This transcript has been edited for speaker identification based on the provided list of officials and the context of the meeting. **Note on Speaker Identifications:** * **"Councilor Jones"** in the original transcript has been corrected to **Councilor Joe Peterson** based on the official city council roster provided. * **"Councilor Jelly"** has been corrected to **Councilor Andy Hjelle**. * **"Councilor Geisler/Gisler"** has been corrected to **Councilor John Geissler**. * **"Councilor LeBlah/Lah"** has been corrected to **Councilor Brian LeBlanc**. * **"Mr. John Johnson"** has been corrected to **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director)**, who handles zoning and cannabis ordinances for the city. *** [0:04] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** ...United States it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [0:19] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson here, Councilor Geissler here, Councilor Hjelle here, Councilor LeBlanc here, Mayor Boucher here. [0:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do any councilors have announcements that they'd like to give this evening? Anyone? Okay, we have a public hearing on the Truth in Taxation for next year's property tax levy. Mr. Mulder? [0:46] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So tonight is the public hearing for the 2025 budget and levy. Notices were mailed out by St. Louis County. We held our preliminary budget meeting back in September. The proposed levy is 9,483,024. Of that, 8,891,117 is going to the general fund. The rest is going to Debt Service and some of our abatement projects. Sorry, I misspoke—I've got to get back to that. It's 8,284,000 is going to the general fund for the taxes. The total levy for the city is 9.4 million. So tonight, people have an opportunity to speak to the budget and to the tax levy. The city council does not need to take action tonight, but you would need to approve it before the end of the year, which would mean you could wait two weeks if you wanted to. [1:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Is there anyone present or online that wishes to speak to us about the Truth in Taxation hearing for the tax levy for 2025 and the budget for 2025? Is there anyone online, Mr. Mulder, that we can see? [2:19] **City Administrator John Mulder:** I don't have that... we do have one online and they can raise their hand whenever or just unmute and start with their name and address. [2:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thanks, Mr. Mayor—thank you. So, either anyone online or in Chambers, if you wish to address the proposed tax levy or next year's budget, please start with your name and address. Is there anyone that wishes to address the council about next year's property tax levy or general fund city budget? [3:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We will close the public discussion and we have four resolutions in front of us. First is 2024-225, resolution adopting the final 2024 property tax levy collectible in 2025 in the amount of 9,483,024. Is there a motion? [3:36] **Councilor John Geissler:** Well, since we had no one speak on it tonight, I would motion to approve. [3:41] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [3:43] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [3:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Roll call please. [3:46] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [3:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is Resolution 2024-226, City general fund budget in the amount of 8,891,117 and the overall budget of 25,878,000. Do we have a motion? [4:18] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. [4:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion to approve by Councilor Hjelle. Is there a second? [4:23] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. [4:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Roll call please. [4:28] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [4:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is Resolution 2024-231, resolution authorizing the hire of two additional police officers in 2025. This would take place in the third quarter of 2025. Do we have a motion? [4:55] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. [4:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [4:59] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [5:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Roll call please. [5:05] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [5:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is Resolution 2024-232, resolution authorizing the hiring of a full-time administrative assistant in 2025. Do we have a motion? [5:27] **Councilor John Geissler:** Move to approve. [5:29] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [5:31] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [5:33] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Roll call please. [5:36] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Nay. Councilor LeBlanc? Nay. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [5:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We have no communications to be dealt with this evening; there are some that are on file. Public discussion: This is the time that anyone can address the council about any item not on the agenda. We ask that you limit your time to 3 minutes per person. If anyone wishes to address the council, please start with your name and address. [6:28] **[Public Speaker - Dialogue Not Transcribed]** [7:17] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Thank you. We will forward that information to our city engineer. We'll forward your comments about the soft spots to the city engineer. Is there anyone else that wishes to speak to the council under general public discussion? Does anyone else wish to speak about in general public discussion? [7:53] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Hearing none, we will move on to the consent agenda, which includes minutes approval or correction of November 18th, 2024, City Council continuation minutes, and accounts payable, approved General City warrants from November 16, 2024, through November 30th, 2024, in the amount of 1,423,828.77. Do we have a motion? [8:21] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Do approve. [8:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? [8:24] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [8:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Roll call please. [8:28] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [8:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next we have city ordinances. Second reading of Ordinance 2024-10, Section 405, Sale of Tetrahydrocannabinol Products to regulate cannabis business. Do we have a motion? [8:55] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Move to approve. [8:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? [8:59] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [9:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder, maybe we could have Mr. Johnson? [9:05] **Community Development Director Eric Johnson:** Great, thank you very much. First of all, I'd like to start off that a public hearing, as you'd mentioned—this is the second reading for this—a public hearing was held at the Planning and Zoning commission at the November 19th meeting. There were no members of the public in attendance; however, there was quite a bit of conversation from the Planning and Zoning asking various questions associated with these two ordinances. At the end, they did recommend approval as written as we're going to be seeing here this evening. [9:45] **Eric Johnson:** This first ordinance has to do with Section 405, and what this does is generally address the nature of the businesses and sale of the THC products. It establishes fees and license requirements associated with that. It limits the number of the Cannabis retail businesses in the City of Hermantown to one for every 12,500 residents. This creates buffers associated with different uses, i.e., schools, daycares, residential treatment facilities, playgrounds, parks, or other cannabis retail type businesses. It establishes what districts these operations can happen in as well as hours of operation. Lastly, it does get into regulation of low potency hemp edibles as well. Once again, can only be sold to people 21 or older and can basically have to be sold behind-the-counter type of activity. As I mentioned, Planning and Zoning concurred with the council that we're looking at more of a conservative approach as this starts to come on board from the city standpoint, with the knowledge that this could be addressed at a future date if it wants to be revisited. [11:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from Council? [11:06] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** I just have one clarifier. In the application submittal, it says to be included is a copy of a valid state license or written notice of pre-approval, but then they have to go to the state to get approval after getting our approval. And I looked at Gunnar Johnson [City Attorney] too on that. [11:29] **Eric Johnson:** I will start with that. So, the initial process of how this works is an application would be made to the city, and then once it is determined that the operation meets the requirements—particularly zoning districts, etc.—then that applicant would go to the state, secure their licensing, and then come back to the city for that final approval process. [11:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Okay. Any other questions or comments from Council? So, public input on these ordinance questions. To speak to this ordinance, please start with your name and address. Is there any public input on Ordinance 2024-10? Roll call please. [12:38] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [12:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is the second reading of Ordinance 2024-11, an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Section 200 definitions in Chapter 5, land use regulations to regulate cannabis businesses. Do we have a motion? [13:06] **Councilor John Geissler:** Move to approve. [13:08] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [13:10] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [13:12] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Do we need any more of an explanation than we got for the last one? [13:17] **Eric Johnson:** Maybe the only thing I'll add is the particular uses, i.e., cultivation, transportation, retail businesses, etc. Those would require proper zoning districts as well as a special use permit. So there'd be a public hearing held at a Planning and Zoning commission and then with that action ultimately going before city council for their action at that point. [13:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do I have any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this ordinance? Any public input on the second reading of Ordinance 2024-11? Any public input on the ordinance amending Chapter 2, Section 200? Roll call please. [14:14] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [14:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next we have resolutions. Resolution 2024-233, resolution approving ARPA fund usage. Do we have a motion? [14:38] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. [14:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [14:42] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [14:43] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [14:45] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So the city received just over a million dollars in ARPA funds from the federal government. We've used those for various fire department administrative facilities, Keen Creek, police body cams, the comprehensive plan, and broadband studies. So we've used it for lots of purposes. We've spent $920,000 of that. Before the end of the year, we need to designate how we're going to spend the remaining amount. We have $47,000 expected to be spent on the comprehensive plan in process, and then the last estimated $85,000 we’re recommending that that be applied to Fichtner Field improvements. [15:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution approving ARPA fund usage? Is there any public input on Resolution 2024-233? Roll call please. [15:58] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [16:11] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2024-234, resolution adopting assessment roll for delinquent utility charges for 2024. Do we have a motion? [16:23] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [16:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [16:27] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. [16:29] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder? [16:31] **City Administrator John Mulder:** This is an annual thing that we do with unpaid utility amounts. In the past, we had proposed to assess like delinquent water and sewer bills, but we now do that through the shut-off process. So, these are the unpaid storm water utility fees. These residents haven't paid their storm water utility fees, so we're proposing that they would be assessed on their property taxes. [17:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do I have any questions or comments from Council? [17:05] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Does this admin fee go to the county or stay with the city? [17:10] **City Administrator John Mulder:** The county keeps... well, part the county, part the city keeps. [17:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2024-234? Last opportunity for public input on the adoption of assessment roll for delinquent utility charges. Roll call please. [17:48] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [18:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2024-235, resolution approving final pay request to Veit & Company Incorporated for water main replacement project along Trunk Highway 53 between Airport Road and Stebner Drive in the amount of 154,155. Do we have a motion? [18:22] **Councilor John Geissler:** Move to approve. [18:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [18:27] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [18:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [18:30] **City Administrator John Mulder:** This is just the work that was done to replace a water main along Highway 53 that you had previously approved. [18:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution approving final pay request to Veit Company for a water main replacement project? Is there any public input on Resolution 2024-235? Roll call please. [19:15] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [19:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is Resolution 2024-236, resolution approving pay request number seven for Road Improvement District number 541 and 542 to Northland Constructors in the amount of $132,204. Do we have a motion? [19:48] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [19:50] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [19:53] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [19:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. All those in favor say Aye. [19:57] **Council Members:** Aye. [19:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Opposed, same sign. Next is Resolution 2024-237, resolution approving general fund grant agreement construction grant for Hermantown Ice Arena project between the City of Hermantown and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Do we have a motion? [20:19] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Approve. [20:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? [20:23] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. [20:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder? [20:26] **City Administrator John Mulder:** As you recall, the State did approve a Capital Improvement request of $7.4 million for the Ice Arena. This is that grant agreement that we need to enter into with the State in order to receive that money. It requires some conditions for us that we need to meet, and then we can get paid during the construction process. [20:53] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Are there any questions and comments from Council? [21:00] **Councilor John Geissler:** Is the effective date the June 2nd of 2023? Is that the date they passed the grant? [21:05] **City Administrator John Mulder:** I believe it is. [21:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other questions or comments? Is there any public input on this resolution? Resolution approving general fund grant agreement construction grant for the Hermantown Ice Arena project. Is there any public input on Resolution 2024-237? Roll call please. [21:55] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [22:08] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is Resolution 2024-238, awarding a contract for security cameras for the Northstar Ford Arena in the amount of $53,232. Do we have a motion? [22:23] **Councilor John Geissler:** Move to approve. [22:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [22:28] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [22:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder? [22:32] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So in the process of constructing the Northstar Ford Arena, we want to put in security cameras and some network infrastructure to handle that. We will actually have the school district enter the agreement with Siton and then we'll reimburse them for this expense. This was included in the soft cost budget that we have. [22:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from Council? Public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2024-238? Any public input on the resolution awarding a contract for security cameras for the Northstar Ford Arena? Roll call please. [23:30] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [23:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is Resolution 2024-239, resolution approving change orders numbers 7, 8, and 9 for the Northstar Ford Arena in the amount of $2,637.27. Do we have a motion? [23:56] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. [23:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [24:01] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [24:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [24:04] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So this is the second change order that is within their guaranteed maximum price. We did not have our bids for the joint sealant when they set the GMP, but they had a placeholder in there of a certain amount. They did get actual bids, and it was considerably less than the placeholder—$61,000 less. So we are changing that, reducing that by $61,000, but we are going to add lighting along the pathway from the arena up to the high school parking lot ($15,000) and adding some bollards around the ice plants just to protect those from stray vehicles or people backing into them. And so the total change order is for $2,600. [24:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from Council? [24:55] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** I'll just comment—I think the added lighting is a good level of security for the path between there and the high school parking lot. [25:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other comments? Hearing none, is there any public input on Resolution 2024-239? Any public input on resolution approving change order number 7, 8, and 9 for the Northstar Ford Arena? Roll call please. [25:48] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [26:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2024-240, resolution awarding contract for a new trailer for the wide area mower to Whetstone Trailer Sales of Esko, Minnesota, in the amount of $12,300 plus applicable taxes and fees. Do we have a motion? [26:19] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [26:21] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion to approve by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [26:23] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [26:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [26:27] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So this is for a trailer in Public Works that was in the 2024 budget for the purpose of being able to transport the wide mower. [26:38] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments? [26:42] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Why "plus applicable taxes"? [26:45] **City Administrator John Mulder:** That's just kind of the standard language we have, like in case we missed a fee or something like that in the price and we have to buy license plates for it. The invoice does reflect no tax payment. [27:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other questions? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution awarding the contract for a new trailer for the wide area mower to Whetstone Trailer Sales? Is there any public input on Resolution 2024-240? Roll call please. [27:37] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [27:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We're near the finish line—only two to go. Next is Resolution 2024-241, resolution authorizing a summary of an ordinance of the City of Hermantown amending and restating Section 405, Sale of Tetrahydrocannabinol Products to regulate cannabis business. Do we have a motion? [28:11] **Councilor John Geissler:** Move to approve. [28:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion to approve by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [28:15] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [28:17] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder? [28:19] **City Administrator John Mulder:** This allows the city to publish a summary instead of the whole ordinance. Yeah, so it's simply publishing a summary instead of five pages of the ordinance. [28:34] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Is there any questions or comments from Council? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2024-241? Any public input on the resolution authorizing a summary of the ordinance? Roll call please. [29:04] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [29:16] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is Resolution 2024-242, resolution authorizing a summary of an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Section 200 definitions and Chapter 5 land use regulations to regulate cannabis businesses. Do we have a motion? [29:32] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Move to approve. [29:34] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [29:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve, second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [29:39] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Same explanation of the previous resolution—just allows us to print a summary. [29:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2024-242? Any public input on the authorization to publish a summary of an ordinance? Roll call please. [30:13] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? Aye. Councilor Hjelle? Aye. Councilor LeBlanc? Aye. Councilor Peterson? Aye. Mayor Boucher? Aye. [30:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next we would entertain a motion to recess. [30:30] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Recess. [30:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [30:33] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [30:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. All in favor say Aye. [30:38] **Council Members:** Aye. [30:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Opposed, same sign. Thank you. See you all in a couple of weeks.