This transcript has been updated with speaker names based on the official list provided and the context of the dialogue. **[0:00] [Music] Clint Hooppaw:** All right, good evening everyone. We'll go ahead and call this meeting to order for the July 10th, 2025 city valley city council meeting. We have to start off this meeting by having Wilder welcome us. Hey Wilder. Hello everybody. **[0:31] Wilder:** You say hello everybody. **[0:34] Clint Hooppaw:** Oh, we tried. We tried. Welcome everyone. We have a full—there he is. All right. There's a warm welcome. Uh thanks. Thanks everybody for being here. For any members of the audience who have signed up to speak, when your item is called, please come to the podium uh and address the council. **[0:53] Clint Hooppaw:** The first item on our agenda is the pledge of allegiance. And I'd like everyone to rise and join us in the pledge. 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. **[1:18] Clint Hooppaw:** We'll get one more done. Excuse me. The next item on our agenda is to approve the agenda. And Tom, do we have any changes this evening? **[1:28] Tom Lawell:** Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the council, uh, two items just to note, previously distributed to the council yesterday, uh, was an updated ordinance. This is the natural gas utility franchise fee ordinance, item 5B on your agenda. So, just to acknowledge receipt of that change. And then, uh, secondly, uh, on your calendar of upcoming events, we have a revised calendar and that is item 7A on your agenda. **[1:51] Clint Hooppaw:** Got it. Thank you. With that, do we have a motion to approve the agenda? **[1:53] Ruth Grendahl:** So moved. **[1:55] John Bergman:** Second. **[1:57] Clint Hooppaw:** Motion from council member Grendahl, a second from council member Bergman. All those in favor indicate by saying I. **[2:02] Council Members:** I. **[2:03] Clint Hooppaw:** Opposed. Agenda carries. The next item on our agenda is the audience participation portion of our meeting. Uh this is for items not on the agenda. I didn't see anyone on the signup sheet. **[2:10] Christina Scipioni:** I did not either. **[2:11] Clint Hooppaw:** Okay. Thank you. Um however, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak to the audience participation portion? Anyone? All right. We'll close this section. We'll move on to our consent agenda. These are items that are considered routine and will be enacted with a single motion unless a council member or a citizen request to pull an item. Council members, any items you'd like to pull this evening? All right. Seeing none, uh, citizens, anyone? All right. Uh, we have no items to pull. We have a motion to approve consent from council member Melander. Do we have a second? **[2:43] Lisa Hiebert:** Second. **[2:44] Clint Hooppaw:** Second from council member Hiebert. All those in favor indicate by saying I. **[2:46] Council Members:** I. **[2:47] Clint Hooppaw:** And opposed. Consent items pass. Then we will move on to our regular agenda. And 5A is the introduction and oath of office. Uh and we'll invite uh Chief Francis up to take care of these. **[3:04] Nick Francis:** Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Happy to stand before you and invite and introduce a couple of our newest officers. Why don't you come up? Um we've got two new officers to introduce to you tonight and have their oath. It's a full house, so uh we're happy that they got lots of friends and family here. Um, I'll start with officer uh David Wilson immediately to my right here. He grew up in the city of Eagan, graduated from Eagan High School, so a local person. Um, he attended Minnesota State University, Mankato... the Minnesota State University, Mankato. That's a running joke from my alma mater from Mankato. Um, and he has worked in many different public safety roles. Um, kind of starting in loss prevention, retail crime, and had some really important work in the hospital systems, working in uh crisis stabilization and some of the mental health units uh throughout the metro. Um he's got experience as a paid and uh paid on call EMT firefighter, so you can't steal him from us, but he'll be really great at all your fire calls uh and medicals. Uh and he did that up in the city of Fridley. Um he started his law enforcement career in 2020 uh with the Battle Lake and Henning police departments up north uh and then we stole him down here to Apple Valley. Um, outside of work, he enjoys road trips with family, live music, especially going outdoor concerts... what's uh in uh Colorado? Red Rocks. Red Rocks. Yep. Red Rocks is a highlight. Uh Twins games and um and also cooking. And then um I'll let him introduce anyone that's with him tonight. Might be too big of a list to hit everybody individually, but we'll try. **[4:34] David Wilson:** First of all, I am father of Wilder. Most important. Oh, this is my wife Amanda, my in-laws, Paul and Joyce. My parents Jeff and Kim, one of my mentors growing up, Phil. These are my two brothers, Matt, Nick. My uncle Jerry, Mitch, Christie, and on the back row I have my grandparents, Barb and Lynn. My great aunt Mirilla, family friend of ours, Jim Meer. **[5:01] Nick Francis:** Excellent. Welcome to all them. Um, next we have Officer Chadam Dubet. Uh he grew up another local resident, grew up in Rosemount, graduating from Rosemount High School. Um he attended Metro State University, received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Uh he started his career at the airport police department as a community service officer and eventually as a police officer. Bunch of his partners are in the back there. We've also we've already gotten applications out to most of them if they're interested for any reason to uh to come here. um also um has worked uh at Metro Transit as a real-time information specialist. Um outside of work, he likes to travel, explore different locations, experience different cultures, and at home, he likes experimenting in the kitchen, um and spending time with family, um specifically playing some board games. So, um I'll let him introduce anyone that's with him tonight. **[5:49] Chadam Dubet:** Yeah. So, um I got my mom, dad, my grandma, my uncle, and then obviously my previous partners. **[6:00] Nick Francis:** Welcome everybody. Uh so we'll have them um kind of step over here and take their oath of office. Again, if anybody wants to uh stand up, move around, take pictures, feel free to to move wherever you have to. All right. So, I'll have you come one here. One here for me, please. Thank you. Please raise your right hand. Please state your full name. **[6:34] Officers:** David Wilson. Chadam Dubet. **[6:36] Nick Francis:** And repeat after me. I do solemnly swear... **[6:38] Officers:** ...do solemnly swear... **[6:40] Nick Francis:** ...that I will support the Constitution of the United States... **[6:42] Officers:** ...that I will support the Constitution of the United States... **[6:45] Nick Francis:** ...and of the State of Minnesota... **[6:47] Officers:** ...and of the State of Minnesota... **[6:49] Nick Francis:** ...and faithfully discharge the duties... **[6:51] Officers:** ...and faithfully discharge the duties... **[6:53] Nick Francis:** ...of the office of police officer... **[6:55] Officers:** ...of the office of a police officer... **[6:57] Nick Francis:** ...of the city of Apple Valley... **[6:59] Officers:** ...of the city of Apple Valley... **[7:01] Nick Francis:** ...in the county of Dakota... **[7:02] Officers:** ...in the county of Dakota... **[7:03] Nick Francis:** ...and the state of Minnesota... **[7:04] Officers:** ...and the state of Minnesota... **[7:05] Nick Francis:** ...to the best of my judgment and ability. **[7:07] Officers:** ...to the best of my judgment and ability. **[7:09] Nick Francis:** So help me God. **[7:10] Officers:** So help me God. **[7:12] Nick Francis:** Congratulations. [Applause] **[7:22] Clint Hooppaw:** We will invite their uh family members to come up and uh officially pin their badges on for them. He's gonna stick dad with a pin. Oh, look at that. That's priceless. Charles, take a picture of that. I need one of those. That's priceless. Officer Wilson, give that to Wilder for us and you can pin one on him later. All right. Thanks. Congrats. That's great. Good job, Jenny. [Applause] **[8:51] Nick Francis:** Yeah, just to uh summarize, we're super happy that these two have joined our team here and our family. We're appreciative of this community and the council for your support and uh and also for everyone that come came out to support them because it is a it's a team sport and so we need our folks uh at home, our friends, our family, all that kind of to to help us out along the way. So, um, appreciate the support again and if you want to excuse us to get out of here and maybe quiet things down... officers, welcome. Uh, we're happy to have you on the team. We know you've been out running calls and doing all the good stuff already and already making an impact, but stay safe and, uh, this department makes us proud every day and we're happy to have you on it. **[9:40] Clint Hooppaw:** Thank you, Chief. [Applause] He's got to completely pray. I know. Yeah. Pretty much clear enough. Wasn't going to give him something sharp directly. Mom and dad. Yeah, that's fine. Now he has to say goodbye everybody. Bye. Now, goodbye everybody. Everybody that's the next meeting, right? We learned new words today. That was fantastic. **[10:50] Clint Hooppaw:** All right, as everyone clears out, we'll invite Matt forward to kick off item 5B, which is our natural gas utility franchise fee ordinance. **[11:05] Matt Saam:** Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. I was just saying to Tim, this is my kind of crowd now. Thank you. We are here to talk about uh the natural gas franchise fee ordinance which I know the council's heard quite a bit about over the last few months and even last years. Um but as I start tonight, I did feel it's still important to do a little bit of a review for those in this audience and then online or watching from home. **[11:32] Matt Saam:** So we'll just start with a little review. Um we do have an existing natural gas franchise fee ordinance. Um, it applies to Centerpoint Energy, which is, of course, the only natural gas provider in the city providing natural gas to everyone. Our existing franchise fee, uh, for residential properties is 3% of usage per month with a max cap of $25 per month. Um, for commercial industrial, it's also 3% of usage, but the cap for them is $75 per month. Um so after the council approved this original franchise fee uh back in December, um Centerpoint uh gave us a call in earlier this year to say hey we have an issue. Our billing software um can't do it the way the city wants. So um they couldn't do a percent of usage along with a max cap. They could do either or. So they could do a percentage or they could do uh any amount we'd want, but they can't do both together. **[12:36] Matt Saam:** Um so that precipitated some meetings uh between us and Centerpoint staff. And what we learned is um really the only uh properties that um come into play with this or where the cap could come into play um are the large uh commercial uh users that would um tend to use quite a bit of natural gas at some point through the year. And they said this would only affect the largest about 300 commercial accounts that they have in the city. And just for reference, there's over 15,000 accounts. So we're talking a very small percentage. **[13:11] Matt Saam:** Um so so with that, um of course we started talking with you all and we have come up with a proposal that Centerpoint has said, um they can do—their billing software can do. So I'll go into that right now. Um, so, uh, the proposed franchise fee, the new proposed franchise fee would be for residential to still have 3% of revenues per month. Um, and then for, I'll say 99% of commercial industrial properties also have 3% of revenues per month. But for those largest, again approximately 300 commercial account users, they would have their fee um just be a flat fee every month of $35 per month. **[13:59] Matt Saam:** Um and then you can see on the screen here using the data that um Centerpoint has provided us, we're estimating based on that new franchise fee, it would bring in just under 600,000 a year or 590 based on last year's usage. Um, and then just wanted to uh quickly review with the council what you all had set forth um for us to plan to use the franchise fee for. And this I should say is also for the electric franchise fee and natural gas. Um, the largest use would be uh to dedicate a million dollars of this uh toward our pavement management street program that we do every year. Um and then it's also open to other priorities um as determined by the council. So with that um there's two requested actions tonight. The first is to hold the public hearing on the natural gas utility franchise fee ordinance. And then the second would be to consider passing um the ordinance amending chapter 119 of city code um adding the section 119.62 entitled franchise fee regarding that natural gas utility franchise fee. We would recommend waving uh the second reading. And with that, mayor, I'd be happy to to stand for any questions. **[15:19] Clint Hooppaw:** All right. Before we open the public hearing, are there any questions? We've talked about this an awful lot, so I think we've covered most of them. Matt, thanks for the background. We'll go ahead and open the public hearing on the natural gas franchise fee ordinance. Anyone who would like to speak? Anyone who would like to speak to the public hearing. All right, one last opportunity. We'll close the public hearing and we'll look for a motion to pass the ordinance amending chapter 119 of the city code adding section 119.62 entitled franchise fee regarding a natural gas utility franchise fee and we recommend waving the second reading. Do we have a motion? **[15:57] John Bergman:** So moved. **[15:58] Lisa Hiebert:** Second. **[16:00] Clint Hooppaw:** Motion from council member Bergman, second from council member Hiebert. All those in favor indicate by saying I. **[16:04] Council Members:** I. **[16:05] Clint Hooppaw:** Opposed. That carries. Matt, thanks for all the work on this. And Ron and staff, too. Everybody pitched in to get this one done. We'll move on to 5C. And we have Carter for this. This is a variance conditional use permit, site plan, building permit authorization uh for lot number seven, 7 Brew Coffee. **[16:23] Carter:** Good evening, Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh so tonight are three requests from applicant Cooper Coffee Minnesota LLC regarding their proposed drive-through coffee shop 7 Brew. A public hearing for the variance and conditional use permit was held at the June 18th uh planning commission meeting. The only public comment from that meeting was the applicant's representative and the commission recommended approval 5 to zero on each requested action. So tonight staff is recommending the following actions. Adopt the resolution approving the variance to allow expanded hours of operation for a class 3 restaurant. Adopt the resolution approving a conditional use permit to allow drive-through in conjunction with a class 3 neighborhood restaurant. And adopt the resolution approving the site plan and building permit authorization. **[17:08] Carter:** So this site is located at the northwest corner of Pilot Knob Road and 155th Street West. Is legally described as lot one block one on the McDonald's at Orchard Place Plat. Uh this property will be addressed 15440 English Avenue. Uh is located in the RB retail business zoning district. Uh it is limited business to the north, retail business to the south and west and then public right of way to the east. It is also within the MBC mixed business campus which guides for commercial office medical and hotel land uses. Uh the proposed use uh as a commercial development uh aligns with uh the surrounding uses by supporting area workers and visitors as well. **[17:59] Carter:** For the drive-through CUP, coffee houses are considered class 3 neighborhood restaurants under city code. Class 3 neighborhood restaurants are permitted by right in the RB zoning district. However, the inclusion of a drive-through requires a conditional use permit. Uh, the planning commission did review this proposal at its June 18th, 2025 meeting and recommended approval subject to the conditions listed in the draft resolution. City code also limits class 3 restaurant hours to 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Uh, the applicant is requesting a variance to open at 5:30 a.m. to accommodate early morning customers. Planning Commission once again reviewed this request against the applicable criteria and recommended approval at the June 18th meeting subject to conditions in the attached resolution and also the findings that are listed on screen. Staff additionally recommends approval of the 5:30 a.m. to 11 pm operating hours variance. **[18:51] Carter:** For the site plan, uh the plan shows a 510 ft drive-through coffee shop on a roughly 1-acre parcel. Uh the two drive-through lanes encircle the site and there's also 280 ft accessory cooler uh located directly adjacent to the main service building. All service uh is via order windows and person-to-person. Uh there also is no seating provided at this restaurant. Uh access to the site is from a shared driveway on English Avenue uh currently used by Chaffin Veterinary Clinic and the proposed McDonald's. Uh vehicle circulation, parking, and queuing uh occur entirely on site and meet applicable code sections. All setback requirements are met as well. **[19:32] Carter:** Uh water and sanitary service will connect to the existing utilities at the northwest corner of the site. Storm water runoff will be directed to a regional system uh utilizing the ponds west of the site for both treatment and detention. Uh further details regarding utilities and the applicable requirements are listed in the city engineer's memo within the packets. Uh regarding the landscaping plan, the applicant is required to provide landscaping material equal to 2.5% of the building construction value. Uh the proposed plan includes canopy and ornamental trees as well as coniferous and flowering shrubs. There also be a 15 foot wide landscaping buffer that will be required along Pilot Knob Road. Uh that should include trees and shrubs for uh screening as well as a requirement for the conditional use permit. Uh the plan will be reviewed at the time of building permit to ensure compliance with all city landscaping standards as well. **[20:31] Carter:** The proposed building and cooler storage will be pre-fabricated and delivered to the site. Uh they will both be constructed with Niha fiber cement panels uh with those colors of those materials listed on the screen there. The coffee stand will be about 20 ft tall and will feature 7 Brew's branding on the elevations. There'll also be a dumpster enclosure on site that will match these materials. So once more, uh the actions requested tonight are listed on your screen. Uh with that, I will turn it over to the mayor and council with any questions or comments. I believe we do have a representative from 7 Brew here as well if you have any questions or comments for them. **[21:05] Clint Hooppaw:** Wonderful. Thanks, Carter. Uh Council Member Bergman was up first. **[21:11] John Bergman:** Thanks, Carter. Nice presentation. Welcome to the presentation world for us. Um, I like it. But my comment to this type of facility is in the last month driving around west of us, south of us in the state of Minnesota, you see similar types of these what you're presenting to tonight for us around. And I find it interesting and fascinating. And I don't drink coffee, so I'm not trying to discourage it, but I like it. I think it's cool and unique versus "everybody wants a big parking spot, I want to go in and get something and sit down and eat it." Whereas today's society—and I can see why the time changes, they want an earlier time—is because everybody's on the go. So, um I'm assuming this will pass, but welcome to the community. **[22:24] Lisa Hiebert:** Uh thank you. I I just have kind of a a question. I know that this is the person-to-person ordering and uh and the drive-thru and and no seating inside. I'm just kind of curious, how does it work? Um is walk up or if somebody's biking... how does that work? **[22:42] Carter:** Yeah, I can have the applicant come up if if they want to speak about it, but I believe when I was reviewing this project, they do have an order window. It is very seldom used, but they do have a walk up order window as well. So, thank you. **[23:01] Clint Hooppaw:** Perfect. Any other questions? Well, um, are you okay if we take the action items first, then bring the applicant up to answer the questions? Okay, we'll do that then. All right, we have three items uh here this evening. First is to adopt the resolution approving a variance to allow the expanded hours of operation for a class 3 restaurant from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The variance takes us from 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. subject to the findings and the conditions. Do we have a motion for that? **[23:24] Tom Melander:** So moved. **[23:25] Ruth Grendahl:** Second. **[23:26] Clint Hooppaw:** Motion from council member Melander, second from council member Grendahl. All those in favor indicate by saying I. **[23:31] Council Members:** I. **[23:33] Clint Hooppaw:** And opposed. Next item is a motion to adopt a resolution approving a conditional use permit to allow a drive-through in conjunction with a class 3 neighborhood restaurant subject to the conditions. **[23:45] Ruth Grendahl:** So moved. **[23:46] Tom Melander:** Second. **[23:47] Clint Hooppaw:** Motion from council member Grendahl, second from council member Melander. All those in favor indicate by saying I. **[23:51] Council Members:** I. **[23:52] Clint Hooppaw:** And opposed. All right. That item carries. And our final item on this is to adopt a resolution approving the site plan and building permit authorization for a 510 foot drive-through coffee shop subject to conditions. **[24:02] Ruth Grendahl:** So moved. **[24:03] John Bergman:** Second. **[24:05] Clint Hooppaw:** Motion from council member Grendahl, second from council member Bergman. All those in favor indicate by saying I. **[24:09] Council Members:** I. **[24:10] Clint Hooppaw:** Opposed. That item carries as well. We're done with the action items. We'd like to invite the applicant up to introduce himself. Tell us a little bit about the coffee shop and maybe we can address council member Hiebert's. How do I get coffee? Am I walking? I'm walking or biking. **[24:24] Zach:** Well, thank you. My name is Zach. I'm the tenant representation here, local boots on the ground, if you will, for 7 Brews. So, uh, thank you all and happy to answer any questions. Yeah, so Council Member Hiebert was curious... as you drive up if you're walking up to the facility, you got two drive-through lanes, right? Is there an ability for somebody just to walk up and get coffee without getting run over by the person? There certainly there'll be a walkway you can walk up much like a, you know, open window. You come up there and talk to an employee. If you've seen a Caribou Cabin, it operates similar to that, so there's always an option to kind of walk up to talk to an employee. But I think 99% will be going through the drive-thru. **[25:00] Lisa Hiebert:** Great question. If you are next door waiting for your dog to get looked at, you might want to walk up and get one. **[25:10] Zach:** Interesting in a market like Minnesota, I think we'll see a lot more of that where we'll sit on the patio maybe and you know, umbrellas and you know you'll certainly see that in certain markets where there's a lot of families and kids. **[25:20] Clint Hooppaw:** Do you have water for Council Member Bergman? **[25:22] John Bergman:** No, I might want tea. **[25:24] Zach:** Certainly. Yeah. We have non-coffee caffeine. 20,000 different varieties of drinks. So, not just coffee. **[25:31] Clint Hooppaw:** All right. Well, well, welcome to Apple Valley. We look forward to uh to you getting moving on there. **[25:39] Zach:** Thank you so much. Thank you. **[25:40] Clint Hooppaw:** All right. 5D is the last item on our regular agenda, and that's a uh followup from the last meeting talking about our cannabis micro business text amendments. Thank you, Carter. **[25:57] Sydney:** Good evening, Mayor and Council. Today I will be presenting to you the formal denial of text amendments related to cannabis micro businesses. One second. Sorry about that. It's like Bruce is still here, isn't it? Put their department heads back on that computer. They mess it up for everyone. Um, okay. I'll keep it short and sweet tonight. So, the planning commission held a public hearing on April 2nd for this request. Uh, then again reviewed on May 7th and formally recommended denial of the requested amendments. And then most recently city council reviewed this on June 12th and affirmed the planning commission's recommendation of denial and then directed staff to prepare resolutions of denial related to the request. So based on that council direction, staff has prepared two resolutions which were included in your packet and with that the following actions are on the slide which would be to formally adopt the resolutions of denial related to the two requests. And with that I can stand for any questions. **[27:18] Clint Hooppaw:** We spent a fair amount of time on this last meeting. Are there any remaining questions for Sydney? All right. If not we'll walk through these two items. The first is to uh adopt a resolution denying application to amend plan development number 409, chapter 155 appendix F article 16 to allow a cannabis micro business. Do we have a motion to deny? **[27:29] Ruth Grendahl:** So moved. **[27:30] John Bergman:** Second. **[27:31] Clint Hooppaw:** Motion from council member Grendahl, second from council member Bergman. All those in favor indicate by saying I. **[27:36] Council Members:** I. **[27:37] Clint Hooppaw:** And opposed. And our second item is to adopt a resolution denying the application to amend section 155.320 to allow cannabis micro business in planned developments. Do we have a motion? **[27:49] Ruth Grendahl:** So moved. **[27:50] Tom Melander:** Second. **[27:51] Clint Hooppaw:** Motion from council member Grendahl, second from council member Melander if that's okay. All those in favor indicate by saying I. **[27:57] Council Members:** I. **[27:58] Clint Hooppaw:** Opposed. That item carries as well. Thank you, Sydney. All right, we have a few staff and council items. Tom, do you want to kick us off so we stay in some sort of order here? **[28:26] Tom Lawell:** Sure, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Uh, a couple of quick ones. We would like to call up Brandon Anderson, our city engineer, to share with the council and the community some good news about some grant funding that the city has received uh for a project we have in the community. **[28:38] Brandon Anderson:** Evening, mayor and council. Um, I got to take you back to your consent items 4K 1 through 3, 4N, and 4 Y. So, there's actually quite a few items related to one topic, even though they were different approvals. Um earlier this year, um city staff Sam Burgerer, our natural resource coordinator, and Evan Acosta, our assistant city engineer, uh worked diligently with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and um reached out and solicited um proposals to distribute or fund um some storm water projects related to it was called implementation grants for storm water resiliency. Um that grant—MPCA identified $35 million in the state of Minnesota this last year and the city of Apple Valley was selected for 5 million of that uh to begin work with projects related to—we've talked about it for several years—the Apple neighborhoods in the southwest um portion of Apple Valley. **[29:43] Brandon Anderson:** Um just going back even further related to that project, we started some subwatershed reports for Keller as the graphic shows in 2017 and 18. We identified the need. Then um we also identified in our CIP over the years of 21 to 24 how we were going to build and phase out those neighborhoods. And we set that up in a way with a goal to try to get some grant funding and make it so we can get through that neighborhood um as efficiently as we could with the amount of work needed. And then earlier this year, we completed the grant in May. We were selected for the $5 million grant. Um and then that's actually kicking in for summer 26/27. **[30:19] Brandon Anderson:** Um the difficult part about that—or actually the exciting part—about the grants is here's kind of a graphic that shows each of the different pieces of the neighborhood that's going to receive some grant funding. And the work includes um—it also helps parks. Um so a lot of the improvements that have storm water benefits also benefit some of the parks department's plans for some of their replacement with the park bond referendum. So, we're actually kind of in partnership with Eric, and this helps him out tremendously with uh some of the improvements. Duchess Park will be receiving um an infiltration basin, an underground chamber so that we can preserve a ball field. Um it also funds a new set of playground equipment at Duchess Park, which is number one. Um, number two, Greening Park will receive a wet pond um and a trail loop around the pond to kind of make it more of an interactive park and back up to the ball field on that too. So, it's preserving some features and meeting some of the storm water goals. **[31:38] Brandon Anderson:** And then, um Pennock Park number three is actually a really neat one. It's an active play infiltration pond so that uh it goes along with some of the natural play features that we continue to hear about as what the public would like. So um by getting this grant and the timing of the dollars has kind of uh made us sequence or rephase the whole neighborhood. Um we start down here in 2025. That's where we're under construction currently. Uh, one of the consent items that we had was a change order to expand that phase. And a lot of that reason was, um, some of the residents on the north end because of how we had to phase it were going to get left kind of half in construction and it made sense for us just to kind of go a little bit further and put them in a better place with construction phasing. And then we had to switch some of the neighbors to the east from their 2030 phasing to 26 to accommodate this funding. And so far I've heard from most of them and um they are ecstatic about moving up in the phasing because they're excited for where they're at in the process. **[32:44] Brandon Anderson:** So that was really nice to hear. Um, all these changes, we're going to recommunicate with the entire neighborhood, the phases, and do a little extra public engagement regarding the grant and why we shift phasing. A lot of it has to do with the folks in the northwest side just to let them know that, hey, we were coming. Now, we had to shift it. Unfortunately, somebody benefits and somebody has to wait a little bit longer. But, um, yeah, that's the news from all of the items. I really want to, um, congratulate our staff for the hard work. There's many years that went into this. There's still a lot of planning. The funding helps significantly and it actually allows us to reduce one year of phasing. I'm hoping we can continue to uh squeeze the number of years it takes to get through here and and help um overall city finances. So, um like to thank council for your support on this and uh we will continue to keep pushing forward and improving these neighborhoods. **[33:35] Clint Hooppaw:** A lot of work here, Brandon. This is—this area has not traditionally had storm. So we're—and the checkboxes that the grant had was older neighborhoods deficient in storm sewer, deficient in piping, deficient and all of the just checkboxes were met with what these older neighborhoods had, which um apparently made the selection pretty easy for us. Um, and I and I believe—I didn't see the final results, but I think the highest amount anybody received was five million because they try to spread the dollars out. So, we're sitting pretty good with that. So, I'm happy to see the investment in our—these older neighborhoods. These houses look really nice as you get through most of these areas, right? And it's nice to have the improvements reflect that, too. **[34:18] Brandon Anderson:** Yeah. **[34:19] Clint Hooppaw:** Other questions or thoughts for Brandon? Thanks. Yeah. Nice job, everybody on this one. Good deal. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Tom. What's next? **[34:23] Tom Lawell:** Uh, Mr. Mayor, I just want to announce that uh, of course, we're we're blessed to have music in Kelly Park that takes place all summer long and they do a great job and this is the Apple Valley Arts Foundation that helps to uh, prepare and uh, put those on. We did receive word that due to the unfavorable weather forecast, tomorrow night's concert, July 11th, that was going to be at Kelly Park has now been moved to Bogart Entertainment Center and they've had to do that in the past when the weather has not been ideal. So, um, that's 6:30 p.m. tomorrow night. Music in Kelly Park has been moved to Bogart just to let the community know that. **[35:01] Clint Hooppaw:** Great. Uh, I don't know if you wanted to talk about Freedom Days or you wanted me to talk about Freedom Days, but uh, well, we can we can tag team a little bit about Freedom Days maybe. So, we uh—a good year. We got a parade in this year, which we couldn't say that for last year. So, that was that was a win. Um, I think for me just a thanks to everybody who pulled this together. That's probably my biggest piece of freedom days. I—every firefighter and police officer and everybody else was there. all of our public works and our parks folks played a part in this. Uh, everybody always has a blast, right? Despite all the work. Um, Eric sounds like he had a super successful run this year. So, that was good. See, if I don't show up, more people come. It works out okay. Um, I throw out thanks to Pat Sicho as well who spent 45 years as the volunteer committee leading that and organizing the events. Um, PD did a nice job with casting with cops. It was fun to go hang out there and, uh, I didn't seem to be pulling hooks out of officers, so that's always a win. Um, parade was good. Fireworks seemed well attended. So, uh, another good successful year. Did you have other other things to add? **[36:13] Tom Lawell:** I think you covered it from dancing and cruising, which is about a week ago. So, this really is a week-long festivity that we have in the community. Uh, casting with the cops, the Cub Foods family fun night, just a full week of entertainment for folks and uh also helps to bring people into the community and we certainly saw that with the parade and the fireworks as well. So just uh as you said big thanks to all those who played a role in making it happen and to the volunteer committee led by Pat Sicho but all the other people that have put in a lot of time and effort to make this happen. **[36:35] Clint Hooppaw:** We had a music in the park event from the arts foundation as well um on that Friday night. So lots of activity. So great. Thank you everybody. It's It was a fun year to get a full year of events in, even though it was just a little steamy during the parade. So, kids love me. Yep. Thanks for the uh bubbles. I got my car wash with them. It's fun when they blew over us. The other way. Um how many do you have anything else? Uh we do have some staff members here, but I believe Council Member Bergman maybe. **[37:15] John Bergman:** Yeah, I was going to say if not, we'll we'll turn over to... thanks, Mayor. Tonight I've invited or asked that, uh, Rick Heyne, liquor operations director, and one of his assistants in the wine business for the city of Apple Valley—between those two and about four other gentlemen that are not here this evening, um they have put on over the last year to couple years to the last few months have put on some great um tastings for the community and also it has attracted outside of this community. Um what Tuesday? After Mr. Benetti wasn't there but some of us were playing golf and then we went in to enjoy it. So Rick, if you would mind bringing Nol up and explain uh what you've done in the past and what you did the other night. **[38:15] Rick Heyne:** Thank you, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. Uh first, on behalf of the liquor department, thank you all very much for your support. Really appreciate it. And a special thanks goes out to Councilman Bergman for your support, enthusiasm, and your constructive feedback. So it means a lot. Thanks. As you know, we hold wine tasting events throughout the year and they have become an important part of our business and for the community. Uh, and thank you to Jim Zinc and Jordan Johnson at Valleywood Golf and Event Center where we hold the events. Uh, the partnership plays a big role in our success. So, it's a perfect venue for our events. So, shout out to them. Uh, we hold these events to keep the wine conversation going in our community with its rich and long history. Wine has an amazing story to tell and we'd love to tell it. **[38:51] Rick Heyne:** So, uh, I would like to introduce our wine specialist and educator, Nol Nichols. He is the reason our wine events have been so successful and our staff well trained. Uh, Nol keeps the wine conversation going with his passion and his expertise and he's a true asset. Um, thank you so much, Nol, for everything you bring to our department and the city of Apple Valley. And, uh, he's going to give you kind of a little overview of of kind of what our strategies are. So, thank you. **[39:27] Nol Nichols:** Thank you. Um, yeah, I I uh thank you for having me. Um, thank you especially to Councilman Bergman for his fantastic attendance across the board at our events. We have lots of different events and we're we're always kind of looking to try new things and to expand. Um, I want to point out something that's really unique about your Apple Valley Municipal Liquor System, and specifically the wine department. It's—we are different from the communities that surround us in our intention with our wine department. It's very easy for a liquor store, be it municipal or otherwise, to be driven by the large distributors and they'll come in and look—they're going to be happy to do whatever they can to push their products and create revenue for everyone in the process. But it's a lot more difficult, but also rewarding to be very intentional about that. **[40:17] Nol Nichols:** And that's something that we're very serious about. So we like to bring in wine makers and we like to have these stories told and the goal from all of this really is to draw people—I know wine in general, I haven't looked at reports recently, but I know wine in general is down in terms of sales. However, I look at that and I think why not let all of our neighboring communities suffer from that? I don't mean to say suffer, but why not let them feel that? I want fine wine customers coming to Apple Valley and coming into our community and coming to our stores to be our customers. Our goal through all of this is to engender loyalty from our customers and not to mark down the price by 49 cents and nickel and dime people. It's to create that sense of loyalty to our program. So um just that I just ask for your continued promotion with that. **[41:06] Nol Nichols:** Again, there are many events that we do throughout this time. We obviously want to be promoting Apple Valley, its businesses as well as our own and that's something that we have continued to do. And again, Council Member Bergman has been very steadfast in attending our events, and that's very much appreciated. **[41:26] John Bergman:** There's always good food with that wine. And you also do other events too. **[41:31] Rick Heyne:** Yeah, we'll be doing more events. Uh this last one actually with the wine maker dinner or tasting we were trying to find a chef—and if anybody knows any chefs please let us know. So we definitely try to step it up because we know a lot of people in our industry are not. So, um, I truly believe that wine will rise again and be a very strong and powerful part of our business. Um, and uh yeah, I we're having fun with it and that's the thing. Um, and I know everyone we've talked to, there hasn't been one person that has said anything negative about the events, you know, they tell their friends and we just keep building this. So, we want to keep the people who are drinking wine happy. Um, and uh I think we're winning. **[42:31] Nol Nichols:** Yeah. We—one of our cashiers today just said something to me which I thought was fantastic. She said she gets many people commenting on—you know, they'll go to our liquor stores and they'll go to other places as well depending on where they live. But she said that she gets a lot of comments of people saying that if they want their answers, if they want their questions answered, they come to us, which is very rewarding. I mean, that's what we want to be. And across all the stores with the managers, there's a lot of passion involved. **[43:03] Rick Heyne:** So we're keeping that customer service right there, too. So, which I think is—we're finding—is not so much in a lot of retail situations. So, we're pushing that. So, we're trying to do the best we can with our communities. **[43:15] Clint Hooppaw:** Great. Thank you guys. Thanks for being here for what you're doing. Thanks for the the other members, too. They're very knowledgeable. **[43:30] John Bergman:** You got to work on them. Like I said, you got to get them to the events, huh? **[43:30] Rick Heyne:** Oh, ours. Yeah. Oh, no. Yeah. That's our problem. **[43:30] John Bergman:** The gentleman that you brought that was the beer guy—and oh, by the way, he knew a lot about wines and all the other stuff that you folks sell. And I was like, "whoa, thanks for bringing the best of the best in." **[43:46] Rick Heyne:** Well, and we bring our top staff into every event. Um I make it mandatory so that our customers can get to—and I found it in my career that you get to know people, they're more comfortable around and they want to come into your store, they want to frequent the store because they know you by your name. And that's kind of what we're building is trying to get and make sure that uh our faces are out there so customers feel comfortable and building a wine destination. **[44:17] Nol Nichols:** I mean, typically in the wine world like in so many other avenues, the big cities are the ones that have the dedicated wine shops and then maybe the first ring suburbs, but to get out this far is unique. And I hear that all the time when I go to wine events of industry professionals. So that's what we're creating here. So again, your support and promotion is appreciated. **[44:32] Clint Hooppaw:** Great. Thank you guys. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Council members, any other items this evening? Tom, we got everything we needed. Perfect. Uh that brings us onto our calendar of events. Our next regular city council meeting is Thursday, July 24th at 7 p.m. Do I have a motion to approve the calendar? **[44:55] Ruth Grendahl:** Motion. **[44:56] Lisa Hiebert:** Second. **[44:57] Clint Hooppaw:** Motion from Council Member Grendahl, second from Council Member Hiebert. All those in favor indicate by saying I. **[45:01] Council Members:** I. **[45:02] Clint Hooppaw:** And do we have a motion to adjourn? **[45:05] Ruth Grendahl:** Move. **[45:06] John Bergman:** Second. **[45:07] Clint Hooppaw:** Motion from council member Grendahl, second from council member Bergman. All those in favor? **[45:11] Council Members:** I. **[45:12] Clint Hooppaw:** And we're adjourned. Thank you. [Music] [Applause]