Based on the names and roles provided in the context, here is the transcribed townhall meeting with speaker names added: [0:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** ...here. [0:09] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Council members have announcements this evening. Hearing none, we will uh go past public hearing since we don't have one and communications are on file. Mr. Mulder, could you give us a brief synopsis of the presentations that were given at uh pre-agenda and ahead of that? [0:27] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yeah. So, uh, at 3:30 the city council met to, uh, tour the Northstar Port Arena. Um, we are on schedule and really close to being on budget. Um, but we are, um, about three months away. Um, September, October, mid November. They should be have substantial completion. Um, pretty much done. The idea that the arena should be ready on January 1 or um. [0:44] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Okay. Um, Eric Johnson gave an update on Victor Park updates. He specifically talked about some additional uh work that we could potentially do there in terms of some additional concrete and some additional sodding um based upon the council's um direction. We're going to get um quotes for each of those two pieces of work, additional sod, additional concrete, and we'll present those uh for an award at the next city council meeting with the idea that we get that work done um this fall. And then finally, we just talked about um the scheduling for the objection hearings for the uh projects coming down. [1:32] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Project assessment hearing. Objection hearings for 9:22 and 9:29 at 4:00. [1:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Discussion. This is a time that anyone can address the council about any item not on the agenda. We ask that you limit your time to three minutes per person. Would anyone like to give public discussion this evening? Is there anyone that would like to address the council tonight? Last opportunity for public discussion hearing. None. We'll move forward to motions. A motion to approve the following liquor license applications: Men's two for men's sea stores, 4221 Hannes Road, a 3.2 off-sale liquor license, and a tobacco license. Do we have a motion? [2:21] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Motion to approve. [2:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Do we have a second? [2:40] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I'll second. [2:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Um, roll call, please. [2:55] **City Council Members:** I. [2:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is the consent agenda. Minutes: Approval or correction of the August 18th, 2025 city council continuation minutes and accounts payable approved general city warrants from August 16, 2025 through August 31st, 2025 in the amount of 2,554,067.65. Is there a motion? [3:18] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Move to approve. [3:18] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [3:18] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Second by Councilor Geissler. [3:18] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Uh, roll call please. [3:35] **City Council Members:** I. [3:35] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I. [3:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next resolutions. Resolution 2025-131, resolution approving PFML paid family and medical leave carrier for the city of Hermantown. Is there a motion relating to this? [3:52] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Motion to approve. [3:52] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [3:52] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I'll second. [3:52] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, do you want to explain this one? [4:18] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Sure. Beginning on [January 1], Minnesota provides family leave. Um, so we went out for bids to purchase that. We had two proposals. We're recommending the proposal in front of you. Um, we feel like it's a good deal. Plus, we also um get somebody else to do some reporting of taxes. [4:33] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? [4:33] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I just had one comment. Um, Kevin Orme was going to follow up just a little bit more on that guardians [sic]—what the benefit is where it says 90% of the first 50% SAWW then 65 and so on and so forth. So if uh Kevin Orme can have a little bit more update for next meeting that'd be great. [4:59] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yeah, what we'll do—even in fact as we think about this, I don't know if it'll be at the next meeting or certainly the October one—is we'll have um Turin Associates explain to you um what this benefit is and what it does for the employees similar to what we'll do in onboarding with the employees. We'll have a presentation for you like at the city council. I just don't promise it'll be on the 15th, but we'll get something to you. [5:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other questions or comments? [5:25] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I just have one other comment that we talked that this premium cost would be shared 50/50 between the city and the employees. [5:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Anything else? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2025-131? Any public input on the resolution approving a paid carrier for the city of Hermantown. Roll call, please. [6:13] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [6:13] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** I. [6:13] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [6:13] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [6:13] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [6:13] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [6:13] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [6:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I. [6:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is resolution 2025-132, resolution to adopt the proposed property tax for taxes payable in 2026 and scheduling the truth and taxation hearing. Is there a motion? [6:31] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Move to approve. [6:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [6:31] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I'll second. [6:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [7:05] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So, uh, we need to set the public hearing. Um, and we usually do that the first meeting in December. We need to notify the county of the proposed um maximum tax levy. Um, this includes the tax levy that we discussed two weeks ago. Um, the effective rate increase is 1.4% increase in the rate. Um, the levy increasing about 10% um that will go to the city [and] the um county, and then they'll send out the truth and taxation notices and that hearing would be held on the first meeting in December. [7:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2025-132? Any public input on the resolution to adopt the proposed property tax levy for 2026 and schedule the truth and taxation hearing. Roll call, please. [7:40] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [7:40] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Hi. [7:40] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [7:57] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [7:57] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [7:57] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [7:57] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [7:57] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Hi. [7:57] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [7:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I. [7:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next resolution 2025-133, resolution approving the final professional services contract with LHB for the design and oversight of the Hermantown city administration and public safety building HVAC system upgrades. Do we have a motion? [8:20] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Move to approve. [8:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [8:20] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Second. [8:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder, should we have Mr. Holmes explain this one? [9:15] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yes, please. [9:15] **Brandon Holmes (Building Official):** [Provides explanation of HVAC design scope]. [9:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? [9:15] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Uh, and this would be for completion sometime next year. [9:15] **Brandon Holmes (Building Official):** Their scope of work will actually be completed by November or sooner of this year for their design of the plans. The physical work, which will be implemented by a contractor yet to be decided, will still go up for [bid] so on and so forth. That would be completed next year. [9:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Anything else from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution for a professional services contract with LHB? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-133? Roll call, please. [10:12] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [10:12] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [10:12] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [10:12] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** I. [10:12] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [10:12] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** I. [10:12] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [10:12] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I. [10:12] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [10:12] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I. [10:12] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2025-134, resolution directing the immediate abatement of hazardous structures and conditions within the mobile home park located at 4921 Eddie Avenue. Is there a motion? [10:36] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Move to approve. [10:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [10:36] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I'll second. [10:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Um, Mr. Mulder, should we have Mr. Holmes explain this one also? [10:36] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yes, please. [10:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. [11:04] **Brandon Holmes (Building Official):** Uh, mayor, councilors. Uh, so as you're aware, we are continuing with the enforcement actions against the trailer park—have been for some time. Uh, last month, the trailer park sold to new owners. And so, part of the purpose of this is to basically repeat the process. They are not subject to the orders that the previous owner was subject to. Um, and then to add to that, we are continuing to have an attractive nuisance issue with all of the vacant units present. We've had [a] break-in as recently as tonight. Um, and so that is part of the reason behind wanting to get those units condemned and removed out of there so they're not an attractive nuisance uh to the public. [11:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? With none, are there any—is there any public input on this resolution? And any public input on the direction for the abatement of hazardous structures at 4921 Eddie Avenue. Is there any public input on resolution 2025-134? Roll call, please. [11:59] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [11:59] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [11:59] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [11:59] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Hi. [11:59] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [11:59] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Hi. [11:59] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [12:14] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [12:14] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [12:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Hi. [12:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is resolution 2025-135. Resolution approving a special use permit for grading and filling within a natural environment shoreland overlay area. Is there a motion relating to this? [12:30] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I'll make a motion to approve. [12:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion to approve by Councilor Peterson. Do we have a second? [12:30] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Second. [12:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Uh, Mr. Mulder, should we have Mr. Johnson address this? [13:15] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yes, please. [13:15] **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director):** Great. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. So, this is for the trail work associated with the Keen Creek Trail South project. Uh, this is actually made up of two segments. One is from Morris Thomas Road north to Johnson Road and the other one being from the Keen Creek uh parking lot uh down southerly to the city borders. So this whole trail system of these two segments is 7,700 lineal feet. There's approximately 6,000 lineal feet within the shoreland area or directly uh adjacent to Keen Creek. So um as part of this process, the city has had multiple discussions with environmental regulatory agencies and then we would be issuing ourselves as a city a special use permit. This is the same process we followed in other city projects that have been within shoreland areas and what we also require of the general public should they do work in a shoreland area as well. [13:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? Uh, having none, we will move to public comment. Is there any public comment on this resolution? Any public comment on resolution 2025-135? And last opportunity for public comment on the resolution approving a special use permit for grading and filling within a natural environment shoreland area. Roll call, please. [14:13] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [14:13] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** I. [14:13] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [14:13] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Hi. [14:13] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [14:13] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [14:13] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [14:13] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [14:13] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [14:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Hi. [14:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is resolution 2025-136, resolution approving the first amendment to development agreement and first amendment to business subsidy agreement amongst the city of Hermantown, Hermantown Economic Development Authority and KTJ 360 LLC for the Pillars of Hermantown senior living project. Uh, do we have a motion? [14:48] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Motion to approve. [14:48] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [14:48] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I'll second. [14:48] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Moulder, should we have Mr. Johnson address this also? [15:05] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yes, please. [15:05] **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director):** Great. Thank you again, Mr. Mayor. Um, so what's before us this evening? This is the amendment to the development agreement associated with the city and KTJ 360. Um, this has to do with the 2022 agreement between HEDA—excuse me, between the city council and that uh that developer. So, what we're looking to do this evening is to um basically remove language associated with a 30-foot trail easement along the western and northerly property lines associated with the property which contains the Pillars of Hermantown. As part of the uh new development that's ongoing right now in the project, the Cottages of Hermantown, uh the developer KTJ 360 is uh or has provided a $50,000 escrow for the purposes of constructing a uh trail stub adjacent to their property uh that would connect the trail system to the north along to Maple Grove Road. So, at this point, we're essentially removing that existing easement and accepting cash for the construction of a trail. [16:08] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Hearing none, is there any public input on this resolution? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-136? Any public input on the resolution approving the first amendment to development agreement, the first amendment to the business subsidy agreement between the city of Hermantown and KTJ 360 LLC. Roll call, please. [16:51] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [16:51] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I. [16:51] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [16:51] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [16:51] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [16:51] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [16:51] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [16:51] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Hi. [16:51] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [16:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I. [16:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is resolution 2025-137, resolution awarding contract for furniture for the Northstar Ford Arena to Innovative Office Solutions in the amount of 67,511.22. Do we have a motion? [17:15] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I'll make a motion to approve. [17:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion to approve by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? [17:15] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Second. [17:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder. [17:55] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** As part of the uh budget for the arena, we had $75,000 in there for uh various furniture, which includes um furniture that will be in the lobby area, furniture that would be around um the standing areas in the uh rink, and then some general um other furniture for offices and coaches' offices, things like that. Uh, we went out for bid. We received, I think, three or four bids. Uh, this was the lowest one and it's also from a local company that's going to donate some pucks to the youth hockey association. [18:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? [18:14] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Any of that furniture going to varsity sports spaces? [18:14] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** There will be some of them in the varsity coaches' offices. [18:14] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Shouldn't we take the same stance we took on the lockers with the amenities for the varsity coaches? [18:14] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** We could do that and ask the city for the school district for reimbursement. At this point, we haven't, but we could do that. [18:45] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** I think that would fall into the same category that the lockers did. Um, I also find just—and correct me if I'm wrong—it just seems weird that we'd be furnishing the building with furniture, tables, chairs, that sort of thing. Wouldn't the end user do that? [18:45] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** There's no end to that kind of conversation. Andy, you're absolutely right. Theoretically, the school district could have done that. [19:08] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** I mean, I'm just saying like paint, I understand paint. Um, bleacher tops, I understand that, but the usability of the building is not affected by the furniture being in there. That's just my two cents on it. It was in the budget. It's under budget. So, great news. But I mean, I think we kind of took the stance that we're not going to pay for any amenities—or amenities are probably the wrong word—but any resources for varsity sports beyond the ice surface being covered by the school district. And on top of that, I just don't understand why we're buying tables and chairs and benches for the arena anyway. [19:32] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** The main reason we're buying the video board... [19:32] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** We did that knowing that we weren't going to pay for it if we reached the limit of our expenses. This is under the limit of our budget. And I totally get it. The only reason I would vote yes for it is because it was initially budgeted for and it's under the budgeted number. It just surprises me that we'd be buying high tops or chairs for the drink rail. I don't know. Am I going crazy here or what? [20:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** No, I just personally think that the time for this question should have been in the uh design of the arena and probably before the bids were let and before things were started, before the budget was fixed. [20:20] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Well, how do you feel about the stuff for the coaches' room? [20:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I don't mind at all. It's part of the arena. You know, we bought all kinds of things for the Wellness Center that could have been questioned and parceled out too and said maybe the Y needs to do this, but you know, it's it's part of the total package. [20:41] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Weren't wouldn't lockers in the varsity rooms have been part of the total package? [20:41] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Yep. But we didn't have the money for that and we said upfront that we weren't going to do that. [20:56] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Okay. I can get on board with that. [20:56] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** We bought lockers for the Y. [20:56] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I don't think we want to open that particular... and every situation is different. Any other questions or comments from council? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution awarding the contract for furniture for the Northstar Ford Arena. Last opportunity for public input on resolution 2025-137. Roll call, please. [21:29] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [21:29] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [21:29] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [21:29] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [21:29] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [21:29] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Hi. [21:29] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [21:29] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Hi. [21:29] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [21:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Hi. [21:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Uh, next is resolution 2025-138, resolution approving change order numbers 32, 33 and 34—aka change order number 10—for the Northstar Ford Arena in the amount of 36,725.60. Do we have a motion? [22:05] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Move to approve. [22:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [22:05] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I'll second. [22:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [22:23] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So, uh, there are three items here. The first one is um to replace uh the louver and the relief fan in the existing rink. Um, we're adding some additional lights within the rink uh for better coverage for lights. And then we're also adding some outlets in the varsity room um in the in the two varsity locker rooms. Um, on this one, it's not necessarily logical, but in this case, the school district is uh paying for um the relief fan in the existing rink. Basically, the existing fan out-used its life, outlived its life, and so we're replacing that one, and the school district has agreed to reimburse the city for that expense. [23:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on change orders number 32, 33, and 34 for the Northstar Ford Arena? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-138? Roll call, please. [23:25] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [23:25] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [23:25] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [23:25] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Hi. [23:25] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [23:25] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Hi. [23:25] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [23:25] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [23:40] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [23:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I. [23:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is resolution 2025-139. Resolution approving pay request number 15 for the Northstar Ford Arena to Krauss Anderson Construction Company in the amount of $967,668.73. Do we have a motion relating to this? [24:01] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Move to approve. [24:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [24:01] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Second. [24:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder. [24:29] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So this is the work done that was uh completed by KA on the arena um in the month of August. [24:29] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Questions or comments from council? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on approving pay request number 15 for the Northstar Ford Arena to Krauss Anderson Construction Company? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-139? Roll call, please. [24:59] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [24:59] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** I. [24:59] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [24:59] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Hi. [24:59] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [24:59] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [24:59] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [24:59] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [24:59] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [24:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Hi. [24:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is resolution 2025-140. Resolution authorizing and directing mayor and city clerk to execute an acceptance of utility easement agreement to the city of Hermantown from Reside North LLC. Do we have a motion relating to this? [25:26] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** I'll make a motion to approve. [25:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? [25:26] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Second. [25:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder, should we have Mr. Johnson address this? [26:00] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Sure. [26:00] **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director):** Great. Thank you again, Mr. Mayor. Uh, as part of the development agreement for the Reside apartment that the city entered into with Sumis Construction, there was the requirement of a dedication of a utility easement of 30 ft in width that would essentially contain the uh city water and sewer main associated with this project. So, uh, this easement runs within the private driveway and, uh, once again will be, uh, memorialized as part of this agreement and then once the sewer and the water are completed and accepted by, um, or at least from the city engineer, uh, then it would be accepted by city council. [26:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? [26:19] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** I'll restate my opinion. I don't think the city should own anything servicing a single customer. [26:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Anything else from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution accepting a utility easement from Reside North LLC. Last opportunity for public input on resolution 2025-140. Roll call, please. [26:54] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [26:54] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Hi. [26:54] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [26:54] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [26:54] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [26:54] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [26:54] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [27:10] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Nay. [27:10] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [27:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Hi. [27:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next, we have a maker's choice on resolution 2025-141. Resolution receiving bids and awarding contract for Keen Creek Trail segment 4 construction to Veit Construction Company in the amount of either $3,109,017 or $2,937,855.30. Does anyone have a motion relating to this resolution? [27:41] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** I'll move to approve the $2.9 million number. [28:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve the lower of the two numbers there. Is there a second? [28:00] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Second. [28:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder or—it's been a while—Mr. B., if the City Engineer could address this that would be great. [28:16] **City Engineer (Northland Consulting Engineers):** Yeah. Thank you, mayor and council. So, um, last Thursday we received five bids for the construction of the uh next segment of trail and um Veit was the low bid with a base amount of that 2.9 million and then uh alternate $171,000. Um, and that number was uh a little bit below the engineer's estimate. When I reviewed the bids and I made the recommendation, um, I included uh recommending the ad alternate based on the discussion at pre-agenda. There was a lot of information and good questions that were brought up about that and um certainly the ad alternate is not a requirement or a necessity at this point. So um I understand that the motion on the table here is to award the base bid amount and if there's any questions feel free to ask me. Thank you. [29:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** And next we will move to questions and comments by council. Anyone have any? [29:22] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Um, my personal opinion is we should have gone with the higher to get it done now when it's going to need to be done eventually and this would have been the best price and the best time to do it. [29:44] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Does it need to be done eventually? It's going to grab [be] a parking lot for how many years? [29:44] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Well, there's a lot of things that are going to come up, ADA requirements and things like that. Maybe not going to be done eventually, but in my opinion should be done as we should with all of our parks. Make them ADA compliant and accessible to all members of the public. [30:10] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** If you're I guess ADA compliance with the trail head being there would make sense, but if we're just going to do ADA compliant parking lots on parks, like are we going to make all of our playgrounds ADA compliant then too? Because that's a rather large expense compared to a regular playground, right? [30:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** And we we do have to have a plan to make all of our facilities ADA compliant. And we have received grants for other portions of the trail um near the soccer field to make it ADA compliant with pavement. It's a standard. We can drop it or we can go with it. Uh, just my own opinion. Anything else from council? Any public opinion on this resolution? Any public comments or opinion on resolution 2025-141? Last opportunity for public comment on the resolution receiving bids and awarding contract for the Keen Creek Trail segment number four. Roll call, please. [31:06] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Geissler? [31:22] **John Geissler (City Councilor):** Hi. [31:22] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Hjelle? [31:22] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Hi. [31:22] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor LeBlanc? [31:22] **Brian LeBlanc (City Councilor):** Hi. [31:22] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Councilor Peterson? [31:22] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Hi. [31:22] **City Clerk (Alissa McClure):** Mayor Boucher? [31:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** No. [31:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next, we have closed session on our agenda. A motion to close the meeting of the Hermantown City Council pursuant to Minnesota statute section 13D.05 subdivision 3A to discuss the city administrator's performance evaluation. Following this closed session, the Hermantown City Council will reconvene into open session. Do we have a motion to go into closed session? [31:49] **Andy Hjelle (City Councilor):** Motion to go into closed session. [31:49] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Is there a second to go into closed session? [32:07] **Joe Peterson (City Councilor):** Second. Joe can have it. [32:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I guess Councilor Peterson got it first. All in favor say I. [32:07] **City Council Members:** I.