Yeah, um this is a little different than the previous setup.

We're all gonna have to cluster kind of down here.

So go ahead and crowd in on me.

That'll be great.

Would you be willing to hold that?

That would be wonderful.

And I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to um ask if you're good morning everyone.

My name is Elliot Payne.

I'm the president of Minneapolis City Council.

Before we convene our meeting, we have the presentation of an honorary resolution honoring the life and memory of Fletcher Alexander Merkel.

This resolution is being presented by Councilmember Paul Masano and Whiting.

Good morning, everybody.

We're back here in this new chamber and we haven't done this yet, this cycle, this term for for quite some time actually.

But it's really important that we we want to get together and honor Fletcher Merkel.

And we are so grateful to have his family here, to have people from Annunciation here with us today, to have the Minneapolis police department here with us.

Healing is a journey, and yet every first with a loss like this, the sting will never go away.

Um and I'm just gonna say that out loud because I think that that is what his family is feeling.

Um but this is a resolution honoring the life and memory of Fletcher Alexander Merkel.

And if it's all right with you, I'll plan to read it and then um I'll hand it off to Principal De Boer to say a few words.

All right.

Whereas Fletcher Alexander Merkel was born on January 7th, 2017, embraced the world with his inquisitive nature, and brought joy to everyone he met.

And whereas he was a loyal friend, a funny companion, a beloved brother to Milo, Hazel, and Rory, and treasured son to Jesse and Molly.

And whereas Fletcher was a little boy through and through, who loved sports, the outdoors, adventure, making things of all varieties and trying anything new, and whereas there was no sport that Fletcher did not like and wasn't excited to play, try, celebrate, or learn more about.

And whereas he loved collecting things and building something new, watching things grow, tenderly examining nature, and was passionate about the Green Bay Packers.

And whereas Fletcher thoroughly explored and enjoyed nearby Grass Lake to the point where he had a favorite tree in his own fishing hole where he spent many happy hours with his dad.

And whereas at Grass Lake, Fletcher chased butterflies, captured frogs, and successfully caught a fish, even though everyone told him there weren't any fish in Grass Lake.

And whereas his bright light was extinguished on August 27th, 2025 in the mass shooting at Annunciation School.

And whereas the city of Minneapolis is forever changed because of Fletcher, and he remains a guiding light to us in how we approach our own lives and maintain a healthy passion for exploring.

And whereas Fletcher's youthful energy and zest for life will live on through the new Merkel family puppy Xander, named in his honor and memory.

And whereas Fletcher's family has turned his tragic death into a force for good through advocacy and endowment in his name, celebrating his life with friends, family, and community, and living life the way Fletcher did.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and city council do hereby honor and celebrate Fletcher Alexander Merkel, whose spirit, creativity, and love continue to impact everyone who knew him and many who never had the chance.

Be it further resolved that the mayor and city council hereby extend our deepest condolences to Fletcher's family, friends, neighbors, and school community who continue to love him dearly and hold up his memory now and always.

Thank you.

I think the best person to to say a few words would be Principal Debor, the principal of Annunciation School.

Thank you.

Uh it's an honor to be standing here with all of you, although none of us want to be standing here today.

Um Molly and Jesse, thank you for your witness of love and for bringing Fletcher into our world and our lives.

Um you brought light into the world and Fletcher Fletcher's light will never go out.

Um so at the end, I'm just gonna tell you right now we're gonna sing this little light of mine uh together.

But um Cornell West said justice is what love looks like in public, and uh, you know, that means different things standing in this room than it does at recess, but you know, Fletcher he was the glue of of the third grade boys.

It's a class of 30 girls and then uh 10 boys, and so Fletcher, he was the referee, you know.

If anybody's refed before, it's not an easy profession, but but Fletcher was the one who who could get everybody on the same page with the rules of the game.

He could take a conflict and and bring light and bring peace and calm everybody down, and so uh while we we miss every day his physical presence, um, we know that his light is always shining upon us.

Um, every time we we fish, every time we we think of the things Fletcher loved the the buffalo, it just we know he's with us, and so it's hard every day.

Um, but Fletcher was a light in his time on Earth, and we are called to continue to be that light.

And so as we um navigate this difficult road together, the next time you're doing some physical activity, um, mess your hair up a little bit, let it fly in the wind and uh and just think about Fletcher the next time you're fishing, the next time you you see a piece of nature you haven't noticed in a while.

No, that's that's Fletcher um pointing out that uh that there's always light.

Um, and so uh with that reminder, um, it's good to sing.

You heal when you sing.

So one verse of this little light of mine.

One, two, ready, sing.

This little light of mine.

I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

Let me hear you.

This little light of mine.

I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Amen.

I'm Sarah Slack.