[0:00] City Manager Lindy Crawford: Uh, council member Walsh [0:02] Council Member Walsh: >> here. [0:04] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Council member Gerola [0:05] Council Member Gerola: >> here. [0:06] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Council member West [0:07] Council Member West: >> here. [0:08] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Council member Edber [0:09] Council Member Edberg: >> here. [0:10] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Council member Angstran [0:11] Council Member Angstran: >> here. [0:12] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> And Mary Niklosski [0:13] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> here. [0:15] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Will you all join me in the pledge of allegiance please? 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. [0:40] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Welcome everyone uh here and online. I'd like to start um by inviting everyone for a moment of silence this morning or this evening to remember Alex Prey and Renee Good. As public servants, we bear a responsibility to recognize the gravity of these lives lost tragically and the impact they have on our families and neighbors. Let us pause now to remember the fallen and to stand in solidarity with those who continue to grieve. [1:45] Mayor Mary Niklosski: Thank you. Our next item, item 2A, approval of the minutes of the January 13th meeting. >> Do I have a second? [1:55] Council Member: >> Second. [1:56] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> All in favor say I. [1:58] Council: I. [2:00] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Item three, the agenda. Does anyone have any changes? [2:05] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Oh, sorry. >> Item 2B, uh, minutes of the city council work session on January 20th, 26. [2:17] Council Member: >> Second. [2:19] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> All in favor? [2:20] Council: I. [2:21] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. Item three, the agenda. Does anyone have any changes or corrections to the agenda? Nope. Seeing none. [2:32] Council Member: Seeing none, I second. [2:34] Mayor Mary Niklosski: Is there a further discussion? [2:38] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Item four, the consent agenda. Does anyone have any changes? Seeing none, I'd entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. [2:54] Council Member: >> Move. [2:55] Council Member: Second. [2:56] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> We have a second. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? The motion carries. The consent agenda is approved. Item 5A, immigration and customs briefing. [3:09] Mayor Mary Niklosski: I want to begin uh this part of uh item five. I want to begin by acknowledging that there are law-abiding citizens and people in our community right now who are afraid to go out into the streets of our very own city because of the color of their skin. [3:26] Mayor Mary Niklosski: As mayor of the city, I find that extremely appalling and concerning. Our children's sense of security, trust, and learning are being affected right now. Some of our business's ability to operate are being affected right now. [3:41] Mayor Mary Niklosski: And there are people, including children, living in fear right here in White Bear Lake. As elected officials, we are responsible for setting a climate of transparency, trust, and safety in White Bear Lake. It has been deeply frustrating to me to see outside forces come into our community and disrupt the peace and trust we all value, particularly when the legal actions available to us are very limited. [4:11] Mayor Mary Niklosski: Tonight, we have asked our police chief to join us to discuss the role of our police department during this unprecedented time. I want to thank Chief for being here this evening and for his leadership over the past several weeks. Chief, [4:26] Police Chief: >> Madame Mayor, members of the council, thank you for having me here tonight to discuss this topic. Um, you said brief, and that's what this will be, at least initially. Uh, I wanted to just talk about what our interaction has been with, um, immigration officials here in the city of White Bear Lake. U, we've had since the beginning, excuse me, since the middle of um, December 2025. [4:52] Police Chief: We went back to because it was kind of the beginning of the ramp up here in Minnesota. Went back to take a look at all the calls that were related to immigration officials. And uh we found 10. Uh one was this afternoon, but we found nine others. And um of the 10, six were calls of um citizens calling us just to say, "I think I see folks in the area that match a description that they believed were maybe ICE um employees or ICE individuals." And so we responded to those uh incidents like we do with every time that a citizen were to call us about this type of behavior, we respond to the area to see what's going on. Um, six of the 10 were that and we didn't find anything there. Um, presumably if there was something there, they moved along or something like that. Um, it seems to be there's two geographical areas that um those federal agents um congregated around. One an apartment complex on the south end and then one a set of apartment complexes on the north end. [6:00] Police Chief: And u that's where all of those six calls were to uh we we've had a as um as indicated we had four other calls that were in residential neighborhoods and it was a variety of um they were there to pick up somebody at a house. Neighbors called in or the or the member of the house called in for our assistance. We had um two of those and then we had one where there was a traffic stop made and we were called by the um driver of the car just to verify the ex you know that they were being stopped why they were being stopped. [6:39] Police Chief: They wanted us to come and mitigate or intercede a little bit on that. So we went up there and just uh helped to mitigate that situation. And um one was a call uh where they were sitting on a house and the the person ran from the house, ran into another house and um and the agents went into that house to arrest that person. So all of the incidents that we responded to were either suspicious activities or an arrest was made. Uh we didn't assist with the rest. [7:16] Police Chief: we the one incident we were there just to help try to diffuse uh the scenario and and we did successfully. And um other than that, you know, besides the obvious just activity surrounding ICE with the student walk out and and the protests that you know kind of pop up over here on 4th and 61. Uh besides those activities, that's all we've had to do with um with ICE in the last month and a half. I'm open to any questions if anybody has any. [7:53] Mayor Mary Niklosski: Does anyone have any questions for the chief? [7:56] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Mayor, if I may, Chief, could you explain the role of the police department um just in general? I know that we have a policy on that and I think maybe that might be good for the community to understand that policy a little bit. [8:12] Police Chief: >> Yeah, thank you. Um, Madame Mayor, City Manager Crawford, we do have a policy, policy 413 in, uh, is located on our website, police department website, and it's a White Bear Lake Police Department immigration violations policy. Um, just in short, our policy is that we don't enforce immigration law. We have no um, we have no part of that. our our goal um if ever called to incidents like that are are very clear uh written into our policy that we are to um provide support services if needed and those support services generally fall in the categories of traffic control or peacekeeping. So, our goal is to ensure that all residents and all visitors to our city are safe and um that is our number one goal when we respond to a scene. And and the the few that we've responded to where we were where there was an an actual incident happening, that's exactly what we did. just did our best to ensure that um either the the people that called or the individuals that maybe were the subject of this activity that everything turned out safe for them at least while they're in the city of White Bear Lake while we had control over it. [9:30] Council Member Walsh: >> She's okay. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Well, just just uh just watching the news and just looking for points of confusion. One of the one of the the clarity we maybe could get from you, chief, is just um prisons and jails and prisoners and uh if you could just maybe just explain I mean Wiper Lake does not have a jail, you know, so there's this all this idea of cooperation. We're talking about cooperation and and uh in in people that might be in a jail or a prison. Maybe you could just educate folks on on where where everybody is in in terms of that incarceration. [10:01] Police Chief: >> Sure, Councilman Walsh. I think that um yeah, I think there is some confusion about what exactly I don't pretend to know what the federal government is asking of me or of of local government or local law enforcement. I know we don't have a jail. We don't house anybody in the city of White Lake. Uh nor do I think any certainly the majority of municipal police departments don't jail anybody. They all go to the sheriff's office. I believe there's 85 uh jails in the county of the 87 counties, but I think there's 85 somewhere in that ballpark. They are the only um they're the only uh local law enforcement that would ever jail anybody. So, we don't have any access. We don't have any control over that. Our policy states that when you when we arrest somebody that we fear may fit into whatever we want to call an undocumented individual, um our we have no part to play in informing anybody if of their status or recording their status. It's um it's none of our concern and that's up for the the sheriff and the jail and the state and federal partners to deal with. [11:12] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Thank you. Council member West. [11:14] Council Member West: >> Um yeah, so our city has made community policing a priority. Um our police department has a high level of training and leadership has done an excellent job of showing up regularly at community events and has welcomed the community to get to know more through the Citizens Police Academy. The way this police department interacts with the community has built trust with the department. [11:45] Council Member West: Not everybody has the same experience with the federal law enforcement that that some people have, but ICE in our community has led to many community members to feel less safe. I worry about ICE in our community discouraging people from calling 911, from reporting domestic violence, and from seeking mental and physical health care. Um, I also worry about how it's impacting our trust with your department, with with our White Bear Lake Police Department. Um, you know, I come from a 20-year law enforcement family, and I can only imagine the stress that you and your officers are under now that they weren't under even two months ago. So, I guess my question to you is, how are you handling this? Like, what is it like for you and your officers right now? [12:47] Police Chief: >> Council member West, thank you for that question. you know, interesting Monday. You know, we all come back to work after kind of a crazy weekend that we all witnessed mostly on the news. Um, and there was some somber moments in roll call, be honest. People are kind of just thinking, what's next? And um those of us that were a little longer in the tooth said, I don't know if you guys remember this, but we had this exact same exactly the same feeling five and a half years ago uh during the um protests and riots and kind of craziness that happened in the summer of 2020. [13:26] Police Chief: And we continually just um push out towards our officers that this two shall pass and we'll get through this just like we did that. um fire and police, public safety, people in the medical profession and and you folks and other people that work for um city staff and and any kind of government staff, we all feel it, you know, we all have we all feel like we have to make excuses for or explain or whatever. If I'm being completely honest, um this is a federal law enforcement issue and it's not my issue. [13:59] Police Chief: I have to deal with the some of the fallout that happens here in White Bear Lake, but the the the citizens of White Bear Lake, the visitors of White Bear Lake, they're the people I'm worried about and making sure that we serve our people. And so for us to I don't know, maybe triage what's important is we say what is affecting us right now and that's the thing we have control over as much as we have control over it. That's the only thing we can that's the only way we can get through this and still feel like we are playing a part in people's feelings about their safety and security in the city of Waper Lake. [14:37] Council Member West: >> As always, thank you for your service. [14:40] Police Chief: >> Thank you, ma'am. [14:46] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Council member Edberg, [14:48] Council Member Edberg: >> thank you, Madame Mayor. Chief, is um policy 413 the only relevant policy? If I'm going to go looking for understanding what our policies are, is that the only one I need to go looking for or are there some other numbers that you would want to toss at me? [15:04] Police Chief: >> Um, you know, we have several hundred policies and I don't >> relevant to this conversation. I I don't know that I could um you know I could I could start looking to see fair and ethical treatment type policies and policies that would uh dictate how we treat our citizens and how we conduct our uh job. Uh but this is the only one that deals that I know of directly with uh immigration uh issues and it spells it out pretty clearly what our roles are and definitely points out what our roles are not. One of one of the other things um to point out about the policy is that we we um we wanted to ensure everybody was really crystal clear on this policy. So at the end of the policy, we made another addendum that said the sergeant of each shift will ensure that they have a direct training on this policy to make sure that every officer understands what our roles are and what what they are not. And that's been carried out uh perfectly. [16:07] Council Member Edberg: So, I'm of multiple minds on this conversation. It's a complex conversation. Um, I know that um so I'm not sure that I know all of the levers that we have to to uh play with. What are the various tools whether they be policy or other that um are available to us? I'm appalled by the treatment of citizens, the disregard for the first, fourth, and fifth amendments. Particularly, I'm appalled by the action of the federal government in unconstitutionally directing and training its officers to violate the Fourth Amendment through written policy. [17:03] Council Member Edberg: When Tom Jefferson wrote in 1776, he wrote about the un in unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The next sentence of that declaration says, "To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed." Now, that wasn't his framing. He was quoting John Locke from the late 1600s. This concept that citizens have rights and he made it clear that a role of government is to secure rights. Now we also plow snow and do a whole bunch of other stuff but a function a core function of government is to secure rights. Now that's part of our American creed. Is that codified somewhere? Maybe, maybe not. But that clearly is a part of our birthright. It seems to me that a question that it should be before us is what does it take? What does it look like to protect and serve and to secure rights? [18:21] Council Member Edberg: And I'm not sure that I know all the answers around that, but I sure would like to. It's possible that we have passed the events this last weekend, horrific as they were, um, maybe have sparked some changes, maybe not. I don't know. I don't think any of us know what's coming. But I want to be prepared for what that might occur should it continue. And so I'll express to my fellow members that uh I would be open to engaging a work study session to fully more fully understand not just our current policies but our going forward activity. [19:06] Council Member Edberg: I don't think we know enough to have that conversation tonight and I think a little piece of education would be in line for all of us because we are one of those governments and I'm interested in knowing what are the options available to us under law and city charter that give us leverage. How might we protect individuals from invasions of their fourth amendment rights? What does that look like? If anything, I am not naive and I'm not believing that we are unconstrained. We clearly have limits on our authorities. Whether it is in the current moment or whether it is preparing us for a future moment. I'm interested in knowing and understanding what our stance should be. So, I'll just say I'm one member now. It takes at least three of us to to call a meeting. And well, I'll take that back. Mary, you have the sole authority on your own if you want to call us into session, but um I think this is a topic worthy of greater conversation, understanding. And um I'll stop there. [20:17] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Thank you, Council Member Edberg. Does anyone else have uh Ellen? [20:22] Council Member Gerola: >> Hello. All right, bear with me, Chief. I want to let you know I did um reach out to some families in our community that I know are deeply impacted by this and you know not everybody so it doesn't represent others but I said you know do you have any questions you want me to ask on on behalf of chief and they didn't um and you know I I understand um what council member Edberg um was saying too and I think I think sometimes when you're part of a group and our residents who maybe the system hasn't always been in your favor and hasn't always worked for you. [21:06] Council Member Gerola: Your first thought isn't to look at the system to fix it when it's not working for you. You look at your community and you know because you've been on the side where you haven't had advantages from the system and you've had to rely on the community and to do that. And so as we pursue, you know, things that we can do on our end. And I I want just as much of everyone else up here in that, I also just want to encourage our community to know, you know, there's so much. I mean, I'm, you know, doing those things on behalf. and just that we know up here it takes time and still we don't have all the answers but also I think that when you come from those you know when all this happened that I turned to community and our communities are so strong and it's hard right now when you can't gather together with your community most impacted but I just want to encourage us and others to you know lean into those communities where we can to help one another and again thank you for your time chief [22:04] Mayor Mary Niklosski: Thank you, Council Member Gerola. Council member West. [22:11] Council Member West: Thank you, Council Member Gerola. Um, I would um second uh the suggestion by Council Member Edberg to have a work session to discuss this more. [22:29] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Thank you, Council Member West. Would anybody else like to say anything about a work session? [22:38] Council Member Angstran: >> I would be forward doing that as well. [22:42] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Okay. All right. [22:45] City Manager Lindy Crawford: So, thank you uh Mayor. We can talk about uh timing maybe at the end of this meeting um to schedule that work session. There are a few slides that I did want to share before we move on. If that's if now maybe the time, could you help me out? [23:02] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Yes, Miss Crawford is going to do a small presentation. [23:04] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Okay. Uh, so I just wanted to uh actually the mayor and I really wanted to share some resources um with those who may be watching and um you we've heard some feedback that there isn't anything on our website and we thought maybe the council meeting would be the better place to share it than just to put it on a website. So, um, first, um, if you wish to to share your thoughts on federal immigration presence in Minnesota, um, we do encourage you to reach out to your federal, uh, representatives, and those phone numbers are listed here, uh, through the office of the Minnesota Attorney General. There's also a federal action reporting form uh, where you may report incidents or effects related to or caused by recent actions um, of federal agents in Minnesota. So, there's that link there. Couple more slides. [24:14] City Manager Lindy Crawford: Um, immigrant resources, the immigrant legal resource center. Um, there's a link there that, you know, offers detailed information about rights and immigration law center of Minnesota off uh as well as the Minnesota immigration uh rights action committee and both those offer free or lowcost legal services. I think I just have one more slide. Um lastly, uh to locate someone, uh in federal immigration custody, uh there's a couple of link there's one link and then um an email and a phone number for the St. Paul ICE field office as well as the U US Immigration and Customs Enforcement online detainee locator system. I did check all of those links. Uh they do work. Um some other cities have been also been sharing these links. Um, so they're they are out there for anyone who needs it. But again, um, in addition to what's been said tonight, I can't reiterate enough that, uh, to contact your federal, uh, representatives is our our local law enforcement does not enforce immigration. [25:02] Mayor Mary Niklosski: You >> Thank you, Miss Crawford. Will those be on the website? [25:06] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Uh, we don't have a resource yet. I can certainly if the council desires um put a website uh put a page together for for those resources if that sure. [25:18] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Does anyone have any thoughts on that? [25:22] Council: >> Yes, that's a yes. [25:24] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> I'm seeing lots of nodding. >> Thank you. >> So I think that's a yes. [25:31] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> We will do that. [25:32] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Okay. [25:33] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Any other questions or comments for the chief? No. Okay. Um, you know, I just really want >> Oh, council member Edberg, sorry. [25:44] Council Member Edberg: >> Yeah. So, Chief, thank I appreciate the information. Um, I have no doubt about its veracity or anything like that. It's like your word has been golden. Um, I would like us, whether it's through the weekly uh uh update or some email, some communication uh from the from city manager or whomever, um, I'd like to be kept I'd like the council to be kept apprised as we find out what is happening in our community. Um, I'm aware of some of the the the specific locations you're referring to. Um, if there are others, whatever. But this is this issue ain't going away anytime soon. Um and so I think this is not something that's a one-and-one. Um I would welcome us to be remain apprised. Um whatever u not exhaustive detail but relevant detail that um you might provide I would welcome. [26:47] Police Chief: >> Thank you. [26:48] Mayor Mary Niklosski: Thank you Councilman Edberg. Anyone else? All right. >> I would just say uh to those watching and uh online and in the audience, so the council will figure out a date for a future work session and then just watch our website. Um work sessions are open to the public. There's it's not a time for forum. It's really a work session for the city council. Um so that's where you'd find out um what time and and when that would be happening. Thank you. [27:15] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Um I I had one other comment, Chief. Um, I just want to stress to people I I've had a couple questions when um from people who have been at Railroad Park and have asked me about um the police driving by and I've assured them that you're there to keep calm and present and and uh deescalation in case anything should happen. And I just want to remind the community that our police officers are there to protect and serve you and keep calm and make sure that that everything remains peaceful. Um, and I urge um, everybody in White Bear Lake to reach out to their neighbors and support their neighbors and community and um, continue to support our police officers who are going through a very difficult time right now. They work tirelessly to protect and support and build confidence in our community. Um, and I just want to assure the residents of White Bear Lake that they're doing everything they legally can to support our community. And let's stick together as a community here in White Bear Lake. Thank you. [28:18] Police Chief: >> Thank you, Chief. [28:20] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. >> Okay, moving on. Item 5B. Uh we have a legislative update from Senator uh Gustoen. Senator Gustoson, thank you for being here. [28:35] Senator Gustafson: >> Thank you all. Certainly feels like a preview of what we'll see next month. So, it's good to hear the local perspective. and I took notes while you were all talking because you made some excellent points, but I also am so glad that you're here. I have never been more grateful for our local police and law enforcement. Um, I mean, particular White Bear Lake is an extraordinary police department, but also never been more grateful for your training, uh, your deescalation tactics, your community trust. Um I feel like we all feel safe calling you. Um you should be commended for that. You guys have done so much to connect with our community as well that I think um you know often times you just are just such a staple of it that it takes things like this to make us just realize how special it is what we have here. So thank you. A big part of that is because of you. [29:43] Senator Gustafson: Um I've also never been prouder of my community in general. I mean, to watch people just naturally organize um without having um been they don't have to even be asked. A lot of times they find out there's a need and they show up. Um that's parents, that's teachers, doctors, nurses, neighbors. Um just showing up. What do you need? I know probably like you, I re I feel like every morning I wake up and I'm sort of on call, right? like, "What's the need gonna be today?" And you just get some pretty wild text messages about somebody needs help going to the doctor. I I'm low on size three diapers or, you know, and it's just a series of running errands and uh being helpful. I think when you're feeling stressed like this, you just want to find a use for yourself and you want to be useful. [30:26] Senator Gustafson: Um, Council Member Edberg, you brought up some really good points. Um, you know, I think we're at a we're at a crossroads right now. You mentioned rights and I feel like everybody is feeling that stress. Um, I think none of us knew what Operation Metro Surge was going to look like, but I don't think we anticipated this much violence and um just this much federal overreach. I mean, we're really at a crossroads where we're wondering um how much will we allow to be compromised? how much will we allow to be taken from us? So, those are all big questions that we're not going to solve here tonight. [31:12] Senator Gustafson: Um, I do want to just close because we probably have an online audience that is watching a little bit because of our topic, but um the food bank um White Bear Food Shelf and Food Banks and the community uh food bank that we have is also spectacular. Um I serve nine cities. Um and I I see people from other districts come to use our community food services. It is um just amazing what they can do. But even before this happened, they were stretched thin. So now they're even more stretched thin. They have made a point of reaching out to me several times to say we are open for everyone. We are available to everyone. Um and um they have resources. I'll let them tell you more about, but I really do want people to um you know, if you're able to uh contribute or donate, people should think about doing that. And of course, if you need their services, keep that in mind as well. [32:05] Senator Gustafson: Um and also, if people are looking for other ways to just help, I feel like I've seen all these people who have never gotten involved in anything like this before coming out of the woodwork. So, welcome. We're so happy that people are uh looking to find out ways to take care of their neighbors. I would say reach out to your schools. um your churches, your places of worship. Um I met with the large group um the other day at a local church. We just had coffee and donuts. We just talked about all of this and it was just uh something I think everybody needed. So I would say continue to do that. [32:45] Senator Gustafson: And as far as rights, um knowing your rights and you know um I don't know how many other people looked up the difference between a judicial warrant and an administrative warrant, but these are the times we're in right now. um League of Women Voters has some really good information and then of course um the resources that you shared are amazing too. Those are the ones that we're kind of sharing as well from the state. So appreciate all of what you guys do. It's it's really hard. It's also hard to have two hats on, right? Because just the mundane work of government also has to go on. Um we are going to be going into session uh next month. February 17th is our first day. Um it is a policy year. It is uh a bonding year. It is not a budget year. So, it's also shorter. It's only going to be three months. So, um I'm sure it'll be fast-paced. It's always eventful. Uh but it'll be three, you know, a fairly short one. [33:38] Senator Gustafson: I know I think I looked at my calendar today, which is filling up already pretty quickly, which is great. But I know Days on the Hill are coming up. Hopefully see of you, many of you, all of you. If not, would love to have coffee. Call me anytime. Um but just please stay in touch with me. Um we have some bonding projects, none for White Bear Vadnais. Um there's a trail that we're really trying to get through this year. Um goes by Big Wood Brewery. So come on over to Vadnais. If that goes in, that'd be great to have you. [34:03] Senator Gustafson: Um last year with some pretty broad uh wide support, broad bipartisan support, um we passed my bill, the independent office of inspector general to uh work on fraud prevention in Minnesota. also a top priority of mine. Been working on that for a couple of years. Very happy that it went through the Senate last year. Um for those who don't know, every bill is in a biennium, so it is still alive. It's just in the House and fingers crossed that it moves through that process this year. [34:31] Senator Gustafson: Um, I'm also going to be working on a property tax relief bill that in addition to the property tax relief, we'll also um we're going to try our best to uh get another large chunk of funding uh directly to our local governments u cities. Last time, if you remember, in '23 uh my bill had 300 million for public safety and it went to every single city, county, and tribal nation of Minnesota. Um White Bear Lake got over a million dollars. I know. Um, yeah, I know that was uh useful and I believe you I always use you guys as an example and I know this wasn't where all of it went, but I know a substantial amount went to buying a new uh ambulance. Is that correct? Right. Um, Lino was able to pay off some debts, get some new fire equipment. Um, so I know it's useful. It's also the best I can do considering that not a lot of my cities, in fact, you guys might be one of two that get LGA and I know it's not enough and I can't do anything about that, but um this is sort of a workaround to try to get uh cities direct funding. Um knowing that most of my cities do not get LGA. My favorite story is White Bear Township who one year got $3 to which I always think is just insulting like maybe just don't even give them anything then. It cost $6 to send that check to >> Yeah, I mean I know I was like $3 I don't get you a cup of coffee anymore. [35:48] Senator Gustafson: Um so those are things we're working on and um one of the ways that I've really enjoyed working with all of you is your partnership on some of the housing bills that are coming up. And so we will see um that housing bill um come back. It takes on a different name every time. A lot of times sometimes it's called missing middle. The intent is is something I share, right? We all want more housing. More affordable housing would be wonderful. Um I think the way they go about it is where we part ways. Um it's not a housing bill, it's a zoning bill. All nine of my cities have objections to it rightfully so. You all have your own planning commissions. You have your own comprehensive plans. Um so I, you know, I still stand in support with my cities that that is not something I think we should do. Um but I need your help. It's always tricky. I'm in local state gov and um it always comes down to a very split vote. Um and so we really really rely on um our cities to put pressure on that committee. So you got me, but there's others that you need to work on. [36:50] Senator Gustafson: So if that is something that you're inclined to do, um I will shout out to your wonderful city manager who has taken the lead and I should brag about you for a minute here. Not only does she do a wonderful job for White Bear Lake, but if you could be in those meetings with me with other city managers, uh Lindy is a leader in that group, uh they all sort of look to her for her expertise on this. And what my favorite thing about her is is that um when there is an objection to something like this housing bill, she always comes in with solutions. It's not just a complaint, although I'll take the complaints, too. But I do like the people who come with solutions as well. So, um big kudos to her. Um, White Bear Lake is always um just top-notch and I really appreciate you guys and I really um like working with you and I hope that you uh still all have my numbers and use them often if you ever need anything and I know we're going to be meeting again on housing soon. So that'll I look forward to that. But other than that >> and welcome mayor. [37:59] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Oh, thank you. [38:00] Senator Gustafson: >> Welcome. I'm sorry, Council Member Gerilla. [38:03] Mayor Mary Niklosski: Does anyone else have any questions? >> Get even. Yeah. >> Council member Edberg. [38:06] Council Member Edberg: >> Mayor, I have four and I'll let you cut me off after any one of them if I don't want to crowd out others. [38:11] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Okay. [38:12] Council Member Edberg: >> Senator, thank you for for being here for your past responsiveness to all of our conversations. Um I think that that sense of partnership goes both ways. Thank you. [38:22] Senator Gustafson: >> Good. [38:23] Council Member Edberg: >> Um I wanted to touch on four topics. biggest one. I'll I'll take these kind of in descending order. What's the state's budget forecast? And do you anticipate that things are um uh are we going to be moving into a budget cutting mode that reduces uh outflows? Um and I'm particularly interested in LGA. We might be one of only two, but we are one of two. And it's like that funding is really important to us. Do you have any prognosis that you can uh or wisdom, thought, intuition that you can offer? [39:01] Senator Gustafson: >> Um well, as you know, we only do the LGA formula every 10 years. So, we're sort of past the point where we can change it. We got to wait until our next uh chance at that. But um that is why I try to be creative with other funding. You know, we did the 300 million that had never been done in history or state history before. Um not trying to make it anything more than it is, but it hadn't been done before. And so, um, those are the ways that I'm trying to be creative about, you know, to sort of supplement your city budgets. Um, and of course, it's sort of fungible, right? So, if you're able to get public safety money, that means that those dollars then could be used for other things. Um, I think the biggest thing there is local control, uh, which we always try to preserve, too. Every city is different. All nine of my cities are very different, so I'm going to let them decide where to best put those dollars. But um so that's the LGA answer I have for you which is probably not great. Um yeah, it's probably the top thing that all the mayors >> reductions coming. [39:57] Council Member Edberg: >> Do I Yes, probably. I mean, yeah, we're going to have to, right? [40:02] Senator Gustafson: We have a I'm sorry what? [40:02] Council Member Edberg: >> LGA reductions. [40:03] Senator Gustafson: >> Oh, LGA reduction. Oh, that one I don't know. Um I can find out, but um that I don't know specifically. We have a surplus right now. What we're worried about is the tails. Um and uh so those are always difficult uh conversations to have, you know, um much like families do with their own budget. You know, some people want to cut this and others want to cut that. Um but yeah, we have to be responsible with our tax dollars and try to do that every every year. [40:32] Senator Gustafson: >> Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we don't. We always try. There's a lot of the legislature is one big giant group project. So if you like group projects, it's great. But it can also be very frustrating too. So yeah, [40:48] Council Member Edberg: >> let me shift to a second topic. We've not been our community has not been excessively uh successful at even trying for bonding dollars. Um whether that's a failure on our part. Um we look around and say, "Oh, look at what everybody else is hitting up their legislators for." We had one little run at it that was unsatisfactory a couple years ago. Um do you have any do you have any guidance suggestion um of how we might u more effectively use that tool? Uh should [41:24] Senator Gustafson: >> I do I mean you the the last one that White Bear Lake got was I believe the Bruce Vento trail which was more of a regional goal instead of specific to White Bear. Um I'm I'm learning as I go. you know, as a first-term senator. Um, I admit I did not know how to play the bonding game my first year, but I'm learning. Um, my tips and tricks. One, identify what your needs are early. Um, if you can make the case that your project will be for the betterment of not just White Bear Lake, but also surrounding areas, that is also helpful. [42:04] Senator Gustafson: That's why trails usually are something that kind of rise to the top, plus trails are sometimes on the less expensive side of things. Um, also bipartisan support. You know, we need to have people from both sides of the aisle support a bonding bill for it to go through. So, um, that's why sometimes they might be representatives that aren't necessarily in your district, but they're usually a very local um, bill, so that doesn't always apply. Um, and then also just uh determine a need. If you come in with a plan too and you're not just coming to the state for the whole thing and you have you can put up half of it and you're asking for half. [42:43] Senator Gustafson: The successful one, probably the most successful one, ironically enough, was my first year where um I had to fight really hard. We kept getting a no and then you know finally you just you know you do your things in the back to say like if you don't do this then I won't do this. But we got a 13.5 million water treatment center in Lino Lakes who desperately needed one. But the case that we made or that I made was that um that helps everybody. We have a water issue in White Bear if you haven't heard. And so one of the things that um that were, you know, that we were able to say was doing this will help the water health of all their surrounding areas as well. Plus, at the time, I believe Lino had five water towers and only one of them was the water was um consistently safe for consumption, you know. [43:30] Senator Gustafson: So water will outrank a trail. That being said, fight for those dollars and let me help you. Sometimes hiring a lobbyist is helpful. That's up to you. Um but identify and let me know how I can help. If we don't fight for the dollars, they all go to the Iron Range. So I love Grant Hauschild. He's a dear friend of mine and one of my good friends in the Senate. But I like there are places that have just um they you know they're they're better at uh identifying projects for bonding better than some of us are. And so I don't know if that's just because we haven't been doing it for years and we're kind of all new to it. Um but yeah, identify those things um as early as you can and we don't always get them. It's really it's hard but there are some tricks and I'm happy to help. That's my job. So yeah. [44:11] Council Member Edberg: I'll go to my last question, Mayor, if I may. >> So, um, you mentioned affordable housing. First of all, I greatly appreciate the roles that you have played in the past four years on, um, shifting focus on some of the bills that have been introduced, not supporting them, finding other avenues, etc., etc. Thank you. Um a tweak in that has been the recent legislation around low income and and um affordable housing funding funded by um uh some tax dollars. We're having some of those conversations about where what might a project look like, where would it go, you know, whom would benefit, all that kind of good stuff. But um I think there are some needs uh and we've acknowledged internally some need for tweaking some of the state regs on how long we get to um hold manage and and prepare funds for expenditure. And um u I just want to flag flag that as a topic that might be coming to your uh coming to your desk at some point in time. I think maybe somebody wants to either step on my foot or um speak in in support. [45:38] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Thank you, Council Member Edberg. Speak in support because our next agenda item, which if you have time, you should stay for is our legislative priorities agenda and that is part of our overall housing um opposition. But that's part of our ask is that you allow cities to expand that those LAA funds so we can truly do something worthwhile with them. So, I won't cut you off. It's just a segue to the next. [46:02] Senator Gustafson: >> I always like to know what's coming before state local gov committee. So, I appreciate it. Thank you. [46:07] Council Member Walsh: >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Just to pick up on the bonding issue. Um, it it you kind of teed it up pretty well. It's it drives me nuts. I'll just say it. This drives me nuts as a local government person because, you know, you mentioned Senator Hauschild. We know they have a brand new ice rink in Hermantown. You know, the regional value of that, I guess, is when opposing teams come to play, they can play in a brand new ice rink, you know. Um, and you know, it's it's not your fault. Trust me, this has been going on forever. And I don't know what to do about it. I don't know what you can do about it, except that just hear the frustrations because we we have not gone out. We have not played the game. [46:48] Council Member Walsh: We did with with the public safety building actually got bit by it because we delayed it to ask and then we then there was no bill that year. It's not like we got to know, everybody got to know. there was no bill and then we okay we got to do it ourselves and we went out to rebid and the cost just skyrocketed I mean so we took a risk didn't work out um but you look at you look at any given bonding bill over the years there's three or four or five or six public safety buildings in there for cities around the state of Minnesota you know just like ours except we paid for that one and and this ourselves. So just you know we have done it ourselves here in White Bear even you say you know Lino's a water treatment facility we we have a water treatment facility we have we're looking at it in our 10 year, 20 year CIP plan when we have to spend money to upgrade it, you know, get new equipment. [47:35] Council Member Walsh: We have kept up here. I mean, we we have done a really really good job on on for, you know, forth thinking or or looking ahead our sewer system, our line sewer system. You know, we the lead issue, the lead pipe issue came up years ago. We had we had taken care of that already, you know, in our in our state. I watch I watch every other community in the state get money for that. We we think ahead, we plan ahead, we pay for it ourselves, and we I get I don't get punished, but we you know, I feel like a sucker sometimes, you know, but this is the way I'd want to do it anyway. But if there was any way at some point to I mean, there have been efforts at the at the capital to really clamp down on projects that don't have a regional or a it used to be a statewide benefit. Then we kind of okay, we'll allow for a regional benefit. [48:20] Council Member Walsh: I think there was one year, one bonding bill way back like 1999 or but in '99 I'm pretty sure it was the '99 bonding bill might be the only bonding bill I remember that was truly statewide projects and only statewide projects and they just Jim Knoblach was the chair of that bill that year. He just kept everything out that was a a local plan. It's got to be all or nothing because if you let one in then everybody else wants to get in. But if you can say zero, no no regional project or no local projects in the bonding bill. But you can even get through the whole process with that and then it goes in the back room and then the governor's involved and it's this global deal that has to get cut for everything and whoops, all these all these little projects go in. Um and I get it. But anyway, that's my that's my uh my rant. [48:55] Senator Gustafson: >> I mean, I agree with you. It should be roads, bridges, water, trails. I mean things um that are a little bit more what the public expects them to go to. So um but yeah, I mean get creative, think about something that we could work towards. Happy to help with anything I can. [49:38] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Nope. >> All right. >> Thank you, Senator Gusterson. [50:00] Senator Gustafson: >> Thank you. [50:04] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Uh next up on our agenda is our legislative priorities. If you want to stay, we invite you to stay. Um item 8A, our 2026 legislative priorities agenda. Miss Crawford. [50:18] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Thank you, uh, Madame Mayor. Um, so beginning in 2021, the city council has annually adopted a legislative priorities agenda. Um and then once it's uh been adopted, um council members and staff uh and I work with our representative and our senator um to talk about, you know, how can we advance our priorities forward. The 2025 legislative priorities agenda moved forward with some success um following again the hard work of staff and and uh and our council uh working with our legislators. The city council held a work session on January 20th um to discuss potential legislative priorities agenda or priorities for the upcoming year. [50:58] City Manager Lindy Crawford: Um I apologize I did not did not have time to make a slide tonight. Um but a narrative for um for the potential um priorities agenda is in the packet. Um so I believe it was in this order that we discussed that they should be listed in um at the work session, but I'm looking for feedback from the council before you uh adopt um the final agenda. So, I'll just take a minute to read what they are. We have uh we're proposing five um at this point. [51:36] City Manager Lindy Crawford: And so, the first one is support legislation which prioritizes safety, defines permissible operation areas, establishes reasonable speed and age guidelines, and provides clarity for enforcement regarding electric assisted bicycles and the like. Uh the second one, oppose legislation that would limit or preempt local government zoning authority. And that's the one that has the LAA in it in the narrative, but perhaps we should beef up that uh kind of our opening statement. The third uh support legislation to increase revenues for deputy registrars to maintain office viability and support customer needs through sharing the online filing fees collected by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety from driver and vehicle services transactions and increasing filing fees on those transactions. That's for our license bureau, which is definitely a regional benefit. I'll just say um the fourth one oppose legislation that would allow for single stairway in multifamily residential buildings. This kind of goes to the legislation that would limit or preempt local government zoning authority. And then the last one, uh support legislation providing funding for law enforcement training. [52:54] City Manager Lindy Crawford: We know that that's a um an existing fund that we that the city just wants to see and wants to ensure that that fund continues. um we don't have a reason to think it is going away but want to make sure that that's also included. So um just for the council and those watching the city is also a member of the League of Minnesota Cities and Metro Cities. Um both both organizations also create annual legislative priority agendas and our 2026 priorities generally align with those current priorities uh current or previous uh priorities from the League of Minnesota cities and metro cities. And then I also sit on one of the policy committees for the League of Minnesota Cities as well. So, uh, with that, I will just pause if council has any guidance, um, or suggestions to add or remove to those priorities. [53:35] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Council member Walsh, [53:39] Council Member Walsh: >> thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, I'm just going to second what Council Member Edberg said about the LAA money, the um, I always forget what it's called. Local and state, local and I gotta get right here. Local affordable housing aid. Laha, local affordable housing aid. It's an unfortunate acronym, LAHA. Um, but the the the timing on it, I think, is is for some of the ideas that we might have to spend that the restrictions are looked at up here. [54:14] Council Member Walsh: Funds must be committed to a qualifying project by December 31st in the third year and then expended by December 31st in the fourth year after the money is received. So, you're get we're getting a pretty hefty sum of money from this state fund uh this through the sales tax increase. um you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars and that um there's lots of different ways and we haven't spent enough time as a council to start thinking about how we're going to spend that. But but if we wanted to do something big, we can't really save up money and do something big. And it's it's restricted because we got to we got to keep the money moving every third or fourth year. We got to have the money out the door. So I I I don't think it's unreasonable to trust cities to to make good decisions. Uh and I don't think people are going to build up a huge surplus. it doesn't really help you to build up a huge surplus because it's restricted really restricted in terms of how you can fund it with with you know mostly low-income housing ideas and and services and things like that. [55:05] Council Member Walsh: So, I think that I do like your idea too of of adding that I for we didn't even talk about this other I forgot all about this and it it is in the text thankfully that that's here. But maybe in the in that second bullet point that second one yes opposing legislation that would limit or preempt local or government zoning authority and then maybe just add a sentence and you know uh change the timing on the on the la money. I think that's really important uh for White Bear Lake going forward. So, thanks for bringing that up, Kevin. [55:38] Mayor Mary Niklosski: Council member Edberg. [55:40] Council Member Edberg: >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, thank you, Mr. Walsh. Um, city manager, you have done a fine job of incorporating our thinking into the text and into our previous conversations. We know and understand why um if we're going to do a project, if we're going to build, support, partner on the development of uh uh affordable housing, we're talking seven digits or eight digits versus uh worth of financing. Yes, we are receiving six digits and the first one is usually one or two or it's three. Okay. So it'll take a while for that to aggregate to the point of making a meaningful contribution to the finance stack for a new project. And I think that is my uh focus and I think we're all in alignment that um yes having access to resources to be intentional about the development of affordable housing is a good thing. Yes, we have some needs in this community that would benefit from that. But let's be realistic about how long we're going to have to uh um save up in order to put together an affordable finance stack that can build that housing. [56:56] Council Member Edberg: So that's where I'm going. I'm comfortable where we don't I don't feel a need to word craft more of our fin uh more I authorize the city manager to u draw on the language that we have approved and the and how how we frame it. Um, if somebody wants to word Smith tonight, we can do that. But I don't feel a need for that. But I do want to Are we in agreement as a council on that as a priority? I think we should be in alignment on that one. That's [57:40] Mayor Mary Niklosski: Is everyone in agreement on that? Yes, I'm seeing yes from everyone. Yes. >> Okay. [57:43] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Okay. I think I may uh mayor I think I may wordsmith that just to add an and um in that because there's much more in the narrative on what we would support for um uh for local government zoning authority and what we are in opposition to um as Senator Gustafson said I do have a meeting with her later this week um and another senator to talk about that because we we have come up with solutions. We have come up with solutions um that that work in White Bear Lake that may that may be able to work in other communities too rather than just simply saying no. So, and that is in our packet, but expanding on the LAA is uh I think is a good idea in in the narrative. So, I would do that if if the council's uh okay with that. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. [58:14] Mayor Mary Niklosski: So, council, we have a resolution to adopt um for the 2026 legislative priority agenda. Um, do I have a motion >> to approve? [58:20] Council Member Walsh: >> So move [58:21] Council Member West: >> second. [58:22] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> We have a second. Is there any further discussion from anyone? [58:24] Council Member Walsh: >> Well, we should add Lori and income taxes. No, I'm just kidding. [58:28] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> All right. All in favor say I. [58:29] Council: >> I. [58:30] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Opposed? All right. Motion passes. [58:33] Council Member Walsh: >> I make jokes. [58:49] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Okay. Item nine, discussion. Uh there's nothing scheduled for discussion. Uh item 10, uh communication from the city manager, Miss Crawford. [59:00] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Thank you, uh mayor. Um just circling back on when you may want to have that proposed work session. that maybe since I have you all in the room, it would be great uh uh selfishly if I could get you to schedule that work session if you're interested in looking at dates um now or if you don't have your calendars, you can get back to me. The soonest that you could have that work session would be Monday. Uh you do have to have three days notice in order for that work session to happen. we have time before or after an upcoming council like the next uh council meetings in February. Should we schedule it earlier than that? I'm open to discussion. [1:00:04] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Uh, council member Edberg, I don't have the February 10th um agenda worked out yet, except for there are going to be several land use items on that one. So, uh, you know, it's it's entirely up to you how late you want to meet, um, in the in the evening. So, we can always do that. But, [1:00:15] City Attorney: >> uh, also, just to jump in, I assume you want me present at this. [1:00:18] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Yes, I do. [1:00:19] City Attorney: >> Um, just a heads up, so next Monday I have a council meeting in another city. Next Tuesday is an election night, so we can't meet. Next Tuesday, uh, under state law, and next Wednesday I have a council meeting in another city. So, my schedule's a little bit um limited, which I apologize for. [1:00:36] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> No, thank you. [1:00:37] Council Member Walsh: >> I like using a date we're already going to be here. So, maybe February 10th. [1:00:41] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> February 10th. >> You know, >> that that's easier for me. >> Is that picture night? [1:00:44] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> Yes, it is. [1:01:03] Council Member Gerola: >> Can I can I just add >> um the um so I was at the planning commission last night and the um which was talking about these items that'll be on the agenda for the 10th. Um and if it's anything like last night, I left at 10 o'clock. [1:01:14] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Oh no. [1:01:15] Council Member Gerola: >> So um I don't know that it's going to be like that. Um but I have a concern. for the 10th. You have a concern? >> Yes, >> you could meet before the meeting. I mean, I think What time are pictures at? [1:01:25] City Manager Lindy Crawford: 6:30. [1:01:26] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> 6:30. >> So, I mean, you could meet as early as 5:30, but you know, you have an hour then. >> It's really up to you. >> Does it work? [1:01:31] Council Member: Yep. [1:01:32] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Does it work for you? >> Works. [1:01:34] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Okay. Does it work, Steve, for you? [1:01:35] City Attorney: >> Also gives us a cut off time. Yes. [1:01:36] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> Some at 5:30. Yeah. [1:01:38] City Manager Lindy Crawford: >> 5:30. Council member Ingstrand, does it work? Okay. What? Council member West. All right. >> We'll go ahead and get that scheduled and the city attorney and uh chief and I will work on some information for that meeting. That's all I have. Thank you. [1:01:50] Mayor Mary Niklosski: >> All right. All right. Thank you. Um so our our next item up um item 11 is a closed session. So we now need to go into a closed session pursuant to Minnesota State Statutes section 13D.05 subdivision 3B which authorizes the council to hold an attorney client privilege close session under certain circumstances. Our attorney from Kennedy and Graven are present to discuss active litigation between the city of White Bear Lake and White Bear Township related to a fire service contract dispute. The need for confidentiality in discussing this matter with our attorneys outweighs the purpose of the open meeting law because legal counsel intends to candidly discuss recent developments and provide legal advice on how to proceed. Allowing these discussions to happen in an open session would jeopardize the city's legal position. Therefore, I request the motion to go into a close session pursuant to the Minnesota State Statute section 13D.05 subdivision 3B to discuss the above described matters. [1:03:00] Council Member: >> So move [1:03:01] Council Member: >> second. [1:03:02] Mayor Mary Niklosski: All approved. >> I All right, we are in a closed session.