This transcript records a transition of power and a regular city council meeting for the City of Bayport. Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the text, here is the formatted transcript with speaker identifications. **Note on Councilmembers:** While your list includes Carl Bliss and Orin Kipp, the transcript explicitly identifies **Connie Carlson** and **John Dahl** as the active members participating in this session alongside Katie Hill and Ethan Gilmore. *** **[7:28] Michele Hanson:** Welcome tonight. Um, we are starting this evening with a swearing-in ceremony and first I just want to take a moment to recognize outgoing mayor Susan Stan Waters. Uh, Mayor, if you could come up to the podium please? I'm so sorry we don't have a fine or anything, we didn't get a chance to present this to you earlier, uh, but this is your commemoration plaque for your commendable leadership, outstanding education, valuable contributions to the city of Bayport. We also got you this and, oh, here's your gavel. [Applause] **[8:17] Susan Stan Waters:** You'll indulge me and then we'll get on to business so um thank you. Thank you for the kind words, this beautiful plaque and the wonderful farewell um reception that took place on December 13th. I have enjoyed representing our beautiful city; it's been one of my life's highlights and to meet and work with and learn from everyone that has filled me, you know, it's just filled me with wonderful experiences and my 12 years as mayor has truly been an honor and an incredibly rewarding time. I want to thank our talented and dedicated staff around here as well as the council members that I have had the pleasure to serve with including Connie Carlson, Mark Ostertag, **[9:05]** Dan Goldstein, Patrick McGann, Judy Seeberger, Michele Hanson, John Buckley, John Dahl, and Ethan Gilmore. Collectively we have worked to establish, build, and maintain positive relationships with our neighboring communities, County, state, and federal agencies, and with their help along with the generous organizations, benefactors, and volunteerism, we were able to accomplish many things. I'm going to highlight a few: the transfer of ownership of state land to Bayport at no cost to Bayport citizens to build the fire hall which optimized its location, improved our efficiencies, and increased safety for the Anderson Elementary children. We've been able to maintain Bayport's **[9:52]** police department and our all-volunteer fire department and continue to deliver and reciprocate excellent police and fire services to our neighboring communities. We completed the 95 infrastructure project, conducted well water remediation with funds provided by the PCA, we upgraded and expanded the park equipment, ball fields, and hockey rink of our parks, enhanced the beautification of our main corridor, and we adapted to COVID. We protected our environment by supporting pollinator and water quality projects; we're in the process of renovating our beautiful Library. We have supported the build-out of the **[10:39]** Inspiration neighborhood where we welcomed hundreds of new families to our community. We supported a 40 million dollar expansion of Andersen Windows' Bayport manufacturing campus, bringing over a hundred jobs to our community, and we welcomed other new businesses. We established a flood management and emergency preparedness plan and developed a very detailed CIP so that our future investments may be better coordinated, communicated, and budgeted. We accomplished these projects and maintained outstanding city services and exceptional public safety by preserving our own police and fire departments, and improved our infrastructure and enhanced our parks all while we saved money for **[11:25]** future capital projects. So I'm very proud to share that Bayport's Moody’s investment rating—we have once again qualified for an increase in our rating and this will help us reduce the costs overall. It's also significant to note that the Permanent Fund, otherwise known as the Xcel emergency fund, remains intact for what it is intended for: emergencies. So we've not only conducted the city business but we also celebrated major milestones and I'm sure I'm going to miss many in that process, but to note a few: that 125th anniversary of our Bayport Fire Department, which is truly amazing. Our city is so **[12:12]** fortunate to have such volunteerism, dedication, and the highly skilled talent that we have with our firefighters and the respect that we should all show and gratitude for their families who serve us as well. We opened the Saint Croix River Crossing and we also celebrated just recently the 100-year anniversaries of the City of Bayport and the American Legion and we, um, a few years back celebrated the 100th anniversary of the First State Bank and Trust. So, um, I know I missed many but we've got a lot done and we celebrated a lot of really amazing milestones. So in closing, I want to thank you all for the **[12:58]** opportunity to serve you and at this time I'm proud to leave office with its current excellent financial and operational state. I ask this new and all future councils to protect and preserve Bayport and I wish to thank you all for taking on this role and this challenge. So at this time it'll be my pleasure to call upon the Mayor-elect Michele Hanson to the podium to be sworn in as Bayport's new Mayor. **[13:39] Michele Hanson:** You decide... okay. **[13:48] Susan Stan Waters:** [Administering oath] **[13:58] Michele Hanson:** I, Michele Hanson, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the state of Minnesota and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Mayor of the city of Bayport in the county of Washington, state of Minnesota to the best of my judgment and ability. Thank you so much. **[14:38] Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Susan. [Applause] Thanks Susan for coming here to do that and for summarizing 12 years in about five minutes. It was... thank you so much for your service. The city is very grateful for all of the work you did. I didn't prepare a speech, I should have. Does anybody else want to say anything? I think we should take a minute to recognize Susan with a round of applause, so another one. [Applause] **[15:25]** Hopefully you get to enjoy some free time now. All right, so my job now is to swear in the new council members. I think we were going to just have... here, I’ll look at it, right next to each other now, that's nice. Um, for photos is it better to have them come over here or do we want to just... oh, have you guys stand there. We decided I think earlier and just stand up there and then I will read from here and hopefully we can hear in their mics from where they're standing. Okay, I should have lined up stuff you did. Okay, so you guys are going to say your own names here, right? Okay. Um, so I, Katie Hill and John Dahl, do **[16:12]** solemnly swear... **[16:14] Katie Hill & John Dahl:** I, Katie Hill / John Dahl, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the state of Minnesota and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of councilmember of the city of Bayport in the county of Washington and state of Minnesota to the best of my judgment and ability. **[16:47] Michele Hanson:** That's it, you're done. You're sworn in. Congrats. **[17:05]** [Applause] And now I would think if I were you guys, I'd go to engines but you know you're welcome to stay if you want but uh good stuff's coming, that's the exciting part. There you go. I would say this is your chance to exit if you would so choose. Thank you all for coming. **[17:42] Dennis (Lions Club Member):** Sure, what... oh, how are we doing on our issue? What... hold on a minute. So I don't know, most of you probably do know and Michele is a—try to remember—the Afton-Bay-Lakeland Lions Club and **[17:51]** there were eight of us here and nine counting Michele. It's an interesting fact that a lot of Mayors, believe it or not, are Lions and I think that's probably because of the fact that our motto is "we serve." Michele has chosen to serve not only amazingly well with our club but to move that forward and serve the city of Bayport. We all know this, you'll do a fantastic job. Diversity in our city is our area of service. So Michele, congratulations. **[18:40] Michele Hanson:** Well, thank you, Dennis. [Applause] Oh, I love my Lions Club. He doesn't even ever watch it on TV. Okay, so all that before we even called the meeting to order? Yes. Yeah, he has literally... okay. So I guess now I call the meeting to order as the new Mayor. John Dahl, all right, come on, I gotta go. All right, I call to order the um January 9th City Council meeting in the city of Bayport. Oh, 2003... do I have to say all that? I don't know. 2023. **[19:13]** I'm off to a great start. Thanks, Ethan. All right, so Adam, can you call the roll? **[19:22] Adam Bell (City Administrator):** Mayor Hanson? **[19:24] Michele Hanson:** Here. **[19:26] Adam Bell:** Councilmember Hill? **[19:28] Katie Hill:** Here. **[19:29] Adam Bell:** Councilmember Dahl? **[19:30] John Dahl:** Present. **[19:31] Adam Bell:** Councilmember Gilmore? **[19:32] Ethan Gilmore:** Here. **[19:33] Adam Bell:** Councilmember Carlson? **[19:34] Connie Carlson:** Here. **[19:35] Ethan Gilmore:** All right, dude, where is it? Got him just... before you called the order, we pledge. **[19:43] Michele Hanson:** Oh, and I didn't see it as a thing on the... oh, I'm so sorry. Okay, gotta do the Pledge of Allegiance. All right. **[20:01] All:** [Pledge of Allegiance] **[20:17] Michele Hanson:** Okay, I'll get the hang of this. Okay. Okay, so now do we have any changes to the agenda or a motion to approve? **[20:25] John Dahl:** I'll move to approve the agenda as it's been submitted to us. **[20:29] Michele Hanson:** All right, do we have a second? **[20:31] Connie Carlson:** I'll second it. **[20:32] Michele Hanson:** All right, so John made the motion, Connie seconded. All those in favor? **[20:36] All:** Aye. **[20:37] Michele Hanson:** Anyone opposed? All right, so we'll move forward with tonight's agenda which starts with the proclamations, accommodations, petitions, and announcements. December recycling award recipient is Brad Cope, I hope I'm saying his name correctly, at 376 5th Street South, who will be awarded for recycling efforts with a grant from Washington County and, uh, I should just read the items listed. Okay, that's it. And then Open Forum... everybody cleared out so I doubt there's anyone here for that but, um, then can we just move on to the consent agenda? **[21:34] Adam Bell:** Still read the other form and just... no we're not allowing Zoom, we're not doing... we're not on Zoom. Nope. So if anyone's here that wants to speak, come forward. **[21:49] Michele Hanson:** Okay, no one's here except the Chief, so all right. Um, now we'll look at the consent agenda items one through eleven: December 5th, 2022 city council workshop meeting minutes; December 5th, 2022 city council regular meeting minutes; December payables and receipts; December building, plumbing, mechanical, and zoning permits report; renewal of the commercial refuse hauler licenses for 2023; appointment of Matt Kline as interim **[22:21]** City Administrator effective January 13th of this year; and pay application number two from Pioneer Power for the 2021 booster station improvement project; service agreement with TruGreen for fertilizer/weed control/goose control on city property; pay application number two to Miller Excavating for the 2021 street improvement project; revision to City Park policy to accept non-resident reservations beginning February 1st annually; and the special event application from the Bayport Community Action League for the 2023 community events. All right, do we have a motion to approve the items in the consent agenda? **[23:08] Connie Carlson:** I'll make a motion approving the consent agenda items one through eleven. **[23:14] Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Connie. Do we have a second? **[23:16] John Dahl:** I'll second. **[23:17] Michele Hanson:** All right, thanks John. So now we need a roll call. **[23:21] Adam Bell:** Councilmember Carlson? **[23:23] Connie Carlson:** Aye. **[23:24] Adam Bell:** Councilmember Dahl? **[23:25] John Dahl:** Aye. **[23:26] Adam Bell:** Councilmember Gilmore? **[23:27] Ethan Gilmore:** Aye. **[23:28] Adam Bell:** Councilmember Hill? **[23:29] Katie Hill:** Aye. **[23:30] Adam Bell:** Mayor Hanson? **[23:31] Michele Hanson:** Aye. That was all so weird. **[23:34] Michele Hanson:** Okay, let's see. There are no public hearings or unfinished business. Unfinished business is to discuss a potential lease extension request from the Department of Corrections for the old fire station building. Adam's going to present the item. **[24:06] Adam Bell:** Mayor, members of the council, um, starting in 2017 the city started leasing out the old fire hall after it was vacated by the fire department when they moved into their new station. That initial lease was a very short-term lease that was renewed for five years. The purpose of the lease is they use it for their vehicle transport storage; they don't have a facility of their own, but they have been a very good tenant. The five-year lease expires the end of this June 2023. The rent that they pay easily covers the utilities. The city has been looking at doing something else with it. I know initially before the initial lease was made, the city had talked about converting it into something or expanding the city uses or possibly leasing it to another private party. There are multiple challenges with that space; probably the biggest is the lack of parking as well as any cost that would be incurred in converting the space into a more usable facility for whatever the purpose is. As you can imagine the fire hall—not sure how often or the last time that any of the council has been in there—**[25:35]** it's an older building. Part of the reason why it was outgrown was it wasn't meeting the needs of the fire department. But essentially, it's a four large bay garage with some common area, a kitchen, and a small office. That is almost exactly what the Department of Corrections needs and so it was a really good match, mutually beneficial. As I said, the rent revenue easily covers the maintenance and the utilities. So, the current lease is expiring in June. The DOC contacted the city; as always with the state, they are well in advance of their processes. They are looking for **[26:21]** another five-year lease. They would like a longer term lease, but because the city in the last year has not had an opportunity to discuss what the city would like to do with it in the future, if something else is desired to be done with the space, it will take time. Staff's recommendation is to renew the lease, extend it for a minimum of three years. It would, no matter what we do, if we rented it to somebody else or used it for something else, it would take some time to do the planning as well as generate the money to do that. We don't have anything currently in our CIP to make any modifications to it. We did replace the roof recently; we just got a **[27:09]** quote to replace the roof heating unit which we will need to do, but some of the other masonry work—the hose tower—was repaired. So we have invested money into it and as I said, the current rent that we get, which is approximately about twelve dollars—well specifically this year, the one that's expiring, it's twelve dollars and two cents per foot—which is at the higher end or the upper end of that comparable market rate for that type of facility. So we are, as I keep saying, we are making good money on it—enough to cover the city and start saving. But staff recommendation is to extend the lease and have in the next **[27:55]** few years, depending on what the council's interest is, start those discussions. You know, it doesn't have to be right now, but not waiting until the end of the lease. We kind of ran out of time under this one. The DOC has been very good tenants; they don't... we don't have to interact with them very much. They're not there most of the day; they pick up their transport vehicles, park their vehicles inside so the parking's not an issue externally. They're not there most of the day and they come back, make the switch, and it's really just a storage vehicle storage for them and hasn't caused any problems so far. **[28:40] Ethan Gilmore:** You mentioned the rooftop HVAC replacement upgrade. How much of that space is conditioned in terms of, you know, AC? There's, I mean obviously the stalls are heated minimally or I hope they are minimally... **[28:57] Adam Bell:** About two thousands... the total space is, I think it's about 60 is in my memo, about 6,700 I believe square feet, and the garage is about 4,000 of that or possibly more. So most of it is... that unit is just for the smaller common space, bathrooms and office space. The garages have gas heaters in them. **[29:25] Ethan Gilmore:** Okay, I'm good. No, it seems like a... yeah, for now we don't have a game plan exactly. **[29:35] Michele Hanson:** They'll need you know... if somebody came with some crazy amazing idea or we had had an opportunity to do something else it might be nice to be able to have a buyout or something like that. But no, I'm sure that's in the contract somewhere that it could be ended at any time by either party or something like that? Or is that not something...? **[30:03] Adam Bell:** I know the the notice... now there's a couple different on... we usually do that but it's in there. **[30:13] Jay Jackson (Police Chief):** Chief Eastman, who was instrumental in, uh, not negotiating the lease but securing the lease, the initial lease. I just wanted to add the far west garage has two squads in it so if or when you discontinue that or let a business come in there someday we're gonna have to figure out where those two squads are going to go exactly. So I just wanted to add that to your plate if you choose to not continue. **[30:52] Adam Bell:** Exactly. **[30:59] Michele Hanson:** Yeah, my initial reaction was well you know maybe we only do like a two-year lease because maybe we can figure something else out, but then I realized the way we move there's no way we'll have anything figured out even... yeah, the wheels of government move slowly and **[30:59]** I don't think two years is even enough time and you know we've had this... we talk about this all the time how we need to talk about what to do with that space and then everything else comes up. Can we put in the lease maybe we do three years and then after, between three and five, if something were to come up or we had a plan that there'd be some sort of buyout? **[31:37] Adam Bell:** I think that would definitely be a good proposal to make to them. I would imagine that they would accept that with sufficient notice. I think that's going to be their biggest concern in any type of termination. As I said, they contacted us late December for the end of June so they were six months in advance. I think a six-month notice would be sufficient, but a **[31:46]** three-year lease or five-year lease with the option to terminate early after three? I don't think there'd be any type of buyout necessary as long as we get sufficient notice. **[32:01] John Dahl:** Any other ideas or thoughts on it? **[32:03] Ethan Gilmore:** No, I actually always think it's a good fit but it is... it's a really nice fit and like you said they're easy to have there and they pay our bills and more. **[32:15] Adam Bell:** One of the things I just wanted to comment so the public and the council is aware if they didn't catch in the memo: because they're a state entity, **[32:33]** the city is allowed to maintain its tax-exempt status on that property. If they're a for-profit or a non-state entity, then the city would have to pay taxes on that. So that's one of the benefits of working with the state in this case. Dealing with the state as bureaucrats—like maybe even going with Bayport—they are very reliable. **[33:19] Michele Hanson:** Katie, do you have any thoughts? We didn't hear anything from you down there. **[33:23] Katie Hill:** I think it's a good fit. It fits in there, all the things that they need. Doesn't really bring up any **[33:19]** problems because they park their vehicle in there so it's not like taking up a spot next to the school that they wouldn't want there or something. So for now I like it there and then if you could grow with it it would be nice, but it's nice that everything fits. **[33:38] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so do you have what you need from us or what? **[34:04] Adam Bell:** Yeah, thank you. Mr. Council, I will make the proposal to the state, get back to them, and then at the February meeting, they said they could have the formal contract for the council to consider so the formal approval will take place at the next meeting. Okay, and that's the information I needed, so thank you. **[34:18] Michele Hanson:** All right, you're going to stay at the podium and talk with us about non-resident rental fees for comparable City County Park facilities. This was actually something brought up by Mayor Stan Waters that she wanted us to look into, so here we are. **[34:39] Adam Bell:** Committee, Mayor, members of the council: as was noted in the report at the annual fee schedule amendment that takes place every year in December, there were some modifications made to the fee schedule which included some park fees. Staff is asked to continue to go back and look at **[34:49]** some comparable park reservations in other cities to see if the Bayport rates should be increased anymore. Staff did some research—I actually did quite a bit of research on that—and we provided an updated spreadsheet that you have before you which summarizes on one page the other information that was in the council packets that had the photos of the various parks that we looked at. Because the other cities weren't consistent as to whether or not they reserved park shelters out to just residents or if they differentiated between residents, a lot of the cost differentiation **[35:35]** was due to the size of the facility of the shelter. The amenities were all fairly similar; obviously, some of them are newer, some of them are in better condition. Staff did look at other kind of water-view or waterfront to be as comparable as possible. As you can see in the spreadsheet, Bayport is not low; we're just kind of right in the middle. So staff recommendation after doing the research is to maintain our current fee schedule for the park shelters. But if the council would like to make any other changes, **[36:23]** we're happy to answer any questions or make any other modifications. **[36:34] Michele Hanson:** Well, thank you. Thank you for putting this spreadsheet together. That was my first inclination when I saw all these great... there's wonderful pictures in our packet of all the different parks and I'm like, wait, I can't figure out which is which and how it all compares. So then they did this and it's really nice. And you even did some color-coding here so we can see which ones are actually kind of higher versus lower and then what's similar. And from what I can tell, I think you're right that I don't see a need to change the rates, but **[37:09]** does anybody else see anything that I'm not seeing? **[37:25] Adam Bell:** The one thing just always to keep in mind is it's not a perfect apples-to-apples. Every park is different, every location is different, every shelter, every view. So it's not going to be an exact... that's why we have similar, lower, or higher. **[37:44] Michele Hanson:** Right. I still think Lakeside parks are the best on the St. Croix and in the St. Croix Valley, but we're biased. And I mean our park shelters are reserved all summer; they're very busy. But I do think we have to find that balance to where we're not overcharging. We want to be able to support our parks but we don't want to make it so expensive that people may go somewhere else. **[38:15] John Dahl:** I know in the past, I think within the time I was on the council, we decided to start charging residents just for the shelters, right? It used to be free? **[38:25] Michele Hanson:** It used to be free, then we went to 50? **[38:28] Connie Carlson:** Yeah, but I noticed a lot of them have a flat fee whether you're a resident or not. So I like the fact that we keep a little bit lower. **[38:36] John Dahl:** I agree. I like that too. I mean, if it were ten dollars difference to me it's like... **[38:46] Ethan Gilmore:** So when the 35 came into play, I don't remember... was that when I was on? **[Music]** Did we just... I mean I certainly don't have any problem raising it a little bit for the non-residents. I mean if it hasn't been touched in a while... I think you were on, John, though, but I'm not sure. Because for a long time when I was first on it was no charge and then we bumped it up to 25 and then I feel like we actually lowered the resident rate? **[39:18] Adam Bell:** We lowered it some years ago. I want to say 2018 or 19. Raised the non-resident. **[39:31] Ethan Gilmore:** Yeah, I think it was like 50 for a while. **[39:41] Michele Hanson:** I forgot that it wasn't free when I went to reserve it for the Lions Club one time. **[39:47] Ethan Gilmore:** I don't know if this is the right time to discuss it, but resident versus non-resident all across the board for everything that we do. Do you guys... is it just whatever we come up with? Or maybe we should think about coming up with like a percentage and it just goes across the board? Maybe that would help City staff not be like, "oh wait what was that one?" Is it 25 to 100 versus when you're renting, uh, I don't know what else we do. Maybe we just come **[40:14]** up with a percentage of what residents pay for all the services versus non-residents. **[40:32] Adam Bell:** Depending on the type of service, there's some services that we're not able to distinguish. But I do know that there are other cities that will take like an inflation approach annually—all the services across the board will go up two percent, three percent. Ethan's trying to get at the differentiation, right? But you'll notice all these figures are fairly round numbers. **[41:01]** When you start getting to those percentages you'll have to adjust it one way or the other. Staff could take a look at that. It really depends on the type of service though; most of the services are resident-only. Other than our park facilities, there really aren't many services that we provide to any significant number of non-residents. **[41:37] Ethan Gilmore:** There was like a lot of stuff in there that was resident versus non-resident. I don't know if they're all about the same or maybe they should be different, but to me it seems like it'd be easy just to say "this is what it is across the board," like 25% more. Then you guys don't have to think about it; you just know that's the formula. **[42:12] Michele Hanson:** It's worth at least just looking at all the things that we do have a split rate for and see if the non-resident is always four times as much as a resident or something like that. Because I think that's what struck me—we did the boat trailer parking was part of it and it just didn't seem like enough of a difference **[42:22]** compared to some of the other differences that we were seeing. So that's exactly your point; if we had a more consistent difference, maybe we wouldn't have to think so hard every time. What's your feel on resident versus non-resident? Oh, we have the numbers in... didn't it say in here? Because that was interesting to see what percentage... where was that? **[43:01] Adam Bell:** The beach house in 2022 had 40 residents and 28 non-residents. And then the shelters had 65 residents and 53 non-residents. **[43:10] Michele Hanson:** That's perfect, thank you. **[43:14] Adam Bell:** And we do get reservations those first two weeks of January for the beach house. We have short summers in Minnesota. The beach house as well as the shelters... but the beach house is only a three-season facility from May to middle October. But having that "first crack" at the parks is in the benefit of the residents to have that early reservation opportunity for January. If it was **[43:56]** open to everybody at once, my guest would be it would be more non-resident because we do have quite a few people from outside of Bayport who want to use the park. So I think the move to February is going to be a benefit to the residents. We'll see if those numbers change. **[44:17] John Dahl:** Yeah, that would be interesting to compare next year, but I think we should allow the residents to have more time. **[44:32] Katie Hill:** Have you thought about like... like some of these, the weekends are more expensive or holidays? **[44:39] Adam Bell:** We actually do have that but it's not noted on here. Weekends are slightly different, okay? **[44:46] Katie Hill:** But not holidays? **[44:48] Adam Bell:** Not in my tenure, no. But that's a good point though. **[44:52] John Dahl:** Like Memorial Day or Fourth of July... would that count as a weekday or a weekend? **[45:00] Adam Bell:** If you get it on like Memorial Day that would just be the regular weekday rate. And actually, like over Fourth of July and those types of dates, the park shelters aren't in high demand. We get a lot of other calls around other weekends that are more popular like graduations. Holiday weekends surprisingly aren't reserved or in high demand. **[45:20] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so it wouldn't be to our benefit to increase the rate for a holiday? **[45:25] Adam Bell:** I don't think so. And you know the beach house does have a different fee structure for weekdays versus weekends. The shelters we just have a flat... **[45:34] John Dahl:** Oh, it's just the beach house? **[45:36] Adam Bell:** Yes. **[45:38] Ethan Gilmore:** Nature Center... wait, are you sure what that...? So I looked online and I pulled up the form that someone would fill out and I thought it was for the Lakeside picnic shelters where it had the difference. So, I mean it was just a slight difference though too but anyways... do you have that? **[46:16] Adam Bell:** I'm looking at the fee schedule. The picnic shelters are either just resident or non-resident and then it's by size of the group—we differentiate between fifty or fewer and 50 to 100. Then non-resident/resident. But the beach house does distinguish between the day of the week, the time of the week, and again for resident or non-resident. **[46:44] Ethan Gilmore:** Okay, trying to find the... well when I've read here, during the week it's always been the same as what I've had to do on the weekends. So, okay, I might have been confused. **[47:03] Michele Hanson:** All right, so we don't need to do anything, we don't need to make any motions or anything because we're not changing anything, right? We're all good. All right, so move on to new business where we need to consider appointments, designations, and city council liaison assignments for the coming year. So let's see, right now we have what is it... so in our packets, it lays out what everyone's current assignments are. And of course, Katie doesn't have one yet. So John, you've been on the Middle Saint Croix Watershed as the liaison and then Susan was the alternate. How are you feeling about continuing to be part of that? **[47:49] John Dahl:** I like trying new things. I like trying... it would be fun to try something else but okay. **[47:55] Michele Hanson:** And we can talk about that. So let's keep that in mind. **[48:02] Adam Bell:** Madam Mayor, members of the council, the WMO did want me to... they sent out an email indicating whoever is on that liaison assignment, that they try and get there as much as they can because there's a lot of input from each of the representatives and they've been having issues with people not showing up essentially on the Watershed. **[48:29] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so if you commit to that, commit to it. It's typically easy. **[48:32] Adam Bell:** Typically easy, okay. And it's the second Thursday. It's usually at the library but it's not now because of the construction at the library. **[48:45] Michele Hanson:** Okay, pretty easy. But maybe in the interest of... and I did miss that I missed this... well you've been sick lately. Okay. I've been the Planning Commission liaison; it has been an easy liaison to have because they don't meet very often. So it's kind of a nice one for someone who's new to the council possibly, just if you want to consider that one. Connie's been the alternate but she hasn't had to do that because we've not really had much. Connie, you've been the Library Board liaison for 12 years at least? **[49:25] Connie Carlson:** Yes, ever since I've been on it. And the Library Board one, do I like it? I guess I'd rather finish it till it's done. **[49:33] Michele Hanson:** Until you're done? You mean until the library is done? **[49:36] Connie Carlson:** Until the library project is done. And the night works well for me, it works well. It's the third Tuesday of the month. Thursdays aren't the greatest. **[49:46] Ethan Gilmore:** If I can throw it out there, I just want to stay on a Monday. Oh yeah, Mondays are good for you. I work nights. I take off nights to go to these situations. So I can certainly stay on the Cable Commission, I could do Planning Commission. **[50:06] Michele Hanson:** I think it probably makes sense to stay on that Cable Commission for you, but that's up to you. Just because I know that it's a little overwhelming for a new person, I think, because it's just sort of one of those things that's confusing it takes a while to get used to. **[50:23] Ethan Gilmore:** I'll stay on that, that's right. **[50:28] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so we've got the Fire Relief Association liaison which doesn't technically have to be the Mayor, but it was the Mayor. Does it need to be? **[50:41] Adam Bell:** It does not. **[50:43] Michele Hanson:** Okay, I wouldn't mind doing that. I should be able to go to those meetings; my Lions meet at six and that's at five, so I should be able to do that. And then we have Lake Elmo Airport Advisory liaison. Do we as a council feel like this is still important for us to do? I know Susan recommended that we continue to do it. The only connection we have to it is the services that the Fire Department provides for the airport, correct, Adam? **[51:19] Adam Bell:** Yes, Madam Mayor. Chief Eisinger, who wasn't able to be here tonight, he felt pretty strongly about the city continuing the participation just to make sure that if there's any discussion there that the liaison will be able to catch that. The Bayport Fire Department provides fire service for the entire airport and so they are out there on occasion for medicals as well as minor fires. **[51:51] Michele Hanson:** And it says that they meet quarterly, but it doesn't say... is it just a random day that they choose? There's no set date? **[51:58] Adam Bell:** Correct. **[52:03] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so John, you've been the alternate on that. I mean I can take whatever Susan had in the past so that would make me that liaison as well. And there is no city council liaison for the Xcel Energy King plant stakeholder meetings. Not yet; that's the one that we have created, so we should assign someone. **[52:21] Adam Bell:** Yes, the councils should appoint somebody this evening for that. **[52:26] Michele Hanson:** Okay, and they meet quarterly again at an unknown time because they'll come up with those dates as they set them up. I think, John, did you note interest in that? **[52:38] John Dahl:** I'm interested in it as well, so depending on when they meet maybe it will go ahead. I will let you have... okay, you do a great job as a liaison anyway. Maybe you could be my... maybe you could be... do they have alternates if we needed them or do you have to assign them? **[52:58] Adam Bell:** If the city council names an alternate, that would be more than fine. **[53:05] Michele Hanson:** We could do that. And then we no longer need the Andersen citizen advisory because that's dissolved. What that means is John wants to do something new but there may not be anything for him to do. **[53:18] John Dahl:** What is the Watershed? It's really interesting stuff but they have a much different format in terms of running a meeting formally and motions and how they move through the agenda. It's much less formal. **[53:41] Michele Hanson:** You said it’s at the library. Okay, before we make a decision there is one other liaison I would like to suggest and I think we should have someone go to the BCAL meetings and report back what's happening with BCAL because it is sort of like another arm of the city in terms of all the events that they plan. I feel like we should have an official liaison to that and I just want to throw that out there that that's another option that could be of interest to you, Katie or John. I know they meet on a night that wouldn't work for Ethan. **[54:19] Ethan Gilmore:** Thursdays, and that's why those meetings... I don't know, I'm gonna try to still be involved. I'm waiting to hear about how involved I should be in my current role in that. **[54:33] Michele Hanson:** I haven't heard back yet from... I'm willing to take... I would also take on the Fire Relief one since it's quarterly or... oh, it's the second Monday of the month at five. That's going to push, you know, to get to your other meeting in there? **[55:04] Jay Jackson:** I don't think they last very long though, right? The Fire Relief meetings are pretty quick. Historically it's been about between 30 to 45 minutes. **[55:10] Michele Hanson:** Normally, and I meet in Bayport for my Lions Club so it's not like a big deal and I'm kind of curious to understand it better personally, I don't really understand how all that works. Okay, and the second Thursday of the month is the Watershed one which is also when BCAL meets, so whoever does that can't do both of those. **[55:34] John Dahl:** Katie and I have kind of discussed maybe me staying on Middle St. Croix. There is a little bit of a learning curve with that group. **[55:41] Michele Hanson:** Okay, Planning Commission is a nice one, it is easy. And then maybe you could do BCAL's? **[55:49] Katie Hill:** Yeah, I like that. **[55:51] Michele Hanson:** I think that Connie stays on Library, you take over Fire Relief, I stay on Cable Commission, I'll do the airport... and then we got to figure out the King plant one. When do they meet? Well, I think I was going to do that too unless you guys wanted to do it. They don't know the dates until they plan it. **[56:15] John Dahl:** Remember I'm retired, I got a little more time than some of you guys. **[56:19] Michele Hanson:** I know, so... so I'm perfectly fine with that, especially a quarterly one. Adding that it's... so are you taking all of Susan's alternate roles? **[56:29] John Dahl:** Yeah. Well, there were her alternate roles... we do need an alternate for the Middle Saint Croix in fact and the Library. **[56:41] Michele Hanson:** And it can't be the BCAL person and I am also on Inspiration which is not listed. Oh yeah, why is that not listed? **[56:56] Adam Bell:** That was an oversight, I get it. Apologies. **[57:04] Michele Hanson:** This Thursday I have both Inspiration Foundation and I forgot about that one. John, do you need to take something off your plate? **[57:15] John Dahl:** Yes. Okay, so what...? **[57:19] Michele Hanson:** Is anyone in which of these would you like to not do, John? **[57:24] John Dahl:** Well, probably more needed and more important for me to be in the loop on the Inspiration Foundation. I feel like there's not a ton impacting Bayport at the moment with Middle Saint Croix. **[57:43] Michele Hanson:** I haven't looked at the agenda and I don't know that anyone else can do Middle Saint Croix then... you just gotta show, other than me, vote. **[57:51] Adam Bell:** Excuse me, Madam Mayor, the Sara just pointed out the Inspiration Foundation was the last under the appointments. It's a citizen representative. There's a city official which has been the administrator; it doesn't have to be John or any of us. **[58:15] Michele Hanson:** It does not have to be? So that was recommended? **[58:18] Adam Bell:** Yes, the original bylaws called for two residents and then one at least one official. So the council at the time, Councillor Dahl was as John Dahl the resident. Are you going to dissolve that? **[58:43] John Dahl:** Okay, yeah. I was gonna pretty much say it's enough to... is it possible anyone on the Planning Commission would like to do that role instead of John as a citizen? **[58:55] Sara Taylor (Assistant City Administrator):** We haven't asked. There currently are two Inspiration residents on the Planning Commission who are... there's also two Inspiration residents on the foundation. **[59:14] Adam Bell:** Unless the council wanted to do otherwise, I was just reminding the council that part of the original setup is that the city wanted to remain ultimately in control of it because it's city property. Those are just other considerations to keep in mind, but staff has not asked any of the Planning Commission members. **[59:45] Michele Hanson:** Yeah, okay. **[59:47] Sara Taylor:** We would need to post it to the general public as we have in the past. We did receive one... I think it was just the one Inspiration resident who had applied. **[1:00:01] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so actually John, nothing would... I mean you're no longer the alternate for the Andersen one, right? So we really aren't adding anything? **[1:00:13] John Dahl:** No, it would just be if... I just would change again, which is fine. **[1:00:19] Michele Hanson:** Yeah, it had me as an alternate anywhere, then that's a way to be wet or something, right? You can be the alternate for the Cable Commission if you can meet on the third Monday of the month quarterly. **[1:00:33] John Dahl:** I can, I easily give that up. **[1:00:39] Ethan Gilmore:** Typically I can, okay let's do that. Is that okay? **[1:00:46] Michele Hanson:** And I was going to be the alternate for the Library Board. That sounds good. Connie always goes to all the meetings she does. **[1:00:54] John Dahl:** I was the alternate for a while and I never got to go to a meeting either. [Laughter] **[1:01:08] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so let's summarize it. Do you guys know? I'm still confused. So John is gonna stay on the Watershed, the alternate is going to be nobody, right? Nobody? **[1:01:21] Adam Bell:** We should have an alternate. **[1:01:23] Michele Hanson:** But you can't because that's the BCAL time. It's the same time, the second Thursday of the month is the BCAL meeting date. **[1:01:32] Ethan Gilmore:** I would rather not... maybe every month, second Thursday of the month. BCAL is pretty solid most months we do meet. **[1:01:42] Michele Hanson:** And you said Thursdays don't work for you. It's a busy meeting. It's not stuff that's going once or twice a year, it'd be one thing. But I mean, I work at night and that's true. I mean, I could do it if it's just occasionally. **[1:02:08] John Dahl:** I usually make it. I hope they're not calling me out. So that would be easy. Oh, and Susan has been there in my stead. **[1:02:15] Michele Hanson:** Well then it makes sense because then it was her role before anyway. So I'll just take the alternate for the Middle Saint Croix. No, I'm still the president of BCAL, no one took my job yet. Okay, um, the Planning Commission is now Katie with the alternate still Connie. **[1:02:35] Connie Carlson:** Yeah, that's fine. **[1:02:37] Michele Hanson:** And then Library Board's Connie with Ethan as alternate. Fire Relief is me with no alternate... **[1:02:45] Ethan Gilmore:** I could be the alternate on that. Oh yeah, that was easy. It's a Monday. **[1:02:51] Michele Hanson:** Yep, okay. Yep. You guys are writing this down somewhere, right? Okay. Cable Commission is still Ethan with the alternate of John. And then Lake Elmo is me with the alternate of John. Again, I'm not... if we don't make it to those, I'm not going to be crushed, to be honest. So I wouldn't worry if you can't do it. Xcel is going to be me and we probably don't need an alternate because we have City staff going. Is that okay? **[1:03:26] Adam Bell:** Unless the council wants to... they wanted a minimum of one staff person and one city official. **[1:03:32] John Dahl:** If you want to throw me on there as alternate I would. **[1:03:36] Michele Hanson:** Okay, do it. We'll put John on there just so in case. And then we no longer have the Andersen but we have BCAL and that is going to be Katie and we don't really need an alternate probably. It could be me, I'm hoping to still go to those meetings but because that's not really one of our... it's just more for information. **[1:03:51] Ethan Gilmore:** Well, I would like to add it as a liaison so it's listed here in the future if that's okay with the council. I mean, I feel like it's kind of important for us to understand what's going on with that. **[1:04:12] Michele Hanson:** Okay, all right. All right, are we all good? So we just need a motion. **[1:04:37] Connie Carlson:** I'll make a motion approving the liaison appointments for 2023. **[1:04:42] Katie Hill:** I second. **[1:04:45] Michele Hanson:** All right, Katie seconded, Connie made the motion. All those in favor say aye. **[1:04:50] All:** Aye. **[1:04:51] Michele Hanson:** Anyone opposed? All right, done. Now I feel like these are workshop things. Now we're going to consider the regular meeting dates. Okay, so did we all bring your calendars? I did. Okay, does anything conflict? There's the first Monday of the month with a couple exceptions: July, because of the Fourth of July, would then end up being the 10th and September, because of Labor Day, would be September 11th. Are they okay with everybody or not? **[1:05:25] Ethan Gilmore:** July 10th I may be gone. And then John, there's no school on November 6th for MEA weekend... I don't know if that matters, but it matters. So I say go to the action berry, we almost always do something. **[1:06:11] Michele Hanson:** I think John likes to travel. There was something when you and I, I remember that from this past year. **[1:06:23] Ethan Gilmore:** I thought it was spring break, but spring break for Stillwater is now the 20th so that shouldn't affect anything. Okay, I'm just saying that November 6th is a day that there's something going on where we don't have school. So if we can push it to the 13th or whatever it would be. Is there a reason that we wouldn't? I mean, I know that it's harder to get Valley Access here on a Tuesday, but... **[1:06:50] Michele Hanson:** Well Tuesday's election day, November 7th. Is that an election? Do we have an election going on? **[1:06:54] Adam Bell:** Nothing not anything local level, yeah. If there was a school district one called or something that potentially could... we're not always done the following day. **[1:07:07] Ethan Gilmore:** The Valley Access is always dealing with Stillwater on Tuesdays. **[1:07:12] Michele Hanson:** Yeah, I know that's what I thought. So really that's the only... like if we could do that one on the... I mean, I think we can get Valley Access here we just can't be live, right? **[1:07:23] Adam Bell:** Correct. If there's a conflict with one of the other cities they get priority over... it's still recorded and rebroadcast at the regular times. **[1:07:35] Michele Hanson:** Does City staff have a preference if we try to keep it in that same week on the Tuesday or if we should move it to the next Monday? Like, does it make it harder for you to get stuff done if there's that longer gap between meetings so many times during the year? **[1:07:44] Ethan Gilmore:** It gives you more time I know, but then it's kind of crushed to the next one, you know what I mean? Like then you only have three weeks till your next meeting. **[1:08:04] Matt Kline (Interim City Administrator):** Madam Mayor, members of the council, it makes things not difficult that week but there's definitely a long time in between one and then a rush between the others, but it's not the end of the world. **[1:08:18] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so you were more in favor? But if we can't do it on a Monday try and follow up on the following Tuesday rather than... so move the 6th to the 7th? **[1:08:24] Matt Kline:** No, I would say the following Monday. **[1:08:26] Michele Hanson:** The following Monday, okay. That's why we were wondering. **[1:08:29] Ethan Gilmore:** All right, so the dates are fine except November 6th. November 6th and then I most likely will be gone on the 10th of July, but that's not the end of the world if I miss one. But it's up to you if you want to move it. **[1:08:44] Michele Hanson:** But it's already been pushed? You can't really move it. You can't remember that one again. **[1:08:52] Ethan Gilmore:** Yeah because the 4th is a Tuesday which is... but that just... and you did account, no our spring break doesn't... yeah, that's right. So I'm fine. I mean, okay, that's not the end of the world if I'm not here for one. **[1:09:04] Michele Hanson:** We'll miss you so much. **[1:09:07] Ethan Gilmore:** Okay, I'll bring you back a souvenir for sure. A lot of sand. A bottle of snow. **[1:09:15] Michele Hanson:** So we are sticking with July... I am out of town that weekend. I can make it July 10th. July 10th for you is a problem? I'm going to be out of town in the week. Is it weird to have it on the 11th? Does the 11th help you or are you still going? **[1:09:41] Ethan Gilmore:** No, I'm gone the whole week. **[1:09:43] Michele Hanson:** Okay, well then let's keep it on the 10th because the 3rd you don't have to change it one day for me. Why would we have it on the 3rd? Because it's the 3rd of July which is the holiday before the Fourth of July, they're gonna have bullets. [Laughter] **[1:10:06] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so final decision: everything that's listed except November 6th which we will move to November 13th. Can someone just say "so moved" if they agree with that? **[1:10:15] Ethan Gilmore:** So moved. **[1:10:17] Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Ethan. Do we have a second? **[1:10:19] Connie Carlson:** I'll second it. **[1:10:21] Michele Hanson:** All right, thank you Connie. All those in favor say aye. **[1:10:23] All:** Aye. **[1:10:25] Michele Hanson:** Anyone opposed? Okay so we've got our dates down. Oh, one other thing... I thought it would be really helpful... okay, so this also has workshops that are going to be scheduled at 4:30 on all of those Monday meeting dates that we just talked about. Did we need to say that in the motion? **[1:10:51] Adam Bell:** It's only two... one... no, a workshop will be held prior to all regular City Council meetings at 4:30. The two that are asterisk are ones that were moved because of holidays. **[1:11:01] Michele Hanson:** We're doing a workshop every meeting now? Yes, we're just gonna have them on the schedule so that it's easier and we don't have to say "can everybody make it?" and then if we don't need it, we cancel it. And I was actually thinking that we might be able to get more stuff done if we added some more workshops too that are just already there. If we could just say the third Tuesday of every month we're going to set aside 4:30 to possibly have a workshop. **[1:11:46] John Dahl:** Tuesdays are the only nights that were good for him most of them, but Katie well I I guess Mondays are bad? **[1:12:12] Katie Hill:** Yeah, well just hopefully not... because I've already like... you've got this, I've already got that. My husband travels a lot, he leaves on Tuesdays a lot. Monday is okay, we have two sports going on that's one time. **[1:12:32] Michele Hanson:** Is there a reason we want to do it on Tuesday versus I was keeping it before on a Monday? No, we're gonna do those. I'm saying if we wanted to set aside some extra days for those times when we're like, boy it would be nice if we got more done in between these monthly meetings. **[1:12:49] Ethan Gilmore:** Well, I think putting them on the schedule doesn't make a ton of sense to me because we don't really know. Some months we have a ton of stuff and we're like all right we gotta schedule one, and some months there's not as much. Like obviously we could put one by the budget because that's usually one that we usually have to talk a lot. I would be okay with that one but putting them on there just every month arbitrarily doesn't, I don't know, to me it doesn't seem like it makes a ton of sense. **[1:13:19] Connie Carlson:** I agree, because if I'm gonna put it aside then it's like because I do a lot of on days I take Noah to these things when I don't have stuff going. If I've got to keep in my mind "well I can't help her on any of those days because we may have a workshop a week." **[1:13:34] Michele Hanson:** Yeah, can staff come up with some times where we feel like we're pressured like around budget time? I would say budget for sure have some extra ones slotted. And is there a time... can we all agree right now that a third Tuesday is... **[1:13:54] Ethan Gilmore:** Yeah like Tuesdays are good. **[1:13:58] Connie Carlson:** Tuesday are not except for unless I'm at the Library Board that I never miss. Oh, but Library Board is at six so we would be meeting at 4:30. **[1:14:04] Adam Bell:** When we're looking at this type of scheduling going to noticing, setting it on as a regular meeting would not have us then required to put these special notices out. That's one of the reasons I used to always have it before because that it's regularly scheduled through the process and if you pick a fixed date then that's a regular meeting that's on the schedule. It could be canceled however. We can also have special meetings; there's nothing wrong with that, we just need to make sure that staff is meeting those notice requirements. The fixed meetings allow us to just say we don't necessarily need to notice these because you know all these Mondays are our fixed regular meetings. **[1:15:20] John Dahl:** Can we do like every other month the third... the second... the third Tuesday or something? A winter, spring, summer, fall on each season type of deal? **[1:15:32] Ethan Gilmore:** Quarterly one? **[1:15:37] Michele Hanson:** I just would like to get some on there scheduled. I think if there's always I feel like stuff to do. If we don't have one before the meeting we're probably remiss. Well, look at tonight—we ran out of time to even talk about the stuff that we wanted to. Disappointing, guys. So that's why I feel like if I know it's more on our plates, but I just feel like we move slowly and if we could get more done it would be really nice. **[1:16:23] Matt Kline:** Madam Mayor, members of the council, one other option without committing to another night is to continue the workshop that's all before the regular meeting. Like tonight's example: the council probably only needs... not that we want to stay longer than we necessarily have to, but this is important business... another half hour spent that same night instead of another meeting to be notified. **[1:16:47] Michele Hanson:** Well, I was going to check the attorney. **[1:16:51] Adam Bell:** If you had the workshop regularly scheduled like you do, instead of adjourning the workshop you would recess it until after the council meeting. Then after the council meeting, you would come back and come out of recess and resume the workshop. There'd be no other special... wouldn't have to be an additional notice because you're just recessing the meeting. When the original notice goes out, it can be notated that it may continue if needed. **[1:17:34] Michele Hanson:** It's a great idea. What about capturing an extra half an hour on the front side? I don't think it works for Connie to come earlier than before? **[1:17:48] Connie Carlson:** If I know in advance, I can usually make it work. **[1:17:54] Michele Hanson:** Well let's... if it's the week before is it tricky for anyone else? Because I could come earlier, I can be early. I mean, not any earlier than four. **[1:18:03] Ethan Gilmore:** I could do four. **[1:18:05] Michele Hanson:** Significant. I think it would help. I like that idea of moving into four and then if we need to recess we can recess to and finish it after. I love that. But I would still put at least one if not two during budget season. **[1:18:27] Matt Kline:** Staff can come up with those that list of dates that we're gonna need to do. Bring those back to the next meeting just as a consent item. **[1:18:38] Michele Hanson:** No, I think we're on this either way. Yeah, if you could come up with some of those dates that we can then choose and set them then you don't have to worry about them later. **[1:18:50] Adam Bell:** Attorney Lunen, on the regular meeting calendar dates list it did list the city council workshop at 4:30. We would need to entertain a new motion setting those workshop meetings to a four o'clock start time. **[1:19:20] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so just amending what we had just passed? Does anyone want to make that motion to change our workshop times to four from 4:30? **[1:19:27] John Dahl:** So moved. **[1:19:29] Michele Hanson:** All right, do we have a second? **[1:19:30] Connie Carlson:** I second. **[1:19:32] Michele Hanson:** All right, John and Connie, thank you. All those in favor say aye. **[1:19:35] All:** Aye. **[1:19:36] Michele Hanson:** Anyone opposed? All right, so passed. We're going to have our workshop starting at four; we will recess if necessary to continue the conversation after regular city council meetings. Okay, all right. Um, that's funny, that wasn't even something... yeah, the meeting dates weren't even on my agenda... **[1:20:13] Adam Bell:** They're in the packet but I was just like, oh it went from liaison reports to this step. The motion right above the liaison reports, it says I moved to approve new business number two used. **[1:20:29] Michele Hanson:** Oh okay, reports. Did I do it all in that? Oh, it's a report. Oh my gosh, you guys. Okay, so that's where we're at, liaison reports. So, I can start quick: I'm the Planning Commission liaison and we did meet but that will be coming up at the next meeting, we think, so we'll talk about it then. Cable Commission for Ethan? **[1:20:53] Ethan Gilmore:** We did not meet so I have nothing to report. **[1:21:01] Connie Carlson:** And the Library Board: the Library Board did meet and basically Jill reported that everything is on schedule, budget's pretty close to on schedule. They had a little bit of a setback with some of the audio stuff but otherwise everything's going as planned and she's very excited. And we acknowledge that the last meeting, Sarah Wagner's three terms on the Library Board... she we kind of celebrated her leaving and I want to give a shout-out to her for all the things that she does for the community. She'll be missed that's for sure. And the Library Board wants to give Adam a big thank you for supporting the library and being there for us. **[1:21:46] Michele Hanson:** And he's going to be missed too. **[1:21:54] Connie Carlson:** And then Jill's working really hard on getting the spring and summer programs all together. **[1:22:15] Michele Hanson:** Connie, I heard a rumor that they're maybe looking for another Library Board member? **[1:22:20] Connie Carlson:** They are. I know they had... **[1:22:24] John Dahl:** Do you know somebody? **[1:22:25] Michele Hanson:** You know somebody? Uh, somebody asked me about it. **[1:22:29] Connie Carlson:** They did have somebody... do you know anymore, Sarah? **[1:22:33] Sara Taylor:** Councilmember Carlson, I feel like we did already turn somebody last month, so I'm not aware of any current vacancies. **[1:22:45] Connie Carlson:** Okay, maybe. I know there was a lady... Janelle Nelson? **[1:22:50] Sara Taylor:** Yes, so she was appointed. **[1:22:52] Michele Hanson:** Okay, so we're good. So no, John. Not yet. Thank you, Sarah. **[1:23:14] Michele Hanson:** All right, that's it. Done. All right, John, Watershed? **[1:23:17] John Dahl:** Did you guys not last month? Thursday they're always... **[1:23:19] Michele Hanson:** Oh yeah, and then you have to remember like four weeks. Okay, and Susan's not here to give any of her updates. Do you know anything about anything she did that you went to as well? **[1:23:30] John Dahl:** December was fairly quiet. **[1:23:36] Michele Hanson:** Okay great. So now Adam's gonna call on the staff. **[1:23:44] Adam Bell:** Chief Eisinger is not here tonight. You do have his report in the packet. The call volume numbers, fire runs were back; they were higher than last year. Chief Eisinger wasn't able to be here tonight due to other fire duties. With that, Chief Jackson. **[1:24:07] Jay Jackson (Police Chief):** Evening Madam Mayor and Council. Congratulations, thank you Mayor Hanson; that has a good ring to it. I really don't have a lot our past events I went over last time: lighting of the green was a big hit—it was cold, but it was a big hit. Our annual weapons qualification and cold weather shoot is completed. For those that missed it, Toys for Tots was another great year. The DOC brought in just a ton of toys for us this year. Our upcoming 2023 schedule is yet to be determined. Our total incidents to date when I created this was 855 as compared to 2021 which was 839. I want to remind people we're having... as we have a lot of snow, we've had some complaints about snowmobilers riding on property which is partially private property and partially the right-of-way. Mr. Klein, Mr. Bell, and I discussed it and our ordinance clearly reads that we want snowmobiles to stay to the right side of the road at a safe distance away from other cars. We allow that but not on private property. See our ordinance; we're going to put something out on that tomorrow on our Facebook post as well. The Police Department wishes to formally recognize Mr. Bell. You know, I just want to say that for all of us, he is supportive of all of our staff, our council members, the community. **[1:25:41]** He will be missed. I just want to say that he by far has been my best administrator, and I've had quite a few. **[1:26:00]** [Applause] We wish him well and the City of Crystal is fortunate to have him, and so is the chief there who I know very well. She's excited to have him. So we wish him well and we also want to welcome Mr. Kline and we know he'll do a good job. Again, thank you for all your support. **[1:26:42] Michele Hanson:** Yeah, thank you. Okay, Public Works director until Thursday evening and Interim Administrator, Matt Kline. **[1:26:47] Matt Kline:** Thank you, Madam Mayor, members of the council. Just want to remind everybody that we have gotten a significant amount of snow and that City staff is still cleaning up city streets. Residents are responsible to make sure that their sidewalks are plowed, even at the corners where there is still significant snow. The city does not come by and clean up those areas of the sidewalk, so that is definitely your responsibility. We also do not come out and plow driveways for anybody unless it's in the road. We will not come out and clean up your driveway. We feel bad that there's a significant milestone, but everybody in town is dealing with the same factor so we do not have the City staff or capacity to accomplish that. That's really the significant one that I have. Sara and I and Adam are working on a utility rate study/financial analysis that we've been working on for a couple of years in the hope that we can get that completed by the next budget season so that it shows what the impact of potentially doing infrastructure work and different stuff like that are on our water rates and potentially on money that we need to put aside for CIP work. As Adam **[1:28:18]** indicated, the rooftop HVAC unit at the old fire hall—we've ran into some troubles with it and we fixed it numerous times over the years and so now we were looking at total replacement. That should hopefully get done here in the next couple of weeks. And then finally the booster station improvement project which is finally finishing up, a year behind schedule, but it is what it is. So that should be done here hopefully by the end of January. I'll stand for questions. **[1:28:50] Michele Hanson:** One thing, just thanks to you and your staff for keeping up the roads. It's been a bugger for everybody and so I hope people are showing some patience with you guys. Question on how our equipment's holding up? **[1:29:05] Matt Kline:** All equipment is doing wonderful. The new loader that we received works great, all the plow trucks... we haven't had any breakdowns this year. **[1:29:16] Ethan Gilmore:** We're a small town without a lot of overlapping equipment, so what would be the plan if we lost a primary piece of equipment? Reach out to Miller and try and get something going that way? **[1:29:28] Matt Kline:** Yep, so I've definitely talked with Miller in the past and that is definitely an option. We do have the capability... we're still looking at getting like a used plow unit for the loader where we could use that in an emergency. But until then, we've always had a standing thing with Miller that they would come help us out. **[1:30:00] Ethan Gilmore:** Good to know. And I think I ask you this every year about this time of year: we're getting by without having to declare any sort of snow emergencies or setting that kind of... I mean I see some really major trouble spots right now but I think most of them have been addressed. Or you're still standing firm with "we don't need to do anything"? Chief, I would be interested in what you'd have to say. **[1:30:35] Matt Kline:** I'm not necessarily saying that we don't have to do anything. It's worked for however many years in the past. Usually, we come back the next day and clean up anyway and so there's been, what, I think they did 10 to 15 snowbirds and I believe almost all of them move that next night. PD was gracious enough to go out and do some door-knocking which helps us a lot. There's probably only one or two that haven't actually moved and a couple of those we actually know about. So while it's definitely not ideal, I think we'll just leave it at that. **[1:31:18] Ethan Gilmore:** Okay. It works well and I always like to just put it out there—it hasn't gotten significantly worse from when I started. **[1:31:25] Matt Kline:** Sounds good to me. **[1:31:27] Michele Hanson:** One thing I would like to point out that is a little frustrating is when people don't think about parking on the opposite side of the street from someone who is parked on and there's already snow. The street's not very wide and then if you could just move so you're not right across from the other car, it seems like it would be really helpful. Think to yourself: "would a fire truck be able to get through here?" When the plows go by one side and then... I mean, we go out and we move our car like normal human beings, civilized human beings, but apparently there's some in the city that don't like to do that. **[1:32:00] Ethan Gilmore:** But nice job, Public Works. I feel like our alley has never been as clear, so did a great job. **[1:32:07] Michele Hanson:** I think we're not quite done with staff. **[1:32:09] Adam Bell:** Yes, next is Assistant Administrator/Planner, Sara Taylor. **[1:32:15] Sara Taylor:** Mayor, members of the council. December workload consisted mostly of wrapping up ongoing projects and tasks and preparing for the upcoming year ahead. Liquor and tobacco license renewals were processed and distributed. Permits, licenses, applications, forms, and handouts have all been updated for 2023. The next edition of the city's e-newsletter, Bayport Brief, is in process and target distribution of that is mid-January. Also, final edits have been made to the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan that was finalized in December; the final document was sent to the Metropolitan Council on December 21st and the plan has also been posted now on the city's website. Just a recap of the Planning Commission on December 19th: we met to consider variances to expand the substandard single-family home at 317 Lake Street. The Planning Commission recommended approval for the proposed North addition to the house, but their vote was split 2-3 on denying the proposed East addition, which was staff's recommendation. Due to personal scheduling conflicts, the applicant has requested an extension on the review period for his application, but it's anticipated that this will be heard by the City Council in February. The next meeting of the Xcel Energy stakeholder group, which I believe Mayor Hanson has now been appointed as the liaison, that meeting has been tentatively scheduled for February 23rd and I believe that's a morning or midday meeting, so I'll send you the information on that. Finally, I echo Chief's comments on Adam's departure. Ironically, I came to Bayport from the City of Crystal 19 years ago. **[1:34:21] Michele Hanson:** Good, that's great. **[1:34:23] Sara Taylor:** So Adam will have experienced what I started out with, maybe ending his career there. Congratulations. I stand for questions. **[1:34:33] Michele Hanson:** All right, Adam? **[1:34:35] Adam Bell:** Mayor, members of the council, my report is pretty short tonight. As former Mayor Stan Waters noted, we did have the Moody's call in December and they did notify us that we qualified for an upgrade. Thursday I will have the press release and we'll find out what our actual rating is, but the call went very well. So that was good news. Even if we aren't upgraded, we're qualified to be upgraded, so our foundation is very solid. I want to thank Mary Goulette as well for helping out with preparing for that and Tamiami from Northland Securities—he's one of our favorite consultants to work with on financial matters. As has been said multiple times, this is my final city council meeting. I just wanna you know thank you for all the kind words. It's been a real pleasure to serve in Bayport. I'm sorry I didn't get longer to get to know you, Councilmember Hill. But council members, it's been six years here another month and not every day has been perfect or easy but nothing is. The city does have a great staff; I'm going to miss everybody and especially these three here, Mary, Chief Jackson... everybody that I had the honor to work with. It's been... I've learned a lot about Bayport. It really is a gem, a special city. I was incredibly picky when I came to Bayport **[1:36:44]** after having served in Lake Elmo for three years, which was at peak dysfunction. I actually quit to be a stay-at-home dad for two years just because I couldn't take it anymore. So when I finally did decide to rejoin public service and interview the workforce again, I was very picky in where I wanted to be and where I wanted to spend my time, because my time's more valuable than just not enjoying it. So I'll stop blabbering. I really appreciate... thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve and thank you to the residents. I know not everybody out there and I have seen eye to eye, but **[1:37:31]** hopefully you can still respect the work I did and that I was trying to serve the city. All the residents who I've worked with as well—a couple, Heath and Camp from Inspiration, we work very closely together—everybody at First State Bank. This city has a great pool of business owners and residents and even some of the people who just drive through here and waved. It's a great City. I have high confidence in Matt and the rest of the staff to continue that and the Council to keep up the good work and face the challenges ahead. There's plenty of them, but you get groups to it. Thank you again. **[1:38:18] Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Adam, and thank you for choosing us. We're very fortunate that you did come here. You did great things to help us understand and clarify our budget for sure. And your attention to detail and you always want to do what is best for the community and everyone. I very much appreciate all your time and I'm going to get teary-eyed, so stop talking. **[1:38:43] Adam Bell:** One thing of advice, just one last thing. So I live on the west side of the Metro; it's an hour drive each way. It was an hour drive when I got hired. Don't let that scare you away in the future years from now when you need to get another administrator. Don't be scared off. That's not the only reason I'm leaving—it's gonna be a lot closer which is definitely a factor—but the right person is the right person. **[1:39:35] Michele Hanson:** Good advice, thank you. Yeah, Adam lives in the town that I grew up in. Yes, there's another small world connection. All right, well thank you for making me teary-eyed. Any other like city council items or announcements other than... does anyone want to say their own special goodbye or anything? I don't know. **[1:39:51] John Dahl:** There's a... yeah, yeah. **[1:39:55] Michele Hanson:** I think it's just a closed one so I just didn't want to announce it, that's all. I just wanted to also personally thank Sarah Wagner who served on the Library Board. She better not disappear, that's all I'm saying. She better find another thing to do that's going to help the community because she is awesome. **[1:40:15] Connie Carlson:** No way she could disappear. She's out, she's everywhere I go. Volunteer at Holiday Hope, there she is. She's just too busy of a woman. **[1:40:37] Michele Hanson:** She is. All right, so thank you Sarah if you're listening. Laura's like, "get this meeting over with." All right, I need a motion. **[1:40:40] John Dahl:** I'll move to adjourn the regular session. **[1:40:42] Michele Hanson:** Thank you, John. Do we have a second? **[1:40:44] Connie Carlson:** I second. **[1:40:45] Michele Hanson:** All right, Connie. All those in favor? **[1:40:47] All:** Aye. **[1:40:48] Michele Hanson:** Anyone opposed? All right, let's... we're done. A really big... that's what Susan should have done at her last night.