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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 28, 2026 Page 2 2 Mayor Webster welcomed Police Chief Spiess to the podium to present on Night to Unite. 3 4 Police Chief Spiess thanked the Council and the community for the opportunity to inform them 5 of Night to Unite, which will be on August 4, 2026. He stated that its purpose is to bring 6 neighborhoods together, form neighborhood watches, and improve the bond between 7 neighborhoods and the Public Safety departments. He noted that this will be an opportunity for 8 education on the public safety offerings that the City has, and a chance for residents to get to 9 know their public safety workers and elected officials. Police Chief Spiess informed the Council 10 that the St. Anthony Police Department has participated in Night to Unite and supported 11 neighborhood block parties for over 15 years. Before that, they participated in National Night 12 Out, which is on the same night. He stated that last year they supported 32 registered block 13 parties, and this year they currently have 34 registered, but there are still requests being received. 14 Police Chief Spiess highlighted that in addition to the 34 parties in St. Anthony, there are five 15 registered gatherings in Lauderdale, and 12 in Falcon Heights. He stated that today was the 16 deadline for parties to register to ensure a visit from City Staff members and receive an ice cream 17 voucher. He thanked Cub Foods for providing each registered party with a pail of vanilla ice 18 cream. Police Chief Spiess thanked City Staff for making the event possible and extended 19 significant thanks to community members for taking time out of their nights to make this event 20 possible and for their work to make the community safer. 21 22 Mayor Webster thanked Police Chief Spiess for his presentation. She noted that the St. Anthony 23 Police and Fire Departments will be attending 53 parties this year. She thanked Police Chief 24 Spiess for their intentionality in attending all the parties in the community. 25 26 B. Night to Unite Proclamation. 27 28 The Night to Unite Proclamation, dated July 28, 2026, was read into the record. 29 30 C. VillageFest Presentation, 31 32 VillageFest Committee Member Hunter provided a presentation on the events at VillageFest this 33 year. She noted that VillageFest is always the first weekend of August, and the entire park and 34 most of the facilities surrounding it are utilized. VillageFest Committee Member Hunter thanked 35 the Council and Staff for allowing the use of City facilities for VillageFest. She informed the 36 Council that the previous year's VillageFest had a great turnout. This year, they are seeking to 37 put the bulk of the added profits into improving the offerings of VillageFest, such as increasing 38 the parade budget. She stated that karaoke was incredibly popular and will be brought back this 39 year. She highlighted that there will be additional food trucks and beverage stations on Friday. 40 VillageFest Committee Member Hunter informed the Council that Saturday will have many of 41 the same offerings as prior years, but that the setup of the lot may be a bit different. She invited 42 VillageFest Vendor Fair Coordinator Mayne to the podium to expand on her review. 43 44 VillageFest Vendor Fair Coordinator Mayne explained that there will be a more efficient 45 registration process for vendors at VillageFest this year. He stated that there will be 47 vendors 46 in the Vendor Fair this year, and 69 participants in the parade. He highlighted that the silent