Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the transcript, here is the attributed version of the townhall meeting. **Note on Names:** The provided context list mentions Michele Hanson as Mayor; however, the transcript captures a transition where **Susan Synors** (St. Norris) is sworn in as the new Mayor, and **Michele Hanson** is seated as a Councilmember. Additionally, the Council frequently addresses the City Administrator as "Adam," though your list identifies him as **Matt Kline**. I have used the names from your list while noting the "Adam" reference. *** [0:01] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [0:56] **[Silence/Background Noise]** [1:09] [Music] [1:57] [Music] [2:04] [Music] [2:15] [Music] [3:05] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [3:44] **[Silence/Background Noise]** [3:54] [Music] [4:43] [Music] [4:49] [Music] [5:00] [Music] [5:36] [Music] [5:50] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [6:32] **[Silence/Background Noise]** [6:39] [Music] [7:28] [Music] [7:34] [Music] [7:46] [Music] [8:35] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [9:20] **Mayor Susan Synors:** So, 2021 Bayport City Council meeting. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag... with liberty and justice. Thank you. Adam, Mary, is the meeting being recorded? Usually, it says "REC" up on the top and I just don't see it. Jordan, are we—I'm not recording it locally. Okay. Just want to make sure. Gotcha. Jordan had given me the green light so, okay. Well, okay. So that takes us to roll call. [10:45] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Actually, Madam Mayor, first, okay, so we have an official fifth council member. So with that, please repeat after me. Raise your right hand. Um, first of all, gotcha. So we're gonna have to do it one at a time to make it—sorry about that. "I, Susan St. Norris..." [11:05] **Mayor Susan Synors:** I, Susan St. Norris... [11:08] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...solemnly swear... [11:10] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...do solemnly swear... [11:12] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...that I will support the Constitution... [11:14] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...that I will support the Constitution... [11:16] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...of the United States... [11:18] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...of the United States... [11:20] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...and of the State of Minnesota... [11:22] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...and of the State of Minnesota... [11:24] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...faithfully discharge the duties... [11:26] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...faithfully discharge the duties... [11:28] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...of the office of Mayor... [11:30] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...of the office of Mayor... [11:32] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...of the City of Bayport... [11:34] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...of the City of Bayport... [11:36] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...the County of Washington... [11:38] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...the County of Washington... [11:40] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...and State of Minnesota... [11:42] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...and State of Minnesota... [11:44] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...to the best of my judgment and ability... [11:46] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...to the best of my judgment and ability... [11:48] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...so help me God. [11:50] **Mayor Susan Synors:** ...so help me God. [11:52] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Congratulations, Madam Mayor. 2021. Thank you. And that will take us to swearing-in of the next member, who is Connie Carlson. So Connie, if you'd raise your right hand and repeat after me. I gotta get in the picture. "I, Connie Carlson..." [12:15] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** I, Connie Carlson... [12:17] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...do solemnly swear... [12:19] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** ...do solemnly swear... [12:21] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...that I will support the Constitution of the United States... [12:24] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** ...that I will support the Constitution of the United States... [12:27] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...and of the State of Minnesota... [12:30] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** ...and of the State of Minnesota... [12:33] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...and faithfully discharge the duties... [12:36] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** ...and faithfully discharge the duties... [12:38] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...of the office of Councilmember of the City of Bayport... [12:41] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** ...of the office of Councilmember of the City of Bayport... [12:44] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...in the County of Washington... [12:47] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** ...in the County of Washington... [12:49] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...State of Minnesota... [12:51] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** ...State of Minnesota... [12:53] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...to the best of my judgment and ability... [12:55] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** ...to the best of my judgment and ability... [12:58] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...so help me God. [13:01] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** ...so help me God. [13:03] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Congratulations. And Ethan, if you would please raise your right hand and repeat after me. "I, Ethan Gilmore..." [13:17] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** I, Ethan Gilmore... [13:20] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...do solemnly swear... [13:22] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** ...do solemnly swear... [13:24] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...that I will support the Constitution of the United States... [13:27] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** ...that I will support the Constitution of the United States... [13:30] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...and of the State of Minnesota... [13:33] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** ...and of the State of Minnesota... [13:35] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...and faithfully discharge the duties... [13:38] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** ...and faithfully discharge my duties... [13:40] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...of the office of Councilmember of the City of Bayport... [13:43] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** ...of the office of Councilmember of the City of Bayport... [13:46] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...in the County of Washington... [13:49] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** ...in the County of Washington... [13:51] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...and State of Minnesota... [13:54] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** ...and the State of Minnesota... [13:57] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...to the best of my judgment and ability... [13:59] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** ...to the best of my judgment and ability... [14:01] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** ...so help me God. [14:03] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** ...so help me God. [14:05] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Congratulations. Thank you. Excellent. So now, Adam, please call our official roll. [14:15] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Madam Mayor. Mayor Synors? [14:17] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Here. [14:19] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Councilmember Carlson? [14:21] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** Here. [14:24] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Councilmember Hanson? [14:26] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** Here. [14:28] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Councilmember Dahl? [14:30] **Councilmember John Dahl:** Here. [14:32] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** And Councilmember Gilmore? [14:34] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** Here. [14:36] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** All present. [14:38] **Mayor Susan Synors:** That takes us to the approval of tonight's agenda. Does anyone have any additions or questions, Adam? [14:47] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Thank you, Madam Mayor. We did receive tonight on the regular agenda the city appointments for 2021. One of those positions is the resident liaison for the Cable Commission. Just this afternoon at about four o'clock, we received an inquiry and interest in that position. So that was something that I was going to recommend to the Council to add. The individual is Andrew Cading. I don't know if Councilmember Hanson, who had been the chair, was familiar with the individual. I don't know if the Council is amenable to that. He's the technology director at Periscope and an Inspiration resident. So if the Council is amenable to adding that, that would be staff's recommendation. [16:50] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Do we need to make a motion to that effect? [16:52] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** That would be part of the amending the agenda at this point. [17:01] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** I'll make a motion that we add that rep for the Cable Commission to our agenda tonight. [17:05] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Thank you, Michele. Is there a second? [17:07] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** I'll second it. [17:09] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Thank you, Connie. Adam, is there any other changes or additions? [17:15] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** No, that was it. [17:18] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Okay, if not, then would someone like to—Adam, do we need to make a motion again for the full agenda? [17:24] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** I was going to take that as the adoption. Roll call. Councilmember Carlson? [17:35] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** Aye. [17:37] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Councilmember Hanson? [17:39] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** Aye. [17:41] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Councilmember Dahl? [17:43] **Councilmember John Dahl:** Aye. [17:45] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Councilmember Gilmore? [17:47] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** Aye. [17:49] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Mayor Synors? [17:51] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Aye. Okay, that takes us to our proclamations, commendations, petitions, and announcements. The only item we have is our December Recycling Award recipient, Jim Kinberg at 332 4th Street North. Jim will be awarded for his efforts with funding made possible by a grant from Washington County. Thank you, Mr. Kinberg. With that, we move to Open Forum. [Pause] I'm not receiving any indication of speakers. That takes us to our Consent Agenda. Any discussion on items one through six? If not, would someone like to make a motion? [20:30] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** I'll make a motion approving the consent agenda items one through six. [20:35] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Thank you, Connie. Is there a second? [20:37] **Councilmember John Dahl:** I'll second it. [20:39] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Thank you, John. Adam, roll call please. [20:41] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Councilmember Carlson? Aye. Councilmember Dahl? Aye. Councilmember Hanson? Aye. Councilmember Gilmore? Aye. Mayor Synors? Aye. [21:05] **Mayor Susan Synors:** We do not have a public hearing, so that takes us to Unfinished Business: Discuss a traffic analysis report prepared by SEH. Adam and John? [21:14] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Thank you, Madam Mayor. We just had a workshop on addressing traffic issues on residential streets. One inquiry was to potentially reduce the speed limit from 30 to either 20 or 25. SEH did a cursory study. State statute allows reducing to 25 without a study, but to go to 20, we need a full traffic study. I’ll turn it over to John Perotti, City Engineer. [23:36] **John Perotti (City Engineer):** Thank you, Adam. Thank you, Mayor. Chad Jorgensen from SEH is here as well. If the Council wants to move forward, we would need direction to prepare a scope and fee estimate for the speed study. We could bring that back to your February meeting. We also discussed intersection signage. If there are specific intersections you want us to look at, you can direct us now or in the future. Mayor, would you like Chad to go through the slideshow for the public? [25:54] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Thoughts from the Council? Connie was not present. Chad, maybe just a quick look at when stop and yield signs are recommended and which cities are excluded from our control? [27:27] **Chad Jorgensen (SEH):** [Presents slides regarding two-way stop control, all-way stop control, basket weaving, the 2019 legislation regarding speed limits, and speed humps/bumps/tables]. [32:51] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Thank you, Chad. Adam, do you want to summarize the conversation from the workshop? [33:05] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Thank you, Madam Mayor. The Council asked about the study. We can find the money in our engineering budget. The signage would be an additional $5,000 to $8,000. Staff, including the Police Chief, felt strongly about keeping speed limits consistent. Chad, can it be mixed—some at 20, some at 25? [36:35] **Chad Jorgensen (SEH):** It can be mixed, Adam. [37:55] **Mayor Susan Synors:** John [Perotti], you mentioned getting data through a full summer since Highway 95 is completed. Would you recommend waiting until 2022 to implement so we have the best data? [40:24] **John Perotti (City Engineer):** It would be my preference to see a summer’s worth of data before we complete the study. If implementation happens in 2022, we can do the study in 2021 during the peak season. [44:40] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** I agree with letting the citizens know and getting their input. I’m against the bumps and humps. [45:50] **Councilmember John Dahl:** Residents take this seriously. We need to be patient through the process, but I think we have a handle on it. [46:35] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Ethan, welcome to the council. [47:35] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** Thank you. I don't see a reason to wait until after the summer. Everyone I talk to seems to be for it. I would start it now. [48:35] **John Perotti (City Engineer):** If you don't have the money to implement until 2022, what is the hesitation to looking at summer traffic conditions? I can do a better job for you if you give me the summer. [51:30] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** I don't have a problem getting started in May so we get a better read. [51:53] **Councilmember John Dahl:** I don't understand why we wouldn't just do it. Whatever we can do to slow people down, let's do it. [53:50] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** My two cents is that we need to lower it to 20. If we need a study to do that, it's a formality. [57:25] **Councilmember John Dahl:** I will make a motion to direct staff and SEH to work together to get a surface street speed study proposal done for the February 2021 council meeting. [58:40] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** I'll second. [58:42] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** [Roll Call] Councilmember Dahl? Aye. Councilmember Hanson? Aye. Councilmember Gilmore? Aye. Councilmember Carlson? Aye. Mayor Synors? Aye. [59:11] **Mayor Susan Synors:** New Business: Item one is to consider a six-month extension for carryover accrued benefit time for city employees. [59:20] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Thank you, Madam Mayor. Due to the pandemic, several employees were unable to take vacation and would be subject to losing it. I am proposing a six-month extension to use that time. It would not be paid out if they leave employment; it's just extra time to use what they earned. [1:02:40] **Mayor Susan Synors:** I'm not opposed to it, I just want to make sure city hall stays open and we don't have a huge build-up going into 2022. [1:10:30] **Tom (City Attorney):** A suggestion would be you carry over the 2020 hours, however, vacation time used will first be applied against 2021 vacation hours. Then, if that’s used up, they dip into the 2020 carryover. That avoids the issue of build-up into 2022. [1:13:10] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** I’m fine with that. It’s easier to administer. [1:17:00] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** I move that we go with Tom’s plan of having them use 2021 vacation first, then the rollover from 2020. [1:17:35] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** I'll second. [1:17:45] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** [Roll Call] Councilmember Hanson? Aye. Councilmember Gilmore? Aye. Councilmember Carlson? Aye. Councilmember Dahl? Aye. Mayor Synors? Aye. [1:18:20] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Next item: Discuss potential COVID relief efforts for local businesses. Adam? [1:18:37] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** The city doesn't have an EDA, so we couldn't give specific grants from CARES funding. However, we do have the authority to reduce liquor license fees. Staff recommends a 25% refund on the on-sale licenses, consistent with what Washington County did for food licenses. This would cost approximately $2,275 from contingency funds. [1:29:20] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** 25% feels low. I work in a restaurant and we were shut down for five months and at 50% capacity. I’d like to see more support. [1:32:45] **Mike Willenbring (Manger Restaurant Owner):** My restaurant was down 48% on alcohol sales compared to last year. 25% helps, but it won't make restaurants whole. I would ask for more. Also, directional signs for the loop trail would help businesses. [1:43:52] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** I would like to look at giving 75% back. That’s more representative of the impact. [1:44:30] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** The contingency fund has $50,000. It would be a council-directed expenditure. [1:47:35] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** If we lose one business, we lose more tax revenue than the cost of this refund. This is the time to use the rainy day fund. [1:53:20] **Councilmember John Dahl:** 75% for nine months of impact seems reasonable to me. I want to be as forgiving as we can. [2:05:25] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** I move that we refund 75% of the liquor license fees for on-sale and Sunday sales for establishments in Bayport for 2020. [2:05:55] **Councilmember John Dahl:** Second. [2:06:10] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** [Roll Call] Councilmember Hanson? Aye. Councilmember Dahl? Aye. Councilmember Carlson? Aye. Councilmember Gilmore? Aye. Mayor Synors? Aye. [2:11:24] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Consider appointments and designations for 2021. [2:11:30] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** We need to assign liaisons. [The Council discusses various roles]. [2:19:50] **Mayor Susan Synors:** To summarize: John Dahl (Middle St. Croix), Michele Hanson (Planning Commission & Anderson), Connie Carlson (Library Board), Ethan Gilmore (Cable Commission). [2:20:35] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** We also had an application from Andrew Cading for the resident liaison for the Cable Commission. Staff recommends appointing him. [2:22:00] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** So moved. [2:22:05] **Councilmember John Dahl:** Second. [2:22:15] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** [Roll Call] All in favor? [Council responds Aye]. [2:23:00] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Consider 2021 meeting dates. [2:25:20] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Let's move the September meeting to the 13th to avoid the holiday weekend. [2:26:40] **Councilmember Connie Carlson:** I'll make the motion. [2:26:50] **Councilmember John Dahl:** Second. [Roll Call - Motion Passes]. [2:27:09] **Mayor Susan Synors:** Liaison reports? [Connie Carlson notes the Library Board appointment]. [2:28:45] **Gabe Kinney (Fire Chief):** Call volume was down for December. Year-to-date was 946 compared to 1,254 in 2019. Members have started vaccinations at the courthouse. [2:31:25] **Joe Hansen (Public Works Director):** Ice rink is open. Shoreline permits are required for river projects. We will have a workshop next month on water conservation. [2:36:10] **Sara Taylor (Assistant City Administrator):** Processing liquor renewals and the 2040 Comp Plan. I attended the King Plant reuse panel. [2:37:40] **Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Waste haul transition is ongoing. Orientation with Ethan Gilmore went well. [2:46:50] **Councilmember Michele Hanson:** Motion to adjourn. [2:47:00] **Councilmember John Dahl:** Second. [2:47:10] **Mayor Susan Synors:** [Roll Call] All in favor? [Council responds Aye]. Happy New Year everybody. [2:47:32] [Music] [Applause] [Music]