This transcript has been formatted with the correct names of the officials and staff members based on the provided city context. Please note that "Councilor Jones" in the raw text appears to be a transcription error for **Councilor Joe Peterson**, and "Mayor Bush" refers to **Mayor Wayne Boucher**. [0:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** let’s call the meeting to order and stand for 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 roll call please [0:15] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [0:16] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Here. [0:17] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [0:18] **Councilor John Geissler:** Here. [0:19] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [0:20] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Here. [0:21] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [0:22] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Here. [0:23] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [0:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Here. Announcements. Do any counselors have announcements they’d like to make this evening? With none, we have no public hearing. Communications are placed on file. Mr. Mulder, could you give us a short synopsis of the presentations? [0:45] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah. So our Community Development Director, Eric Johnson, just gave an annual report on the activities of the Community Development Department and the Planning and Zoning commission, and just a number of permits and applications that were processed throughout the year. And then Trish Crego, our Utility and Infrastructure Director, gave an overview of kind of the history of the storm water utility and then just some of the accomplishments that we’ve been able to work through in the last two years. [1:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you, and that moves us to public discussion. If anyone would like to address the Council, please approach and start with your name and address. Thank you for coming in this evening. [1:34] **Roger Reinert (Mayor of Duluth):** Mayor, counselors, thanks for allowing me to come. Roger Reinert, the Mayor in Duluth. I’m just visiting all our near neighbors during my first 100 days—ideally during my first 60. You know, one of the things that I heard a lot over the last year of the campaign for Mayor in Duluth was everything Duluth matters to all of our neighbors—to Proctor, to Hermantown, Superior, Two Harbors, Esko. And I firmly believe that we can’t be a regional center by separating ourselves from the region to which we are connected. And in the case of Hermantown, we share a common border. So one of the things I wanted to do is just have an opportunity to come say hello, introduce myself, share with the counselors and Mayor my intent on us being a good partner, my interest in us being good partners. Mayor, we’ll exchange cell phone numbers. If there are issues, I would love to know about it. I’m really grateful for the mutual aid agreements that we already have between our communities, and I know that’s not just my firefighters and law enforcement going out, but yours also coming in and lending us a hand when we need that. So, no agenda tonight other than just to say—to bring that message. And I know often in Duluth we expect folks to come to us, and I thought this was a good opportunity to come and visit you in your house. So I’m happy to answer any questions. I think it was one month just a couple days ago, so I might not have the answers yet, but I’ll do my best. Otherwise, again, just wanted to come say hello. [3:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any questions from Council? I’d like to thank you for reaching out to us and coming. That’s something I haven’t seen a lot of, and I appreciate it. [3:25] **Roger Reinert:** My pleasure. [3:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Also, you have a great City Attorney, so we’ve been told that. [3:32] **Roger Reinert:** Thank you, yeah. [3:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Also thank you, appreciate it. Glad you could come. We won’t bore you too bad tonight. Is there anyone else? Thank you. Anyone online that would like to speak to the Council? If so, start with your name and address please. Is there any public discussion? We will close the public discussion and move to motions. [4:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion to approve or deny a massage therapist license applications for the following effective February 6, 2024 through December 31, 2024, contingent upon complete applications being received, successful background checks, and license fees paid in full: Alexia Washington (The Well Company) and Joshua Weston (The Well Company). Is there a motion relating to those? [4:38] **Councilor John Geissler:** Move to approve. [4:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [4:41] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [4:42] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Any discussion? Mr. Mulder, is there any explanation that’s needed here? [4:48] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Oh, these are just continued applications from therapists that are working at The Well and are coming in. [4:54] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any public input? With no public input, we’ll move on to a vote. Roll call please. [4:59] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [5:01] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [5:02] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [5:03] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [5:04] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [5:05] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [5:06] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [5:07] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [5:08] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [5:09] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [5:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is the consent agenda. Minutes approval or correction of the January 16, 2024 city council continuation minutes and accounts payable. Approve General City warrants from January 16th, 2024 through January 31st, 2024 in the amount of $439,723. Is there a motion? [5:43] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. [5:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [5:46] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [5:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Roll call please. [5:49] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [5:50] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [5:51] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [5:52] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [5:53] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [5:54] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [5:55] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [5:56] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [5:57] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [5:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [5:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is the second reading and vote for city ordinance 2024-03, an ordinance amending the regulations under Hermantown city code chapters 3 and pertaining to the restraint of animals in parks. Is there a motion? [6:15] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [6:16] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Do we have a second? [6:18] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [6:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [6:21] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So this would require leashes on animals along the trails in city parks and in the right-of-way. If you’re walking your dog or cat along the road, you need to have a leash on that, but it does not require leashes on private property. [6:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [6:43] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Just a comment from me. Thank you for swiftly moving on this. I asked for it not too long ago, and who says government doesn’t move swiftly? [6:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you, and I appreciate that also. You know, it’s worthy of note that an ordinance of this nature was not needed 20 years ago, and we’ve progressed as a city and become a little more congested. Having city-owned property where this has become a problem—this ordinance is an answer to that. Is there any other comments from Council? Any public input on this ordinance? Any public input on ordinance 2024-03? Any public input on the ordinance amending the regulations for the restraint of animals in parks and on city right-of-way? Hearing none, roll call please. [7:47] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [7:48] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [7:49] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [7:50] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [7:51] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [7:52] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [7:53] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [7:54] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [7:55] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [7:56] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [7:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolutions. Resolution 2024-16, resolution appointing election judges for the presidential nomination primary election of March 5th, 2024. Do we have a motion? [8:13] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. [8:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Is there a second? [8:16] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [8:17] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder. [8:19] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So this is the group of election judges that we’ll have just for the March 5th presidential primary. We’ll come back with additional resolutions appointing judges for the other two elections that we’ll have later in the year. [8:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [8:38] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** I do need to abstain from this vote as I am on the list. [8:42] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2024-16, appointing election judges for the presidential nomination primary election of March 5th, 2024? Roll call please. [9:06] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [9:07] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [9:08] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [9:09] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [9:10] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [9:11] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [9:12] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [9:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [9:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is resolution 2024-17, resolution creating a temporary part-time administrative support position. Is there a motion? [9:27] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. [9:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [9:30] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [9:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder. [9:33] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So we’re asking for permission to hire a part-time position for 2024, between 15 and 20 hours a week, primarily to help with the elections—that’s a primary thing—but then also just to help with all of the work that’s required in terms of some of the finance stuff relative to the additional fire department and some of the payroll changes that we’ve needed to make because of that. So we’re asking for a temporary part-time position for those duties. [10:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2024-17 creating a temporary part-time administrative support position? Roll call please. [10:41] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [10:42] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [10:43] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [10:44] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [10:45] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [10:46] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [10:47] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [10:48] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [10:49] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** One more... oh, Mayor Boucher, so sorry. [10:52] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [10:53] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2024-18, resolution approving a request for proposals for human resource consulting services. Is there a motion? [11:06] **Councilor John Geissler:** I’ll move to approve. [11:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [11:09] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [11:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [11:12] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So this is an RFP for a human resources consultant to help us update a number of policies—Personnel policies—but also responding to some of the state mandates that we’ve had. Particularly, the one that we’re concerned about is related to the public safety duty disability law and bill, and that we need to provide employee assistance and training that will meet the POST-certified training objectives for our police and fire. [11:53] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [11:57] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Just assuming this will be posted on our website? [12:00] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah, we’ll post it on our website. We’ll get it out to a number of known vendors. We’ll put something in the Hermantown Star. [12:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Okay, thank you. Any other questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2024-18 for proposals for human resources consulting services? Roll call please. [12:44] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [12:45] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [12:46] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [12:47] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [12:48] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [12:49] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [12:50] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [12:51] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [12:52] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [12:53] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [12:54] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2024-19, resolution approving an amendment to the city handbook regarding a water availability policy. Is there a motion? [13:03] **Councilor John Geissler:** Okay, I’ll move to approve. [13:04] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [13:06] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [13:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [13:10] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So this would create a charge of a $2,500 availability fee for those properties that are along a water main that have not been assessed or were not part of an original plat. In the case of the original plat, the original lots would have borne part of the cost of having that main put in when the development happened; that was part of the price of the lot. In other cases when the city did assessments, we assessed certain lots, and if then later a lot was created that wasn’t assessed, they should pay at least a portion of the cost of that because they have a specific benefit from that asset that the city has. So this is a way to kind of provide a little bit more equity and fairness to those people that paid for the sewer and water as part of the assessments, so somebody that comes after the fact shouldn't get it just for free. [14:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [14:18] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Would this also apply to like a flag lot split? [14:21] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah, so that’d be a situation where it’s like, okay, that lot would have been assessed, and now there’s a second lot; because they are getting a benefit from that main, they should pay at least a small portion of the cost of that. [14:33] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** And besides the availability, there is the hookup fee as well? [14:37] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah, there’s hookup fees included as well. [14:41] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** And the availability goes into the water fund? [14:44] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yes. [14:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** And that water fund is an Enterprise fund for the repair and maintenance of our plant and equipment throughout the city? [14:52] **City Administrator John Mulder:** That’s correct. [14:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** So it’s fair that we ask these people to pay for the general maintenance of the system that provides them the service, right? It would have to come out of the general levy anyway if we didn’t have that fund. [15:11] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah, it would come out of property taxes. [15:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution approving an amendment to the city handbook regarding a water availability policy? Is there any public input on resolution 2024-19? Hearing none, roll call please. [15:42] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [15:43] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [15:44] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [15:45] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [15:46] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [15:47] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [15:48] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [15:49] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [15:50] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [15:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [15:53] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2024-20, resolution authorizing the city of Hermantown to sponsor the active transportation program grant funding request associated with the construction of the Hermantown Community Connector Trail from Hermantown Road to Morris Thomas Road and Keene Creek Park to Stebner Road. Is there a motion? [16:21] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. [16:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Do we have a second? [16:24] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. [16:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder, would you like Eric to go over this one? [16:28] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Sure. [16:29] **Community Development Director Eric Johnson:** Great, thank you very much. This is a grant request to the state of Minnesota for approximately $1 million. This is for the two trail segments that you mentioned. The city estimates that the total cost of this project would be around $2.7 million. That number includes the monies that the city has already utilized in the purchase of a 33-acre piece of property of which a good portion of this trail system would go. If awarded, this work would be in the 24-25 construction season. We’d be finding out approximately April of this year if we’re grant recipients or not. [17:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [17:18] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** If we don’t get the grant, are we going to use sales tax funds to do that segment of trail anyway? [17:23] **Community Development Director Eric Johnson:** We would continue to use the community recreation initiative money, yes. [17:29] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** So that section of trail will be done next year regardless? [17:33] **Community Development Director Eric Johnson:** That is our plan, that we want to get that complete in '25. [17:37] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other questions or comments? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on a resolution authorizing the city of Hermantown to sponsor an active transportation program grant funding request? Any public input on resolution 2024-20? Roll call please. [18:08] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [18:09] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [18:10] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [18:11] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [18:12] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [18:13] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [18:14] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [18:15] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [18:16] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [18:17] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [18:18] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is resolution 2024-21, resolution creating a bridge replacement priority list and requesting State Bridge bonding funding for the bridge on the Hermantown Road. Is there a motion? [18:37] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. [18:38] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [18:40] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [18:41] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder, would you like our city engineer to address this? [18:47] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Sure. [18:48] **Northland Consulting Engineers Representative:** Thank you, Mayor and Council. So this is a resolution supporting the use of State Bridge bonding money. We are on the docket to receive just under $900,000 as shown in your packet here, and then there’s some local costs associated as well. So this is just something that we need to formalize in order to request the bridge bonding. [19:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2024-21? Any public input on the resolution creating a bridge replacement priority list and requesting State Bridge bonding funding? Roll call please. [19:48] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [19:49] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [19:50] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [19:51] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [19:52] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [19:53] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [19:54] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [19:55] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [19:56] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [19:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [19:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2024-22, resolution approving pay request number seven for Road Improvement District number 534 to Ulland Brothers Incorporated in the amount of $184,310.84. Is there a motion? [20:18] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Move to approve. [20:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? [20:20] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [20:21] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder, should we ask the city engineer to go over this one? [20:27] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Sure. [20:28] **Northland Consulting Engineers Representative:** Thank you, Mayor and Council. So again, this is pay application number seven for the Ugstad Road reconditioning project. This pay estimate is in the amount of $184,000 and it entails the final quantities for bituminous; there's some mailboxes, there's some striping in there, and then we also reduced the retainage from 5% down to 2.5%, so that amount is reflective of those items. [21:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments? [21:08] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Mr. Mulder, is there anything undone that's on a punch list for next year? [21:12] **Northland Consulting Engineers Representative:** All the work is completed. So what we typically do on these projects is we’ll have a warranty walkthrough, usually at the end of June or early July, to look at any deficiencies of work, but all the contractual items—the contractor has met their obligations. [21:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Any public input on this resolution? Is there any public input on resolution 2024-22? Any public input on the resolution approving a pay request for Road Improvement District number 534 to Ulland Brothers Incorporated? Roll call please. [21:58] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [21:59] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [22:00] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [22:01] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [22:02] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [22:03] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [22:04] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [22:05] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [22:06] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [22:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [22:08] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next we need a motion to close the meeting of the Hermantown City Council pursuant to Minnesota statute section 13D.05 subdivision 3B to consider confidential information related to labor negotiation strategy. Following this closed session, the Hermantown City Council will reconvene in an open session discussion on the comprehensive compensation plan. Do we have a motion? [22:36] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to close the session. [22:37] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. [22:38] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [22:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Roll call please. [22:42] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? [22:43] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [22:44] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? [22:45] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [22:46] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? [22:47] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. [22:48] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? [22:49] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. [22:50] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? [22:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye.