RIGHT, YOU GUYS, JUST STAY IN THE BACK OVER THERE. LOOK HANDSOME. ALL RIGHT, I GUESS
[00:00:06]
WE'RE ON. WELL, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE STILLWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 19TH, 2026. WITH THAT ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER. COLLINS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. BELAN. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. ODEBRECHT. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. PAULINA HERE.MAYOR KOZLOWSKI HERE. AND WITH THAT, IF EVERYBODY WOULD RISE, IF THEY ARE ABLE, AND JOIN US 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
[1. Senator Karin Housley and Rep. Josiah Hill]
JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. WELL, THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT IS SOMETHING A COUPLE PEOPLE I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE HERE SO WE CAN ALL THANK THEM IN PERSON.AS MANY PEOPLE MAY KNOW, THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION JUST ENDED, I THINK, AT MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY NIGHT. AND WE HAVE OUR AWESOME SENATOR KARIN HOUSLEY AND OUR AMAZING REP, JOSIAH HILL, HERE TO GIVE US A LITTLE RUNDOWN OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY HELPED PUSH THROUGH FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE OF STILLWATER. SO WHY DON'T YOU GUYS COME UP TO THE MIC? YOU KNOW, I'M SURE AFTER WORKING TOGETHER SO HARD FOR THIS PAST SESSION, YOU GUYS CAN SHARE A MICROPHONE, PUSH THE LITTLE BUTTON, MAKE IT GREEN. THERE WE GO. AND YEAH, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND TELL US WHAT WENT ON. I THINK, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE ALL KNOW AND CITY STAFF ALL KNOW, BUT THERE ARE A FEW BIG PROJECTS HERE. OH WOW. LOOK AT THAT. WE GOT THE FISHING OPENER PHOTO. SO FUNNY. YOU ARE SO FUNNY. I AM SENATOR KARIN HOUSLEY, MASTER FISHERWOMAN. WHEN YOU GO OUT WITH MIKE PELINO FOR THE GOVERNOR'S FISHING OPENER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOSTING. I THINK I THINK YOU WERE BUSY, BUT. OH, YOU WERE ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S BOAT. YEAH. REPRESENTATIVE JOSIAH HILL, HONORED TO BE HERE. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. WE HAD FIVE LINES IN THE WATER AND THE BOAT I WROTE IN AND ZERO NIBBLES.
WELL, WE CAUGHT THREE WALLEYE IN MIKE PAULINA'S BOAT. SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. YEAH. NEXT TIME. SO WE'RE HERE JUST TO GIVE YOU A BONDING UPDATE THIS YEAR AT THE CAPITOL. EVER SINCE I THINK 2024, I HAVE BEEN THE BONDING LEAD OF ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE FOR THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE. AND YOU GUYS WERE SO GREAT TO HAVE US DOWN HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS THIS LATE SUMMER OR EARLY FALL TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT YOU WANTED TO GET IN THE BONDING BILL. I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW IT GETS PUT TOGETHER. THERE ARE DIFFERENT BUCKETS IN THE BONDING BILL. WE HAD A $1.2 BILLION BONDING BILL ALLOCATED TO US, AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON. AND HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO PUT INTO LOCAL PROJECTS? THE LAST BONDING BILL THAT WE DID LAST YEAR, THERE WERE NO LOCAL PROJECTS AND IT WAS ALL ASSET PRESERVATION AND AGENCY STUFF. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH HOUSE, SENATE, DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICAN, AND THEN THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM STEPS IN, AND THEY DEMANDED THAT 55% HAD TO GO INTO ASSET PRESERVATION AND AGENCY AND TRANSPORTATION AND WATER, AND THE OTHER 45% COULD GO INTO LOCAL PROJECTS. SO WE HAD $570 MILLION TO PUT INTO LOCAL PROJECTS, AND THERE WAS OVER $6 BILLION IN REQUESTS THAT WE AGAIN, TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE AND LOOKED AT ALL OF THIS, THIS ALL OF THESE PROJECTS, WE TRIED TO KEEP IT IN ALL OF OUR MEMBERS BECAUSE IN THE IN THE SENATE, THERE ARE 67 MEMBERS, AND EVERYBODY WANTED ALL 570 MILLION OF IT. AND IN THE HOUSE, THEY HAVE 134 MEMBERS WHO ALL WANT. SO YOU HAVE TO DIVVY IT UP ACROSS ALL THE DISTRICTS FROM AROUND THE STATE. AND WITH REPRESENTATIVE HILL, I THINK I, I THINK WE DID OKAY. WE DONE GOOD. I THINK WE DID OKAY FOR OUR DISTRICT. WE ENDED UP WITH A LOT. WE ENDED UP WITH A LOT IN THE BILL AND SPECIFIC TO STILLWATER. I'LL LET YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AND THEN I'LL GO INTO THE STUFF THAT'S NOT STILLWATER. ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AGAIN. AND BEFORE I START TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS AND SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE COMING TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO SEN. HOUSLEY. WE REALLY, IN MY OPINION, OUR HUMBLE OPINION, WORK WELL TOGETHER ON LOCAL LOCAL PROJECTS AND REALLY PROUD OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE SECURED HERE LOCALLY OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOWN AT THE AT THE CAPITOL HERE IN STILLWATER. WE'RE THRILLED TO GET AN INVESTMENT IN THE WASHINGTON COUNTY INTERCHANGE FOR FOLKS WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE THAT INTERCHANGE, IT'S IT'S WHERE THE FRONTAGE ROAD MEETS WASHINGTON AVE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF PERKINS THERE. AND FOR A LONG TIME WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FINDING WAYS TO MOVE THAT FRONTAGE ROAD INTERSECTION BACK AWAY FROM THE HIGHWAY FURTHER.
SO THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY DID RIGHT ACROSS THE INTERSTATE OR EXCUSE ME, HIGHWAY 36 THERE TO PUSH THAT BACK. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS PLAN INCLUDES A ROUNDABOUT OR NOT, BUT IT'LL GIVE US A LITTLE MORE BREATHING ROOM WHEN WE'RE LEAVING ACAPULCO OR PERKINS THERE TO MAKE IT SAFELY ONTO THE HIGHWAY. ANOTHER ONE THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME IS THE HOOKUP BETWEEN THE BROWNS CREEK TRAIL AND THE GATEWAY TRAIL.
[00:05:06]
FOR THOSE OF YOU LIKE ME, WHO HAVE TRIED TO MAKE IT WITHOUT INJURING THEMSELVES, IT'S PRETTY TREACHEROUS TO CLIMB DOWN THERE BELOW THE BRIDGE. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ADA ACCESSIBLE RAMP THAT'S REALLY GOING TO OPEN THAT UP AND BRING MORE VISITORS TO OUR DOWNTOWN WHO ARE AVID CYCLISTS. SO WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL TRAILS OUT HERE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THOSE INVESTMENTS. ONE OTHER THING I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS A NO COST ITEM THAT GOT FOLDED IN LATE FOR OUR FRIENDS UP IN MARINE, AND THEY HAD A LAND TRANSFER. SO THEY CAN PUT A PAVILION KIND OF ON THAT LITTLE CITY GREEN THERE ACROSS FROM WHERE THE BROOKSIDE STANDS. SO THEY'LL HAVE A LITTLE GATHERING SPACE THERE FOR ME TO GET SOME SHADE DURING THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE THERE. SO ANYWAY, I'M HONORED TO WORK TOGETHER AND LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE THAT WORK. SO REALLY PROUD OF THOSE MILLIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING HERE LOCALLY, ALONG WITH LAST ONE, $250,000 INVESTMENT IN OUR LOCAL VETERANS MEMORIAL ACROSS FROM THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE. REALLY HONORED TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. JOSIAH. IT'S $350,000. AND THE ONLY REASON I KNOW THAT IF IT'S OKAY, I'LL TELL YOU HOW IT ALL HAPPENED. YEAH. I, TED'S WIFE OR MAYOR KOZLOWSKI'S WIFE CONTACTED ME IN AUGUST AND SAID, AS WELL AS A PIONEER PRESS ASKED IF IF WE COULD SIT DOWN AND IF I COULD HELP HER RAISE MONEY FOR THIS VETERANS MEMORIAL. AND I SAID, WELL, WE COULD DO LIKE WE DID IN FOREST LAKE. WE COULD PUT A BILL INTO INTO THE LEGISLATURE AND WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET IT HEARD IN THE LEGACY COMMITTEE. WELL, THE LEGACY COMMITTEE HAD NO MONEY THIS YEAR, SO IT DIDN'T EVEN GET A HEARING. BUT IN THE LAST HOURS OF THE SENATE SESSION, WE FOUND OUT THAT EACH CAUCUS GOT $5 MILLION AND THERE WAS THIS $5 MILLION. AND IT WAS LIKE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT? AND I SAID, WAIT A SECOND. I KNOW THERE'S $350,000 THAT WE COULD REALLY USE FOR THE STILLWATER VETERANS MEMORIAL. AND, AND I FORGOT TO SAY, WHEN I DIDN'T MEET RACHEL, INSTEAD, I TOLD HER TO MEET ME ON A BOAT ON LAKE ELMO BECAUSE I WAS TEACHING THE GRANDKIDS HOW TO WATER SKI. SO RACHEL AND MAYOR KOZLOWSKI CAME OUT ON THE BOAT. THEY BROUGHT THEIR DAUGHTERS, AND WE WENT OVER THIS BILL LANGUAGE FOR THE VETERANS MEMORIAL. AND IT TURNS OUT IT CAME IN HANDY BECAUSE SUNDAY NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, IT GOT IN THE BILL, AND THE VETERANS MEMORIAL WILL BE GETTING $350,000 TO FINISH THE PROJECT. ALSO IN THAT BROWNS CREEK TRAIL CONNECTION, THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE FIXING THAT STONE BRIDGE, THE OLDEST BRIDGE IN MINNESOTA, THE OLD. SO THAT BRIDGE WILL BE GETTING FIXED.AND THEN WASHINGTON COUNTY GOT A LOT NOT. IT'S NOT ALL IN STILLWATER, BUT THERE'S OAK PARK HEIGHTS, FOREST LAKE HUGO AND OTHER LITTLE PROJECTS, BUT NOT JUST HERE IN STILLWATER, BUT. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS TOO FOR DOING THE SWITCHEROO, BECAUSE WE HAD MYRTLE STREET AS YOUR NUMBER ONE PROJECT TO BEGIN WITH, BUT THEN YOU GOT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS, SO IT WAS GOOD FOR A LOT OF SNOW IN THE NICK OF TIME. SO WE COULD SWITCH THAT PROJECT UP TO WASHINGTON. I KNOW THAT WAS LATE IN THE GAME. YEAH, YEAH, IT WAS LATE IN THE GAME, BUT IT WAS SMART TO HAVE THAT ALREADY TEED UP AND TALK ABOUT IT WHEN WE WERE DOWN HERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO I THINK THAT IS OUR UPDATE. RIGHT. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE FISHING OPENER. MR. PAULINA. YEAH, WHAT A GREAT EVENT. YEAH. JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT RECENTLY OPENING OPENED AND NOW BECOMING ONE OF THE JEWELS OF OUR PARK SYSTEM. FOLKS REALLY NEED TO GET DOWN THE TRAIL THERE AND VISIT. I GUESS WE'RE CALLING IT LUMBERJACK LANDING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL. AND SO AS AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE WARMER WEATHER, CHECK IT OUT. YEAH. THANK YOU GUYS. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BOTH OF YOU. I MEAN, THE TOUR IS THAT ARE UPHILL YOU WE MET UP AT OAK PARK HEIGHTS. WE HAD THE THE, THE DOUBLE BUS WITH THE THING THAT MOVES IN THE MIDDLE THAT WE HAD COME DOWN MYRTLE STREET AND KIND OF GET AROUND THE CORNER. LIKE I DIDN'T THINK THAT THING WAS MAKING AROUND MYRTLE AND MAIN STREET, FRANKLY, BUT THAT WAS, THAT WAS A REALLY FUN TOUR. AND SEN. HOUSLEY GETTING EVERYBODY OUT HERE TO, TO MEET WITH US AT CITY HALL. I THINK THOSE IN-PERSON MEETINGS REALLY HELP WITH OUR LEGISLATORS. SO THOSE PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF STILLWATER GET TO SEE THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING. AND AND FRANKLY, EVERY TIME WE HAVE THOSE MEETINGS, THEY ALL COMMENT ON HOW WELL YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER. JUST SELFISHLY, I THINK STILLWATER IS REPRESENTED BETTER THAN THAN ANYONE COULD EVER BE BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE DEMOCRAT AND ONE REPUBLICAN THAT BOTH HAVE CARE ABOUT THE SAME PRIORITIES AND CARE ABOUT HELPING OUT OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S RARE TO SEE BONDING BILLS COME THROUGH, AND I'VE ONLY BEEN DOING THIS FOR 14 YEARS NOW. BUT WHERE YOU SEE OAK PARK HEIGHTS AND SAINT CROIX, LIKE YOU SEE THE EAST METRO AND OUR LITTLE RIVER VALLEY AND ALL THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, WAY MORE REPRESENTED AT THE CAPITOL THAN I THINK WE'VE SEEN IN A GENERATION, FRANKLY. SO YOU GUYS HAVE JUST BEEN DOING AMAZING WORK, AND I'M SO PLEASED THAT YOU'RE BOTH HERE TONIGHT. I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO WORK SO WELL TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. SO I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. I MEAN, IT'S JUST IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS. WASHINGTON AVENUE WAS A BIG SCARY PROJECT, RIGHT? THAT OBVIOUSLY IS REGIONAL
[00:10:01]
IMPORTANCE, RIGHT? THAT'S NOT OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE USING THAT, RIGHT? IT'S EVERYBODY IN THE REGION THAT'S USING THAT INTERSECTION TO GET TO AND FROM SHOPPING FROM OAK PARK HEIGHTS TO STILLWATER, FROM LAKE ELMO INTO OUR THING. YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE JUST CAN'T PUT ON THE BACKS OF JUST OUR OUR TAXPAYERS AGAIN, FOR THE GATEWAY TRAIL CONNECTION, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A DIFFERENT SCENARIO. BUT THE, THE TRAIL BENEFITS EVERYBODY REGIONALLY, BUT IT'S HARD TO GET ON TO IF YOU LIVE IN OAK GLEN OR IF YOU LIVE ON THE NORTH HILL OF STILLWATER. WHEN I LIVED UP THERE WITH MY DAUGHTERS, TRYING TO GET THEM DOWN HAZEL STREET TO GET ON THE TRAIL WAS WAS DICEY WHEN THE KIDS WERE LITTLE. RIGHT. SO TO HAVE THAT NICE TRAIL THAT WE'VE GOT ALONG, I GUESS OWNS OR WHATEVER THAT IS THERE, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE DOWN TO THE TRAIL TO GET ON TO IT. FOR EVERYBODY FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM OAK GLEN AND ALL THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BACK UP THERE, IT'S THAT'S JUST PERFECT. I MEAN, THAT'S A HUGE BENEFIT TO OUR RESIDENTS AND, AND ALSO OUR VISITORS AND PEOPLE IN STILLWATER TOWNSHIP TRYING TO GET ON THE TRAIL. RIGHT. SO JUST REALLY GOOD NECESSARY PROJECTS THAT, AGAIN, WE JUST COULD NEVER AFFORD TO DO ON THE BACKS OF OUR PROPERTY TAX PAYERS JUST HERE IN STILLWATER.SO ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU AND JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. IT'S AMAZING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU GUYS. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT WITH THAT. CARRY ON.
TAKE A GOOD WELL-DESERVED BREAK. YOU GUYS ARE DONE NOW. THANK YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
[2. Certificate of Retirement for Steven Zoller - Resolution]
GUYS. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON. I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ONE, BUT WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF RETIREMENT FOR ONE OF OUR AMAZING FIREFIGHTERS, MR. STEVEN ZOLLER, WHO APPARENTLY STARTED HERE WHEN I WAS ABOUT 16 OR 17 YEARS OLD. AND HE FELT MY MY DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AS A AS A AS A WAYWARD YOUTH, WAS HIS SOLE INSPIRATION FOR SIGNING UP TO PROTECT THE FAIR CITY OF STILLWATER. SO, CHIEF, DO YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE KICK OFF THIS THIS CERTIFICATION, THIS CERTIFICATE? WHILE HE'S COMING UP, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE SEEING A TREND WITH SOME OF OUR RETIREES LATELY AS THEY ALL HAVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE. SO IT'S 32 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.THE LAST 30. HE HAS PROBABLY HAD A HAND IN TRAINING ALL OF OUR ENGINEERS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS. OUR DIVE PROGRAM, FROM ITS INCEPTION HAS BEEN. A HUGE FACTOR IN OUR LIVES TODAY, AND I'M JUST PUTTING A FEW NUMBERS TOGETHER. AN AVERAGE OF 32 YEARS IS A HUGE FANS OF TRACK, BUT TRAINING WISE, OVER 4000 HOURS OF TRAINING WITH THE DEPARTMENT, AND HE HAS HAD OVER 20,000 EMERGENCY RESPONSE CALLS WHERE YOU HAVE CONTACT WITH AN INDIVIDUAL OVER 20,000 OR EXCUSE FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR 3032 YEARS. SO THAT'S ALMOST THE ENTIRE POPULATION.
STILLWATER HAS HAD AN EFFECT ON SOMEBODY IN THIS CITY IN HIS CAREER, AND THEIR WORST DAY, THEY'RE THEY'RE PROVIDING THE BEST CARE FOR THEM. SO A LITTLE JEALOUS YOU GET TO GO AND ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT AND IT'S WELL DESERVED. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AFTER WE GET THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION, IF YOU WANT. BUT I HEAR THERE IS ANOTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOCUSED RETIREMENT CELEBRATION ON THURSDAY. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT I HEAR. SO THIS ISN'T THIS IS NOT A IT'S A WHOLE WEEK OF PARTIES HERE AND A LOT OF. WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-061. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I I. AND WITH THAT, WHEREAS STEVEN TAYLOR IS RETIRING FROM HIS POSITION AS FIRE CAPTAIN FOR THE STILLWATER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF STILLWATER, EFFECTIVE MAY 21ST, 2026. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STILLWATER, MINNESOTA, THAT FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS, PROFESSIONALISM AND OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE TO THE CITY OF STILLWATER, STEVEN IS HEREBY COMMENDED FOR SERVING THE CITY FOR 32 YEARS. THE COUNCIL EXTENDS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY CLERK IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO ENTER THE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION UPON THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF HER COUNCIL AND TO DELIVER A CERTIFIED COPY THEREOF TO MR. STEVEN, ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS 19TH DAY OF MAY 2026. SO HERE YOU GO. THERE'S THAT. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU. I MEAN, 32 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S IT'S VERY BITTERSWEET TO SEE YOU GO. YOU'VE GOT 4000 HOURS OF TRAINING THAT WE'VE GOT INTO THIS GENTLEMAN HERE AND LITERALLY A LIFETIME OF, OF RESPONSIBILITY AND EXPERIENCE AND PROTECTING OUR CITY. SO I JUST, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. AND YOUR FAMILY, I MEAN, THINK OF HOW MANY CALLS DID WE ESTIMATE OVER 20/20,000 CALLS. AND, AND I BET A LOT OF THOSE HAPPEN TO LAND ON BIRTHDAYS, RETIREMENT CELEBRATIONS, YOU KNOW, ALL SORTS OF IMPORTANT LIFE EVENTS THAT WERE MISSED OVER THOSE YEARS TO PROTECT OUR FAIR CITY. AND SO AGAIN, JUST TO ILLUSTRATE THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND WORK THAT GOES INTO WHAT WE DO HERE TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE. YOU'RE THE EPITOME OF THAT, SIR, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEARLY MISSED. I HOPE EVERYBODY IN THE BACK CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT YOU GUYS
[00:15:04]
GOT IT. THANK YOU. WE'RE QUITE CAPABLE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD. AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT THE GOOD SEAL OF APPROVAL. WITH THAT, I'LL LET YOU HAVE THE MIC AND SAY A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU. I'M NOT ONE FOR SPEECHES, BUT THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS CAREER PROVIDE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY WHO STOLE MY SPEECH. MANY SACRIFICES, MANY MISSED BIRTHDAYS, MANY MISSED CHRISTMASES. I NO LONGER HAVE THAT EXCUSE. MY WIFE ACTUALLY PUT UP WITH THIS FOR THE LAST 32 YEARS. YEAH. THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS CHAIR. THERE WE GO. MUCH
[3. Certificate of Appreciation for Michael Montpetit, Maintenance Worker II]
BETTER. LARRY, ARE YOU TRYING TO PLAY JOKES ON ME AGAIN? WE'VE GOT A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FOR MICHAEL MONTPETIT, WHO WORKED IN MAINTENANCE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. SO AGAIN, WHEN WHEN ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES RETIRES, EVEN IF THEY'VE ONLY BEEN WITH US FOR, FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, WE DO LIKE TO EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO THEM. SO ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY AND UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF ITS LEADING CITIZENS, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL HEREBY EXTEND RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND SUPPORT TO THE CITY OF STILLWATER'S MISSION TO MICHAEL MONTPETIT FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS, DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER TO THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF, AND WE WISH THEM WELL IN THE[V. OPEN FORUM – Public may address Council on non-agenda items. Please limit remarks to 5 minutes or less.]
FUTURE. SO THANK YOU MICHAEL. I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET THIS. NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE OPEN FORUM. THIS IS THE PART OF THE MEETING WHERE THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS COUNCIL ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES OR LESS. LOUISE, HOW ARE WE DOING? HEY, WE'RE HANGING IN. GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. YOU KNOW, YOU MISSED A FEW MEETINGS. WE START TO GET A LITTLE WORRIED UP HERE. YEAH, I KNOW I MISSED A FEW THINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE OLD HIPS HAD TO BE DONE. AND NOW, LIKE I TOLD THE CHIEF, PLEASE DON'T PICK ME UP FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION BECAUSE MY KNEES ARE BAD. NOW YOUR KNEES ARE BAD.I STILL WOBBLE AROUND, SO. BUT YEAH, I'M GLAD TO BE BACK AND TO CATCH UP ON EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AROUND TOWN, YOU KNOW? BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT I MISSED, A LOT I MISS. BUT YEAH, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK HOME. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING. AND IT'S BECAUSE YOU GUYS DO SO MUCH. AND YOU KNOW, I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD COME TO THESE MEETINGS SO THEY CAN HEAR WHAT WAS ON AND WHAT TAKES PLACE ON RUNNING THIS TOWN. RIGHT. YOU KNOW? YEAH. NO, THEY'LL JUST SIT IN THE BACK WAY AND JUST YAMMER THEIR JAWS IN A BAD WAY. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEY DON'T COME TO ANY MEETINGS TO LEARN. SO YEAH, I'M WITH YOU FOR ALL THE WORK. IT REQUIRES ENGAGEMENT. YOU GOTTA KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. YOU GOTTA BE A PART OF IT. YEAH. THAT'S LIKE I'M HEARING ABOUT THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION, THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION, THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION. WELL, HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, RIGHT? IT'S NOT IT'S NOT NEW HERE. AND IF WATER MAINS BREAK, THAT ADDS TO IT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT JUST PEOPLE AREN'T VERY NICE ANYMORE ANYMORE. BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND I'LL BE BACK REGULARLY, SO LOOK OUT. ALRIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. ALRIGHT.
[4. Assistant City Administrator]
SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN OUR AUDIENCE. ANYONE ELSE THAT ARE OPEN FOR THEM? IF NOT, I'LL CLOSE THAT. MOVE ON TO STAFF REPORTS ASSISTANT CITY ADMINISTRATOR MR. SANDERS. HOW ARE WE DOING? GOOD MAN. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, JUST A FEW UPDATES FOR YOU. OUR SEWER REPAIR PROJECT THAT HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO IS WINDING UP. THEY MADE THE FINAL PIPE CONNECTION TODAY AND THURSDAY THEY WILL BE PAVING UP ON PINE STREET, SO EVERYTHING SHOULD BE SET TO GO FOR THE MEMORIAL DAY VETERANS MEMORIAL CEREMONY. SECOND ITEM IS NEXT TUESDAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY. THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE WATER TOWER PAINTING PROJECT WILL BE GETTING STARTED, AND THEY ESTIMATE ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS OF WORK TO GET THAT WATER TOWER PAINTED. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SAME COLOR, DIFFERENT COLOR, DIFFERENT LOGO. WE'LL GET SOME PHONE CALLS ON THAT THEN. YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A TANNISH COLOR, I GUESS CREAM COLOR. AND WHAT CAN WE, WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE COUNCIL MEETING A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT IT. TAN WITH THE STILLWATER LOGO. I'LL BELIEVE YOU. I'LL BELIEVE YOU. SANDY GOING WITH PRINCE PURPLE. ISN'T THAT WHAT I HEARD? I THOUGHT IT WAS LOGO. ARE WE GETTING THIS TIME? IT'S GOING TO BE THE WANTING TO SEE. WILL THAT BE IN BLUE, OR IS THAT GOING TO BE SOME SHADE OF TAN TO BE IN
[5. Police Chief]
[00:20:08]
STILLWATER GARDEN? ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. WELL, I LIKE IT. AWESOME. THANK YOU SEAN, PLEASE.CHIEF, HOW WE DOING? DOING GREAT, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ALSO, JUST A COUPLE QUICK UPDATES. I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT OFFICER TROY EDMOND, AN OFFICER THAT WE GOT FROM A LONG TIME SERVING OFFICER FROM THE COUNTY OF ANOKA, CAME HERE. HE SERVED AS FIRST SOLO PATROL SHIP, COMPLETED FTO YESTERDAY. AND SO HE'S OUT ON OUT AND ABOUT. AND YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE SWEARING INS COMING UP HERE THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. BUT JUST A GREAT ADDITION TO THE FORCE AND REALLY, REALLY HAPPY AND PROUD TO HAVE HIM AS PART OF OUR TEAM. A COUPLE OF THINGS THIS PAST WEEK AS SPRING INTO SUMMER, YOU SAW OFFICER BRAD JUNKER HERE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS HE PULLS DOUBLE DUTY WITH PD AND FIRE, BUT HE'S ROCKING AND ROLLING NOW. AND WE HAD THE BIKE RODEO THIS PAST WEEKEND PARTNERSHIP WITH SUSTAINABLE STILLWATER. WE HAD A. HE GOT OUR TEAM TOGETHER TO GO PACK MEALS WITH MEALS FROM THE HEART. AND HE'S JUST ROCKING AND ROLLING. AND THIS IS KIND OF HIS BUSY TIME OF YEAR. AND AS YOU KNOW, BRAD'S JOB STARTED AS ONE THING AND IT'S MORPHED INTO DUTIES AS A SIGN. SO HE DOES A MILLION THINGS IN OUR DEPARTMENT AND WE'RE JUST HAPPY. I CAN'T SPEAK ENOUGH ABOUT HIM, AND I SAY IT A FEW TIMES A YEAR.
I COULD PROBABLY SAY IT EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND ON STUFF THAT HE DOES. SO I JUST WANT A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO BRAD, THE WORK THAT HE DOES. HE'S ALSO SET UP, I THINK, TWO SORT OF COFFEES WITH A COP, IF YOU WILL, JUST ENGAGEMENTS WITH SOME OF THE SENIORS IN TOWN AT THE LAKES AND OTHER PLACES, TALKING ABOUT JUST KIND OF A GET TO KNOW YOU. AND ANOTHER ONE COMING UP HERE THAT WE HAVE TALKING ABOUT FRAUD AND SOME DIFFERENT THINGS. SO HE'S JUST HE'S WORKING HIS TAIL OFF AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM AS PART OF THE TEAM. AND LASTLY, SEAN'S CREW DID AN AMAZING JOB. LAST FRIDAY WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY AT THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE. AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB KIND OF GETTING THAT SPACE READY, CONSIDERING WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE AND THE COUNTY AS WELL, AND JUST THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE THAT SHOWED UP TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THAT AWESOME DAY. THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK YOU.
GREAT POLICE MEMORIAL EVENT TOO. I KNOW THAT'S MORE OF A COUNTY THING, BUT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE A LOT OF OUR, OUR PEOPLE UP THERE AND, AND AT THAT EVENT. AND, AND I WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS. I KNOW IT WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF A SCRAMBLE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO GET EVERYTHING KIND OF DIALED IN SO WE COULD STILL HAVE AN EVENT UP AT THE OLD HISTORIC COURTHOUSE.
BUT THAT ALL WORKED OUT GREAT. I MEAN, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND, YOU KNOW, AND GREAT
[6. Fire Chief]
SPEAKERS AND EVERYTHING. SO THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT, FIRE CHIEF, MAYOR, COUNCIL, JUST A COUPLE UPDATES. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK OF STRUCTURE FIRES. WE HAD ONE THURSDAY EVENING AND ANOTHER ONE ON SUNDAY MORNING. SO CREWS HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY WITH THAT. GOOD NEWS. CHIEF ZULLI HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF. SO HE'S MOVING UP IN THE RANKS. SO THAT'LL OPEN UP ANOTHER VOID. BUT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. AND TODAY THE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A MULTI-COUNTY DRILL WITH RAMSEY COUNTY, WASHINGTON COUNTY AND BOTH DEPARTMENTS FROM EACH COUNTY AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE OUT ON WHITE BEAR LAKE DOING DIVE RESCUE AND WATER RESCUE DRILLS ALL DAY, WORKING TOGETHER. FIRST TIME WE'VE WORKED WITH RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF, SO TO SPEAK, WITH IN THAT ASPECT. SO THAT WAS WELL ATTENDED. WE PROBABLY HAD 60, 70 RESPONDERS AND GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO JUST WORK WITH THEM. SO EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IT'S JUST NATIONAL EMS WEEK. AND I KNOW WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT LAKEVIEW AND SHOUT OUT TO THEM, BUT ALL PUBLIC SAFETY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE, YOU KNOW, AND THE BIG THING IS JUST THAT PRE-HOSPITAL CARE BY PUBLIC SAFETY. AND A SHOUT OUT TO EVERYBODY DOING THAT RIGHT NOW. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. AWESOME. THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION, AND I WAS GOING TO MENTION TO BRIAN TOO, THE THE GOVERNOR'S FISHING OPENER WAS A BIG DEAL IN STILLWATER. AND I SAW THE NEW BOATS OR BOATS PROTECTING, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR OUT THERE AND THE POLICE AND STATE PATROL AND EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER.IT WENT SMOOTH. IT WAS VERY, VERY SMOOTH. I THOUGHT IT WENT VERY SMOOTH. I THINK CVB AT A LATER DATE. BUT. YOU'RE YOU'RE HELP WAS NOT UNNOTICED IN PUBLIC WORKS AND TAKING CARE OF THE PARK AND EVERYTHING. IT WAS IT WAS A TRUE COMMUNITY EVENT. IT'S, IT WAS A STATE EVENT, BUT IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WAS WELL DONE BY THE CITY OF STILLWATER. AND A LOT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE THAT. IT WAS A GOOD COLLABORATION AMONGST ALL PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, BUT IT LOOKS REALLY NICE ON THE WATER TOO. AND IT IS A LOT SMALLER. IT IS IT IS A LITTLE BIGGER THAN THE OLD ONE, SMALLER THAN THE NEW ONE. WELL, IT'S NOT LIKE THE MINNOW. NO, NO. THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
I DID GET LOADS OF COMPLIMENTS OVER THE FISHING OPENER. I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THEY HOST THAT IN SOME SMALLER CITIES THAT DON'T REALLY HAVE THE EVENT TEMPO THAT WE HAVE. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE, WE, WE, WE, WE DO A LOT OF EVENTS IN STILLWATER. I MEAN, I WAS LIKE, THIS IS JUST AN OLD HAT FOR US. LIKE THIS IS JUST WHAT WE DO. BUT EVERYBODY WAS REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS. THE ENTIRE CITY STAFF. I MEAN, I THINK EVERYBODY WAS INVOLVED IN CITY STAFF ON SOME LEVEL AND WORKING
[00:25:04]
ON THE FISHING OPENER, BUT IT WENT VERY, VERY WELL. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE CVB HEADED IT UP AND BUT YEAH, EVERYBODY DID JUST A TERRIFIC JOB. AND EVERYBODY WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH WITH STILLWATER AS A DESTINATION, I'M LIKE, THIS IS WHAT WE DO ALL THE TIME.THIS IS KIND OF EVERY WEEKEND. IT'S TRUE. WE DO COOL STUFF HERE. THIS IS WHAT WE DO, RIGHT? I THINK I SAID IN SOME MEDIA INTERVIEW THAT STILLWATER IS WHERE PEOPLE COME TO CELEBRATE, RIGHT? AND I KIND OF LIKE IT. I THINK I'M GOING TO STICK WITH THAT. BUT THANK YOU GUYS. IT
[7. Finance Director]
WAS A GREAT EFFORT. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT FINANCE MONEY IN THE BANK. GAS IN THE TANK. YEAH I THINK SO. WE SHOULD BE GETTING OUR DRAFT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FROM THE AUDITORS NEXT WEEK.AND THEY SHOULD BE HERE TO PRESENT AT THE SECOND WEEK IN JUNE. SO OUR SECOND MEETING IN
[8. Administrative Services Director]
JUNE THAT SECOND WEEK. SO YEP. SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WHEN I STARTED WAS PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR CITY WEBSITE. WE HAD OUR KICKOFF MEETING FOR OUR NEW WEBSITE TODAY. THE FOCUS IS OBVIOUSLY ON BEING MORE EFFICIENT, FINDING INFORMATION MORE EASILY, AND THEN OUR ADA REQUIREMENTS AS WELL. SO WE DID THAT KICKOFF.THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO, HOPING TO LAUNCH THAT IN OCTOBER. SO THAT WILL BE A BIG LIFT FOR ANYBODY INVOLVED IN THAT WEBSITE STUFF. BUT IT'S SUPER EXCITING. AND THEN AN UPDATE FROM SAGE AND HR. SHE WANTED ME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE GETTING AN EMAIL ON TUESDAY, THE 26TH FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR 360 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION. IT'LL COME FROM CUSTOM INSIGHT, AND YOU'LL HAVE UNTIL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH TO COMPLETE THAT. SO SHE'LL HAVE TO BUG ME THREE WAYS FROM SUNDAY TO MAKE SURE I GET IT DONE BEFORE THEN SHE WILL TO GET IT DONE ON DAY ONE, TWO MINUTES BEFORE IT'S DUE. SO. SO TUESDAY IS DAY ONE, SO NEXT TUESDAY, SO BE PREPARED FOR THAT. I JUST CAN'T WAIT. NOT CALLING. JOE IS SWEATING IN THE
[9. Deputy City Clerk]
CORNER. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. AWESOME. THANK YOU. AND OUR DEPUTY CITY CLERK. HOW ARE WE DOING. WE ARE DOING GOOD. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL. THERE IS A VACANCY ON THE UTILITIES COMMISSION DEADLINE FOR THAT IS JUNE 22ND. WE ALSO HAVE THE HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD NOMINATION DEADLINE FOR THAT IS MAY 29TH. SO VERY SOON WE DO HAVE A FEW OF THOSE. OKAY. AWESOME. COOL.[10. City Attorney]
THANK YOU. AND CITY ATTORNEY, WHAT'S GOING ON? WELL, THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TONIGHT, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A FEW HAPPY LITIGATION UPDATES, WORDS YOU DON'T USUALLY HEAR IN THE SAME SENTENCE. AS YOU KNOW, A YEAR AGO, WE SO MUCH AND WE'RE SUING YOU, RIGHT? RIGHT. A YEAR AGO, THE CITY OF STILLWATER TOOK A VERY STRONG AND BOLD POSITION ON CRYPTOCURRENCY ATMS. AND YOU BANNED THEM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HAD NOT BEEN DONE IN ANY OTHER, ANYWHERE, ANYWHERE. AND IT, YOU KNOW, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED. AND IT WAS INITIATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY SAW A NEED.THEY SAID, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT? WE HAVE A PROBLEM AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO SOLVE IT. AND I SAID, LET'S JUST GET RID OF THEM. SO WE DID. WE TOOK THAT POSITION. WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE ALL OF THEM REMOVED VOLUNTARILY, WHICH WAS GREAT. AGAIN, THROUGH THE HELP OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH, YOU KNOW, GENTLE CONVINCING THAT THEY NEEDED TO REMOVE THOSE ATMS. AND SO THEY WERE ALL REMOVED. AND THEN WE WERE SUED LATE FALL IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, A BITCOIN DEPOT WITHDREW ITS COMPLAINT JUST AS WE WERE GEARING UP FOR SOME MOTION HEARINGS THAT WERE COMING UP. AND WE QUICKLY FOUND OUT WHY. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE THEN FOLLOWED OUR LEAD, SAINT PAUL, WHICH FOLLOWED OUR LEAD AS WELL, AND RECOGNIZED THE NEED, AND THEY BANNED THEM FROM THE STATE. SO VERY SUCCESSFUL. I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S INITIATIVE AND SUPPORT ON THAT BECAUSE IT WAS AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK I TOLD YOU WHEN WE WERE WHEN WE WERE DOING IT, IT'S UNCHARTED TERRITORY. AND SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT WAS A GREAT OUTCOME FOR FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. I MEAN, CHIEF, I MEAN, OUR INVESTIGATIONS TEAM AND EVERYBODY WORKING. I MEAN, TO ME, THAT WHOLE THING JUST SEEMED LIKE A NO BRAINER. I MEAN, WE'VE GOT PD INVESTIGATING WHAT'S OBVIOUSLY FRAUD. WE'VE GOT A CITY ATTORNEY THAT SAYS LET'S JUST GET RID OF THE THINGS. OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO BACK THAT UP. AND I, YOU KNOW, I LOVE BEING, YOU KNOW, THE THE CITY WHERE YOU'RE LIVING IN THE CITY WHERE WHERE THESE THINGS START. BUT I MEAN, I HAD CALLS FROM IN CONNECTICUT TO OREGON, WISCONSIN, IOWA, FROM OTHER MAYORS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SAINT PAUL, THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL CALLS ME LIKE, YOU KNOW, COME IN, CHIEF. AND I WENT AND TESTIFIED IN DOWNTOWN SAINT PAUL, HEARD ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE FRAUD THERE. AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE FOREST LAKE, I MEAN, IT WAS JUST EYE POPPING, HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING ABSOLUTELY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. AND SO I LOVE THAT WE'RE LEADING THE STATE AND PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS AND SHOWS LIKE FOR ALL THE VITRIOL THERE IS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, LIKE WHAT WE JUST SAW TODAY WITH KAREN AND JOSIAH BEING HERE, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT,
[00:30:01]
WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CITY. WE'VE GOT PD WORKING WITH OUR ATTORNEY FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CITY, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT DOES WORK. WE DO GOOD THINGS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, LIKE, YOU KNOW. SO JUST THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THESE EFFORTS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY JUST ME OFF IF I COULD REAL QUICK. SO COREY'S REAL QUICK TO, TO GIVE ALL THE THANKS AND TALK ABOUT OTHER STUFF, BUT SHE REPRESENTS OTHER OTHER CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY. AND SO WHEN I GO TO THESE CHIEFS MEETINGS AND WE'RE ALL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WE ALL KIND OF HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SO IT'S ONE, IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE A CONNECTION. BUT ALSO, SECONDLY, JUST TO HAVE LIKE A PROBLEM SOLVING AND HAVING A CITY ATTORNEY THAT'S WILLING TO, TO GO TO BAT AND FIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS IN SUPPORT OF WHAT OUR OFFICERS ARE ASKING. BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHO WE'RE SERVING. SO HUGE KUDOS TO COREY, BECAUSE NONE OF THIS HAPPENS.THIS LEGISLATION DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT WHAT SHE INITIATED AT THE BEGINNING. SO THANK YOU.
YEAH. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WHAT'S THE OTHER HAPPY NEWS? THE OTHER HAPPY NEWS IS, AS YOU KNOW, WE THE COUNCIL MADE A BOLD DECISION TO DENY A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A CANNABIS RETAIL BUSINESS BECAUSE IT WAS TOO CLOSE TO WHAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDERED A PARK FACILITY, WHICH IS THE SPORTSDOME. AND SO WE WERE SUED OVER THAT AS WELL. SO WE STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR KIND OF GLOOM AND DOOM. SORRY, TWO LAWSUITS. FELT REALLY GUILTY ABOUT THAT. ULTIMATELY, THE JUDGE HEARD SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTIONS THIS SPRING AND SHE SAID, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A PARK FACILITY. THIS IS NOT EVEN A QUESTION. AND SO IT WAS NICE TO HAVE SUCH A CLEAR DECISION FROM THE COURT. SO THE CASE WAS WAS DISMISSED ON SUMMARY JUDGMENT. I MEAN, WOULD THAT HELP OTHER COMMUNITIES TOO, IF THEY HAVE KIND OF AMBIGUOUS THINGS? I MEAN, BASED ON HOW THE STATE ROLLED THIS OUT, I CAN IMAGINE WE'RE PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY CITY STRUGGLING WITH THESE TYPES OF QUESTIONS. IT ABSOLUTELY, I THINK, IS A VERY HELPFUL DEFINITION. YEAH, BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING IN STATE LAW THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT A PUBLIC PARK FACILITY IS? WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO HAVE A WALL? SHOULD IT NOT HAVE A WALL? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AND IN THIS CASE, I THINK SHE FELT SHE DID A REALLY GOOD ANALYSIS ON WHAT IS A PUBLIC PARK FACILITY. AND SO THAT'S GREAT. YEAH. SO I THINK IT WILL IT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL TO OTHER COMMUNITIES. GOOD. LOOK AT US HELPING EVERYBODY ALL OVER MINNESOTA.
CAN YOU SEE THAT? ANYTHING ELSE? NO. ALL RIGHT, CITY ADMINISTRATOR HOW ARE WE DOING?
[11. City Administrator]
WELL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, JUST TO EXPAND ON THE THEME A LITTLE BIT WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF WASHINGTON AVENUE, IF YOU GUYS RECALL, IN 2022, WE HAD A SUPER AGGRESSIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION WHERE WE LISTED OUT THE RIVERFRONT PARK IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH WAS LUMBERJACK LANDING AND BRIDGEVIEW PARK. WE ALSO HAD MYRTLE STREET, AND WASHINGTON AVENUE IS NOW KIND OF THE LAST BIG PIECE TO FALL IN THAT YOU'RE GIVING ME THE SWEATS? YEAH. WE NEED MORE STUFF ON THE LIST NOW. YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ALL WHILE DOING DOWNTOWN PARKING AND A SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT, A $400 MILLION HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT AND A SINKHOLE AS WELL. A SINKHOLE MOST RECENTLY, BUT JUST GETTING THE COMPLETION OF WASHINGTON AVENUE. I MEAN, EACH, EACH STEP SEEMINGLY WAS KIND OF PERCEIVED AS INSURMOUNTABLE.BUT WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE STATE AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE RESIDENTS AND THE COUNCIL AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, I MEAN, EVERYBODY ABSOLUTELY JUST RALLIED TO MAKE THIS ALL WORK. AND THIS STREAK OF INVESTMENT AND SUCCESS THE CITY HAS STILLWATER HAS SEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS, IS JUST INCREDIBLE AND VERY IMPRESSIVE. AND EVERYBODY SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEMSELVES. SO YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK IF FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING MAYBE AT HOME, BUT I GUESS FOR, YOU KNOW, STAFF KNOWS, I MEAN, WE PUT TOGETHER KIND OF THESE PIE IN THE SKY BLUE SKY TYPE, YOU KNOW, LISTS OF PROJECTS, RIGHT? LIKE IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE COULD GET ALL THESE THINGS DONE IN THREE YEARS, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT THE EXPECTATION THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE FEASIBLE, RIGHT? IT'S AND WE KIND OF DID ALL WE'RE DOING ALL OF THEM, RIGHT? I DON'T KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE A COUPLE MINOR THINGS THAT FALL OFF THAT CHANGED IN PRIORITY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE BIG SCARY PROJECTS THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WE WERE ALL WORRIED ABOUT, WE'RE CHECKING THOSE OFF THE LIST IN PRETTY GOOD FASHION WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM THE STATE, WHICH AGAIN, IS GOOD BECAUSE ALL OF THESE PROJECTS HELP MORE THAN JUST OUR RESIDENTS. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. I KNOW STAFF, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING YOUR BUTTS OFF ON ALL THIS STUFF, AND I'M LOOKING AT MISTER MODESTY OUT THERE KIND OF ACTING LIKE HE'S IGNORING US. BUT THIS STUFF WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT MISTER MODESTY. AND I THINK HE'S REFERRING TO SEAN SANDERS, OUR ASSISTANT CITY ADMINISTRATOR.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HE HE HAD GREAT HE HAD HE HAD DARK HAIR. HE HAD DARK HAIR A YEAR AGO. AND NOW LOOK AT HIM. HE'S GOT A GOOD TAN GOING THOUGH. HE'S GETTING OUT. RIGHT. IT'S PROBABLY FROM FILLING IN A SINKHOLE, BUT YOU KNOW. AWESOME. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE FROM STAFF? ALL
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA – These items are routine and will be approved in one motion.]
RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, LET'S MOVE ON TO CONSENT COUNCIL. ANYBODY HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH ANY OF THESE ITEMS OR IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE GOT A MOTION, A SECOND COUNCIL. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. AND THAT PASSES WITH FIVE VOTES. MOVING ON TO THE
[25. 2026 Summer Tuesday's Event Waiver of Fees Request & Agreement]
SUMMER TUESDAYS EVENT. WAIVER AND FEE. REQUEST AN AGREEMENT. WHO'S KICKING THAT OFF? GO AHEAD. MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR TONIGHT IS AN APPLICATION FOR THE SUMMER TUESDAYS. FROM JULY THROUGH AUGUST THERE'LL BE SIX EVENTS. VERY POPULAR LOCAL EVENT. WHAT THE APPLICANT IS[00:35:05]
ASKING FOR TONIGHT IS AN AGREEMENT NOISE VARIANCE AN EVENT FEE BASED WAIVER. GOTCHA.ANYONE HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THAT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AND THAT PASSES WITH FIVE VOTES. OH WAIT. WERE THERE ANY OPPOSED. NO I THINK
[26. Lumberjack Days 2026 Event - Available Tuesday]
THAT WAS I THINK I HEARD FIVE EYES. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO LUMBERJACK DAYS 2026. ROCK AND ROLL RIGHT THROUGH HERE. COMING BACK. KICK IT OFF. I DIDN'T SAY THAT. RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE PIONEER PRESS AGAIN. IT'LL BE THE STREAM. THE STREAM WILL PICK IT UP AND RUN WITH IT.2026 LUMBERJACK DAYS CONTRACT AGREEMENT IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT. ALWAYS A SUPER POPULAR EVENT IN DOWNTOWN STILLWATER. WILL BE HAPPENING ON JULY 17TH THROUGH THE 19TH THIS YEAR.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT AND THEN THE WAIVER OF FEES AS WELL.
AWESOME. BRIAN. WE EXCITED, VERY EXCITED. ROCK AND ROLL. GOT SOME NEW STUFF. LAYOUT BASICALLY THE SAME. YEAH YEAH YEAH. AWESOME. FEW NEW THINGS ADDED HERE AND THERE AND THERE, BUT NOTHING CRAZY. GOTCHA. ALL RIGHT. WELL BEFORE THIS, I JUST WANT TO SAY I WANT TO GIVE BRIAN AND HIS TEAM KUDOS. LUMBERJACK DAYS IS A COMMUNITY EVENT. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S RUN BY THE CITY OF STILLWATER. IT'S WE DON'T FUND IT. BRIAN HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE THINGS. I KNOW BRIAN'S NOT MAKING, YOU KNOW, PILES OF MONEY DOING THIS.
I KNOW HE'S DOING IT FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO KEEP THE TRADITION GOING. SO WITH THAT, IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, I'M SURE THERE'S A SIGN UP ON THE WEBSITE TO VOLUNTEER. IF ANYONE WANTS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING, I THINK YOU CAN ALSO SEND CHECKS TO SUPPORT LUMBERJACK DAYS AT SOME LEVEL ON THE WEBSITE, BECAUSE WITH MORE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WE CAN DO MORE COOL THINGS. AND THIS CAN'T JUST EXIST SOLELY ON BRIAN. BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING ALL THIS. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE PAST GROUP, I MEAN, KIND OF THE HISTORY, AS MIKE PELINO WILL TELL YOU, GROUPS STEP UP, THEY PUT ON THIS EVENT, THEY DO A GREAT JOB, THEY GET A LITTLE BURNT OUT, AND THEN THEY KIND OF QUICKLY GO AWAY. AND WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU KIND OF STANDING THERE WAITING TO HELP OUT AND KEEP THIS THING GOING AND KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. SO JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND KEEPING THIS TRADITION ALIVE. WHAT YEAR LUMBERJACK DAYS IS THIS? I DON'T EVEN KNOW. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE OUR NINTH. 92ND OR 93RD LUMBERJACK DAYS IN THE CITY OF STILLWATER. SO OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT? SECOND, WE'VE GOT A MOTION. A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO SAY, BRIAN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BACK. I, I KNOW HOW MUCH WORK IT IS BECAUSE WE USED TO DO IT AS A JAYCEES AND IT'S A LOT OF WORK. AND THANK YOU FOR REVITALIZING AND BRINGING THIS BACK AND LEADING IT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY. IT'S, IT'S A TRUE COMMUNITY EVENT AND YOU SAVED IT. YEAH. THANK YOU. KEPT IT GOING, MAN, I APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT. WE GOT A MOTION A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. AND THAT ALSO PASSES WITH FIVE VOTES. ROCK AND ROLL. LOOK AT GOVERNMENT'S NOT ONLY GOOD WE'RE EFFICIENT TOO. SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES JUST IN STILLWATER.
ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. AND WE ARE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.