This transcript covers two sessions: a City Council Training Workshop followed by a Regular City Council Meeting. Based on the names provided and the context of the dialogue, here is the attributed transcript. *** ### **Part 1: City Council Training Workshop** **[00:00] Unidentified Council Members:** (Casual chatter regarding pictures, website, and travel). **[00:50] Mayor John Monge:** All right, he's here, he's here. Thanks for coming today. **[00:55] Unidentified Council Member:** Part of me wants to grab one from downstairs. **[01:05] Unidentified Council Member:** Can we pick another date, please? Unless you guys want to go to Milwaukee. Road trip! How about Florida Workshop? **[01:15] Brian Frandle (City Manager):** Check test, check test. Green light on that one works. Mine is... hello? **[01:30] Mayor John Monge:** All right, geez. 5:32. Call the workshop to order. Roll call, please. **[01:35] Brian Frandle:** Council member Cole? **Council Member Cole:** Here. **Brian Frandle:** Council member Schweer? **Council Member Schweer:** Here. **Brian Frandle:** Council member Wong? **Council Member Wong:** Here. **Brian Frandle:** Council member Nordby? **Council Member Nordby:** Here. **Brian Frandle:** Mayor Monge? **Mayor Monge:** Here. Move to adopt the agenda. **[01:45] Council Member Nordby:** Motion. **[01:46] Council Member Schweer:** Second. **[01:48] Mayor John Monge:** Questions? All in favor say aye. (All: Aye). Opposed, nay. Adopted. Topics: City Council training. That’s going to be with... yes, there you go. **[02:00] Soren Mattick (City Attorney):** Mr. Mayor, members of the Council. I have about anywhere from half an hour to an hour. Do you want me up there just so it's easier to do Q&A? ... First of all, welcome everyone. I have to say I've been doing this for about 25 years and this represents the holistically youngest Council I've ever represented. I think you have collectively about four years worth of experience. Yes, it's newbies. So what I would like to do... I would like to spend the most time on the Open Meeting Law and Data Practice Act. (Soren provides detailed legal training on emails, text messages, and serial meetings). **[07:15] Soren Mattick:** Do you have questions on that initially out of the gate? **[07:45] Soren Mattick:** (Continues training on Special Meetings vs. Emergency Meetings and Closed Sessions). **[10:40] Soren Mattick:** That is the Open Meeting Law. I've kind of buzzed through that. Okay? No pushback? All right. (Soren explains Data Practices and Public Records). **[13:40] Council Member Jason Nordby:** Can you go back to the texting? What does that open up for the Data Act? **[14:00] Soren Mattick:** A text is the same under the eyes of the law... if it's City-related, that’s what will govern it. **[14:15] Council Member (likely Cole or Wong):** Just for clarity, your request is only on a specific topic, correct? **[14:20] Soren Mattick:** Well, it depends... (Explains the scope of data requests and the importance of using City email). **[16:45] Soren Mattick:** Conflicts of interest. This doesn’t come up a lot, but it is important. (Explains recusal and self-dealing). **[17:50] Council Member (Unidentified):** Let me just ask a question because I do phone work for a lot of businesses... would that be anything? **[18:00] Soren Mattick:** No, because you aren't getting money yourself. (Explains the "appearance of conflict" vs. legal conflict). **[19:15] Council Member Cassidy Schweer:** Can you expand upon that a little bit? Full disclosure... my significant other works at the American Legion. So would any City business that relates to all bars...? **[19:30] Soren Mattick:** No. I'll give you an example... for your situation, I would not view that to be a conflict of interest. (Explains abstention rules). **[21:15] Soren Mattick:** Gift law. (Explains rules regarding contractors, meals, and sports tickets). **[22:50] Council Member (Unidentified):** (Asks about pooling money for gifts). **[23:00] Soren Mattick:** I would rather see that come from the Council as a whole instead of individual members. **[23:25] Soren Mattick:** Role of the City Manager. You are a Plan B city. Brian answers to you, but the department heads answer to Brian. It is inappropriate for Council members to try and overly steer Brian on personnel matters. (Explains spending authorities and hierarchy). **[26:30] Council Member Tim Cole:** As an example, say Brian's department heads are having an issue with Brian and are afraid of retaliation. Can the department heads come to Council? **[26:45] Soren Mattick:** I believe the Personnel Policy says send your concerns to me (City Attorney)... we need to honor the hierarchy on these items. (Explains Roberts Rules of Order). **[31:30] Soren Mattick:** Any other questions? **[31:35] Council Member (Unidentified):** If any of us are fundraising for anything... organizations etc... what do you advise? **[32:00] Soren Mattick:** The state auditor says cities are not allowed to solicit donations... I would encourage you to leave that aspect of your life out of the solicitation. **[33:10] Mayor John Monge:** Any other business that we know? All right, then I'll move to adjourn. 6:20. All those in favor say aye. (All: Aye). *** ### **Part 2: Regular City Council Meeting** **[33:45] Mayor John Monge:** Pledge of Allegiance. (All recite Pledge). Could you please do roll call? **[34:10] Brian Frandle:** Council member Cole? **Council Member Cole:** Here. **Brian Frandle:** Council member Schweer? **Council Member Schweer:** Here. **Brian Frandle:** Council member Wong? **Council Member Wong:** Here. **Brian Frandle:** Council member Norby? **Council Member Norby:** Here. **Brian Frandle:** Mayor Monge? **Mayor Monge:** Here. **[34:25] Mayor John Monge:** Can I get a motion to adopt the agenda? **Council Member Schweer:** I move. **Council Member Cole:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All in favor? (All: Aye). Approved. Next thing on our list is presentation to Mayor Furlong. **[34:45] Mayor John Monge:** (Reads Proclamation honoring Terry Furlong). ... I do hereby declare Terry Furlong as an extraordinary leader of North St. Paul. **[36:30] Terry Furlong (Former Mayor):** Well, I just want to say thank you to Council and staff. It’s been a pleasure... you guys are going to do great. I admire you up there. John, I think you're going to do a fabulous job. **[37:55] Mayor John Monge:** Next part is the Consent Agenda. Can I get a motion to accept the Consent Agenda? **[38:15] Brian Frandle:** (Reads items A through I of the Consent Agenda). **[38:50] Mayor John Monge:** Anybody like to pull anything? **Council Member Cole:** So moved. **Council Member Wong:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor? (All: Aye). **[39:15] Mayor John Monge:** Open to the public. 6:38. David Nelson, please come up. **[39:35] David Nelson (Resident):** (Discusses crosswalk clearing at Fifth and pedestrian safety signs near the Post Office). It’s something that needs to be looked at in your budget. **[43:00] Mayor John Monge:** We are looking into moving forward with it. Yes. John Schmall. **[43:20] John Schmall (Resident):** (Discusses issues with email notifications and the Planning Commission meeting changes). I can’t believe it. **[45:15] Mayor John Monge:** We’ll check and see where they go. Thank you. Public comments closed. Business action items. **[45:30] Brian Frandle:** First up is the 2023 North St. Paul History Cruisers car show. **[45:45] Bob (History Cruisers Representative):** If we can get your stamp of approval, we’ll move forward. **[46:25] Mayor John Monge:** Motion to approve the agreement. **Council Member Nordby:** Moved. **Council Member Wong:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All in favor? (All: Aye). **[47:15] Brian Frandle:** Item B: Ordinance to reduce the membership of the Park and Recreation Commission from nine to seven members. **[47:45] Council Member Wong:** I move. **Council Member Schweer:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor? (All: Aye). **[48:15] Mayor John Monge:** Item C: Resolution authorizing a cost share for Open Window Productions marketing video. **Council Member Nordby:** So moved. **Council Member Cole:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All in favor? (All: Aye). **[48:40] Brian Frandle:** Item D: Resolution for a DEED grant for the Lilly building. **[49:05] Jennifer Force (SEH Engineer):** I'm Jennifer Force with SEH. The project is applying for a Redevelopment Grant through DEED... it will pay for geotechnical costs, public infrastructure, and demolition. **[50:10] Council Member Lisa Wong:** I have a question regarding the determination for the residential units... where did that number come from? **[50:20] Jennifer Force:** That would be a better question for Jim or the development team. **[50:35] Mayor John Monge:** Motion? **Council Member Cole:** I move. **Council Member Schweer:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor? (All: Aye). **[50:50] Brian Frandle:** Item E: Resolution for the Hausen Park Court reconstruction. **[51:15] Morgan Dawley (City Engineer):** The plans as drawn do conform to the park commission recommendations... it brings it into ADA compliance. **[52:15] Council Member Nordby:** So moved. **Council Member Cole:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor? (All: Aye). **[53:00] Brian Frandle:** Item F: TIF note relating to Anchor View LLC. **[53:20] Michaela (Baker Tilly):** Good evening Mayor, members of the Council... the developer has met all terms within the contract, allowing the City to proceed with executing the certificate of completion. **[54:45] Brian Frandle:** Item G: Ordinance creating sidewalk encroachment in the municipal code. **[55:00] Brandy Howe (Community Development Director):** We modified the ordinance based on your last work session... May 1st to November 15th. We added provisions for locking furnishings and alcohol demarcation. **[56:40] Council Member Tim Cole:** As to our Police Chief, are you happy and comfortable with the way this is written? **[56:45] Phil Baebenroth (Police Chief):** I am. I’ve been in the loop and I don't have any concerns. **[58:15] Mayor John Monge:** Motion to approve? **Council Member Nordby:** Motion. **Council Member Wong:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All in favor? (All: Aye). **[58:40] Brian Frandle:** Item H: Resolution of support for Corridors of Commerce funding for Highway 36 and 120. **[59:00] Morgan Dawley:** This is a support request by Washington County for a grade-separated interchange. It's the last at-grade signalized intersection on 36 inside the 694 loop. **[1:05:00] Mayor John Monge:** Looking for a motion. **Council Member Wong:** So moved. **Council Member Nordby:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All in favor? (All: Aye). **[1:05:40] Brian Frandle:** Item I: Police employee suspense hour overages for 2022. **[1:05:55] Phil Baebenroth:** (Presents detailed breakdown of the 12-hour shift schedule and how suspense hours work due to staffing shortages). The total cost equates to $20,148. **[1:11:00] Council Member Tim Cole:** How do you plan to alleviate this going through this upcoming year? **[1:11:10] Phil Baebenroth:** It all comes down to having the full team. If we can get staffing, which is a problem affecting every agency, then this can be achieved. **[1:15:30] Council Member Tim Cole:** Council has supported you with an additional $600,000 in budget spending... my ask is that we figure out a way in 2023 to bring those numbers back down within budget. **[1:16:15] Phil Baebenroth:** Completely understandable. **[1:18:15] Mayor John Monge:** Motion to approve? **Council Member Schweer:** Motion. **Council Member Cole:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor? (All: Aye). **[1:18:40] Brian Frandle:** Item J: McKnight Road water main improvements. **[1:19:00] Morgan Dawley:** (Explains the pipe bursting project on McKnight Road). Staff is recommending the base bid to Bituminous Roadways in the amount of $1,010,808. **[1:24:30] Council Member Wong:** So moved. **Council Member Cole:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All in favor? (All: Aye). **[1:25:00] Brian Frandle:** Next up: Silver Lake aerator agreement. **[1:25:15] Morgan Dawley:** Ramsey County is transitioning ownership of the aerator... North St. Paul will receive a lump sum of $25,000 from the County and Maplewood to take over maintenance. **[1:31:00] Ron Ritchie (Public Works Director):** We met with Ramsey County... we just have to monitor it daily, put up signs, and do DNR permitting. We can handle it. **[1:33:00] Council Member Wong:** So moved. **Council Member Cole:** Second. **Mayor John Monge:** All in favor? (All: Aye). **[1:33:45] Brian Frandle:** Reports from City Manager and Departments. (Discusses supply chain issues with transformers and trucks). **[1:37:30] Phil Baebenroth:** (Gives an extensive Police Department annual report, including the award ceremony recap and 2022 stats). Zero use of force complaints in 2022... we are focused on our culture and mental health. **[1:51:30] Council Member Lisa Wong:** Thank you for your service. **[1:51:50] Council Member Cassidy Schweer:** I want to thank you for making mental health a priority. **[1:53:00] Mayor John Monge:** Reports from Council members. **[1:53:15] Council Member Lisa Wong:** (Updates on the Arts and Culture Commission and the "Snowy" project). **[1:54:30] Council Member Cassidy Schweer:** (Updates on the Park and Rec Commission and retirements). **[1:56:45] Council Member Jason Nordby:** (Updates on the EDA and upcoming interviews). **[1:57:30] Mayor John Monge:** I want to thank everybody that put the packet together... adjourned at 8:55. Thank you everyone.