Woodbury council approves amended SRO agreement with School District 833 after debate over historical language

The Woodbury City Council adopted an amended agreement on April 16 with South Washington County School District 833 to provide school resource officer (SRO) services, resolving a months-long negotiation over language in the contract's preamble.

Council discussion centered on a WHEREAS clause that described earlier council actions and city correspondence with the district. Council Member Wilson said he had wanted to see a copy of the 2023 letter and objected to removing historical language; other council members and the city attorney said the school district had requested changes and that removing the disputed WHEREAS clause would not change the functional obligations in the SRO contract.

City Attorney and staff explained the clause was removed by mutual agreement to avoid delaying the operative agreement. Councilor debate at the meeting showed the clause had been the subject of drafting exchanges between the city and the district; staff said an email conveying the council’s prior direction had been sent to the district and acknowledged.

The vote on the amended agreement, Resolution 25-91, was recorded as: Council Member Wilson — No; Council Member Santini — Aye; Council Member Stafford — Aye; Mayor Burt — Aye. The resolution passed.

What the agreement does: staff described it as a clarified and updated contract that sets out SRO duties, funding and expectations; the text approved at the meeting does not include the contested historical WHEREAS clause. City staff and school-district representatives had negotiated operational language and both parties agreed to remove the disputed preamble language so the contract could move forward.

Taper: City staff and councilors said the item resolves a long-running issue and allows SRO services to continue under an updated legal framework.