Good evening and welcome to the city of Woodbury City Council meeting for tonight, February 25th, 2026. It is 7:30 p.m. This meeting is taking place virtually. Um, and people are welcome to attend that. We do monitor online if anyone wants to comment or question from a virtual perspective. Uh but we're also here in person and it's great to see so many in um in our council chambers tonight. Meetings are also recorded by True Lens Community Media and they're broadcast live. They're also replayed on cable channel 799. Meetings are also available on the city of Wood City of Woodberry's YouTube channel. Um we do take public comment from people. I already have something uh here green sheet that's sitting on the chairs or there's some outside if somebody want I already have somebody for open forum. Um open forum is a time to um bring up something that's not already on the agenda but there's opportunities if you have an agenda item you want to speak about. You can just fill out a form and we'll take it during that time. Same goes for somebody online. There's an opportunity to fill it out online and uh we'll be monitoring that as well. But as is our norm would you please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, Ashley, would you please do the roll call? >> Council member Morris, >> here. >> Council member Santini, >> here. >> Council member Stafford >> here. >> Council member Wilson >> here. Mayor Bert, >> we are all here tonight. Oh, I'm here. We're all here tonight. Here. I should have said that first. Uh, so we're able to conduct tonight's business. Um, the very first order of business we have is a civic pledge proclamation for a stronger Minnesota. And this is something that all the council members have had an opportunity to review and in agreement with. So, I'm going to read this official proclamation. This is a proclamation of the city of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota civ civic pledge proclamation. Whereas the city of Woodbury values the well-being of all community members and affirms the importance of civic responsibility, mutual respect, and open dialogue. And whereas as a city council committed to the well-being of our state, our city, and one another, we stand together for respect, dialogue, and democracy. And whereas the council will engage peacefully with each other and with fellow motans, working in good faith to resolve disputes. And whereas the council will reject political violence in all forms and stand firmly against rhetoric that incites such violence. And whereas the council will embrace the hard but the necessary work of finding common ground, recognizing that our strength as a community is rooted in shared purpose, trust, and civility. And whereas by committing to these shared values, the city of Woodbury stands as a part of a Minnesota that confronts division, not with silence or hostility, but with hope, honesty, and shared responsibility. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the city council proclaims this commitment to the civic pledge for a stronger Minnesota in the city of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota, and encourages all residents to uphold these values in their daily lives and interactions. That is our civic pledge. So, it's new to um our our council and we're very pleased to uh be putting that in place. We all have official pledge cards that we'll be signing. Um I would just like to say that I feel as though we've always worked in this manner. This is not something we're, you know, big change. We've always worked with civility and respect for one another. I appreciate the colleagues in that and I think we've always worked very hard to do that with our uh with our constituents and anyone who shows up to speak with us or in council chambers as well. So awesome. Okay, now the exciting part for tonight is the swearing in of new firefighter and EMS personnel. We have several and I will um I can name all those but I'll let um we're going to have um um assistant public safety director Chris Klene come forth to podium and speak the meaning of the firefighter and the EMS badge or Okay. Or we will have director Jason Posel even though it says director Klein safety director goes director Klein on my thing. Okay. Welcome. Are you going to name everybody or will you I would like to make sure it is identified who all of our new >> Yeah, Chief Klein is gonna is going to introduce them here. >> Perfect. Okay. >> Yeah. So, I'm just here to say a couple words. First, thank you, Mayor Burton, city council members. Exciting night for our department and for the community tonight. We're swearing in nine new EMS uh full-time EMS firefighters along with conducting badge pinningings. Um you know, this is really a historic night for the city. This is the single largest full-time division, fire division hiring that we've ever had. So, really exciting. Um, it's so unique that we even brought cupcakes. So, the cupcakes are located just outside the uh the chamber doors and uh once we finish up here, there'll be an opportunity to um to grab one. Um [snorts] you know, we also are going to uh need a place to house them as well. So, that's going to be coming up here a little bit um later in the in the meeting and you're going to hear more about that. Um, you know, we're just so appreciative appreciative of the community and the council for their support of these positions that in turn support and keep our community safe. [snorts] So, our mission at Woodbury Public Safety is to serve all people with compassion and courage. And what makes that possible is hiring people who share in our values of integrity, trust, respect, and excellence. People have a servants's heart, who understand that this profession exists to serve others, and that we often often encounter people at their worst day and work to make them better. So, I'm going to turn it over to Fire Chief Chris Klene for a couple of words and those introductions. Thank you. >> Great. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> All right, [laughter] >> Mayor Bert, members of the council, thank you. Uh, and like Chief Posel had mentioned, uh, this is the largest uh, full-time contingent that we brought out in the history of uh, of public safety. And I just want to thank you personally for supporting this and um, making this possible. uh the impact that we'll see uh has already happened with these individuals being on board. So uh before I bring the individuals forward um to present to you, I just like to me uh read the meaning of the badge for a firefighter uh paramedic. The badge of a firefighter is the Maltese cross, which is a symbol of protection and a badge of honor. It means that the firefighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down their life for you. The multis cross is a firefighter's badge of honor signifying that they work in courage. The star of life is a symbol used to identify emergency medical services. Each bar on the star of life represents EMS functions, detection, reporting, response, onseene care, care and transit, and transfer of definitive care. Overall, the symbol represents medicine, healing, and renewal. With that, I'd like to call forward firefighter Matthew Brookshaw. Firefighter Ryan Conlin, firefighter William Corrian, firefighter Ryan Dah, firefighter Peter Engles, firefighter Kyle Grabowski, firefighter Elizabeth Hansen, firefighter Joseph Hennter, and firefighter Steven Ni House. >> Wow. >> Wow. >> [applause] [applause] >> Well, my job is to come down and do the official oath and the swearing in. So, I'll have all of you turn around so you can face the audience. >> Sure. Yeah. Line up in the curve perhaps. >> We never have nine at once, so this is a kind of a big deal. Um, so this is the swearing in and then after this we'll have uh people come up and do the opinion of the badge. But let's begin with this. So raise your right hand and repeat after me. >> I state your name. >> I do solemnly swearly swear >> that I will serve the citizens of Woodbury. I will serve the citizens of Woodbury >> and firefighters of the Woodbury Public Safety Department >> and firefighters of the Woodberry Public Safety Department >> with honor and integrity. >> And integrity >> and that I will in all respects >> that I will in all respects >> observe the provisions of the city charter >> observe the provisions of the city charter >> and ordinances of the city >> and ordinances of the city. and I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office. >> I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office >> to the best of my ability. >> to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> All right. Fantastic. And with that, um, we now invite the family or friends up. I think you all know who you are. If you're doing the pinning of the badge from the end, >> it's time to come forward and pin >> one of the babies. >> [snorts] >> I always like to know who's doing the pinning. So, when you've successfully pinned without stabbing, come to my mic. I'd like to just hear who you are in relation to our new firefighter. police was a Woodberry firefighter. >> Does anybody want pictures? Because before I identify who you identify who you are, do you want to turn around? We'll get a picture with all your >> uh SP your pinners. >> Can we get everyone to fit? >> Might have to spread out. >> Yeah. Oh, we're still working on pinning. We still got a couple pins. I know it's not always easy. >> Just get out of the picture. >> This ain't going to happen. All right. So now you have to identify who you are in your relationship. >> My name is Jamie Nhouse and I am Steve Nhouse's wife. >> Awesome. >> Steve Hansen. I'm the father of Liz. >> Okay. And there's some relationship here to uh being in public safety. >> Correct. The chief of police for Hulk Park Heights. >> Fantastic. >> I'm Brena Corbin and I'm Kyle Grossky's wife. >> Wonderful. >> I'm I'm Aaron Engles and I'm Pete's dad. Very good. Aaron, this is runs in the family. >> Jim Corgan, William Corgan's father. >> Wonderful. >> Jared Doll, Ryan's father. >> I Paul Conlin. I'm Ryan's proud dad. >> Karen Brookshaw, Matt's wife. >> Who are you? [laughter] Is this the one that wants the cupcakes? Yeah. >> Uh Jillborg, Joey's mom. >> Wonderful. Congratulations to all of you. And I know that our city council members want to come by and congratulate as well. So, I'll start. Come on in. I'd like to do the shake of the hand. Congratulations. Congratulations and welcome. You have picked a wonderful city to work for. We so appreciate it. Congratulations. Welcome. >> You might need to give a hug. >> [laughter] >> We need [snorts] to start. >> Awesome. Well, let's do a big round of applause. [applause] >> [applause] >> City Council always likes to get a picture with you, too. So, um, if the Pinners could go sit down, keep the regular the newly sworn in here. City council will stand behind you for a photo just behind. So, gather together. We'll do one last photo and then um, what's the story with the cupcakes? [laughter] the door. Okay. Bring them back into the council chambers. >> Don't bring them into the council chambers. But I think there was a request uh by some council members. We never get a celebrate in the party. So, this is fun. So, we will probably take a little bit five minute pause or something uh before we carry on to our meeting after the picture and a little cupcake break just for those watching. Okay. All right. Awesome. Once again, congratulations everybody. [applause] >> [applause] >> All right, rush out to those cupcakes. >> Are we taking a break? Yeah, we're getting like five minutes. So, >> we're still hang on a second. True Lens, if True Lens, if you are able to just put up a we'll be back in a moment sign, that'd be great. Yeah. Every lawyer knows that. >> Okay. After that short pause, we are back uh to conduct tonight to continue into tonight's meeting. Uh the next item on the agenda is the open forum and tonight we have uh Senator Amanda Heming Jagger who would like to come and speak at the open forum. You know the rules so I'm not going to review them. Otherwise I have to say the whole long thing but I'm not going to. So welcome. >> Thank you so much. Uh for the record I'm Senator Amanda Heming Jagger, Senator for District 47 which includes all of Woodbury. I just want to thank you for the time tonight. Um thank you for the continued collaboration and relationship that we have. I really believe um open communication allows us to represent our constituents at all levels of government. So, I appreciate that. I just wanted to stop by to kind of give an update on session. We are halfway through our second weekish. Um it feels a lot longer, but [laughter] um it's off to a fast-paced start as usual. Uh committees are meeting. We're having our short floor floor sessions right now to kind of conduct the paperwork business. Um and bills are getting introduced. I am now on four committees. I just got added to a new one. So, state and local government, taxes, capital investment, and transportation. >> So, I anticipate we'll be chatting a lot. >> Wow. >> Um, I'm also looking forward to the crypto kiosk ordinance discussion tonight. I've worked really hard um on that in the past. It was an initiative brought forth by Woodbury PD. So, very excited to see continued activity there. And I continue to work closely with Commerce Chair Kaggel in the House um and bringing it over to the Senate where we're having active conversations in the Senate as well. So looking forward to that. And then uh I do want to just talk about um the we're still experiencing some ICE activity around. It is decreased but they're still they're still here. Um and despite the promised draw down um their presence, intimidating tactics and violence can is going to be felt for a while. Um we've had families losing their jobs, kids aren't going to school because they're too afraid to leave their home. Um that concerns me about evictions and homelessness. Um, [snorts] we don't know the impact it's going to have to our economic impact. These are all things that are going to come down the road. I'm concerned about ER visits and increased costs there because people aren't seeking the treatment that they need. They're not going to the doctor. That results in emergency visits which increase our community health care. Um, and all this to say is that uh we're really going to be coming into a recovery period. So, um, just looking forward to continue talking about that, making sure you guys are aware of that. We have a lot of work ahead of us and this is all in addition to what's coming down from the federal government. I just saw a press release today that we're anticipating a $1 billion cut to Medicaid. So that's um going to be impacting our most vulnerable people and that's something we're going to have to grapple with at the state level um but as well as the community level because we have people who need Medicaid and SNAP supports here too. So that's my update. I can stand for questions. I know that's not normally protocol, but um again, happy for the time and thanks for the continued talk. >> Yeah, thank you for your comments. Just one important question is um when when are you officially done? When does the session have to end [clears throat] >> this year and what has to get done in this year? >> Yeah. So being in the second year of the bienium, we are statutoily obligated to journ the first Monday following the third Saturday in May, May 18th this year. It's in. Yeah, Steve's >> gonna [laughter] Yeah. So, we'll be done about May 18th. Um, you know, we don't have any constitutional obligations this year. We passed a budget last year, so technically nothing has to get done according to state law. Um, but I think as we're hearing from the communities and my fellow senators and representatives, like there's going to be a lot that we need to address. Um, we have ongoing fraud concerns, we have ongoing ICE concerns, we have gun concerns, education concerns, so it's going to be a very active session. Um, but I do anticipate some work getting done even though it's a short session. >> Yeah. Thank you. Well, and I just want to state that for the record that we so appreciate working with you and our other state legislators uh because we do need to work in collaboration to get things done for our shared constituents. So, always appreciate the the great collaboration. >> Great. Anyone else have question or comment? I have a quick question. Okay. Does that So, this isn't a budget year, but we didn't get a bonding bill last year or the the last session or the previous session. Is that an option for this year is to consider a a state bonding bill? >> Yeah. So, typically we haven't really had a normal precedented session for quite some time. Usually, you do your budget in the odd years, the first year of the bianium, and you do your policy and bonding year in the second year of the bianium. This is a bonding and policy year. as a member of capital investment, we are looking at bonding priorities. Um I've already talked to Chair Papus about La Lake, so um that's on her radar. Um but yeah, the the hope is um that we will have a bonding bill. It does require um twothirds vote or 60% of the votes from both chambers. Um so we do need collaboration from both parties to get to a bonding bill. >> Perfect. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Okay, we'll now move on to our consent agenda. All items listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine by the city council will be enacted by one motion and affirmative vote by roll call of the majority of the members [snorts] present. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member or citizens so request in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered a separate subject of discussion by the council. Um, does anybody want anything removed from the consent agenda? And I always ask our city clerk to check the same online. Nope, we never do. But just so you know, the opportunity is always there if you want to have something removed. Uh, council members, how about you? >> I would like to remove 6E as an elephant and see 6F as in Frank. >> And I'll remove 6B as in boy. >> Okay, you're not leaving much left to be consent agenda approved with that. All right, so that leaves us 6 A, 6 C, 6 D, and 6G. Someone like to put forth a motion? >> I'll move consent agenda items 6A, 6 C, 6D, and 6G. >> Second. >> Motion is second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, the roll call, please. >> Council member Morris, >> I. >> Council member Santini, >> I. >> Council member Stafford, >> I. >> Council member Wilson, >> I. >> Mayor Burch, >> I. Those few consent agenda items do pass. Um, moving on to the agenda. The next is usually a public hearing, but we don't have any public hearings. So, next becomes discussion. And since we uh just pulled three items, we'll move those right now and address those in uh in discussion. So, let's begin with see yours were E and F. So, can we go in order? Would you like to do B first? >> Um I'll just be voting differently on this. >> Voting differently. Okay. >> That makes it easier. Would someone like to put forth a motion? >> I'm going to look here. Uh, I'm trying to find the language. Um, a motion. I make a motion to establish the high priorities for the 2026 AAP and projects to be included in the draft 2026 annual action plan for public comment including uh housing servings housing this doesn't even make sense housing serving small and large related households at or below 80% a area median income which is the Two Rivers Community Land Trust and B as in boy the cleanup of contaminated sites including the private asht tree removal and assessment program. >> Okay, we have a motion a second. Um I would like to just add a little bit of discussion and that is um this is a um one of two-step process. Um the the annual action plan usually gets approved later on. First thing we have to do is uh review these or agree to add these things that we haven't had before which includes the two rivers community land trust opportunity and then utilizing uh CDBG dollars for private ashture removal. Um we are fortunate that we do get a fair amount of CDBG dollars and it's limited application but we're looking to apply it for this and it seems to make a lot of sense. So >> well then I'll just make a comment on that on why I'm voting differently. Um, I am all for helping and um um serving small and large related households at or below the 80%. But I do have a um concern with the um the way we're doing it with with the land trust um with the um what's it called? Twin I want >> two rivers. Two rivers. >> Two rivers. Thank you. I was going to say twin rivers, but two rivers. Um and of course the ash um the asht tree removal. Of course, I'm on board with that. So, it's really the um the two rivers issue that I have a problem with, but we are not taking them separately and I know that this is just something a tool to be added to the toolbox, but if I know that tool is going to be pulled out later, I don't know why I would say yes to it now. So, >> okay, got it. We So, we a motion a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, the roll call, please. >> Council member Santini, >> I. >> Council member Stafford, >> I. Council member Wilson, >> no. >> Council member Morris, >> hi. >> Mayor Bert, >> I. That passes. All right. Council member Morris, you have 6E and 6F regarding tobacco licenses and liquor licenses. >> E and F are going to be the same um argument that I that I have and council has has talked and brought this forward before and it's about there was a memo compliance memo in 2022. Administrator Doll, do you remember the date? Sorry, it is August 8th of 2025 and there were some recommendations in there that we as a council um did not act on. We didn't we we got the memo back and then we kind of escaped me and part Wow, that's >> go to sleep. >> Anybody else see that? >> Okay, just checking. >> Thank you. >> We're just like blinding. >> It was up here too. Yeah, it's my personality. Um [laughter] I'm noting everybody here who's laughing at that. No, ser but the the the alcohol and compliance enforcement options memo I I just would like this to come back before the council again. There were recommendations in the memo that I would agree with and that is moving and and that came from public safety and that is moving some of this to an administration or administrative um penalty versus the the misdemeanor that it is because it it's I can't vote for these the going to I have to vote for them because they all pass the ordinance. They all pass our sniff test. But if we're in the guise and in the the mission of protecting the safety and welfare of the community, then we need to actually do things that I I think progress us towards that. And our current compliance process and policy because it is a misdemeanor there. Only sworn officers are able to do it. It's just it it's preventative and we're just we're not doing ourselves a favor. This is in collection. It just happens to be on the agenda of the first discussion item of the ordinance of well, we're going to we're going to try to enforce we're going to have a discussion about creating an ordinance and and enforcement of another product. But yet here we are in in these two elements and we're just sadly and and I live in this world because this is my my day job. We're sadly neglecting I think what the ordinance is intended to do. And it's not neglect on purpose or or willingly. It's just that we just don't have the resources. And so I I just ask again for the council the memo that was written on August 8th um from um from Angela from uh deputy city administrator. I just ask that we bring this back up to another uh workshop. We review that memo and have a discussion about making some of the changes that were suggested in there so we can actually do what we uh are intending to do with this ordinance. That's my point. >> That's why I wanted to have this pulled. >> Thank Are you intending to deny these? >> No, because I don't have Under the ordinance, they meet all the the elements of the ordinance. My argument is that of course they're going to meet the elements of the ordinance. The ordinance is the way that we're enforcing the ordinance and and checking these compliance. There's no way that they're not going to. And that's been my argument is that we've never denied a permit for um poor performance or for neglect or there's what's the real uh disincentive for for operators to to do the right thing. There is no disincentive in my opinion. >> So this would be an ordinance update. Is that what it would be then? You want you want us to give direction to staff to like bring this? >> I want us to take to take the memo. What I'm asking council to do is to direct staff to take this memo and put it back on a workshop so we can discuss it for a future ordinance change because it would need to be a council director or ordinance change, one of the two. >> Probably an ordinance change, Mayor Birds. >> But that's not for tonight. I just want to get it back on our agenda, too, >> is my ask. >> Okay, I would agree with that. Makes sense. >> Okay. >> All right. With that, would someone like to put forth a motion for each of these? That being said, I'll go ahead and champion it and say I'll move uh to recommend that the council reviews the tobac or that we approve the tobacco licenses that were in council letter 26-32 for the period of April 1st through 2026 through March 31st, 2027. >> Second motion a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, the roll call, please. >> Council member Stafford, >> I. >> Council member Wilson, >> I. >> Council member Morris, >> hi. >> Council member Santini, >> I. Mayor Bert >> I. Those pass. >> I make a motion to renew the liquor licenses for the businesses attached in the council letter 26-33 for the period of April 1st, 2026 through March 31st, 2027. >> Second. >> Motion second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, the roll call, please. >> Council member Wilson, >> I. >> Council member Morris. >> Hi. >> Council member Santini. >> I. >> Council member Stafford. >> I. >> Mayor Burch. >> I. Um, that passes as well. all those liquor license liquor license renewals. Okay, that covers our consent agenda for tonight. We'll now move on to the other items that are in discussion. Uh the first is the consider ordinance enacting chapter 11 code 8 virtual currency kiosks and amending chapter 2 article 1 section 2.3 fees for various services. And um who's uh Eric, do you have this one? >> Oh, Omar is here. Assistant police chief Omar Mid. Hi Omar. Do you need help with the um Yeah, you're not used to have being in that seat and controlling things. [laughter] >> It's probably a seat you don't want to sit in that very often. All right. [laughter] Mayor B, council members, uh, thank you for having me tonight. Uh at the January workshop, council asked staff to bring forward a regulatory framework that uh protects residents without banning lawful business activity as it relates to cryptocurrency ATMs. The ordinance before you tonight reflects that direction. This is not a prohibition. It is a targeted regulatory model and it requires employee controlled access, clear fraud warnings, registration, and inspection authority. all aimed at reducing scams that have financially harmed Woodbury residents, mostly seniors. State law establishes licensing requirements. It does not regulate phys physical access to kiosk placement or local enforcement tools. This ordinance addresses those gaps. It is a balanced and uh legally defensible and it also allows legitimate operators to continue doing business while adding meaningful meaningful uh safeguards. So, why does this matter to Woodbury? Over $200,000 are lost annually by our Woodbury residents due to fraud that is uh facilitated through ATM cryptocurrency uh ATMs. Uh more than two dozen investigations per year go through our uh detective division and that is rising uh year after year. uh victims are disproportionately older adults uh within our community and uh fund transfers are irreversible and rarely recoverable. Uh although there are some exceptions to that. Current state law Minnesota 53B does not address kiosk placement or access. What our uh proposed ordinance does and it requires annual registration for each kiosk, establishes operational and security standards, mandates employee controlled access, enhances uh consumer fraud warnings, and authorizes compliance inspections. The key safeguards to this ordinance uh no publicly accessible self uh service kiosks. Kiosks would be behind staffed counters or locked enclosures. Employees must confirm uh a fraud warning is reviewed by the customer. Dedicated uh camera with 30-day retention which would help with uh investigative uh uh purposes. Footage would be provided upon request as well. We see this as a balanced approach. uh pres preserves lawful cryptocurrency use and it maintains business operations, reduces fraud risk through physical control, uh legally defensible compared to um prohibition as we've seen from other cities. Registration fees offset the oversight costs as well. Uh so today we ask for the adoption of uh chapter 11. Um also like to say that we aren't banning uh cryptocurrency ATMs. We're just aligning responsibility uh with the activity. Businesses can decide whether hosting a kiosk under these standards makes sense for them as a business decision. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Any any further comments? >> May Mayor Bird, I just going to add one thing. I know that um detect Sergeant Detective Lynn Lawrence is currently or will be testifying at the capital uh on behalf of a committee that's currently working on some legislation that would either I don't know if it would be banning or putting more regulation on these um um machines [snorts] as well. Just wanted to call that out. >> Thank you. Um, can you just for general uh just remind us roughly how many of these do we have in the city and where might people find them? >> We have about 10 in the city uh throughout the the city and uh they're usually located in uh gas stations is where we find >> them. That's great. And we have of course heard over the last few years many many stories of just hardship that has occurred through um bad actors trying to take advantage of as you said adult el elderly adults or vulnerable people in taking money and it is costly uh to our residents. We hate to see that kind of scamming occur. Um and is also takes a lot of time and effort on the part of our public safety department if they have to research and investigate this and uh try to recoup some some of the money that's been lost. Um, but we don't like bad actors operating in our community. So, we're looking at putting on these additional uh restrictions um to help prevent uh scamming of our residents and anyone that would visit our city. Um, we've all had a chance to again review this. We've talked about it, but any other questions otherwise? We just need to do make a motion to approve this ordinance. >> Is that you making a motion? >> No, Steve. Council member Morris, >> did you were you going to add some >> Well, was that you making a motion? >> No, I'm not making a motion. I'm No, we need Yes, we Yes, that's that's the next step. Further discussion or next step in this because we have reviewed and talked about it prior. >> Anybody else want to go first? >> No, I'm waiting. I've been waiting all night >> behind you. >> Buckle up. >> All right. >> Um I'm with the mayor and the mayor's comments. these these kiosks lead to 200,000 plus and we don't and that's just reported and I think during the workshop we heard there's certainly an amount of unreported fraud as well that that's concerning. So these are this is hugely concerning. I don't disagree with that at all. Um we talked at the workshop about outright ban and and our defendability of of doing these things and and I think that's kind of where we came down is all right let's regulate versus doing this. So again, if I bring up the tobacco and alcohol that we just talked through and our mission and our our requirement to protect the safety and welfare of the community, this is right along those lines. And so I'm in agreement with that we need an ordinance. I don't like this one. >> Okay? >> And here and I have a number of different things because in my and I will say this, my non non- city council job, my day job deal with these a lot. This is a ban. What this will do is this this the restrictions in here are so ownorous that this is an effectively a ban. Um and I'll and I'll go one by one. The the first one is the the fee dollar amount $3,500. It's approximately give or take today. about 45 to 50% of the fee that the that the retailer or owner would collect and from these these are leased uh leased they're not they're not the person they don't own the machine they're leasing the space out to somebody else. It's about 50% of that. It's also far and away u our tobacco ordinate our tobacco fee is $300. This is $3,500 for a kiosk. Think about the number of transactions that occur if we're to talk about protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the community. Got it. There's a financial number to this number. There's a health benefit on the other. We're only charging $300 in transaction that's occurring with far more frequency. So, the the value now, I will also defend the $3,500 because it is going to be a considerable amount of work to enforce this. So, if that's our position is that we want to recoup and that's our position that we want to recoup our operating fees through the permit fees, uh I can get behind that, but then we need to address our other fees, >> compliance checks for the for the other uh tobacco and and alcohol. That's fine. We need to we need to talk about that. But if this is precedent setting in my mind of if we're going to try to recoup it from these fees, then let's do it. Let's not single out this particular avenue which is extremely high. It again it's about h let's just call it half of the revenue that somebody would take from this. So again we're not banning it but we just took out half. that doesn't include now the other parts of this that I absolutely have problems with and that's um and and I do appreciate the chief and I did give you some suggestions early on of other things to look at other policies to look at and and I see a number of those in here and I'm appreciative of that the CCTV requirements location requirements etc I'm I'm good with those I don't agree with the public access if you think about the locations for these and public businesses What you're asking for is to create a room or create a space. It's going to require construction or remodeling or replacement and removal and all these things that that business owners if it's in a in a drugstore or if it's in a convenience store or whatever re whatever those are typically where they are because they're higher traffic. But it doesn't it can go anywhere. The requirements of having this not publicly available and have to be u accompanied by an employee extremely ownorous. It's just not it's not operationally feasible for these businesses. And so again, my job here today is to protect the safety and welfare of the of the community. That's my job today. But on the backs of also protecting our commerce and our ability for our business owners to make a profit for their investment >> that we also have to and for the public. these these have a purpose in our community that people are using them because it's a service that they're looking for. So if we short of a ban, which is what this essentially is, but within doing this, we're preventing our community from from accessing these things or being able to do as they see fit. I get that we're protecting a vulnerable group of individuals, but I this this we're just going about 10 steps too far in my in my opinion with this. I'll leave it there for now and and open that up for what I just threw up at you [laughter] before I keep going. >> I'm just curious, did you share any of this at our workshop? >> I did >> to this extent. Okay. >> [laughter] >> I I was adamant against the control restriction or the access restrictions. I was adamant that that was not appropriate and that it was was going to make these things inaccessible. Um that specific that specific part I remember specifically talking about. And so do you feel differently or how do you I guess because you raised it and just now but then it made me think about the requirements about like with from a gambling standpoint cuz don't we require you know in establishments that they have to have separate places and they have to have you know locked areas and it can only be accessible by so many you know >> it's not us that's state statute >> looking to our city attorney >> right it's not our local regulations But [snorts] states regulations do require that it's unprecedented. >> And again to what the mayor was talking about during our workshop, there's a little bit of stay in our lane, >> right? >> So, you know, and our senator has been a fantastic representative or well, you should be representative when you did the legislation, but in steward of this of the right place to that for that regulation. That's what I was going to say is then that's what I would >> because then everybody's on the same playing field that that and that's the and we talked about it with T21 with sorry with tobacco 21 things that [clears throat] make doing business in Woodbury fair and equal to the communities around us. This is not one of them. This is the one that says listen I'm going to make an investment. Too bad so sad. >> Right. Okay. I agree >> with me. >> Yeah. It's kind of crazy. Um, I agree. I uh in a locked and enclosed Listen, if if I had it my way, I don't understand crypto, but my kids in it, I would just say be done with crypto. But, um, but I'm a cash girl, too. So, um, in a locked or enclosed cabinet, I agree with that. But is there some compromise? Is there some way that these machines then have to be, you know, like uh I can't just go to a cash register and punch in the numbers. Everybody has to input their employee code. Is there some way that these machines could have to be set up uh with to input an employee code? >> That's part of our or it's part of that's in here is that the employee has to >> [clears throat] >> essentially sign off that the transaction is legit. So the version of putting a code in to authorize it. >> I don't know if signing off that the transaction is legit is different than that's a little more overreach. Yes. >> Yeah. >> I agree. >> So >> because then then the liability is moving over to the retailer. They allowed a transaction. Right. And I just >> we're asking a whole lot from from these folks and that's a that's a business decision I think that they should be allowed to make. I don't I don't think that us requiring that level of oversight into a transaction that's a legal transaction >> that is true >> for those that want to do it that level we don't do that in any other transaction in our [clears throat] city >> no ATMs >> I I [snorts] would just add that a lot of these uh restrictions are put in place as uh pause points uh area where we can intervene uh a lot of the tactics that these scammers that that are usually tied to criminal organizations overseas will use is that they would keep uh some of these uh community members on the phone >> uh while they instruct them on how to uh insert cash and create a crypto wallet and things like that. Uh this would allow us a pause point to uh allow uh somebody cashier to maybe intervene or even call local police department uh for us to come in and try to intervene as well. Um, my argument is I agree with that, but is that is our is that our place as a city? And how far do we go with that? At what other point do we, you know, if if somebody goes to the county courthouse and wants to change somebody's, you know, they're they're doing mortgage, whatever that is with the mortgage fraud, is there a pause point there? And do we require that? I mean, that that's my my point here is that commerce is commerce and that there's a level of that the the market will solve for that. Is that our role? >> Those are all good questions. I um I I I suppose that here here's my reaction to all of this is that um maybe [clears throat] we didn't fully vet this as much as we could have should have at a workshop. Um just based on being efficient at our meetings, I hate to spend a lot of time discussing all this in something that in my opinion ought to be more vetted, more significantly vetted at a workshop. back to a workshop. >> I would I don't even know is this the right motion or make a motion to table it. What's the right motion here if we want to send it back to a workshop? >> Sure. I mean, and I'll put in my own two cents. I mean, I think staff did give this a little a lot of thought in what we thought are reasonable restrictions [clears throat] and we're not trying to prevent commerce. We're trying to prevent crime um in pausing points on on crime, not commerce, just for the record. Um but yes, if the council wanted more uh ability to provide input and discussion uh in depth on the issues tableabling, it would uh be fine in directing to a future workshop >> because I would I would also say that there's connection to our other restricted product. I mean the fine the fee part is relevant for us to have a discussion on the fees just in general of >> but then aren't we limit on some of the fees of what we can charge? I was just going to say we were charging more for other things and then the state took that over and so now we don't get that fee. So we can charge whatever until >> until they say no until we the regulation. Yeah. >> Mhm. >> I had a thought after the um workshop. So, this can be added to that, but um our ordinance limits the proximity of our tobacco shops to our schools. To further protect our seniors, which you know is a passion of mine, I would like us to research and consider limiting the proximity of crypto bitcoin locations to not be allowed within maybe 500 ft of any designated 55 plus senior community, nursing home, assisted living, independent living facility, and memory care facility. Since our seniors are the most vulnerable to these scams, I'd like to add an additional deterrence and protection for them for us to consider. >> Well, I'll just add that this is getting really deep really fast. So, I'm going to make the motion that we table this ordinance discussion workshop. >> I will second, but I'm going to add a comment and say that I also >> Of course you will. >> Of course I will. While I while I'm opposed to some of the some of this, I also believe it doesn't go far enough. >> Okay, now you're confusing. We need a full workshop for that. >> We do because there are parts of this that need to include financial services kiosks, etc. Other things other than crypto because those are those are here in the marketplace occurring today and are also would are just as able to have fraudulent transactions, but it's not included in this because it's so narrow. So, while I'm arguing that this goes too far, I'm also arguing it doesn't it's not wide enough. >> In addition, this I believe it is being evaluated at the state level and perhaps something >> might be done there. >> Mayor Bird, I just if it's okay, I'd like to just mention that this ultimately uh has been a priority by our public safety department and went through the workshop process because it has been a a real significant local problem. Yeah. >> And we haven't had action from the state. There's no guarantees that they'll do anything. We've got the nationally regarded two uh uh detectives that have become skilled and experts in this uh topic because it has been a local problem that's impacted our our residents. So that's why we're wanting to take the initiative and take action. I think clearly we've got some more discussion to do. So we we can continue to to vet it and uh and you know maybe by that time the state has taken action. maybe they haven't and then we'll have a a future decision to make. >> I don't like being painted. >> So, let [clears throat] me just respond to that. I don't like being painted that I'm we're we're ignoring our local people and and the concerns that we have. So, I know that it wasn't what you were intending, but there's going to be somebody that's going to say, "Well, yeah, the council decided to table this. It's because we're ignoring the impact to our community. >> We want to make it better." >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So yeah, just to clarify, we're not we're tableabling this for a future workshop soon, not like 2028. >> No, this within the next couple months, I would hope. Yeah. >> Okay, that's I just didn't want that connotation to come back to Well, >> Steve says no, >> that's a valid point and I appreciate that because you know just we had this big discussion downstairs on what is our role of government. Are we parents? Are we oversight? Do we create ordinances? and and where and where do we um start infringing on rights of so agreed I think this is something we could all I agree to table hopefully with for couple months. >> Yeah. And if mayor council if you wanted to put a kind of deadline when you want us to come back we're happy to oblige by then >> because agree that this is also an important thing. We know that there's $200,000 plus that we know of, but we also know I think we had uh that Uber driver in here that had prevented um >> someone from >> Yeah. So, it's a very important and and of course, education is the best, but I agree with council member Stafford that it is difficult for the senior community to have fully grasp this kind of this kind [snorts] of fraud. And if there's any specific um points you want us to come back do more research on that would be helpful for us in preparation for the workshop. >> I would like to see a map or a list of where our crypto Bitcoin machines are in relation to our senior community facilities right now. >> I could definitely provide that for you. >> Are you confident you know where they all are? >> Well, probably not because they're not being >> because they're not That's why I'm asking. Yeah, >> I would say I'm confident in knowing where the uh ATMs are, where we've had fraud. >> There you go. [laughter] >> Fair. >> ATMs are the Bitcoin. >> So, are you saying just out of curiosity then, not to >> this might be workshop? I know. I'm sorry. Are you saying that it's recurring at certain machines? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, back to I have a motion on the ta [laughter] that we I have a motion on the table that we table this. >> Second. >> Motion a second. Any further discussion? All in favor? I >> I Okay, we will table this. I don't want to put a date certain on it only because I don't know what else is on, you know, we've got a lot of we've already had to delay a previous discussion. So, as soon as possible, >> as soon as possible. Um, and it would be helpful to understand where the state is going with all this as well. So I do believe we have in the past or we were supposed to I know we are all busy but this was also the situation whereas if we once in a while had to pop up a date you know and one of the extra Wednesdays work I'm just saying that >> sure notice it go >> work to be done so >> if we have to do it we have to do it okay >> are there any other information points that you know that we can >> I will reach out >> I was going to say can we just [laughter] can we just handle that off >> Absolutely. Yeah. Um so that you can be prepared when we have it. Okay. We'll now move on. This is um this is on to the approval of the public safety campus project. Of course, this has been in the works for uh quite some time. We're very excited that uh this is moving forward there. This is a two-step process tonight. We first need to approve um the application and um and then we have to approve the awarding of the bids. Uh, so Eric, I believe you are going to be speaking with us on this on on the first piece and then Chris will be on 8C. Okay, Eric. >> Thank you, mayor, members of the council. Uh, the city of Woodbury is requesting approval for the renovation, expansion, and redesign of the public safety building located at 2100 Radio Drive. The property is zoned city center district and is guided as public semi-public on the land use plan. As the mayor um stated in her opening remarks, the council has seen this in the past. In in fact, just for those in the audience and for those watching from home, they've seen it quite a few times. And so I will be brief this evening, but please be uh reassured that the council has certainly seen this at many different touch points. The current public safety building was constructed in 1975 and was last renovated in 2010. Since that time, Woodbury's prop population has grown by over 20,000 residents. And in November of 2024, voters have approved a half cent sales tax to help support the expansion in remodeling of the public safety facility. The 0.5% sales tax began in April of 2025 and revenue from the sales tax will solely go to the project. It will go to no other location. When the funding reaches 50 million or 20 years, whichever comes first, the sales tax will no longer exist. The scope of the project includes a transformation of the city's emergency infrastructure by integrating police, fire, EMS into a single 100,000 square foot hub from an EMS and fire standpoint. The area w will be expanded into what was previously the Washington County Service Center uh at 2150 Radio Drive [snorts] to make way for a new multi-story fire wing. This new construction will feature high-speed biffold doors for faster deployment, advanced hot zone decontamination areas that protect the firefighters from carcinogens, and also significantly explan expand the 24-hour living quarters in a two-story uh space located in this portion of the building. From a police standpoint, proposed improvements are focused on an interior remodel of the 43,000 foot building located existing 43,000t building uh located at on Radio Drive. The site plan on the screen identifies the existing and proposed. So the existing building footprint is kind of in the purple, the new area, and it really ends right in this location, the new building. So, as you can see, a significant increase in size. Site access is provided by two access points off of Radio Drive with the site plan on the screen showing a north south orientation. A few of the other graphics are east west, but the north south uh is provided for clarity. The access point A is designed as a threequarter access point and is designed to provide access to the employee parking and training room parking areas and also the visitor parking spaces that are located in front of the building. Access point B is a full movement signalized intersection that provides access to the relocated fire apparatus bay or commonly known as fire station. the visitor parking via the north south one-way road. So, there's a oneway roadway in front of the building that would provide access to the uh public parking area and also access point B provides access to the rear of the building including the parking garage. As we take a look at the architectural we architecture, we'll identify the very standard and um uh deliberate materials from our city center area. The uh brown brick, the buff limestone, those have allowed for the city center to age well. It's also the materials found on the existing portions of the building within the training center area. So this building will complement those existing materials but also complement city hall, central park, uh kowalsskis and other buildings within the city center district. The proposed designs do meet the architectural ordinance requiring 65% class one materials. Those materials are brick, glass, and stone. As we take a deeper look into the parking, the zoning ordinance does not identify requirements for governmental uses for parking allocations. So, our public safety personnel and the architecture team worked closely to evaluate the parking demand both now and into the future. The graphic on the screen identifies the proposed parking. Parking area A is uh will be for staff as well as uh patrol at certain times. Parking area B and and it is important to note these will be secured parking areas. You can see the gate functions within off of the radio drive access. As we talked before, parking area B is the guest parking. Parking area C is additional staff parking and [snorts] parking D is fire staff parking. With that, staff recommends the approval of the amended site plan for the public safety campus project number 1620 26 and the planning commission liaison is here for the planning commission report which just happened a few days ago. Jake, >> welcome commissioner. >> Good evening, mayor, members of the council and staff. Uh at planning commission, we voted unanimous unanimously to approve um public safety building. Uh discussed some of the parking. Just wanted to confirm that there was enough um there even though there wasn't an ordinance. Uh a lot of things that Eric had touched on, talked about the architecture. Um in particular, discussed the access and why that frontage road was needed to get to the visitor parking. [clears throat] Um, then also, uh, there was a question about how this building relates to the hero center and council member Morris kind of helped fill this in on what some of the differences were and what functions would happen in in either area. So, um, we also discussed the the lift gates and Eric was kind enough to dive into the details on those. So, [snorts] I stand for any questions. >> I don't have any. Again, we have gone over this many many many times and this is just the final final step needed to uh move this project forward. So, um glad to hear that planning commission had a unanimous decision on this. Um we have also provided a lot of guidance and input over time. So, I think I don't know that there's any more questions to ask at this point unless somebody has one. >> I don't have questions but I do have comments. So um not for public sorry [laughter] >> Oh jeez. Um so uh regarding this project I think I think I think I've been clear that I 100% support public safety at all levels of government. Um so what I'm about to say doesn't mean that I don't support public safety. it means I'm not sure that the process um I I don't know if I like the process on this and one is you know there hasn't been a study done I uh if there has I I keep asking for it and it hasn't been um to determine if this is really the best site for our public safety building um and that it can accommodate us into the future. Um, we have this year budgeted $250,000 to do a park study uh to find out where we should put our parks. And I think we are doing 50 or 60,000 to do a city hall study to figure out how we should rearrange our workspaces within there. But there hasn't been any study done on this site. And although this site is perfect and 100% needed for a fire station, I don't know if this is the best place for a public safety um campus or um headquarters uh considering we're expecting to be 100,000 plus um in population. So um I also have expressed concerns and I know that it was alleviated uh with the entrance and the exit out of this public safety building. So, I'm glad that some of those have been um taken care of. I'm glad to see the left turn uh into the public safety at the lights um so we can accommodate every all citizens from all all sides of Woodbury, not just coming from the north. But I still have grave concerns with sharing that entrance with the fire EMS um pulling out of there during um emergency calls. The safe zone parking also was something that um I'm happy to see. Um I still don't like the positioning of it. If anybody's ever had to use safe zone parking, not necessarily to even exchange or buy or sell things. I'm talking about when you are in an abusive situation and your um uh child's parent um is making threats to have it down at the very end and not at the entrance of the um where where there will be a little more presence, a little more sight lines uh to deter that is concerning. And um so I I've made all this clear in the past. I've brought it up every time. This isn't the first time that I've brought it up, but I just this is my first time I get to say it here on the record and and why I'll be voting the way I'm voting on this. >> Maybe you can answer them. I It It seems to me in the back of this head that we had talked about and been told that there would be an area for exchange of >> the safe zone. >> Correct. There is. and the and the safe zone area. And those designate designated parking spots are down at the very end of the park at the um the 11 stall parking in section B, I believe, or right A. A uh can can you go to the map that showed where the safe zone parking was? There you go. >> So, it's down away from the ent where would the entrance be to >> Oh, >> did they get relocated? I think I don't think it's located there anymore. I don't know if it's specifically called out of the plan. >> We'd have to review that, but I know this is an older graphic that we brought to council at the time of the workshop and that comment did come up. So, it's something we can easily address um with the construction. >> Well, that's just one of many, but thank you. [laughter] But I as as a as someone who would have liked to have seen safe zone parking 30 years ago, um I I can appreciate that. Thank you. Um, Chris, can you just address um and because I know you've brought it up several times, council member uh Wilson, about the location and I think while there might not have been a formal study done, there is a lot of um general knowledge that an engineer or architect would have about um what it would take to create a whole new building and new land somewhere else or taking something existing and doing an expansion. So, can you just address that? Uh yeah, mayor, members of the council, I'll touch on some of that if we get into the details about the the sighting relative to public safety. I think um uh Jason Posal is here to to maybe further flesh that out if he has more information. But you know, one of the things that we looked at is there's approximately 20 to $25 million of existing improvements on the site. If we were to build this somewhere else, you're talking 80 to 85 million because first you have to find the land, then you have to build uh all new facilities to equal the footprint. Again, we're not completely raising this to the ground. >> It also happens to be in the city center location. I do know there was uh fire EMS studies that looked at our service models, and a key to that service model is response time, and this being in the central part of the city was key to that central service model. uh from a fire EMS perspective. Um and that study is available and I think uh you know Chief Klein has that um and I think you know the investments we've made in the city campus and location of city hall I think helps bring the culture. So unequivocally I think as we got through the process we felt that this was the right solution the right uh place to to put this work in there. And in terms of the ultimate design, one thing we heard very clearly from the council is, hey, every 12 8 to 12 years we were uh revamping this um public safety campus because the community was growing so fast. >> And so one thing we're really deliberate is when are we going to, you know, end construction and how far do we go out beyond that? And the decision from the council at that time was to go to 20 years, right? So at least uh the financing, we wouldn't be doing anything with this building until after the financing is complete. But if you look at our overall projections from a population perspective, we're going to be fully built out around 2050. This is going to be built in 2028. So really the the projection is gone to 2048. I think it's very unlikely that there's going to be any expansion of an actual building footprint on this site. And frankly, there is no more room. It is what it is. So, um, this is probably the ultimate site in the long run, uh, for to serve the community at this location. >> Okay. Thank you for for sharing. >> And just to be clear on this, 100% agree that there should be a fire EMS station here. This is the central of the city. I'm not I wasn't ever advocating for the removal of that ever, ever. But I do know we are going to have to build another fire station in the southeast corner of well, somewhere in the southeast of Woodbury. And that's where I had suggested that we look and see if that would have been a more suitable place for a public safety campus um where we would be able to design according to our needs and desires as opposed to trying to fit it onto a space. So >> great. Any other comments or questions? Some would like to put forth a motion. >> I will make a recommendation that we approve the public safety campus project amended site and building plan project number 16-2026-00609. >> Second. Motion a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, the roll call, please. >> Council member Santini, >> I. >> Council member Stafford, >> I. >> Council member Wilson, >> no. >> Council member Morris, >> hi. >> Mayor Bert, >> I. Um, that passes. Congratulations. That's step one of two. Now for the big one. Chris, >> two with three resolutions. >> Yes. >> So, good evening again, mayor, members of the council. It feels a little antilimatic. You know, we've been working on this for two years. We have leftover cupcakes. That's the cherry on top. >> Um, but I I will say that we've been working on this two years and as I reflect back on this, the leadership by the council and their commitment to public safety, operational readiness, environmental stewardship really set us on this path of exploring it, going after the local option sales tax, getting 50 million through the legislature, the community, you know, choosing to approve the referendum for $50 million really set all of this in motion. But I would I'd be remiss in saying that how many departments really sort of helped with this. Community development, engineering, of course, public safety, finance, administration. There wasn't a single division department that didn't touch this in some way. And here we are. We we've ready for bid. And I think it's a very successful bid. And I'm just proud of being in this moment. And I only have five slides, so it just feels like it's not enough. [laughter] I should extend the the the conversation, but I'm not gonna. Um, I think Eric covered it really well uh about the overall project scope. I'm just going to give a very brief overview of things uh Eric wasn't able to cover, but the real purpose of the meeting tonight is to award the construction contracts as well as authorize the necessary professional services as well as authorize staff to do procurement according to the city's purchasing policy. So again, the scope is renovation of the existing campus. It's a multi-story uh campus expansion. Uh some of the unique things about this is we moving moving forward with a Darcy geothermal system which is very energy efficient. We've put it in other building is very successful at Central Park and other locations. Um we're able to accommodate a rapid response garage so that when we talk about operational readiness that public safety can respond as quickly as possible when situations happening in the community. Uh we included solar array of 250 kilowatt DC system again the commitment to environmental stewardship bird safe glazing security enhancements both here we talked about gates bullet resistant glass but also bringing those improvements back to city hall as part of the relocation efforts and a number of other different considerations that to make both our public safety officers and the people that work there and the community safer. And then of course uh some of the re relocation efforts um that we have to to do as part of this project. >> Perfect. >> So uh we talked about this two weeks ago and we opened bids on January 27th. At that time the engineers estimate was 61 million. So we're a little nervous because the council gave us direction of 60 million or less. Um but what we found is 181 bids. It's almost got to be a record for a building improvement here to get almost six bids for each work scope. Really successful. It tells us that the market is hungry for this type of work. And when you total all of that in with the project cost of both construction, engineering, architecture, material testing, materials abatement, all kinds of things, the total cost is roughly at about 59.3 million. And that's really about 3% below the engineers estimate, which is pretty much as close as you can get, but on the favorable side for the council and the community. that includes both base bit A, which is the Darcy geothermal system, and all five of the alternates as we considered value engineering during the course of the project. So, it's well within the adopted $60 million project budget, including all the contingencies. So, we talk about budget and financing. Uh there's I'm going to go into a little bit more detail in the next slide about some of the things additional funding we were able to bring to the table. But I think the really important one is when we were talking through all this between the cost of the the building the the funding that we could bring to the table. At one time there's a consideration is do we have to take out debt and have that be supported by tax levy. At the time uh we did think that. Well, now we're saying, hey, by all the all the money we're able to get coming in 3% under, the additional funding uh means that we can use some of the savings from the general fund and the general fund balance to help support that gap. And again, that means there's no debt uh to the community uh that's needs to be tax supported levy. So to go through this again as the community I think um you know new funding sources if you look on the lefth hand column that was the 2026 capital improvement plan that totaled $60 million uh new funding sources that we found you know under the rock is thinking about bond issuance premium you know that's an avenue that we can take because of uh anticipated falling interest rates and some of the creative things that finance is looking through for the local option sales tax kira and Jason and company uh worked really hard with our our lobbyists to secure congressionally directed spending through the cops uh technology grant. So bring in another 1.03 million and then our environmental division pulled in another $100,000 to support some of the environmental efforts that we're putting over there in the campus. And so when you put all that together, it means that our general fund uh need which was prior to that probably debt levy went from 4.6 million down to 1.3 million. and our capital improvement fund um because of how things turned out with Central Park and other went from two million to 3.19 million. But overall, again, super successful in avoiding any sort of debt levy uh for this project. So, our recommendations tonight, we've got three different resolutions. I know Mayor Bert, you said, why couldn't you put them all in one? I said, well, because it'd be 25 pages long and super confusing. So, we separated them out. I'm sorry, council. If you want to move forward with this project, you got to do all three. The first one is to award the construction contracts. There's 30 different contracts, a base bid, and five different alternatives on each one of those leads you about eight pages of just one resolution. Uh we also need to authorize professional services, construction management, engineering, materials testing, a whole slew of things that come with a project like this, as well as authorizing staff to move forward on procurement for items that either collectively or individually might total over 175,000. And what we would do is go through the purchasing policy, then ask the mayor and city administrator to sign, and then we need to amend the budget for that $59.3 million cost. So with that, uh staff recommendation is for the first uh to award the construction contracts including base bid A and all five alternates. And if you want to take these one by one, we could do that. Or we could go through all three of them and and go from there. What would you like to do, Mayor? >> Oh, let's just take them one at a time. Okay. >> Yeah. because we're gonna have to repeat them all anyway as we read them. Um, I just want to say, yeah, I agree. I agree with you and it's um I agree with you the the the point about it feels very anticlimatic. I mean, there has been so much work put into this over the years and uh here we're going to word it and away we go. But just a huge appreciation to everyone involved starting with um with our community that agreed to allow us to do this uh local option sales tax and then all the pieces that have come together. It is an enormous enormous project and a lot of work. Council members have been great to work with through all this. Two sets of two sets of administrators to help work through it. Uh it's it's been a lot. I hope that maybe we can celebrate and it's going to feel really good at like groundbreaking or something. I mean, we need to c and there's probably stale cupcakes out there left from earlier. We can celebrate with those. But um it's been a tremendous amount of work and I can't thank and appreciate everybody enough for all they've done. Just words won't words won't say it all. Yeah, I agree. I I do appreciate all the staff's um time and um answers to all the questions and working with me on this. So, I >> just think about all the all the budget meetings and all the things that we've done over the years of yapping about um our response times and trying to get public safety and staffing with public safety and you know, again, we just we just swore in nine new you don't have to do it all at once. [laughter] direct proposal. >> We had wave we had a wave of them. It's >> we did it with police. Now we've done it with fire. You can spread that out a little in the future. But I mean everything that we have asked for staff has gone and done. >> And I'd like to take the opportunity to thank public safety. I don't think anybody realizes the amount of jimmying around that they're having to do. And the staff has all been on on task and on board. and I appreciate the work and time that you've put into this to make sure that our services are not interrupted and that all of our police and fire and EMS are happy people. >> Because it's going to be a transition, >> but thank you. >> All right. I'll make a motion to award the construction contact of the Am I just reading one here? >> Yes. One at a time. Yes. I will make a motion to uh adopt resolution 26-15 awarding the construction contracts to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the public safety campus improvement project including the acceptance of base bid A all five alter alternates and authorizing the mayor and city administrator to execute contracts. >> Second motion a second. Any further discussion hearing? None. The roll call, please. >> Council member Stafford, >> I. >> Council member Wilson, >> no. >> Council member Morris, >> I. >> Council member Santini, >> I. Mayor Bert >> I. That one passes. We have two more. >> Uh, anybody else? >> I'll make a motion to adopt resolution 2616 authorizing the mayor and city administrator to execute professional services for engineering, construction management, inflation reduction act, tax preparation services, and authorizing the purchase of furniture, artwork, and branding. City Hall security technology and equipment necessary to [clears throat] complete the project. >> I'll second. >> Motion a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, the roll call, please. >> Council member Wilson, >> no. >> Council member Morris, >> I. >> Council member Santini, >> I. >> Council member Stafford, >> I. >> Mayor Burke, >> I. That passes. Final resolution 2617. Who wants it? I'll move to adopt resolution 2617 amending the public safety expansion fund and capital improvement fund budgets to accommodate bid results, owner costs, contingencies, revenue sources, and grant revenues. >> Second motion, a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, the roll call, please. >> Council member Morris, >> hi. >> Council member Santini, >> I. >> Council member Stafford, [snorts] >> I. >> Council member Wilson, >> no. >> Mayor Bert, >> I. That passes. All right. I think the least we can do is a standing ovation for all the wonderful work done on [applause] this. Well done. [applause] Well done everyone. I know they've got hours and hours and hours into [clears throat] >> now. It feels really anticlimatic to go through timeline and next step. So [laughter] >> wait, are you doing that? Do we have to >> I don't know. >> Just real quick. just real quick because the public would like to know. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, uh after this we're going to finalize contracts and permits. Uh groundbreaking, we're talking spring summer of 2026. Uh the official uh groundbreaking is probably more like June because we have to go through some abatement process, but Elizabeth Owens over in public safety is planning all that. And of course, they'll let uh council members and local legislators and everybody and they'll plan a good event. And then we're already starting the relocation of personnel uh which public safety staff has been phenomenal thinking through that. I think Donna, you're 100% right. And then to reminder for folks is substantial completion late fall of 2028. It's full 24 month project. So I definitely don't think there's any more questions. >> Nope. Fantastic. Wow. Well, that'll be we'll get our water the water treatment plant. This I keep saying this should be done before before this one is done and then this one will be done. We had two big two big deliverables. They're at the race. two big deliverables in 2028. In 2028 and it not it should be not fall. It should be earlier. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> I pushed for 2027 and I was g I was told that is not possible but no they can't they can't do but I'm expecting >> mid year by mid year 2028. We'll see how it goes. All things have to go well. All right. Uh staff report city administrator. >> Thank you Mayor Bert. Uh a couple things tonight. Um, one is just want to give a reminder to the public that uh tomorrow night at 6 pm we'll be having our state of the city address with uh Mayor Bert. We're going to have some presentations from staff especially regarding our strategic initiatives. One of which was related to the agenda items tonight. Um it's at Central Park 6 p.m. open to the public. uh the presentations will be first and then there'll be a social gathering we'll where we'll have staff there and if if uh members of the public want to want to connect with our wonderful council they can do that as well. So uh please come the more people the better. It's a great opportunity to meet uh community members. So um >> is it amphitheater or is it in the woodland room the good meet this is the big meeting room. This is the big meeting room and I'm glad you mentioned that because it's another opportunity to see our wonderful new uh community space as well at Central Park. >> Mhm. >> Uh next item. Uh it wouldn't be a uh and it wouldn't be a recent city administrator's report if I didn't mention uh just another Woodbury connection to a a national international sporting event. Uh congratulations to Jake Gunel. Uh Woodbury uh native. Um he was a part of the Olympic team. Uh he was a regular player. He he got a lot of minutes the final game. >> Hockey. You have to specify what sport. >> Sorry. Men's hockey. Uh women's hockey won of course too and a lot of other successful Olympians too. But uh uh Mr. Gunel was uh is is from Woodbury. Uh I believe he took the cup, Stanley Cup here when was it that when the Penguins won. >> Correct. Yes. >> A couple of uh years back. So we're we're going to try to figure out a way to maybe get him at, you know, council chambers or some other way to get the gold medal here uh in Woodbury, too. But congratulations to him. Congratulations to all the Olympians, of course. Great to see a Woodbury connection there as well. >> That Minnesota had the most gold medals. from Minnesota. Yes. >> Mostly most of those. >> Yeah. >> So, we're we're happy to be a part of that. >> Yeah. Um, in addition, just in uh in terms of award winners as well, my last item is just to acknowledge the VFW awards that were held recently. And I'm proud to announce that fire marshal Kevin Lynch, Battalion Chief Matt Huber, and Detective uh Kyle Meyers all won in their kind of respective departments within public safety uh for this year. Uh Kyle is our detective in the community impact team. Um, uh, Battalion Chief Huber is also, uh, a recipient of the state award. So, not only the Woodbury VFW, but also the state. Uh in addition to that, it was announced that officer Carlos Santos and EMS firefighter uh Tony Bender will also have their um uh bricks in the veterans uh park uh be because of not only their public service as as Woodbury uh public servants, but also their um their role in serving our country as well as veterans. So, uh a lot of award winners here in our community. It's uh pretty pretty fun to go over that in our in the city administrator's report because we have a lot to be proud of. So, congrats to them. >> Yeah. Little extra shout out to the VFW. Great organization that supports those veterans of foreign war in our community along with um members of the American Legion. They just do a great job honoring um a lot of students were also honored during that presentation for they have to write a a citizenship uh um paper and did a beautiful job. So, uh really nice. Yeah, >> there's there's so much noise out there in in the world in the community. It's we've got a lot of great people, great things going on. So, excellent point. >> Yeah, [clears throat] >> that's it. >> That it. Okay. And uh that's it for tonight then. >> Motion. >> Pardon? >> Do the magic. >> Yeah, the magic motion. I make a motion that we adjourn the meeting. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? I. We are adjourned.