Minutes - Council - 05/12/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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the Council to consider the message sent to future generations, particularly young women, about inclusion and participation in public life. She urged the Council to support symbols that reflect the full community and promote equal dignity and representation for all residents. Mayor Heineman noted that former Councilmember Matt Woestehoff submitted written comments to the Council regarding the flag discussion. He explained that Woestehoff provided a lengthy statement outlining his views and suggested that interested residents review the comments on Woestehoff’s blog rather than having the full statement read aloud during the meeting. Mr. Nick Steblay, 15460 Xkimo Street NW, addressed the Ramsey City Council, expressing legal and financial concerns regarding proposed Resolutions 26-111 and 26- 108 involving investigations and potential censure actions related to Governor Tim Walz. He argued that the City Charter limits the Council’s authority to municipal affairs and contended that pursuing state-level political matters falls outside the city’s legal scope. He also questioned whether the City had standing to pursue legal action connected to the Feeding Our Future fraud case. He raised concerns about the use of City Staff time, legal expenses, and budget allocations for the effort. He encouraged the Council to focus on local services and allow state agencies and the Legislature to handle statewide fraud investigations. Mr. Duane Skoglund, 1100 70th Lane NW, addressed the Ramsey City Council regarding the Minnesota state flag discussion. He criticized the adoption of the current state flag, arguing that it did not reflect the values of many residents in the area. He expressed support for councilmembers who favored removing the current flag and replacing it with the former design. During his comments, he also referenced prior concerns he has raised about meeting audio quality and indicated he has lived in the Anoka County area his entire life. Ms. Teri Trail, 6025 Green Valley Road, addressed the Ramsey City Council regarding the Minnesota state flag discussion. She spoke about Minnesota’s history, including Native American heritage, European settlement, and the development of industries tied to the State’s natural resources. She explained that she was born and raised in northern Minnesota and identified herself as having Dakota ancestry. She criticized the process used to adopt the new state flag, arguing that the decision was made by a small appointed group rather than through a statewide public vote. She also described several elements of the former Minnesota flag that she believed represented the State’s history and identity, including agricultural imagery, Native American symbolism, and other historic references. Ms. Christina Harper, 14180 Xenon Street NW, addressed the Ramsey City Council regarding the Minnesota state flag discussion. She argued that returning to the former state flag would be a mistake because the design had remained controversial and divisive for decades, even after prior modifications. She explained that the 2023 redesign process involved a 13-member commission, public input, and more than 2,000 submissions from Minnesotans. She indicated the process was publicly discussed and not rushed. She also noted that the former flag represented difficult aspects of Minnesota’s history and argued City Council / May 12, 2026 Page 4 of 15