Nov 18, 2025 City Council

[I. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:11]

COUNCIL MEETING TO TO ORDER. FIRST ORDER IS ROLL CALL. COUNCIL MEMBER. COLLINS.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BELLAMY HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HERE. VICE MAYOR PAULINA HERE. WITH THAT, WOULD EVERYBODY PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? 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. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO ROTATE. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE AGENDA AROUND. WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU FIRST. MIKE THE OR RICK, THE THE SOCCER

[IV. RECOGNITIONS OR PRESENTATIONS]

I'M RICK, AND I AM THE TRANSPORTATION WORKGROUP LEADER FOR SUSTAINABLE STILLWATER.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN WORK THIS. RIGHT. AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IS SAFER STREETS FOR ALL, IN PARTICULAR, AS IT RELATES TO BICYCLING AND STILLWATER AND THE CITY'S TO BE APPLAUDED FOR A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY AROUND BICYCLING.

THAT INCLUDES BIKE RACKS, DOWNTOWN E-BIKE RENTALS, SIGNAGE ON THE TRAILS. AND NOTEWORTHY IS STILLWATER HAS BEEN CERTIFIED AS A BICYCLE FRIENDLY, BRONZE LEVEL, BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY FOR FOUR YEARS. NOW. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS. WE HAVE REAPPLIED AGAIN FOR BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR. THE CURRENT ONE EXPIRES THIS YEAR.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T FIND OUT UNTIL DECEMBER IF WE IF WE GET AWARDED AGAIN, BUT WE'RE HOPING AT LEAST FOR BRONZE AGAIN. AND WHAT OUR CURRENT STATUS IS, IS WITH ESPECIALLY WITH BICYCLING AND STILLWATER IS STILLWATER HAS BECOME KNOWN AS A BICYCLING DESTINATION.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. IF YOU GO DOWN AROUND THE LOOP TRAIL ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, BUT ESPECIALLY ON THE WEEKENDS, BROWNS CREEK TRAIL IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT'S NOT JUST RESIDENTS. PEOPLE COME FROM A LOT OF AREAS TO COME TO STILLWATER TO BICYCLE. WE HAVE NOTEWORTHY BICYCLING FUNDRAISING EVENTS BETWEEN THE BRIDGE, THE VALLEY BIKE RALLY AND THE ALZHEIMER'S RIDE. TOGETHER, WE BRING IN OVER 900 PARTICIPANTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AND SO IT IS A A HOME FOR BICYCLING EVENTS IN THAT REGARD THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF. AND WE AND ESPECIALLY IN THE VALLEY, WE GET PEOPLE. I THINK LAST YEAR WE HAD PEOPLE COME TO STILLWATER FROM SEVEN STATES TO TO JOIN IN THIS RIDE. WE'VE SEEN THE OVERALL USE OF OUR TRAILS, SOMETIMES TO A FAULT. AND WE WE KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE THERE, BUT IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE SO POPULAR. AND THE INCREASED USE. WE HAVE YOUTH BICYCLING EVENTS LAST YEAR, OUR BICYCLING OUR BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY, WE FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HAD ALL SEVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING WITH OVER 500 KIDS BIKING TO SCHOOL IN MAY. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE SPD ANNUAL BICYCLE RODEO. WE'RE ALSO SEEING INCREASED USE OF BIKES AS TRANSPORTATION. IF YOU DRIVE AROUND TOWN IS YOU'LL SEE BIKES ON THE STREETS, PEOPLE KIND OF KNOCK STILLWATER A LITTLE BIT FOR THEIR HILLS. BUT THIS IS WHERE E-BIKES AND THINGS LIKE THAT COME INTO PLAY IS. IF YOU HAVE AN E-BIKE, HILLS AREN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL, BUT WHAT YOU DO SEE IS YOU SEE A LOT MORE BIKES AROUND TOWN, JUST IN GENERAL. THERE'S NOT JUST ON THE TRAILS. AND SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS STILLWATER IS KNOWN NOW AND IS GROWING AS A COMMUNITY WITH STRONG BICYCLING ATTRACTION AND USAGE. SO WHY ARE SAFER STREETS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR BICYCLES? THEY PREVENT ACCIDENTS. THE GOAL IS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND SAVE LIVES, INCREASING MOBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL. AND THIS INCLUDES AUTOS. WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT EVER HERE TO TALK ABOUT REDUCING AUTOS OR THIS IS SOMEHOW ANTI AUTO. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S NOT WHAT THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT. THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT STREET USE FOR ALL. AND THAT INCLUDES AUTOS BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS. BUT SAFER STREETS MORE BICYCLES, SUPPORT LOCAL

[00:05:01]

THESE ARE THAT THESE ARE ARTERIAL ROUTES FOR GETTING AROUND TOWN. HIGHLIGHTED AWARENESS OF BICYCLES ON ARTERIAL ROUTES. AND SO IF YOU DESIGNATE THEM AND YOU HAVE MORE BIKES ON THEM, OBVIOUSLY THE KEY IS TO TO MAKE THEM SAFE FOR EVERYBODY TO USE THEM THEN.

AND SO THAT'S THE POINT. INCREASED SIGNAGE AND VISIBILITY OF BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS AT INTERSECTIONS. INTERSECTIONS ARE ALWAYS AN ISSUE FOR BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS AND CARS. ANYTIME YOU HAVE A POTENTIAL INTERACTION. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS INTERACTIONS HERE. WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION ON THE SAME STREET AND YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL INTERACTION, IT'S A CONCERN AND IT'S A RISK. AND IN COLLABORATION WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY, NOT ALL OF THE STREETS IN STILLWATER ARE CITY STREETS.

SOME OF THEM ARE COUNTY ROADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BIKE SAFETY AND BIKE BIKE FRIENDLINESS IS ALREADY INVOLVED. AND THEN WE'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SHARROWS. AND SO FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN APPLAUD THE CITY FOR THE WORK ON PUTTING SHARROWS ON THE CURRENT STREETS. I'VE SEEN THEM ON GREELEY, ON PINE, ON NORTHLAND, AND THERE'S PROBABLY MORE THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN YET, BUT THEY LOOK GREAT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS, IS BY PUTTING THEM ON THERE IS TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE THERE AND WHAT THEY WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISH, AND IT GETS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING TOO. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE AND THE PURPOSE OF SHARROWS IS THAT AND I'LL TRY TO READ THE WHOLE THING HERE. WHEN THERE'S A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF BICYCLE USE ON A CITY STREET WITH BUSIER AUTO TRAFFIC, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU CREATE THAT INTERACTION AGAIN. AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE THAT INTERACTION, THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD OF INCREASED NUMBERS FOR THAT INTERACTION. AND WHAT THE SHARROWS SERVE. IS THERE A TOOL TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF THE DRIVERS THAT BICYCLES ARE HERE. AND SO IT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT THAN YOUR TRAFFIC CALMING AND YOUR ISLANDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IS THAT WHAT IT DOES IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AREN'T DRIVING IN A FOG ANYMORE IS THEY'RE THEY'RE AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS MORE BECAUSE THERE'S MARKINGS, THERE'S SIGNAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SO IF YOU HAVE BIKE MARKINGS, PEOPLE WILL BE MORE AWARE IN A CAR THAT THERE ARE BIKES ON THAT PARTICULAR ROAD.

AND WHEN WHEN YOU HAVE THE INTERACTIONS, IT REDUCES THE RISK. SOME SOME CLARIFICATIONS.

DO SHARROWS COMPLETELY MAKE BICYCLISTS SAFE FROM CARS? NO THEY DON'T, AS THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO CREATE PHYSICAL SEPARATION IS YOU NEED SPACE AND YOU NEED CURBS, AND YOU NEED BOLLARDS AND YOU NEED PHYSICAL SEPARATION. SO YOU REDUCE THE INTERACTION TO ZERO OR TO TO NOTHING. SHARROWS DON'T DO THAT. THEY'RE NOT INTENDED TO DO THAT. DOES THE CITY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE TOTALLY SAFE BICYCLING FOR EVERYBODY? YOU MEAN CREATE CURBS AND ALL OF THIS? AND THE ANSWER IS NO. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS, IS A STEP APPROACH TO WHERE WE CAN CREATE AN AWARENESS TO THE AUTOS, TO WHERE THIS IS A ROAD THAT IS BEING SHARED. AND WHEN WE HAVE THOSE INTERACTIONS, WE CAN BE MUCH SAFER IN DOING IT. SO WE DID POST. WE'RE PLEASED WITH WHAT THE CITY DID. SO WE POSTED THIS ON SUSTAINABLE STILLWATER SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE YOU CAN SEE HERE IS WE GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS. AND SO BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE THE THUMBS UP, THE LIKES, THE SMILEY FACES, WE HAD 47 TOTAL POSITIVE COMMENTS AND WE HAD THREE NEGATIVE COMMENTS. THE KEY IS WELL, WHEN PEOPLE ARE NEGATIVE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS KIND OF PATH FORWARD, WHAT WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT BICYCLISTS DON'T OBEY STOP SIGNS OKAY. AND THEY SHOULD

[00:10:09]

THEY'RE GOING TO BE SCRAPED OFF BY SNOWPLOWS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THE ONE THAT COMES TO LIGHT IS IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ADVANCED NOTICE AND EXPLANATION. YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S ONE THAT I'LL COME BACK TO. IT ACTUALLY HAS SOME MERIT TOO, BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER AS A COMMUNITY TO COMMUNICATE WHEN WE DO THESE KIND OF THINGS, IS WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR AND HOW THEY IMPACT THE CITY AND HOW WE HOW, YOU KNOW, HOW IT AFFECTS YOU AND YOUR DRIVING. SO BIKES ON STREETS, KIND OF THE BOTTOM LINE TOO IS BY MINNESOTA LAW, WE MAY BE ALL AWARE OF THIS, IS THAT BICYCLES ARE ALLOWED ON CITY STREETS BY LAW. AND SO BY THE WAY, THE LAW IS WRITTEN BY BICYCLE, HAS ALL OF THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF A DRIVER OF A VEHICLE. THEY'RE CONSIDERED PART OF TRAFFIC. THEY'RE ALLOWED ON ALL PUBLIC ROADS UNLESS IT'S SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED, WHICH BASICALLY APPLIES TO FREEWAYS. BIKES AREN'T ALLOWED ON FREEWAYS. THE QUESTION ABOUT, WELL, BIKES SHOULD BE ON SIDEWALKS VERSUS ON STREETS. YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, WHY ARE WE ON STREETS WHEN WE HAVE SIDEWALKS? THE BOTTOM LINE IS, SIDEWALKS AREN'T INTENDED FOR BICYCLISTS, ESPECIALLY AS YOU GET E-BIKES. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED HEARING HORROR STORIES ABOUT E-BIKES ON SIDEWALKS AROUND THE STATE, AND I THINK IT WAS RED WING OR SOMEBODY OUTLAWED THEM ON SIDEWALKS. AND SO THE POINT IS, IS YOU'RE NOW YOU'RE YOU'RE JUST MOVING THE PROBLEM. IF YOU MOVE AN E-BIKE FROM THE STREET AND YOU MOVE IT TO THE SIDEWALK, NOW YOU HAVE AN INTERACTION BETWEEN E-BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS. WE ALREADY HAVE THAT ON OUR TRAILS WE'RE DEALING WITH. YOU DON'T WANT THEM ON YOUR SIDEWALKS. PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK I'VE RIDDEN MY BIKE ON A SIDEWALK SINCE I WAS TEN, AND SO THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION. DOWN IN HASTINGS, THERE'S A LADY THAT WAS RUN OVER BY A 14 YEAR OLD ON AN E-BIKE, AND I SHE'S GOT SEVERE PROBLEMS FOR A LONG TIME. RIGHT. AND SO SO IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. IT JUST MOVES THE PROBLEM. RIGHT. SO TRAILS TRAILS ARE GREAT. THE MULTI-USE TRAILS ARE ON STILLWATER AND PEOPLE COME TO STILLWATER AGAIN FOR THE TRAILS. THEY'RE WONDERFUL, BUT THEY'RE MULTI-USE. AND SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE INTERACTIONS THERE AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

AS YOU ADD MORE E-BIKES TO THE TRAILS, YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THOSE INTERACTIONS THOUGH. AND SO WE JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU INCREASE THE DENSITY, IT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE HAVE RISK COMMUTERS, COMMUTERS THAT USE E-BIKES. DO YOU WANT ALL PEOPLE THAT THAT ARE LEARNING TO COMMUTE, THAT ARE ADDING THAT ARE BUYING E-BIKES TO BE ON THE TRAILS? DO YOU WANT TO MOVE THEM TO THE TRAILS, OR DO YOU HAVE ALTERNATIVE MEANS FOR THEM AND YOU CAN'T BUILD ENOUGH TRAILS? HONESTLY, THE TRAILS ARE GREAT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO TO FROM POINT A TO POINT B IN STILLWATER, YOU CAN'T PUT ENOUGH OFF ROAD TRAILS TO DO THAT BECAUSE YOU NEED A TRAIL ON EVERY SINGLE STREET. THEN YOU CAN'T DO IT. SO THEREFORE THERE WILL BE BIKES ON CITY STREETS. IT'S UNAVOIDABLE. THE KEY IS TO FIND POSITIVE SOLUTIONS WHERE THE STREETS CAN BE SHARED FOR ALL. AND SO LOOKING AHEAD, OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FROM SUSTAINABLE STILLWATER AND FROM THE TRANSPORTATION GROUP IS COLLABORATION WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY. THE COUNTY SHOULD BE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS. AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN WORK ON THAT TOO. FOR THE COUNTY ROADS. STILLWATER TO DESIGNATE A BICYCLE ADVOCATE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S MENTIONED IN BICYCLE FRIENDLY APPLICATIONS.

AND AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A COST, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS THAT CAN BE HAD.

IT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT ADDING STAFF. IT COULD BE A MEMBER OF THE STAFF WHERE IT'S PART OF THEIR JOB, OR IT COULD BE A VOLUNTEER. IT COULD BE SOMEBODY FROM SUSTAINABLE STILLWATER, AS WE COULD WORK THAT OUT. BUT HAVING A BICYCLE ADVOCATE IN THE DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE A VERY POSITIVE STEP. CITY COUNCIL APPROVES A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY. WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST ABOUT COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES, AND THIS IS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'D LIKE TO REVISIT. AND THEN CREATING A CITY SPONSORED TRAINING WE'D LIKE THE CITY CITIES BACKING FOR LIKE JUST LIKE THE SHARROWS. BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR BICYCLE ETIQUETTE ON THE TRAILS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S IT'S NOT THAT THESE INTERACTIONS AREN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, IT'S JUST THAT THE MORE WE INCREASE THE EDUCATION, THE AWARENESS AND WHAT THE RULES OF THE ROAD ARE IS WE CAN LEARN TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT, TO SHARE, TO SHARE THIS SPACE EQUALLY AND MINIMIZE THE PROBLEMS. AND SO WE CAN DO THAT ON THE STREETS TOO. THERE IS TRAIL ETIQUETTE TRAINING WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN. THERE IS AVAILABLE ADULT BICYCLE EDUCATION, WHICH WE DON'T DO CURRENTLY. SO WHEN ADULTS ARE OUT ON E-BIKES, DO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO ON THE CITY STREETS AND IN SESSIONS FOR ALL STREET USERS, WHICH IS AUTO DRIVERS? DO AUTO DRIVERS

[00:15:05]

ANYBODY WANT TO GUESS WHAT THE THIRD AND FOURTH HIGHEST POPULATION CITIES WERE THAT WERE OUT THERE? I DON'T HAVE MY PHONE WITH ME, SO I CAN'T REMEMBER THE FIRST NAME OF THE CITY, BUT IT'S IN PAKISTAN. THE REASON I SAY THIS IS THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE STARTING TO COME UP THAT WE'RE JUST GETTING TROLLED BY FOLKS IN RUSSIA AND CHINA AND OTHER THINGS. AND AS I STARTED TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS THAT WE WERE GETTING ON THIS, YOU START TO LOOK AT THE PROFILES AND LO AND BEHOLD, THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED TO ANYBODY IN THE CITY. YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW FRIENDS. THE PICTURES ALL LOOK SORT OF LIKE THEY GOT PULLED OFF OF AN OLAN MILLS WEBSITE FROM 1980, SO I WOULDN'T READ TOO MUCH INTO IT. ONE THAT I DID HEAR QUITE A BIT ABOUT WAS THE COST. AND JUST TO REITERATE, SEAN, I THINK YOU SAID IT'S THE COST OF MAKING A TEMPLATE, THE PAINT AND THEN A FEW HOURS OF LABOR, WHICH WE JUST HAD A DEATH RECENTLY OF A BIKE VERSUS PEDESTRIAN JUST NORTHWEST OF STILLWATER, VERY PROMINENT PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WAS REMEMBERED REALLY WELL. THIS STUPID NOT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. IT'S CHEAP, IT'S EASY, NOTIFIES PEOPLE. I THINK THE SHARROWS ARE, YOU KNOW, AND FAIR POINT ABOUT THE NOTIFICATION. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'VE HIRED A COMMUNICATION EXPERT IN THERE. IF I CAN PIVOT A LITTLE BIT, WE HAPPEN TO HAVE SOME CHAMBER PEOPLE HERE TODAY. AND I KNOW YOU'VE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN HELPING GET SOME EVS IN IN TOWN.

AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL REALLY WANTS TO OWN AN EV STATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT I JUST RECENTLY DID A TRIP LAST WEEK TO GO SEE MY KID DOWN IN KANSAS. IN MY EV, TWO THINGS HIT ME SQUARE BETWEEN THE EYES. ONE IF YOU WANT TO HAVE MORE FOLKS COMING, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER TO DOWNTOWN STILLWATER, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR A LOT OF YEARS TO MAKE THIS A YEAR ROUND CITY, EVS NEED TO HAVE. WAS IT LEVEL THREE CHARGERS? IS IS THAT THE TERM THAT I NEED? THAT'S THE HIGHEST. THAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL THREE. AND AND WE'VE GOT SOME FOLKS FROM TRINITY WHO ARE PUTTING THEM IN THERE. IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE OF 150 TO 200 MILES OF HERE TO COME VISIT STILLWATER, YOU NEED ONE NEAR STILLWATER. YOU NEED TO CHARGE SOMEWHERE. AND I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS LOOK AROUND. IT'S NOT A LEFT VERSUS RIGHT THING ANYMORE. IF PEOPLE ARE JUST BUYING EVS BECAUSE THEY MAKE SENSE. IT'S THE CHEAPEST CAR I'VE EVER HAD TO OPERATE. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING THERE, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU IN THE CHAMBER AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING TO DRIVE SOME BUSINESS IN HERE, I WOULD IF THERE'S A POLICY LEVER WE CAN PULL AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUY LAND. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SET THEM UP. BUT THERE'S A POLICY LEVEL WE CAN PULL TO SUPPORT FOLKS WHO WANT TO PUT THAT IN. I'M ALL IN. AND IF I COULD JUST ADD. GREAT POINT, LARRY. AND SO IF I COULD JUST ADD THAT IF ANYBODY WALKS AROUND THE FULL PARKING LOTS ON THE WEEKENDS AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF CARS ARE DOWN THERE IS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF EVS AND THEY'RE NOT ALL RESIDENTS. THERE ARE PEOPLE DRIVING FROM MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL AND AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE WE ARE A DESTINATION CITY. YEAH. ANYTIME I TALK TO PEOPLE IN IN MINNEAPOLIS, I'M FROM STILLWATER. OH, I LOVE STILLWATER. I ALWAYS, ALWAYS GO OUT THERE ON WEEKENDS. AND SO SO THEY'RE COMING OUT HERE.

THEY'RE HERE. YOU CAN SEE THEM IN THE PARKING LOTS. THE PROBLEM IS, IS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO CHARGE TO GET HOME. AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO GO LOOK AROUND, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO HUDSON OR THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO I MEAN, THERE'S THERE'S MORE EV CHARGERS ON ON THE WISCONSIN

[00:20:04]

AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO FIND THEM. BUT THE PROBLEM FOR OUR BUSINESS OWNERS IS THEY'RE NOT DOWNTOWN. YEAH. WHERE THEY WHERE WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THEM. OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANKS, RICK. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE STILLWATER GIRLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SOCCER TEAM. WOULD YOU LADIES PLEASE COME FORWARD? AND, MR. HUBER, WE HELD THIS OFF BECAUSE WE WERE WAITING FOR YOU TO GET HERE, I HEARD. PERHAPS MORE OF A COLLABORATION WITH DISCOVER STILLWATER TO JUST THINKING IN TERMS OF TOURISM. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH, YEAH. I WONDER IF THERE'S ONE AVAILABLE. AND I LEFT MY PHONE IN MY CAR. IN MISSION, SO I'M GONNA GO DOWN THERE BEFORE I'M EXCITED TONIGHT FOR OUR GIRLS SOCCER TEAM. WE HAVEN'T HAD A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW. AND AND THE BOYS OF STILLWATER BETTER START PICKING IT UP, BECAUSE THE GIRLS ARE DOING A HECK OF A LOT BETTER THAN THE BOYS ARE DOING. SO WITH THAT, WE'RE SO PROUD OF HIM. I, I ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE GAMES. I, I'M A FOOTBALL GUY. I WENT TO COLLEGE, PLAY FOOTBALL. I'M A FOOTBALL GUY. BUT I WENT TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SOCCER TEAM OR SOCCER GAMES. MY FIRST TWO SOCCER GAMES OF MY LIFE AND THESE GIRLS WERE AMAZING, AMAZING. AND THE TEAMWORK, THE TEAMWORK AND THE PASSING, IT WAS AMAZING. AND THEY PLAYED THE DEFENDING STATE CHAMPIONS. THEY WERE UNDEFEATED AND THEY KICKED THEIR BUTT. IT WAS GREAT. IT WAS JUST AWESOME TO WATCH THESE GIRLS PLAY. SO I'M EXCITED TO TO READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR THEM. AND THEN I'D LIKE TO THE CAPTAINS TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS. SO. WHEREAS THE CITY OF STILLWATER PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER TEAM, WHOSE HARD WORK, DETERMINATION, AND TEAMWORK BROUGHT HONOR TO THEIR SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY DURING THE 2025 SEASON. AND WHEREAS, OCTOBER 29TH, 2025, THE PONIES DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE ON THE FIELD AT US BANK STADIUM, ADVANCING THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE STATE TOURNAMENT TO CLAIM THE 2025 STATE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE CLASS THREE AA GIRLS STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP, WHEREAS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HEAD COACH MIKE HUBER. HUBER. AND WHAT WAS IT, 2025? YOU WERE HERE LAST TIME 2321. SO THIS IS KIND OF GETTING TO BE OLD HAT FOR THEM.

SO IT'S GREAT. AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HEAD COACH MIKE HUBER, THE 2025 PONIES, FEATURING 17 SENIORS, TWO JUNIORS AND THREE FRESHMEN, CAPPED OFF AN INCREDIBLE SEASON AND BUILD ON YEARS OF COMMITMENT, CAMARADERIE AND HARD WORK, SHOWCASING ONLY THEIR ATHLETIC NOT ONLY THEIR ATHLETIC SKILLS, BUT ALSO THEIR SPORTSMANSHIP AND PERSEVERANCE, AND ULTIMATELY EARNING STILLWATER ITS FOURTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN PROGRAM'S HISTORY. JOINING THE JOINING THE TITLES FROM 1994 98 AND 2021. AND WHEREAS THIS CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY MARKS THE 13TH STATE TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE, APPEARANCE AND SIX TRIP TO THE FINALS FOR THE GIRLS SOCCER PROGRAM, SOLIDIFYING ITS REPUTATION AS ONE OF MINNESOTA'S PREMIER SOCCER PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS THE PLAYERS, COACHES, AND FAMILIES OF THIS TEAM HAVE REPRESENTED THE CITY OF STILLWATER WITH INTEGRITY, PRIDE AND PASSION, INSPIRING THE COMMUNITY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF STUDENT ATHLETES.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL POLLINA, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS VICE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STILLWATER, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 19TH, 2025, AS STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER TEAM DAY IN THE CITY OF STILLWATER, AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE THE TEAM'S REMARKABLE 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON. THEREFORE, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF STILLWATER TO BE AFFIXED TO THIS 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2025. WITH THAT. MR. HUBER, WHAT WE WANT YOU TO COME UP AND SAY SOMETHING SICK AND TALK ABOUT IT. YEAH, I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. SO THANKS. THANKS FOR WAITING FOR ME. YEAH. WE WERE I JUST FLEW BACK FROM NASHVILLE ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR AGO, SO I WAS KIND OF COMING IN HOT FROM THE AIRPORT. BUT, YEAH, I'M SUPER PROUD OF THESE GIRLS. AND I GET THANK YOU FOR MIKE AND CITY OF STILLWATER FOR RECOGNIZING THIS GROUP OF GIRLS. THEY PUT A LOT

[00:25:05]

WHAT'S YOUR NAME? SHE SAID, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T. WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S A GIRL THAT'S NOT HERE TONIGHT. ELENA MUTH GOT TWO GOALS IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT. THE ONE GIRL I KNOW ON THE TEAM. BUT MISS LAWRENCE, THAT WAS A GREAT GOAL YOU GOT. SHE GOT THE WINNING GOAL IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, SO IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. IT WAS REALLY AWESOME. SO THANK YOU GIRLS. THANK. CONGRATULATIONS GUYS. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANKS. THANK YOU THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. SEE. ONE SECOND YOU'RE UP HERE. COME DOWN. YOU PROBABLY HEARD YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF HER. SHE'S PROBABLY HEARD YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF HER. RAN AWAY. I KNOW SHE WAS SCARED. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT PORTION OF OUR COUNCIL

[V. OPEN FORUM ]

IT LIFTS UP AND BUILDS A STRONG AND VIBRANT BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGES POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, AND IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS FOR CLEAN CLIMATE. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW RESIDENTS OF STILLWATER AND OUR CITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STREET SAFETY EFFORTS AND POLICIES FOR BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS, AND TO ADDRESS COUNCILMAN LARRY'S COMMENTS ABOUT EVS. MY WIFE, JILL, AND I ARE THE TWO PEOPLE HERE FROM TRINITY THAT HE MENTIONED, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT EV CHARGING STATIONS AND EVS. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT I CAN COME BACK AND TALK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? IS ANYBODY ELSE HERE FOR THE OLIVE STREET PROJECT? NOBODY. OKAY. WE'LL

[VI. STAFF REPORTS]

[00:30:02]

AND I THINK ALL OF US HAVE BEEN A LITTLE TERRIFIED OF THIS THING SINCE WE HAD OUR ONE, WELL, TEST POORLY, AND WE WERE GOING TO BE IN FOR, YOU KNOW, 60, $70 MILLION. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK THE 20,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY TO PAY FOR. IT'S A BIG DEAL, SEAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANKS, JOHN. THANK. OKAY. POLICE CHIEF. CAPTAIN MEREDITH.

THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. COUPLE QUICK LITTLE THINGS. DO THE FIRST ONE, DECEMBER 8TH, IS SCHEDULED FOR SHOP WITH A COP DAY. AGAIN. THERE'S 11 OR 12 KIDS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING, AND THAT WILL BE WITH A BUNCH OF OUR OFFICERS AT TARGET AGAIN THIS YEAR. SO THAT'S HAPPENING ON DECEMBER 8TH. RECENT VISIT FROM THE GOVERNOR AND VETERANS DAY EVENTS BOTH WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH. EVERYTHING WAS REAL SMOOTH AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WILL ATTENDED. SO THAT WAS GOOD. YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB WITH THAT VETERANS DAY AT THE AT THE VETS MEMORIAL. AND ACTUALLY THE PLAZA WORKED OUT AWESOME TO IT. GOT THEM OFF MAIN STREET OR GOT THE EVENT OFF MAIN STREET. AND IT REALLY WORKED WELL. REALLY WORKED WELL.

GOOD. THE LAST THING. OUR NEW DATA SPECIALIST. PIQUE SOME ATTENTION THERE. MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS PAST ALL OF OUR PHASES. IT'S NOW IN THE HANDS OF HR, SO YOU CAN CALL OFF THE DOGS. SO SHE SHOULD BE STARTING VERY SOON. GREAT. YEAH GREAT. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING HER. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS, NATE. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL. SOME GOOD NEWS. OUR BUILDING INSPECTION STAFF WAS OUT AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY EMERGENCY HOUSING SERVICES BUILDING YESTERDAY, PASSED ALL THE INSPECTIONS NEEDED TO GET A TEMPORARY 30 DAY SEAL AND SOME PUNCH LIST ITEMS, BUT THEY ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD. I BELIEVE THERE'S A GRAND OPENING, MAYBE TOMORROW, AND THEY'RE ANTICIPATING BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE TENANTS BY EARLY DECEMBER. SO THAT PROJECT IS REALLY MOVED QUICKLY AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS. AND I A RELATED NOTE, I BROUGHT BACK SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING AID DOLLARS, TALKED TO THE VALLEY OUTREACH, TALKED WITH THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CDA, AND WE'RE WORKING ON DRAFTING AN AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY CAN CONSIDER HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. AND SO NEXT YEAR, WE CAN START SPENDING THOSE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED FOR US ON SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES. GREAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

[00:35:08]

THANK YOU. I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN ON HERE, BUT THANK YOU. GOT ONE STEP FORWARD. OUR ANNUAL MATTRESS CLEANUP PROGRAM WITH SECOND CHANCE RECYCLING OCCURRED THIS PAST OCTOBER. WE HAD 120 RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE, AND THEY COLLECTED OVER 230 MATTRESSES. THIS WAS JUST A LITTLE HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, AND THIS PROGRAM IS A GREAT WAY TO RECYCLE MATTRESSES WITHOUT COUNTING TOWARDS YOUR BULK PICKUP. AND IT HELPS KEEP THE MATTRESSES OUT OF OUR TRASH SYSTEM. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE OPENINGS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND ENERGY ACTION COMMISSION, AND THE DEADLINE TO APPLY APPLY IS DECEMBER 22ND. AND I BELIEVE YOU JUST GOT A NEW APPLICATION TODAY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. YES, WE DID GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. CITY ATTORNEY COREY, YOUR HONOR, YOUR VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE OF THE COUNCIL, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AS YOU KNOW, THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS VERY SERIOUS. WE WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF YOUR YOUR ISSUES THAT YOU BRING TO ME. BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM WORKING REALLY HARD ON WINNING. WINNING TURKEY. BINGO. I HAVEN'T YET I CAME CLOSE, I WAS ONE OF THE WINNERS THE LAST ROUND, BUT I WAS NOT THE FIRST WINNER. SO THAT IS MY GOAL THAT I WILL WIN TURKEY BINGO THIS YEAR. GOD GREAT UPDATE. DID YOU SEE THAT THE CRYPTOCURRENCY THING IS ON THE FRONT PAGE FOR SAINT PAUL? I DID CITY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. COLEMAN, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE HOUSE BONDING TOUR LAST FRIDAY WENT VERY SMOOTHLY. TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON ASSISTANT CITY ADMINISTRATOR SANDERS REPORT. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER WE PITCHED WELL NINE FOR BONDING FUNDING. WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE GRANT STATE GRANT OFFICE BASICALLY SAYING THAT, WELL, NINE WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE GRANTS AND A LOW INTEREST LOANS THAT THEY OFFER.

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS WE CAN FINANCE THE PROJECT THROUGH THAT. AND THEN THAT MOVES UP MYRTLE STREET AND WASHINGTON AVENUE ON OUR BONDING REQUEST FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR. THAT'S WONDERFUL. GREAT. THANK YOU. SOUNDS LIKE WE SHOULD DO STUFF AT THE OAK PARK HEIGHTS CITY HALL MORE OFTEN. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THESE ARE

[VII. CONSENT AGENDA ]

ANYONE MAY REQUEST AN ITEM BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. YES, I PREFER THAT TO HAPPEN. PLEASE. IS THAT 21? YES IT IS. CASE NUMBER CD TWO 2020 FIVE. DASH 041 1754 WASHINGTON AVENUE. YEP. YEAH, THAT'S ON THERE OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT WITH THAT. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WISHES I DON'T WANT TO PULL ANYTHING. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK ON NUMBER 26, THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT POLICY. I THINK THIS IS A FANTASTIC THING, SHOWING THAT THE CITY VALUES ITS EMPLOYEES AND THAT WE WANT THEM TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR ENDEAVORS. GREAT, GREAT, GREAT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS NUMBER 21. SO MOVED SECOND. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? IS THAT THE ROLL CALL? BETH. NO THAT'S FINE, IT'S BETH. OKAY.

[VII.21. Resolution for Denial of Conditional Use Permit for Cannabis Retail at 1754 Washington Ave — Resolution]

AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE A 7300 SQUARE FOOT SPACE THAT HAS BEEN VACANT DESPITE EXTENSIVE MARKETING EFFORTS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS. OUR INTENT IS TO LEASE THIS SPACE TO A FULLY LICENSED, STATE COMPLIANT CANNABIS RETAIL COMPANY. WE BELIEVE THE RESOLUTION, AS CURRENTLY

[00:40:02]

YOU NEED A VARIANCE? SURE. I'LL FILE FOR VARIANCE. NOPE. YOU DON'T NEED A VARIANCE. TAKE THE VARIANCE AWAY. WE HAVE FOLLOWED EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS ASKED US TO DO AT THIS TIME.

STAFF SPECIFICALLY REACHED OUT TO US AND ENCOURAGED US TO SUBMIT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

I WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT VERY CLEAR. STAFF CONTACTED US AND SAID, HEY, YOU SHOULD SUBMIT FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WENT AND SOUGHT. OKAY. WHEW, I'M GETTING ALL FIRED UP. SO TO ILLUSTRATE THE ZONING CONCERNS FOR YOU GUYS, THE LAND IS ZONED AS A PARK, BUT THE REC CENTER BUILDING IS USED FOR PROPRIETARY PURPOSES AND LEASED TO TENANTS INCLUDING SAINT CROIX VALLEY SOCCER CLUB. NOT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC USE. I HAVE TO PAY MONEY TO GO IN THERE AND KICK A SOCCER BALL AROUND. OKAY, IF THIS WAS THE INTENT, WHY DID THE CODE NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTION IT OR INCLUDE IT WITHIN THE BUFFER MAPS APPROVED PREVIOUSLY BY COUNCIL? THE REC CENTER IS SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT SEPARATELY FROM PARKS ELSEWHERE IN THE ADULT USE SECTION OF THE CODE. THE MODEL ORDINANCES USED BY THE CITY ALSO DEFINES INDOOR RECREATIONAL CENTERS SEPARATELY FROM PUBLIC PARKS. WHY DIDN'T YOU SPECIFICALLY REFERENCE THE REC CENTER WITHIN THIS SECTION OF THE CODE WHEN YOU DID IT IN OTHER SECTIONS WITHIN THE BUFFERS? THIS IS A VERY VALID QUESTION THAT DEFINITELY DESERVES SOME CONSIDERATION BY YOU GUYS. THESE QUESTIONS SUGGEST THE COUNCIL MAY WANT TO GIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION BEFORE FINALIZING YOUR VOTE TONIGHT, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOUR RESOLUTION ACCURATELY REFLECT THE RECORD AND THE APPLICANT CRITERIA SO THE DECISION IS TRANSPARENT, DEFENSIBLE, AND CONSISTENT WITH MINNESOTA LAND USE LAW. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS STAFF. VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR THERE'S A LOT OF CONFLICTING EMOTIONS AND DISCUSSION AROUND THIS TOPIC. IN TALKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, THE CUP HAS BEEN ACTED ON. YOU KNOW, THAT THAT ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AND SOMEWHAT SEPARATE FROM THIS RESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING. YOU KNOW, THE FACTORS THAT WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE COUNCIL ABOUT BUFFER DISTANCES AND KIND OF USE. YOU KNOW, THE PLANNING COMMISSION TALKED ABOUT THEM, THE COUNCIL TALKED ABOUT THEM.

YOU KNOW, YOU APPARENTLY FELT IT WAS SUFFICIENT CONVERSATION TO TAKE A VOTE AND MOVE FORWARD.

I CAN JUST SAY THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, THE ACTION THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU IS WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDED WE DO TO KIND OF CONCLUDE THIS, THIS APPLICATION AND PROCESS. YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CLARIFYING ISSUES THAT STAFF CAN HELP YOU UNDERSTAND OR ADDRESS OR HAPPY TO DO THAT THE THINGS THAT WERE RAISED, OBVIOUSLY ARE MUCH MORE DETAILED CONVERSATION THAN WHAT I THINK ANYONE WAS PREPARED TO HAVE HERE TONIGHT. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. VICE MAYOR? MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU IS SIMPLY MEMORIALIZING THE DECISION THAT YOU MADE ALREADY. THIS IS NOT A RECONSIDERATION.

THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION OF THE VOTE. IT'S JUST MEMORIALIZING THE ACTION THAT YOU ALREADY TOOK. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COREY, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DOES COUNCIL HAVE AT THEIR DISPOSAL IN TERMS OF I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO REHASH ANYTHING, BUT IS THERE AN OPTION FOR COUNCIL TO RELOOK AT THIS AT ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. AND WHAT WOULD THAT BE. YEAH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THE ONLY WAY TO RECONSIDER THIS WOULD BE FOR A MEMBER OF THE PREVAILING SIDE, WHICH IS SOMEONE THAT VOTED NO ON THE APPLICATION. IF THEY CHOSE TO RECONSIDER. SO SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER. COLLINS.

BECAUSE YOU WERE THE THREE NO VOTES. IF YOU VOTED TO RECONSIDER, IF YOU ONE OF YOU MADE A MOTION AND THAT PASSED BY THE COUNCIL, THAT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD RECONSIDER

[00:45:05]

SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION FOR DENIAL OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR CANNABIS RETAIL AT 1754. ITEM 21 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. SECOND. OKAY. WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION? LET'S DO A ROLL CALL. JUST DO A ROLL CALL. DO A ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER. COLLINS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BELLEN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES.

MAYOR. VICE MAYOR. PAULINA. YES. WITH THAT, IT PASSES 3 TO 1. THE NEXT PART OF UNFINISHED

[X. NEW BUSINESS]

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR? VICE MAYOR, CAN YOU CLARIFY? ARE WE WAIVING ALL FEES? SURE.

THAT WOULD BE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ASK ME TO ASK ALL THAT HERE. SO WE WOULD WAIVE THE FEES, WE AUTHORIZE THE ICE RINK. AND AS PROOF, THE CARD APPROVES THE CONTRACT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS A 2026 WORLD SNOW CELEBRATION EVENT AGREEMENT. ROBIN, IS THIS YOU? WELL, HELLO. VICE CHAIR AND COUNCIL. THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR OF BRINGING TO THE STILLWATER AREA THE WORLD SNOW CELEBRATION. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENT IS A WORLD SNOW SCULPTING CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS YEAR WE ARE LOOKING AT BRINGING IN 16 TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD. IT IS NOW UP TO ABOUT A 5.5, WELL 500,000. A LITTLE OVER $500,000 EVENT TO PUT ON. WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE THE SCULPTURES UP FOR TWO WEEKS, AND WE'RE DOING A LOT OF OTHER ACTIVITIES AROUND A5K RUN, A BIKE RALLY. WE'RE HAVING A PONY NIGHT TO BRING IN SOME EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND GET THE KIDS INVOLVED AND BRING THE LOCALS DOWN. AND I DO ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT YOUR

[00:50:05]

YEAH, YEAH, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW COUNTRIES, SO I'LL JUST RATTLE THEM OFF. WE HAVE CANADA, USA, INDIA, THAILAND, PERU, MALTA, SWITZERLAND, MEXICO, DENMARK, TURKEY, ECUADOR, NEW ZEALAND, GREAT BRITAIN, TAIWAN AND MONGOLIA. WHO WON LAST YEAR? WE HAD FOUR APPLICATIONS FROM INDIA. SO THIS REALLY IS BRINGING DIVERSITY, CULTURE, ART, SPORT, WELLNESS TO THE SAINT CROIX VALLEY. IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT IT'S ADDED TO TO WINTER IN STILLWATER AND KEEPING THE BUSINESSES AND EVERYTHING ACTIVE DOWNTOWN. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR DOING IT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. OUR FINANCE PERSON ISN'T HERE, BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS OVER THE WEEK AND WITH OUR NEW REPORTING THAT WE GET FROM THE SALES TAX THAT THE CITIZENS SUPPORTED TO ALLOW US TO DO THE RIVERFRONT, I THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ZONE IN ON WHAT THE ECONOMIC LIFT IS THIS YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE. YEP. DON'T ANYBODY GET EXCITED.

IT TAKES THREE MONTHS FOR US TO GET THE DATA, BUT IT'S BEEN ACTUALLY REALLY INTERESTING DATA THE ENTIRE TIME WE'VE GOTTEN IT SO RIGHT. AND THE LODGING TAX HAS ACTUALLY DOUBLED SINCE FIRST QUARTER. SINCE THIS EVENT'S INCEPTION. SO THOSE ARE HARD METRICS YOU CAN'T DISAGREE WITH. YEAH, I'D LOVE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS TOO. AND IT'S GOOD TO BE OUTSIDE.

AND OUR TITLE SPONSOR, HEALTH PARTNERS HAS BEEN REALLY A GOOD PARTNER AS WELL TO WORK WITH.

GETTING PEOPLE OUTSIDE IN THE WINTER, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S AFTER THE HOLIDAYS AND GETTING PEOPLE ACTIVE AGAIN. SO IT'S PRETTY SPECIAL. GREAT, ROBIN, KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

THIS EVENT JUST KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AND BETTER EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS I'VE GOT IT OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO MAKE A OR PASS THE AGREEMENT EVENT AGREEMENT THE NOISE VARIANCE AND THE TEMPORARY LIQUOR LICENSE OR MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT. SO MOVED. SECOND, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. WITH THAT. THAT IS THE LAST THING ON OUR AGENDA I WAS GOING TO BRING. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP THE COMMUNITY. CHRISTMAS TREE IS MOVING. IS COMING TO TOWN ON DECEMBER 2ND. DON'T LEAVE YOUR CARS ON MAIN STREET. IT IS GOING TO BE A MASSIVE CHRISTMAS TREE THIS YEAR. IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY OUTSTANDING. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT IT DOWN AT 68FT HIGH. SO AND THE TREE LIGHTING IS ON THE SIXTH SIXTH. YEP. THE SIXTH AND THE, THE FIRST TWO WEEKENDS OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING IS A FOOD DRIVE DOWN WITH CUB FOODS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. SO PEOPLE BRING DOWN FOOD ITEMS. THERE'LL BE A BOX DOWN THERE TO GRAB TO TAKE THE FOOD. AND THEN THE THIRD WEEKEND WILL BE A TEDDY BEAR DRIVE FOR LAKEVIEW HOSPITAL. THEY GIVE TEDDY BEARS TO KIDS THAT ARE IN FOR IN THE HOSPITAL AND JUST TRY TO MAKE IT NICE FOR THE KIDS. SO I THINK I MIGHT HAVE A TREE FOR YOU NEXT YEAR. ALL RIGHT. WELL, YEAH. REALLY, NEXT TWO YEARS ACTUALLY. WELL, YOU NEED TO KEEP WORKING ON THAT BECAUSE MR. SANDERS MIGHT BE GETTING SOME NEW TREE. SO FINALLY. GOSH, I GUESS I DON'T KNOW, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, IT'S USUALLY 535, 3530. I THINK IT'S 530. YEAH. YEP. IT'S A REALLY NICE EVENT. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY TO BRING FOOD DOWN THERE FOR THE FOOD DRIVE. I THINK IT'S A REALLY A WORTHY CAUSE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME

[00:55:05]

WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 856. GAVEL GO UP HERE. 756 757. I LOOKED AT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.