This transcript features Mayor Wayne Boucher, members of the City Council, City Administrator John Mulder, and various department heads. [0:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Okay, let's uh, call the meeting to order and stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. [0:05] **All:** I pledge 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. [0:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Before we get to our roll call, we have to have the Oath of Office. All right, are we going to stand? And raise your right hand, please. [0:22] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Okay. I, state your name... [0:25] **Joe Peterson:** I, [Joe], do solemnly swear... [0:28] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** ...do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States... [0:45] **Joe Peterson:** ...that I will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the state of Minnesota... [0:55] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** ...the Constitution of the state of Minnesota, and that I will discharge faithfully the duties of the office of... state your office... [1:03] **Joe Peterson:** ...office of the City Council of the city of Hermantown in the county of St. Louis and the state of Minnesota, to the best of my judgment and ability. [1:20] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Roll call, please. Councilor Peterson? [1:22] **Joe Peterson:** Here. [1:23] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [1:24] **John Geissler:** Here. [1:25] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? [1:26] **Andy Hjelle:** Here. [1:27] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? [1:28] **Brian LeBlanc:** Here. [1:29] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? [1:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Here. Uh, welcome, Councilor Peterson. [1:35] **Joe Peterson:** Thank you very much. [1:38] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Announcements? Do any councilors have announcements that they'd like to make? Councilor Peterson? This evening? Anybody else? Uh, the one thing I'd like to say is—we all know it—but I'd like to just continue to point out that our former state representative Mary Murphy died within the last few weeks and uh, acknowledge her contributions to our community. If you drive through and look around you, you can't go anywhere without seeing something that her work touched and uh, we all appreciate the work that she did. Public hearing? We have none. Communications? There are none that are highlighted. Mr. Mulder, could you give us a short summation of the presentation that was given at pre-agenda? [2:20] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So at pre-agenda, we just simply talked about um, the um ongoing efforts to do a comprehensive plan and looking at the possibility of um, development and extending the urban service area to the southwestern portion of the city um, and also then including um, the extension of water and sewer to that corner of the city and having a legislative ask to support um, the extension of those utilities. [2:50] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Uh, public discussion. This is a time for individuals to address the council about any item not on the agenda. We ask that you limit your time to three minutes per person. There will be public discussion available during agenda items later. Is there anyone who wishes to speak to the council under public discussion? Is there anyone online? Okay. Anyone wishes to speak to the council under public discussion, if you're online, please raise the hand in the uh, applicable program and otherwise step forward to the podium and state your name and address. Last opportunity for general public discussion. Hearing none, we will move on to the consent agenda. [4:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Quite a bit under the consent agenda: minutes approval or correction of the December 16, 2024 city council minutes; accounts payable approved General City warrants from December 16th, 2024 through December 31st, 2024 in the amount of $3,124,464.43. Motions: appointment of the official newspaper; appointment of depositories; appointment of Mayor Boucher as council's designated representative to the Hermantown Chamber of Commerce; appointment of Mayor Boucher as City representative on the Metropolitan Interstate Council with David Bolf, City Engineer, on the Transportation Advisory Committee with Trish Crego, City Utility and Infrastructure Director, as an alternate. Appointment of the following for three-year terms: Planning and Zoning Commission, Corey Kolquist; Park Board, Jim Sonnes, Dwight Morrison, Kelly Tasky; and the Board of Appeals and Adjustments, Gerald Wallace. Also resolutions: 2025-01 resolution appointing John Geissler as acting mayor; 2025-02 appointing ex-officio members to various boards and commissions; 2025-03 resolution authorizing and directing Mayor Wayne Boucher and City Administrator John Mulder to sign checks and drafts for the city of Hermantown with alternates Acting Mayor John Geissler and Director of Finance and Administration Kevin Orme. That's the end of the consent agenda. Pretty long. Um, do we have a motion? [5:55] **Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. [5:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Is there a second? [5:59] **Brian LeBlanc:** Second. [6:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. We have a roll call, please? [6:05] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? [6:06] **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [6:07] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? [6:08] **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [6:09] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [6:10] **Joe Peterson:** Aye. [6:11] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [6:12] **John Geissler:** Aye. [6:13] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? [6:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Ordinances. We have the second reading of Ordinance 2024-15 fee schedule. Do we have a motion? [6:30] **John Geissler:** Move to approve. [6:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [6:34] **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. [6:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder? [6:38] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This is just the um, setting fees for uh, the uh license requirement—licensing for the cannabis um, retail businesses. [6:48] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Um, is there any public input on this ordinance? Any public input on Ordinance 2024-14? Any public input on the amending of Hermantown Code of Ordinances Section 2:70 fee schedule? Roll call, please. [7:10] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [7:11] **John Geissler:** Aye. [7:12] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? [7:13] **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [7:14] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? [7:15] **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [7:16] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [7:17] **Joe Peterson:** Aye. [7:18] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? [7:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. And the next two ordinances will be first reading, so there won't be any uh, motions needed. Ordinance 2025-01, an ordinance amending the Hermantown Code of Ordinances by amending Section 310 and repealing Section 310A to continue to administer and regulate the public rights-of-way in the public interest and to provide for the issuance of regulation of right-of-way permits. This is the first reading. Mr. Mulder, could you give us a short explanation of this? [8:10] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Basically uh, this ordinance is to regulate what happens in the right-of-way within the city. Um, in part it is to communicate to um, the utilities um, what our expectations are, but then also for the people that are working in our right-of-ways to um, get permits and then so that we know uh, what work is being done there and so that we can um, as we plan for future utility work, we'll know what's in our right-of-way. [8:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Uh, is there any public input on this first reading of Ordinance 2025-01? Seeing none, Ordinance 2025-02, an ordinance amending and restating Section 1060 Erosion and Sediment Control for land disturbance activities and Section 1080 Control of post-construction stormwater runoff of the Hermantown city code. Um, Mr. Mulder, is there anyone on staff you'd like to address this? [9:20] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Maybe David... you want to, City Engineer? [9:23] **David Bolf (City Engineer):** Thank you, Mayor and Council. So this, this ordinance is amending uh, Section 1060 and 1080 of our storm water ordinance and the bulk of those changes are um, due to the new MS4 permit that the state put before us. So our old ordinance references uh, MS4 that is uh, has expired. So a lot of these uh, changes reflect that and the second piece of this uh, amendment to the ordinance includes the um, the ability for determining the um, uh the square footage for impervious area. It is stated as 9,100 square feet, and in a couple of recent projects the total lot area is below that 9,100, so we made an amendment in the ordinance to allow the City Engineer to review and approve um, those projects that the impervious area is below the 9,100. So that's the nature of the changes. [10:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Could you again refresh us on what MS4 means? [10:50] **David Bolf (City Engineer):** So MS4 is uh, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System and it's uh, it's from the MPCA and the MPDS and it's uh—each municipality in the state is required to have a um, adhere to the MS4 permit and our ordinance is reflective of the items in the MS4 permit. [11:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Is there any public input on Ordinance 2025-02? Any public input on the ordinance restating Section 1060 and Section 1080 of Hermantown city ordinances? Any public comment on Ordinance 2025-02? Okay, and now we'll move on to things we'll be voting on. Resolutions. Resolution 2025-04, resolution authorizing and directing Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver agreement for Professional Services with Northland Consulting Engineers LLP City Engineer services. Do we have a motion? [12:18] **Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. [12:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [12:22] **Andy Hjelle:** Second. [12:23] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [12:25] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So this is um, an update of the contract between um, the city and Northland Consulting Engineers for City Engineering Services. The only changes were um, a slight increase in the engineering, the technician/inspector rate, and the uh, project engineer. [12:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Uh, I believe Councilor Geissler has something he'd like to comment? [12:48] **John Geissler:** Sure. I'll just add that my son worked for Northland Consulting Engineers and the result of this contract has no financial benefit to he or I. [12:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other questions or comments from councilors? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-04? Any public input on the agreement for Professional Services with Northland Consulting Engineers LLP? Roll call, please. [13:30] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? [13:31] **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [13:32] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [13:33] **Joe Peterson:** Aye. [13:34] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [13:35] **John Geissler:** Aye. [13:36] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? [13:37] **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [13:38] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? [13:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-05, resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver the license agreement with South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District. Do we have a motion? [13:58] **John Geissler:** I'll move to approve. [14:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [14:02] **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. [14:03] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, should we have Mr. Johnson explain this? [14:05] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yes please, Mr. [Eric] Johnson. [14:08] **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director):** Great, thank you very much Mr. Mayor and Council. Uh, what this is uh, this is a continuation of work that the uh, Soil and Water Conservation District has done in Keen Creek. Uh, back in '21 and '22, they did a remeandering as well as a stream bank restoration project uh, basically south of Keen Creek Park and within the park per se. This project is now a property that the city owns north of Morris Thomas Road. Uh, Keen Creek abuts Okerstrom Road uh, in a couple different areas. Uh, there's been some instances through the years of some gravel and potentially some salt coming in from the city maintenance of that creek—excuse me, of the roadway—which is affecting the creek. Uh, Soil Conservation District uh, wants to work on plans in '25 and then work in '26 to actually remeander the stream and pull it away from the actual roadbed. That way, uh, there is funds 100% available through the Soil Conservation District; there is no cost to the city for this work. [15:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Are there any questions from Council? [15:17] **Brian LeBlanc:** Is this going to have any negative effects on our ability to develop or resell that property? [15:21] **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director):** Uh, we've looked at this and um, it still falls within the wetland areas that really would be very, very difficult to develop whether by the city or even by a potential future owner. [15:32] **Brian LeBlanc:** Does it extend the wetland areas? [15:34] **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director):** No, it does not. [15:35] **Brian LeBlanc:** Thank you. [15:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other questions from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution to deliver a license agreement with the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District? Any public input on Resolution 2025-05? Roll call, please. [16:10] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [16:11] **Joe Peterson:** Aye. [16:12] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [16:13] **John Geissler:** Aye. [16:14] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? [16:15] **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [16:16] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? [16:17] **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [16:18] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? [16:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-06, resolution authorizing the City of Hermantown to accept the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Regional Trail Program grant funding associated with the construction of Hermantown Community Connector Trail from Hermantown Road to Morris Thomas Road and Keen Creek Park to Stebner Road. Do we have a motion? [16:53] **Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion. [16:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? [16:57] **Andy Hjelle:** Second. [16:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [17:01] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Um, we'll let Trish Crego, our Utilities Director, explain this. [17:05] **Trish Crego (Utility and Infrastructure Director):** Yes, thank you Council and Mayor. Um, this grant was awarded to us early or in 2024 and um, as a formality the state requires that we have a resolution accepting the funding post the award of the grant. [17:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-06? Any public input on the authorization to accept a grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources? Roll call, please. [18:05] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? [18:06] **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [18:07] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [18:08] **Joe Peterson:** Aye. [18:09] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [18:10] **John Geissler:** Aye. [18:11] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? [18:12] **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [18:13] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? [18:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Resolution 2025-07, resolution approving work order from Minnesota Power for installation of electrical service at the Northstar Ford Arena estimated at $53,486.20. Do we have a motion? [18:40] **Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. [18:41] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Is there a second? [18:43] **Brian LeBlanc:** Second. [18:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder? [18:47] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This is for the um, the new electrical service for the Northstar Ford Arena. Um, Minnesota Power requires that we pay that prior to the work being done, and because it was over $50,000, we brought it to the City Council. [19:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [19:05] **Brian LeBlanc:** Uh, just as we earlier discussed that this is part of the overall master budget and the scope of these dollars fall within the overall cost. [19:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Anything else from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution approving a work order from Minnesota Power for installation of electrical service at the Northstar Ford Arena? Any public input on Resolution 2025-07? Roll call, please. [19:40] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? [19:41] **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [19:42] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? [19:43] **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [19:44] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [19:45] **Joe Peterson:** Aye. [19:46] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [19:47] **John Geissler:** Aye. [19:48] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? [19:49] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-08, resolution approving change order numbers 10, 11, 12, and 13 (KA Change Order Number 3) for the Northstar Ford Arena in the amount of $98,577.56. Do we have a motion? [20:10] **Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion... motion to approve. [20:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Was there a second? [20:18] **John Geissler:** Second. [20:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [20:22] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Um, so this might on face look like it's a large change order, but what we're moving... we had some money in soft cost budgeted for various changes that we knew we would have to make in the plan as it was reviewed by the Department of Labor and Industry. They've made those changes. We've made some changes because we had about $100,000 budgeted for those changes um, they required a number of changes. Um, so we're moving that from our soft cost to the construction cost. Also included in this is we added gates to the walking path um, up on Hawk Circle so it doesn't become a driveway um, from the parking lot up there. Um, we had a deduct for the cost of the drain tile and we also made some changes to the dasher boards um, for uh, player safety as well. So the total um, change order is $98,000, which is within the $100,000 that we had planned for for those changes. [21:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [21:18] **Brian LeBlanc:** Well, I guess if this is all captured by the $100,000 it doesn't really matter, but we had money set aside for add-on options, right? There was extra money in the budget? [21:28] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yeah, we've got some contingency available, yes. [21:30] **Brian LeBlanc:** Yeah, how is that number looking? Have we used some of that yet? [21:34] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** We have used some contingency, but we are still three-quarters, maybe more... $100,000 um, room yet. Okay, so um, I can give you uh, a budget report at the next meeting. [21:50] **Brian LeBlanc:** Yeah, I'd be curious to see where we're at. [21:52] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yep, and and also maybe at what time would we have to make that decision to make those extras. I think it was some floor coverings and... [22:00] **Brian LeBlanc:** Yes, epoxy floors and things like that. [22:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution for change orders number 10, 11, 12, and 13 for the Northstar Ford Arena? Last opportunity for public input on Resolution 2025-08. Roll call, please. [22:45] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [22:46] **Joe Peterson:** Aye. [22:47] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [22:48] **John Geissler:** Aye. [22:49] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? [22:50] **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [22:51] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? [22:52] **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [22:53] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? [22:54] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-09, resolution approving pay request number seven for the Northstar Ford Arena to Kraus-Anderson Construction Company in the amount of $1,036,316.15. Do we have a motion? [23:18] **Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. [23:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [23:21] **Andy Hjelle:** Second. [23:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [23:25] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This is for the work um, that was done in the last month on the Northstar Ford Arena. [23:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [23:33] **Joe Peterson:** Again, just to comment for the public that we had a report from the contractor that everything's on schedule and um, that's good to hear. [23:45] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** And just kind of a follow-up to your previous comment to uh, Councilor LeBlanc is um, City staff meets with KA [Kraus-Anderson] um, at least on a monthly basis to review the budget because they're kind of managing their KA contract and we're kind of managing the soft cost. So as those things are shifting back and forth, everybody knows exactly um, how much is left in those contingencies and um, you know how those things are impacting each other. [24:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other questions or comments from Council? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-09? Is there any public input on the resolution approving pay request number seven for the Northstar Ford Arena to Kraus-Anderson Construction Company? Roll call, please. [24:45] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [24:46] **Joe Peterson:** Aye. [24:47] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [24:48] **John Geissler:** Aye. [24:49] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? [24:50] **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [24:51] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? [24:52] **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [24:53] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? [24:54] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. And Mr. Mulder, do we have need of a closed session this evening? [24:58] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** We do not. [25:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We can cross that off our agenda. Would anyone like to make a motion to recess? [25:05] **Andy Hjelle:** Motion to recess. [25:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle to recess. Is there a second? [25:09] **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. [25:11] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. All in favor say aye. [25:15] **All:** Aye. [25:16] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Opposed, same sign.