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Mounds View City Council January 13, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 5 2 Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobsen thanked the Council for their time. He appreciated how 3 the City Council was looking to recognize and honor the significant events, tragedies and many 4 heroes in the community. He thanked the Spano's for welcoming him back into their home and 5 hearts. He explained Mr. Spano and the Spano family was a real tribute to the community. He 6 commended the Spano family for moving on and for their resiliency. He appreciated the Spano's 7 kind words for first responders and discussed how it was his honor and calling to serve this 8 community. He stated he would never forget the day he spent with Bev on the day of her passing. 9 He explained he appreciated reconnecting with the Spano family noting out of bad things, there 10 are often good things that come. He discussed how the Office of Pipeline Safety came out of the 11 Mounds View tragedy and noted he now oversees this office. 12 13 Council Member Gunn stated she has served as a Councilmember for a lot of years. She discussed 14 the surveys that have been completed in the community over the years and one thing people really 15 like about Mounds View is the small town feel. She explained the Council and staff have had 16 discussions about what small towns have that Mounds View doesn't have. She reported a veteran's 17 memorial was at the top of this list. She commented on how discussions continued and it was 18 determined the City's first responders should also be honored, along with those who were lost to 19 the three tragedies in the community. She thanked former Council Member Bill Bergeron for his 20 work to bring about the Tribute Park. She introduced the members of the Tribute Park Committee 21 to the City Council and thanked them for all of their hard work in planning for the park. She 22 discussed how the committee has been working to fundraise for the park with the assistance of a 23 501c3 through the fire department. She urged residents to consider purchasing a paver in memory 24 of a loved one. She was pleased that people passing through the community would be able to see 25 the Tribute Park from Mounds View Boulevard and perhaps these individuals would stop, reflect 26 and remember. 27 28 Council Member Meehlhause reported he had the privilege of representing the Mounds View 29 Lions at this meeting. He explained 2025 represents the 61s' year the Mounds View Lions have 30 served and partnered with the City. He was proud to announce the contribution of $2,500 towards 31 the Tribute Park construction. He noted the club also hopes to donate another $2,500 as the group 32 will be applying for a grant with a charitable foundation that works to impower Minnesota Lions 33 Club by boosting their ability to complete community projects with matching grants. He stated the 34 club will also be purchasing a paver to honor the Lions Club members who have served in the 35 United States military. He noted the Lions will also be purchasing a paver honoring Amanda Lee, 36 who grew up in Mounds View, currently serves in the US Navy and is the first female F-15 fighter 37 pilot. He reported a private individual has made a $1,500 contribution to the club and the club has 38 agreed to donate this generous contribution to the Tribute Park. 39 40 Fire Chief Retka stated it was an honor to be in attendance at this meeting. He explained as the 41 Fire Chief of the SBM Fire Department, he understood that tragedies strike every community. He 42 was very proud with how the City of Mounds View was stepping up and recognizing the tragedies 43 the community has faced. He noted he had the privilege of meeting with the Spano family in 44 Wisconsin and he appreciated how deeply touched Commissioner Jacobsen was. He appreciated 45 going back and reading the stories from the police reports when the pipeline event occurred. He 46 thanked the City for recognizing the first responders who serve this community and stated he