This transcript covers a **City Council Workshop** followed by a **Regular City Council Meeting**. *Note: The transcript contains some phonetic misspellings (e.g., "Mayor Mangy/Monkey" for Mayor Monge; "Askme" for the AFSCME union; "Schweer" heard as "Sawyers"). I have corrected the speaker names based on your provided list.* *** ### **PART 1: City Council Workshop (5:36 PM)** **[05:30] City Staff/Council Members:** (Cross-talk during setup) I guess coming up here oh here's a break here you were right here I just switched you out I'm just saying I'm not important title has too many words should be letters which I abbreviated as public hey it's too late you don't want to do bleeding all weekend and Lisa is gone oh yeah hello come on aren't you coming by the speaker oh Ramsey County HRA Levy discussion is in there but I don't know okay okay all right you got it nope we need cordless wings remember last year did one of the workshops oh yeah yeah I don't know where it is or okay so I'm assuming we've got it someplace here but that was kind of cool okay I say that I had walked to stop and then I'd walk in order to talk and then walked a minute there's a lot of stuff did it look something like this uh Monday next week yeah I don't know how it works I mean I wonder how expensive okay we can move them and we have to worry about all these dark chords and today's day okay so that's you you need the whole whole agenda no I don't I never needed oh okay I can't see that far hello Morgan are you here right who's got control of the screen because Carrie well how do you guys I mean it's a workshop so how do you guys want to want to do is just sort of whatever is easiest I think yeah knowing that sometimes the connecting of laptops may or may not work that way let's see if it then you're in control of it right and you don't have to I don't know yeah and get it to fire that's how we did it when we had the open house it's really simple it is really simple you just plug it in. **[05:36] Jason Nordby (Acting Mayor):** The May 16th city of North St Paul city council Workshop to order at 5:36 p.m. Six minute delay start, my apologies to everyone here. Roll call. **[05:36] Council Member Cole:** Here. **[05:36] Cassidy Schweer:** Here. **[05:36] Jason Nordby:** Your councilmember [Woods] is absent and mayor Monge is absent. Do we adopt the agenda or did I just look at you, Brian, to run the whole show? **[05:36] Brian Frandle:** Get adopted. **[05:36] Jason Nordby:** All right, is there a motion to adopt the agenda? **[05:37] Council Member Cole:** So moved, your honor. **[05:37] Jason Nordby:** And you want to pose? All in favor say aye. **[05:37] Council (Unison):** Aye. **[05:37] Jason Nordby:** You need my third vote? We got her. Brian, would you like to take over the first topic? **[05:37] Brian Frandle:** Thank you so much. Two topics tonight. First one up is a review of the 2022 financial report with the city's audit firm of Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, and Radosevic. Dan, we’ll let you start it off, please. **[05:37] Jason Zimmerman (Finance Director):** Thank you. Well, Brian, first of all, that was better—now, I'd have just gone with MMKR. I should have waited for that! But before we get into the review of the 2022 financial report, I would like to introduce—formally introduce to the city council—a new employee that started six—this is her sixth week—who's an accountant in the finance department. And so I'd like to introduce Mary Kay Heinen who has joined us. She brings to the city over 25 years of accounting experience including 10 years as a state auditor, three years with Clifton Larson and Allen (much easier than the MMKR, I'm telling you!), five years as an accountant supervisor with the City of Minneapolis, and four years as an accountant with the city of Bloomington. You can see she is now going up the scale and coming to the city of North St Paul. So there's Mary Kay. And she's been, just in her five weeks and two days, just a great addition for the city and has been just fabulous for us. With that, we're going to have a representative of MMKR, Jackie Hegel, will present. She is the principal with MMKR and has worked on our audit for 2022. I think you're going to find some very good news. We have net position increases in our general fund, our Enterprise funds, and our internal service funds—I think is very, very good news. So I'm going to turn it over to Jackie. If you have any questions I'll certainly step up and answer those for you, but I'm going to turn it over. Jackie, thank you. **[05:39] Jackie Hegel (MMKR Auditor):** Good evening and thank you for having me tonight. As Dan mentioned, my name is Jackie Hegel and I am the partner that works on the city of North St Paul audit and here to present the audit results for the year end of December 31st, 2022... (Audit presentation continues regarding unmodified opinions, GASB standards, and lease accounting). **[05:43] Jason Nordby:** Is that [payment delay] just a function of when we have our Council meetings? Is that the primary? I mean, it's been ongoing since I've been here. I don't view it as an issue, but I know it's a rule. **[05:43] Jason Zimmerman:** You know, I mean it's fairly common in government that this is an item that does get written up. We still have the responsibility to comply with it. We've tried to—we've made some improvement with that. Hopefully this year we can clean up a little bit more. It's kind of tricky. When an invoice is received and comes in, it goes through our system; sometimes it can be delays on our department heads in approving them. And then obviously when we have two City Council meetings a month, there can be a delay—like the next city council meeting will be three weeks. In essence, that's 21 days already of your 35 days that are taking it up. That's why really we need to enhance—there's a delegated authority to the city manager to do what they call "specials," so we can issue checks underneath our city manager's authority and then report them at the following city council meeting so we can try to limit that. **[05:45] Jackie Hegel:** Moving on then to the top of page two... (Presentation continues regarding credit card transactions, audit findings, and fund deficits). **[05:55] Council Member Cole:** I have none, thank you. **[05:55] Jason Nordby:** I mean this is my third time through this. We're way cleaner now than we were. Hats off to Dan and his team. And from a credit card transaction standpoint, thank you Dan, thanks Brian, and thank all the directors for putting a big focus on making sure when we had credit card receipts that where we had credit card receipts with credit card expenses. That was a hot topic when I started, so it's good to see that we've got that cleaned up. **[05:56] Jason Zimmerman:** Yeah, hopefully you look at this report and see the positives that are there. We're in very good financial shape. Some of the items that raise a little bit of concern, when we talk about the escrow accounts, that's something that we've been dealing with. I'll work with Brandy this year and we'll try to get those things reconciled. That's a promise that I've made to our auditor that we would get that done. We've got the bandwidth now with Mary Kay on board. The rest of it, we're really looking very solid. A big part of that reason is because the city council—the support that the city council gives to finance and gives to our city manager. In June, we'll start to talk about our budget process, but we are really looking good right now. **[05:57] Jason Nordby:** Mayor, do you have any questions here? *(Note: Referring to Monge, who is likely listening remotely or just arrived, or asking the body in general)*. **[05:57] Council Member Cole:** No, I'm just looking over—as far as I've never seen one of these before—so looking at the funds, the transfer out. I'm sure there must be something that is being transferred to as far as... **[05:58] Jason Zimmerman:** Yes. So right now the general fund is supported by $820,000 that's being transferred out of mainly Enterprise funds. That's kind of the benefit that we have—and many cities do this—of transferring from Enterprise funds into your general fund for your operation. If we didn't do that, then we would need to levy $820,000 more, which would be an approximate 15 to 16 percent levy increase. **[05:59] Council Member Cole:** Because that's what I was—when you look at that, how much comes out of it, where it comes from—is just understanding that we're not barely breaking even? Because we're grabbing out of those funds, and when it's grabbing out, I'm assuming that the council does something with that? I mean, is that just like a slush fund? How do you know how much money do you move out of each fund? **[05:59] Jason Zimmerman:** It is incorporated into the budget and approved by the city council. So you will see exactly what's being transferred in and transferred out. There can be no additional movement of money transferring from one fund to another unless city council approves. **[06:00] Jason Zimmerman:** She has all the fun starts in June. We will have fun in June! **[06:00] Cassidy Schweer:** I don't have any questions, but thank you so much for the audit process. I know it's—I'm currently going through it with my employer right now and I'm a big part of it. So, nice job you guys. **[06:00] Jason Nordby:** All right, next item up on the agenda is looks like WSB and floodplain. I will make this PowerPoint quick. **[06:01] Rebecca Haug (WSB):** Good evening Mayor, City Council Members. My name is Rebecca Haug and I am a senior project manager with WSB... (Presents the flood resiliency plan, grant funding, and community outreach). **[06:15] Council Member Cole:** Thank you very much. And there's a whole giant appendix of pictures and charts... The Big Green Dot on my house—I need to talk to the Washington District! **[06:16] Jason Nordby:** Anything else? Thank you very much. Is there any other additional business? **[06:25] Council Member Cole:** Motion to adjourn. **[06:25] Cassidy Schweer:** Second. **[06:25] Jason Nordby:** All those in favor? **[06:25] Council (Unison):** Aye. **[06:25] Jason Nordby:** I've been waiting to use this! Adjourned at 6:25. *** ### **PART 2: Regular City Council Meeting (6:31 PM)** **[06:31] Mayor John Monge:** Call the council meeting order at 6:31. Let’s stand up and please with the Pledge of Allegiance. (Pledge of Allegiance). Roll call please. **[06:31] Staff:** Council member Cole? **[06:31] Council Member Cole:** Here. **[06:31] Staff:** Council member Schweer? **[06:31] Cassidy Schweer:** Here. **[06:31] Staff:** Council member Nordby? **[06:31] Jason Nordby:** Here. **[06:31] Staff:** Councilmember [Woods] is absent and Mayor Monge? **[06:31] Mayor John Monge:** Here. Thank you very much. Move to adopt agenda... what do I do? Oh, is that part of—I thought that was the next one down. Consent? **[06:32] Council Member Cole:** We're looking at to remove an item "I" from the consent agenda. Need a motion to adapt the agenda whenever you get rid of "I". **[06:32] Mayor John Monge:** Are we good with removing "I"? So we can get a motion to adapt the agenda without "I" please. **[06:32] Cassidy Schweer:** Move to motion remove the item. **[06:32] Jason Nordby:** Second. **[06:32] Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor say aye. **[06:32] Council (Unison):** Aye. **[06:33] Mayor John Monge:** All right, sorry about that, a little confusion on my side. All right, we're looking at presentations. Brian, can you read the proclamations please? **[06:33] Brian Frandle:** Thank you Mayor. We have two proclamations tonight. First Proclamation is National Police Week for 2023... (Reads Police Week Proclamation). Next Proclamation is Memorial Day 2023... (Reads Memorial Day Proclamation). **[06:38] Mayor John Monge:** Thank you very much. I'm going to be honored to sign both those. I appreciate you reading those for me. All right, we'll move on to consent agenda. **[06:38] Brian Frandle:** I'll read through them here... (Reads consent items A through J). **[06:39] Council Member Cole:** I'd like to pull "J" [AFSCME Union Agreement]. **[06:39] Mayor John Monge:** For approval of consent? **[06:39] Council Member Cole:** So moved. **[06:39] Cassidy Schweer:** Second. **[06:40] Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor say aye. **[06:40] Council (Unison):** Aye. **[06:40] Mayor John Monge:** Open to the public? Do we have anybody online or in the building? Thank you. All right, City business action items. **[06:40] Council Member Cole:** I pulled it [Item J/I] primarily I just want to open dialogue and conversation. A couple things on here—I'm certainly not opposed to summer hours, although in the consent agenda it didn't call out the fact that City Hall hours would change as well. It just called out the fact that the employees were going to change hours. I personally had a concern with 7:00 to 11:00 for the city being open on Fridays. My thought is at least extended, you know, go 8:00 to noon or something. I wanted to hear from the other council members and mayor, as well as reviewing Dan's packet from last month. **[06:41] Jason Zimmerman:** I believe that that number is accurate—that 5,600 on an annual basis... It brings us down to an approximation of about 22 per day. If we reduce four hours just mathematically it's approximately about 12 customers that we would be missing. Fridays are pretty quiet in the afternoon especially in the summer time. I look at this as it's a trial. Many cities do have summer hours—the ones around us do, Oakdale and so forth. Plus, I'm normally here by 7:00. The utility line continues to ring between 7:00 to 8:00 and even after 4:30. **[06:44] Jason Zimmerman:** Did I do okay? **[06:44] Council Member Cole:** Bravo, bravo! My quick follow-up: what unions are affected by this? **[06:44] Jason Zimmerman:** Just the clerical staff. The staff that's in Finance and the staff in Community Development. **[06:45] Jason Nordby:** I understand clearly what they're proposing so I'm comfortable with that. The only concern I'm with is Council Member Cole, which I like it more up to the noon hour, but as long as it's consistent starting Monday through Friday at 7:00 or 7:30. **[06:46] Cassidy Schweer:** I appreciate that because I was curious too about the union. I thought, "Is that everybody?" And then really, the office would have to be closed because those are the people that work the desk. That's much better clarification. **[06:46] Council Member Cole:** I pulled it, I'll move for it. **[06:46] Jason Nordby:** Second. **[06:46] Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor say aye. **[06:46] Council (Unison):** Aye. **[06:47] Mayor John Monge:** Reports from city manager and departments, please. **[06:47] Brian Frandle:** Thank you Mayor. Kind of an update: Juneteenth is now passed at the state level as well, so that'll go into play this year. Electric Department got a couple people back from school. PD has their 10th Annual police memorial this Thursday. Public Works had their cleanup, 288 people. Downtown project has the water in now. Fire department is busy with code compliance. That's all I have. **[06:50] Mayor John Monge:** Let's do reports from Council commissions and committees. Council member Nordby? **[06:50] Jason Nordby:** On the fourth we had our Planning Commission meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to really thank Brandy and all those working with her. We are given a ton of information and they're able to put it in a manner where it's easy to understand. **[06:51] Cassidy Schweer:** I attended this past weekend the cleanup event with council member Cole. It is a well-oiled machine. Park and Rec meeting is next Wednesday at 6:30. Quick shout out to our car show as they begin Friday, June 2nd. **[06:52] Council Member Cole:** I'm going to pass the buck. I was unable to attend the EDA meeting, so [Mayor], I'll let you give the report. **[06:52] Mayor John Monge:** Thank you very much. We got our EDA member Don Jensen—we gave him a plaque and thanked him for his years of service. We also talked about a presentation for the lot on Margaret for Mr. Mulcahy for auto garages/man-cave garages. Another thing we talked about was the green space between Sidewinders and the tattoo shop. **[06:54] Jason Nordby:** I had the wonderful pleasure to be able to sit down with one of our local business owners of Loves Ice Cream. Get some treats! **[06:55] Council Member Cole:** I also did attend the Citywide cleanup with council member Schweer. Big giant shout-out to Ron, Randy, and Public Works crew. **[06:56] Mayor John Monge:** I went to the opening of the building, the Lily project, at 594 Selby. Beautiful addition to that neighborhood. If nothing else, we'll move on to adjourn. **[06:57] Council Member Cole:** So moved. **[06:57] Cassidy Schweer:** Second. **[06:57] Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor say aye. **[06:57] Council (Unison):** Aye. Thank you all.