Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the transcript, here is the speaker-identified version of the town hall meeting. **Note on Speaker Identification:** While several council members from your provided list are mentioned in motions (Haus, Pemble, Leifeld, Lawrence), the transcript also explicitly identifies two council members by name during the discussion—**Jen Fox** and **Jerry Folch**—who were active members of the Hastings City Council during this session. *** [0:00] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. 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. Welcome, and let the roll reflect we all council members are in attendance and we have a quorum. Um, tonight is always a special night to start off with our recognition of employees, milestones of years, and we have many, many, many, many years of employees that are here tonight. So with that, our City Administrator Dan Wietecha will give us an update. Welcome, Dan. [0:46] **Dan Wietecha (City Administrator):** Thank you. I'm pleased to recognize the employees of the city of Hastings who have celebrated milestone anniversaries this year. We're fortunate to have their service and expertise on staff and happy we could recognize some of them in person this evening. Thank you to those who are here with us tonight. Also recognize there is a structure fire, so we're probably a little bit light with our Fire Department representation tonight, uh, but certainly understood. Um, one second. Um, as I go through the list, uh, when I call your name, please come on up. The following employees have been with the city of Hastings for 5 years: Sergeant Sam Bo... [Summarized: Dan continues reading the citations for Sam Bo, Nick Cross, Joe Sasy, Ashley DeBernardi, Ryan Ernst, Jason Crel, Megan Schlay, Dan Vastic, Jake Willers, Lauren Foss, Matt Hedrick, Chris Jenkins, Ryan McGraw, Chris Nelson, Joe Spagnoletti, Dean Suzuki, David Bauer, Kyle Linscheid, Matt Schlafer, Chris Paulson, Mary Kofer, Jeff Elliot, Penny Schult, Tim Tessier, and Sandy Bisel.] [23:26] **Dan Wietecha (City Administrator):** ...and our last recognition could not be here; she also is at a structure fire. Sandy Bisel has served the Hastings community for 30 years. Wow. As a paid-on-call firefighter, she has always been here with a positive approach to her work, her co-workers, and the community we serve. We thank Sandy for her years of service. And if you weren't counting and all that, the total between these anniversaries is 310 years combined service to the Hastings community. Thank you all. I think if we could break real quick and do some group photos with the City Council and the, uh, employees with the milestones, then we'll get back to the meeting. Thank you. [24:26] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** All right. Tonight also, we are recognizing outgoing commissioners, and there are several residents who have volunteered their time on citizen commissions, and we would like to recognize them at this time. Chief? [26:52] **Police Chief Kyle Linscheid:** Thank you. I'm going to have Dolores Pemble step up please because I'm going to embarrass her a little bit. No, Dolores, I'm just kidding. So tonight I'd like to recognize Dolores Pemble for her service on the Public Safety Advisory Commission... [Summarized: Chief Linscheid thanks Dolores for her 7 years of service.] Dolores, please accept this certificate of appreciation for your service on the Public Safety Advisory Commission. We wish you the very best and you will be missed. [28:25] **Dan Wietecha (City Administrator):** Sorry, thank you, thanks Chief. Thank you, Chief. And although I do not believe that they are on a structure fire this evening, um, the Arts and Culture Commission is a brand-new commission for the city this past year... [Summarized: Dan recognizes outgoing commissioners Kirk Skeba, Joe Becker, and Dedra McGin.] I appreciate their volunteering and assisting with this fledgling commission and will certainly miss their contributions. [29:11] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Thank you, Dan. Tonight we will also have an update from Dakota County Commissioner Mike Slavic. Welcome, Mike. [30:44] **Mike Slavic (Dakota County Commissioner):** Well, thank you, Mayor, Councilmembers, City staff, those who are in the audience and those who of course are watching on TV. Um, it's always wonderful to be here for the annual update with Dakota County... [Summarized: Commissioner Slavic discusses the Bison program, the Mississippi River Greenway, park upgrades, property valuations, and the Vermillion River Greenway.] [39:57] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Thank you, Commissioner. Any questions, Council? Oh, Councilmember Fox, sorry. [39:57] **Councilmember Jen Fox:** Thank you for the update. It's always a pleasure to work with you. Something that I am approached by a lot of constituents about is the speed and the traffic on Nininger Road. Could we have an update about that? [41:30] **Mike Slavic (Dakota County Commissioner):** Yes, I can give a little bit of a—just because I know it's in the '24 Capital Improvement Plan... so the short answer is 2024, we’re working on the pedestrian safety as a component of that. [42:17] **Councilmember Jerry Folch:** Thank you, your honor. Thanks, Mike, for coming. You’re always a pleasure to listen to. I’m glad to hear the County is taking a focus on relationship-building with its partners... [Summarized: Councilmember Folch discusses the dissolution of the Dakota Broadband Board and asks for an update on the bike trail extension to Red Wing.] [46:56] **Mike Slavic (Dakota County Commissioner):** [Summarized: Responds regarding the bike trail status, land acquisitions in Goodhue County, and the goal of repairing inter-government relations in 2024.] Thank you very much for your questions as well. Thank you. [50:45] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Thank you, Councilmember Folch. Again, thank you, Commissioner. Councilmembers, are there any corrections to the minutes from December 4th? Comments from the audience at this time? No one on Zoom? Councilmembers, I would accept a motion to approve the consent agenda. [51:31] **Councilmember Lisa Leifeld:** Motion. [51:31] **Councilmember Tim Lawrence:** Second. [51:31] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion state by saying aye. (Group: Aye). Opposed? That motion prevails. [52:17] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Under awarding of contracts and public hearings, we have an authorized signature for the Professional Services Agreement with WSB LLC for the PFAS Water Treatment Plants and Interconnect Project. For this, we will have an update from City Administrator Dan Wietecha. [52:17] **Dan Wietecha (City Administrator):** Thank you. This summer the city contracted with WSB to do a feasibility study... their recommendation is to build three treatment plants on existing city land. We accepted a grant from the MPCA for about $3.2 million to pay for this design work. So this is a not-to-exceed contract for $2,992,617. [54:37] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Thank you, Dan. Any questions, Council? If not, I would accept a motion. [54:37] **Councilmember Tim Lawrence:** So moved. [54:37] **Councilmember Dave Pemble:** Second. [54:37] **Councilmember Jerry Folch:** Thank you, your honor. I just wanted to make a comment. I think it would be useful to have a workshop laid out succinctly about our strategic plan for PFAS funding, especially since we opted out of the 3M settlement. [56:10] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Thank you, Councilmember Folch. There is a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. (Group: Aye). That motion prevails. Tonight under Community Development, we have a second reading to adopt the ordinance for the Mississippi River Critical Corridor Area (MRCCA). We have with us tonight John Hinzman. Welcome, John. [56:10] **John Hinzman (Community Development Director):** Thank you, Mayor, Councilmembers. As the Mayor pointed out, we have a couple of ordinance amendments... This was established in 1979 as far as protection up and down the Mississippi River. [Summarized: Hinzman explains the different zones—town site, residential view, and preservation areas—and mentions the neighborhood meeting and Planning Commission approval.] [1:02:25] **Councilmember Jen Fox:** Thank you, John. I know you and Justin have been working really hard on this. I fully support moving forward with this. I'd like to make a motion to approve the ordinance. [1:02:25] **Councilmember Angie Haus:** Second. [1:03:57] **Councilmember Jerry Folch:** John, thank you for the work. My only big concern is how this impacts the end of Fourth Street on the east side where it floods... I don't feel like we've actually solved that problem with the DNR land there. [1:05:30] **John Hinzman (Community Development Director):** Councilmember, I know there are performance standards regulating public facilities. I'm unsure how it affects that road specifically, but I will follow up. [1:06:16] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** Thank you. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. (Group: Aye). That motion prevails. Tonight under Administration, we have a second reading to adopt the ordinance for the fee schedule. Dan, you may give us an update. [1:07:06] **Dan Wietecha (City Administrator):** This is the last step of our '24 budget. [Summarized: Dan explains the 10% late penalty consistency, a new credit card convenience fee, ambulance billing increases to match regional rates, cannabis license fees, and utility rate increases (3.5% for water, 4.5% for sewer, 4% for storm water).] [1:14:48] **Councilmember Jerry Folch:** Thank you, your honor. I continue to have some heartburn about the Ice Arena fees for kids. We're looking at 20% and 25% increases for youth skating. I would like to make a motion that we not increase our fees more than 6% for ice skating, ice hockey, freestyle, and the session book of 10. [1:19:26] **Councilmember Jen Fox:** I have a point of clarification question. At a second reading of an ordinance, what does this do to our process? [1:20:12] **Dan Wietecha (City Administrator):** Your honor, members of the Council, certainly at this point it is a substantive change. It is not fatal to continue it to the first meeting in January, but if you're asking if you can amend it at this stage, the answer is yes. [1:20:58] **Councilmember Jen Fox:** I appreciate your sentiment, Councilmember Folch. This is a discussion we had as the Finance Committee... the rest of the committee said we should move forward with the increase. Raising fees is never something we take lightly, but I’m going to defer to staff on this. [1:23:18] **Councilmember Jerry Folch:** I just wanted to go on the record. I don’t think we should be increasing fees for children by 20 and 25%. Ice skating is becoming an elitist sport. If average families can't send their kids, why do we have the rink? [1:24:54] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** That motion is nil [due to lack of a second]. Anyone wish to approve a motion for the fee structure as it is in our packets? [1:24:54] **Councilmember Dave Pemble:** I make that motion. [1:24:54] **Councilmember Jen Fox:** Second. [1:24:54] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** All those in favor say aye. (Majority: Aye). Opposed? (Folch: Nay). That motion prevails. [1:25:40] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** [Summarized: Announces Holiday Lights map, holiday office closures, and upcoming commission meetings.] I would accept a motion to adjourn for the final time of 2023. [1:26:26] **Councilmember Tim Lawrence:** Motion. [1:26:26] **Councilmember Lisa Leifeld:** Second. [1:26:26] **Mayor Mary Fasbender:** All those in favor say aye. (Group: Aye). That motion prevails.