Here is the townhall transcript with speaker names added based on the provided context and the flow of the meeting. [0:00] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Meeting is called to order. Please stand for the pledge. I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [0:23] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. The first on our agenda is the um approval of our current agenda. I believe we have some additions. [0:28] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Yeah, I have some additions. Um somebody else have some additions before me or... [0:35] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Well, once you have yours, I'll determine if I have more. [0:43] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Yeah. Okay. So, I'd like to address—we pulled out Marcus' engineering bill last month and looked at that. I'd like to add that as an additional item cuz I or else that's number six. [0:58] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Is it number six? [1:00] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Correct. [1:02] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Six where? I don't see a six. [1:05] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** City business on the amended agenda that I handed out. [1:10] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Oh, I see. Yep. Okay. Fine. Thank you. [1:15] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Um, so that's a number six. And then I would like to add a discussion of the city planner RFP and in addition to that I would like to add a discussion of our variance process and um particularly of two variances or two most recent variances. So two additions from me. [1:35] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So number eight will be city planner RFP and number nine under city business will be variance procedure. [1:48] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Kathy, um I think mine actually falls under the tree plan. So, perfect. [1:55] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** And Scott, did you have something you wanted to add as well? Are we all set? [2:00] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** All set. [2:02] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Great. And can I get a motion to accept our agenda with the additions? [2:10] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** So moved. [2:11] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Second. [2:13] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** All in favor? Aye. Opposed hearing none. Motion carries. Um we'll open the public forum. Barton, would you like to speak? [2:30] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Thank you, Barton. Um closing the public forum since no one would like to speak. There are no presentations this evening. So, we're on to the consent agenda. Does anybody have anything they would like to pull out of the consent agenda? [2:52] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Hearing none. Can I have a motion to approve it? [2:55] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** So moved. [2:57] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Kathy. Second? [2:58] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Second. [3:00] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Ryan. All in favor? Aye. Oppose. Hearing none. Motion passes. [3:08] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, we are on to staff reports and the first up is our city administrator, Scott Hildebrand. [3:15] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Mine is pretty brief. I think everything's handled in the business. [3:20] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Our job. Um, city engineer then. Hi, Marcus. [3:29] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Hello, everyone. All right. So, first thing on 697 Hall, uh the resident reached out a couple weeks ago. Um he's looking at redoing his driveway and was asking about the culverts underneath. Um after talking with John Manship, uh they're owned by the city. [3:50] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So, the resident's wondering if he can remove them, which I kind of already told them that we can't remove them. And then, um if we want to replace them before. So, I'm coming to the council there today to see if we want to at least—I think it'd be worth cleaning them out at the very least. They're full of sediment and two sides. There's two culverts. Sorry. Two culverts. He has two driveways. Um and one side of each culvert is open. It's still—I mean they're both pretty full. They could probably use a good cleaning. Um, and then I can't really tell if it's in good shape or not just because of how full they are. So, um, if city's interested in needing that, I I can start reaching out to John to see if he can line someone up or if he wants someone else to. Um, that's just kind of my thought or question I guess to the council is if we want to look at the culverts at all while he's turning up his driveway or if we want to just leave it alone, let him pave over the culverts. [4:54] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Well, is there a bear living in there or... it's—the ditch hasn't been maintained in quite a while, so it it's just been full of sediment. Um, it it sounds like your recommendation is to do something. [5:10] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** We want to probably at least clean them. I don't necessarily think that we need to uh replace them, but it'd be good—worth cleaning it just to see what kind of condition it is in before um he puts new asphalt on top. [5:24] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** How much—I mean cleaning doesn't sound expensive. [5:27] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Uh yeah, couple hundred bucks I would say. I I really don't know. I don't know know who... [5:32] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Can we just—what if I just move to authorize 500 bucks for the city to clean it? [5:37] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Sounds good. [5:38] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Is that a vacuum truck or does it have to be augured out or... [5:42] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Uh I'm not I'm not sure who the city normally works with with that. So that's—I mean to clean usually it's like a vac or something like just like a vac truck or something like that. [5:52] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Did we already have the vacuum truck come through and do the um cleaning of the gardens or the other? So maybe we should add that to the list for them. Yeah. Um, the one question I would have is if once they're cleaned out, you find that one, especially the one to the east looks a little crushed. [6:15] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah. I don't know if—Could you come back and just let us know if you need to replace it? Yep. Yep. I think that that would be worth a future discussion once to kind of get an idea of what it actually looks like. [6:26] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, have you inspected them at all? [6:28] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah. Yep. [6:29] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** You did? Okay. [6:30] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yep. And they're so covered up. You can kind of—I looked through them even just tonight and if you look through it, it's half full with sediment in the one and the other one is just so um there's so much stuff around it that you can't even see inside it. [6:45] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** So I I assume these aren't our only culverts. [6:51] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** No. [6:52] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Okay. So what is the city's procedure for maintaining these culverts? [6:56] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah, the they're supposed to be um well, culverts seem to kind of get forgotten about, but storm sewer in general supposed to be inspected at least annually, if not like at the start in the spring and then right before winter. Um that's usually what's supposed to happen, but there's been times where it seems like it's gets—getting—it's been getting forgotten. [7:20] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** So, who who inspects those? [7:23] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** I think it's John Manship, but that's what I was understood. [7:26] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Weren't we talking about a maintenance schedule for the city recently? [7:30] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yeah, we were just talking about it I think this spring. Yeah, we are going to—I think that's going to be part of our discussion during budgeting time. We do need to get on a schedule, but we have to budget for it. [7:41] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Well, we have to budget, but that doesn't mean we can't... [7:44] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Well, you have to budget for it since it's not been budgeted for before. [7:48] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Well, is this—if if this is already something that's supposed to be done by the water superintendent and it hasn't been done and are we like paying for something that we're not getting? [7:59] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** A good question. We we can look at John's contract. Um I don't think it probably says in there. And he does a bunch of stuff as hourly work like turning the water faucets on and off. I would my guess would be it's hourly work, but I don't know for certain that it's not listed and his his contract is very brief and sort of contract-like. [8:24] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Okay. So, that that would be good to check into, but um Marcus, just educate me. So, if we have culverts that are plugged up, what's the impact to the quality of the roads? Uh the runoff or to anything? [8:38] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah, the the main concerns I guess is is if you have flooding issues and I kind of talked to them about it. Doesn't sound like they really have water issues or anything like that. So, um once once it's cleaned out um soon, I mean downstream it—I was gonna I guess reiterate this to John, I guess, but it'd be worth checking everything downstream to make sure there's no clogs because once we start sending water down there... [9:04] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Exactly. [9:05] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah. You might run into issues there, but um that's that's your main thing. Um road-wise, as long as you're not flooding on the road constantly, which we haven't been from my understanding, and I haven't seen it yet, um that'd be the only issue road-wise. [9:21] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So, okay. Thank you. To me, what we should be saying is we need to put together a plan to get all of these clean. [9:28] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Absolutely. Because if we're cleaning one and it creates more problems downstream, then we're just going to be... [9:36] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Culverts generally need a lot less maintenance than what any other storm sewer does, which is probably why it's just it's one of those things that you drive by, you see them, but you don't particularly just go and actually inspect them. [9:48] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, I think the um storm sewer that collects that water, that culvert as it runs down to the lake. Yep. Yep. It runs over to Halls Marsh and that's the one that flooded this spring. So, that may have been cleaned out already, too. [10:04] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah. I was kind of... We should be okay. [10:06] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, I think we should be okay there. [10:06] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Yeah. Anyway, um I like your idea, Ryan. Did you want to make a motion for that? I'll make a motion. Do we want to expand it to include more storm sewers or do we want to do any research on the additional state before we move forward or do we want to just start with this one? Do you—hire us? I guess you have Manship do it if he does it. [10:35] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** And I say I I think my recommendation would just be have Manship go and just check any other culverts and then um report back to the city on that. these two culverts specifically. I know he was trying to get this driveway paved so the future. [10:48] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So, I'll do this. Let's authorize $500 to clean this culvert and any additional culverts. And if the amount exceeds $500, let's um have staff request additional funds for additional clearing of culverts. And I have a second on that motion. [11:06] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Well, hold on. I I I'm okay with the band-aid for now for 500 bucks, but I think we need to have like—I don't want to kick this can down the road anymore. We have to have some sort of maintenance plan, right? [11:12] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Well, we need to take care of him so we can get his driveway done. [11:15] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Yeah, I know. But I'm just saying like... [11:16] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yeah. So, what's our plan for the maintenance plan? We'll have to sit down in our chat. I I believe we also had already approved vacuuming out the storm sewers this year. So, if those haven't been done yet, if if it requires vacuuming, that should be done anyway that we had already requested when they were doing the leaf removal. I think um I think that oh, street sweeping and vacing was all in the same budget. We had requested it in April, I think. [11:53] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Yeah. Let me follow up with Therese on that. [11:55] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Because if that's already been done, then the storm sewers should be clean because they were supposed to have vacuumed those out, in which case it should just be the culverts that need it. But if the storm sewers have not been done, we need to follow up on when that's happening. Okay. [12:09] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, um, maybe I would amend your motion a little bit, Ryan, and say we approve $500. We want the culverts that you're talking about cleaned out as well as the culverts that are downstream from them inspected. And then we want to have Manship or whoever look at the remaining culverts uh and get back to us about what needs to be cleaned and then it goes on a maintenance schedule. [12:35] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I accept the amendment as long as we get it all—get something close to that down. [12:45] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** You know, I I do think it might be helpful as a standing agenda to bring forward what the maintenance schedule was for the previous month to the council and to see if in fact it's been done. [13:02] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Um if we have one, that's a good idea. It's a good thing to discuss during a work session. I I agree. That's a work session. We should be looking at this stuff. Absolutely. Yeah. But I'm not sure there's a plan that exists. [13:16] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** So, time to start one. [13:18] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Right. All right. Um, can I get a second on the amended motion? [13:24] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Second. [13:25] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Hearing none. Motion passes. Let's get that beer back. [Laughter] [13:35] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Do we do we need to put a time frame around around that motion? I mean, we're approving it, but I don't want it to be 10 months out. [13:46] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, well, okay. I think we could—we just expect that to be done over the next month, do you think, Scott? [13:54] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Yeah. If you guys want his driveway done, he's going to want it sooner than he's going to want it within... [13:58] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** I know John was over there maybe a week ago or two weeks ago looking at it, too. Um, so he he's already aware of it. It's just a matter of he might not be available. Yeah. So, we might have to find someone. [14:12] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** We'll work on it. So the understanding is it will be as soon as possible. Okay. [14:17] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Okay. Lift station wise. That's I think that's the next one. Um Xcel is going to be tomorrow. We're going to start seeing traffic control out on the street. Thursday. Xcel is going to start relocating um the gas services around the generator. One that goes to the generator and then there's two houses that run right next to it. That'll start on Thursday. Plan is to be done around Friday. Um ideally we we did see the right-of-way permit coming through today for Xcel. So they are working on it. And then come Monday, um Henches plans to start bringing in equipment and everything else. So plan—be—you'll start seeing some um holes being dug next week. Um any questions with that so far? [15:10] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Okay, so they did request uh oh um notices been going gone out. There was one notice before they pushed the schedule back. I included the notice that most recently has been sent out to them. Um, and then I'll send someone out on Thursday just to give them the residents right there a heads up because I've had a couple questions on it and I think everyone's squared away now, but in case um, we'll have someone out there. [15:42] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yeah. Um, I had a question today from our mail carrier. He was wondering where the mailboxes are going to be put and what day that might be happening. Do you have yet? [15:53] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Good question. My—I'll confirm that, but I would imagine it's going to be on Monday. [15:58] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. So, All right. I'll tell him to look for... [16:01] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** And then we do—Oh, I guess it's not—It wasn't included in this. There is a—It's going to be kind of over by the where the—the lake access is, where the park is across the road. [16:10] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Yeah. So, uh I believe there's a map. I'll I'll send it to you. [16:17] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Marcus, in the past when you've done these for other cities um are residents impacted in unexpected ways? Are there things that we should be thinking ahead about? Um other than traffic and mail and things like that. I mean does water turn off for days unexpectedly? What what are some of the... [16:38] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah. So in some projects like a if we're redoing the the street and stuff then yeah you'll have some of that. In this case the the only thing that would be unexpected is is when we're digging in um the new lift station is if the water main literally falls apart in the hole. The plan is not to shut the water main down or anything like that. Um, that would be the only thing that could—like I'm not gonna say it's not a possibility because we don't know what's down there until we dig it up, but it shouldn't happen. [17:15] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Um, there's going to be sheetings everywhere. It's going to be a very—it'll look like a big hole, but it it's significantly smaller than what it could be. Um, but otherwise, this will be—this is generally going to be a pretty fast process. Couple things that we usually get every year and it won't affect for this project is irrigation that—that sometimes gets hit if that's right next to the road. Visible dog fences. Um people wondering when to mow grass or if they can stuff like that. Um how they how they should get around stuff like that. And we we'll have a guy on on site um most of the time just to help kind of with those questions and stuff like that. Generally we're the main contact for any residents like that just to kind of keep that separation between the contractor keep working—well they have—if they have questions they come to us, if the residents, council members, anything like that come to us just to be the middleman. [18:24] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** And if something were to go bad we have a process for informing the mayor and community? [18:29] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah, if there's an emergency I mean it'll go out immediately we'll start door-knocking—hey just so you know this is going on—for the people that are affected immediately. Um, White Bear Township's already in—in the knowledge on when it's starting. Um, and the generator is going to be up running, but we're not—we're not bypassing. Um, well, we are, but we're not—It should be a very minimal project if that makes sense. Knock on wood. [18:55] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** For somebody who does much bigger projects, I'm sure. [18:59] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** I mean, It'll—it'll look like there's a lot going on, but in the scheme of things, this will be a very um fast process. By the end of the month, I'm hoping everything will be back to normal. [19:10] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** If I—and I I guess I want to just comment. I know there's a lot of information up on social media on—and uh would it—if I put together a little email to send out kind of condensing some of that information for residents. Could I just pass that along to—I don't know—do you or Therese do the email? And you could just send that out to the city. Okay, that would I think that would be good just to get something out and I'm willing to kind of push the words toward each other. [19:43] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Okay. [19:44] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Does the road close starting tomorrow or is that... [19:47] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Thursday. So, the signs go out tomorrow just so people can start seeing it. [19:54] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** We're not changing the other lane to be both direction. I don't think it's wide enough right? [19:59] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah. Worth it. Turn around at this point. Yep. Okay. Yep. [20:01] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** So, are we putting a sign up at the top of Wildwood on the far side on both sides so people don't jump on that road? Um or at Cedar there? [20:11] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** There will be a couple signs, but it won't be a full sign detour around. Um, it only would shut going—is that north? It'd be—Yeah, eastbound or southbound, whichever way you want to look at a map. [20:25] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Going towards White Bear? [20:27] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** No, going towards Mahtomedi. Yep. [20:30] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** So, going towards Mahtomedi. Going towards your house. Oh, okay. All right. I was taking that as not the northbound lane. All right. Yeah, it's kind of... [20:44] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** So then we should put a sign up at Wildwood so people don't try and use it as a cut through because they will get partway down and then have to turn around and that will make them even faster going up the backwards. And there is not a—there's no road in between there and the other to turn around either. No. Okay. [21:05] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** But the part of that is shut down, the residents um will be able to drive that back—that live right there, we'll be able to drive that backwards to be able to have access to their driveways. [21:14] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** I'm not worried about those people. No. [21:19] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So, the guy who it sounds like it affects the most, he's called me a couple times and he should be squared away. The one that lives right there. So, on the opposite side. [21:32] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Good. Any more questions for Marcus on that? [21:34] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Okay. Otherwise, yeah, uh Henchkins is asking to pay for materials um in this. So, I've I call pay app one, but it's the first pay request. And then I also included um the invoice. So, if council's okay with paying this tonight, um that—I'm not exactly sure if we'll be able to just have one more pay request if it approve it gets approved tonight. Nancy is also working on getting everything ready to be submitted to the EPA which will then um we'll then send to the city for final signatures and then send over there. Um and then that'll kind of get that ball rolling to get payment from EPA. [22:20] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** I have a quick question on the bill. Um on that it has taxes on there as a city. Are we tax exempt? But does it not apply because they're buying supplies? [22:36] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** It does. I'm I'm not—I don't think it applies because we're not the one buying the supplies, but I I'll verify that. Okay. [22:49] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So, just so everybody understands out there in Birchwood, do we pay that? Um, does Birchwood pay the $116,488 upfront and then get reimbursed from the EPA or does it go directly to the EPA? [23:05] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** EPA will pay the 80% directly and then—well, it'll come to the city and then the city will then pay that. Okay. The the city will pay the 20% and then we'll have to look at how the separation with the additional Rice Creek Watershed district grant goes um because they'll part of your guys' 20% will be in that—I don't remember the exact breakdown. I want to say it was like 50/50 for the EPA or the Rice Creek Watershed district grant, but so ours is about 10% in there I want to say. Yeah. Um the final documentation will have all that laid out because that has to be all spelled out to the EPA when we send that out. But the EPA grant you can draw withdraw as these pay requests come in. Okay great. [24:05] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Well, I'll make a motion to approve the pay once you check the tax thing. Yep. [24:11] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Second? [24:12] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Second. [24:13] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Marcus sorry. Hearing none. Motion passes. Before you sit down, is there anything on the agenda regarding approving the road work, the city road work? [24:34] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** That's what I was wondering too. [24:36] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Do we want to kind of—can we just kind of stick that in? There's—Alan doesn't mind. Um, can we—can we add that into the agenda, Alan, to approve the road work or what extent would we be talking—that contract that you sent? Does that qualify as the invoices? [24:57] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** No, we may have a special meeting and approve it. Okay. [25:01] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I mean, I've—That's fine. I don't want to be the one delaying it anymore. So, um Okay. [25:08] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** What's your—is your opinion that we should probably not do that tonight, Alan, or... [25:12] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** Yes. Okay. I mean, it should have been added obviously at the beginning. [25:18] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. We can wait just because I mean, it's a obviously of interest to a lot of folks. Yeah. Okay. Is the notice three days on a special meeting? [25:31] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** We need it. Well, we need it because we need to get this contract approved so we can get the roads fixed this summer. If we need it, I mean, we can still do it this week, but you need only three probably. So, we can notice it tomorrow and have it Friday. [25:46] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** That would be—have it Saturday. Be quiet. You can do it Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Doesn't count and the day of the meeting does. So that's the rule. Okay, we're calling a special meeting just so all of you know. Just let's figure out what day. [26:11] **Councilmember Ryan Hankins:** Just push it on to Monday. Make a big difference. Saturday is your first available. [26:20] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Gotcha. Okay. invoices. I think that's all I had. [26:28] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** That's all I had because the the pay app is what we just got approved. [26:32] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, I guess are you going to... I was wondering about the Bolton and Menk invoices. [26:35] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah, we can. Is that... [26:40] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** We can—I'll wait if that's—unless we now and send it. We're done with um... [26:47] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** That's okay. We're done with the staff reports. We're moving on to city business. We can move. Okay. Up. So um review—review number six review and possible approval of Bolton and Menk invoices. [26:55] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I I just have one kind of quick question is um you know sometimes these resolutions allocate explicit amounts of funding and explicit numbers of hours to these things. And just as a general question um how are we kind of making sure we stay within those allocations? Are you being like—is that something you kind of stick to Marcus where you're made aware of those? [27:15] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** After your last council meeting, I did look into like where we went off on that. And um so with right after that first open house meeting when we got the second one scheduled, I didn't go to the council meeting that next day and I would have had time to bring it up to—or to to bring—bring it on the agenda anyways. But so that's kind of where my—it wasn't my fault. I I didn't get a chance to look at it and bring it up to council. [27:52] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** But okay. And it's not a big deal. It's just a little bit of doing oversight. [27:55] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So Yep. Okay. [27:57] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** All right. Well, with that, I will move to approve the uh invoice Bolton—Bolton and Menk invoice that was not approved last month. [28:07] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Can I get a second? [28:09] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** I'll second. Kathy. [28:11] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Hearing none. Motion passes. Thank you. Good night, Marcus. Thanks for all your work. And just so I'm clear, that was item six. [28:34] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Um then we'll move on to number one under city business uh discussion regarding tree plan. So a resident had come in um I don't know last week I believe it was to ask about—well actually let me back up before I even get started on this. I want to give a big shout out and thank you to you Kathy for heading up the community club efforts for the parade. [29:04] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Oh thank you. [29:05] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So thank you for doing all of that. Thank you to Juliet for doing the balloons and helping. I know you guys had an early day. Um I believe um Cynthia Tomlinson was involved in that also. [29:16] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Yes. That day. Mary Cahill got the food, right? Yep. Um Michael Lean did the band. Um somebody named Dale was driving the grand marshals. Yep. Dale was driving. Awesome. Yep. Um Noel helped with flags. Susie helped with balloons. We had uh I'm sorry I can't remember their name. There was a mother and daughter who helped hand out food. Jim Rydeen helped with food. Um we had Mike and Mary—can't remember your last name so sorry—help with balloons. Um we had Sarah put up the banners. Sarah Neffa put up the banners. Hope Monette got candy and food. Um the Luns, John and Kelly helped with the games and um Ryan helped with putting up flags—the Eiseles and the Climps and the Climps. Yeah. It's a it's a community effort in I just thought it was wonderful and just to see everybody work together and the turnout was awesome. [30:31] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Yeah, it was our longest parade. It was 20 minutes which is five minutes longer than last year. We had 150 bike bicycles in that. So it was pretty awesome. [30:37] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** It was what a great community event. So, thank you very much. Very good. All right. Now, on to the tree plan. Every council member was there, I think. Right. Every council member was there. I think so. You think so? Yeah. [30:52] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Um, okay. So, a resident came in last week and asked about what our city's tree plan is. So, I thought I'd just summarize it for anybody else who might be interested out there in Birchwood. So, in our budget, we have $15,000 for tree removal. Um, in sometime early like in January, February, Steve Dean and I drove around the city and we were looking at the trees that the tree inspector from last year had pointed out that were either diseased or dead. And we at that time had talked about um mostly looking in Hall's Park about what trees might have to come down before we plant more trees and that. So I did that with um Steve and then I was speaking also with Jim about it and Jim asked if he and Ron could have first shot at taking the trees down since Jim is a city employee and I said sure. So, I've been giving um Jim trees that we—that they can handle taking down, you know, because they're not climbers like Steve. So, they've been taking things down um primarily on Cedar and Hall along with on that Wildwood Park. So, they're making good progress on that. [32:02] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Um but this resident that came in earlier um last week was talking about there's two diseased trees. I believe one was um an elm and one was an oak that need to be removed um right away. So one—fortunately for us—is in the power lines. So I had called Xcel to have them come take one of those down. The other one um is on a property that we're not sure who owns strangely enough. So I'm not sure how we're going to get that information and I went to the Washington County website and they don't even have information on it. [32:44] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So it's a bonus—missing land. Huh? It's a mystery. Where is that one? [32:51] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Um, that one is between—on Hall Road between John Lun's house and Max Kersbaum's house. Um, it's the one—the lot that was split. Okay. That corner. Max's house was on a lot. [33:04] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** That one. That's... It's probably just not updated yet. Huh? Uh, I don't know. I bet you have to go down to the county to look at the records. The person who bought that property... [33:14] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** It's not It's not listed yet. [33:16] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Correct. I'll have Elliot look it up. That's what he does for a living. [33:21] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Awesome. Thank you. That would be 640 Hall. So, as soon as we find out the owners for that one, we can send them a letter and ask them to take that disease tree down. Say that one's too far away from the street to be ours. For sure. It is. Yes. [33:38] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Um then, so after taking care of that, um I did contact today the tree inspector that we used last year who told us that he was able to inspect all the trees in the city except for the ones on the rights-of-way. and he wasn't—he asked for some um information about where the right-of-way is on each street because all of our streets are different widths and whatever. So, we're working on getting him that information and as soon as he gets it, he can come out and finish up his job that he started last year. Okay. So, then we'll have a complete record of all the trees in the city and where they're located, you know, and then we can decide—well, they mark them as dangerous or whatever. Um, so so that's where we are on the trees. [34:25] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Jennifer, will he then send notices to people to take down their trees? [34:30] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** He—I don't know if he will do it or we will do it in his stead. Okay. As long as we have the information, we can notice the people. Got it. And by the way, we have really um intelligent residents out there who are really happy to help us out. And I'm really every time I meet somebody new that has—is specialized in something—I'm just so thankful and grateful. So just wanted to say that. I don't want to say who it is because I don't want to embarrass him. Very helpful man. [35:01] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Um so anyway that's where we are on the trees. You guys have any questions about that? [35:06] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Well this is the one that I was wanting to chat about. Um that elm specifically is the one. So that one I'm not sure if Xcel will take down because it is not in the power line. It is in the line that is going from the power line to a house. So they might take down the line, but they won't take down the tree typically for that. [35:28] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** You're talking about the one on the corner of Wildwood. [35:32] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Yeah. And Two Lake is how that one's listed. But yes, so that—that's the one I called on. [35:38] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So we'll see. So we'll see. Um if they don't, can we make sure that Steve Dean gets that one down quick because that one—it—it looks quite dead. And if it is Dutch elm, that would be a problem. [35:48] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Yep. Okay. Specifically the one I called on. Um, any other questions about that? [36:00] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** That's the only one that... Well, I had seen the other tree, but I was pretty sure it was on that property that belonged to the people, the oak. [36:05] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yes. And I'm going to call about the one across from you tomorrow because that's all entangled in the power lines. I don't know if it's across the street from you on which direction on Two Lake. [36:18] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** On Two Lake. Yep. There's a huge tree that's all entangled in... I'll have to look at it again. [36:23] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yeah. So, I'm going to call on that one tomorrow, but Okay. So, that's the tree update. Um, if there's no questions, we can move on to um... [36:31] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** That one died really fast. That's what that—that elm died really fast because it didn't look that bad this spring until just now. [36:38] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** That's elm Dutch elm disease and it's just kind of late. [36:40] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** It very well could be. Yeah. [36:42] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Okay. Yeah. That's one that spreads through tap roots and a beetle as well. [36:48] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Well, depending on fungus. Um, well, depending on which version of Dutch elm it is, it could be a—a beetle, in which case it would be bad news in general but sounds like a terrible way to die. [36:59] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yes. Okay. All right. Um, on that note, Scott, we're on number two. Um, insurance renewal. [37:06] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** It is in your packet. The, uh, city, we completed our insurance renewal. There's a little bit of a savings, but obviously we updated some information with it. [37:16] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, well, thank you for that. Did we get less coverage that they gave us savings? It seems weird for an insurance company. [37:25] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** I think it's more because there haven't—hasn't been claims. So, history. [37:29] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** All right. Well, thank you for working on that. Um, it's back to me about Kurt Fisner. Um, do we need to approve the insurance before we go on? [37:41] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** This is already done—for your information. [37:44] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. So, um, regarding Kurt Fisner, I've been looking into funding to do something with that preserve and I know it needs to run through parks. Um, I know also that you guys are super busy with other projects, but is it all right if I come to your meeting and kind of run through what my ideas are? I have um I think I have one entity that will fund part of it already of the project I'm thinking of and there's possibly others out there as well. So, excellent. All right. So, I'd like to come talk to you guys. Your—your meeting's next Tuesday right? [38:17] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Correct. [38:18] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** All right. [38:19] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Can I ask a question about that specifically for Alan? Um, so I'll just give you a little recap because I think you're um you're helping, but um we have two council liaisons to the—to the parks committee right? Yeah. And you don't have to speak up. I'm right under this thing, so I don't hear anything that you're saying this. Oh, I'm going to have to speak up. Okay. Uh is that better? Okay. So, we have two council liaisons to the parks committee. If Jen wants to go in and chat with them, do we need to just notice that quick? [38:53] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** We probably do, right? [38:55] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Okay. We noticed that meeting. [38:57] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** We just noticed it as a city council meeting because you have three city council members together. It's just a notice of quorum. [39:07] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Yeah, a notice of quorum of the city council. An advisory that there may be a quorum. [39:13] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** Yeah. Okay. Just—just doing my thing. Has blenders for sure. Okay. Yep. Just so—and I just partly I I think just making sure everybody's aware that we—that we have to do that and thanks, Alan. [39:27] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Show up because they wanted to participate or watch that's more incidental but when you're actually actively thinking then definitely do it. [39:36] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. All right. I'll have um Therese send out a notice tomorrow then and put it on the board. Just put it on the board quick. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. No problem. Um update regarding the task force. Uh so the task force met last week, two weeks ago on June 26th. Um they were given um a packet of information both digitally and also on paper copies. All sorts of information. Everything Marcus has given the city—maps. Um, I pulled together a bunch of facts and figures for them to go through and their task was to come up with questions to clarify both the current roads plan and/or uh the optional possible water main replacement plan. [40:31] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, they worked on um creating those questions on the 26th. Um they were sent to our city administrator who then forwarded on to Bill—is it Holik? Is that how you say his last name? [40:48] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Yeah. [40:49] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Uh he had volunteered to take all the questions that were generated and put them into different buckets for different people because they have questions for Marcus but they also have questions for um St. Anthony's Village or Scott or John Manship. And so he was going to put those questions together and then we'll submit them to Marcus to answer. Um my goal still is to have once they get those answers back on that third meeting then from those answers they can formulate a report and recommendations to council. Um, was there a time frame for the grant you were looking at? Um, I think Marcus—I've spoke to Marcus about that and we're not going to be able to get that grant for '26. So, we're kind of... So, it's going to be next year at the earliest—at the very earliest. It'll be '27. But, and only if people... Yeah. say that that's the best idea going forward. I just want to be really careful about this grant. There's been no decisions made. It's a possibility out there, but only a possibility. And we will take the input of the community. Of course. And of course, we're not doing that without funding. [42:12] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Yep. I mean, that too. Yeah. Without the money. [42:14] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Anyway, um so that's where we are with that. Um did you have any questions or did you want to add anything, Bridget? Bridget's been attending also. [42:25] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Uh last meeting was very productive. People worked well together. They had some really good questions about Ty Schmidt and um the work that's going to be done to dry up the park and what the impact might be to any roads work that we've got going on. [42:43] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** It's like, oh yeah, that's a really good question. So, um they're they're catching things like that, which is great. Um so, their next meeting is this Thursday. Um, and the number five on the city business is um a possible July 22nd work session. What do you guys think about that? [43:11] **Councilmember Ryan Hankins:** I'll be out of town. Um, maybe that's an advantage. [43:18] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Nope. All voices are important, Mr. Hankins. [43:23] **Councilmember Ryan Hankins:** I'll be—I'll be out of town and I suppose I could phone in, but I think I'll be okay leaving for a week. [43:30] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, Okay. You guys want to look at your calendars? Is everybody available on the 22nd? [43:35] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** When are you back, Ryan? [43:37] **Councilmember Ryan Hankins:** Um, the next week I'd be back. I'm out basically just that whole week. So, the 23rd or something. 29th. 28th. [43:51] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** We really shouldn't have this on... It's, you know, it's... [43:54] **Councilmember Ryan Hankins:** It would be okay to hold something without me, too. I mean, I'll gladly attend if I'm in town, but we're also planning on a special meeting as well on the 14th. [44:06] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** In theory, yeah, 14th for sure. We can do it on the 14th if you guys are available. We can do our a special meeting and a work session. [44:17] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Well, that would be a special meeting, but we can do more than one thing. That's a possibility for you. What day? [44:24] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** What day? [44:26] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** 14th. That would be Monday. [44:28] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** I've got to look at my calendar. I'm not available the 14th. Uh Scott is not available. [44:36] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** We've got lots of work to do and we can bring Ryan up to speed. [44:43] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Okay. If I could too, just so you guys know, I do have another council meeting on Monday as well. So, I won't be able to be here on Monday. [44:54] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. That's okay. Okay, we're just going to approve that contract. [44:58] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Sanford. Yeah, I guess I have some questions for Marcus about the contract. So, okay. Um sorry. What about the 16th? [45:09] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Well, you could do the 15th if we did it early enough. Just has to be in in before the parks committee. [45:15] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** I can't do the 15th either. [45:18] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** What a troublesome person. [45:20] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I can't do the 16th. [45:22] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** The 17th? [45:24] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Ryan, can you ask your questions publicly of Marcus? [45:31] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I can do the 15th—for the—I have a con... I can I can ask my questions if that's okay with Alan. I can ask my—we can I can ask my questions about the road thing. Do we want to finish the work session deal? Okay. And then I can ask a question of Marcus about the roads plan and then it can be approved. It can go on at a later meeting for actual vote. Do you think that would be acceptable, Alan, to ask—ask a question of Marcus about the roads plan without going to a vote tonight? [46:01] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** I think so. It's recapped when it's actually addressed for a vote. [46:08] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. So, it doesn't look like it's just a vote that's hanging out there. That's the whole idea. [46:12] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** Yeah, I understand that. I'd probably prefer to do it at all at once, but I think this is the best we can do here. [46:17] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, okay. Why don't we hold that for council updates part agenda? That'd be good. If you can stick—if you don't mind sticking around. All right. Work session on the 22nd at 6:30. Is that all right with everybody? Bridget, can you be there? [46:33] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Yeah. [46:34] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Ryan, no. Kathy, can you? [46:36] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** I'll be here. [46:37] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Scott, you said no. [46:39] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** I can be there on the 22nd. [46:41] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** 22nd at 6:30. All right. 22nd at 6:30 it is. Um, number seven, discussion and possible approval of hiring Chris Soulsman to handle the city's website and social media updates. Scott, did you want to take that? [47:04] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** So, we've—I guess he's in there, so I'll talk about him. We've been—uh talked with Chris Soulsman about handling the city's website updates. He's been posting agendas and information currently and is learning it quite well. Um we've talked about the goal is for information to be handled once a week. So like every Thursday when the news blast goes out, the website will be updated. Uh Facebook may have specific updates from there. And uh ideally it's something that I believe uh Chris—is Chris is able to handle. Uh what we did discuss too is possibly handling this differently than his—his videographer um fee, but it would still be a—at basically at the same rate just with a different minimum. [48:02] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Does anybody have any questions about that? I think it's a great idea. I'd like to get on a schedule where it's only on Thursdays that—we—only Thursdays everything gets updated. [48:14] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Agreed. [48:15] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** And that way everybody, the community can expect Thursday is when we find out information for the next week ever. [48:24] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** We would need any meetings that are on Thursday posted the week before. [48:30] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Correct. Yes. [48:32] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** And then is that enough time for noticing meetings for Tuesdays? I think it would be right. Typically I try and get agendas out by Thursday at the latest. [48:43] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** You guys have a question for Chris? Is okay. Can I get a motion then to hire Chris to handle the city's website? [48:51] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So moved. [48:52] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** And social media. [48:54] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Correct. And social media. [48:56] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So moved. Okay. All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Hearing none. Motion passes. Thank you, Chris. [Laughter] Maybe we should have some confetti falling from the sky. Uh-huh. There you go. You're welcome. Uh, city council updates. [49:15] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Hold on. You still have the two things. We have two more. [49:18] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Oh, darn. Yes, you're right. [49:22] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** City. Yeah, Ryan, you're off to the side here. Okay. Even see—number eight, city planner RFP. [49:29] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Yeah. So, the council had voted um I think in a March or April to put out an RFP for a city planner and invite our current city planner to apply. Um you know, I think that one of the things was that we were in some negotiations with our planner. The other thing was I think that um created a—a framework for a planning structure that would might work better for the city going forward. And so there was a council meeting and a 5-0 council vote to issue an RFP. I know we had some kind of staffing issues and that didn't get put out. I'd just like to get an update on—on where we are with that. [50:11] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** It has not been published. It can be—I think we should—I think we should just move forward with it. Is that okay? [50:18] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So—absolutely. Thank you. [50:21] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Um, I will need to modify dates obviously, but I can do that. Do you want to just do that? [50:27] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I don't have any problem with you adjusting the dates. Obviously, they need to be adjusted. [50:31] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** I can uh—I tell you, once I make the adjustments, I can at least forward that RFP to the council just for review and then we'll report back in the next council meeting. [50:43] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Sounds great. So, okay, that's all I have. It's just an update there. And then I've got one more item here. [50:48] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** And the next item is variance procedure. [50:50] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Yeah. I know. Well, I've heard from a lot of residents, uh, several residents, at least one applicant for variance called me up today and was just confused and frustrated with what is going on with these. Um, you know, the planning commission was as—as upset as a planning commission can get, I think, with um how one of the recent variances was handled. So, um I think it might be valuable to in some way just—you know, I know Ben sent out an email a month or two ago and he has a number of criticisms of our process. Um what would be involved in just having—while this RFP is ongoing, having maybe Ben just come in and give us some of his recommendations and get uh a little bit of information from him on on what happened with those and kind of see if we can resolve some of these outstanding questions. [51:53] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So, um I guess and what I'd specifically like to ask is for a written report for recommendations on what areas where we need to improve on the um Shipsky variance which is 420—429 Lake Avenue, the Galattoitch variance at 131 Lake Avenue and also um the Herod matter at whatever their address is. So um do we want to do that? I know we talked about a performance review. Is that how we want to do it? Maybe as a closed meeting in that manner or... [52:35] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Yes. If—if I can real quick. Um okay. I know the planning commission last—there was scheduling and we didn't have anything on the agenda. So we didn't have planning commission last month. There is a proposal for here in July to still have planning commission uh go through an evaluation process kind of the how-to—what you need to approach—what you need to be thinking about. It's information that other planners, other law firms have used and typically share with planning commissions to really help them understand a role, but also being new, it's important to get everybody on the same page. Um I haven't been part of these variances, but I get the frustration because I've asked multiple times for—give me guidance XYZ what happened—and there's no clear guidance. Um so that's something that is definitely needed and it's something that I think we can talk through at a—at a planning commission meeting. [53:20] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I think it's worth looking at the planning commission. I think they need some guidance, but I don't think—what I see here is applications coming through where somebody other than the city planner is making a determination what codes are met and I think we really explicitly need to address that and I don't think it's something the planning commission can address. I would like to see council address that in some manner. So, but boy do I strongly encourage. I know you're going to meet with the planning commission and I think that's really fantastic. [54:05] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** To back up your—your opinion. I think we're on the same page as the planner should be the one making these decisions or the direction. Correct. Okay. [54:15] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** That's my—that's I think what one of the significant uh things I think I'd like to kind of discuss. So let's—can we can we just invite Ben in next month and do we need a motion or... [54:31] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, Scott—two two variances basically got missed. There was the Gladawitch one where—if I remember correctly—Henkins wanted to do a resolution, we all agreed that a resolution wasn't the proper way to do it, have them reapply, go through it. They met—they basically got that variance granted because it went over 60 days and the city didn't review it. Glad—Gladawitch is that... Gladawitch, right? That's—that's what happened. That's the 131. It's on the lake. [55:06] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** I believe on that one there were—I want to say six or seven. My understanding is they—they agreed to the requested work. So I'll say six variances were approved. There was one that was left and from where I've been trying to figure out is that remaining one is something that is agreed to anyway. But it wasn't agreed to with a vote. It was granted automatically because we went—the—the—the work in question—the work that the planning commission wanted to be done—is something that the Galattoitches agreed, yes we will do that. [55:40] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So you're saying and okay so you—staff made a determination that this should exceed the 60 days. [55:47] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** I believe it did exceed the 60 days, far beyond that, but I stepped back and when the planning commission wants something done and the person says yes, I will do that. [55:58] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Was there an error? [56:00] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Yes. But when somebody agrees to the restriction or the—what was requested from the planning commission, then it's a pick your battle. [56:10] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Yeah. So, I guess that's not where I'm going. I just want to make sure that that—since the city missed their deadline and we had to grant that variance—that the Gladawitches got the necessary paperwork to say that those variances were all granted they're okay to move on with their project and they can make things right with the county if they have to—like go to the county and register that they get that. [56:32] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** I think they're—I think they're always fine with the county and the and the watershed district. [56:39] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Okay. So, as long as—like—as long as they're not their project's not at all hindered and the city's... now I guess to me I want to—I would like to ask the city planner some questions about this because specifically because that is certainly in conflict with the city code um to not hear variances. Um and I would just like to kind of hear from him on that. So, and I think—and I know—otherwise I also know residents are explicitly asking to be heard on these variances and we're not providing those residents due process when we're not holding hearings on them. [57:11] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So I correct and that's your reason for the public hearing. [57:15] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Yep. And so, it doesn't look like we did that. I think it would just be good um to ask specifically about where we can improve after those two variances. [57:26] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** I think the one you'd mentioned, Shipskys, that was the—the retaining wall one. Um so because the planning commission canceled their meeting, that one was automatically approved because they hit the 60 days for sure. [57:48] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** But do we have something in our permitting software um that alerts our team downstairs? Well, hold on. Shipsky had already been approved. That was a different... [58:00] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** No, we hadn't approved... That one was also automatically approved because it was never brought to the council. Yep. So that one—uh—it didn't make it to a planning commission and it was the planning commission... [58:11] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** No, that's not correct. It was two variances. Two slip by. Two slip by and I think we need to understand just what happened with these in a—so I think there are some significant questions. I don't think we all—we have all the data in front of us and so I think we need to hear about this you know next month if we can have our planner commit... probably are ticklers that can be... [58:33] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So I'—I'd like to make sure that if we have variances that are going to come in that 60 days and we cancel a planning commission meeting that we are looking at said chart to make sure that we don't have anything like that happen because I I believe we can extend it but we can't—we can't let things automatically go through. [58:53] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** You can't. That meeting was extended because after multiple calls, there was nothing that was supposed to—and it should have been automatically denied if that—if that's the case for the person because if—if they haven't brought—brought their permit back to be heard because of a delay on their side, I feel like that's an automatic denial until they bring it again. [59:14] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** I I have a request. I know everybody is busy in the city office, but I would love to have a walk-through of what the process is for bringing forward a variance and to understand what our software is doing, what our people are doing, what the forms look like. Would that be possible? [59:33] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** And I would love—I would love that too because I don't know that I understand as somebody who ends up accidentally knowing things about this—like—I don't understand how it works either. I think it would be great just to have somebody present to us how the whole process works. Absolutely. [59:52] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Right. And you know it is kind of spelled out in the code but that doesn't tell you everything either—the process and and the various parts. [1:00:01] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** So what are residents—and that is part of what I plan to present at—again—the next planning commission. [1:00:08] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Okay. [1:00:09] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** But that can be obviously shared with the council as well. [1:00:13] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** That would be great. But I would like to have something that I just don't read that I could ask questions about that I could see the software. I mean I really want to understand this because it's such an important process for our residents. [1:00:23] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Sure. [1:00:24] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Some more visual learner. Yes. I am a visual learner. Thank you. [1:00:30] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Didn't you put together a flowchart type thing? [1:00:32] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** There is a flowchart that we have from our engineer that explains kind of the process they proposed, but I think we would need to have something similar in the city and maybe we have it. It's just not absolutely explicitly spelled out like that. I mean, something obviously exists because we get it right once in a while, but um you know, we do—you know, we—we get a lot of things right. Um so, long story short, I guess... [1:01:03] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Go ahead, Ryan. I was going to say long story short, we need to shore up this process to make sure this doesn't happen again. Two variances that went through—they have everything they need or their projects aren't going to be hampered by the city. So any kind of documentation we—we provide to them and we're going to set something up so the city council can better understand what the process is that the city staff does to um process um building codes and variances and seeing the software. So just seeing a demo of it would be... [1:01:35] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** Everybody. The whole statute is set up with a series of triggers, right? And they're all triggers that are against government. [1:01:42] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** And then set up something with Ben um to ask him where we can improve this process and kind of figure out what happened here. I think the biggest problem—and this is just me editorializing—is you had a bunch of people that weren't familiar with the projects, the process, or anything else related to this kind of government, taking that in and deciding what to do with it. And so, it's no fault of theirs because, you know, you don't come into this world knowing about planning and zoning—and so not knowing whether or not it just goes to the building official, whether it goes to Marcus or whether it goes to... that's one of the issues that I think needs to be very very much clarified. The diverse example with the—u—the Herod and call it the fence wall—defense wall—didn't know what to do the fence got stuck in this weird space where it's like who's on first obviously we all paid for it should something like that—should all the questionable permits that come in go straight to the planner and then that person can decide where they go next there needs to be... and I think it's a discussion maybe not for tonight but... [1:02:49] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** There absolutely needs to be one—one person responsible—not responsible for knowing everything but responsible for doing the whole process. [1:02:58] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** That's a good discussion to have. Your planner is really there to make those calls, not necessarily your administrator, but Scott's got more experience than... [1:03:07] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Right. Yes. I disagree. I would rather—and this is a process that we've had with with Therese—is they typically the application comes in—she does that software—she forwards it to me and then for me I would make that determination and this is the same way it's done in other cities as to—is it go to the engineer, does it go to—can it be approved right away or does it go to the planner because then it's better that I'm having a two-way discussion with the planner with Marcus—or the planner and Marcus um so so that everybody's on the same page. And again with when you come in new, I'm not making an excuse and something's been hanging out there for a year. It's you're getting different stories from each sides and it's like asking multiple times, guys, what are we doing here? [1:03:57] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So, and so just you you'll invite Ben in next month to... Okay, great. That's great. I'—that's all I've got because I think I've got just some detailed questions. [1:04:04] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Did you—Sorry, I kind of interrupted you, Kathy. Did you get to say what you needed to say? [1:04:08] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** I think I did. Okay. [1:04:10] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** I had nothing to add. How about that? Okay. [1:04:12] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Anything else on the variance procedure? Okay. Uh, city council updates. Does anybody have anything they'd like to talk about? [1:04:23] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Um, well, I have a a thank you, but he's he's left now. Um, Barton Winter has been helping out significantly at the ice rink. If you've been by, uh, he's been removing some rotted out posts for us so that we can replace those. Um, so he's been doing a phenomenal job with that. Um, you've already thanked the community club for their work on the our 74th parade—next year, 75, which is pretty awesome. Um, and then Marcus and Alan and I were working on the Prebby Lake outfall project. Um, that's the project I've been working on since I started on council. Um, I feel like we're getting almost close. So, I know, exciting. So, we'll see what they come back with, but for our current round of questions and then we'll hopefully have something to look at soon. That'd be awesome. [1:05:26] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Ryan, you have anything? Yeah, I just have some—some questions for you, Marcus, on the roads project. And I want to just give a little summary of dredging of the past maybe um of what happened last year. And so last year we um entered into a contract, did some road work on Oakridge, and ultimately some residents up there had some driveway flooding occurred and um and I want to just read the minutes from the December 10th, 2024 agenda. Read a small section here because I think that kind of adequately describes what happened in those minutes. And so in that meeting—and it says the council discussed cost and benefits of the options um with respect to repairing the road. Engineer Johnson said the $130,000 is the worst-case scenario. He said to consider adjusting the CIP, our capital improvement roads plan. He said that the driveway and road needed to be—to be adjusted. He said the grade of the road is the same but—wa—the water is being retained at that low spot because the road is smoother. Engineer Johnson said he thinks that a survey prior to the rework would reduce future problems. Um construction cost would be about $100,000 and the survey another $30,000. Engineer Johnson said that about 5 to 10,000 is due to rework and the rest is reshuffling. They talked about possible additional cost to repair other driveways. Engineer Johnson suggested a contract and a bond and a survey going forward and possibly an open house. [1:07:33] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** And I assume that the open house is not a preventive measure, but I just want to ask—I looked at the um—and I want to get your take a little bit on this. I looked at the contract um and I didn't see—did—did we conduct a survey on this prior to doing it? [1:07:42] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So we did revise and correct from last year and do a survey. Yep. [1:07:49] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Um and I didn't see—the one thing I wanted to ask about here is—and obviously we're doing a contract. Is a performance bond something the city should be considering? [1:08:01] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So performance bonds uh we typically require at $175,000 project costs with one in December when we're looking at it. Um we weren't exactly sure where that scope was. So, at that time I was looking at bonds um because then we'd know roughly what uh we'd have that 5% bond already there in case something wrong were to happen. So, in the contract that isn't in front of you tonight, but we'll be in a week. Um it is has insurance. So, I went the insurance route for a few reasons why. Um, if you get close to $175,000, we usually just bid it anyways as a precautionary. And I'm talking close as in like 100—50—maybe sometimes 140,000 if we're really unsure of where price are going to come in. [1:09:12] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Um, and with that with bidding, we just bond. It's it's in—it. The issue with bonding is that you kind of eliminate the smaller contractors from hitting it because they don't have the capital upfront to put the bond the 5% down. Um, and then there's a little bit more just work and bonding from my experience—smaller contracts that have a hard time understanding what it is and getting the documentation in. [1:09:40] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So you're saying—sorry—so so for the with the insurance um with the—with what was quoted the road um as far as the design goes we're not correcting the roads issues we're just—we're resolving the—the—we're putting in ditches to resolve the drainage issues while we figure out our plan going forward? [1:09:59] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So the—the drainage issues will be resolved there'll be a ditch system versus—I mean there isn't a system to date. But um so as far as a bond goes, we still have that one year, but what we would be able to pursue would be if there's a pavement issue like they bring faulty mix and it starts—it starts um alligatoring—alligatoring—or breaking up immediately. Sorry. Um, even with that, it would still be an argument because we still have existing pavement underneath because we're just um overlaying it. So, the main thing would be we would be—you know, we didn't do the you guys didn't do the ditch how we acquired it. [1:10:48] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So, in December, we were looking at ripping up all the asphalt and reshaping the road, which would be a different kind of project. And that would be—say they don't—they don't compact the base hard—hard enough when they're doing that. That could be something that would cause you know issues on the pavement. There's more things that—that's why we—I didn't go the bond route with this one is because it—we went a little bit cheaper as far as the total cost goes. [1:11:15] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So okay. So we're taking out an insurance policy—a performance insurance policy. [1:11:19] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** We're requesting an insurance policy that they take one out. Yep. [1:11:23] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** And then is that not something we did with the previous work? [1:11:27] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** We did not take out such an insurance policy. We didn't—we didn't require them to send it to us. [1:11:34] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So there was... Okay. And so is that why we did not make a claim on their policy? [1:11:42] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** I don't think that there—my opinion—I don't think that there was a claim to be made because the—the road how it was—like how it was engineered did not change and as far as the area that was corrected the pavement—the pavement was pulled up and corrected but that—that profile and how it was—it was to the engineering specification. It was built to the engineering specification and the engineering specification would have to be violated in order for an insurance claim to be made. Is that what you're saying? [1:12:12] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** It was put—It was put in to the—how it was engineered in the 60s. It was a replacement. Correct. [1:12:21] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Okay. And so... Okay. And so I guess what I want to just circle back to a little bit is you said when you came in is—we had put in a little over $100,000 in road work and fortunately I don't think it materialized to be that much but we were faced then with potential $130,000 in rework cost. Um is—is—and I just want to ask—is there anything—are these engineering specifications—are these of sufficient detail to—to know basically what we're getting at the end? It's—is this—these standardized engineering specs so that we know that when we are getting the work done that we can go back and look at the engineering spec and say—well this meets the specs or doesn't—or it's like software development and you just kind of roll the dice right? [1:13:08] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So I was under the understanding that the road was just replaced. There was no additional engineering that went into it. So however the—the road was in the 60s, we just made it look nicer. Yep. So it—like the city could have easily went out and—and—and asked—well in the past it would have been ships, hey go replace this road. Well, if you come back to them, they're going to say it wasn't engineered. Here's our insurance policy. But there—it's going to be a hard argument to make. I guess I can attest. [1:13:46] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** I could attest to that. But you've got a couple of things swirling around here. Your performance bonds and whatnot are just to get the job done. It's not warranty work. So that's not any besmirching of engineering. And Marcus is saying is the engineering is 60 years old. Topography has changed. The landscape has changed. And when you come in and you just put new frosting on an old engineered road, you get what you get without anyone screwing up. You just got a different result. [1:14:18] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** And I—I guess my fundamental question here is um you know I can go through a detail or two and I may yet but is there anything else we should be doing to make sure that the—the city is protected and we are not likely to end up with extraordinary additional costs next—uh—following the work. [1:14:35] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** I think that there's a lot of stuff that the city could be doing. I think that's part of why we're looking at the water main. We have storm issues. I mean, specifically with respect to approving or not approving this project, I think as far as the scope of—of the project in front will be in front of you guys, that's as much as we can do. That's—that—that's your recommendation is basically that this is okay. [1:14:52] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** So, that's my one question and then I'll—I'll wind it down here. Don't worry. [1:14:56] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** But Ryan, could I do a follow-on question to this this replacement? [1:14:59] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I have one more question, but and I can do it or you can do it, but my—my one kind of my one last question is um I understand that it's not uncommon for there to be some kind of driveway drainage issues after these projects and even some cities it sounds like don't even do surveys as a matter of course and we may be overprotecting ourselves a little bit. Is it—is it—is there a guideline or an amount of money the city should set aside to do post-job rework just as a matter of course that we should be budgeting for in addition to our current budgets? [1:15:35] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So I guess backing up a little bit there's different sizes of projects. So there—there are reconstructions and that is you are replacing—even if it's just the road you're replacing the whole road. You're looking at the drainage, how the road flows, how it ties the driveways, where the drainage is going, stuff like that. So, that'd be where you're—where engineering is actually fully involved. We're making sure that you guys are meeting every standard, if that makes sense. [1:16:03] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** And then there's the resurfacing project, which would be like what—what this is. Last year's was kind of—well, that's what it was too because we didn't have any survey and there wasn't engineering. Um and that even if the city could have easily went out. So that would be a—that would be a lesser degree where you guys are trusting your—the past engineering on the roads. We're just—s—simply putting makeup on—on the roads to make it look nice. Makeup on the pig. Yeah. I mean it—that's all it is. [1:16:40] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** This year's projects—it's lipstick on the pig. That's it. Okay. Yeah. It's literally frosting on top of—on the pavement to make it look good to get through the next handful of years. Okay. And then there's like the seal coat which I think is on the docket for next year. Seal coating, crack filling and stuff. And that is preventative maintenance where you know potholes are still going to keep coming. You're still going to see aging going on. So that—that's kind of like the different levels. [1:17:15] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** from my understanding is is even though we were involved, the city was kind of thinking that the engineers taking care of everything and that—that wasn't the level that—of scope that we were looking at at the time, if that makes sense. [1:17:31] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Well, I—I you know, I'm not sure we necessarily did anything wrong. I just feel like it's worth grilling you a little bit. I don't I'm not trying to sell you too much, but just to kind of get your professional opinion and expertise that we're doing what you would do in your own community here. [1:17:45] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Even—even with next year with just um just crack filling and uh assuming that's what we do, I think that we still keep some kind of formal contract like this moving forward versus just having a contract say what's the number for this. It—it's a lot more formal. we can, you know, it's a lot more spelled out for if residents have questions, you know, if we want to know what exactly is included in the scope on this stuff, it's just it's a couple hundred bucks for a lot more clarity. [1:18:14] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** So, here's my question, Marcus. Being new to roads, um, in the situation where we just repaved over a 60-year infrastructure, did you tell us that there was risk associated with that? Because it's sort of like we don't know what we don't know, but it seems like then we get bad surprises. [1:18:32] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah. I mean, I at that time I've tried expressing concerns, but no matter who I went to in the city, it's just as far as city staff goes, it—it just kind of doesn't get a whole lot. And then I had the conversation at council meetings, it's um it doesn't go whole very far. The city kind of has to want to look into these kind of things. I can only make recommendations if that makes sense. [1:19:07] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Here's I what I would request as we go forward with this next chapter of roads, which is you come to council and you give us a very very clear set of what the risks are and what the issues may be so that we've got our eyes open and we will listen. [1:19:21] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** A risk assessment. [1:19:23] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Yeah. [1:19:24] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** And that's very—that's what it's called, risk assessment. And and in reality too, um I would like to start kind of talking about these projects like when you guys are starting to do budgeting, which I think starts next month. So that's going to be one of the things I was going to recommend is just starting to get ahead of—ahead and start, you know, being proactive, looking at these projects the year before so we can have those open houses, have time to plan those open houses, budget accordingly, stuff like that. Um and kind of rather than working, you know, in the spring when everyone's already kind of starting to roll, look at it in the fall and then kind of get through the designs over winter and get contractors lined up ahead of time. [1:20:01] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Yeah. So, I I just want to make sure that you feel comfortable speaking freely to us. I feel like we're all pretty... [1:20:07] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Oh, relaxed. So, like if an idiot about something, just... [1:20:12] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah. No, I do. Everyone be you. [1:20:14] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Just assume we know nothing. [1:20:16] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah. Yes. I mean, I guess I appreciate what Bridget said. I want to know the risks and the downfalls and that's why I try to kind of look at those things and look at the contract and ask kind of questions about what about this, what about that. It's not to... [1:20:39] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** There are some areas like Water Main—if it's not—if we're not already budgeting for replacements—and san—well sanitary kind of too but not really. Um it's hard for um a city of your guys' size to hear it in well let's just say July and adjust your budget so drastically to accom—accommodate it uh for next year. It's—it's almost something that you have to start planning ahead of time. I can tell you, but it it—it takes, you know, the the city to fully agree and be on board. [1:21:13] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** Where—where are we at with those driveways flooding? Still flooding? [1:21:17] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** Yeah, I was going to say I like I walked by there and it... contract is hopefully it will be approved I think Monday at our special meeting. [1:21:26] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Special meeting and that's for the ditches and the next road project. Yep. [1:21:32] **City Engineer Marcus Johnson:** So, it'll be the—we're resurfacing um where we left off and going around the—and then we're going to cut ditches in for the time being to alleviate the—the—but like bigger than the—the bigger than the shovels that are in there. Yeah. It would be a little bit of coordination with the utility companies that are in the ditches to make sure we're not digging up their lines and we're not exposing or freezing lines in the winter. So, it'll be a little bit of a process, but... any questions from you? [1:22:11] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Um, I guess I'm probably not going to vote on that, but that um addresses all my concerns. So, thank you. [1:22:18] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yeah. Or maybe I guess if it's next week, I probably will vote on it. So, thank you. Um, I have an update on your tree question for the uh owners of that property. [1:22:31] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Oh. [1:22:32] **Staff Member Elliot:** So uh the property is not 640 Hall. It's 640 Wildwood. That's why you can't find them. Um 640 Wildwood is owned by Deian and Daniel Burwald—Ber—W. And they have that listed as their permanent property address and mailing address. [1:22:51] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** There you go. A empty lot. [1:22:55] **Staff Member Elliot:** It has a garage on it. So, they've purchased it as the mailing address for that. So, when the property was subdivided, it does have a building on it. I understand they are planning on to expanding it, but we haven't heard anything from them. [1:23:09] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Can you homestead a garage? They could. [1:23:14] **Staff Member Elliot:** Thank you. You're welcome. [1:23:15] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** They—that's—Thank you, Elliot. One address. Thanks. But that'd be why you can't find them at that address. [1:23:22] **Staff Member Elliot:** Yes, that makes a lot of sense. [1:23:23] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay, cool. Um, any more council updates? [1:23:27] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** I have an update on the great work that Lake Links is doing and how they're working with parks. It's just it's fantastic. So, Lake Links um was given $70,000 from Mahtomedi to improve the area where people—where Lake Links is—and they had excess. So they went to parks and said, "What would you guys like us to spend this money on—improving the route?" Parks said, "Well, could we ever get more benches along the route and could we get a water station and could we get a bike fixing station and could we get an exercise—um—I think—uh—I sent the outdoor exercise equipment, right? And we were all doubtful that Lake Links would say yes, but Lake Links said yes, right? So, um I think because of that interaction between our two committees, really cool things happened and I just wanted to call that out. We're getting... [1:24:23] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** That's awesome. [1:24:24] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** ...outdoor exercise equipment. [1:24:26] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Where at Ty Schmidt—seem really excited about this. [1:24:30] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** I am. That was one of the things on the uh the list of things that people wanted. So, I'm all—I'm thrilled. Yeah. So, Mary Cahill will be coming in August. Mary and the rest of the committee, Jesse will be coming in August to, you know, give a formal presentation of what it all looks like. [1:24:49] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** That's awesome. Isn't that cool? Yeah. Yeah. Lot of great things are happening. Yes. [1:24:59] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Hey, I have a question for you, Bridget, since you're the Lake Links liaison. I just asked my neighbor across the street who has one of those speed signs planned for his yard. And um he hadn't heard about it. And I said, "Well, would you like to know?" And he said, "Well, yeah. I'd kind of like to know," but I don't know if he cares or not, but I don't know that the people whose yards this affects necessarily... [1:25:21] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** So, the the solar ones, you mean? [1:25:23] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I think a—one of the two solar signs is—is—is planned for his yard. So, I just wonder if there's a way to kind of... I let him know, but it would be nice just to make sure. [1:25:31] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Everybody was contacted, but I'll double check. [1:25:35] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Communicated. Okay. Thank you. [1:25:39] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Um, any announcements, Scott? [1:25:43] **City Administrator Scott Hildebrand:** Nothing more. [1:25:44] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Anybody? [1:25:47] **Councilmember Ryan Hankins:** Um, now that the parade is done, the next thing on my list is the deer hunt, which happens in October through December. Um, so if you are interested in having your property be one of the ones that is included with that, the team will be going around and collecting those yet again. [1:26:07] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Do we vote on that every year or... [1:26:09] **Councilmember Ryan Hankins:** No, it's a contract we have for five years. This is our fifth year, just in case you're wondering. Five months. Thank you. [1:26:20] **City Attorney Alan Kantrud:** All right. We do vote on whether we allow the relaxation of the firearms code or of the hunting restriction. [1:26:28] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So, we certainly have authority... All right. Anything else? Last chance. Okay. I'm hearing none. The meeting is adjourned. [1:26:46] [Music]