Here is the transcribed townhall meeting with speaker identifications based on the context provided. [4:27] **Mayor Dan Loumet / Staff:** okay just bring it up from there yeah okay all right yes okay not secure see it's it's not gonna let me do anything CU we're not secure isn't secure I would not put that past anybody let alone Mr Jones but that's now I'll try that loud and proud I don't even know how to do that God I'm an Apple guy. [5:12] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** we're going to call the meeting to order will the clerk please note those in attendance noted all right will you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance... the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right well that's the extent of of your meeting council member Jones if you could please join me at—I already made a mistake no we have to approve the minutes you are you there that one one more official task. [5:58] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all right I trust everyone's had a chance to review the minutes from the last council meeting I'd entertain a motion to approve those minutes council member Jones I'd entertain a motion from you. [6:10] **Council Member Dan Jones:** I would move to approve Mr Mayor. [6:12] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** thank you do I have a second on that? [6:14] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** second. [6:15] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all those in favor say I. (Group: I) any opposed? The minutes are approved now you're officially done if you please join me at the podium. [6:37] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** there are lots of people that want to speak tonight so I will be brief I feel um very privileged to be able to speak on your behalf because 16 years you served on the council I've only had the purpose to serving for two years so it's been brief but it been a wonderful two years I have learned a lot from you uh and I've always admired that you have been candid plain spoken you knew where everybody knew where you stood on the issue um and I personally appreciated that especially with Minnesota nice and we tend to skirt around the issues we don't like that Council Jones has never had that problem um as you all know so you have left a lasting Legacy on this Council you have left your mark on the city literally because he designed the the water tower and I hope that that's your logo that's your image and I hope that that stands for many many years as just a a very large representation of the mark that you have left on this community I know you've always had white be Lake's best interest at heart and uh I look forward to seeing what you're going to continue to do at the Historical Society so it's not so much goodbye but we're going to see council member Jones in a different capacity just no longer at the diets so on behalf of the city thank you for your many many years of service this large bear is truly welld deserved and uh just thank you again earlier. [8:23] **Council Member Dan Jones:** Mr Mayor I want one with Mr Mayor and the Bear all right I mean he's the third one but he's the one that's giv me the bear so he counts. [8:28] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all right and I believe Miss Crawford has a few words to say as well. [8:31] **Lindy Crawford (City Manager):** I got to stay here okay you're not done no no okay well it's going to be a little repetitive because you're that great so um first of all uh you have been an advocate for many many things so I I have a little uh just some notes with some help from former staff because I've only been here two years so uh for the southside of white bear you have been an advocate for 16 years for County Road Corridor e for all of our many many parks and trails uh for quality and efficient city services and just good local government some of the projects I think uh that have been very important to you I suspect to probably also list a few more that I don't know about but the Southshore Trail uh the renovation and uh funding Partnership of the YMCA the Rambler Revolution which I hear about a lot um the facility of Renovations for public works and now public safety um and you've hired two city managers so thank you for that— [9:45] **Council Member Dan Jones:** we— I'm not taking 100% for you— [9:47] **Lindy Crawford:** I knew that was coming um but you have been on the city council you did it for the right reasons you didn't waver from seeing the big picture make sure and looking out for the Greater Community um and you have been truly an example of a public servant um as the mayor said a piece of you will be lasting forever in the city of White Bear Lake throughout the community with your artwork on the water tower um our our city logo as well as many street signs um and we have one more water tower to paint so we not quite done yet um I can't stress this enough Dan how much staff and and I have appreciated um your support over the years and I think that's a testament to there are many current and former staff members in the audience here so thank you for serving the city um and uh you know so well over the last many many years we appreciate everything you've done and we also have a special little gift from staff for you. [Applause] [11:08] **Council Member Dan Jones:** where Mr Mayor go thank you thank you that's wait it's hug night it's always come here am I done? [11:15] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** not yet we're not done yet now we start the roast no there are a couple council members that would uh like to say a few words so council member Edberg please. [11:24] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** thank you Mr Mayor Mr Jones things are going to be a little bit quieter on this end of the Dais and that's always been for me a source of um both interest but also an expression of your passion your energy your vision for our community as another long serving public servant I recognize the contributions that youve made in 16 years it's a long time to put up with all the other little things and some not so little things but you've done it with good grace an occasional acerbic comment—occasional—and um but all in all done for the right reasons um city manager captured many of your passions and uh it's just been a joy for me to be—we haven't always agreed on things and that's okay because you have always uh been—we've disagreed without being disagreeable longer than about 5 minutes so anyway thank you for your service I honor it. [12:49] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** if I could mayor uh Dan um you You've I really appreciate your passion I like to think I have a little passion too and the passion you bring um it's important it means you you believe what you're saying and you believe um what you bring to this dais and what just want to—a lot of people have said everything things that that I could repeat but what you've done for me um on the council over the years is we joke about this white bear way thing but you you're born and raised you grew up in White Bear you understand White Bear better than I think all of us do certainly I do as someone's only been here you know even 20 years but not born and raised well uh yeah so so when I whenever I couldn't understand something like I don't get what's going on I don't understand the push back I don't get—I would come to you and you'd say no here's here's what they're saying here's why they're saying here's the history of the city that always helped me as a council okay I get this now I'm thinking of the the dispatch decision which a very difficult decision and I that didn't to me it was black and white it was it was Financial but it was a community thing that you helped me understand and I really appreciate that about you on the council and I'll miss that when well I'll miss it but I'm also going to continue to call you and and run things by you because I think I'll need that feedback from what am I missing here Dan. [14:14] **Council Member Dan Jones:** what's to argue with? [14:15] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** yeah and argue a little too so I I got you a little present on the way out and um you you know people have talked about your your Artistry and your artistic talent and as an artist and as somebody who cares about Aesthetics you're very upset when they did the 35 bridge over Highway 96 they put some bears on there to decorate it very nice to the state to do that for us but the Bears are not white so I may or may not have uh committed some vandalism today and in honor of your service to the city for 16 years and of your last day uh some of those Bears those Bears may be white today maybe we have a picture that we could bring up the—there's the Bears are. [14:48] **Council Member Dan Jones:** thank you just get me sworn in before Chief takes me out of here uh for the vandalism uh that would be that would be a good thing. [14:56] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** congratulations that's a State Bridge yeah so maybe is there any state patrol here yeah okay awesome thank you. [15:06] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all right I I know you you're dying to talk cuz but please uh thank you again and and if you'd like to share a few words we'd love to hear from you. [15:15] **Council Member Dan Jones:** I I would well it was it's hard to walk away and it is I mean there's something about being on this council with these people and it's people that it's what it's been so thank you Mr mayor council staff as I've reflected on City Council I I tried to remember the projects and Lindy thank you for reminding me of them because honestly when I'm starting to go back 16 years and look at agendas that's a problem but the truth is it could be my age oh it could be my age sorry Tech Guys it could be my age um not sure shocking there's been a lot of dirt pushed buildings built roads improved policies created updated implemented amended they kind of blur all together but what I remember is the people honestly it's the people that have made the place that we call home an even better place and that's what's special so please bear with me while I attempt to say thanks to all the people that have made this city even better I think each time that we've had an evolution of change which is constant and I dare I say that you guys have made me a better person not easy to do I understand that but I got to start with former city manager Mark Sather he was essential in my Municipal education boot camp essential and I mean that he always took the time to answer my questions maybe too much time but Mark guided us through the Great Recession a tough tough time and for over three decades directed our city our city would not be the city it is today without that man thank you Mark. Ellen Hiniker former city manager Ellen you were hired during a time of transition and I don't want people to forget that not just taking over from Mark after after his long tenure but you were at a—you became city manager at a time when Municipal governments were changing how they operate and you saw that and you had to bring people with you and I think you were ahead of the curve you had the perfect temperament for that job the perfect temperament you were able to bring people together during covid-19 and the impact of George Floyd virtually two simultaneous events that changed our country and Ellen was there being our calm levelheaded guide throughout all of that throughout the unknown thank you Ellen. Lindy Crawford city manager thank you for saying yes you fool you have had the job of continuing a mark and Ellen has started your strength is your personality backed by your ability a rural Town upbringing you know I love that Austin mix and previous city management experience in my opinion you are the perfect fit for our city be patient with us don't let us become something that we're not. Former mayors Paul O'Grady and Jo Emerson two people I have greatly admired and served a long time with they handle the job of being mayor the only citywide elected official and that deserves a lot of respect they both served during times of growth and difficulty and did so with patients understanding and professionalism they chose to be mayor not for the title but for out of the service to their community and Madame mayor you did so admirably. Brian Beile you didn't think I'd call you out but I'm going to former city council member and current Park board member you just can't walk away Brian and I were elected at the same year didn't know each other from Adam but strangely we became fast fast friends and kind of like The Odd Couple really um for the past eight years Brian I have missed you every single day on this Council and that is with no offense to current council members Brian did his research and served with respect and absolute dignity he relied heavily I relied heavily on him for conversations and guidance and no I didn't break any open meeting laws Brian was my only phone a friend Brian thank you for being there for me. For time sake I can't go into details for everyone but I can't step away without mentioning the people that made the job of being a city council member much much easier I have to start with staff because these are the people that got the real work done to sit up there and say yay or nay isn't that difficult the work is done before that and it's not done when that yay or nay happens so a lot more work to do after that staff you are the heartbeat of our city you keep things growing and flowing literally hopefully um especially you know you create Implement and carry out policy and keep us safe and protected all jobs done that are unique yet still very difficult in each one of them especially when you have over 25,000 supervisors have you heard the expression hurting cats? These people know how to herd cats I'm telling you they know what they're doing and I have my sincere gratitude as everyone should give them for they have chosen White Bear our home as their place of profession Rick Juba Mark BurPaul, Paul Cauchy, Connie Taillon, Mark Meyer, Andy Wikki, Don Rambo, Carrie Kinat, Jim Robinson, Anne Kane, Jason Lindahl, Tracy Shimek, Troy Gilchrist, Lynn Banks, Julie Swanson, Dale Hager, Tim Vadeis and Greg Peterson all of you have been in my mind as far as helping me become a better city council member but City staff can't do everything and I would not have endured 16 years out out here without the help of community members the following people were literally always available to talk to take my phone call which I'm sure was painful um and I needed a—I needed a view of a point of view outside our city government and it's people like Dale Grambush, Sarah Hansen, Scott Costello, Chuck DeVore, Doug Beain, Daryl Lemire, Lisa Beecroft, Esther and Tom Newcome, Dean Fenner, Tim and Holly Geck, Jim and Deb Barry, JP Peron and Victoria Reinhardt, Sheri Wilson, Carol and Pat Mcfarland, Bill Short, Mike Greenbaum, Mike Gangler, Bill Foussard, Stephanie McNamara, Phil Bellori and Tim Wald these are people throughout the community that through extension made our city our community better and Thanks goes to each one of them all of them had a profound impact they deserve our thanks my thanks for serving our community and it may seem odd but I also have to thank the entire Community I know it sounds like a blanket but it's not when our daughter Kayla got hurt in 2016 the support from this community was desperately needed and wanted and received that will never ever never be forgotten by our family and now to my former colleagues on the council thank you for putting up with me especially this last year Mr Mayor I truly believe the city is in good hands from your first day you have listened given your opinion and have been Fair that's not easy especially coming out of the gates good job keep doing it council member Hughes thank you for asking the questions and challenging the norm it's the questions that don't get answers that it's going to get us into trouble thank you council member Engrand I'm thankful for your cander you could chime in every once in a while but on the upside you're making the meetings shorter so council member Walsh thanks for keeping our financial pencils sharp it's never a bad thing you and I don't agree on everything but we do have one thing in common you do like you said we both everybody knows where we stand and I and I admire that and you and you make it damn hard not to like you thank you Bill and finally council member Edberg sincere thanks for your knowledge insight and wisdom you have served almost 40 years I think once you complete this last term it'll be 40 years of Public Service which in my estimation is probably a record for the community that's unbelievable you're crazy sometimes it takes you more to say things than I have the patience for but that's my problem and I digress he takes up [Laughter] my one thing that you have done throughout all of our 14 years together was push me to be just better no matter if it was there here you just made me better thank you Mr Ed. And in closing my important most important thanks go to my family to my beautiful mother Jane Jones who if you didn't know showed up in a white bear coat that's fabulous thank you mom for being a force of nature who inspired her son to be involved and serve this community that you raised him in to my daughters Sam, Cam, Kay and Emma thank you beautiful young women when I was first elected you were 8 10 and 12 the format of tweenage your years the terrifying years I missed I know I missed important parts of your lives but I always came home to a hug of forgiveness and you knew I what I was doing was important thank you for that understanding meant more to me than you'll ever know and I love you so much that it hurts and finally to my beautiful kind supportive understanding wife Sally you've gone to countless events standing by me while holding me up I can't begin to fathom how bored you were you provided the best advice you were a sounding board you listened you gave your opinion and your reflection and that meant a lot to me a lot of that decision came forward to my decisions you took care of our family when things got busy when things got tough thank you for being my Foundation you are my rock and without you I would crumble I love you it's been it's been an honor to serve as council member representing the great Third Ward of the city of White Bear Lake I'm thankful to the residents of ward 3 for the opportunity but I'm ready to move on but I would not trade one single minute Miss West congratulations that seat up there is all yours now take care of it and thank you for your service and now Council for the first time I get to go home and eat cake. [28:15] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** for for those that may not want to stick around for all the boring stuff on the council meeting if you want you're more than welcome to to depart now I can give you a few minutes otherwise we're going to jump right into the business so um all right we're GNA move on to the business at hand item three uh I'm sorry U before we get to that um we do need to swear everyone in so we have our new council member and then those sorry I'm just so eager to get into the business of it all right so with that I'm going to throw things uh to Miss Crawford he going to get the process started or is Miss uh uh city clerk we'll just invite uh council member Andrea West to come forward and be sworn in. [29:03] **City Clerk:** so please raise your right hand and repeat after me I state your name do solemnly swear— [29:08] **Andrea West:** I Andrea West do solemnly swear— [29:10] **City Clerk:** that I will support— [29:11] **Andrea West:** that I will support— [29:12] **City Clerk:** the Constitution of the United States— [29:14] **Andrea West:** the Constitution of the United States— [29:16] **City Clerk:** and the state of Minnesota— [29:17] **Andrea West:** and the state of Minnesota— [29:19] **City Clerk:** and will discharge and Faithfully execute— [29:21] **Andrea West:** and will discharge and Faithfully execute— [29:23] **City Clerk:** the duties devolving upon me— [29:25] **Andrea West:** the duties devolving upon me— [29:27] **City Clerk:** as council member for the city of white Bear Lake— [29:29] **Andrea West:** as council member of the city of White Bear Lake— [29:32] **City Clerk:** without fear or favor— [29:34] **Andrea West:** without fear or favor— [29:36] **City Clerk:** to the best of my judgment and ability— [29:38] **Andrea West:** to the best of my judgment and ability. [29:56] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** congratulations. [Applause] [30:20] **City Clerk:** come on up right raise your hand and repeat after me I state your name do solemnly swear— [30:24] **Bill Walsh:** I Bill Walsh do solemnly swear— [30:26] **City Clerk:** that I will support— [30:27] **Bill Walsh:** that I will support— [30:28] **City Clerk:** the Constitution of the United States— [30:30] **Bill Walsh:** the Constitution of the United States— [30:32] **City Clerk:** and the state of Minnesota— [30:33] **Bill Walsh:** and the state of Minnesota— [30:35] **City Clerk:** and will discharge and Faithfully execute— [30:37] **Bill Walsh:** and will discharge and Faithfully execute— [30:39] **City Clerk:** the duties devolving upon me— [30:41] **Bill Walsh:** the duties devolving upon me— [30:43] **City Clerk:** as council member for the city of White Bear Lake— [30:45] **Bill Walsh:** as council member of the city of White Bear Lake— [30:48] **City Clerk:** without fear or favor— [30:50] **Bill Walsh:** without fear or favor— [30:52] **City Clerk:** to the best of my judgment and ability— [30:54] **Bill Walsh:** to the best of my judgment and ability. [Applause] [32:18] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** welcome council member West to the Dais we're happy to have you and now we're going to jump into the business we need to adopt an agenda so unless there are any amendments or changes to the agenda I would entertain a motion to adopt the agenda. [32:32] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** so moved. [32:33] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** second. [32:34] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** motion second all those in favor say I any opposed we have an agenda. Item four the consent agenda I would entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. [32:48] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** move. [32:49] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** second. [32:50] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all those in favor say I (Group: I) any opposed? Motion carries a consent agenda is approved. [33:03] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** item five visitors nothing scheduled. item six public hearings we have nothing scheduled. item seven unfinished business we have nothing scheduled. so item 8A the 2024 annual appointments Miss Crawford whatever you're ready. [33:18] **Lindy Crawford:** thank you mayor members of the council um I do have an updated uh staff report and resolution that is in front of you um the change in the staff report is the appointment of um a council chair so um let me get organized here so every year the city council um must approve annual appointments for various areas of the city government um and to support operations of the city so um I'll just quickly run through those various areas and then um toss it back to the to the mayor so tonight we will be appointing a chair of the city council um which is a two-year appointment um you will appoint City Council Members representatives to various organizations which include Ramsey County League of local governments, VMO, Ramsey County dispatch policy committee, Northeast Youth and Family Services um and the metro purple line Corridor management committee information about each of those organizations is outlined in the staff report um the city Charter uh excuse me a resolution um and establishing the HRA uh says that the mayor shall appoint um members to the HRA board which shall be consistent with the city council members we will appoint the city attorneys and a change in this year is um the city Charter was amended to allow for um multi-year contracts of up to 5 years um both of our city attorneys are present uh City attorneys GDO law and Kennedy and Graven have submitted proposals for three-year contracts um for uh for their services and staff does does recommend appointing both of those um we will appoint the administrative hearing officer um presently that is Jim Rathburn and staff does recommend reappointment of um of Mr Rathburn and then finally we will uh designate a an official newspaper um currently that newspaper is the white bear press and they did submit a proposal again this year um they are a local um have a hold a local office here so they fit the criteria of State Statute um for for uh for um designation so with that I can stand for any questions and let the council discuss. [35:23] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all right uh thank you Miss Crawford let's jump right into it and go kind of Point by Point through the ones that we need to make decisions on tonight and I know just for the record for those may be watching at home um we had some back and forth about who who did what last year and who might want to serve so I'm going to kind of go based on that premise and if anyone has any comments or wants to throw someone else's hat in the ring or wants to try something different just we we'll proceed that way so the Ramsey County League of local governments last year's representative was council member Walsh the alternate was council member Engrand are we both okay serving in those capacities this year? [36:13] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** well uh Mr Mayor um I mean it's is hard difficult to say I mean until we get through the whole list maybe I don't know if we because because you know I I don't have a ton of interest in that group um they meet by zoom on Friday mornings when I I missed most of the meetings I'll be honest with you so if there's someone else has any interest in that one I mean I I would gladly give that up and and especially depending on what we're going to do with the next one which is VMO which is you know one of the tougher commitments I think for a council member outside of the regular duties so okay how's that I don't I don't know how to have this conversation without the the whole— [36:57] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** why don't we do that we'll try and check check the ones that we know for sure kind of good so I'll make note of that let's move on to VMO I know uh council member Walsh you were the alternate it sounds like our our new council member council member West is interested in doing that um it sounds like you were alluding to that is that something Council Member West was willing to serve on and if so please let us know your thoughts. [37:25] **Council Member Andrea West:** yes I'd be willing to serve on that. [37:26] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** okay yeah so Mr Mayor that that's a real commitment so I'm thrilled that you want to do it I mean I it's it's um Dan spent a lot of time on that and and and took it seriously and um it's you know it's not that it's one more they meet every other month they don't meet every month even so it's not that big a deal but it's it's probably one of the the more time-consuming ones on this sheet so if you're willing to do it council member West I'm thrilled and I I'd love to continue as the backup I've been I mean there's been times where I've been I think three or four meetings over the years so have some familiarity with it I'm I'm a ready backup um but that'd be great and then if if that's the case then I'm more willing to serve like on this Ramsey County government piece if I'm not doing VMO so this is good this is good. [38:19] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all right so we'll we'll we'll call that tentatively good let's move on to Ramsey County dispatch police committee uh council member Hughes served on that last year we do need an alternate backup we'll start with council member Hughes are you willing to continue to serve on that organization? [38:32] **Council Member Kevin Hughes:** yeah okay. [38:34] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** do would anyone like to fill outgoing council member Jones's alternate role on that? Anyone at all well if you need a name all right well that's okay I mean if you— I want to at least give people a chance that that know they want to do it sounds like that one's doesn't have a lot of takers so um we'll put a pin in that for now I'm I'm making notes as we go here so that's that's helpful um the Northeast youth Youth and Family Services council member Hughes you express maybe a willingness to give others an opportunity on that does that still stand? [39:10] **Council Member Kevin Hughes:** yes okay. [39:11] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** and uh council member West you expressed an interest in that is that still the case? [39:15] **Council Member Andrea West:** yeah okay. [39:16] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** and have we historically just not had an alternate or is that not needed? [39:20] **Lindy Crawford:** never done an alternate okay. [39:22] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** I don't know all right well we don't want to reinvent the wheel if we've never had it's it's a board so it doesn't really work oh sure you're off you got— I mean they have um I kind of chuckled the first time I was on that board that they interviewed me and accepted me and I'm thinking well of course you're going to accept me the mayor appointed me I'm I'm your board member but they I had to go through their process so there's no alternate there cuz you're actually serving on their board. [39:46] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** yeah unless they allow for proxies which I don't want to get into if they do or not that's that makes sense why we we never had uh an alternate for that position okay well thank you council member West for volunteering for that one uh the metro purple line quarter management committee it was my understanding council member Walsh was fine staying in that capacity council member Edberg was fine staying an alternate role is that still the case? [40:02] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** yes. [40:03] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** okay so then by my math here we've got an alternate that we need for the Ramsey County dispatch policy committee um maybe what would be somewhat helpful if uh council member Hughes that you served on that uh is that a significant time commitment maybe that might help someone make a decision whether to raise their hand and serve in that capacity? [40:24] **Council Member Kevin Hughes:** no I don't think there needs to be an alternate okay. [40:27] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** does need to be an alternate? [40:28] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** I don't think so I mean four times a year right I guess more if if it's four times a year. [40:33] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** okay so that's helpful to just to tell us a little bit more about it okay um so I'm looking around trying to dragoon someone into uh maybe doing this keep in mind it's just an alternate role—don't make eye contact don't make eye contact—I'm sure Council uh council member Engrand can I put you on the spot and count on you to be the alternate is that something you'd be willing to do? [40:58] **Council Member Steven Engrand:** sure you can put my name on there. [41:00] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all right I appreciate that it's going to be great on your resume it's going to be good and of course we have every confidence council member Hughes is going to show up at every meeting and you won't have to do anything but just in case it's good to have a backup okay I think we have everyone as Council Member Walsh said he's willing to serve continue to serve in that capacity Ramsey County League of local governments so I think we have our list—council member Engrand you're going to continue as the alternate for that all right so that slate looks good I trust our city clerk took good notes of all that. Wonderful. [41:45] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all right so we need an HRA chair that position was formerly occupied by council member Jones um there has been some interest that's been expressed is there someone that really feels passionate about serving in that capacity and I— council member Edberg. [42:04] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** so I'm the all—I'm the vice chair right now I'm willing but if there are others that are interested I'm certainly not married to that idea. [42:15] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** okay. [42:16] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** sounds like he wants it I'll be his vice chair. [42:18] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** perfect okay that works for me that that I think we've got that we'll plug that in. [42:28] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** and that leaves us with the council chair with the chair of the city council uh what—go ahead that requires nominations and a vote right? don't we— does the council vote on that? [42:38] **City Clerk:** yes yeah. [42:39] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** on the chair city council on the chair of the city council is it in the same resolution though or is it— [42:43] **Lindy Crawford:** yeah it's oh— same or different it's in the same resolution it's just a different warehouse. [42:48] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** okay yeah so uh council member Edberg you have historically served in that role I'll start by asking this is that something you'd like to continue to do? [42:58] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** I'm very willing to do that. [43:00] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** okay is there anyone else that would like to serve in that capacity? [43:03] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** I'd nominate Edberg. [43:05] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** okay seeing none I have a nomination for council member Edberg do I have a second? [43:10] **Council Member Steven Engrand:** second. [43:11] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** any further discussion on that nomination? All those in favor say I. (Group: I) any opposed? Congratulations council member Edberg. [43:20] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** thank you Mr Mayor of course it's only in the resolution now we have to approve the resolution but just think back to that meeting that you weren't here it was so awesome I mean he just did a great job I mean smooth I mean was like no parliamentary issues in two years meeting it's a pretty good record. [43:37] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** thank you for reminding everyone of my stellar record council member Walsh I do appreciate that all right uh we have our city attorneys uh I mean the the city attorneys are currently in the resolution are they not? [43:53] **Lindy Crawford:** yes. [43:54] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** so I guess the question simply because does anybody have any objections with GDO Law and continuing to stay as our city prosecutors or Mr Gilchrist and his firm at Kennedy & Graven uh continuing on as our City attorney okay so we don't need any further action on that right they're in there okay. [44:17] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** so with regard to our designated official newspaper um we have the white bear lake press white bear press in there um Mr Johnson I see if you're here if you if you'd like to say a few words on on that you're more than welcome to do so but there's no obligation to do it we do appreciate you being here. [44:48] **Carter Johnson:** mayor council staff I'm Carter Johnson publisher of press Publications uh we're delighted to serve the community for the 2023 year as your legal newspaper we look forward to 2024 some exciting things about uh the Press we continue to grow you've noticed the paper's a little thicker we're having more circulars and flyers and we're delighted to be serving some of our local businesses through that from our grocery stores Etc uh our audience is very strong I have uh our results our weekly audience is over 69,000 what's amazing here is still our print readers are greater than our digital readers some of our other markets are digital is exceeding but here in this community our print readership is uh still excelling we're one of very few newspapers still using youth carriers so we're delighted to offer youth a a first job and they're small business owners when they get out and deliver so thank you again the paper is free to anybody who wants to receive it twice a year we ask for a subscription we have free box locations throughout our communities and if you're not getting the paper feel free to give us a call at the Press 651-471-2000 uh if after hours you can call our circulation Line 651-471-2345 details and we'll see if you're on a carrier route or if we can get a um the closest location another exciting update is we launched a newspaper to serve the lake shore of the lake and uh we've been delighted with this it publishes four times a year and we continue to work with uh organizations try to help educate people on the lake so thank you again is any questions council? [46:42] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** do we have any questions for Mr Johnson? All right we do appreciate you being here and sharing a little bit about the press and thank you we'll plug along thank you all right. [47:01] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** the last item that we didn't mention was the appointment of the administrative hearing officer Jim Rathburn that is in the resolution appointing him any concerns objections comments on that? Okay so I think we've covered everything that needs to be covered and with that— [47:15] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** move to approve. [47:17] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** I have a motion to approve the resolution approving the aforementioned appointments along with the Slate of council members that will serve on the various organizations do I have a second? [47:27] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** second. [47:28] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** any further discussion on that? Seeing none all those in favor say I (Group: I) any oppose? Motion carries that resolution is approved. All right item 8B the first reading of an ordinance amending the zoning code regarding notice and voting requirements Mr Lindahl whenever you're ready. [47:51] **Jason Lindahl:** uh mayor members of the city council thank you uh the item before you tonight as you mentioned is a zoning code text Amendment related to notice and voting requirements for zoning amendments which would include either text amendments or rezoning of properties and to plan unit development applications um staff offers this item really as kind of a housekeeping kind of item to bring the zoning code regulations um in line and make them consistent with the city's Charter and with uh state law the City attorney staff has worked with the City attorney um to review the proposed changes and draft the ordinance and uh the City attorney is recommending these changes to establish again consistency in the city's standard um the changes uh in in the in the these changes and the city's voting process requirements would be from a super majority or a 4 fifths vote for uh to a simple majority of the council or three-fifths um again this uh this voting standard again is for rezoning zoning tech text Amendment changes or and for PUD plan unit development applications um and to again remain consistent with State Statute any rezoning application uh that would change from residential to commercial remains at a super majority vote um the Planning Commission held the required public hearing on zoning amendments like we typically do back at their November meeting um and that uh meeting produced no comments we we've gone through the normal publishing process uh uh for zoning text amendments and have not received any comments from the public so with that both the Planning Commission and staff are recommending approval in this case the city council should conduct the first reading tonight of the ordinance and uh that would be related to amending the municipal code uh for notice and voting requirements for zoning amendments and plan unit development applications and with the second reading then would action on this item would be considered um at the January 23rd meeting and with that I'd stand for questions. [50:09] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** thank you Mr Lindahl council do we have any questions? We've had the first reading is there anything that would be useful to comment now for purposes of the second reading council member Edberg. [50:16] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** thank you mayor um perhaps more from Mr Gilchrist um does the change okay so I have appreciated the role of a super majority for PUD um I really don't have objections in the other two but I valued the um requirement of a of a super majority there have been more than one situations in my tenure where um that has been in play and in my mind it forces a uh an agreement among the uh among members of the council presumably representing the interests of the community um in um PUD uh situations is the change in statute that was referenced I think I know the answer but I'm just going to ask it do we have any discretion to retain the 4 fifths or um was this was the state statute change uh such that we do not have discretion and that we are simply bringing us into compliance um into strict compliance with statute. [51:10] **Peter Gilchrist (City Attorney):** yes so so Mr Mayor and Council there's really two different answers uh on this depending on on which issue you're looking at so with the amendment piece amendment of to your zoning ordinance and your uh any rezoning requests uh that was a law change that happened in 2001 we're getting around to amending so that's that's been a a bit out there for for a while and and frankly is inconsistent with your Charter as as well so so there's no question that one needs to be changed uh when it comes to the other one uh with the Pud that's not really a statutory base the the statutes recognize puds but they really don't get into the the same voting requirements that they do with amendments uh but you still have your Charter uh and and arguably that super majority requirement isn't consistent with your Charter uh because your Charter says a majority of all the members uh and so when you're imposing on yourself something greater than that arguably you're not being consistent with your with your Charter uh and so that's why I really recommend we should get this in line certainly in the first piece kind of long overdue uh let's get that cleaned up and by the way the notice Provisions that have changed in here they're they're meant to just track with what the statute says so that language that you see there that's all just right out of the statute because frankly your current language is not quite as clear on that so let's just be clear that here's the statutory notice requirements and then when it comes to plan unit developments again just being consistent with your Charter. [52:54] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** so the issue as it pertains to puds is mostly an issue with our Charter not necessarily uh an issue with the state? [53:01] **Peter Gilchrist:** correct. [53:03] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** yeah so if there were a number of and I don't think there is but if there were a u number of council members who wanted to change the charter that would be the way to obtain the outcome that I was that I've become enamored of. [53:15] **Peter Gilchrist:** absolutely. [53:17] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** all right fine I understand the options thank you. [53:21] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** thanks council member well just for what it's worth Mr Mayor I I have the same reaction council member Edberg gave when I started reading the memo and I thought I'm reluctant to to change this and then you know you're kind of convinced by the you know we're out of we're out of step with our own Charter we're out of step with state law but I'm just just for the for the record or for what it's worth I I I don't know if there's anything we do about it my gut is kind of where you are in terms of I don't mind the higher bar to for some of these things it's it's it's not a bad thing it's a good thing so for for the future— [54:02] **Council Member Bill Edberg:** I okay any other comments on this we have had our first reading and we'll take this up again so I'll just invite if there are other council members who would like to pursue that alternative changing the charter sending it back to the Charter commission with a council recommendation let's think about that it's not a massive deal but I so the nature we are mostly a built out Community planned use developments usually are more sizable it's not they're not looking at a single cosmetic change or a relatively small change and so asking for a super majority strikes me as being useful for us but it's not something I think any of us need to plant our plant our swords on so anyway. [54:51] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** well I'll just note that I agree with both council member Edberg and council member Walsh I think having that higher burden is is good so that's sort of I look at as the long-term solution and I'm I'm open to having those conversations in the short term we probably need to pass something to shore this up um because the City attorney can correct me if I'm wrong but our ordinance can say whatever it wants but if it's superseded by what the state statute requires it's it might as well be in the ordinance anyways so let's just do it for the sake of good order and then we can take up those issues down the road is that a fair characterization Mr Gilchrist? [55:32] **Peter Gilchrist:** Mr Mayor yes and I'll remind the council that staff is working with Consultants to update the entire zoning code uh so there there's an opportunity there to have those discussions with the uh Charter commission to see if if in fact they support that because as you know you you know if they can make a recommendation by unanimous vote of the council you can amend the charter. [55:54] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** very good okay final comments on that all right we will take this up again at the next council meeting item nine discussion nothing scheduled item 10 Communications from the city manager Miss Crawford. [56:06] **Lindy Crawford:** thank you uh mayor um today we had a big visitor here at City Hall and at the license bureau the governor was here today um and he uh he got his blackout plate so uh Governor Walz, commissioner Jacobson and uh DVS uh director Jang were here along with mayor Loumet uh you can see uh Lexi is the one who helped him um in the license bureau and then he was generous enough to spend some time with staff and with our license bureau staff and and take a photo um with us so it was quite the commotion for for a while we did not shut the license bureau down um so we did have quite a line um that went through the hallway during that entire time as well as about I'd say I don't know 20ish people for um for a short press conference that happened right here in this room so a lot going on so I just wanted to share that um uh and the reason that he selected um White Bear Lake License Bureau was because of um it was we were recommended by the Department of Vehicle Services um which is a huge deal um we got we received a lot of compliments while they were here of the work that um our license bureau staff has done over the many years and and just the willingness to partner with the state so um I wanted to be sure and and share that and I think the mayor stayed around and got new plates too right? [57:24] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** I did I got a set of blackout plates myself they're pretty cool. [57:28] **Lindy Crawford:** so a portion of that goes to fund um Department of Vehicle service so um and then it is law enforcement appreciation day today so just thank you to all of our law enforcement professionals here in White Bear Lake um we formally recognize them later in the year with the proclamation um for police week and um and all that but just wanted to say thank you to all of them we appreciate all the work that you do um and just welcome council member West Staff is looking forward to working with you um and thank you for for running and and serving our community so that's all I have mayor. [57:54] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** thank you Miss Crawford I just want to Echo a couple of things first uh having had the privilege to be here this afternoon I do want to extend my compliments to all of the license bureau staff they handled themselves with professionalism and with the spotlight on them with all the media attention they did a great job kept servicing the customers that came in and did help the governor buy his plates so kudos to them just wanted to give a shout out to them for their good work today um and I too will again welcome council member West to the dais and to the council we look forward to working with you and I'm sure this is uh the first of many many good meetings where we'll have lots of good discussions so welcome to the council. Anything else for Miss Crawford? With that I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. [58:38] **Council Member Bill Walsh:** so moved. [58:39] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** do I have a second? [58:40] **Council Member Kevin Hughes:** second. [58:41] **Mayor Dan Loumet:** all those in favor say I. (Group: I) we're adjourned.