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I I I Council Meeting Minutes February 11, 1997 Page 2 Special Order of Business. continued Tuma explained that funding for the costume is unknown, but the Rotary and the Eagles Clubs have received donation requests. If those fail, the Park Department will continue to look for funding sources. Motion by Benke, seconded by Larson, to COMMEND BRIANNA DORAN, NIKKI STENNES, GRACE GALATOWITSCH OF ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL; AND KATY LEE AND SEAN STOKER OF PIKE LAKE SCHOOL FOR THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND ARTISTIC TALENTS AND TO DESIGNATE "FREDDY FOX" AS THE OFFICIAL MASCOT OF THE NEW BRIGHTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. 5 Ayes ~ 0 Nayes, Motion Carried. Mayor Benke presented the State of the City Address Good evening! As I prepared for tonight's State of the City presentation, I spent some time thinking back to 1977. That was the year that I first ran for election to the New Brighton City Council after several years of community involvement with the Jaycees. I believe that election marked a significant point in our community history. Most current residents probably were not here at the time so perhaps we should recall the circumstances for historic perspective. In 1977, Mayor Gayle Bromander did not seek reelection after serving eight years in office. Council members Jim Senden and Gene Fisher ran for his seat and when Jim won, the new City Council was asked to appoint someone to the remaining two years of his council term. Having been a candidate for election to the Council seats won by Jeanette Janacek and Roger Blomquist, I sought appointment to the open seat. Amid what passed for controversy in those days, I was appointed and began the first of my subsequent 19+ years in office. The new Council, led by Jim, had three "rookies" and Fritz Werdouchegg, who died too soon after leaving office a few years later. A few months into our first year, a change was made in the City Manager's office. Four years later, Jim lost his bid for reelection, and, four years after that I challenged Gregg Harcus and was elected to serve as your Mayor. Suffice it to say, those early years were not always easy. They marked, in retrospect, a transition from days of rapid change in the City's leadership to a current period of stability and measured progress. Had you told me in 1978 or even in 1986 that I would be here tonight for the twelfth time making a State of the City address, I would probably not have believed you. But, here we are, and I am honored and humbled by the difference serving you has made in my life. Without question, the difference has been positive and I would not change it if I could. My purpose in reviewing a brief bit of our mutual history is to set the stage for several points I believe are important for our future. Special Order of Business Park and Rec Mascot Report 97-022 State of the City Address