Based on the context provided and the details in the transcript (specifically the 2024 date versus the 2026 context list), here is the transcribed townhall with speaker identification. *Note: In this October 2024 meeting, Joshua Hoyt is serving as Mayor, while Nick Lien is still a Councilmember (the context list provided reflects a later period where Nick Lien has become Mayor).* [0:00] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [0:47] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** We'll call the city council regular meeting to order for Monday October 21st 2024. Would everyone please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. [1:00] **All:** I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [1:00] **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** Call the roll please. Mayor Hoyt? **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Here. **Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Burham? **Councilmember Leah Burham:** Here. **Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Bernatz? **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Here. **Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Lien? **Councilmember Nick Lien:** Here. **Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Wilson? **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Here. [1:00] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** All right, any changes to the agenda? None. All right, unless there's any changes to the agenda I'd seek a motion to approve the agenda. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Motion. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Second. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Motion by Steve, second by Holly. All in favor say aye. (Aye). Moving on, there's no announcements. Item six is our citizen comments. This is a time reserved for citizen comments regarding non-agenda items. Is there anyone wishing to speak at this time? Please come up. I'll read this real quick in advance: citizen comments are a time for anyone to address the city council on matters not on the agenda. Those speaking should state their name and address and limit their comments to 5 minutes. The city council will not engage in discussion on your topic but those issues requiring response will be responded to by the next city council meeting. Go ahead, sir. [2:35] **Dave Aiken:** Thank you, appreciate the opportunity. My name is Dave Aiken, I'm fifth generation Farmingtonian. My grandfather was a multi-term county commissioner in this area representing us; my father was a three-term mayor from 1977 till 1984. My comments will be quite brief. Fair, honest, open government doesn't belong to any special cause or group. Council actions must determine what is best for every citizen and resident. Dedication and understanding of community needs, coupled with the capacity to compromise on issues and ideas, will keep us moving. I ask you to separate the claims, promises, and rumors from the truth. I need and ask for your support in this effort. That was written verbatim by my father; those were not my words. That was from 1984, almost 40 years ago exactly to this day. Thank you for your time. [3:25] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you. [Applause] [3:25] **Terry Pearson:** Good evening. My name is Terry Pearson, I live at 2475 225th Street West. Today is my birthday. At this stage of my life I've begun thinking about my legacy—are you thinking about yours? What will be your legacy? By changing the comprehensive plan to allow Industrial Development in the middle of residential properties, you believe that huge amounts of money will flow into the city coffers. You believe the promised, not guaranteed, money will solve a whole host of problems in your city. Apart from financial windfall you hope to see, what else will the city of Farmington gain from this development? A few, not many, jobs that local people may or may not fill. New parks, shinier schools, another sheet of ice at the arena? What are you building for the future citizens of Farmington? If we have two or more technical or technology parks in Farmington, will people from other communities want to move here? I urge you to vote no to altering the comprehensive plan and rezoning the golf course in adjacent farmland. If these properties are rezoned to commercial industrial, virtually anything could be built there, not just data centers. What other businesses of this type would be a good fit between our established neighborhoods? I urge you to find a better place and a better fit for industrial projects which we are all in favor of to enhance the livability of all the residents in and near the city. What do you want your legacy to be? Thank you. [Applause] [4:58] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you. [4:58] **Kathy Johnson:** I'm Kathy Johnson, 22280 Bearing Avenue, Farmington. Tonight is the fourth time I've addressed the board at these public meetings and I feel most of what I've said has not really been taken very seriously—you know, noise issues, a trip to Des Moines to compare it to a data center when it's one-sixth the size of what's being proposed for this site. I could go on, but mostly the board has not acknowledged the spot zoning or incompatible zoning issue. The mayor said anecdotally and after a meeting that there is an interested buyer, an interested seller... and by the way, just very recently and also anecdotally but from a good personal source of mine—and don't forget I live right next door to the golf course—the Olsens, the sellers, had no idea that the developer would be building 80-foot tall buildings. They thought they would be maybe one or two stories. They had no idea that there would be the scope of what was involved; just another little bit of secrecy from Tract. They were convinced one story or so, but nothing like what Tract is actually wanting to build. The willing buyer/seller argument is about the land; it is not about the comp plan. Farmington's 2024 comp plan is very clear regarding the use for the land and the orderly annexation agreement between Farmington and Castle Rock is also very clear. This is pretty much a quote: "The Planning Commission or the city council shall not subsequently modify change or alter in any way that comp plan designation without the consent of the Castle Rock Town board which cannot be withheld unreasonably." Castle Rock has been offered nothing from the city and no request for consent. Farmington's proposed comp plan is very clear; going from residential and agricultural to MUCI—actually the use that actually is being proposed is purely industrial. That plan was developed just four years ago and that is what is not for sale. Our comp plan and the dedicated use to our land is not available or should not be available to just go out to the highest bidder. If you say that, then you're not representing your constituents. Vote for quality of life, vote to preserve our resources, vote for infrastructure, but most of all be consistent with the existing residential zoning. Do not attempt to spot zone. Vote no to the proposed rezoning. Thank you. [Applause] [8:05] **Nate Ryan:** Mayor, council, my name is Nate Ryan. I live on Cambrian Way. Two things I'd just like you to consider. Last time I spoke up here we talked about specifically what should you be using to make your decision, and something that we talked about was already in the city code. Your reasoning for choosing to make a decision based on the rezoning is already there. Your criteria that you should use is already there. I'd just like to highlight that nowhere in the city code and nowhere in it for you does it say consider additional tax revenue. It doesn't say that. It says to watch out for the community members. It says does it make sense with the surrounding zone that's there. It doesn't say update your comp plan at the last second. It doesn't say have Deanna go in front of the school board and tell them how much money they're going to make in tax revenue and all these wonderful things. It doesn't say that anywhere. Use the criteria that's in the city code that's there for you to make those decisions and again, tax revenue is nowhere there in your decision making. The second thing I'd just like to mention is the Mayor and I and the City Administrator had an email exchange. In that email exchange the Mayor... we were talking about censure and the Mayor said, "well I can't be censured because it doesn't exist in the city code." And my retort to that, my response to him was: "neither does Technology Park." And it was crickets, because the Mayor understands that Technology Park does not exist in the city code. But if you look at all the applications, if you look at what's been applied for from Tract, from Kimley-Horn... what a list there. It says that they want to rezone this for a technology park. If the Mayor shouldn't be censured because it doesn't exist in the city code, how are all of you going to approve something that you don't have a definition for? Doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Lastly, what I'd just like to say is understand that you're setting a precedent—not just a precedent for this president for the city of Farmington, but a precedent for anyone who is going against a potential rezone. And by the way, I am for, 100% for data centers. I want them, great, put them in Farmington absolutely, but do it the right way. This rezoning process, this is not the right way. And if it was done the right way I can tell you as someone who is very in tune with personal property rights, I would be for it. But I'd like to remind you and just look at what's happened on Facebook... the Mayor voted in a poll, he took back his vote. I would hope that it was at the request of the City Attorney because I can see if any of you voted on that same poll, that could definitely be considered a public open meeting violation and it could be considered a serial meeting. But back to my original point: I'm for data centers, I'm for doing it right, and I definitely think that you all should look at the process. Has it been followed? I can tell you that it hasn't been. Look at what happened at the last Planning Commission meeting. They had to go back and approve something that should have been done before—cart before the horse—and that was the application to update the city code. That should have been done previously and City staff knows that. Matter of fact, Chairperson Rody mentioned that; he said when you bring this to the city council, City staff make sure that you're bringing everything to them, make sure that you're bringing it to them in the right order. The staff painted the Planning Commission in an extremely tight corner by bringing that decision to rezone to them after they had recommended to you that they for the application to rezone... he brought the city code, excuse me, the comprehensive use plan—he brought that instead. He brought that next. It was out of order. It should be city code, comp plan, and then rezoning. You're going out of order. The staff has put you in a very tight legal position and I would highly encourage you—I'm not telling you to vote yes, not telling you to vote no—I'm in favor of data centers, let's build them freaking everywhere, sounds awesome, but do it in the right way. You're putting yourself in major, major litigation and I just please, please understand that. This is a great city. I live here, I raise my family here, I coach youth here, our daughter goes to dance here, she's on the varsity/junior varsity dance team. This is my city just as much as it's your city. Thank you for your time. Thank you. [Applause] [13:22] **Julia Doffin:** Mayor, council, I'm Julia Doffin. I live on 225th Street West. I live on the east side of the golf course. A week from now, you, the city council, will vote on rezoning the PUD and the comp plan amendment for the golf course and School District 192 properties on 225th Street West. I'd like you to take this week and really think about the unknowns of rezoning to mixed-use commercial industrial: the tax burdens to the taxpayers, financial hardships to the families that surround these properties. The value of their homes will decrease. With younger families, their equity is very little and it will be absorbed by the view of an industrial building. Rezoning will cause the explosive growth of an industry that will bring massive costs and risks that will fall to the people and the environment of the state and region as a whole. There are no government regulations on any of these industrial industries. And what cost will the homeowners absorb? The infrastructure assessments for years to come for the needs of the biggest corporations of the world? Don't let monetary gains cloud your decisions. We need to stop and really think about this between now and next week. Please reach out to any of our environmental coalition group people on Facebook or through Messenger if you have any concerns or questions. We also have a public meeting tomorrow night at the library at 7:30 and we've invited all of you. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] [15:37] **Jeff Schler:** Mayor Hoyt, council, I'm Jeff Schler. I live at 22420 Calico Court. You've all been here a few times. You've heard what everybody has to say whether we think it's legal, whether we think it's right over spot zoning or an orderly annexation agreement—maybe we don't know, maybe you do know better. It's about people though. It's not necessarily about laws, it's not about rules; it's about people and what's right and wrong. You're trying to improve the city, you're trying to improve the quality of life for others. Let's not negatively impact the quality of life for a few people just to improve it for others. This can be done. I'm not a popular vote right now with everybody... it can be done. So, whatever the number is, if you're getting $18 million a year for the proposed plan, cut it in half. That's $9 million bucks a year that you don't have. Give all of us a sense that there's no way it affects us, that we can definitely live here, that my daughter can still stay here, that my wife can love where we live. My last house was within a mile of where I live now in Farmington—13 years, five years—I don't want to move again. If I do, I want to move another mile to a better house in the same area. Give us a guarantee. If Tract can't provide some privacy... we're accommodating them by letting them go bigger. You guys are being accommodated by changing existing zoning and impacting residents. Accommodate the residents. Cut it in half, cut a third of it off there. Give us some room that is undeniably okay. We won't hear them, we won't see them, they won't affect us. You've seen data centers, we've seen data centers. Some of them are good, some of them are bad. We don't know what we're getting. They didn't write down it's Microsoft. If they can write down every building's Microsoft, we know they're quiet, they're good. We don't know who it is. Give a buffer that guarantees it's okay for everybody. You still win. You take what the golf course's revenue is and what the school property is losing and it's still a win. And if Tract says that's not enough for us, you have to believe there's somebody else. Somebody else will come. You've already proven that the power's there, the water's there, everything's there. You've got an area that's probably looking pretty favorable. Somebody will buy it, and I bet you at the same terms, especially if you change your zoning. There's nothing we can do about it. We're here fighting every day. We've said everything we can say to try to sway you to change this. We're still here. Slow the roll. You can't tell Tract what to do, you can't tell the Olsons what to do with their land. I understand that you've said that you have no business in private land sales, but you sure can say, "Hey, really makes me nervous with something like this happening this close to my residents." They'll understand what that means. You guys put out a pretty good plan; my people will be comfortable with a little bit more. That's not you telling them what to do; it's you giving them a suggestion. They'll follow it. They have money invested into it, they want to come here. I think it could happen. I bet you if you cut it in half, I bet you more than 70% of the people here don't show up again. I just think that we deserve some special consideration too. I know you've given it to us and that's why you're here and you're hearing us out. Appreciate all the time you guys are putting into it. We all still want to live here, we want to live together. We want to see you guys at the corners and wave and not give a frown. We're just trying to live a life here too. So that's all I got. Thank you. [Applause] [19:16] **Lacy Fruit:** Thank you. I apologize, I'm going to read off my phone. I wasn't planning on talking tonight. My name is Lacy Fruit. I had some conversations with a few of you on Facebook over the weekend. This is my first time attending one of these meetings in my entire life, but also because any previous meetings my job has precluded me from being able to be here. So thank you for allowing us to speak. I'm a business owner, I have a master's degree in social work, I'm a mother, friend, and solid supporter of community. My husband is a 15-plus year veteran and member of the US Army Reserves with three combat deployments under his belt. His civilian job moved us to Minnesota and Farmington more specifically four years ago. Since then we have called Executive Estates home along with our two children who are seven and eight. Actually brought my daughter; I think it's important for her to see these things play out. They attend school at Farmington Elementary School and are active in gymnastics, flag football, and other after school clubs. We pay our taxes, register our vehicles, and follow the laws of our state. We too have felt the impact of high taxes in this area and are not unsympathetic to the stresses that those cause. I tell you all this in an attempt to humanize one small part of a large community, which is the community at risk by the development of this complex. Basically, because... sorry, it should not come out as a surprise to any of you that many of us in this room and those we represent feel completely unheard, unimportant, and like we are being sacrificed for some gain that is not clear. A key concern many have is the potential for adverse health effects and noise. Anecdotal evidence has shown increased sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression as a result of 24/7 close proximity to these centers—not to mention 12 of them. Many of those come from places where the people are living next to four or five, not 12. My husband deals with stress, anxiety, and at many times in his life, suicidal ideation. I'm concerned that the impacts of these data centers... what they could have not only on him, but also to many neurodivergent children and people who reside in our community. Tract will not and cannot guarantee these effects aren't real because they can't. The noise study being required will not measure the type of noise that these centers provide to the people who live near them 24/7, 365 days a year, and is therefore not only unnecessary but quite frankly is all for show. It's beneficial to Tract to agree to do the noise study because they're playing a game only they know the rules of. I've personally seen two city council members mention on Facebook that while the location may not be great, we really don't have many other options in Farmington. Personally, I have an affinity for Halloween decor. I deck out my front yard every year. But if I wanted a new decoration—one that would impact health, wellbeing, and property values—and the only place to put it was right next to my neighbor's window, I simply wouldn't do it because it's the right thing to do. That's a massive oversimplification of the issue, I'm well aware, but it has the same sentiment that we are arguing. If you're not willing to do it right, it shouldn't be done. To finish my comments I would like to ask you: would you be having this discussion if the bedrooms of your children were next door to something so unknown? If you wouldn't consider putting it next to the bedroom of our children, it is simply put, completely unethical. If this is the legacy you are willing to put in place for yourselves in this era of Farmington, I hope you are prepared to be sitting in those same seats when the downfalls and harm of these data centers are realized so that you may be held accountable. Tract just showed up and will not be here when that happens, but presumably you will. And to Tract, I'd like to ask: if they're so great for tax revenue and are so unobtrusive, why are they building them in any state or community that is not their own? Please listen to the residents of your community, stick up for us, not the middle-man company that doesn't give a damn about you, us, or our children. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] [23:23] **Piper Nelson:** Hi, my name is Piper Nelson and I live at 5505 113th Street West, Lonsdale, Minnesota. I'm not originally from here but I do frequent the area. So yeah, I'm also a little nervous so I really apologize if I have to take a break for a second. I'm here today because I believe data center development planning requires more time than what is currently being allotted. Over the summer I worked in Virginia to learn about "Data Center Alley" in Loudoun County, Virginia, which is the county that holds the most amount of data centers in the entire world. I know because of that experience there that this project is moving extremely quickly. It is understandable that as we move forward with AI and have a heavier reliance on computers, we need facilities to hold all this data. But I'd like to ask you to reconsider the placement of this 2.53 million square foot data center campus and the physical, ecological, and community consequences that may ensue. I would also ask that you don't change the comprehensive plan to fit one project, but to fit the needs and future of Farmington. If you read the 2040 Comprehensive Plan you would see that a data center campus is wrong for its current proposed location. In the comprehensive plan, Farmington residents said the top three things that would make Farmington a great place to live today are: the friendly and welcoming community, the small town feel, and the open space/natural beauty of the area. The top three changes residents would like to see to make the greatest improvement to Farmington would be: to expand retail options, decrease taxes and fees, and increase employment opportunities. As you can see, a data center campus does not align with residents' current satisfaction with living in Farmington, nor does it satisfy the desired changes to Farmington. I have a couple points that I would like to mention and some thoughts that I would like to provoke: One, a data center campus will permanently develop and degrade large open green spaces which goes against the interest of Farmington residents. These data center buildings could reach 50 to 80 feet, which is in their plan that they sent out, and that roughly equates to like five or eight-story buildings. Industrial buildings do not belong in the country. Number two, data centers consume large amounts of water for cooling processes. Where does this data center plan to get its water? Did they mention that? Will they be building a separate water tower and where will they be getting that water? So like, where will it be sourced from? Data centers require an immense amount of energy as well. Will new transmission infrastructure be required to accommodate the energy needs of the data center campus? Will this infrastructure consume more land space and will the infrastructure cost be subsidized by utility ratepayers? Farmington residents want fewer living expenses, not more. Data centers require backup diesel generators in case of power outages. These diesel generators must be tested and run at least once a month and when you're running them, they produce a lot of noise and pollution which will obviously affect the neighboring communities in these low and medium residential areas. For the amount of space and city resources the data center campus will consume, it will not create enough long-term jobs to make this project worthwhile for residents. I did not realize that I had more than 2 minutes, which I originally thought, so I will have to send a follow-up email with more information because there's a lot more than just what I've mentioned. I'm just asking that you slow down the decision-making process for this data center campus because they're planning 12 buildings, so that we can make the right decision for Farmington. I know I'm not part of your community directly but I do care. So I'm here. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. [Applause] [27:46] **Resident:** Good evening, thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening. Two weeks from tonight the plan is for you to vote on the rezoning of the golf course and school district properties. If you vote yes to rezoning to industrial, you will be changing the quality of life—and not for the better—for hundreds of people living next door and nearby. Whether it becomes a data center or any other industrial business, we all know the budget struggles the Farmington community faces. We live here, we know. During your joint work session in August with the school district discussing many financial struggles, the Mayor said reassuringly, "We will figure it out." I'm sure he was sincere when he said that. Farmington has figured it out for decades and without data centers, and will figure it out for decades to come. Council members have told me that you do not usually hear much from residents about issues at hand, but for many months you have heard from many of us. Anything industrial, including a data center, does not belong in a place surrounded by homes—homes that have been there for as long as 45 years and more. 38 years ago my husband and I chose to live next to the golf course for the peace and quiet and charm of the community. People purchased their home trusting your comp plan that that neighborhood would be the best place to live and raise their families. We would not have chosen to live next to a data center or anything else industrial. We have given you many facts, opinions, and experiences of other residential communities near data centers around the country and it is clear to us that near a data center would not be where we want to live. Tract has painted a win-win picture—of course they would. After they start the project and sell the parcels to end users, they would be long gone; you would be left with whatever happens after that. I would not want to live near any of the data centers I visited in Iowa. There may be planned future homes around those centers, but those people will choose to live there. You have heard from us; please hear us. Thank you. Thank you. [30:21] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Anyone else wishing to speak? I probably talk... (inaudible). Will you do that? Talk to me then while I ask questions and stuff, sounds good. Anyone else wishing to speak for the public comment section? All right, seeing none we'll move on to item seven which is our consent agenda and seek a motion to approve the consent agenda. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Motion to approve. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Second. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Motion by Holly, second by Steve. All in favor say aye. (Aye). All right, next item on the agenda is item 8.1 which is a public hearing. This is a public hearing for the certification of delinquent Municipal services to the 2025 property taxes. I'd like to go and open the public hearing at this time and Kim... [31:07] **Finance Director Kim Sommerland:** Good evening Mayor and council members. Tonight we're holding a public hearing for the annual certification process of delinquent utility bills, miscellaneous city services, and code enforcement violations. The process is in line with Minnesota state laws 429, 443, and 444. Early in September we mailed notices to property owners with amounts that were billed on or before July 31st of 2024 and which remained unpaid as of August 31st. The notices informed property owners that if they paid their delinquent balances by October 17th (last Thursday) they could avoid having those charges along with additional related charges added to the property taxes. The letter also informed property owners that the city council would review these charges during tonight's meeting. So for those that didn't pay their balances by last Thursday, the delinquent account balances of the identified properties are now being proposed for certification to property taxes. At the time the public notice was published in the newspaper on October 4th, there were 609 accounts and a total of $303,000 in delinquent amounts. When the meeting agenda was prepared last week we are down to 462 accounts totaling $244,000. Following last week's deadline we now have a remainder of 431 accounts with delinquent balances. The total amount for these accounts is $227,300.51, which is the amount we are requesting approval for certification to the 2025 property taxes tonight. After hearing from everyone who wishes to speak and closing the public hearing, city council has requested to adopt resolution 2024-92 certifying delinquent Municipal service amounts to Dakota County. Thank you. [33:25] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you ma'am. Any questions for Kim? Steve? **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** I do. So Kim, we're looking at... and you confirmed it... about $227,000. From a budgeting standpoint, we know that even if we certify, we're not going to get back 100% of this money, correct? **Kim Sommerland:** I mean, ultimately we will. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Oh so ultimately we will get 100% back? **Kim Sommerland:** Yes, because it'll go with property taxes and as property is sold, that'll be paid off. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Okay, but that could be over a period of time. I mean essentially my question is: do we have a mechanism to budget for the, or plan for, not receiving all the money at one time because I mean it does affect the budget. **Kim Sommerland:** Right. So when we budget for any of the property taxes that we get, because this will be assessed to property taxes, we're only budgeting for the current property taxes. So ultimately we receive current and delinquent, so you hope that it kind of evens out. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Okay thank you. [34:10] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Any questions? The list looks similar to the seven years that I've passed so not much has changed. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** No questions, same comment there. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** I don't have any questions for you Kim. This is a public hearing so if there's anyone who would like to comment or object to their delinquent taxes, this would be the time. All right, seeing none then I will close the public hearing at this time. Any other questions for Kim? No. All right then I'd seek a motion to adopt resolution 2024-92 certifying delinquent Municipal service amounts to Dakota County Treasurer Auditor as an addition to the 2025 real estate taxes for the appropriate properties. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Motion to adopt the resolution. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Second. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Motion by Steve, second by Holly. Call the roll please. **Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Burham? **Councilmember Leah Burham:** Yes. **Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Bernatz? **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Yes. **Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Lien? **Councilmember Nick Lien:** Yes. **Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Wilson? **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Yes. **Shirley Buecksler:** Mayor Hoyt? **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Yes. Thank you ma'am. All right, round table time. Leah? [35:43] **Councilmember Leah Burham:** Thank you Mayor. Two judges were appointed today for Dakota County. Both are chambered in Hastings; one is Christopher Bates and the other is Matthew Schmidt. So eventually they'll have their investiture ceremony and we'll have two new judges. That's all, thank you. [35:43] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Nick? [36:29] **Councilmember Nick Lien:** Since it's the second [meeting] in October, I'll say please have a safe and happy Halloween. Watch out for kids... and did I say Thanksgiving? **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** You said Thanksgiving. **Councilmember Nick Lien:** Halloween, I'm sorry! Right, slow down, too excited for turkey. All right, Halloween, yep, with the little kids running around. Thanks. Yeah, there are several events that are being put on by various organizations in the community and outside of the community for Halloween. So if you have little humans, a couple that come to mind—and this is not an exclusive list—but Parks and Rec has the Halloween Havoc tour. We did that on Friday night, fantastic by the way. Great displays out there. I love that citizens are getting in the spirit if it moves them to do that. Also I think Farmington Lutheran and Dodge Middle School both have Trunk-or-Treat opportunities for little humans. And don't forget about Trinity Care Center on Halloween; they are looking for kids and people that are dressed up to make their way through there and just brighten the residents' day. So there's a great opportunity to do that. I personally, my family does the All Hallows Gala, which is basically a fancy term for Halloween party. It supports military families, past and present, and it's run actually by the same organization that does the... oh my gosh, Kelly help me... **Kelly Asche:** Farmington Area Veterans Committee. **Councilmember Nick Lien:** Farmington Area Veterans Committee, thank you. **Kelly Asche:** You're welcome. **Councilmember Nick Lien:** And it's called the Support Our Troops Haunted House Organization. They used to run a haunted house that was actually at the Fairgrounds for almost 20 years and COVID, like many things, kind of zapped that one. But they do a haunted house party if you will, and there's a costume component to it. But your money that you spend to attend goes to a very good cause. So if you want to come hang out with me and a whole bunch of other ghouls and goblins on Saturday the 26th, that'll be in Northfield and the invitation is open. So that's all I've got. Lots of Halloween stuff, not Thanksgiving stuff yet. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Not Thanksgiving stuff yet. Thank you. Katie? (Holly?) [38:02] **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** I'm probably going to steal Deanna's thunder or somebody's from sharing this but on Thursday the Twin Cities Film Festival will be featuring our "My Town" episode of Farmington. And while I unfortunately can't attend, I'm really excited to see the full episode of this when we have the ability to share it more broadly with the rest of the community because I think it's a really great way to highlight the things that we're doing here in town and excited to see this full project come to light. Cool. I want to thank Kelly and Missy and all the volunteers at the Rambling River Center who put on another great fundraiser. I haven't gotten over there, Kelly, so extend my apologies. I did apparently win a couple of silent auction items so I need to pick that up. And that's all I've got. [38:50] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you. Lynn? (Jake?) [38:50] **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** I want to make the announcement again about December 7th at 7:00 p.m. The Farmington downtown will be hopefully full of participants of the first ever annual, hopefully, lighted holiday parade. So Homestead Church and the brewery and the city of Farmington have collaborated together to plan the event and it's a fun full day, lots of activities downtown. And we also have the Christmas Village and Dakota Village will also be happening prior to our holiday parade. So thank you. [38:50] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you. Shirley? **Shirley Buecksler:** Nothing for me tonight. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Nothing. Deanna? [39:35] **Community & Economic Development Director Deanna Kuennen:** Thank you Mayor and Council. Just a couple things. I want to thank everybody for coming out who was able to the Emery's grand opening. It's a beautiful, beautiful facility and it was really fun to be able to walk through it, see some of the units. And for me it was really fun to be able to walk through it with our building inspections team. They're very proud of that project and it's neat to walk through something that they've had to regulate and monitor and inspect every step along the way and see the pride in their eyes. That's the kind of team that we have as part of Farmington and it was just really fun to be able to experience that with them. I also want to let everybody know that "The Rye" is underway, which is the Yellow Tree Apartment project off of DuChene. And we will be updating some drone footage throughout that project as well to kind of watch it come to life. There's some drone footage that already exists and it's fascinating to see how quickly things can change. That will be 176 units of market-rate apartments that we'll be welcoming into this community. Finally, thank you Councilmember Bernatz for bringing up the docuseries "My Town." This was a great project for us to be involved in. We get to attend and see the episode for the first time on Thursday; it's been selected to be part of the Twin Cities Film Festival. We also will be doing a public event in January—the date yet to be determined—but we will have Corey Heppa, who is the brains behind this project, coming to our community doing a Q&A and having a celebration to share this with the community. The episode will actually air the Sunday before Thanksgiving publicly, but we do also want to have that celebration where we can invite the community to really appreciate and enjoy this project. So more to come on that. Thank you. [41:56] **Public Works Director John Powell:** Thank you Mayor and council members. Three items this evening. Public Works has completed hydrant flushing so now we're starting street sweeping. Ideally the leaves would come down, we'd sweep them up, and then we'd flush the hydrants, but timing-wise it didn't work out that way this year with our weather and whatnot, so we will be out there sweeping. One of the contracts awarded this evening was related to our $500,000 DNR shade tree grant and we're very excited for that because not only did we get $300,000 to remove trees—and the cost per tree in the bid came in under what we had assumed so we're in good shape—but we also get to invest in tree replanting. And so this winter we'll be looking at a planting plan for the area that's affected and that's very exciting. Most of our effort has been focused on public safety and removal of trees; now we get to start some new trees out there. Finally, Dakota County has kicked off the Denmark Avenue Corridor study from County Road 50 down to Ash Street. That study also includes Ash Street from Denmark Avenue over to the railroad tracks to the east. This study will look at traffic operations, pedestrians, bikes, vehicles, what the future roadway section is that will address the bridge and the connectivity of the Greenway across Denmark Avenue. We'll look at intersections and where future intersections would be and whether they meet warrants for traffic control. That's just kicking off now. We expect the first public open house to be in early December so we'll be posting information that becomes available. We'll have a link on our website to the County's project website. Thank you. [43:27] **Parks & Rec Director Kelly Asche:** Like Councilmember Bernatz said, Friday night is the Halloween Walk from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. behind Dodge Middle School. I think as of today we have 25 businesses signed up to participate and that's a joint venture between Parks Recreation and Community Education. The Halloween Havoc tour is on the city's homepage if you're interested in the tour, also on social media as well. Today is the first day you can sign up your house for the holiday lighted tour, if you can believe that. That's not too far off the road either, so if you want to sign up your house for that, it is also on the Facebook page and on the homepage. A week from Thursday is Halloween; it is also our last day in the current Rambling River Center. Then Friday November 1st, we will transition to Fire Station 1. We'll have programs out of the fire station; the fitness center will actually move here to City Hall in conference room 169. So if on November 1st you're stopping by the Rambling River Center for a program or event or to visit or have coffee, you'll find us at the fire station. So just want to make sure everybody knows where we're at until construction is done. [44:14] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you. Kim? **Kim Sommerland:** I don't have anything this evening. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Chief? [44:14] **Fire Chief Matthew Price:** We are 20 short days away for Turkey Bingo, so I want to put that on everybody's radar. So on November 4th we'll have a lot more information to come on all that. Just to keep touching on the Halloween, little data for you: 40% of all structure fires that happen over Halloween are because combustibles are too close to candles. So the fire department asks everybody: if you're going to be using candles, make sure that it's on a sturdy base, it's away from any sort of combustibles and other items, and make sure that you're putting them out in the evening time or if you're going to leave the room. And now they have those really cool candles that are lighted but look like candles... **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Little safer. **Matthew Price:** Yeah, we recommend anything other than an actual candle, but if you're going to use a candle these are the actual things that we want to look for: you know, the sturdy base away from combustibles, if you're going to leave the room make sure they're not lit or any of that kind of stuff. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** I like it. Chief? [45:48] **Police Chief Nate Siem:** If anybody's been following our social media channels at the Police Department over the last week or two, you've probably seen some foreign language films about something to do with some pink Stanleys. I don't know what they say but I know that they sold their pink Stanleys really fast. We have been sourcing them from all over the place; we have a bunch more so if anybody missed out on the first batch, we have some more. I hear there may be another video dropping tonight or tomorrow, probably going to be equally as funny if it's as funny as they described it to me. Two other things real quick: the "Debbie Downer," we're heading into winter parking season in like 10 short days, 11 short days, something like that. So start making plans to park your cars off the street. But that day also happens to coincide with the launch of "Toys for Town," which I can't believe is already here again. So starting November 1st we'll have our collection bins out at probably 45-50 different locations throughout the city and some of our neighboring towns. Give early and give often. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** It's like we just dropped off that truck and then here it is again, right? **Nate Siem:** I'm not kidding you. I thought about it over the weekend, I'm like, "oh my goodness it's here again how can that possibly be?" **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** I think we did just put the bins away. **Nate Siem:** We did. [47:21] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** There is... this is the time of year where there's a lot of events happening across the community, whether it's through Park and Rec, through Community Ed, all the different nonprofits and organizations, all of our churches and religious groups. There's a ton of events happening. There's a lot of areas, a lot of ways to find and become aware of those events, but they do—they come on you quick and next thing you know, we're going to be talking about 2025. Harvest season not quite over yet; even with the great conditions that we've had there's still combines and trucks on the road. Remember even with the shorter daytime hours, even with the hazards and the flashers on, please be slow, take your time, exercise patience. They have a living to earn and we need to keep everybody safe. Halloween: it's going to be fairly decent weather-wise than it has in some of the years past, so be mindful there's going to be more kiddos out on the streets, especially after dark. Just go slow, go slow, be pay attention to all the crossings, do all the things. Please just be as safe as you can. Toys for Town's on the corner, it's coming up. The pink Stanley... pink Stanleys go to benefit the pink patch project. Let you do that drop again real quick. **Nate Siem:** Yes, all the proceeds, all profits from the sales of our pink patches... we have two different patches, two different sizes. We still have a few challenge coins left I think, and the pink Stanleys... all the profits from those sales go to the American Cancer Society. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you, sir. And last, Deanna you hit on it. We went to the ribbon cutting and the grand opening for the Emery. I mean this was incredible. Much to the naysaying that we've heard for the last year and a half about how big this is, how much of a monstrosity it is, how it's unaffordable and all the bad things... it's a private $16 million-plus investment. It is an incredible enhancement to downtown. It is absolutely going to drive people to downtown. You're talking about 75-plus new residents that are going to patron our local businesses. I was floored. I mean, it looked amazing and I held back to not try and go in there through the process, but it was incredible. It is very well laid out, it's very clean, it's very fresh. Well done, high-level finishes. It was incredible to sit in the model and, you know, noise abatement, all the things that they have done... I mean, you couldn't hear anything outside, you couldn't hear the vehicles that were driving on Elm. But just another testament to how this city has continued to support its businesses. You know, we listen to our businesses and they tell us one of their pressing concerns is affordable housing for their workforce, and by diversifying the house mix by offering things that are at market rate, this continues to support our employers for them to grow and expand. I have no doubt that that building will have occupancy in a very quick period of time and it'll be just another staple of downtown. Aesthetically it looks great, the way they matched the brick; it far exceeded my expectations. So that was great to see. I have nothing more to add. So with that we look for a motion to adjourn. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Motion to adjourn. **Councilmember Nick Lien:** Second. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Motion by Holly, second by Nick. All in favor say aye. (Aye). We're at 7:49. [50:29] [Music] [50:42] [Music] [50:53] [Music]