[00:00:01]
          WITH IT, BUT NEVER, NEVER THIS THING. SO ANYWAY, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. HOW ARE WE ALL DOING? 
          [I. CALL TO ORDER]
GOOD. ALL RIGHT. YEAH, I LIKE IT, I LIKE IT. WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AT THIS TIME. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE STILLWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 21ST, 2026. WITH THAT GENERAL ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER BELLANDE HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ODEBRECHT HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PALENA HERE. MAYOR KOZLOWSKI HERE. AND WITH THAT, IF YOU'D ALL RISE 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 JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. THAT ALWAYS SOUNDS WONDERFUL 
          [1. Stillwater Human Rights Award Presented to Stillwater Area High School Students and Staff and the Valley Outreach Team – Resolution]
WITH A FULL HOUSE. MOVING ON, WE'VE GOT A FEW EXCUSE ME, RECOGNITIONS AND PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING. THE FIRST IS THE STILLWATER HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD, PRESENTED TO OUR STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND STAFF, AS WELL AS OUR VALLEY OUTREACH TEAM. SO IF YOU WANT TO COME MEET ME DOWN HERE AT THE MICROPHONE, WE'LL GET THIS KICKED OFF. MAYOR TED, I AM SUPER EXCITED. WE HAVE ONE OF OUR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONERS AND ANOTHER ONE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO MAKE IT TO DO A QUICK LITTLE INTRODUCTION FOR US HERE. 
          THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS MIA OTSUKA. I SAID I AM A YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING MISTER CORNELIUS RISCH AND FROM STILLWATER HIGH SCHOOL, AND TRACY MACKEY, THE CEO OF VALLEY OUTREACH, AS BOTH A MEMBER OF MY HIGH SCHOOL'S STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, HEADED BY MISTER RISCH AND A VOLUNTEER AT VALLEY OUTREACH, I HAVE GOTTEN TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT OF BOTH THESE AMAZING LEADERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WHILE THE COMBINED WORK OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT STILLWATER HIGH SCHOOL AND THE EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS AT VALLEY OUTREACH HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL FOR COORDINATING EFFORTS TO HELP STILLWATER FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE ACTIONS OF ICE DURING THIS PAST YEAR. THE INITIATIVE, LEADERSHIP, AND TIRELESS EFFORTS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FROM BOTH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER WHO WANT TO HELP AND GIVING THEM AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO SO. SO IF EVERYONE COULD, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING CORNELIUS RISCH AND TRACY MACKEY. NICE JOB. I'M SO PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS. YOU DID GREAT. THAT WAS AWESOME. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-082? SO MOVED, MR. MAYOR. SECOND, WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. AND THAT PASSES WITH FIVE VOTES. 
          THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR. I'LL READ THIS AND THEN I'LL GIVE YOU BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. SOUNDS GOOD. AWESOME. WELL, THIS IS VERY EXCITING. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. THAT WAS A WONDERFUL JOB. I LOVE TO SEE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR AWESOME NONPROFITS WORKING TOGETHER. 
          IT'S REALLY A HUGE PART OF WHAT MAKES OUR CITY SO SPECIAL. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO. AND VALLEY OUTREACH AS, AS MOST KNOW, IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. IT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST BOARD POSITIONS WHEN I FIRST MOVED BACK TO STILLWATER. AND SO I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW TRACY OVER THE YEARS AND JUST INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION. AND THEY DO. THEY DO SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT, WHEREAS THE STILLWATER HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REQUESTED NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2026 HUMAN STILLWATER HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD, WHEREAS, THE CITY OF STILLWATER IS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE VALUES OF HUMAN DIGNITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION FOR ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, AND RECOGNIZES THOSE WHO LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND ACTING IN THE SERVICE OF THESE IDEAS. AND WHEREAS, DURING OPERATION METRO SURGE, STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND STAFF AND THE VALLEY OUTREACH TEAM DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THIS, TO STRENGTHENING ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS STILLWATER AND THE GREATER SAINT CROIX VALLEY. AND WHEREAS, STEWART AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE AFFECTED BY OPERATION METRO SURGE AND LED THE WAY FOR A CALL TO ACTION AND COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE BY SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, DONORS, VOLUNTEERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. WHEREAS, CORNELIUS RISH PROVIDED THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP AND MENTORSHIP, EMPOWERING STUDENTS AND FELLOW SHSH STAFF TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY WITH PRACTICAL TOOLS WHILE DEVELOPING COMPASSION, RESPONSIBILITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. WHEREAS, TRACY MACKEY AND THE VALLEY OUTREACH TEAM PROVIDED HANDS ON RESPONSE AND CONNECTED FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS IN NEED WITH FOOD, HYGIENE ITEMS, HOUSEHOLD ESSENTIALS, CLOTHING AND OTHER BASIC NECESSITIES AND RESOURCES. WHEREAS, WHEREAS, THOUGH THESE ACTIONS THEY HELPED THROUGHOUT THESE ACTIONS, THEY HELPED ENSURE FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, FEAR OF ICE ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER CHALLENGES COULD ACCESS CRITICAL RESOURCES WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND COMPASSION. AND 
          [00:05:01]
WHEREAS THEIR WORK NOT ONLY PROVIDED PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE BUT ALSO FOSTERED A SENSE OF BELONGING AND CONNECTION. BY DEMONSTRATING THAT NEIGHBORS, STUDENTS AND FAITH COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS STAND READY TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF NEED. AND WHEREAS, TOGETHER THEY HAVE SHOWN HOW COLLABORATIVE SERVICE AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP CAN ADVANCE THE PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY PROMOTING DIGNITY, EQUALITY, OPPORTUNITY AND CARE FOR ALL PEOPLE. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STILLWATER, THE 2026 HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD IS PRESENTED TO OUR STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENTS, AND OUR VALLEY OUTREACH TEAM IN APPRECIATION OF THEIR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO HUMAN RIGHTS, AND IS HEREBY COMMENDED FOR THOSE EFFORTS ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS DAY, THE 21ST OF JULY 2026. SO THANK YOU. 
          WHEREAS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. I SEE A COUPLE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS HERE. IF YOU'D GIVE A WAVE OR STAND UP BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONES WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. WE ALSO HAVE MORE THAN 800 VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THAT MAKE OUR WORK HAPPEN. HUMAN RIGHTS MEANS THAT EVERY PERSON DESERVES DIGNITY, SAFETY, OPPORTUNITY, AND RESPECT SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN. VALLEY OUTREACH IS HONORED TO BE ONE EXAMPLE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ACTION. YET THE REAL WORK BELONGS TO ALL OF US INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENTS, AND CITIES LIKE STILLWATER. WE ARE EACH RESPONSIBLE AND WE EACH NEED TO SHOW UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT FEELS HARD OR SCARY OR UNCERTAIN. IT'S ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO SPEAK UP. WHEN WE SEE INJUSTICE AND TO USE WHATEVER PRIVILEGE AND INFLUENCE WE HAVE TO CREATE A MORE JUST AND MORE WELCOMING COMMUNITY HERE, PLEASE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS THAT YOU AND EACH OF US CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANKS. FIRST, I GIVE AN HONOR TO GOD, WHO'S THE LEADER AND THE HEAD OF MY LIFE, TO THE STILLWATER CITY COUNCIL, TO THE MAYOR, TO THE STILLWATER COMMUNITY, STUDENTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STILLWATER HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THE CITY OF STILLWATER FOR THIS INCREDIBLE RECOGNITION. MY MOTHER, ZEB RISH, WHO I WORK CLOSE TO MY HEART, ALWAYS SAID, RIGHT IS RIGHT, AND WRONG IS WRONG, WHICH MEANS CERTAIN ACTIONS ARE INHERENTLY RIGHT OR INHERENTLY WRONG, REGARDLESS OF WHO COMMITS THEM OR WHAT EXCUSES ARE OFFERED. THE WAY THAT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS WERE TREATED DURING ICE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS WAS SIMPLY WRONG. I BELIEVE THEN, AND I BELIEVE NOW THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY, COMPASSION, HUMANITY AND RESPECT. MY MOTHER ALSO TAUGHT ME THAT DOING THE RIGHT THING IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT, SOMETIMES IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE, SOMETIMES IT'S UNPOPULAR, AND SOMETIMES IT COMES AT A PERSONAL COST. BUT IT'S STILL THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THAT PRINCIPLE GUIDED ME AND MY STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE WORK. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HAVE TO DO THIS WORK ALONE. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE COURAGEOUS STAFF MEMBERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, FAITH LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO GENEROUSLY GAVE THEIR TIME, RESOURCES, AND HEART TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORS IN TIMES OF NEED. THE HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD RECOGNITION REMINDS US THAT WHEN COMMUNITY CHOOSES LOVE OVER FEAR, HOPE OVER DIVISION, AND HUMANITY OVER INDIFFERENCE, WE ALL BECOME STRONGER. THUS, I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK PASTOR HOWARD OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WHOSE LEADERSHIP WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US SERVE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY ICE ENFORCEMENT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE STILLWATER SCHOOL'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS, WHO TIRELESSLY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, WORKED ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND 
          [00:10:01]
FAMILIES, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, THREE OF WHOM IS HERE TODAY. 
          WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP? MIA ABBEY AND MADDIE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR TIRELESS WORK AND LEADERSHIP IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUR CLASSMATES AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TEACHERS STACY BARTLETT AND CLAIRE HENNING, AS WELL AS THE EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO STOOD TOGETHER IN SERVICE AND COMPASSION COMPASSION. THIS AWARD ALSO BELONGS TO YOU. IN CLOSING, SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IS NOT POLITICAL. IT IS HUMANITARIAN. AS EDUCATORS AND MEMBERS OF A CARING COMMUNITY, IT IS SIMPLY WHAT WE DO. EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE AND EVERY FAMILY DESERVES TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. UNFORTUNATELY, AS WE PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, WE KNOW THAT MANY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH GENUINE FEAR OF ICE AND UNCERTAINTY. OUR WORK IS NOT FINISHED. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY. IT'S SUCH A COOL THING TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER LIKE THIS. AND IN TRUE FASHION, IT WAS THE STUDENTS WHO WHO SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS THE THE FOLKS WHO SHOULD BE HONORED IN THIS. WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THAT ICE SITUATION, I FIRST NOTICED THE STUDENTS GETTING ORGANIZED. MY DAUGHTER IS OUT THERE AND HAS A TRUE HEART FOR PEOPLE, AND I GENUINELY BELIEVE, POLITICS ASIDE, YOU CAN JUDGE A CITY BY HOW WELL IT TREATS THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED. AND SO I WATCHED THE STUDENTS GET ORGANIZED, AND I IN NO WAY WANT TO ASSERT MYSELF INTO THIS. I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU MY OBSERVATIONS. I SAT ON A CALL THAT ABBY WAS ON WITH TEACHERS AND WATCHED THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS FIGURE OUT, OKAY, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS KID FEEL GOOD, AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS KID FEEL SAFE. AND WE'RE JUST LIKE MAPPING IT OUT. AND THEN I WOULD CALL TRACY OR THE OTHER STAFF OVER VALLEY OUTREACH. DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD? DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH STUFF? TRACY? TELL ME WHAT WE DID. YOU KNOW, I'M MAKING NUMBERS UP, BUT I'M NOT FAR OFF. WE DID, YOU KNOW, A DELIVERY ONCE A WEEK, AND NOW WE'RE DOING 28,000 A WEEK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING FOOD OUT TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT AND ARE AFRAID TO LEAVE. I THINK I WILL TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS. I DO THINK I INTRODUCED MR. RISH TO PASTOR HOWARD, WHERE I GOT TO KNOW HIM, WHICH WAS AT THE HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD. SO ALL I CAN SAY, GUYS, IS, WHATEVER SIDE OF THIS YOU'RE ON, THIS COMMUNITY ORGANIZES ITSELF. AND I WATCHED THE STUDENTS LEAD IT, AND I WATCH THE ADULTS PICK UP THE PIECES WHERE THEY NEEDED TO. AND WE HAD THE FAITH COMMUNITY IN THERE, AND WE HAD OUR, OUR. 
          COMMUNITY SERVICE FOLKS ENGAGED. I KNOW YOU HAD WORKED WITH SEVERAL OTHERS THAT KIND OF LIKE PARTNERED INTO THERE, AND IT WAS JUST A DELIGHT TO SEE. WE ARE AT A TIME WHERE I SOMETIMES GET DOWN ON THE WORLD. WHEN I READ A PAPER, I GOT TO TELL YOU, THIS COMMUNITY STEPS UP WHEN IT NEEDS TO, AND I'M SO PROUD OF EVERYTHING WE SAW THERE. THIS WAS SUCH AN OBVIOUS AWARD WHEN THE STUDENTS BROUGHT IT TO ME AS A SUGGESTION TO PUT IN THERE, I WAS LIKE, YES, LET'S ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. SO THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS, BECAUSE I THINK YOU GUYS LED THE WAY. AND I KNOW THERE'S MANY MORE, MANY MORE THAN YOU THAT WERE ENGAGED IN IT AS WELL. AND I'M PROUD OF ALL OF YOU GUYS. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANKS. AGAIN. ALL RIGHT. 
          [2. Proclamation for Stillwater Coaches Scott Christensen and Brian Luke]
WITH THAT, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS FOR TWO OF OUR COACHES THAT PROBABLY NEED NO INTRODUCTIONS. BUT IF I COULD HAVE COACH CHRISTIANSON AND COACH LUKE COME UP AND JOIN ME, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. COME ON UP, GUYS. COACH, YOU'RE WEARING THAT TODAY. WHEN I SAW YOU WALKING THE DOG EARLIER. I DON'T THINK SO. I DRESSED UP. YOU DRESSED UP? SEE YOU GUYS. 
          WELL, THIS IS ALWAYS SUPER FUN. AND FEEL FREE TO TO TAKE OFF, BUT IT'S FUN TO, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE OUR AWESOME STUDENTS, BUT THEN ALSO THE AWESOME COACHES THAT HELP DRIVE THEM TO SUCCESS ON THE FIELD, ON THE TRACK AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS. BUT IT'S, WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT, IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE HERE. SO I'M GOING TO START WITH COACH CHRISTIANSON, WHO AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE BEEN UP HERE A FEW TIMES WITH COACH. RIGHT. YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS ROOM 
          [00:15:04]
A COUPLE A COUPLE TIMES OVER YOUR CAREER. WHEN DID YOU START WORKING FOR THE BRISTOL AREA SCHOOLS? 1980 1980. OKAY. WOW. GOOD MATH. THAT'S A LONG TIME. THAT'S A LONG TIME. WELL, WITH THAT, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION. SO ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY AND UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF ITS LEADING CITIZENS, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL HEREBY EXTEND RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF STILLWATER'S MISSION TO COACH SCOTT CHRISTIANSON FOR BEING INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC COACHES ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME AND FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STILLWATER AREA, HIGH SCHOOL, CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK AND FIELD PROGRAMS. THROUGH YOUR EXCEPTIONAL COACHING, LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION, YOU HAVE INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF STUDENT ATHLETES AND LEFT A LASTING LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELPING OTHERS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. SO THANK YOU, COACH SCOTT. HERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MY TEACHING COLLEAGUE CORNELIUS FOR HIS AWARD. AND ALSO BRIAN. LUKE, THERE ARE 16,000 HIGH SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTRY. AND FOR BRIAN TO BE SELECTED THE NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR IS QUITE THE HONOR. WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER A LONG TIME. WE WERE NEIGHBORS, IN FACT. AND WHEN I CAME TO STILLWATER, I KNEW THIS WAS A CITY OF EXCELLENCE AND A CITY THAT HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AND I WAS IN THE RIGHT SPOT AT THE RIGHT TIME. AND I THINK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED ME OUT ALONG THE YEARS, MY FORMER STUDENT, WHO I DID NOT WANT TO I HAD MY MY BEST SCIENCE STUDENT OF ALL TIME RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COACH LUKE. SO AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY AND UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF HIS LEADING CITIZENS, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL HEREBY EXTEND RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN SUPPORTING OUR MISSION TO COACH BRIAN LUKE FOR BEING NAMED NATIONAL SWIMMING AND DIVING COACH OF THE YEAR. 
          YOUR EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION AND COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE BROUGHT GREAT PRIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND INSPIRED COUNTLESS COUNTLESS ATHLETES, FAMILIES, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LASTING COMMITMENT TO HELPING OTHERS ACHIEVE THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. SO THANK YOU, COACH LUKE. THANK YOU. I PAID HIM TO DO THAT. CONGRATULATIONS TO SCOTT. HIS CAREER AND MY CAREER ARE SIMILARLY ALIGNED. HE WAS DOING DIFFERENT SPORTS, BUT ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF YEARS WE'VE BEEN IN STILLWATER. AS HE SAYS, IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLACE TO WORK. I I'M SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE LANDED HERE. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HONOR US. I TRULY APPRECIATE THAT. I'D LIKE TO THANK 51 YEARS OF SWIMMING AND DIVING COMMUNITY IN STILLWATER. I'VE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH. IT'S BEEN A GREAT RUN AND IT'S JUST. EVERY DAY I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING AND DOING WHAT I GET TO DO, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE SUPPORTERS IN ATTENDANCE BACK THERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHOWING UP FOR THE FOR YOUR COACH, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE AND FAMILY. WITHOUT THEM, I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS FOR 51 YEARS AND TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THEIR SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. DRY RYE. I JUST HAD TO I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THESE TWO GUYS. I, I'M PROUD TO CALL THEM BOTH OF THEM FRIENDS. 
          WE'VE DONE A LOT OF STUFF TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS. AND JANE WAS OUR DAYCARE MOM. AND I GOT TO THINKING, MY SON'S 44 YEARS OLD NOW, ALMOST 45, AND WE'VE KNOWN THEM THAT MANY YEARS ALREADY. AND WE'VE ALL BEEN GREAT FRIENDS AND THEY REPRESENT STILLWATER. THEY UNBELIEVABLE HOW THEY REPRESENT STILLWATER. AND WE COULDN'T HAVE MADE IT JANE, LUKE OR BRIAN, LUKE AND SCOTT CHRISTIANSON DAY IN STILLWATER, BUT I TOLD BOTH OF THEM I WOULD NOT DO THAT TO THEM AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ABOUT 6 OR 7 A PIECE OVER OVER THE YEARS ON, ON ALL THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THEIR TEAMS AND THE RECOGNITIONS THEY'VE RECEIVED. 
          BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THIS, FOR A NATIONAL AWARD IS AMAZING FOR STILLWATER. AND YOU WONDER WHY STILLWATER IS SO SUCCESSFUL IN EVERYTHING. YOU GOT GUYS LIKE THEM LEADING THE PROGRAM, AND THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE LEADING THE PROGRAM THAT ARE JUST OUTSTANDING. THEY'RE ALL PART OF THE COMMUNITY. AND I HATE TO SAY THIS, THEY'RE MAKING STILLWATER PREMIERE. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S OUR HONOR TO HONOR YOU TONIGHT, AND WE 
          [00:20:03]
NEED TO DO MORE OF THAT. WE NEED TO KEEP IT UP. SO THANK YOU. AND I MEAN, JUST TO SEE THE THE ATTENDANCE TONIGHT TO HONOR THESE COACHES IS INSPIRING. LIKE WE'VE GOT SUCH GREAT PEOPLE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR SHOWING UP TO SUPPORT THESE AWESOME COACHES. 
          APPRECIATE YOU ALL. AND THE REST OF THE AGENDA IS KIND OF BORING. THE ONLY THING WE HAVE IS, IS PAULINA'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT DUCKS AT SOME POINT, BUT THE REST OF IT. SO FEEL FREE TO LEAVE. WE WON'T BE OFFENDED. SHE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT THE DUCKS. CUT IT OUT. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO IT TONIGHT. I'M NOT. I'M GOING TO BE A GOOD BOY TONIGHT. 
          WE'RE. WHAT? GOOD CALL. OH YEAH. RIGHT. DID YOU SEE ALL OF THEM? LIKE BRIAN SENT ONE SCREENSHOT, BUT ONE WAS TALKING ABOUT. HE'S GONNA STOP US. YEAH. OKAY. SO, LIKE, AS LONG AS HE'S NOT. I DON'T THINK HE WANTS TO BE BORED OUT OF HIS MIND. FOLLOW ME AROUND. 
          YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY KIND OF BORING, UNFORTUNATELY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT WAS 
          [3. Community Thread Budget Request – Cathleen Hess]
AWESOME. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS THE COMMUNITY THREAD BUDGET REQUEST FROM KATHLEEN HESS. COME ON UP. YOU CAN JUST HIT THE BUTTON ON THE MICROPHONE. OH, WE GOT THE WHOLE CREW I LOVE IT. THERE YOU GO. PERFECT. ALL RIGHT. ARE WE ON. WE'RE GOOD. ROCK AND ROLL. WHAT A COOL THING TO FOLLOW. WE'RE GOING TO TRY NOT TO MAKE IT BORING ON MAKE IT BORING ON YOU HERE. BUT THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO WITH US AT COMMUNITY THREAD. WE ARE EXCITED LAST YEAR TO COME AND KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE WORKING ON AS WE REALLY RE-ENVISION COMMUNITY THREAD, WHAT WE DO, HOW WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY, WHO WE SERVE AND HOW WE SERVE THEM. SO REALLY EXCITED TO COME AND TALK A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON, AS WELL AS BRING SOME OF OUR FABULOUS STAFF WITH US, PUT A NAME TO FACE. AS I KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THINGS WITH YOU ALL AS WELL TOO. SO YEAH, WE SWITCHED ALREADY. 
          TRANSPORTATION. I KNOW IT'S A AT OUR CORE IS WHAT COMMUNITY THREAD WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1967. WE'RE LOOKING AT 60 YEARS NEXT YEAR MORE TO COME ON THAT. BUT AT OUR CORE IS TRANSPORTATION. SO WE REALLY DOUBLED DOWN. WHAT IS THAT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO US WORKING WITH THE VOLUNTEERS, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY AND GROWING THAT NEED. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE BY HERE. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT RACHEL. RACHEL IS SICK TODAY. MANY OF YOU KNOW RACHEL PRESTON. SHE DOES OUR TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY. SO I'M STEPPING IN FOR HER, BUT DEFINITELY WANTED TO GIVE HER CREDIT FOR THIS. BUT YOU CAN SEE BY FOCUSING IN ON THIS, WE ACTUALLY DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF RIDES THAT WE DID FROM 2024 TO 2025, AND IT'S CONTINUING TO GROW FROM THERE. AS AND IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, WE DO RIDES TO LOCAL. WILL TAKE PEOPLE TO MINNEAPOLIS IF THEY NEED TO, WHEREVER THE VOLUNTEER NEEDS TO MATCH UP FOR PEOPLE TO GO FOR THEIR TRANSPORTATION. WE WILL DO THAT. AND WE JUST CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE NEEDS GROW AND GROW AS WE HELP PEOPLE AGE IN THEIR HOMES. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THE TOTAL MILES, VOLUNTEER HOURS, THE DRIVERS AND REALLY FROM RIGHT IN THIS AREA, OVER 60% OF THOSE RIDES ARE GENERATED HERE. WE DO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO FOREST LAKE. SO WASHINGTON COUNTY NORTH OF 94, STILLWATER SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THAT CONTINUES TO GROW. WE HAVE A LOT OF COOL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW WITHIN THE RIDES. SO PEOPLE ARE BEING ABLE TO NOT ONLY CALL IN, BUT CLAIM RIDES ONLINE, DRIVERS BEING ABLE TO MATCH UP ONLINE. WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THAT TO REALLY MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE RIDERS AND FOR THE DRIVERS, SO THAT ALL THAT TAKES A TON OF WORK. 
          BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO IS BRING MELISSA UP MELISSA'S NEW TO COMMUNITY THREAD, NEW TO THE STILLWATER COMMUNITY, AND SHE'S HELPED US REALLY REVISION GO MOVE AWAY FROM A MEMBERSHIP MODEL TO A MORE OF AN ENROLLMENT FREE ENROLLMENT. SO PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR SERVICES CAN COME FOR FREE AND GET THOSE SERVICES AND GET INTRODUCED TO OTHER SERVICES. WE'LL, WE'LL DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. 
          [00:25:03]
AWESOME. NICE TO MEET YOU. NICE TO MEET YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. AS DEREK ALLUDED, WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES AT COMMUNITY THREAD OVER THE LAST YEAR, ME BEING ONE OF THEM. BUT NO. SO WE ARE WE KIND OF JUST THIS YEAR IN 2026, WE WENT AWAY FROM THAT MEMBERSHIP MODEL AND WE WANTED TO REMOVE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE WANTED TO MAKE IT EASY AND WE WANTED TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY. AND SO WITH PART OF THAT IS A HUGE PIECE, A HUGE CHANGE FOR US AS WE WENT TO FREE ENROLLMENT. AND SO THERE IS NO LONGER ANY MEMBERSHIP FEES. PEOPLE IN THIS STILLWATER COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS CAN COME TO COMMUNITY THREAD FOR FREE. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, WHETHER IT'S JUST GREAT DISCUSSION GROUPS, GAMES, ACTIVITIES, WE'RE BRINGING IN WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS. SO THERE'S AN EDUCATION PIECE AROUND THAT. SO WE'RE ALWAYS BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE NEEDING. AND SO BEING ABLE TO FULFILL THAT. 
          SO A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO JUST MENTION IS THAT, AGAIN, WE HAVE WE'RE SEEING THAT INCREASE OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO COME BECAUSE WE HAVE REMOVED THAT BARRIER OF, OF THE FEE. AND SO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING WELCOME WITH THAT. THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE JUST HERE DID MAYBE ABOUT A MONTH AGO IS WE WENT TO HAVE IT BE A GREAT NEW ONLINE PLATFORM SO PEOPLE CAN ENROLL FOR FREE ONLINE, THEY CAN SIGN UP FOR ACTIVITIES. AND SO IT'S JUST REALLY BEEN A GREAT PIECE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET ONE ON ONE WITH PEOPLE IN A SMALL GROUP SHOWING THEM, THIS IS A QR CODE. LET'S TRY THIS OUT. SO SCANNING THAT, SHOWING THEM HOW THEY CAN EASILY HAVE ACCESS TO REGISTERING THEMSELVES FOR THINGS OR CANCELING THINGS. AND SO THAT'S BEEN A HUGE PIECE FOR THAT TOO. SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER THAT AS WELL AND JUST MAKING IT REALLY CONVENIENT. WE'VE UPDATED OUR WEBSITE TO MAKE THAT EASIER AND A LOT MORE INFORMATION FOR THEM. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE AN ADDITION WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE SOME ADD ON PREMIUM SOCIAL ACTIVITY. SO IF IT'S A COOKING CLASS OR CRAFTING CLASS, THINGS WHERE THERE'S THERE ARE FEES, PEOPLE CAN CUSTOMIZE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND MAKE IT VERY FLEXIBLE. SO ESSENTIALLY THEY CAN CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WHEN THEY WANT TO DO IT. AND SO JUST REALLY MAKING THINGS FLEXIBLE FOR PEOPLE. SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT. SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KATHLEEN. 
          THANK YOU. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS KATHLEEN HESS. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF DONOR ENGAGEMENT AT COMMUNITY THREAD. ONE OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT COMMUNITY THREAD IS KNOWN FOR IS OUR TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND THAT PROVIDES FREE INCOME TAX FILING FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME TAXPAYERS. TAX PREPARATION IS PROVIDED BY TRAINED AND IRS CERTIFIED AARP TAX AID VOLUNTEERS. AND THIS YEAR ALONE, OUR TAX AIDES COMPLETED NEARLY 800 APPOINTMENTS, WHICH MEANT THEY FILED OVER 1564 FEDERAL AND STATE TAX RETURNS, IN ADDITION TO 251 PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS. COMMUNITY THREAD HAS OFFERED THIS PROGRAM SINCE 1973. THE OTHER LONG STANDING PROGRAM I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THIS EVENING IS COMMUNITY THREADS HOLIDAY HOPE PROGRAM. THIS YEAR MARKS HOLIDAY HOPE'S 56TH YEAR SERVING FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IN THE STILLWATER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT. LAST YEAR, THANKS TO TOY DONATIONS, NEARLY 50 LOCAL DROP OFF SITES AT BUSINESSES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. OUR 2025 HOLIDAY HOPE PROGRAM HELPED OVER 1500 LOCAL CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH GRADE 12 ACROSS MORE THAN 500 FAMILIES. LOOKING AHEAD, WE WILL ENERGIZE HOLIDAY HOPE ONCE AGAIN THROUGH OUR ANNUAL HOMETOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS CELEBRATION. HOMETOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS IS IS AGAIN A FOUR WEEK LONG CELEBRATION. IT RUNS FROM SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY AND FOLLOWS IN THE. IN THE FOLLOWING THREE WEEKENDS IN DECEMBER. ACTION PACKED, FAMILY FRIENDLY, FREE AND. IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL TIME. WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM THEMED EVENTS. WE HAVE A TREE LIGHTING. WE HAVE HOLIDAY FIREWORKS, JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS. IT'S REALLY, REALLY WONDERFUL. NOW DURING THE EVENT, WE WILL AGAIN REACH OUT TO THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO DOWNTOWN STILLWATER, ENCOURAGING THEM TO REALLY SHARE THE BOUNTY OF THE SEASON WITH LESS FORTUNATE NEIGHBORS BY WAY OF TOY COLLECTIONS AND MONEY DONATED FOR THE HOLIDAY HOPE PROGRAM. NOW, THIS WILL BE OUR SECOND YEAR LEADING HOMETOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS, AND THE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE BEEN GREAT AND THEY JUST CONTINUE TO 
          [00:30:02]
GROW. AND WE ALL WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT. SO MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD DIFFERENT LEVELS OF, YOU KNOW, INVOLVEMENT WITH HOMETOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND REALLY MAKE IT SPECIAL. SO THANK YOU. SO AS YOU CAN TELL, COMMUNITY THREADS BEEN UP TO DOING ALL KINDS OF IMPACTFUL WORK FOR STILLWATER AND OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, FOR THE WONDERFUL ADULTS AND FAMILIES THAT LIVE HERE. AND WE'RE HONORED TO DO THIS WORK. AND WE'RE ALSO REALLY PROUD OF IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT. YEAH. THANK YOU. I LOVE WHAT YOU GUYS DO. CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION? ABSOLUTELY. I KNOW A GENTLEMAN LIVES UP ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND HE WORKS DOWNTOWN STILLWATER. HE'S LEGALLY BLIND. HE CAN'T DRIVE. WHAT KIND OF TRANSPORTATION DO THEY DO? YOU PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION? I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE PICKING THEM UP THREE TIMES A WEEK TO TAKE HIM TO WORK, BECAUSE HE SAID HE COULDN'T AFFORD TRANSPORTATION IN ANY OTHER WAY. DO THEY HAVE A SYSTEM TO HELP SOMEBODY LIKE THAT OUT AND THAT METRO MOBILITY, DO THEY DO THAT STUFF? SO, SO ONE OF THE PIECES THAT WE DO HAVE FOR TRANSPORTATION IS THAT WE'RE OFFERING PACKAGES. SO THERE IS FOR YOUR FRIEND, HE COULD PURCHASE A PACKAGE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND WE CAN PROVIDE RIDES TO HIS EMPLOYMENT THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE DO HAVE A SLIDING SCALE FEE. SO YOU KIND OF MENTIONED THAT MAYBE HE CAN'T AFFORD SOME OF THE OTHER DIFFERENT PIECES THAT WE HAVE WITH TRANSPORTATION THAT DO SERVE THE AREAS, BUT WE DO HAVE A SLIDING SCALE FEE. SO IF HE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE US A CALL, WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH HIM. AND WE CAN CERTAINLY THROUGH GENEROUS DONORS, WE RAISE FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE, YOU KNOW, SLIDING SCALE SO THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE. THAT'S COOL, I KNOW THAT. YEAH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. YEAH, I KNOW THEY DID THAT. YEAH, YEAH. SO WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO BECAUSE OF THEIR, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY'RE AT, MAYBE ARE ONLY PAYING 20% OF, OF WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR, FOR US BECAUSE OF JUST WHERE THEY'RE AT. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TURNING PEOPLE AWAY BECAUSE OF THAT. SO IF THERE'S A NEED, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE THERE AND SERVE THE PEOPLE. 
          OKAY, GREAT. DO YOU GUYS NEED VOLUNTEER DRIVERS? HAVE THEM GIVE US A CALL. YOU DO YOU NEED VOLUNTEER DRIVERS? MY QUESTION. THAT SOUNDS FUN. HOW DO WE SIGN UP FOR THAT? YEAH, IT DOES SOUND FUN. I LOVE DRIVING AROUND STILLWATER. YEAH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA TO DRIVE AROUND IN, ISN'T IT? YEAH. CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION? WE ABSOLUTELY DO VOLUNTEER DRIVERS AND WE ARE IF YOU SAW ON THE OTHER WE'RE ALSO RE RE BRINGING BACK THE HOME SERVICES. SO IT'LL BE LIGHT HOME SERVICES. WE USED TO DO THAT KIND OF WENT DOWN. BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING THAT BACK IN THE FALL. SO WE ALSO ARE SO THANKFUL, AS YOU ALL WERE TALKING BEFORE, ABOUT THE GIVING COMMUNITY, WHEN WE NEED SOMETHING, PEOPLE STEP UP TO HELP. SO YES, AS AS THIS GROWS AND AS NOW WE'RE ONLINE NOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE WITH EYES ON US. IT'S REALLY GROWING, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN WHO WANT TO GIVE BACK AND HAVE THE TIME TO DO THAT. SO THAT'S GROWING AT THE SAME TIME. BUT YEAH, EASILY GO ONLINE. YOU CAN CHECK OUT EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAVE ONLINE AND JUST SIGN UP. IT'S REALLY FLEXIBLE TOO. SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT. IF, IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE, YOU JUST MARK YOURSELF OFF THAT DAY. NOT A BIG DEAL. YOU CAN'T DRIVE, YOU DON'T CLAIM A RIDE. SO ANYBODY WHO CAN DO IT OR JUST HAS SOME SPARE TIME, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THEM. AWESOME. LOVE IT. THANK YOU. HOW'S YOUR TRANSPORTER SYSTEM? I KNOW A FEW YEARS AGO WE WERE IN ON STARTING THAT TRANSPORTER SYSTEM FROM THE NURSING HOMES AND THAT THAT PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE IT TO WALMART OR WHEREVER. AND THEY DID A REGULAR ROUTE AND A LOOP IS THAT THAT'S STILL GOING, RIGHT? THAT'S NOT NOT NOT THROUGH US. NO, IT'S NOT IT'S NOT RUNNING. NO, NO. SO WE THAT WAS WHAT WAS THAT LAST YEAR, END OF THE YEAR. WE WERE LITERALLY GETTING ABOUT THREE PEOPLE A WEEK IF THAT. OH I DIDN'T KNOW WE'RE DOING THAT. SO, SO YEAH, WE, WE REALLY, AS WE SAID, DOUBLED DOWN ■ON THIS AND SAW THE GROWTH. AND WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THOSE PLACES TOO. AND WE CAN EASILY PAIR THEM UP WITH DRIVERS IF THEY, IF THEY NEED THEM. SO THAT'S BEEN WORKING, WORKING WELL FOR US. ANOTHER QUESTION. I KNOW MEMBERS ARE THE WRONG WORD, BUT BEAR WITH ME. HOW MANY OF YOUR MEMBERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR ENERGY BILLS? WINTER, SUMMER KIND OF. I'M SURE VALLEY GETS HIT WITH THAT TOO, RIGHT? YEAH. DO YOU GUYS GET THAT? GOOD QUESTION. YEAH, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. SO TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY THREAD IS FOCUSED ON WE HAVE OUR ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES FOR TYPICALLY OLDER ADULTS. WE HAVE HOLIDAY HOPE AND WE HAVE OUR AARP TAX PROGRAM. I DO KNOW THAT VALLEY OUTREACH DEALS A LOT. THEY HAVE, I DO BELIEVE, SOME EMERGENCY FUNDS. CYNTHIA, I'M LOOKING AT YOU. AND SO I THINK CYNTHIA WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A BETTER, YOU KNOW, GAUGE OF THAT PERCENTAGE. WE DON'T COLLECT THAT SPECIFIC 
          [00:35:02]
INFORMATION, BUT GUT FEEL. DO I HAVE A FEEL? NO. BUT WHAT I WELL, HERE'S WHAT I CAN TELL YOU. I CAN TELL YOU THAT LAST YEAR IN 2025, RIGHT? ABOUT 50% OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVED THROUGH WHAT WAS THEN CALLED OUR THRIVE PROGRAM WERE AT THE WE'RE AT THE FEDERAL POVERTY RATE. SO, I MEAN, I WOULD THINK IF THINGS ALIGN, WHICH THEY MIGHT, RIGHT, IT WOULD BE PROBABLY MORE PEOPLE THAN WE'D THINK. SO I DON'T KNOW WHO I NEED TO TALK TO, BUT WE HAVE AN ENERGY COMMISSION IN THIS CITY. MAYOR TED'S DONE THIS. THERE'S AN ENERGY AUDIT AND IT COMES AT A COST. BUT I BET THERE'S A WAY WE CAN HELP WITH THAT. YEAH. AND IT'S IT'S GREAT. THEY COME OUT AND, LIKE, THEY SAVE YOU MONEY BLOWER ON YOUR HOUSE AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THE HOLES ARE. 
          AND I JUST AS, AS YOU WERE TALKING AND AS I WAS REFLECTING ON WHAT VALLEY OUTREACH HAS DONE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SENIORS IN THIS TOWN THAT LIVE IN HOUSES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN WELL INSULATED. RIGHT. AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE A SMALL INVESTMENT THAT WE CAN DO TO REALLY HELP. THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA. OKAY, SO SOMEBODY GIVE ME A BUSINESS CARD OR SOMETHING AND WE'LL CONNECT YOU IF YOU WANT TO SAY, I MEAN, YOU'RE AT VALLEY OUTREACH. I MEAN, ARE YOU WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? AND FEEL FREE TO COME UP WHILE WE GOT YOU LIKE, RIGHT? YEAH, COME ON UP. RIGHT. I CAN DO IT. YEAH. SO THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT OUR SPECIFIC PROGRAM, WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH A GROUP CALLED PARTNERS IN ENERGY. SO BASICALLY LIKE A TINY SLICE OF YOUR KILOWATT HOUR GOES TOWARDS REDUCING, HELPING CITIES REDUCE THE OVERALL ENERGY FOOTPRINT. RIGHT? OKAY. SO WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT BECAUSE IT GOT US SOME RESOURCES TO HELP US GET GOING AND THAT KIND OF THING. WE'RE OFF THAT PROGRAM NOW ON KIND OF STANDING UP ON OUR OWN. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS OFFERED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM IS THIS ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM. AND IT'S NOT LIKE I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY WALK AROUND THE HOUSE AND GO, THAT'S AN OLD WINDOW. THAT'S AN OLD WINDOW. YEAH. 
          IT'S INTENSE. WELL, THAT'S WHAT SO ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAS THAT TOO FOR HOMEOWNERS. 
          THEY WILL THEY HAVE GONE REPLACED WINDOWS, REPLACED REFRIGERATORS, REPLACED FURNACES. OKAY. YEAH. SO I MEAN, YOU COULD CHECK IN WITH THEM TO COORDINATE, BUT SO DO YOU HELP DIRECT PEOPLE IF THEY'RE HAVING. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. MOST OF THE FOLKS THAT WE WORK WITH ARE RENTERS. OKAY. BUT WHEN WE WERE THERE, MOST OF THE RENTER OR THE HOMEOWNER FOR THAT. NO, NO. 
          IT'S FREE. OKAY. YEAH. WHEN FOLKS COME IN AND SAY THEIR FURNACES DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, LIKE WE HOOK THEM UP AND THEY'LL GET A NEW FURNACE FOR FREE. EXCELLENT. FROM THAT PROGRAM, LIKE WITHIN DAYS, I'D STILL LIKE TO CONNECT JUST IN CASE THERE'S A NEED THAT WE'RE MISSING OUT THERE. BUT YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. NO. THAT'S GREAT. AWESOME. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. PROGRAMS IN THE STATE, RIGHT? YEAH. MAGIC. WELL THANK YOU GUYS. ANYTHING ELSE FOR OUR FRIENDS AT COMMUNITY OUTREACH WHILE WE'VE GOT THEM? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE OPEN FORUM. THIS IS THE PART OF THE MEETING WHERE ANYONE CAN ADDRESS COUNCIL ON A NON AGENDA ITEM. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR REMARKS TO FIVE MINUTES OR LESS. IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON A NON AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING? ANYBODY. ANYBODY GOING ONCE. COME ON UP. 
          I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU TO COME UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. HIT THE LITTLE HIT THE LITTLE BUTTON. THIS IS PERFECT NOW KENT. SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KENT WOLF. I'VE BEEN APPOINTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT FOR THE UTILITY COMMISSION, AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND INTRODUCE MYSELF. SO YOU PUT A FACE IN THE NAME TOGETHER WHEN YOU WHEN YOU VOTE AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER VOTING AND AND IN THE FUTURE, I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING AND WORKING WITH YOU ALL AGAIN. AWESOME. HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP. WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME YOUR YOUR QUALIFICATIONS? WE WERE VERY CURT, AND I WERE VERY HIGHLY IMPRESSED WITH HIS QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS. JUST TELL HIM WHAT YOU DO. I WORK IN THE ENERGY WORLD. OKAY. AND I WORK SPECIFICALLY WITH AGENCY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES TO REDUCE THEIR ENERGY CONSUMPTION. AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR WHY IS UTILITIES COMMISSION? WHY DON'T I GET THEM? TAKE MAYBE I'M KIDDING. MAYBE A COFFEE. MAYBE. YES. THAT'S AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP TO HELP US OUT. PLEASURE. THAT'S AWESOME. MUCH, MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE COMMISSIONERS PICNIC HERE COMING UP PRETTY SOON. OKAY. 
          MAKE SURE WE GET THE NEW GUYS THE INVITE TO THE COMMISSION PICNIC. IT'S FUN. AWESOME. 
          THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON A NON AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING? GOING ONCE, GOING 
          [4. Assistant City Administrator]
TWICE. AND WE'LL CLOSE THE OPEN FORUM. MOVE ON TO STAFF REPORTS ASSISTANT CITY ADMINISTRATOR SANDERS. HOW ARE WE DOING? I'M DOING FINE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. HOW'S OUR WATER TOWER LOOKING? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START SEEING SOME COLOR ON THAT THING? PEOPLE ARE GETTING A LITTLE WORRIED. IT'S GOING TO BE. IT'S GOING TO BE GRAY. WHAT A GREAT SEGUE, MAYOR. WE TALKED TO THE CONTRACTOR TODAY. WHAT YOU SEE ON THERE NOW IS THE BASE COAT. THE NEXT ONE IS THE PRIMER COAT. 
          AND THEN THE FINAL COAT WILL BE PUT ON, HOPEFULLY BY ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST. THE WHOLE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED. AWESOME. OTHER PROJECT UPDATES. I WAS HAD A MEETING TODAY ON 
          [00:40:04]
THE LOWELL PARK PAVILION AND THAT THAT PROJECT IS WINDING DOWN. IF YOU GO OUT THERE, THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CONCRETE STEPS. THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB. THE. THE GAZEBO IS ABOUT THREE FOURTHS PAINTED TO TO THE NEWER COLOR. AND THAT PROJECT IS TO GOING TO BE WINDING DOWN. IN THE FIRST PART OF AUGUST. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ON YESTERDAY TO GO OUT ON THE RIVERBANK STABILIZATION PROJECT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PAULINA. I HADN'T SEEN IT IN A WHILE, AND THEY'RE ABOUT HALFWAY DONE WITH THE PROJECT AND THE TRAIL WORK AND THE RIVERBANK STABILIZATION WORK IS GOING TO BE A BONUS TO THE LUMBERJACK LANDING PARK. A LOT MORE INVOLVED TO THAT THAN I THOUGHT. YEAH, IN MY MIND, WHEN WE WERE DOING ALL THAT, TO SEE ALL THAT HEAVY EQUIPMENT OUT THERE AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND, AND NOW THAT THE TREES ARE CLEAR, THAT'S A THAT'S A LOT OF WORK YOU GUYS DID OUT THERE. AND THANK YOU. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT, A GREAT AMENITY TO OUR TO OUR PARK SYSTEM. IT'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S I WAS SHOCKED HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WAS. HOW ARE THE SAPLINGS LOOKING THAT WERE PLANTED EARLIER THIS SPRING STILL GROWING? YEAH. OKAY. I KNOW A GROUP OF GIRL SCOUTS THAT HELPED WITH THAT. YEAH, YEAH. THEY'RE GOOD. LASTLY, MAYOR, JUST A SHOUT OUT TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS GUYS. THEY WORK 4TH OF JULY AND LUMBERJACK DAYS WITH THE SETUP AND JUST HELPED OUT AND MAKING THE TWO EVENTS SUCCESSFUL. WE HAD SOME TOUGH WEATHER FOR 4TH OF JULY, BUT THEY PULLED THROUGH AND CAME TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ON THE ON THOSE TWO. YEAH FOR SURE. I WANT TO ECHO THAT. JUST A BIG SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS AND PUBLIC WORK FOLKS AND, AND EVERYBODY. IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I KNOW ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE THERE LIKE ALL THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND. THERE'S NO CABINS FOR THEM ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY. AND LUMBERJACK DAYS IS, IS KIND OF THE SAME. IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK. AND IT, IT WAS HOT. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW Y'ALL DID IT DOWN THERE. I WAS DOWN THERE FOR FOUR HOURS AND I WAS STAYING HYDRATED AND THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. AND I HAD TO GET SOME AIR CONDITIONING, MAN, THAT WAS IT WAS A LITTLE BRUTAL OUT THERE ON FRIDAY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT. I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS A REALLY HEAVY LIFT AND NOW THINGS START TO MELLOW OUT A LITTLE BIT. IT'S GOOD, YOU KNOW. HEY, AT LEAST WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE, THE THE WATER, THE EXTRA WATER IN THE RIVER. I WON'T SAY THE F WORD, BUT I THINK I'M THANKFUL WE DON'T WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE IN DOWNTOWN STILLWATER THIS YEAR. 
          SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK. I KNOW THIS WEEKEND WAS WAS A LITTLE BRUTAL. THE HEAT 
          [5. Police Chief]
AND EVERYTHING. SO MUCH APPRECIATED. AWESOME. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR POLICE CHIEF. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M JUST GOING TO KIND OF DOVETAIL FROM THAT. 
          AND THAT'S THE ONLY UPDATE I HAD, IS THAT WE'RE STEPPING OUT OF KIND OF THE SUMMER EVENT SEASON. NOW. OUR OFFICERS AND EVERYONE GETS A LITTLE BREAK UNTIL OCTOBER WHEN WE HAVE ART FEST AND AND HARVEST FEST, WHICH ARE TWO HUGE EVENTS AS WELL. JUST TO SPEAK TO WHAT MR. SANDERS IS SAYING, I MEAN, LIKE EVERYONE AT THIS TABLE HAD A PIECE IN KEEPING THAT SAFE. AND THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF BEHIND THE SCENES. YOU KNOW, THE HEAVY LIFT IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS, YOU KNOW, CAPTAIN JULIAN AND DETECTIVE SERGEANT WOLFING DOING A TON. BUT WE HAD OFFICERS AND DAVE JUNKER AND PUBLIC WORKS OUT TODAY STILL KIND OF REMOVING BARRIERS AND KIND OF DOING SOME CLEANUP FROM THE WORK. AND SO IF YOU'RE HERE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT AND YOU'RE SEEING WATERMARK CHURCH COME AND SERVE A MEAL TO ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS, PUBLIC WORKS, POLICE, FIRE, EMS, YOU KNOW, CITY WORKERS, EVERYONE IS HERE BEFORE THEY HEAD OUT TO KIND OF KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE. IT'S, IT'S REALLY OVERWHELMING. AND MY WIFE JOKED AND SAID, MY GOSH, THE STILLWATER PARADE HAS THE MOST RESTRICTIONS IN IT. AND THEN SHE LOOKED AT ME AND REALIZED I WAS PART OF LIKE BUILDING THESE RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF BEHIND THE SCENES THAT OUR OFFICERS AND PUBLIC WORKS ARE DOING TO KEEP THAT EVENT SAFE. 
          WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, PREVENT EVERYTHING, BUT WE KIND OF DO A TON OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF THESE EVENTS TO, TO KEEP THE CITIZENS SAFE AND PROVIDE A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM WHERE THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT IT'S ALL THIS STUFF IS HAPPENING AND IT'S BEHIND THE SCENES. SO I THINK THEY FEEL IT THOUGH, I SWEAR, I THINK WITH, WITH POLICE AND FIRE AND EMS, LIKE, I THINK THERE'S A FEELING OF SAFETY DOWN THERE THAT'S KIND OF LIKE INTANGIBLE. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU SEE THE PRESENCE, BUT LIKE, I THINK I, I, I FEEL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS PUT INTO IT AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY DOES TOO, IF THEY CAN'T REALLY ARTICULATE, LIKE ALL THE DETAILS OF WHAT YOU DO BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING KIND OF MAGICAL ABOUT LUMBERJACK DAYS THIS WEEKEND THAT JUST, IT FELT JUST VERY WELL ORGANIZED AND RUN AND, AND THERE WAS NO CHAOS. IT JUST, IT JUST FELT LIKE A GREAT ENVIRONMENT DOWN THERE. AND IT'S AGAIN, ALL DUE TO YOU ALL SITTING AT THAT TABLE SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. AND IF YOU COULD SEE THE WORK THAT'S DONE WITH THIS GROUP, YOU KNOW, AND THE FIVE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENTS ARE JUST WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE MAKE IT A GREAT EVENT. AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A DEBRIEF ON 4TH OF JULY AND SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER. AND EVERYONE SAT DOWN IN A ROOM AND KIND OF DISCUSS THOSE. AND WE'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT 2027, 4TH OF JULY AND SOME TWEAKS WE CAN MAKE. SO IT'S AN AWESOME GROUP TO WORK WITH. SO WITH THAT, ANY QUESTIONS? AWESOME. THANK YOU CHIEF. YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING WE DO NEED TO THANK PUBLIC THANK IS BRIAN FOR ALL THE WORK HE DOES ON ON AND RANDY GUTZMAN. YEAH. AND RANDY GUTZMAN FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO AND BRINGING BACK LUMBERJACK DAYS. IT WAS TRULY A COMMUNITY EVENT THIS YEAR. YEAH. AND THE FIREWORKS WERE GREAT. OTHER THAN LIKE BRIAN AND I SAT UNDER A TENT AT THEIR IN THE RAIN, I FELT LIKE 
          [00:45:05]
A HOMELESS PERSON WITH I WAS SO I WAS SO SOAKED, BUT, BUT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. AND IT'S FUN SEEING THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER LIKE THAT. SO YEAH, WE PULLED IT OFF IN SPITE OF RAIN AND HEAT AND EVERYTHING ELSE. LIKE STILLWATER IS LOOKING GOOD. YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT. LIKE, YEAH, WE'RE JUST VERY, VERY PROUD. AWESOME. IF YOU HAD WORN THAT PURPLE POWER TIE, I'M 
          [6. Deputy Fire Chief]
PRETTY SURE THE RAIN WOULD HAVE JUST GONE AROUND. YOU CUT IT OUT, CUT IT OUT. ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF, HOW ARE WE DOING? I'M DOING WELL. THANKS FOR HAVING ME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I THINK THE POLICE CHIEF TOUCHED ON QUITE A BIT ABOUT LUMBERJACK DAYS. WE HAD AS MUCH STAFF AS WE COULD GET TOGETHER. THE HEAT DID PLAY A BIG PART OF IT. IT'S PRETTY HOT DOWN THERE FOR A WHILE, BUT I THINK WE GET TOGETHER AND THE GROUP DOES A JOB, DOES A GOOD JOB. OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF MULTI-AGENCY TRAININGS LATELY. WE WERE ON THE RIVER FOR 12 HOURS WITH SWAT. WOW. AND WHAT WE DO IS WE DO THE SAFETY BOATS FOR THEM, SO THEY DO TRAINING ALL DAY LONG, AND IT WAS 90 DEGREES AND IT WAS HOT, BUT IT WAS WELL PUT TOGETHER. WE WORK IN PARTNER WITH MAHTOMEDI, LAKE ELMO AND BAYPORT AND DOING MULTI TRAININGS. EVEN IN 90 DEGREE WEATHER. WE GET IT ALL DONE. I'M PROUD OF ALL OUR GUYS. THEY DO A GOOD JOB. THEY COME BACK WHEN WE WANT THEM. AS FAR AS HIRING RIGHT NOW FOR PAID ON CALL OUR STAFF, WE HAVE FOUR GETTING BACKGROUNDED. SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE FOUR NEW PAID ON CALL STAFF MEMBERS. THAT'S ALWAYS A HARD THING. IT'S IT'S NOT THE SAME JOB. IT USED TO BE WHERE YOU COULD VOLUNTEER. NOW THE COMMITMENT FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS IS YOU'RE DOWN THERE 2 TO 3 DAYS A WEEK. WOW. AND IT TAKES A LOT OF COMMITMENT. AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE. AND I GOTTA, I GOTTA ADMIT, FOLLOWING YOU GUYS WAS LIKE WATCHING A BEEHIVE RUNNING AROUND AT THE PARADE. AND IT WAS NICE OF YOU TO ASK ME TO BE FIRST AID IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU. BUT NO, I WAS GLAD TO HAVE YOU BEHIND ME. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. 
          [7. Finance Director]
THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, FINANCE. MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S BUDGET TIME. SO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM OR DEPARTMENT HEADS GOT THEIR BUDGETS IN BY FRIDAY. JOE AND I ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH THEM, AND WE'LL BE MEETING WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. PROBABLY SO. AND HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU BY THE SECOND MEETING IN AUGUST. OKAY, PERFECT. AWESOME. THANK YOU. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, 
          [8. Community Development Director]
MAYOR, COUNCIL, A FEW STAFF TODAY WERE OUT WALKING ALONG MAIN STREET WITH MNDOT AND THEIR CONSULTANTS. ALSO SOME BUSINESS LEADERS CHAMBER STARTING TO GET INPUT FOR THE MAIN STREET RECONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS STILL A FEW YEARS OFF. BUT PART OF THE PROCESS IS TO COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING OUT THERE, WHAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES ARE, SO THEY CAN START COMING UP WITH SOME DESIGN CONCEPTS AND WE CAN REACT TO THERE'S A SURVEY THAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT NOW THERE'S SOME DECALS ON THE SIDEWALK. THE QR CODE YOU CAN SCAN WILL ALSO SEND OUT THE LINK. AND THEY'RE JUST COLLECTING INFORMATION FROM THE BROADER PUBLIC ABOUT MAIN STREET AND KIND OF WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO PRIORITIZE AS NEW DESIGNS COME OUT. SO WATCH FOR THAT. STILL A WAYS AWAY, BUT THEY'RE DOING THEIR WORK WELL IN ADVANCE. RELATED NOTE I DON'T KNOW, SPEAKING OF PARKING, OUR DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MET LAST WEEK AND APPROVED THE LOCATION AND SOME SIGNS FOR THE 15 MINUTE AND 30 MINUTE LOADING ZONES. SO PUBLIC WORKS IS GOING TO BE WORKING TO GET THOSE SIGNS FABRICATED. WE'LL START GETTING THEM INSTALLED, WHICH SHOULD HELP RELIEVE SOME PRESSURE. THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WANT SOME KIND OF RAPID TURNOVER SPACES ALONG MAIN STREET. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PARKING SIGNS WHICH ARE GETTING SENT TO US, AND WE'LL GET THOSE INSTALLED AROUND OTHER PLACES KIND OF EAST OF MAIN STREET AS WELL. GOTCHA. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THE 
          [9. Administrative Services Director]
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'VE GOT A COUPLE PIECES OF DATA. AS FAR AS OUR COMMUNICATION EFFORTS GO. WE CONTINUE TO SEE GROWING ENGAGEMENT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. WE HAD 11 POSTS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS THAT HAD OVER 15,000 VIEWS. THE SECOND STREET CLOSURE HAD OVER 50,000. JUST JUST CONTINUED TO GROW ON ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND COMMUNICATE MORE AND MORE. WE GREW 22,000 FOLLOWERS YEAR TO DATE. SO WE'RE UP TO 19,000. AND JUST FOR REFERENCE, LAST YEAR, AUGUST OF 25, WE WERE ONLY AT 13,000. SO IT'S ABOUT A 41% INCREASE OF FOLLOWERS ON THAT FACEBOOK PAGE. SO CONTINUING TO DO BETTER EVERY DAY. THAT'S AWESOME. AND THEN I MET WITH OUR WEBSITE VENDOR TODAY. WE HAD OUR DESIGN REVIEW MEETING. SO THAT IS MOVING ALONG. STAY TUNED FOR, FOR SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON THAT WEBSITE. AND THEN OUR HR MANAGER POSITION CLOSES TONIGHT. 
          WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 39 APPLICANTS AND WE'LL KEEP THAT PROCESS 39 APPLICANTS. THAT'S FANTASTIC. YES. THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST. THAT'S AWESOME. YEAH. 
          AND IT'S IT'S A BIG ACCOMMODATION TO SAGE WHO SET US UP FOR SUCCESS ON THAT KIND OF STUFF. THE DIFFERENT ADVERTISING AND STUFF THAT WE DO. SHE'S SHE'S GREAT. SHE LEFT US IN A GOOD SPOT. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AWESOME. THAT'S ALL I GOT. COOL. VERY COOL. THANK 
          [10. Deputy Clerk]
YOU. AND DEPUTY CLERK, JUST A COUPLE REMINDERS FOR YOU ALL. FILING PERIOD FOR THE 
          [00:50:06]
CANDIDATES CLOSES NEXT TUESDAY THE 28TH. NEXT MEETING. COUNCIL IS WEDNESDAY THE FIFTH BECAUSE OF NIGHT TO NIGHT. THERE IS A PRIMARY ELECTION COMING UP ON AUGUST 11TH. AND THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PICNIC IS AUGUST 12TH, AND YOU WILL GET A FLIER TOMORROW. AWESOME. VERY COOL. 
          [11. City Attorney]
THANK YOU. AND CITY ATTORNEY, JUST ONE THING, YOUR HONOR. VERY QUICKLY, I WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND AND THE COUNCIL FOR PUTTING MONEY IN YOUR BUDGET FOR TEDDY BEAR PARK AND WASHINGTON SQUARE. AS YOU KNOW, IN 2006, THE PROPERTY RECEIVED A VERY GENEROUS DONATION, AND THE COMMITMENT WAS THAT THE CITY WOULD MAINTAIN THE PARK IN A VERY PRISTINE CONDITION. BOTH OF THE PARKS AND THE DONOR CHECKS EVERY YEAR. I LOVE IT, AND HE HAS HAD SOME VERY BIG ASKS, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STEPPED UP. I TALKED TO THE DONOR THIS WEEK. HE IS EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH HOW BOTH PARKS LOOK, AND HE SAID TO GIVE A VERY SPECIFIC THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE CREWS, AND MAYBE ONE SEASONAL EMPLOYEE IN PARTICULAR WHO MIGHT BE A SPECIAL SEASONAL EMPLOYEE. BUT NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO SEAN AND HIS GROUP AND CHAD AND FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN MAKING THOSE PARKS GREAT. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE RECENTLY, I SUGGEST YOU CHECK IT OUT. YEAH, AWESOME. I'LL ECHO THAT. LIKE, OBVIOUSLY A SUPER GENEROUS GIFT. 
          THE DONOR BASICALLY BOUGHT WHAT YOU GUYS KNOW AS TEDDY BEAR PARK FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AT HOME. USED TO BE A SCRAP YARD WHEN I WAS A KID. HE BOUGHT IT AND DID A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION AND THEN PUT A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE COOLEST PLAYGROUND IN ALL OF MINNESOTA, AND THEN DONATED IT TO THE CITY. 
          HE ALSO INVITED EVERYBODY, EVERY OR EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KID IN THE ENTIRE CITY WITH THESE, LIKE, BEAUTIFUL INVITATIONS TO THE OPENING OF TEDDY BEAR PARK WHEN IT HAPPENED. AND THEN HE DID THE SAME THING FOR WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK. SO ABSOLUTELY AMAZING GIFT IT WAS. IT KIND OF CAME LIKE I IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW IT IN TOWN, BUT I WAS SHOWING OFF STILLWATER DURING A LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE THAT WE HOSTED ON MONDAY, WHERE WE GOT A STATE REP FROM SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, CAME UP WITH OUR STATE REP, JOSIAH HILL, AND WE KIND OF SHOW THEM AROUND AND THEY GO DO THE SAME THING. AND I'M POINTING OUT TEDDY BEAR PARK, AND WE GOT THE MILLION DOLLAR DONATION AT LUMBERJACK LANDING IN WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK. AND HE'S LIKE, SO APPARENTLY WE JUST IN OUR CITY, WE JUST NEED PEOPLE TO KEEP WRITING THESE MILLION DOLLAR CHECKS AND WE CAN BE AS COOL AS STILLWATER. AND I WAS LIKE, WE'RE KIND OF LUCKY OUT HERE TO HAVE THESE AWESOME PEOPLE THAT DONATE. SO HUGE THANKS TO, TO OUR WONDERFUL DONORS THAT HELP OUR CITY OUT. AND THEN FOR PUBLIC WORKS TO HONOR THOSE COMMITMENTS. I KNOW THAT PARK IN PARTICULAR AND THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THAT PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, WHAT CAME FROM GERMANY, RIGHT? IT'S FANCY. AND WE CAN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN AND FIX THAT STUFF. BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HONOR OUR COMMITMENTS TO THOSE THAT HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY OUT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS, SEAN, AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM. AND THANK YOU, COREY, FOR FOR TALKING TO OUR AWESOME DONOR. HE'S HE'S AMAZING. THE GUY HAS BEEN AMAZING FOR OUR TOWN. SO HIM AND HIS WIFE ARE GREAT. COOL. I STILL HAVE MY TEDDY BEAR FROM ONE OF THE GRAND OPENING. YEAH, YEAH. THAT'S AWESOME. OF COURSE, YOU STILL TOOK A TEDDY BEAR FROM ONE OF THE KIDS AND HIT HIM IN HIS TRUCK, RIGHT? AWESOME. THANK YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. IT SAYS 
          [12. City Administrator - 2025 Strategic Plan Summary **Removed from Agenda**]
CITY ADMINISTRATOR, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IN ADDITION TO ALL THE GREAT THINGS OUR AWESOME TEAM IS WORKING ON THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT HERE TONIGHT. WE ARE ALSO FORWARD LOOKING AND WE THINK IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS WE SHOULD HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN, A BUDGET AND A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR 2027 FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. SO GREAT. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. COOL WITH THAT. IF THERE'S 
          [VII. CONSENT AGENDA – These items are routine and will be approved in one motion.]
NOTHING ELSE FOR STAFF, WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL. ANYBODY WISH TO DISCUSS ANY OF THESE ITEMS INDIVIDUALLY, OR IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. I'LL SECOND, THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. AND THAT PASSES WITH FOUR VOTES. ALL RIGHT. FOR THE MAIN EVENT, THE 
          [24. Poultry Permit at 2610 Croixwood Blvd.]
POULTRY PERMIT AT 2610 CROIX WOOD BOULEVARD. WHO'S KICKING THIS OFF? I WILL TAKE THIS ONE. 
          MAYOR, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TRY TO DUCK OUT OF IT. OH. OH! THEY'RE COMING, I KNEW IT! THE DAD JOKES ARE COMING TODAY. I KNEW IT, MAYOR. COUNCIL. USUALLY, I THINK WHEN YOU SEE THESE, THEY ARE RELATED TO CHICKENS. IN THIS CASE, IT IS A DUCK REQUEST. I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT USUALLY WHEN WE GET THESE APPLICATIONS WE SEND OUT, WE DO SEND OUT A NOTICE, AND IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, STAFF CAN APPROVE THOSE ADMINISTRATIVELY. IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, THEN IT DOES COME TO THE COUNCIL. SO IN THIS CASE, WHEN WE SENT OUT THE NOTICE RELATED TO THE DUCK REQUEST, SOMEONE DID HAVE A QUESTION, KIND OF MAYBE SOME CONCERNS AROUND NOISE. SO WE'RE BRINGING THAT TO YOU. THE APPLICANT HELPFULLY PROVIDED A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIFIC BREED OF DUCK THAT WERE SELECTED, KNOWN FOR BEING FAIRLY QUIET IN TERMS IN TERMS OF POULTRY. AND STAFF DID NOTE THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE 
          [00:55:03]
HAVE A PROCESS FOR ADDRESSING IF CONCERNS DO POP UP, THE PERSON WHO IS CONCERNED LIVES ACROSS THE STREET IN ABOUT TWO HOUSES DOWN, THE DUCKS WILL BE IN THE BACKYARD. WE DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE, BUT IF IT IS AN ISSUE, WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR HANDLING THE COMPLAINTS AND THEN IF IT PERSISTS, THE DUCKS CAN BE REMOVED. SO GIVEN THOSE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE AND THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE COUNCIL GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THAT POULTRY PERMIT AT 2610 CROIX WOOD BOULEVARD. AWESOME. 
          COUNCIL. ANYTHING ON THIS, OR IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DUCK PERMIT AT 2610 CRESTWOOD BOULEVARD? I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I THINK WE'VE LANDED ON THE RIGHT POLICY WITH THIS. WE REDID OUR CODE A COUPLE YEARS AGO. WE USED TO REGULATE THE LENGTH OF GILA MONSTERS. AND YOU THINK I'M KIDDING? BUT I'M NOT. THIS ONE'S PRETTY GOOD. I THINK IF YOU KNOW THERE'S AN OBJECTION, WE VOTE ON IT. YEAH, I THIS LOOKS ALL IN ORDER FOR ME. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL SECOND THAT. I'M LOOKING AT PICTURES OF THESE WELSH HARLEQUIN DUCKS. MAN, THEY'RE PRETTY COOL LOOKING. I'M ALL ABOUT THESE DUCKS. SO WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED NAY. AND THAT PASSES WITH THREE VOTES. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO QUACK CLEAN. YOU KNOW WHAT MY ONLY THING IS? I JUST DON'T THINK FARM ANIMALS BELONG IN TOWN. AND THAT'S. AND I. AND I WENT AND LOOKED AT THE HOUSE. I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB, BUT I. I JUST DON'T THINK FARM ANIMALS BELONG IN TOWN. JUST DOESN'T MEET THE BILL. OH MY GOODNESS, I'LL KEEP GOING IF YOU DO. AND I WAS PRESIDENT. I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION FOR 20 YEARS. SO I LIKE DUCKS. YEAH. HE'S LOOK HE'S DUCKS LOOK REALLY COOL MAN. I WANT TO SEE THESE DUCKS. I LIKE THESE I WOULDN'T MIND SEEING A DUCK AT COUNCIL AT SOME POINT. IT'D BE GREAT. THERE WAS I WAS DOWN IN LOWELL PARK A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH WITH CONGRESSWOMAN MCCOLLUM. AND SOMEBODY HAD A DUCK ON A LEASH. WHAT? YEAH. TRUE STORY. I THOUGHT IT WAS 
          [XI. COUNCIL REQUEST ITEMS]
PRETTY RANDOM. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I THINK WE THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE'VE GOT ON OUR AGENDA. 
          UNLESS COUNCIL'S GOT ANYTHING ELSE. I MAY JUST ADD ONE MORE THING. ELIZABETH AND I HELD OUR SECOND COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SERIES, LET'S TALK STILLWATER, WHICH IS JUST A CASUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME CONNECT WITH CITY STAFF AND COUNCIL OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS. WE HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE SHOW UP, AND I WILL JUST CONTINUE TO TO ADD ON TO THE ACCOLADES. WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE COME IN AND SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS, CLEAN PARKS, AND REALLY, REALLY QUICK SNOW REMOVAL. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT AWESOME. 
          YEAH. IT WAS, IT WAS A REALLY GREAT 90 MINUTES. WE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION, TOOK A LOT OF NOTES AND IT WAS LOVELY. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT. I APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. 
          I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.