The Eagan City Council met on February 2, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Eagan Municipal Center. The meeting included the swearing-in of five new police officers, adoption of a consent agenda, six public hearings (five street improvement projects and one right-of-way vacation), a conditional use permit for outdoor storage, and a significant segment of visitor comments regarding immigration enforcement and community safety. The mayor also delivered remarks on the city's measured response to Operation Metro Surge.
All right. One nation under God. Indivisible. We have a packed house tonight. Um I'm going to bank that that's because we're swearing in five new uh officers to the Egan Police Force tonight. So my guess is that most of the audience is here for that. Um, and then we'll see who's left after we're done with that. But uh so we have a uh fairly substantive agenda, I guess, but uh not too substantive. So um I'll just go to um Ms. Miller and see if there are any changes in the agenda tonight and we'll get on with it. No, Mr. Mayor. Council only changed the agenda. Council Mr. Bach to adopt the agenda as presented. Second uh that is moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion on the agenda? Seeing none, all in favor single saying I oppose nay. That motion carries, and we have an agenda. Um the first item on tonight's agenda under recognitions and presentations is the administration of the oath of office for newly appointed um Egan police officers. There's five of them. I'm not going to venture their names because uh Chief Omari, I'm sure we'll uh not only venture their names, but um uh pronounce them correctly. Um, and uh, I'm gonna welcome Chief Omari for his first uh swearing in ceremony as Chief in Egan. Uh Chief I'm already welcome. Thank you, Mr. Mara. No pressure. Don't you know that so uh good evening, uh Mr. Mayor, members of council, uh Miss Miller, community members, family members, welcome, welcome. Uh, tonight is about five individuals who made a choice that most people will never make to dedicate their lives to protecting strangers, to face what others fear, to carry the sacred trust of this community on their shoulders. These officers chose this profession because they understand what service looks like. They understand what courage means, and the Egan Police Department chose them because this community needs officers with with exactly that understanding. Officers with their skills, their commitment, and their character. But clearly they did not get here alone. Their families and friends are here tonight, the people who have supported them, inspired them, and believed in them from the beginning. These families are their foundation, their strength. And when these officers face hard days, their families and friends will be the ones who remind them why it matters. When they doubt themselves, their families will be the ones who believe when they can't. We will train them, we will support them, we will give them the equipment they need to do their jobs well. But what their families give them that love, support, belief in who they are, that's what makes great officers. It's not the badge, it's not the uniform, it's their families. So tonight we honor them also, because behind every officer who does this job well is a family who made it possible. And so to our new officers, now the Egan Police Department has over 60 years of excellent history. You're joining something rare. A department that doesn't just talk about service and professionalism, but lives it every single day. Look around the room. Your partners, city leaders, community members. They will teach you, they will challenge you, and they will stand beside you. The badge you are about to receive represents something bigger than any one of us. It represents the community's belief that when they call, someone will answer.