[0:00] Mayor Spooner: December 9th, 2025 Faribault City Council meeting to order. First item on tonight's agenda is roll call. [0:05] Heather Slechta (City Clerk): Council member Barnes? [0:06] Mandy Barnes: Here. [0:07] Heather Slechta (City Clerk): Doumbouya? [0:08] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: Here. [0:09] Heather Slechta (City Clerk): Ross? [0:10] Royal Ross: Here. [0:11] Heather Slechta (City Clerk): Rowan? [0:12] John Rowan: Here. [0:13] Heather Slechta (City Clerk): Van Sluis? [0:14] Peter van Sluis: Here. [0:15] Heather Slechta (City Clerk): Thiele? [0:16] Chuck Thiele: Here. [0:17] Heather Slechta (City Clerk): Mayor Spooner? [0:18] Mayor Spooner: Here. [0:16] Mayor Spooner: Pledge of 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. [0:40] Mayor Spooner: Our second item tonight is approval of the agenda. [0:45] John Rowan: So moved. [0:46] Peter van Sluis: Second. [0:48] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Rowan, second by Van Sluis. All in favor? (Aye) All opposed? Agenda is approved. [0:57] Mayor Spooner: Presentations and introductions, we have none tonight. Item number four, approval of the minutes of November 25th, 2025 and a special city council meeting on November 25, 2025. December 2nd special meeting and December 2nd city council meeting. [1:25] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Barnes, seconded by Doumbouya for the approval of all. All in favor? (Aye) All opposed. Minutes are approved. Requests to be heard. We have none on the consent agenda tonight. We have 6 A through 6 I. Would anybody like anything? [1:56] Peter van Sluis: So move. [1:57] Mandy Barnes: Second. [1:58] Mayor Spooner: Moved by Van Sluis, seconded by Barnes. All in favor? (Aye) All opposed that passes on to public hearings. [2:15] Mayor Spooner: One basic public hearing tonight with seven parts to it. City administrator Jessica Kinser is going to give us one presentation. [2:25] Jessica Kinser: Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just want to start out by saying thank you to all of you for being a part of this process. It definitely didn't go um quite as it had as we had planned or has it as it had in future years. We had a software transition that caused a delay, a delay in the audit and everything kind of got moved back. But thank you to you for your understanding and thank you to um the leadership team for being very very very flexible um with uh getting this through. So uh these are the seven um resolutions that are before you tonight and I'll go through kind of briefly hit on all of these um in the presentation... [Detailed presentation continues regarding tax levy, property values, general fund expenditures, and debt service]. [11:07] Jessica Kinser: ...And then here is the the graph that really shows 2034 is when um as things stand right now that we are debt-free. However, as we go through the capital improvement plan, there certainly are some other areas where um debt will be incurred uh if if those plans proceed as they're um you know created as of right now... [Presentation concludes with fee schedules and enterprise funds]. [21:19] Mayor Spooner: At this time I'll entertain a motion to open the public hearing. [21:23] Chuck Thiele: So moved. [21:24] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: Second. [21:25] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Thiele, second by Doumbouya. All in favor? (Aye) We are now in public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on this matter can come forward. State your name and address. And I will warn you, you have three minutes and this is not a time for give and take back and forth with the council. This is just simply time to state your piece on our budget. So go ahead. Please state your name. [21:59] Janet Molen: My name is Janet Molen. I live at 419 Willow Street. And I just want to tell you how it sounds—you're looking at a small increase, but how it's felt to the people is very different. So, I'd like to draw a picture to you how how it feels to the taxpayer. Um, I wanted to break out just the portion on my property tax that concerns the city. And it—I've got a 21.575% increase. I know you don't express it that way, but when I look at the money I'm going to have to pay out, that's how it feels to me... [Public comment continues]. Thank you for your time. [23:47] Tom Molen: Thank you for the three minutes. Thank you all for for doing a job. I think you do a really good job. [23:55] Mayor Spooner: Did you state your name and address? [23:57] Tom Molen: I'm sorry. Tom Molen, seven St. James. Thank you all for what you do. I think the process at the city level, particularly with property taxes, is everybody's got their arms tied together. I would rather use my three minutes to point out what I think is a larger term obvious problem... [Public comment continues regarding the Federal Reserve and inflation]. Again, thank you for all you do. [25:47] Janet Murray: Hi, Janet Murray, Third Street Southeast. Um, I was quite shocked when I got my taxes and they're going up 27.8%. Which isn't—that seems higher than what it should be? I had no improvements or anything past few years. So maybe you'd rather I make an appointment to have somebody look it over. [26:14] Mayor Spooner: Correct. Yes. [26:16] Janet Murray: Is that unusual? [26:18] Mayor Spooner: That's something we can't answer tonight. [26:22] Janet Murray: Yeah. But is that unusual to get that big of an increase because it looked like it was roughly 7 or 8%. It should have been. [26:30] Mayor Spooner: You're going to have to come in and take a look at that. [26:35] Janet Murray: I should call the office? [26:40] Mayor Spooner: Yes. Anyone else? [26:55] Mayor Spooner: I'll take a motion to close the public hearing. [26:56] Peter van Sluis: So moved. [26:57] Royal Ross: Second. [26:58] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Van Sluis, second by Ross to close public hearing. All those in favor signify by saying I. (Aye). Motion passes. We are out of public hearing. [27:10] Mayor Spooner: Resolution 2025-331 adopting the property tax levy. [27:30] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: I make a motion to approve. [27:32] Mandy Barnes: Second. [27:35] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Doumbouya, second by Barnes. All those in favor signify. (Aye) All opposed? Resolution passes. [27:50] Mayor Spooner: Resolution 2025-332 adopting the budget and fund. [27:57] Peter van Sluis: I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-332. [28:01] Royal Ross: Second. [28:02] Mayor Spooner: I have a motion by Van Sluis, second by Ross. All those in favor? (Aye) All opposed. That resolution passes. [28:10] Mayor Spooner: Resolution 2025-333. HRA tax levy. [28:17] Mandy Barnes: I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-333. [28:22] John Rowan: I'll second. [28:23] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Barnes, seconded by Rowan. All in favor? (Aye) All opposed. Motion passes. [28:30] Mayor Spooner: Resolution 2025-334. EDA tax levy. [28:35] Mandy Barnes: Make a motion to approve resolution 2025-334. [28:40] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: Second. [28:41] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Barnes, second by Doumbouya. All those in favor? (Aye) All opposed. Motion passes. [28:53] Mayor Spooner: Resolution 2025-335. Adoption of the Five-Year CIP. [29:05] John Rowan: I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-335. [29:10] Royal Ross: Second. [29:11] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Rowan, seconded by Ross. All those in favor? (Aye) All opposed? [29:20] Mandy Barnes: Nay. [29:21] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: Nay. [29:22] Mayor Spooner: We have two nays. That motion also passes. [29:40] Mayor Spooner: Resolution 2025-336 approval of the Fee Schedule. [29:50] Mandy Barnes: I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-336. [29:55] Peter van Sluis: Second. [29:56] Mayor Spooner: Second by Barnes, seconded by Van Sluis to approve. All those in favor signify by saying I. (Aye) All opposed. Motion passes. [30:05] Mayor Spooner: Final item, resolution 2025-337 Franchise Fee Schedule. [30:15] Chuck Thiele: Motion to approve resolution 2025-337. [30:19] John Rowan: I'll second. [30:21] Mayor Spooner: Seconded by Rowan. All those in favor? (Aye) All opposed. Motion passes. [30:38] John Rowan: Mayor Spooner. [30:40] Mayor Spooner: Yes. [30:41] John Rowan: Um, I'd just like to thank the the people that stepped forward and spoke tonight because their their comments were unlike what we've heard in the past. Their comments showed um an understanding of our system and thoughtfulness, I thought. So I'd just like to thank the ones that stepped forward and uh presented it uh very well. Thank you. [31:07] Mandy Barnes: And I’d also like to thank staff. Thank you very much. [31:17] Mayor Spooner: All right. On to eight, items for discussion. Whitetail Haven, Brand Avenue, final plat. Harry Davis, Planning Manager. [31:44] Harry Davis: Thank you, Mayor and Council. Good evening. Um, so the item in front of you is a preliminary and final plat as well as the developers agreement for Whitetail Haven... [Explains the plating and name change from Olsson Edition]. I'm happy to take any questions. [33:38] Peter van Sluis: Did we get this far with the house? [33:45] Harry Davis: Yeah. Uh we have a lot of situations like that across the city. Um, city 60s, 70s, 80s... there was a lot of uh Wild West in terms of development. So that's kind of why we're here now. [34:00] Peter van Sluis: Okay. Thank you. [34:04] Royal Ross: Mayor Spooner. [34:06] Mayor Spooner: Yes. [34:07] Royal Ross: I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2025-340. [34:10] John Rowan: Second. [34:11] Mayor Spooner: Have a motion by Ross, seconded by Rowan. All in favor? (Aye) All opposed. Next one. [34:22] Mandy Barnes: I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-341. [34:25] Peter van Sluis: Second. [34:27] Mayor Spooner: Second by Barnes, seconded by Van Sluis on resolution 341. All in favor? (Aye) All opposed. Motion passes. [34:47] Mayor Spooner: Next item on tonight's agenda is resolution 2025-344 approving a conditional use permit. Once again, Harry. [35:06] Harry Davis: Thank you again, Mayor and Council. Uh, so the item in front of you is a conditional use permit. It's an amendment to an existing one for Surat Academy... [Explains the expansion into a former daycare portion of the building]. Staff is recommending that you approve this conditional use permit amendment. [37:12] Royal Ross: Thank you, Mayor. Um, just a small error. Um, the address is listed at 128 8th Street Northwest. It's actually 8th Avenue and that is in both the background and it's on the resolution. So, we should probably change that. And then if I understand correctly, this total building is roughly that 19,000 to 20,000 square feet? So basically they're just going from 13,000 that they had as a school to the whole thing being a school now? [37:43] Harry Davis: No additions to the building. It's just making use of the existing. [37:46] Royal Ross: Thank you. [37:55] Chuck Thiele: So moved. [37:57] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: Second. [37:58] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Thiele, seconded by Doumbouya. Signify by saying I. (Aye) All opposed. That is passed. [38:17] Mayor Spooner: We're on E. Ordinance 2025-17. Harry. [38:17] Harry Davis: Thank you again, Mayor and Council. So, the item in front of you is a zoning text amendment to chapter 13... [Explains the reinstatement of standards for public institutional zoning]. We do recommend that you approve the first reading of this ordinance. [39:58] Royal Ross: Mayor Spooner, I'll make a motion to approve ordinance 2025-17. [40:02] Mandy Barnes: Second. [40:04] Mayor Spooner: I have a motion by Ross, seconded by Barnes to approve ordinance 2025-17. Roll call. [40:11] Heather Slechta (City Clerk): Council member Barnes? (Aye) Doumbouya? (Aye) Ross? (Aye) Rowan? (Aye) Van Sluis? (Aye) Thiele? (Aye) Mayor Spooner? (Aye). Ordinance is passed. [40:36] Mayor Spooner: Item D, resolution 2025-345 Axon service agreement. John Sherwin, Police Chief. [40:40] John Sherwin: Good evening, Mayor, members of council. I have a presentation to show you regarding our Axon contract... [Detailed explanation of body cams, tasers, and the digital evidence platform evidence.com]. We have 184,583 pieces of digital evidence on this platform currently. [48:48] Royal Ross: Thank you, Mayor. Um, Chief Sherwin, um, the 162,000 5-year contract through 2030, are there annual costs increases? [49:03] John Sherwin: No, it's it's fixed. [49:05] Royal Ross: It's fixed. Okay. And then I'm really amazed by the 185,000 pieces of evidence. Do we pay storage on that? [49:13] John Sherwin: No, it's all included. It's unlimited... [Clarifies the subscription bundle and fixed rates]. [51:14] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: I support the police department wanting to have a camera on everyone. Not only is it a safety feature, it also builds trust. The fact that Van Sluis just said that people can watch it, so they feel like they're there. [51:40] Mayor Spooner: Yeah. And I will just say this about cameras—our officers want to wear them. [52:38] Chuck Thiele: This covers our drone as well? [52:40] John Sherwin: Yes. Yes. The platform for the drone video etc. [52:50] Royal Ross: Mayor Spooner, I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2025-345. [52:53] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: Second. [52:55] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Ross, Second by Doumbouya on 345. All those in favor signify by saying I. (Aye) All opposed. Passed. [53:05] Mayor Spooner: Next resolution is the professional service contract related to towing. Chief Sherwin. [53:13] John Sherwin: Yeah. Thank you, Mayor, and members of the council. Um, tonight the second item here before you is a request for proposals related to our towing service agreement... [Explains the bidding between Glenn’s Services and Dean’s]. In the end, Glenn’s was recommended. [56:36] Chuck Thiele: Mayor Spooner, I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-348. [56:40] John Rowan: Second. [56:41] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Thiele, seconded by Rowan to approve resolution 2025-348. All those in favor? (Aye) Passes. [56:55] Mayor Spooner: Resolution 2025-346 airport management. Travis Block. [57:01] Travis Block: Thank you, Mayor Spooner, members of the council. Resolution 2025-346 is seeking the approval extensions for the airport management and maintenance agreements currently held by Quality Aviation... [Explains the 5% increase and the transition of management to Sawyer Doll]. [59:02] Peter van Sluis: Uh, I know Quality Aviation. I know Jerry passed away what, last year or so, but I know they've always done a great job. My question is, is there anybody else who could run the airport? [59:15] Travis Block: Council Member Van Sluis, the current individual who has assumed those roles is Sawyer Doll, who kind of has been trained by Jerry over the past five years... Fixed base operators like this are pretty limited. There are not a lot of them just waiting around to take over an airport. [1:00:13] Royal Ross: Mayor Spooner, I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2025-346. [1:00:17] Peter van Sluis: Second. [1:00:20] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Ross, Second by Van Sluis. All in favor? (Aye) All opposed. Motion passes. [1:00:30] Mayor Spooner: Resolution 2025-350, the managerial service contract for the HRA. Jessica Kinser. [1:00:45] Jessica Kinser: Yes, this was something that came up through the budget process... [Explains the $50,000 flat fee for administration time]. I'd recommend approval tonight. [1:01:53] Royal Ross: Thank you, Mayor Spooner. Um, Administrator, the extra billing—it's the total estimated revenue in the community and economic authority for these is 100,000. Now is that $50,000 that's listed earlier plus another 50 or is it the 50 plus this 100? [1:02:10] Jessica Kinser: So, it's $50,000 from the HRA tax levy dollars and then an estimated 50,000 um over the course of the year that we would see in the direct billing for the scattered sites. [1:02:24] Royal Ross: So it's 100 combined. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. [1:02:44] Mandy Barnes: I make a motion to approve resolution 2025-350. [1:02:48] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: Second. [1:02:50] Mayor Spooner: I have a motion by Barnes, seconded by Doumbouya. All in favor? (Aye) All opposed. That passes. [1:03:00] Mayor Spooner: Contract agreement for the Economic Development Authority. Once again, Jessica. [1:03:04] Jessica Kinser: Yeah. Very similar through the budget process. We talked about the EDA contributing from their tax levy towards the community and economic development department staff. And so that is set at 50,000. [1:04:01] Chuck Thiele: Make a motion to approve resolution 2025-351. [1:04:05] Royal Ross: Second. [1:04:08] Mayor Spooner: I have a motion by Thiele, seconded by Ross to approve the managerial contract. All in favor? (Aye) All opposed. That passes. [1:04:20] Mayor Spooner: Mighty Fine Coffee Addition. David Wanberg, Community & Economic Development Director. [1:04:25] David Wanberg: Very pleased to be here and I apologize for the late addition. Um, I bring before these two resolutions before you... [Explains development agreement and encroachment agreement for the project]. I appreciate your patience. [1:06:03] John Rowan: Mayor Spooner, make a motion to approve resolution 2025-353. [1:06:10] Chuck Thiele: Second. [1:06:11] Mayor Spooner: Moved by Rowan, seconded by Thiele. All those in favor signify by saying I. (Aye) Motion passes. [1:06:27] Chuck Thiele: Motion to approve resolution 2025-354. [1:06:35] Peter van Sluis: Second. [1:06:36] Mayor Spooner: We have a second by Van Sluis. Signify by saying I. (Aye) All opposed. Motion passes. [1:06:54] Mayor Spooner: One last item. Bids resolution 2025-339. Travis Block. [1:07:16] Travis Block: Thank you, Mayor Spooner, members of the council. Resolution 2025-339 is accepting the bid for the well sealing project... [Explains the project to seal two abandoned wells at the old water station]. [1:09:02] Royal Ross: Thank you, Mayor. Um, Director Block, how big of a priority is this? [1:09:07] Travis Block: This was brought forward to us by the Minnesota Department of Health... I do feel that groundwater protection is a pretty important thing. [1:10:20] Royal Ross: Correct. So in other words, if we delay we could save 50 grand but potentially lose 250,000 in state funding? [1:10:44] Travis Block: Correct. [1:11:00] John Rowan: So touching up on council member Ross's point... have they identified some ingress of concern or are they just going to every city in the entire state and creating this concern? [1:11:27] Travis Block: I do not know. But like I said, we were approached by the Department of Health. [1:11:43] John Rowan: No, I realize that it's just a philosophical question that wonder why our costs are going up. We have to do it. I get it. But this battle should be fought in St. Paul. [1:12:29] Royal Ross: Mayor Spooner, I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2025-339. [1:12:35] Adama Youhn Doumbouya: Second. [1:12:40] Mayor Spooner: By Ross, second by Doumbouya. All those in favor signify. (Aye) Motion passes. Board and commission reports, announcements. Jessica. [1:12:54] Jessica Kinser: Just a few things to remind you. Tomorrow night is a council chat at Paradise Center for the Arts at 6 PM... [Reminds council of the Chamber's All Boards meeting on Friday]. [1:13:51] Mandy Barnes: To add to what Jessica had mentioned about the Paradise council chat tomorrow... [Lists upcoming Paradise Center events including The Sound of Music and A Very Diva Christmas]. [1:14:45] Mayor Spooner: All right, just a quick shout out to staff on Winterfest. What a great weekend we just had. Police, fire, recreation, everybody. That was a great turnout over the weekend. I spent a lot of time downtown. Crowds were large. Uh, having no vehicles on Central Avenue for the parade route was a bonus. A lot of work, um, but it was a much better safety situation. Thank you everybody. Appreciate it. [1:15:03] Royal Ross: So moved to adjourn. [1:15:05] Mandy Barnes: Second. [1:15:06] Mayor Spooner: Motion by Ross, seconded by Barnes to adjourn. All those in favor signify by saying I. (Aye) All opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you everyone.