This transcript has been formatted with the identified speakers based on the provided list of officials and staff. [0:00] **Thomas J. Spooner:** For coming to these meetings. [0:03] **Unknown Speaker:** This is a church. [laughter] [0:06] **Thomas J. Spooner:** We will call the Monday, December 22nd Faribault City Council meeting to order. Our first item is roll. [0:17] **Heather Slechta:** Council member Barnes? **Mandy Barnes:** Here. **Heather Slechta:** Doumbouya? **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Here. **Heather Slechta:** Ross? **Royal Ross:** Here. **Heather Slechta:** Rowan? **John Rowan:** Here. **Heather Slechta:** van Sluis? **Peter van Sluis:** Here. **Heather Slechta:** Mayor Spooner? **Thomas J. Spooner:** Here. And Pledge of Allegiance. [0:36] **Group:** [snorts] 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. [0:48] **Thomas J. Spooner:** Uh, second item is approval of the agenda. **John Rowan:** So moved. **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Second. [0:53] **Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Rowan, second by Doumbouya. All those in favor of the agenda signify by saying I. **Group:** I. **Thomas J. Spooner:** All opposed? Agenda is approved. [1:04] **Thomas J. Spooner:** Uh, presentations, introductions, we have none. Approval of the minutes of December 9th and December 16th special meeting. **John Rowan:** Mayor Spooner. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Yes. **John Rowan:** Uh, I make a motion to approve the minutes of the December 9th Faribault City Council meeting and the December 16th, 2025, special city council meeting. [1:24] **Royal Ross:** Second. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Ross, second by Barnes. All those in favor signify by saying I. **Group:** I. **Thomas J. Spooner:** All opposed. Motion passes. Request to be heard—did we have any up there? Consent agenda items 6A through 6O. Would anybody like anything pulled? [1:45] **Royal Ross:** Uh, Mayor Spooner. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Yes. **Royal Ross:** I'd like to pull 6E. [1:49] **Thomas J. Spooner:** 6E. That. I'll entertain a motion on 6A through 6D and 6F through 6O. **John Rowan:** So moved. **Chuck Thiele:** Second. [2:14] **Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Rowan, second by Thiele on 6A through 6D and 6F through 6O. All those in favor? **Group:** I. **Thomas J. Spooner:** All opposed? Those pass. Now we're on to 6E. What would you like to discuss? [2:27] **Royal Ross:** I think this is a no-win situation for us, but um just not really comfortable writing off the account of a former city council member here. I mean, I enjoyed working with her—nothing personal on my part or anything—but just not comfortable about it. Uh, I'm not saying we can't do it or shouldn't do it, but I guess I'd like to discuss and hear what others think. [3:11] **Thomas J. Spooner:** I agree with you. Yes, Jessica. [3:13] **Jessica Kinser:** So, this was something that came about that was an error that Sarah reported to us. We didn't catch it. It's been handled. Processes have been changed. We immediately created an accounts receivable account with the amount that's due um and have tried to collect on it throughout the year. I felt that it wasn't really fair to send it to collections given that it was our mistake. But that's why you guys make these decisions as well and this comes before you to write it off. And so ultimately, if you don't write it off, I'd recommend that you would make a motion to approve the resolution with the second item for Sarah Karen being sent to collections versus being written off to keep this moving forward in 2025. [3:59] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** This is a no-win situation for us. I think as a previously elected official, we are held at a higher authority. I think we have to at least try to recoup taxpayer money that was um paid to her. It was not deliberate. It sounds like it was an accident. Sounds like there's also a catch system for it to um not happen again. Um, there's been things set in place and with the new system that was also set in place earlier this year, I think there was room for error and so it wasn't intentional on either half and I'll give Miss Karen some credit—she actually called and informed us that this was happening. So, we thank her for that, but I think we have to at least try to collect this um taxpayer money. Obviously, previous city council person, we have to do this. [5:16] **Mandy Barnes:** Yeah, I I agree with you guys. It just kind of feels icky just to have that. You're right. It is a... it is... that's it. [5:35] **Royal Ross:** I think what I'd like to ask is we table. **John Rowan:** Shouldn't throw our books off too far for the year end, should it? **Royal Ross:** I don't know if Kindra wants to answer if tabling—if there's an issue with tabling. [5:52] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Okay, but what purpose would tabling it serve? That's the question. I think she's had several opportunities. It sounds like there's been communication. There's been um communication in regards to her paying it back. She has brought that up. I think it's time to move forward and to proceed to collections or claims court, whatever avenue we have to take. I make a motion to do that. [6:25] **Royal Ross:** I'll second. You repeat your motion. **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** I make a motion that we um send this to collections or small claims court to recoup the money. [6:42] **Jessica Kinser:** I guess what—because there is one other account on there that is a legitimate write-off um because the property was forfeited—um, if you would be willing to word the motion to approve resolution 2025-358 but with only approving the grass mowing and um with the other with Karen being sent to collections. [7:09] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Okay. So I make a motion for resolution 2025-358 for the balance due and the second half... **Jessica Kinser:** I think that that works. If you're approving it but providing different direction on one of the payees, that will work for us. [7:30] **Chuck Thiele:** Yeah. I guess just a little tiny more piece of uh discussion, but the name was redacted from this—is this a new version? Because [snorts] in the first somewhere I saw the name. **Jessica Kinser:** Yeah, her name was... the name was published. **Chuck Thiele:** It would be public record, would it not? **Jessica Kinser:** Yeah. What I have that's in the packet online has her name with it. [8:23] **Thomas J. Spooner:** We got a motion. [8:33] **Royal Ross:** I'm going to vote against it. I would like to try contacting her, telling her that—that's what you may want. [9:16] **Mandy Barnes:** [clears throat] Excuse me, are you proposing that we table it and give her the option to pay before we send to collections? **Thomas J. Spooner:** Okay. But do we have a motion? Do we got a call here or can we... **Jessica Kinser:** Truly, under Robert's Rules, you could table the front of that motion, but if the motioner and second would pull it back, you could go right to that. [9:45] **Thomas J. Spooner:** So she can withdraw it. **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Uh, here. So we can vote no to this not getting passed. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Then the... if the motioner and seconder want to rescind that request for the motion, you could step back from that and go to Tom's solution if you want. It's up to you. Or you could make a motion to table it and that would precede the other. [10:26] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** [clears throat] From what I understand, it sounds like she knows that tonight... so she knows where that's at. So I stick with my motion. I just want to be consistent because we have similar issues. [11:13] **Chuck Thiele:** Uh yeah, I do. Um it was with uh—we billed a business wrong for them and tabled it, talked about it again in a work session and ultimately we made the right decision. We way overcharged—or we way undercharged a business for a long time on their water bill and then we went back and we said okay, you owe us these thousands of dollars. So, but yeah, if that's what you're talking about, we tabled it. We talked about it in a work session and then we ultimately... [12:06] **Mandy Barnes:** The only difference was um that person bought the house. It wasn't living there. So it was like a... yeah. So probably close but not... it got like different... like a property versus this is a on property taxes. [12:36] **Royal Ross:** I got a question. So, if this dies, we can't bring it back forward, right? **Thomas J. Spooner:** Say that again. What do you mean? **Royal Ross:** If we vote no on this, we can't bring the same language back. **Jessica Kinser:** You can't. **Royal Ross:** Why? **Jessica Kinser:** Because [snorts] when we were doing it for KGP that's what... yeah, I mean you always have the ability to amend what actions you take. Council always has the ability to do whatever you need to do in the end to get there um you're never going to be burdened or controlled by Robert's Rules or some rules of procedure, so I don't have a concern if you want... **Royal Ross:** Well, I think we should vote on it then, fall on the table. [13:21] **Thomas J. Spooner:** All right. **Mandy Barnes:** Can I make one more point? **Thomas J. Spooner:** Yes. **Mandy Barnes:** Um, I like the idea of giving her one more chance. That's it. Sorry. [13:42] **Thomas J. Spooner:** I think we should maybe ask for a roll. I have a motion and a second to send this to... **Jessica Kinser:** Just one clarification. You're voting on the resolution to write off one of the claims but send the other claim to collection. **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Correct. Okay. Yes. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Correct. Yeah. Okay, roll call, please. [14:12] **Heather Slechta:** Council member Barnes? **Mandy Barnes:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Doumbouya? **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Ross? **Royal Ross:** Nay. **Heather Slechta:** Rowan? **John Rowan:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Thiele? **Chuck Thiele:** Nay. **Heather Slechta:** Mayor Spooner? **Thomas J. Spooner:** No. [14:28] **Thomas J. Spooner:** It failed. No. Now you can make another motion. **Royal Ross:** Yes. Make a motion to table it. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Table it? Or you could approve it differently with different directions. **John Rowan:** Did we approve the grass mowing? **Thomas J. Spooner:** Yes—no, it failed. It failed. [15:05] **Royal Ross:** All right. Mayor Spooner, I'd like to make a motion to approve consent agenda item 6E, write off the grass mowing charge from 2022. **Thomas J. Spooner:** What about the second half? **Royal Ross:** Oh, and uh and I would like to table the payroll overpayment. [15:32] **Thomas J. Spooner:** Yes, Jessica? You look like... **Jessica Kinser:** I understand what Royal is saying. I think what you're trying to do is approve one portion of the resolution and direct staff to deal in some other capacity with the second portion of that plan. And I think it'd be better if you direct, rather than tabling, direct staff what to do with that. [15:55] **Royal Ross:** Okay. Uh, Mayor Spooner, I would like to make a motion to approve consent agenda item 6E for the grass mowing portion of this. And then I'd like to direct staff to keep the payroll overpayment open and see if something can be worked out with that balance. [16:26] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Yeah. Hold on. You got to say something else. Go ahead. The resolution is not clear because um we have to be specific here. Yeah, we want to approve one portion and then send the other portion or deny the other portion and ask for payment. We can be direct with that straight language rather than... **Royal Ross:** Are you saying that it has to be two separate votes? [17:04] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** You have one resolution 6E and it's got one number. So that makes it difficult to split. So yeah, we can do the wording right now. So we can go to the resolution word that we got on the floor right now. [17:34] **Jessica Kinser:** I think the question to ask is if staff understands what's there and what they're being directed to do, and I think staff does understand that. And if the direction that I heard from the original proposer of the motion is that you approve the one portion—the mowing portion—the other one staff is directed to have a conversation, I think they know exactly what that conversation should be. And if there's no resolution, it's going to come back to you on a very similar resolution to what you have tonight, or you'll get paid. That's what will happen. [18:13] **Jessica Kinser:** Yeah, we'll change the language and modify the resolution accordingly. But it's pretty straightforward. The dollar amount is specifically what would change—the mowing and grass is $100. So the amount that you're writing off tonight by the motion proposed by Ross is $100. Yep. [18:33] **Mandy Barnes:** I'm going to second Mr. Ross's motion. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion and a second. Any further discussion? **John Rowan:** All clear. **Thomas J. Spooner:** All right. All those in favor of... **John Rowan:** He asked for roll call. **Thomas J. Spooner:** A roll call. [18:49] **Heather Slechta:** Council member Barnes? **Mandy Barnes:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Doumbouya? **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** No. **Heather Slechta:** Ross? **Royal Ross:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Rowan? **John Rowan:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Thiele? **Chuck Thiele:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Mayor Spooner? **Thomas J. Spooner:** Aye. [19:36] **Thomas J. Spooner:** That passed. Sorry. Thought this was going to be the quickest meeting of the year. All right. We're done with consent agenda items. **Group:** Yay. [19:51] **Thomas J. Spooner:** Public hearings—we have none. Item for discussion, Ordinance 2025-117, our text amendment. Harry Davis, Planning Manager. **Harry Davis:** Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh, good evening. So, at the previous city council meeting, you approved the first reading of this ordinance. This would be the second reading of this ordinance. Nothing substantial has changed. Uh, so we are recommending that you approve the second reading of it. In addition, we do have the summary publication that we would prefer to use uh to send to the newspaper. That does require at least five votes in favor of that summary publication. With that, I'm happy to answer any questions. [20:36] **Thomas J. Spooner:** Questions from Mr. Davis? **Royal Ross:** Mayor Spooner. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Yes. **Royal Ross:** I'll make a motion to approve Ordinance 2025-117. **Mandy Barnes:** Second. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Motion by Ross, second by Barnes to approve the ordinance. This will be a roll call vote as well. [20:53] **Heather Slechta:** Council member Barnes? **Mandy Barnes:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Doumbouya? **Adama Youhn Doumbouya:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Ross? **Royal Ross:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Rowan? **John Rowan:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Thiele? **Chuck Thiele:** Aye. **Heather Slechta:** Mayor Spooner? **Thomas J. Spooner:** Aye. That motion passes. Approval of the ordinance publication. **John Rowan:** So moved. **Royal Ross:** Second. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Second by Ross. All those in favor signify... **Group:** Aye. **Thomas J. Spooner:** Passes. Bids—we have nothing. Boards and commission reports/updates? Anyone? [21:27] **Mandy Barnes:** I just because we're going to start advertising it here sooner rather than later. Just a few things. Um, Council Chat on January 14th, 6:00 p.m. at Viaduct Park. Uh, we're partnering with Community Action Center who has been doing some listening sessions around the community. And so this will be kind of a a different format and different than we've done in the past, but it will be working with CAC um to help them and us hear more from the community about um specifically housing, environmental concerns, and employment. And then um yeah, I think that's the only one I have. [22:08] **Thomas J. Spooner:** I'll take a motion to adjourn. **John Rowan:** So moved. **Mandy Barnes:** Seconded. **Thomas J. Spooner:** All those in favor signify by saying I. **Group:** I. **Thomas J. Spooner:** We are adjourned.