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Mounds View City Council January 13, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 3 Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson stated in 2022 the City Council requested staff look into installing a veterans memorial park. He indicated this concept grew to include honoring first responders, military veterans and those residents that lost their lives in local tragedies. He commented on the community input that has been gathered by the Tribute Park Committee. He reviewed the layout of the proposed Tribute Park adjacent to City Hall. He noted there were a number of speakers that would be addressing the City Council regarding the proposed park. Former Mayor Carol Mueller read prepared remarks regarding the Tribute Park. She noted she was a newlywed when she moved to Mounds View in 1979. She commented on the love, generosity and pride this community bestowed when building the playground structure at the Pinewood Elementary School. She appreciated how Mounds View had pulled together to support one another through this project, but she understood this community had done the same thing when two different tornadoes cut a deadly path through this community in 1965. She stated on July 8, 1986 the City was awoken by a loud explosion and huge fire on Long Lake Road. She noted over 200 people had to be evacuated from this event. Former Mayor Mueller noted on August 1, 2007, she was working a shift at the local liquor store when she learned the I-35W Bridge had collapsed. She discussed how devastating this event was for the community and the 111 vehicles that dropped 115 feet down to the river. She explained first responders and law enforcement responded within minutes to rescue and render aid. She reported local coach Patrick “Homer” Holmes was lost in this tragedy. She reported since 2008, an annual coach of the year was recognized in Homer’s memory. She stated Paul Egstad was a kind, reserved man who loved to go fishing. She indicated Paul was also lost during this tragic event when his semi-truck jack knifed in order to stop from going off the edge of the bridge, which prevented a school bus from going around him and also going off the bridge. She discussed how the Egstad family had donated a piece of the bridge to the City in Paul’s honor. She described how Kim, the bus driver was seriously injured but survived the bridge collapse, along with the 50 children on board. She explained Jeremy Hernandez, a 20 year old worker at the daycare, managed to get the rear door open and he carried the injured children and escorted all of the other children out of the bus to safety. She commented further on the number of people that were injured and lost that day. She reported on August 1, 2011, the City of Minneapolis dedicated an I-35W Bridge remembrance garden on West River Road for the 13 victims and 171 survivors of the bridge collapse. She read somewhere the garden project cost $900,000. Former Mayor Mueller explained during her last term as Mayor she asked the City Council to find dollars within the budget to honor the people who were lost during these three disasters. She stated after much discussion, the Council agreed to support such a project, if a veterans memorial were included. She thanked Council Member Bill Bergeron for shifting the concept to a Tribute Park, in order to honor the living as well. After further discussion the Council supported paying tribute to first responders, which included the Mounds View Police Department, SBM Fire and Allina Ambulance. She reported in December of 2022, she volunteered to serve on the Tribute Park Committee. She discussed how the park would now honor those lost to local tragedies, first responders and those who have served in the military. She indicated the Tribute Park Committee has worked really hard on this project for the past two years. She discussed how the major expenses would be for basic construction, lighting, and the engraved monuments. She commented on how