[0:00] City Attorney: that staff now can take back to its desk, prepare a resolution to be brought back to council that based on that interpretation no longer requires a variance. And so I think the appropriate action would be um to well, first I think you should table the variance decision because that isn't going to any longer be required. And then after that, um, I would recommend that the council make a motion to direct staff to bring back a resolution approving the conditional use permit for the applicant in light of the interpretation of the code that the council directed staff to to make tonight. [0:42] Mayor: Understood. So, I would entertain a motion to approve the variance application [0:48] Council Member: to table I'm to table the denial [0:52] Mayor: that's before us for the variance. [0:54] Lindsey Crawford (City Manager): Mayor, members of the council, I would just like to remind you um that the 60-day clock is ticking on this application and because we don't have a second meeting in December, um the 60-day note on the applicant's application is January 4th. So, we just we just want the applicant to acknowledge publicly that they allow for an extension to have this process play out. [1:19] Mayor: Would the applicant like to step up and offer an opinion of whether or not they would like to grant an extension that would behoove their position quite a bit? [1:28] Justin Frogner (Applicant): Uh Justin Frogner, senior vice commander lake VFW post 1782. Uh we do accept that to offer to extend to see this play out. [1:40] Mayor: Very good. Thank you. [1:41] City Attorney: Go ahead. Just to clarify, I assume that's the initial 60 days that expires at in early January, or has it been extended pursuant to the 60-day rule that allows the city to extend it one time for up to 60 additional days? [1:56] Lindsey Crawford (City Manager): Yes, it's been extended by the city. [1:57] City Attorney: Oh, it has. Okay. [1:58] Lindsey Crawford (City Manager): Okay. [1:59] Mayor: So, are we good? It's still timely. [2:01] Lindsey Crawford (City Manager): Well, it as as long as we get a written extension from the applicant, which it sounds like they're willing to provide, um, then yes, we're we're ab we're fine under the 60-day rule. [2:13] City Attorney: Yeah, we need that written extension by January 4th. I would ask for it by tomorrow so staff doesn't have to plan a special meeting to dispose of these applications. I would I would get it as soon as possible because we have technically until January 9th, but if we don't get it soon, it'll be um it'll be an issue. It's on us the 60 days. Yeah. [2:35] Mayor: Okay. I believe we have a motion to second to table. [2:36] Council Member Walsh: Yes. Move. So move to table the variance. [2:39] Mayor: We have a motion to second. Any further discussion on that? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. [2:45] Council Members: I. [2:46] Mayor: Any opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to direct staff to bring back a resolution with findings approving the conditional use permit application? [2:59] Council Member: Moved. [3:00] Council Member: Second. [3:01] Mayor: A motion. Second. Any further discussion on that? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. [3:10] Council Members: I. [3:11] Mayor: Any opposed? Motion carries. That res that uh it's approved. Okay. That was a fun one. Good. Last council meeting for me. All right. Where are we? 8B. Resolution approving the 2026 classification and compensation plan. Mr. Lindel, Mr. Juba, [3:31] Mr. Juba (Staff): Juba, sir, council members, good evening. Uh, each year the council reviews the city's classification and compensation plan in conjunction with the budget. This practice uh aligns with the city's strategic plan, specifically the strategic objective that aims to maintain a desirable and collaborative workplace environment with competitive pay and benefits. For 2026, a 3% cost of living adjustment is proposed and budgeted for. The affects uh this affects all non-bargaining employees as uh union employees wages are approved separately in their contracts. Also in uh the plan this year, we have one new job classification which is uh or proposed to be added which is an IT technician. Uh it's an additional position. We currently have one uh city IT full-time employee who supports all 140 employees at the city over 600 IT assets and uh supports the 247 operation. So this is proposed to support and bolster that internal service. Uh one reclassification is also proposed for 2026 and that is reclassifying the GIS technician to a GIS coordinator position. Uh this is one uh one position that's already here. It's just a reclassification. Uh the position was hired as an entry-level position in 2021. Uh it's now operating much more independently and has become a valued resource for all city departments. So we are proposing to reclassify that. Uh staff recommends approval of the 2026 classification and compensation plan and we'll stand for any questions. [5:06] Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Juba. Uh any questions or additional comments? Miss Crawford. [5:11] Lindsey Crawford (City Manager): Thank you. Uh, mayor, members of the council, I just want to add we put this packet together before you adopted the budget. Everything that's in this compensation plan, including the IT position, uh, is in the budget that you just approved. Thanks. [5:26] Council Member: Move to approve. [5:28] Mayor: I have a motion to approve uh, the resolution approving the 2026 class and comp plan. Do I have a second? [5:37] Council Member: Second. [5:38] Mayor: Motion to second. Any further discussion on this? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. [5:45] Council Members: I. [5:46] Mayor: Any opposed? Motion carries. Class and comp plan is approved. Uh item 8B, resolution approving the labor agreement for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49. Mr. Juba, I believe this is you too. [5:55] Mr. Juba (Staff): It is correct. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor and council members. Uh city public city's public works uh maintenance technicians, mechanics, and working foreman are all represented by local 49, and their current agreement expires at the end of this year. The city and the union have met on five occasions and came to an agreement on a two-year contract that will cover 2026 and 2027. The union has voted and approved on the proposed amendments. Highlights of those amendments include settlement on health insurance and benefit contributions which were at the same levels for uh the rest of uh the unions that have been approved for 2026 and the non-bargaining staff. Uh increase in minimum call back time from 2 and 1/2 hours to 3 hours. uh for wages, a 3% cost of living adjustment in both years, so 2026 and 2027. And then also for wages in uh on July 1st of 2026, uh there's a slight wage uh and scale adjustment for all the maintenance tech positions uh on July 1st and then also a step adjustment for the working foremen on July 1st and the lead mechanic. Uh these are small moves to keep them competitive in the market. Um, additional items in the agreement of note are the implementation of Minnesota paid leave at a 50/50 employee employer uh contribution split which is consistent with the rest of the city uh and then some nominal increases in their clothing and tool allowances for both years. And with that, staff recommends the approval of the agreement with local 49 and can stand for any questions. [7:23] Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Juba. Council, any comments? Council member Walsh. [7:26] Council Member Walsh: Well, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I asked to pull this off the consent agenda. I didn't quite anticipate where it would fall. My goal was to have this fall before we discussed the budget. I I didn't think that through very well. So, and the only point was that, you know, this is this is why we raise taxes tonight. I mean, this is this is this is the same for for I think I think all if all of our bargaining units um are in this range or even not this number, the 3% 3%. So, this is just indicative of what we're talking about for the bulk of the increase in the levy. when we talk about people, here's an example. Here's a contract we've we've we've just agreed to with our some of our employees uh with this. You can see it. So, that was my point. Uh just didn't didn't quite time it right. Uh uh but that was why I pulled it off the consent and I'll move to approve the uh resolution. [8:11] Council Member: Second. [8:13] Mayor: Have a motion to second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. [8:21] Council Members: I. [8:22] Mayor: Any opposed? Motion carries. Resolution is passed. Item 4D, resolution approving an agreement with Ramsey County for the jurisdiction and ownership transfer of a portion of Otter Lake Road and Wiper Parkway. Miss Crawford. [8:32] Lindsey Crawford (City Manager): Thank you, members of the council. Uh, just quickly, in 2024, the city began working with Ramsey County uh to reconstruct uh on a reconstruction project of Otter Lake Road from County Road 96 to 4th Street in White Bear Lake. Um during that project, development concerns were heard through public engagement uh regarding pedestrian and bicycle safety along the corridor with the trail proposed to be constructed right behind the the back of the curb. Um we also heard uh from the community. I know a couple council members um um also received feedback regarding truck traffic. Um so as a result uh you know the best solution that the staff uh city staff and county staff came up with is that a jurisdictional transfer would be best. Um the city has uh you know more authority than the county to restrict truck traffic on its roadways. Uh there's the best interest of both parties uh is to trade county to trade Otter Lake road from county road 96 to 9th street for uh white bear parkway from county road 96 to lake road. Currently um that portion in blue that's up on the screen of White Bear Parkway is uh maintained and and operated by the city um I suppose and the township too because it does go through two jurisdictions which further proves it shouldn't be a city uh roadway. And then the red uh portion of Otter Lake Road is currently county and so that's that's what we we are looking at um taking back um from Ramsey County and I guess just trading the two. Um and again we we have the more authority for uh to restrict truck truck traffic on roadways. Signage will be placed on Otter Lake Road following the exchange which would shift truck traffic to White Bear Parkway um which has a better design suited for all that traffic. So the proposed agreement between the city and the county will transfer all ownership and maintenance responsibilities respectively. So, we will be uh if the council approves this next year, we will begin plowing um Otter Lake Road and uh the county will take White Bear Parkway. Um the official exchange will occur early 2026. Um at which time, like we I just said, we will we will do the signage at that time and the county will work to have the designation changed with entities such as Google Maps and other mapping entities for that truck traffic. So, with that, I'll stand for questions from the council. Thank you. [10:54] Mayor: Thank you, Ms. Crawford. Council member Walsh. [10:56] Council Member Walsh: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I I pulled this one off the agenda as well, just to highlight it. This is this is really a victory. I mean, this is um uh government listening. I mean, the folks in this neighborhood, the truck traffic going on down that road, there's just no way to fix it. This this will fix it. Not right away. It's going to take a while for, like you said, for Google Maps Maps to catch up, but uh this is just great work. Uh great county city collaboration. Uh uh Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt spent a lot of time on this. Um and I know our staff did too. Uh staff and staff. So just I didn't want this buried in the consent agenda and get all we we' vote for it and without recognizing it's just a really good uh project. So I'll move approval. [11:39] Mayor: Well said. I have a motion. Do I have a second? [11:42] Council Member: Second. [11:43] Mayor: Any further discussion? Council member Angstrand. [11:46] Council Member Angstrand: Destination of what size truck we're going to ban on there? Just cuz some of us drive that. Just wondering how many how many tons. [11:52] Lindsey Crawford (City Manager): I'll get back to you on that. [11:53] Council Member Walsh: Nine ton. Nine ton. [11:55] Council Member Angstrand: Whatever you're driving up. Just kidding. [12:01] Council Member Walsh: The big 18-wheeler is the one that really is is causing the consternation. [12:12] Mayor: Yeah. Okay. All right. Any further discussion on trucks or otherwise? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. [12:20] Council Members: I. [12:21] Mayor: Any opposed? Motion carries. That resolution is approved as well. Item nine, discussion, nothing scheduled. Item 10, communication from the city manager, Miss Crawford. [12:29] Lindsey Crawford (City Manager): I do have a slide tonight. Uh, Winterfest in downtown White Bear Lake. Uh, the last uh Saturday is this weekend. Um, so go check out all of the all the happenings in downtown White Bear Lake. I'll be there. Um, fire safety with Santa is this Sunday at the North Fire Station just next door. um uh uh from 1 to 3. Again, sign up is required. City offices will be closed on December 24th and 25th for the holiday. And uh the next city council meeting is January 13th uh 2026. And at that time, we will honor um Mayor Lewis and council member Hughes. And we will also swear in our mayor elect Mary Nlowski and council member elect Ellen Gerola. We will also swear in council member Kevin Edber again to his fifth term. Um, so, um, we'll invite the community to come to celebrate all of those, uh, good things that we have going on here. Thank you. [13:22] Mayor: Very good. I know I've made this meeting longer than it should be, but I have one just additional announcement. It fits in this area. I'm attending a um, a corridor management committee meeting on Thursday uh, for the Met Council for the Bronze Line. Now, you may say, what's the bronze line? So, we had Rush Line and then we had purple line. It's been rebranded as the bronze line, a bus rapid transit project from Union St. Paul depot uh up to Maplewood. And so just up just that's an update for y'all and then uh I'll I'll be at the meeting representing our our interest um on Thursday at my council. Very good. Thank you. Anything else for the city manager? All right. I would entertain a motion to adjourn. [14:06] Council Member: So move. [14:08] Council Member: Second. [14:09] Mayor: All those in favor say I. [14:14] Council Members: I. [14:15] Mayor: We're adjourned.