City of Minrista. I'm going to first ask that you join me in pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So, welcome everyone that's here and um today as well as watching later on on YouTube. Uh just a reminder everyone, if you have cell phones with you, put them on silent or airplane mode. And I'm going to start out by in with introductions here this evening with us. We have on the end we have our city our uh city assistant administrator Paula Bowman. And then we have um Allison Falsky who is our city um engineer uh with WSB. Then we have council members Brian Govern, Kathleen Refukin. I'm Lisa Whan and I'm the mayor. And next to me I have Jasper Krugal who is our city administrator. Brian Grim is our finance director and Craig Squires is our police of chief our public safety director, chief of police. Um you have many titles. So and then I think we have a couple who are joining us remotely. Do you know? We have uh city clerk Ann Meeroff, uh city attorney Sarah Sansala, public works director Gary Peters, and uh community development director David Ael. >> Okay. So, welcome everyone. Um we have a slight change to our agenda. Uh we have Senator Anne Jensen Stewart with us this evening. So, I'd like to ask that we add her um under two as a that so she can give her presentation and answer our questions and then be on her way. She >> doesn't want to hear Brian's financial update. She's welcome to stay. I think she has I think she has better things to do. Having said that, is there a motion to approve the agenda with that one change? >> So move. >> Thank you, Mr. Governor. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Revkin. All those in favor signify with I. >> I. >> All those opposed? Motion passes. 30. So, welcome Senator and Johnson Stewart, welcome. Thank you for coming, especially on kind of last notice. Thank you, mayor, and hello council members. It's so nice to be here. I was just talking to Jasper and he said, you know, you didn't have to come. I'm like, well, if I can, I will. And it was on my calendar. I had canceled a couple months ago or weeks ago. Um, you know, we're still in the middle of session right now, so every day is somewhat unpredictable. We had, uh, transportation committee until 5:20 and I jumped in my car. Turns out it takes 62 minutes to get here. So, um, I'm happy to come and, uh, I've already been warned that you there might be some questions around a specific topic. So, I typically wouldn't even need my computer up, but I wanted to give you, uh, an update on any of those things that you asked me about. So, um, Mayor, do you just want me to give like a short update on what's going on? >> If you want to do that and then we'll ask our questions. >> All right. Um, so we are deep into session right now. Uh for those of you that don't know, this is a policy year, but we've gotten a little bit off of the routine where we had a policy year in the even years and a bonding oh yeah uh with a bonding bill and then a budget um year in all of the odd years. We are in the middle of an even year, but we've transitioned more into having a bonding bill every single year. And frankly, as somebody who's deep in the bonding bill um committee and somebody who's uh been working with both House Democrats and Republicans, but also Senate Republicans and of course Democrats, which is the committee that or I mean the party that I belong to. We have been working on bonding since beginning of the session. So I anticipate we'll have a bonding bill and I know that's one of the things that may come up with a question. So that's why I'm prepared. Um we have in this in the legislature something called first, second and third deadline. So if a bill uh does have any financial components to it, it should have been heard by March 25th or whatever that Friday was. Um we passed first and second deadline and then last Friday was our I'm sorry, we passed first and second deadline. Last Friday was third deadline, which means that if you're following any bills and they had a financial component to them, they should have gone through all of their committee stops by last Friday. We also allow though for some special um allowances. For example, I have the Medicaid fraud bill that I'm working on with the attorney general, and that bill is quite complicated and needs to go through many, many committees. So, we had permission from what we call the rules committee to be heard as a late bill. And so, this week we'll finish up our hearings on that. So, there are some bills that are still making their way through that do have financial implications. And so, generally speaking, we're starting to wrap up with any committee hearings, but we will um again have many that don't have any financial components. So today we had a full day in um Senate Transportation. We have lots and lots of bills that we're still hearing in all of our committees. As long as they don't have a financial component, we can hear them all the way up until it's reasonable to get them on the floor. We've also started to have heavy floor sessions. So that means now between now and May 18th when we have to adjourn, we will be on the floor, we call it, when we're hearing bills that have passed through committees and have come over from the house. So today we heard I think we had five bills passed including one of mine. Yeeha which uh has to do with the medical examiner appointment in Henipin County. Did you know that Henipin County is the only county that the county board is not allowed to appoint their medical examiner? So we had to fix that because the state law outlined or specified that certain agencies had to provide a rep a representative to what we call the Henipin County Medical Examiner Board. And many of those agencies actually didn't even exist anymore. Geez. >> So that was the second of my bills to pass off the floor. The other one is really important and I tell everybody I know about it. It was the school bus stop arm bill and now um the governor did sign that into law. Now we just need to get out the word to all drivers that as you approach a school bus, if you see red lights flashing, it doesn't matter where the stop arm is, uh approaching vehicles must stop. So that's a quick update. Right now, we're really spending a lot of our time on the floor, we call it. We could have floor sessions that run for many, many hours depending on how much debate there is, but um we're pretty much wrapping up the session. >> Okay. So, there's a few things. We'll talk about bonding a little bit. Um FMLA, housing, um maybe a little bit about transportation and fraud. So, those that's kind of a lot. Um so first of all do you have any idea in terms of the amount of the bonding if there is a bonding bill any indication yet? >> We do actually we know a lot um so the governor proposed not as much as we wanted. Last year if you remember I should have my not I want you all to be impressed that I'm telling you all of this without any notes in front of me. Last year, remember we did not were not allowed any local projects and we had a bonding bill that was I can't even now I can't remember Lisa I'm a little embarrassed but we were promised this year a much bigger bonding bill and so when the governor came to us with 900 900 million we were a little miffed frankly and actually I came I think by the time he came to us with his list of projects it was more in the 7800 million list or million um >> neighborhood Uh the House is putting together their bonding bill and this is one area where I'm pleased to tell you that both parties work together really well. I mean I have been involved in almost every meeting. So the House Democrats and the House um Republicans will come to us in the Senate. State law requires that the bonding bill originate in the House and they want it to be $1.4 billion, which still in my opinion is not enough, but it's a lot more. It's 50% more than the governor proposed. And of that um we have a certain amount that we've kind of are required to award as a group both Senate and um House both Republicans and Democrats to award to ask for preservation for those things that the state of Minnesota is required to um >> what does that leave for cities? How about that? >> There's two funds there's two buckets of money that the cities can access. One of them is PFA, which I know um many of our surrounding cities have access through the drinking water and the wastewater uh drinking water and I don't know that they call it wastewater fund, but you know what I'm talking about, right? >> Um clean water and drink >> clean water clean water. Yeah. And then um once we get to the final amount and hopefully we'll have at least a hundred million for local governments, we will split that between the four caucuses. And so um I know that Minatrista is on my list of priorities. We have 15 cities in this Senate district and not everyone has asked for a uh bonding allocation. Minatrista of course has and you guys know that very well. Jasper, by the way, has been really helpful with me on providing information to the rest of the bonding committee on how much every single city in the area pays for water, and we really appreciate the work he's done there. Um, Mound has asked for money. Spring Park, uh, Excelsier, I'm trying to think. U really, the highest priority, frankly. And by the way, anybody watching, if I didn't name you, it doesn't mean anything, but I know for sure Menatrista is on my priority list. Um, the focus for our community or our caucus will be on water. >> On water. Okay. >> And so you guys are high priority. I would tell you that um I'm happy to receive hundreds of letters from Minotrista residents and by the way, I would encourage you to send those letters also to Andrew Meyers. Um you guys are somewhat lucky. Again, I realize I'm on camera right now, so everything I say I'm comfortable with being a public statement, but you're we're somewhat lucky in a few communities. There's not many where you have a Republican and a Democrat as a representative. You have a senator that's a Democrat, that's me. You have a Republican House member, that's Andrew, and he brings a different leverage power than I do. And we should leverage that in these communities. Excel, the ones I named before. Excelsier Mound, Minatrista, um, Spring Park. Uh, there's a couple, and again, if I don't name you, it's just because I don't have my notes in front of me. But to be sure, you should all be telling your residents to put a lot of pressure on me and on Andrew to bring back bonding dollars because um, not everybody has that same kind of leverage wherein you have two parties represented at the table. >> And Andrew has been very helpful, too. So we we appreciate your help and and Andrew's and we realize we need both. So that's that's >> you need both of us and you should get both of us bringing you something and it shouldn't double count. >> Okay? >> You know, if we we don't get I'm just saying that don't let us take credit for each other's accomplishments. >> Um then another question. Um I understand that the housing bill is dead for this this time and so we'll have to keep tabs on it for next year. Um, and then again working together to maybe if something has to happen, working together to see what could be palatable. But we definitely want local control over local issues. It has to be. Um, and I just recently saw an article about outstate shortages, housing shortages. I understand that. But one shoe does not fit all. So one size does not fit all. Um, so that's uh I won't go into that. Um the transportation, you said you're on the transportation code. We just had um Mindot here during our work session telling us that they need a lot more money and I was down at the capital a couple weeks ago um um asking people for um more money for MIDOT so that they can um im implement the safety um things that they need on Highway 7. So if you've heard of any of that or can promote that and 11 million is not enough, they can do more. I mean they need more. So >> yeah. So Lisa, if I or I'm sorry, mayor, if I could interrupt you just go ahead. >> So on Wednesday, we are having a hearing with all the trunk highway requests. Mand or the highway 71 is one of them. And so Senator Coleman and I have jointly sponsored that bill. And so we will be hearing that bill on Wednesday. >> Yes. And I was asked if I could go down and and I'm not sure there's two things going on that day. So, um I'll I'll >> Mayor I I'm going to let you off the hook. I think you'll be real well represented. I'm vice chair of that committee. So, >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> All right. Yeah, my chauffeer is absent. No, just kidding. Actually, my >> Yeah, that's really the only priority that we have in the Senate District for trunk highway money. So, it will get the attention it it deserves. Uh, Senator Swadzinski is not on the committee, but both Senator Coleman and I are, and so I think it will be well heard and and rise to the top of I'm not sure how much trunk highway bonds will come out of the capital investment >> project or I mean um budget. So when I said before we have 1.4 billion for capital investment or for bonding, that includes anything that we allocate towards trunk highway bonds, right? And so, um, I have, you know, there's many different ways to think about that and to look at it. I, and I know for sure that Senator Dibble, who's the chair of the transportation committee, he for sure has not decided, uh, how much, uh, trunk highway bonds he's going to be allocating, but I'll for sure keep you posted on that. Okay. Um and then um FMLA, you know, it's um kind of a boondoggle and it needs some attention because it's um and just one small little tiny part of that is even city council members have to pay into it and yet we can't. There's no way we can take advantage of it, nor would we or most people wouldn't. But that's just one of the glitches. And I know there's other um communities out there um small uh communities where it really might uh really be hurtful and then small businesses and so is I know this year um I've mentioned it to Andrew Myers and he's like yeah that's nothing's going to happen this year but I really think um both House and Senate need to take a look at that to see what they can do to to fix this because it's a huge financial burden on cities as well as small businesses. So, I'm just putting that out there. Fuel for thought. And then lastly, I won't keep you longer than we have to. Um, uh, obviously, um, Councilman Morfkin would like to ask you about the fraud, but do you have any specific question? >> What bills are you sponsoring to address the fraud and make sure it doesn't happen again? So, we have a whole list of fraud bills that I can talk about, but specifically I'm chief uh author of the Medicaid fraud bill, and that is a really important one because a significant amount of the fraud that we saw last time went through Department of Health and Human Services. >> So, the Medicaid and I'll talk about this briefly and then if you have any other questions. So, I've been working with the attorney general. The federal government has told us that our fraud unit, it our Medicaid fraud control unit, we call it Mafuku, it's kind of funny, is a group within the attorney general's office that is the only group that's authorized to investigate fraud in this area. Uh so the way it works is the individual departments are not the fraud investigators. They report the fraud to the attorney general. And so the attorney general's office was told by the federal government they didn't have enough investigators. So we are requesting uh 18 more staff but we cannot do that without the funds. And so it's my main or I am the chief author and at least in the Senate we have secured the funding for them to invire 18 staff. What happens with Medicaid fraud and with fraud through Department of Health Human Services is the federal government believes in it so strongly that they match three to one. So if we spend $1, they give us three to hire of this full group of 18. Um along with So I feel you never say sure in government, but I feel pretty good about the fact that we're going to be able to fund this additional staff. um those lawyers and those staff members because of federal controls they can't do anything other than Medicaid fraud mostly because they're paid for three of three4s of their salary is paid for by the federal government. The other thing that they're doing though, um, so there's a a financial piece of that bill, that's my bill, but then there's a policy piece which has expanded the definition of fraud in Minnesota. Currently, if we don't get this bill, it will stay this way. It is cheap. It is it is a better deal for a fraudster to commit fraud against the government than it is to commit fraud against anybody else. So, for example, if I decide to swindle Lisa or the mayor out of a million dollars, um I would have much more penalty and much higher fines if I'm found guilty than if I swindle the state of Minnesota out of a million dollars. So what we did was we wrote into the policy portion of the bill um that a fraudster pays just as much and goes to jail for just as long whether they they're committing fraud against the state government or they're committing fraud against a human or a city government etc. So it's both a policy and a uh funding bill. Um, but frankly, without this bill passing, the Mafuku, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, will continue to work. They just will be understaffed and underworked or I mean understaffed and overworked. That's one of the problems and one of the reasons that we saw fraud. Um, we're also trying So, that's my bill. So, I'm happy to answer questions about that. Um, but we're also trying to get money to upgrade some of the it, which is, you know, back from the days I was in college. Really hard to spot fraud, really hard to identify when these sham companies set up, you know, six companies under six similar names at one address. You would think that would be easy enough to figure out, but those are some of the reasons that fraud was committed. And uh we've also tightened train or tightened controls on who can and how people are who can work in these investigative units. How our county county employees and state employees are trained to spot fraud. But I'm not as familiar with those bills, but I do have them pulled up in case you're asking about it. >> What are the odds of any of these passing? >> Well, my Medicaid fraud bill I think will pass. uh we have our a hearing Wednesday in human services and then we've been you know we do our work to make sure that every committee member is is you know up to date and I mean that's me working with Republicans as well as Democrats. I feel strongly that that's going to pass through and then it only has to go to finance and then it's done. So it's already gone through four committees. Uh, I think the Medicaid fraud bill will probably be the the one that gets through and that's one that I feel is probably the most significant. >> I know that when we were at the LMC um city um on the hill day that it was, and correct me if I'm wrong, you were there too, it seemed bipartisan that both parties want to address the fraud and how to um prevent it from happening again. So, it seems you would think that all of these bills that you mentioned would have an easy pass. I mean, >> well, yes. And the Senate, you know, um, Council Person Ruffken, trying to make sure I don't use the wrong word here. Um, it is a little different. You're asking me a senator and in the Senate, we do have much better chances of getting bills passed. For example, I sat down with Senator Rasmmanson, Senator Grunhagen, Senator Edki, all Republicans, making sure they understand the bill and we accept amendments from them. Do you guys know right next door we have Senator Holmstrom, a brand new senator. He brought an amendment that I felt made this made the bill better and we accept that. In the Senate, we have a little bit different ways to work and we do have a majority. So when I say that I think the bill will pass, frankly, you know, the odds are stacked against us by, you know, a one seat majority, but I feel like it will pass through the Senate in the House. Um, it's funny, they passed through the policy very easily, but they got hung up on the amount of money. Now, what will happen after um after both of them get through the floor um they'll have to agree and so they'll take provisions from the House bill, they'll take for provisions from the Senate bill, but if my bill passes through intact, even though it's been amended by Senator Holstrom and others, um there's a chance that that bill could go forward. And but you know um mayor it is very difficult on the house side because they're tied >> they're tied >> um this thing around uh county it has been a very bipartisan thing um because you know the rural it's the rural counties who are represented mostly by Republicans who are desperate for upgrades to their IT. I mean, people in anywhere in Minnesota should have should be able to qualify and get benefits and get reimbursements for personal care attendants or whatever, but they're having it even the hardest time because they have the most antiquated system. So, I would guess that those kinds of things will pass as well. >> I don't know though. >> Is there a sister bill to your version in the House or? >> Yes. So, it's being carried by Senator Nor or Representative Norris. And like I said, that one went through. There's two parts of the bill, policy and funding. And the policy part went through without even the amendments. I mentioned one amendment from Senator Holmstrom, who's right next door. Their bill went through without that amendment, but I feel strongly that his amendment will stay on for the final version. But in a tide, I think they call it Ways and Means over there. I'm not sure what the committee is called. they were not able to pass through the $1.2 million required to fund the 18 staff members. So, um it's a little bit different, but once they get to conference, they'll have to that's not my area. I don't sit on that one through what's called state and local government. And while I'm on that committee, I'm not in leadership there, so I won't be able to negotiate the final bill. >> Does your bill address um going back and charging people that have been found of fraud? Does it address the statute of limitations or is it just all going forward? >> Nope. It's a really good bill. It not only addresses that, it also well the Mafuku unit they have been they have I mean I have the data and I if you email me I would be happy to send you it. The Mafuku Medicaid fraud control unit has um they have recovered millions and millions of dollars in fraud uh in fraud reimbursements and that money by law has to go back to Department of Human Services. There actually was an amendment to try to get that money to come to uh the Attorney General's office to fund their work so that we didn't have to fund it. But that's illegal based on federal federal statute. So there are provisions to claw back money and they have been really successful at clawing back the money. And then uh the other thing that my bill does, I mentioned um you know raising there's now this thing where if you um there's different um levels of fraud that they didn't have before, making it as I said just as expensive to commit fraud against the state as it is to commit fraud against a uh another person just as punitive. But then the other thing that they did is they a the other thing that we did if the bill passes which I think it will um is they allow for aggregation. What that means is if you commit one instance of fraud uh the attorney general had to charge you with that one instance. Even if on one day you might have done 20 different you know submitted 20 different reimbursements or in a month you submitted 60 reimbursements. the now what we allow what we will allow the attorney general unit to do is what's called aggregate. So if you're the fraudster, you get charged but you've got you know 100 counts of fraud within this one charge and then that just makes it more efficient and it also means that that money from that that clawback is you know categorized as one case. It's just better for managing it and for tracking it. So, and then I hate to bore you, but there's one other thing. >> It also it also something that's really important is believe it or not, there are some people who defraud the government who didn't mean to do it. They submit an error or they turn in a reimbursement twice. You know, a lot of the money that people get back uh through this, you know, a lot of our human services are for things like, you know, they have a child who's disabled and they they might submit a form a reimbursement for their wheelchair twice by accident. Um, absolutely 100% I'm sure this happens. And so we added to the statute this intent to defraud so that if somebody accidentally submits something or you know has a math error or something that the attorney general's office is not able to actually charge them. They have to prove an intent because we don't want people who are tired, weary caregivers, you know, who accidentally submit a reimbursement for something twice or 10 time, you know, whatever. Uh, but they have to submit, they have to demonstrate an intent, which I think is really important. >> Does that open it to pending the intent like you just said 10 times? Wouldn't that um force you to have to prove intent when clearly it was maliciously done? I mean what's the >> No, because now remember with the aggregation the attorney general's office would look at Brian Govern has submitted these forms and oh he submitted something twice or he submitted I mean 10 would be outrageous but he submitted twice and then he has this they look at that remember when I said they aggregate it so they would look at well what is Brian doing here and they would look at that and they'd say no there is no int intent here. I mean, they're obviously gonna >> make you pay back the >> Yeah, they're not going to reimburse you for it, but they're going to interview the attorney. The Minnesota Attorney General's Medicaid fraud control unit is one of the best in the country. They have the best record for clawing back um claims. They have the best record for accuracy and for um doing really good work. So, I think the intent part is actually really important. It's um I don't have the data to show how many people who are erroneously charged. I don't think it's a lot, but we want to make sure that people who don't intend to defraud the government aren't getting charged because that takes up resources, too. So, that's not a big part of their work, but it is an important thing to acknowledge. So, >> okay. Well, any other questions? >> Yeah, if anybody wants data on this or has questions, you know, I have all of it. I'm just I came straight from the capital so I didn't really bring a handout but I'm happy to give it to you. >> Okay, I think we're good. Thank you very much and really appreciate you coming on last. >> Yeah. Well, I will come out anytime. This might be the last time you get me this session. >> Okay. Pretty soon we're going to be meeting into the evening. Um but do reach out with any questions. I feel like we can be really responsive with those things once we have data in front of us. So, thanks mayor for letting me sneak in and I'll have dinner with my husband. So, >> anytime. Thank you again, Senator. >> All right. >> So, with that, we're going to do the very um interesting fun thing of our first quarter financial update. >> Yes. Thank you. >> So, yeah, Madame Mayor and and council. So yeah, this is just the first three months of the year. So it's usually pretty uh benign or or pretty tame, I guess, or however you want to look at it or or label it. So uh as the memo states, the revenues until we get our first quarter um our first half taxes in is going to be down in that pretty low range. The one thing probably to highlight there is you can see our our building permit revenue, which we brought way down because at some point we're going to probably not have current lots. It's, you know, whenever we reach that point. So we're actually sitting pretty well there at you know like 73% I think or something. So but I don't see that keep going to unless there's something I don't know about you know to 600 700,000 we probably end up in that 3 400,000 like we budgeted. >> Um otherwise on the expenditure side we're about at that quarter you know 26% um you know some things we've paid the full year for property insurance and couple quarters of the fire contracts already. So um I think we're sitting um fine for the expenditures there. Um, our current cash and investment is a little lower than it's been in previous years at this time just with some of our that's where we're actually Mr. Haggin's here in the audience. Well, that that'll bump up a little bit with our our bonding for our for our summer projects we have going on. Um, otherwise I guess if there's any questions on the report, I I did note on the memo too, we'll have the uh the audited the report for 2025 the final um financial numbers there at the May 18th meeting. So >> the May 18th. Oh, okay. >> Yep. Mhm. Okay. >> No, I I I saw the um revenues for permits and I thought that's really good. Um but again, like you said, depending on how many lots we have available and we'll see how it ends up this year. Do we expect or have you talked to David at all? Or maybe David, you can answer. Do we expect any building permits from the two um potential developments that are on the horizon, the Acra and the Bull? Do you know? Do we expect any permits coming through? I can answer for him if he um not in 2026. >> Okay. Um >> more like 27. >> Yeah, 27 for the bowl and then potentially 28 for the Accate. >> Okay. All right. Anyone else have questions or comments? >> No, it looks good. Um snow removal equipment was already over budget. Is that Did something break or we just didn't budget enough? >> Oh, within the uh the snow ice department or whatever. >> Somebody break a shovel. Wow. >> There might have been some repairs and maintenance there. Yeah. Gary probably would be able to speak best of that, but then I say at least overall we're still sitting and I think we spent about 80,000, you know, and we, you know, we should be through this part of the winter and then as long as it doesn't kick in too much uh too early for November, December, we should actually still uh sit pretty well there. But I'm guessing there was some Yeah, like a repair or something that uh happened that we we needed there or whatever. So, >> and then just a couple of the dues and subscriptions. Is there um like we're at like 85% or like 60%. Is that normal for this time of the year? Are people just signing up for more classes and more continuing education and stuff than normal? >> Um I know it usually es where it's obviously there's annual memberships and stuff are paid in the first part. Um I'd have to look a little deeper as if we're maybe doing a little more training or where we're sitting I guess compared to um last year's percentage or whatever. But usually there's a lot of things that are I know whether it's police or whatever that they uh you know you pay pretty much you know around the first of the year for for the annual membership or whatever. >> Okay. >> All right. Great. >> Well good. Uh thank you Brian and that concludes our financial update and then we'll move on to our consent agenda items. Are there any >> Can I ask one more thing? >> Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. When do we need to talk about what's going on with the cable fund >> or is that going to be on a work session or is that like coming cuz I mean we >> No. Yeah. And I think I noted on the either on that notes to the cash report or whatever. So it probably just needs to be folded into the the general fund. I think the cable funds probably ran its course and done you know obviously franchise fees keep going down. So the, you know, we've always funded some salaries and obviously paid for some things um out of that cable fund that were related to tech, you know, some either technology or council chamber improvements or obviously the big broadband project was the uh the main goal or or main um thing we were able to initiative we were able to complete with it. But I I think as um even just from an administrative side, it might just we just went through the audit and then because the fund is negative and they looked at that closer and pulled, you know, just a lot of different things. Um it makes sense probably just to be closed into the general fund if the city council is fine with that or versus having a fund run that you know where the franchise fees just keep going lower and lower quarter. So, but yeah, that I think we'll do that in 2026 then just fold that fund off the books into the general fund. So, >> good. All right. >> All right. So, um anything else otherwise? Okay. Consent agenda items any you need to remove otherwise. Okay. So, consent agenda includes A approve our work session meeting minutes from April 6th, 2026. B is approve our city council regular meeting minutes from April 6th, 2026. C is approve claims. D is approve our 2026 arbitrage services consulting agreement. E is approve early termination of egg preserve for 9500 County Road 15 as requested by Craig Schmidt. And F is award the equipment CIP purchase of asphalt roller replacement. G is accept and award the quote for the spray lining of two storm water catch basin structures. And H is accept and award the quote for the spray lining of seven sanitary sewer manhole structures. And I is approved plans and specifications authorizing ad for bid on the 2026 pavement maintenance projects. And then J is approve a replacement of the police squads 70 and 79. And I think you had more details on those in front of you at your place. Any questions? Hearing none. Is there a motion to approve A through G? >> So move. >> Thank you, Miss Revkin. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Grim. Uh Grim Brian C. Tony Bryan's Brian Govern. All those in favor signify with I. I. All those opposed. Motion passes. So we have no public hearings, but we have a business item. And I believe Mr. Todd Todd Hagen. See, I got your name right. Right. I didn't call you Grim. You know, >> Todd Grim, the grim reaper. No. All right. >> No, you have some good you have some good news, right? Some good news. >> Yeah. Thank you, mayor, council members. Um, thanks for the quorum tonight, by the way. >> Yeah, >> three showed up. Um, we only need two two of you to say yes to the to the bond sale once we get to that resolution that's in your in your packets. Um, yep. Todd Hagen from Ellers and Associates. um here to talk about the day of sale report. You know, where we kind of landed today with the uh with the bond issue for the street reconstruction, the water um the water project and the equipment bonds. Um you do have a sale report in front of you. Um by the way, it was a great day to sell bonds. Let me start that out. Um and uh and attached to that the bid tabulation of the bond issue final uh bond numbers, you know, the debt service schedules. Um, I've got the rating report in there that I want to go through before we get to the sort of where the bonds came out at. And there's a BBI graph, 30-year graph of the trend, you know, of of where the bond market is. And of course, we've got the resolution for you to consider tonight. Um, so if you go to the the report right before the graph, last page is the graph. If you kind of scoot up a couple pages, you've got the the rating report uh from standard and pores and that uh a couple weeks ago, you know, we had a uh a conference call uh with the folks uh from standard of Brian and Jasper were on the phone. Um did a great job of uh answering all their all their questions. They do give us those ahead of time which is which is great. Um I mean you were last rated in 2024 so it was it's been a while but um we it took about an hour or so um you know we gave them all the information we could audits and and the official statement which is the offering circular. It's got the all the great information about the city um focused on your 2024 audit which they didn't have before 2025 year end and uh the budget for 26 and then what's going on in the city as far as economic development outlook and all that all that good stuff. Um so that you after you know we went through uh everything right with those folks they put it to a credit committee or whatever at their at their shop. Um and they came back out with the uh the double A+ uh stable outlook, right? So that's great. We're holding our own there. And um by the way, one of the things that they like is the quarterly budget to actual stuff reports. You know, that's good. That's in the report. So keep it up. That's awesome. Um the the report uh basically reflected um you know what we're financing here, right? I mean, it's it's just part of the the water treatment facility, too. Um and and and all of that. And and what they look at for the water treatment type plant um projects as opposed to an equipment project or the street reconstruction type plans, those are mostly tax levy, uh paid for by a tax levy and not rates and charges. They do like to see like 3 years of um of proof or audits, right? that that shows that um you're already up there with your rates and charges and have the ability to pay it. So the next best thing is the >> is the multi-layer year study, right? And the charges and rates that you've increased already in anticipation of this. And so we try to get that off the grid, so to speak, because this is a general obligation bond rating and not a revenue uh rating. So I think that helped a lot to have all that leg work done ahead of time and and so like I say in lie of proof that you know everything's uh able to be paid for the study and uh and able to increase the rates and charges uh helped out a lot. So I think we got that moved off uh which is which is great but they're going to keep an eye on all of that as well. So >> will that affect next year if we or you know when we do another bond for the other half? >> Great question. We mentioned that right? We got another half of this or so coming up and that's the reason why we talk about that as well. So this rating >> that's sort of already baked in here too which is nice. So no surprises >> um from from them I don't think in in any of this. So yeah that's we want to make sure we mention what's going to happen uh within a year or two down the road too. Great question. So I mean just to cut to the chase too I uh I know uh just the first kind of the highlights here it's just you know you've got solid economic profile here in Minetrista disciplined financial management right that's great uh >> yes Brian is very disciplined >> he is everybody he's answers good questions for everything um and continued support which continues to support the stable um outlook basically too. And um and you do benefit from all the wealth indicators too, which is which is good. Not everybody has has that. And you've got a lot of ongoing economic and residential and commercial development here in in Minitrist, it just adds to your tax base, which is all which is all great. Um I think um if you look at you know the next page to page two to that rating report um is the bullet points there the first three or so really kind of talk about uh the same types of thing is basically per capita gross county product which is like per capita income and all that. And I think that's something new that they've added. Uh it it it helps uh communities that that score high there and maybe some greater Minnesota smaller cities not so much. Right. So, it kind of depends where you are in Minnesota and it's kind of um basically it's kind of purchasing power, right? So, that's something something new. What can offset that out in the greater Minnesota is just higher reserves, right? Just keep up those reserves higher and that can sort of offset some of the lower uh stuff, but you guys are both healthy in both the reserves and and that uh and that per capita as well too. So, um yep, you keep up your 40% reserves from expenditures. That's that's great. And that really just talks about what you guys just went through too, those quarterly budget taxual updates and some financial planning. Um, so the upside to uh to to the rating to get to maybe a AAA or something. We don't want to set ourselves up for a fall ever. This is a a great rating with a lot of things going on here in Menitrista. So, we just have to watch out. Just maintaining that double A plus and stability is is great. But um you know you can what you're in control of is you can always increase your reserves right to something uh astronomical that is no fun to do but um that can that can help right as >> well we've often said we we do look at our general fund balance and we want to keep it healthy and I've been a little >> leerary lately of having it going a little too low but um we'd like to keep it in the 40 to 45% >> uh range which I and I've preached that that will help and that and that has so they're not really bcking at that at all. So it's like 6 months, right? Or something like that cuz we collect taxes every >> uh twice a year, right? So and the other part is too is just to have maybe more robust they've got that word in here a lot >> um financial management planning or something like that too. So I I think we're doing just just fine with and I'll let this go. But what's interesting is just looking at that little miniaturista credit summary uh box there. kind of shows what they're interested in which is economy financial performance reserves and liquidity management and debt and liabilities. So, uh, institutional framework is number one and that's we're in Minnesota and geo bonds are, um, the thing to do here, right, to issue and it's all good and pretty easy to do, pretty simple. Um, shows your, uh, total score at 2.16. I think this is out of a score of one is the best and six is the worst, right? Something like that. And then you can kind of just see your economy is one and that goes three and one and 2.3 and 3.5. you know, debt and liabilities. It's hard to it's hard to control some of that, right? Because we're kind of moving forward, right? So, we just have to do that. So, what's in your >> I guess what's in your um control is management and um >> and financial performance and stuff too. Yeah. Just not >> waffling too much throughout the year and kind of switching to say, "Hey, we're going to pay for this with cash and um you know, if you don't have it right and uh or you didn't plan on it." So, it's it's more planned expenditures are are okay with those folks as well. So, um get back to the bond issue, which is kind of fun. Um I'm talking a lot, but hey, this is this is cool. Um so today we um we had we had four uh four uh purchasers, you know, broker dealer types um setting up on this on this bond issue. And uh we ended up getting eight eight bids. And so, uh, if you look at the bid tabulation, um, we had, uh, TD Financial, uh, products in New York was the best bid at 3.7%. So, that was like 37 basis points or.37, uh,% um, uh, less than our projection, right? So, that's that's all good. Um, they were kind of new to the four, right? Because we picked up four more, right? So TD Financial kind of came in. Uh Baird, who's the second one there, they they they set up and they bid and they're second at 3.71. Uh this this third one, our uh Sealless Company out of New Jersey, they're they were new. Uh um and Fidelity Capital Markets, uh they were they were set up as well. And so then the next one, Piper Sandler was was new. We picked them up as the new four out of Minneapolis. uh Hilltop Securities uh set up and and bid and then Brownstone Investment Group out of New York. Uh they were new to the group and Oppenheimer was set up as well. So uh pretty cool to see eight eight bids and and for we didn't nobody dropped. Sometimes they drop and they go look at something else. Um because there was some activity today and I know I talked to the mayor a little bit about this too. Um you know we did uh have some bond sales today uh that were quite large um aside from yours. Lakeville had 38 million uh dollar bond issue. U Maple Grove had 8 million. North Mano had 27 million and Sterns County, which is one of ours, $287 million. And it was a sales tax bond um for something on their their county campus and stuff. So, uh and yours was over 10 million and a lot of those except for Maple Grove were over 10 million. So, those are non-bankqualified bond issues. And um I don't have a crystal ball. I don't know why we picked up four more, but I would suspect that there was just a lot of activity in the non-bankqualified arena here today. Not a lot of small stuff, a lot of larger stuff. And it sort of had I think everybody kind of looked at everybody today, which was which was pretty cool. I think that was a good day to to sell the bonds. I'm just kind of guessing, but it sounds good. Um, yep. Other than that, so we get to the sale day report. Um, yeah, we know what we're financing. All all good there. and he talked about the bids and then just the difference between the low bid and the high bid. Just the interest cost difference. I think that's always interesting that we just don't go and negotiate with just one underwriter. I mean, the difference is like $250,000 difference between, you know, the low and the the high and you just never know who's going to be, you know, the winner if you just talk to one. So, you could have been talking to the the last one there and uh by mistake and uh let some money on the table, right? And all that. So, um I do I know you're used to these premium bids. Everybody gets what we call the premium uh bid. And if you look at the bid tabulation um sort of the the coupon rate, the difference between the coupon rate and this reoffering yield is is is kind of is where the premium is generated, right? So um and that premium comes from their customers like TD Financials customers um in the form of cash right and so we always get too much cash than what we need and that's what the premium is um I don't want to tell you what Sterns counties was u but yours was like a million25,000 that we we don't need um and what you do is you want to turn around and lower the bond issue by by that much and that basically in simple terms I call it kind of burning that yield down to to where that uh that interest rate down to where that yield is basically because we're paying um yes 5% right on most of these bonds but we're paying less um bonds right with it. So that just brings it down to where the market rate is which is kind of where that yield that yield is and that's how we looked at it at the pre-sale because we don't know we have no idea how these premiums are going to lay out. So we we really sort of just um price everything just accordance with that sort of yield type type column there not the coupon rate right so um yeah so we decreased uh your bond issue by a million25 so it's 13 million815 is what the bond issue was and again it was um aside from the premium that we got the uh underwriters fee uh which is kind of like points points on a mortgage right so they can take some of it all of it or none of it they took less than what we offered them. So, that was part of the the decrease and then the cost of issuance um came down as well. Just everybody kind of settled in um this morning. That's when we bid right at 10:30. That's when they bid. So, so that's when the rubber hit the road here today and we did all the calculations and everything to smooth this out. So, um closing's May 7th. You get all the money at once here and I know Brian knows what to do with it. >> Yes, we're going to invest it. is broker. >> I know who it is. >> And um and that's I that's what I've got. I just I didn't want to um I don't have anything else and the rest of this is just for your information. So, uh so yeah, that's how that's how this plays out. We get the bond rating a week or so before and then we package it up with this in this offering circular called an official statement and post it out there and everybody just comes and and bids on this thing. So I think it was a good I think it was a good bond sale. >> Yeah, eight eight is really good. >> It is. It is >> probably more than we normally see really. The smaller the bond, the less bids you get and the larger but I think Sterns County got just maybe maybe one more than you or something like that. So, but a whole >> different group, right? Because it's a lot of cash to be >> Yeah. >> moving around. So, >> all right. >> Yeah. >> Any other any questions of Todd? >> Thank you for that. >> Thank you. >> Um lot of lot of good information. Yeah. Um, so, uh, we do need to pass the resolution awarding the sale of the general obligation bond series 2026A in the original aggregate principle of $13,815, fixing their form and specifications, directing their execution and delivery, and providing for their payment. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Govern. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Rafkin. Any other questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. 3 0. >> Well, thanks. >> We're looking forward to that huge check. No, >> thanks for the business and uh yeah, >> you guys are fun to work with. So, >> yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, Brian, have you done any calculations in terms of if we invest this money, how much we have to pay out when, how much interest and stuff are we going to then get on get on our money? >> Well, and that's a little bit, but yeah. And then that's some of that why we even do the arbitrage services because there's even those rules we have to you know follow as far as uh investments over the the bond and spend down provisions and all that kind of stuff that Ellers helps us with also. But yeah, there'll definitely obviously be some uh interest earnings coming in until you know obviously >> can we find that out or can you do a calculation or whatever? I mean it'd be interesting to find out. >> Yeah, I could probably >> run some >> Yeah, run some scenarios or whatever. >> Our arbitrage group can do that for I know you use Cory and those folks for the investment. They can put it in a spreadsheet. Would you have that spend down? >> Yeah, that'd be interesting to see if you'd want or Yeah. >> Yeah. I'll see what I'll see what Joel can do. So, >> Okay. All right. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Um, that concludes that item. Now, we have the Trunk Highway 7 Traffic Management Organization grant writing expenditure request. It was for $600. >> Yes. U madame mayor, members of council, um before you today, um this kind of stems from a work session that we had regarding the traffic management organization and just I think we anticipated maybe some requests coming for funding for something like a grant uh grant writing um exercise. In the packet, you can see there's been two grants that have been identified. Metropolitan Council's regional solicit solicitation and then the highway safety improvement program. So, um the group is requesting a total well a total of $15,300 um from Minitrista is $600. Um you can see in the table in the packet um kind of the breakdown of this. Um and really this is to help supplement the $11 million request that we have for bonding. Um, if we don't get 11 million, let's say we get a million or two million, the the rest of this money would potentially be requested from the Met Council or as much as much as what it is. I can't remember what the maximum amount is right now, but um, we would be requesting that. >> How much do these grants I mean like what are we asking for in these grants and what is the potential? How much is there potential to get? >> I don't I do not know that number off the top of my head. So, this is I'm going off the information the TMO kind of group is giving us. So, >> would it give us that? >> Um, >> I'm I'm thinking it's millions. >> Yeah, I could look it up quick, but it is it's definitely millions of dollars. I don't know if it would be for the whole $11 million um or what it would be, but this would be it, you know, to to to write the grants for those two um grant programs. >> Why does it cost $12,000 to write two grants? >> That was the estimate given to the group by their um consultants as well. >> I mean, that seems ridiculous. >> I've seen other grant writers. Um I think that's actually pretty typical. >> That seems even more ridiculous that this is the standard. Well, um, the other thing if you work with a, and I I haven't worked with a professional grant writer, but I've been told that they know the nuances and they know how to put put in the grant application um, to get higher scores and that's what will get you up in the running, if you will. So, um if they're really um professional at this and have done this for quite a while, then they know what to what actually the grant how how to get the grant. Put it that way better. Um we were told when we were at the meeting it might be around 12,000. So, I'm surprised it's now at 15 for to write the grant. >> That's the other question. If it cost 12,000, why do they want 15? >> I think this is just an estimate. They probably don't know quite exactly. >> Yeah. So it says uh note the differences between the grant amount and the total contributions assumes a variation in participation and provides support for continued um trunk highway 7 activity. So if somebody on the list doesn't participate, there's a little bit of a buffer in there. >> Okay. So then then the remaining dollars would be split accordingly to go back to the cities, I assume. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So it might be less than 600, >> but it's not a lot to to spend. >> It seems ridiculous, but and again, the $11 million this is going for for projects we don't won't benefit us or in the one case we don't want. >> Well, not necessarily. >> Well, no, cuz he said the $11 million would go towards the Christmas Lake 41 and Wildwood, and we don't want what they're proposing for Wildwood. Yeah, but what I'm saying is they don't necessarily will do Wildwood if they got more money. >> Yeah. And >> they might do the Wildwood Hunters Trail, >> right? But the current plan for Wildwood is not what we want. >> If I if I may, so I' I've had a lot of conversations with Kyle, who was just here about this and um you know, when we submitted the information for the safety study, the Bull property and that property wasn't even on the radar. So now it is. That changes things. if there's a desire to put a roundabout in that area, um that would they would be open to those conversations. They just need to happen in the next six months. >> Um >> or less. Yeah. >> Or less. So, and then also we I think this stemmed from a a Mayor Whan question. Um >> if there is a funding gap for some of these things in Minitrista, um the MSA dollars can be used on trunk highway stuff. So there's some of that as well to consider, but this is a a would cover most of it, right? We don't have that much in MSA dollars for these projects. >> So like in other words, let's just say we wanted the roundabout at at Wildwood and um and Huntress Trail. We wanted that to be connected and it's $4 million and they say, "Well, we don't have that much. How much do you have? Maybe we can take our MSA dollars 500,000 or something." I I'm just using that as an example. So we can put a carrot out there, too. Um, and I think that's, you know, we'll we'll I think that's part of the negotiations. And like you said earlier, maybe what we need to do, and I don't know if we'll have that meeting tomorrow. I'll talk about that a little bit, but if we have that meeting tomorrow with St. Bonnie, we can say, "Hey, why don't we put a letter together and send it to mind that this is really what we want. So scrap the 92 and and figure out if we can do the Wildwood um and um Hunter Trail one." So, I think there's negotiating power there. Um, but I also think it's really good to see if we can't get more dollars because if they get zero dollars from the state in bonding money, um, then nothing happens. And >> that's not true. They have $48 million to do stuff with. >> Well, they don't they're not going to do what we want them to do. But so I I'm just saying for $600 investment for a potential of millions, I it's it's a good it's a good gamble. I would like to point out that I will be paying for it as a Miniatura resident, as a Henipin County resident, and as a West Honko public schools paying person. So I will be paying for this in three buckets. >> If I may too, I have an I have a answer on the how much we can apply for and it's up to 25 million for each application. So, >> okay, >> we would be able to apply for the entire amount of the 11 million >> or more. >> Or more. >> See, we could ask for more. >> Yeah. Why wouldn't we ask for more? >> Yeah. So that they can do the roundabouts that we want. >> Who's writing these grants? Who Who are who's the TMO using? >> Yeah. SRF. >> SRF. Yeah. >> Which is an engineering group that's been um when they went through the RFQ process to hire an engineering group to kind of guide the formation of the TMO. That's who they chose. >> Yeah. >> Are they good, Alison? Do you know anything about them? SRF is certainly a a renowned engineering firm, particularly when it comes to transportation projects. So, >> yeah, I would venture to guess that you're in good hands with them. >> I don't like this. >> Okay. >> I don't like spending money to get our own money back to fix roads that they should that I'm already paying for and paying for and paying for. Well, the thing is is we won't get any money if we don't try. So, I mean, that's that's the thing. If if we don't do the um grant application, this is additional funds. So, they have the 46 whatever. So, this we're asking for additional funds and if we don't do this, then we don't get any additional funds. >> Well, I mean, but we don't ultimately we don't have any say in anything anyways. We can get the money from INDOT and they can do whatever they want with it. It's not like it's earmarked that they have to put in this roundabout here or do this at this spot. Correct. Like we ultimately have no control over what Mindot decides to do with Highway 7. >> Well, ultimately though, >> well, I I don't think I don't think that's entirely the case. I think they're they're they want to hear back from the local government units. So, if we want a roundabout at Wildwood versus a uh 3/4 intersection, I think they're going to listen to us, especially if we go through the process of getting money to pay for it. Then I think I can't speak for them, but I think that that would um move the needle on that project or that part of that project. >> And like I said, if you have another community that's that's really um you know, pushing for that as well, you have a better chance. And I I know St. Bonnie is interested in in something happening at Wildwood and and yeah, I and I think like I said, we have a few carrots out there that we can dangle. So, um I think it's worth it. >> All right, Ryan. >> I think it's worth it, too. I've had good experiences with uh grant writing organizations helping uh get money. Uh I think it will give us some carrots with the um DOT and um you know while we don't have direct control over it I I do think that uh the fact that even they're here tonight seems that they are interested in hearing what we're saying and >> I think they are >> have some influence. So I would be in support of it. >> Okay. So um two against one. Sorry. >> So go ahead. made no secret that I pose to giving any money towards this project. >> Okay. >> But if you wanted to do a vote, you sure could. >> Okay. So, all those in favor of spending $600 towards the grant writing. >> I >> I >> opposed. Nay. >> Okay. All right. You got it. All right. >> Did someone need to make a motion? >> No. >> Do you want a motion? >> Because we skipped the motion. >> We skipped the motion part. >> Sure. Yeah. I can't make the motion. Whatever. Whatever you want. >> Okay. And I I need the motion uh to spend the 600 and Ryan seconded and the vote was 2-1. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you for keeping on track here. All right. So, next uh we'll move on to staff reports. >> Uh yes, Madame Mayor, members of council, we have a couple of events or actually quite a few events coming up here. We have uh Trista Day coming up on the 13th uh which is May 13th, sorry. um which is a Wednesday which is a new thing here. I think everybody's aware there's a lot of information on our website and and social media about it. Um we also have state of the city which is on Tuesday >> Tuesday. >> So um and we we've gotten out a lot of information just clarifying that it's on a Tuesday and not a Thursday but it is on May 4th um at >> 5th >> or May or May 5th. >> May the council meetings on May 4th. I'm messing this up already. I'm sorry. Um, we have a council meeting on May 4th and then the the state of the city's on May 5th on Tuesday. >> Right. Um, >> and then clean up date. >> It's May 2nd. >> Saturday. >> Saturday. Right. >> Just loading May up here, aren't we? >> We are. >> Yeah, >> it is. But hey, then we get it all over with. >> Yeah. And then we have the bus tour on um >> June 6th. >> Is it June 6th? >> I think it is. >> Uh, no, June 2nd, >> I believe. >> June 6th is a Saturday. Tuesday. >> So, Tuesday the second. >> Tuesday the 2nd. So, um there's information if you're uh we haven't posted the availability for that yet, but it fills up quick. So, once we do sign up and >> I did put it online, so >> Okay. So, it is posted. So, it's a free game. We have I think 60 or so seats. >> Um >> and then lastly, uh we need somebody for the planning commission meeting. There is a meeting coming up at the end of this month. >> What's the date? >> 27th. >> 27th. 27th. >> Um I think I can do it. 27th Monday. Okay, I'll do it. >> That's all I have. >> All right. Um I'll give a report real quick. So, we're supposed to have just kind of a followup regarding um our strategic or our our duo council with uh St. Bonnie. We u were directed to have some fire talks with directly with St. Bonnie and hopefully we'll have that tomorrow. There is some question about um health on some people are sick so we might not be able to have it but um if we do it'll be tomorrow and then we will update you on the process of that and then um also tomorrow I are you going okay so Kathleen and I and Jasper will be going and looking and maybe approving the colors or the you know of the water treatment plant. Exciting. Exciting. Um and then of course the um in the public safety committee we had um with uh St. Bonnie and that went very well. We talked about a lot of things. Craig does a wonderful job on that uh front. And then um the um Northwest Henipin League of Municipalities is coming up um in May. We're going to host the candidates, all of the candidates, which is like many um for um kind of a um for Henipin County attorney. So, prosecuting attorney. So, Mary Morardi is not running again. Won't say anything. Um and so there's lots of uh people in that field running and we'll just be um they can give us their spiel, you know. And then what else was there? League of Minnesota cities wershed mound fire advisory. I don't the mound the committee um has those meetings have been cancelled maybe June we might have a meeting it's the um the parah or the um fire relief or the um retirement funds that are holding everything up and that might not be able to be resolved and so um probably won't be able to be be resolved but anyhow we're still um in good hands with both with Mound and with um St. Bonnie. They're excellent fire departments and they cover our community very well. Having said that, I think that's it. Oh, I did have for Northwest League. Um it was um the person from Henman County that's in public works and there's going to be some millan overlay but minor work in our community this year. So, they did some work last year and but this year we have some Milan overlays and you can go on their website. that I think it shows on their website. Okay, with that, anybody else? No. >> All right. Well, then uh we can be adjourned. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> You Brian. All those in favor signify with I. I. All those opposed. Motion passes. We'll be back soon. Thanks.