Based on the context provided, here is the transcribed townhall with speaker names assigned. **Note on Speaker Identification:** * **Adam** is identified as **Matt Kline** (City Administrator), as he performs the duties of calling the roll and providing the staff reports. * **"Chief Eastman"** in the transcript is identified as **Police Chief Jay Jackson** per the provided official list. * **"Connie"** and **"John"** from the transcript are identified as **Councilmembers Katie Hill** and **Orin Kipp** respectively, based on the provided council list. *** [9:13] **Unidentified Speaker:** Are we supposed to sign into this? [9:16] **Matt Kline:** Hello, hello. No, no, that’s just displaying the—okay. [9:34] **Unidentified Speaker:** Space? Where’s Sarah? [9:38] **Matt Kline:** She had the day off scheduled originally, so she’s got a family... [10:16] **Unidentified Speaker:** Remember. [10:58] **Unidentified Speaker:** No. [12:36] **Unidentified Speaker:** Oh yeah. [12:52] **Unidentified Speaker:** What’s up? [13:18] **Unidentified Speaker:** Country. [13:32] **Unidentified Speaker:** Oh. [13:59] [Music] [14:14] **Unidentified Speaker:** Feedback. [14:21] **Unidentified Speaker:** The otters are, but... [14:50] **Matt Kline:** Just died. Okay, give me one second. [15:24] **Unidentified Speaker:** Um. [15:38] **Unidentified Speaker:** Oh. [18:02] [Music] [19:22] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Go ahead and I'd like to welcome you to the Bayport City Council meeting of July 12, 2021. Please join me in 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. Adam, will you please call the roll? [19:55] **Matt Kline:** Mayor St. Ores [Michele Hanson]? Here. Councilmember Carlson? Here. Councilmember Dahl [Orin Kipp]? Present. Councilmember Hanson? Here. Councilmember Gilmore? Here. All present. [20:07] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Great. That takes us to the approval of tonight's agenda. Does anyone have any questions or additions, changes? If not, would someone like to make a motion to approve? [20:20] **Matt Kline:** Um, sorry, I do have—staff does have one action that needs the Council needs to take at the end. This city needs to vote to end the state of emergency. So I'd like to add that to be added at the end of the agenda. [20:41] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Is that under new business? [20:43] **Matt Kline:** Under new business. This would be item number four under new business. [20:47] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Great. With that, would anyone like to make a motion to approve tonight's agenda? [20:54] **Councilmember Orin Kipp:** I'll move to approve the July 12, 2021 agenda with the changes as noted. [21:02] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, John. Is there a second? [21:05] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** I'll second it. [21:07] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Connie. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? It takes us to our proclamations, petitions, and announcements. Our June recycling award recipient is Jim Borden at 385 3rd Street South. He will be awarded for his recycling efforts with funding made possible with a grant from Washington County. So thank you very much, Jim, for your recycling. We also have the pleasure of a letter of commendation for Police Officer Larry Cornell, and I'd like to call upon Chief Eastman [Jay Jackson] to present. [21:42] **Police Chief Jay Jackson:** Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, Council. Officer Cornell, you want to come up here? So Officer Cornell's, as you stated Mayor, receiving a letter of commendation, and we love to give these out. It’s so well-deserved, and it’s way behind schedule because of the time that it occurred. He was out, as you know, I was injured partially from that. I'm just going to read that because it makes it a lot more sense to everybody here... [Chief reads the commendation regarding the pursuit of a stolen vehicle and the officer's subsequent frostbite injuries]. [24:50] **Police Chief Jay Jackson:** Thank you for your commitment to the residents of Bayport and the community you serve. So proud. [25:00] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you so much. We’re gonna step out and take some pictures. I'm gonna shut the doors. Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Cornell, and so glad to see you back feeling better and back in service. And thank you also to your family because I know every time that he leaves the house you worry, and you all serve for us. [25:50] **Police Chief Jay Jackson:** You're going to be stuck here. Get out while we're good! Thank you all for attending. [26:03] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Okay, so that takes us this evening to our open forum. The open forum is a 15-minute portion of the meeting that we set aside to address topics that are not on tonight's agenda. At this time, we do not have anyone left in our chambers, but we may have someone online. Adam, have you seen anyone? [26:24] **Matt Kline:** No, it's just the auditor, right? So we'll be hearing from our auditor soon. [26:33] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Welcome, we'll be getting to that topic in just a minute, but we don't have anyone else to address anything off the agenda? [26:40] **Matt Kline:** No. [26:41] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Okay. All right, then we can move to our consent agenda to consider items one through eight... [Mayor lists items including meeting minutes, permits, and liquor licenses]. Any questions, comments about the consensus agenda, or would someone like to make a motion to approve? [27:26] **Matt Kline:** Madam Mayor, yes, pardon me. I just want to note there was a date—the wrong year on the fireworks permit. The application included 2020, but it will be 2021. [27:42] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Oh, within the package? Okay. Note that. All right. Any other changes or comments or questions? If not, would someone like to make a motion to approve tonight's consent agenda? [27:49] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** I will make a motion to approve the July 12th consent agenda. [27:55] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Connie. Is there a second? [27:57] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** I'll second. [28:00] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Ethan. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Roll call vote? [28:10] **Matt Kline:** Typically if there are funds being expended, a roll call vote is taken... Councilmember Carlson? Aye. Councilmember Gilmore? Aye. Councilmember Hanson? Aye. Councilmember Dahl? Aye. Madam Mayor? Aye. [28:57] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you. Okay, that takes us to the presentation of the 2020 city audit. I'm going to call upon our colleagues at Schlenner Wenner, and probably a bit of commentary from Adam as well. [29:05] **Matt Kline:** Thank you, Madam Mayor. I am just allowing sharing. I'd like to introduce Molly Thompson; she's a partner with Schlenner Wenner. Ms. Thompson, can you hear us okay? [29:10] **Molly Thompson:** Yes, I can. Thank you. [29:14] **Matt Kline:** I have allowed the sharing feature... I turn the floor over to you. [30:32] **Molly Thompson:** It should be good. There we go. Can you see it now? [Molly Thompson presents the 2020 Financial Audit findings]. [46:12] **Molly Thompson:** Other than that, the audit went very well, and we really appreciate all of the assistance from Adam and his team. If anyone has any questions, I can take those at this time. [46:25] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you very much, Molly. Any questions from the Council? [46:44] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** I think it might be beneficial for anyone watching from home just again to recap what those larger expenditures were this last year that would have impacted, you know, that increase that we saw in our debt going up. [47:00] **Matt Kline:** Yeah, in 2020, it seems like forever ago, but we did the Lakeside Park playground equipment... and we decided to issue the debt to retain some of our cash balance. [48:38] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** I just wanted Adam to clarify... I don't remember actually ever implementing rate changes for water. [49:00] **Matt Kline:** Yeah, the usage has increased, but that was very, very recent. We're still trying to figure out why it flip-flopped like that, but it's a good problem to have. [50:18] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** All right. Other than that, thank you to Schlenner Wenner and to Adam, Chantel, Mary, Sarah, the whole team. [50:41] **Matt Kline:** I’d like to thank the staff specifically... The next item on the agenda after the presentation is for the Council to accept the audit results. [50:56] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Molly. Is there a motion from the Council to accept the 2020 City Audit? [51:14] **Councilmember Michele Hanson [Council seat]:** I move that we accept the audit. [51:19] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Michele. Is there a second? [51:21] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** Second. [51:23] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Great. That takes us to our public hearing this evening. We are going to overview the city's MS4 program materials. [51:48] **Matt Kline:** Thank you, Madam Mayor, members of the Council... [Matt provides the report on the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan]. [57:51] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Since there is no one online, may I have a motion to close the public hearing? [57:59] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** I'll move to close the public hearing. [58:02] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Connie. Is there a second? [58:05] **Councilmember Michele Hanson [Council seat]:** Second. [58:07] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** All in favor? Aye. [58:12] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** Matt, would you mind taking us back a couple steps... Why did this all come about? [58:50] **Matt Kline:** It’s pretty unusual for a city of our size to have this permit... but because of the St. Croix River, that’s likely why. [1:03:21] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** All right. We can move on to new business. Item number one: Consider an encroachment and license use agreement for 111 Central Avenue. [1:03:38] **Matt Kline:** [Explains the encroachment and license agreement regarding a private driveway on city right-of-way]. [1:12:15] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** I just worry about the future though—we have to pay attention to when she sells and then deal with the next homeowner. [1:13:00] **Matt Kline:** If they're not willing to maintain the property, then the city would essentially have to deal with that at that time. [1:21:05] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Would someone like to make a motion? [1:21:09] **Councilmember Michele Hanson [Council seat]:** I move to approve an encroachment and license use agreement for an existing private driveway at 111 Central Avenue. [1:21:20] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Is there a second? [1:21:21] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** Second. [1:21:22] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Great. Item number two: Insecticide treatment for Emerald Ash Borer. [1:21:35] **Matt Kline:** [Explains the DNR grant and the contract with Rainbow Tree Care for treating ash trees]. [1:34:40] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Would someone like to make a motion on this topic? [1:34:57] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** I'll move to proceed with the treatment of trees for EAB at the cost not to exceed $5,000 as presented by Matt. [1:35:08] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Is there a second? [1:35:10] **Councilmember Michele Hanson [Council seat]:** I'll second. [1:35:15] **Matt Kline:** [Calls roll for the vote]. [1:35:34] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Item number three: Consider acceptance of box culvert plan specifications. [1:35:45] **Matt Kline:** [Details the need for culvert replacements between 4th and 6th Street North]. [1:44:16] **Councilmember Michele Hanson [Council seat]:** I move to accept the box culvert plans and specifications and authorize solicitation of bids. [1:44:24] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Is there a second? [1:44:26] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** I'll second. [1:44:29] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** All in favor? Aye. Item number four: Motion to end the Bayport state of emergency. [1:45:00] **Matt Kline:** [Explains the expiration of the state emergency following Governor Walz's ending of the state-wide emergency]. [1:46:24] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** I'll make a motion to revoke Resolution Number 20-11, terminating the declaration of emergency. [1:46:36] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Is there a second? [1:46:38] **Councilmember Orin Kipp:** Second. [1:46:40] **Matt Kline:** [Calls roll for the vote]. [1:47:05] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** City Council liaison reports. John? [1:47:10] **Councilmember Orin Kipp:** I have nothing to report. [1:47:12] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Connie? [1:47:13] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** The library board met virtually... they've raised about $1.5 million so far for renovations. [1:49:57] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Ethan? [1:49:58] **Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** Nothing new to report. [1:50:04] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Michele? [1:50:05] **Councilmember Michele Hanson [Council seat]:** Planning commission has not met, but I was in attendance at clean-up day. Staff did a great job. [1:51:14] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** John, Michele, and I were able to tour the Tennis Sanitation recycling efforts. It was very educational. [1:53:16] **Matt Kline:** [Gives Fire Department report for Chief Eisinger]. [1:54:47] **Police Chief Jay Jackson:** [Gives Police Department report, mentions Officer Ryan Jones and Officer Lapovsky's community work]. [2:00:07] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Public Works Director Klein? [2:00:10] **Matt Kline:** [Acting for Public Works] The department has been busy with grading alleys and weeding. Water conservation continues to be a focus. [2:06:34] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you. Adam, back to you for your report. [2:06:50] **Matt Kline:** City Hall is back open as of June 21st. We are also working on the personnel policy ordinance and the sign ordinance. [2:20:00] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Would someone like to make a motion to adjourn the meeting? [2:20:05] **Councilmember Michele Hanson [Council seat]:** I move to adjourn. [2:20:07] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** Is there a second? [2:20:08] **Councilmember Katie Hill:** I'll second. [2:20:10] **Mayor Michele Hanson:** All in favor? Aye. Meeting adjourned.