member Susan Olson**: And that I will faithfully and impartially... [04:27] **Sarah [City Staff]**: Discharge the duties of the office of council member for the City of Oakdale... [04:31] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Discharge the duties of the office of council member for the City of Oakdale... [04:35] **Sarah [City Staff]**: For the term for which I have been elected... [04:38] **Council Member Susan Olson**: For the term for which I have been elected... [04:40] **Sarah [City Staff]**: To the best of my judgment and abilities, so help me God. [04:43] **Council Member Susan Olson**: To the best of my judgment and ability, so help me God. [04:46] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Congratulations. You know, I make that joke about team hug, but that's the only way that anything around here gets done is we have one hell of a team—excuse my language—from the elected officials and our staff. I mean, none of this happens without our staff and so I know I speak on behalf of my colleagues when I thank them. I thank the residents for putting their trust in us and sending us here, and we have a lot of work to do so let's get at it. Uh, first item on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. Um, are there any changes? [05:25] **Christina Volkers [City Administrator]**: Yes, Mr. Mayor. There is um agenda item consensus I—I'd request that we pull off. There's also been a modification to it removing one of the applicants, Blake Schmidt—excuse me. [05:38] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Okay, I think we'll tackle that pulling that off during consensus motions but um other than that I don't think there are any changes, right? [05:46] **Christina Volkers [City Administrator]**: Right. [05:47] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Cool. Uh, can I have a motion to approve the agenda as presented? [05:51] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: So moved. [05:52] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Is there a second? [05:53] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Second. [05:54] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Having a motion and a second, all those in favor say aye. [05:57] **Council Members**: Aye. [05:58] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: All those opposed? Agenda is adopted. Next up is the approval of the minutes. First up we have the workshop minutes from December 13th, 2022. Are there any changes? Can I have a motion? [06:10] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: So moved. [06:11] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Is there a second? [06:12] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Second. [06:13] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Motion and a second. Uh, all those in favor say aye. [06:16] **Council Members**: Aye. [06:17] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Those opposed? Those are approved. Next up we have regular meeting minutes from December 13th, 2022. Any changes? Being none, I'll look for motion. [06:26] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: Motion. [06:27] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Uh, is there a second? [06:28] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Second. [06:29] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Okay, a motion and a second. Uh, all those in favor say aye. [06:31] **Council Members**: Aye. [06:32] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Those opposed? Those are approved. Uh, finally the minutes from the special meeting December 20th, 2022. Any changes? And none, I'll accept a motion. [06:42] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: So moved. [06:43] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Is there a second? [06:44] **Council Member Ingridson**: Second. [06:45] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. [06:48] **Council Members**: Aye. [06:49] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Those opposed? And those are approved as well. [06:51] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Kevin, I abstain from that vote. [06:53] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Oh, okay. Not a problem. Yeah, thank you. All right, uh, next up are introductions. Um, this is a fun time to recognize some special guests in the audience. I'd like to take an opportunity to recognize Scout Troop uh 580. We've had them here before, so it's always nice when they come visit us. Um, I think we'd like to take an opportunity to invite them to come up to the microphone and just tell us your name and your age and rank. Are they all the same? Yeah, or different? [07:22] **Scout Leader**: Different ranks, but that'd be a good thing to do. [07:24] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Perfect. And I will come down there because we have a small gift for you as well. So, uh, if you guys want to form a line behind the podium whenever you've got it. All right, step on up. Name, age, rank. [07:40] **Carter Ruchi**: Hello, I am Carter Ruchi, age 14, Star rank. [07:44] **Lucas Lee**: Hi, my name is Lucas Lee. I'm 14 and I am First Class, I believe. [07:50] **Ivy Morcomb**: My name is Ivy Morcomb. I'm 11 and my rank is Tenderfoot. [07:54] **Kim [Scout]**: Hello, my name is Kim. I'm 15 and I am Second Class. [08:00] **Ian Morcomb**: Hello, I'm Ian Morcomb and my rank is Life and I'm 15. [08:05] **Liam Schmidt**: Hi, I'm Liam Schmidt and I'm Tenderfoot rank. [08:09] **Odin Jensen**: I am Odin Jensen, age 12, I am Tenderfoot. [08:13] **Joseph Schmidt**: My name is Joseph Schmidt, age 14, and my rank is—I don't know. [Applause] [08:20] **Unknown Scout**: I would guess enough of age 11 and I'm ranked Tenderfoot. [08:25] **Logan Girling**: My name is Logan Girling and I'm Scout. [08:28] **Colton Beak**: My name is Colton Beak and I'm 11 and I'm Scout rank. [08:32] **Austin Schoenberger**: My name is Austin Schoenberger, I'm 11 and I'm Tenderfoot here. [08:36] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Well, I never was a scout, but I know a lot of people that have been, and I am fairly confident that a future mayor of Oakdale is sitting in the audience right now. So their commitment to the community is always very impressive. So thank you for being here, thank you for presenting the colors and leading us in the Pledge tonight. Uh, next up on the agenda is open forum. This is an opportunity for people to come to the podium and share whatever is on their mind. Um, it's gonna be interesting. Um, the process we typically follow is we ask people to try and keep their comments to three minutes. Um, if a speaker in front of you says something similar to how you're feeling, it's totally okay to just say you agree with their position. Um, this typically isn't a period for conversation back and forth with the Council, but if there is something we need to have staff follow up on, we will hand your concerns or questions or comments over to them. So if anybody would like to step up and share anything, please feel free to do so. All these people and nothing? Oh, we're doing a good job with that. We're going to go ahead and close open forum and keep things moving to the consensus motions. Uh, consensus motions tend to be non-controversial items that the Council will act on altogether. Um, so looking to my Council colleagues, are there any other than item I that we had already discussed about removing? Are there any others that council members would like to remove for individual consideration? Seeing none, I'll look for a motion for A through H. [10:15] **Council Member Susan Olson**: I will make a motion to approve consensus motions A through H as presented. [10:20] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: There's a motion. Is there a second? [10:21] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: Second. [10:22] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: A motion and a second. Any conversation? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. [10:26] **Council Members**: Aye. [10:27] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Those opposed? And A through H are presented. Uh, consensus motion I is—I'll tackle this one. Um, it is approving the hire of temporary part-time ice rink attendants. Um, one individual has been removed from consideration, so we will be striking Blake Schmidt's name from the uh RCA—one says Schmidt, oh, I wrote Smith, sorry. First night, Jake, first night, come on. Um, and I believe Council Member Morcomb is going to say something here. [11:00] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: Yeah, from this vote I need to formally recuse myself because the applicant is my daughter. [11:05] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Always a wise thing. So, uh, with that, I would look for a motion to approve consensus motion I as amended. [11:12] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Before I make that motion, I just want to clarify how I should word this motion. Should I—because we're just—we just have one name, should I specifically state the name or... [11:18] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: I think it's amended to only have one name now, so you can just motion. [11:21] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Okay, I make a motion to approve consensus motion I as amended. [11:25] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: There's motion, is there a second? [11:26] **Council Member Ingridson**: Second. [11:27] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. [11:31] **Council Members [Olson/Ingridson/Zabel]**: Aye. [11:32] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: All those uh opposed say nay? Uh, motion is approved. Next up on the agenda is uh hearing from our advisory boards and commissions. All council members have liaison assignments with our city commissions, so this is an opportunity for the Liaisons to update everybody else on what our commissions are working on. So up first is the Economic Development Commission, uh, which Council Member Olson is the liaison. [11:58] **Council Member Susan Olson**: It doesn't look like they had a meeting. [12:00] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: So yeah. All right, next is our Environmental Management Commission which met last night and I'm the liaison. Um, what did they work on? Uh, oh, they're working on their content calendar for um 2023. So working on how to get information about our environmental endeavors out to our residents. So they have a lot of work in that area and so they're working very hard on it. Uh, Planning Commission up next, Council Member Ingridson. [12:28] **Council Member Ingridson**: Uh, the Planning Commission did meet on January 5th and I'm also on a blank on what they discussed, but I'm looking it up here. [12:35] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: I think it's those development items that we're going to talk about next. [12:38] **Council Member Ingridson**: Oh, okay, thank you. I was at the meeting too by the way, I've just drawn a blank. I did look it up again today and looked at it, but I'm sorry. [12:45] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: No problem. Uh, Parks and Rec Commission, Council Member Morcomb. [12:48] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: Yeah, they did not meet, and I've just been assigned to that commission so I'm excited to serve with them, but at this point I have no report. [12:55] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Perfect. Finally is the Tree Board. They did not meet as well. Uh, under the section of award a bid, staff doesn't have any for us tonight so that's great. Uh, staff reports: Community Development, City Planner Luke McClanahan. [13:10] **Luke McClanahan [Planning Manager]**: Good evening, Mayor and Council. Yes, if we can bring up the screen here, we got a development application. It's actually two site plans. I'll give it just a moment here for the screen... let's see here... there we are. Okay, thank you. So yes, this location and the location of the request is at the Northwest Quadrant of 34th Street and High Point Drive. It's located—the site is located in the Forefront Technology Business Campus and it's also located within the 3M Imation Planned Unit Development. That's the zoning for this property. This is a vacant parcel consisting of 8.5 acres and the purpose of the two site plans—again it's two site plans for the same property—is to enable future commercial development of the site. So site plan option one would feature a grocery store along with other commercial uses, and then site plan option two is the backup plan in the event that a grocery store—the negotiation with the grocery store chain does not pan out. Um, so a little bit of background in the site: it was re-guided for the comp plan from business campus to commercial use in summer of 2022, and then for the zoning the PUD was amended to allow for certain commercial and retail uses also last summer. Here's a look at site plan option one. So you can see there are six commercial buildings here, the white buildings, and then in the Northwest portion of this property is a—the national grocery chain. And other uses of the site would include restaurants, a coffee shop, a pharmacy, a bank, and other general retail uses. Just a few highlights about the site plan and the design and requirements: a traffic analysis was submitted as part of this request and they recommend a new—a left turn lane off High Point Drive to serve this property, and then a couple turn lanes for the site access as uh you would approach High Point Drive. So there are three accesses here: one here on High Point, and then High Point would be extended as a private drive. There would be another access on the north side, and then a new access on this new road, which is Hayward Avenue. Um, for stormwater provisions, there are several basins that will serve this site. A landscaping, site lighting, trash enclosures—those requirements of the code have been met for the site, and there will be some pylon signs or a pylon sign at the southwest corner of the site. Um, for sidewalks, there will be a new sidewalk that parallels High Point Drive as well as a sidewalk system internally to the site. So this request option one, it does meet site plan standards subject to the conditions that are listed in the resolution. Moving on to site plan option two: as you can see, in place of the national grocery chain—a national grocery store—if that negotiation does not pan out, then the applicant is prepared with this other site plan that features seven commercial buildings. So two commercial buildings in the place of the grocery store. Um, notably in the northwest corner here is a proposed car wash, and as the underlying zoning for this PUD is commercial, staff finds that the car wash would be subject to a conditional use permit—so a separate approval process and review process to ensure that that use is compatible with this area and that certain conditions could be placed on it if it's deemed appropriate. Uh, otherwise the remainder of the site would be essentially the same as option one. So like option—the site plan option one, this site plan option two appears to meet the standards subject to certain conditions listed in the resolution. Moving on to some renderings of the site: just a few selected renderings of the proposed commercial buildings. So in the top left here is the—what the grocery store could look like, and then in the center here is a—a restaurant. Upper right hand corner is a pharmacy, bottom left is a coffee shop, and then in the bottom right is a bank. For exterior building materials and design, the applicant will just need to submit architectural plans when they're ready for the—to proceed with the building permits. Um, so with that staff recommends approval of both requests subject to the conditions in the resolutions in the packet and I will summarize those. For resolution number one: 1) the developer pay the cost of the improvements for High Point Drive North as noted in the traffic analysis. 2) The developer construct a sidewalk from High Point Drive, the cul-de-sac, to the intersection of 34th Street as well as traffic signal improvements at High Point and 34th Street—and this language is in the site improvement performance agreement. 3) The developer establish an easement over the sidewalk along High Point Drive North to allow for public use—and would like to note that if the sidewalk—there's a question from the applicant that if the sidewalk is actually fully located within the right-of-way or if it's covered by an existing access agreement, then this provision would simply not apply. 4) Architectural plans be submitted with a building permit. 5) Approval of a development agreement. 6) All ground mechanical equipment must be properly screened. 7) Permits and approvals be obtained from the Valley Branch Watershed District. 8) The developer obtain approval from the City's Fire Marshal for the proposed hydrant locations. And 9) approval of the site civil construction plans by the city engineer. Moving on to the resolution for site plan option two, they're exactly the same with one exception, and that's the first condition: and that's a conditional use permit be obtained to construct a car wash on the property. So at Planning Commission, they did review these two site plans and they recommended approval. And I know that there are concerns from the Council about the car wash use. The developer is here for any questions, otherwise staff is here as well for any questions. Thank you. [18:35] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Thank you, Luke. Council members, any questions for Luke right off that? Any questions for the developer? None? Okay, let's go ahead and jump in to that first resolution on the agenda. I'll make a motion to waive reading and adopt Resolution 2023-05 approving site plan option one for the Forefront commercial retail property with conditions included in the attached resolution. There's motion, is there a second? [19:08] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Second. [19:09] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Hearing motion and a second. Any additional conversation? Seeing none, and all those in favor say aye. [19:14] **Council Members**: Aye. [19:15] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Those opposed? And that resolution is adopted. Uh, in regards to the resolution for option number two: in talking with staff and I believe they've also spoke with the developer, we're going to move to take no action on that resolution at this time. So I will go ahead and make the motion to table—or not to table—oh, Chris almost freaked out again. I will make the motion to move to take no action on Resolution 2023-06 at this time. Uh, there's a motion, can I have a second? [19:48] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: Second. [19:49] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Motion on a second. In conversation, being none, all those in favor say aye. [19:53] **Council Members**: Aye. [19:54] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Those opposed? And that motion is approved to take no action at this time. Okay, Chris isn't throwing anything at me so we're good. All right, okay. Now is our time to check in with the City Attorney, Jim Thompson. Jim, welcome. Anything for us? [20:10] **Jim Thompson [City Attorney]**: Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Nothing specific to report tonight but happy to answer questions. [20:15] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Any questions for Jim? All right, Administrator's report. Christina Volkers. [20:20] **Christina Volkers [City Administrator]**: Thank you, Mayor, City Council. Um, attached to your agenda is a proposed legislative agenda. It is good practice for cities to um discuss and debate on what the priority should be for this current legislative session and to do that annually. We did discuss this at the December 13th Council Workshop and attached to your agenda are the priorities—proposed priorities. We did discuss most of them. There's one added: the noise wall. And the noise wall is something our residents along 694 along the 694 corridor have been asking for support of a new noise wall there. And while the city isn't in a position to fund that, we certainly are in a position to support funding for that. So that has been added to the proposed legislative priorities. That would be the only significant change based on the discussion of the December 13th meeting. So I'll be glad to stand for any questions. Um, otherwise I would ask for a motion to approve it. [21:18] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Anybody have any questions for Chris? And I just want to make one clarification—um, you sort of referenced it—so these are legislative priorities at the state level for the state legislature? [21:28] **Christina Volkers [City Administrator]**: Yes, thank you. Yep. [21:30] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Uh, perfect. Any—no questions for Chris? I will look for a motion to approve. [21:35] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: I'll make a motion to approve the 2023 legislative agenda as presented. [21:40] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: There's motion. Was there a second? [21:42] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Second. [21:43] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Motion and a second. Any final comments? None? All those in favor say aye. [21:47] **Council Members**: Aye. [21:48] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Those opposed? And that is adopted. Thank you. Uh, next up, I guess I'll take this one. Um, unless—yeah, I guess I will. Next up on the agenda is um to make our appointments um for City Council members to be liaison to our city commissions. We had mentioned that briefly before. Um, this is just the official action for that, as well as, as required by state law and city policy, we have to designate an acting mayor in case I get hit by a bus or eaten by a bear. Um, and after Council discussion, it is to designate Council Member Ingridson as acting mayor for 2023. Uh, can I have a motion? [22:35] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: I'll make a motion—you can read it out. All right, I will formally make a motion to designate Council Member Ingridson as the acting mayor for 2023 and Council appointments. [22:45] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: All right, there's a motion. Is there a second? [22:47] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Second. [22:48] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: There's motion and a second. Any final comments? No. All those in favor say aye. [22:52] **Council Members**: Aye. [22:53] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Those opposed? And those are adopted. I hope I don't get eaten by a bear. Um, oh, Council presentations. Um, also in this section is just an opportunity for individual council members to share any comments or thoughts that they have, um, any comments we've received from residents. So, uh, who wants to go first? Nothing? Nothing for me? Council Member Ingridson? [23:22] **Council Member Ingridson**: I have nothing. [23:23] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: I'll just share, as my first meeting here, it's an honor to be elected. And this is the most people I've seen in the Council meeting in the past year, and I've been coming to every Council meeting since I decided to run. So as you can see, the things that are presented affect our community, they're important, and they need feedback. So I would just encourage everybody who can: come to meetings, get involved, and reach out. Thanks. [23:45] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Thanks, Andy. Uh, I have a few. Um, which is great because staff always writes them up for me. Um, there's an indoor market—the indoor winter markets at the Discovery Center this Saturday, January 21st, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There's over 20 local vendors selling wide array of baked goods, sweets, salsas, jewelry, essential oils and more. So always a really, really good time up there. Feel free to pop on up and buy a few things. Uh, we have a groundbreaking at the Aspen Residences on Tuesday, January 24th. It is a 190-unit unit apartment property um as part of the Willowbrook development. So for any residents who've seen that new commercial industrial building going up on the corner of 694 and County 14—it's just north of that. So um I'll be out there, I think some of my colleagues might be out there, breaking ground—frozen ground—um on that really nice apartment building. So uh next is congratulations to our fall photo contest winners. Um, voting concluded at the end of 2022 and the three photos that received the most votes on the City's Facebook page were "Tree Details" by Kaylee Johnston, "Sunset" by Kelly Marie List, and "Reflections" by Tim Kemper. If anybody wants to see those photos, they're on the City's Facebook page and website. Administrator Volkers is nodding, so um but thank you to all of the the residents who made submissions, thank you to all the residents who voted. There were a lot of really good photos this year so we are appreciative of that. Uh, Oakdale Public Works is still offering their Christmas tree recycling to residents through the end of the month. So if you have a crispy brown tree by now in your living room, you can go ahead and take it to the Public Works campus. Three dollars per tree and they will go ahead and recycle that for you. No decorations or bags are allowed um but please feel free to stop by the Public Works campus Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., uh 1900 Hadley Avenue North. Uh, city offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, Monday, January 16th, in observance of Martin Luther King Day. So just a reminder of that—that'll be next week. Um, last one: I am adding a plea to our residents with all of the snowfall—we really need some help digging out fire hydrants. Um, there was a really nice uh news story, I believe on Kare 11 last night, that um interviewed a fire commander out of Minneapolis who was actually responding to a house fire. Every few seconds matters a lot, so any efforts our residents can—or any help our residents can give us in digging out those fire hydrants can save some very valuable time. I think our city has over 500 fire hydrants, so we try and clear them as fast as we can, but you don't know when a fire will pop up and those those seconds and minutes really matter. So if you can give us a hand or your neighbors a hand, we would really appreciate it. I think they asked for three feet on—all the way around—so that'll give the fire department plenty of access to—to access that hydrant. With that, that's all I got. Uh, last up on the agenda is claims. Claims are the bills—we got to pay the bills. So uh included in our packets were the claims rosters. Um, council members have had a chance to review that, so I will look for a motion on the claims roster. [26:50] **Council Member Susan Olson**: I'll make a motion to approve claims as presented. [26:54] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: There is a motion. Is there a second? [26:55] **Council Member Ingridson**: Second. [26:56] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Motion and a second. Any conversation? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. [27:00] **Council Members**: Aye. [27:01] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: And those opposed? Nobody? All right, claims are paid. Last item: motion to adjourn. [27:06] **Council Member Andy Morcomb**: I'll make a motion to adjourn. [27:07] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: There is a motion. Is there a second? [27:08] **Council Member Susan Olson**: Second. [27:09] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: Motion on the second. All those in favor say aye. [27:11] **Council Members**: Aye. [27:12] **Mayor Kevin Zabel**: And those opposed? Nobody ever is, and we are adjourned. [Applause] For everybody here, um, we're gonna take some family and friend photos.