The meeting opened with a listening session where Samia Muhammad, a high school senior, addressed the council about the lack of safety in schools. She represented the voices of her peers from Kennedy and Jefferson High Schools, who had recently marched to City Hall advocating for change. Samia emphasized that students no longer felt secure, urging the council to take swift action. Her plea underscored a growing anxiety among students regarding violence in educational environments. A council member responded by acknowledging the gravity of Samia’s concerns and mentioned participation in a press event advocating for local control over safety measures. The council member thanked Samia for her courage in bringing the issue to light.

Following Samia’s address, residents voiced their apprehensions regarding a proposed rental housing development. Richard Degrude, a resident of Washburn Circle, expressed concerns over the development’s setback of only 38 feet from 90th Street, which he argued was inconsistent with the neighborhood’s existing standards. He pointed out that previous constructions adhered to a 75-foot setback requirement, questioning why the new development deviated from this precedent. Degrude also highlighted concerns about preserving trees that acted as noise barriers and the potential impact on stormwater drainage due to increased impervious surfaces. He requested that the council delay the consent agenda on the lot subdivision until residents had more information.

Another resident, Priyanka, echoed Degrude’s concerns, emphasizing the lack of communication regarding a zoning change from May 2023 that reduced the required lot size for single-family homes. She cited a past accident at a nearby intersection to illustrate the potential dangers posed by the new development’s layout. Priyanka called for more time to review the implications of these changes.

The discussion revealed a tension between development interests and community safety, with residents seeking additional time to comprehend the proposed changes’ impact. The council attempted to clarify that setback regulations had evolved, eliminating the previous requirement established before 1975. However, residents remained concerned about the broader implications of these regulatory shifts.

Additionally, the meeting addressed concerns about safety at a busy intersection, with a speaker highlighting the need for a setback adjustment due to the high traffic and danger in the area. The presence of bus stops and the safety of pedestrians, particularly children, were emphasized. The speaker referenced a past incident where a person died at a similar intersection, urging the council to reassess the situation to prevent further dangers.

The council also heard from Jody Tasto, a resident of District 3, who appealed for the establishment of quiet zones to reduce train noise at specific intersections. Tasto described the late-night disruptions caused by train horns, explaining that the noise had increased after a change by the railroad over a year ago. The request aimed to initiate the assessment process for quiet zones, referencing a successful initiative in Eden Prairie funded through state bonding. Tasto urged the council to begin this process, highlighting the distress caused by the noise.

Finally, Robert Norman addressed unresolved issues from a year-old fiber optic installation project that left his neighborhood in disrepair. Norman expressed frustration over the lack of restoration to disrupted grass areas, a concern shared by several residents. The council reiterated their commitment to hold the responsible company accountable for repairs, with the city engineer providing context on the complications from subcontracting and ongoing efforts to address the issue with Lumen, the company responsible for the installation.