[0:00] [Music] [0:07] [Music] [1:02] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Good evening and welcome to the December 16th City Council meeting. If you join me for a moment of silence and Pledge of Allegiance. [1:13] [Music] [1:21] **Councilmembers:** 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. [1:39] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Hey, Ms. Orlofsky, roll call please. [1:41] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Michelle Volk? [1:42] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** Here. [1:43] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Luke Hellier? [1:44] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Here. [1:45] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** John Bermel? [1:46] **Councilmember John Bermel:** Here. [1:47] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Joshua Lee? [1:48] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Here. [1:49] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** We'll now move on to citizens' comments. Opportunity for anybody that wants to address the Council for up to three minutes. Okay, moving on to additional agenda information. Mr. Miller? [2:08] **City Administrator Justin Miller:** Mayor and Council, we'll have two revised consent items. Item 6B were minutes from this canvassing meeting—we just neglected to actually put the vote in there. We put who made the motions, but we forgot to say that you all voted for that. So that's a revised item. And then item 6BB—as I indicated earlier today to the Council, this was initially an extension of a preliminary plat and a CUP extension. It is only going to be extending the preliminary plat at this time. [2:46] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okie-doke. All right, moving on to item five: presentations and introductions. And I'll turn it over to our Fire Chief for the badging of our class of 2022 firefighters. [3:00] **Fire Chief Mike Meyer:** Good evening, Mayor, Councilmembers. [3:04] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Good evening. [3:05] **Fire Chief Mike Meyer:** Tonight we're going to be recognizing the class of 2022 rookie group for successfully completing two years of probation with the Lakeville Fire Department. And I'm going to ask them to join me up here. So if I could have the firefighters and their family please come forward. So the rookies that are completing their probation: from Station 1, Matthew Johnson and Ross Woods, who are not in attendance tonight—they are actually working. From Station 3 is Corey Clesi and Jason Weer. And Station 4 is Jacob Coughlin and Mike Parker. In line, facing forward. So to complete the probation they've achieved Firefighter 2 certification, Hazardous Material Operations, Emergency Medical Response—or some of them have continued on and gotten their EMT—Emergency Vehicle Operations, which completes about 450 hours of training throughout the two years. And then there's some in-house stuff we do: ice rescue training, such like that, that goes beyond that. So with that, we are going to do the oath. I'm going to swing around. So if you could raise your right hand and listen and repeat after me: I, [state your name], do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Minnesota, and faithfully discharge the duties of firefighter of the City of Lakeville in the County of Dakota and State of Minnesota to the best of my judgment and ability, so help me God. [4:38] **Firefighters:** [Repeat Oath] [4:40] **Fire Chief Mike Meyer:** Congratulations. And family members, if you want to pin their badges. They've all practiced multiple times, so nobody should scream. [5:16] [Applause] [5:44] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** I just want to extend my gratitude to each of you for your willingness to serve the city, and in particular thank your family and those here tonight for your continued support of our city and our community by willing to support your firefighters. So thank you, thank you, thank you. [6:10] **Fire Chief Mike Meyer:** If you allow us a few minutes to exit? [6:12] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Yes. I hope it doesn't take a few minutes. [6:42] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okay, we'll now move on to the consent agenda. These are more routine items for the Council to discuss. Is there anything that you'd like to highlight, Mr. Miller? [6:49] **City Administrator Justin Miller:** Thank you, Mayor. Besides the items that I mentioned earlier, item 6H is a resolution accepting donations from the customers of Lakeville Liquors. Last month our customers donated over $32,000 which will go toward the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign, and we're very thankful for that. Item 6L is our Economic Development Strategic Plan that came to the Council during a work session and has gone through a lot of work with our Community Development staff, Tina Goodroad and Katie Bachmeier, and our EDC, and we're appreciative of their help. And then item 6Y is adoption of the 2025 legislative priorities. There were some changes made to this based on the feedback from the Council at our work session, and then we have invited our legislative delegation to come to our January work session to share these with them. [7:28] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Very good. Is there anybody in the Council like to discuss any of these items further? If not, I'll take a motion to approve the consent agenda. [7:36] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** So moved. [7:37] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Second. [7:38] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. [7:43] **Councilmembers:** Aye. [7:44] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Opposed? Consent agenda passes. Good job. We are now... I'll entertain a motion to move into closed session pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subdivision 3(c)(3) for the purposes to discuss a real estate transaction. [8:06] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Do we need to mention the property ID number in the motion? [8:14] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Oh, related to parcel 22-48200-00-020. [8:18] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** I'll make the motion to go into closed session as stipulated by what you just said, Mayor. [8:25] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okay. And is there a second? [8:27] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** Second. [8:27] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** All in favor say aye. [8:29] **Councilmembers:** Aye. [8:30] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Opposed? We're now in closed session. So for the audience, we've got to meet and then we'll come back. [8:58] [Music / Closed Session Break] [17:45] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Are we back transmitting? We're broadcasting? Okay, very good. Okay, now we'll move on to action items. Letter A: resolution approving the acquisition of real property. And I'll turn it back over to our Assistant City Administrator, Mr. Kuennen. [17:58] **Assistant City Administrator Allyn Kuennen:** Thank you, Mayor, City Council. So staff is just requesting approval of the resolution to approve acquisition of real property per the discussion at the closed session, and staff is available for any questions. [18:13] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okay. Council, any questions? If not, I will entertain a motion. Joshua? [18:19] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Move to authorize staff to bid on tax-forfeited property at the Dakota County public auction pursuant to the direction provided during the closed meeting concerning the acquisition of property. [18:36] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Very good. Is there a second? [18:39] **Councilmember John Bermel:** Second. [18:41] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** Any further discussion? I just have one question for the attorney. Does that cover everything to be able to let the public know why we went into closed session then with just this action item? Okay, I didn't know if we need to say anything else. All right, thank you. [19:04] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Roll call please. [19:07] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Michelle Volk? [19:08] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** Aye. [19:09] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Luke Hellier? [19:09] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Aye. [19:10] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** John Bermel? [19:10] **Councilmember John Bermel:** Aye. [19:11] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Joshua Lee? [19:11] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Aye. [19:13] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okay, very good. We'll now move on to Item B, which is a public hearing to vacate easements and consider the final plat of Ritter Meadows Third Edition. Miss Goodroad, our Community Development Director. [19:22] **Community Development Director Tina Goodroad:** Good evening, Mayor, members of the Council. Twin Cities Land Development has submitted an application for Ritter Meadows Third Edition. This is a replat of a previous final plat of 70 attached townhome units. The reason for the replat is to make the units deeper, therefore the townhome units eligible to be bigger. Along with this application is a request to vacate drainage and utility easements as outlined with the slash lines—it's also in the packet. A public hearing is necessary for this action tonight so that could take place, and then the approval of the resolution for the final plat. The easements that are vacated are replaced with this new final plat, and I would stand for any questions. [20:06] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okay, this is a public hearing so I'll open that public hearing. If there's any comment? Seeing none, I'll take a motion to close the public hearing. [20:13] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** I'll make a motion to close the public hearing. [20:16] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** There a second? [20:17] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Second. [20:18] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okay, all those in favor closing the public hearing say aye. [20:23] **Councilmembers:** Aye. [20:24] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Opposed? Public hearing is closed. Any further discussion related to this item? Joshua? [20:30] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** I did have just a point of clarification for myself and others about when we're vacating these public easements. We are essentially saying that we don't need access to these points on the plat in the future because lines are buried elsewhere, or can you help clarify why these are no longer needed? [20:53] **Tina Goodroad:** Certainly. In that is sometimes the case, Council. In this case, because the replat is created, these—the ones that are requested to be vacated—were placed with the previous final plat. And now that they are replatting that plat, they're being replaced. So the easements will still be there; it's just with the new final plat. That's sometimes they're for the purposes of not needing them—we still need them, but with this new final plat. [21:29] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Got it. Thank you. [21:32] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Any further discussion? If not, I'll take a motion to approve. [21:40] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** I move to approve: one, a resolution vacating public drainage and utility easements; and two, approve the Ritter Meadows Third Edition final plat. [22:04] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okay, is there a second? [22:06] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Second. [22:07] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** And any further discussion? Okay, roll call please. [22:11] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Bermel? [22:12] **Councilmember John Bermel:** Aye. [22:13] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Lee? [22:14] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Aye. [22:15] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Volk? [22:15] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** Aye. [22:16] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Hellier? [22:17] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Aye. [22:18] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** All right, very good. Thank you. We'll now move on to Item C: report on City Administrator performance. And I think I'll turn it over to Councilmember Lee. [22:25] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Yes, I am. Very good, thank you. As you all know, the Personnel Committee as well as the Council and direct reports recently completed our annual performance review for City Administrator Justin Miller on Monday, December 2nd at a special closed session meeting. Mr. Miller's review focused on his leadership presence in the community and communications with the Council, the public, and employees. As you know, we find Mr. Miller's performance continues to be at an exceptional level, consistently exceeding expectations and delivering outstanding results for the city. The Council approved the Personnel Committee's recommendation of moving his salary from step six of his respective pay grade to step seven, which will increase his annual compensation to $244,691.19, effective January 1st, 2025. So thank you to city staff for taking time to submit your feedback as part of Mr. Miller's evaluation, and particularly to our HR Director Alyssa Frey for her work and preparation throughout the process. [23:38] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okay, very good. And I believe there's a motion associated with that. [23:49] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** I'll move to make a motion setting the City Administrator's salary effective January 1, 2025. Is that sufficient? [24:15] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** All right, sure. Move to approve the recommendation of the Personnel Committee for City Administrator Miller's evaluation including his salary increase effective January 1st, 2025. [24:32] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Is there a second? [24:34] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** Second. [24:36] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Okay. Roll call please. [24:38] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Lee? [24:39] **Councilmember Joshua Lee:** Aye. [24:40] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Volk? [24:41] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** Aye. [24:42] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Hellier? [24:43] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Aye. [24:44] **City Clerk Ann Orlofsky:** Bermel? [24:45] **Councilmember John Bermel:** Aye. [24:47] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Very good. Moving on to unfinished new business—doesn't look like there's any. Announcements: our next City Council meeting is Monday, January 6th, right here. And our next City Council work session is January 27th in the Marion Conference Room. And with that, I just like to extend Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year to all of you, and we'll see you in 2025. And with that, I'll take a motion to adjourn. [25:12] **Councilmember Michelle Volk:** So moved. [25:15] **Councilmember John Bermel:** Second. [25:16] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** All those in favor say aye. [25:19] **Councilmembers:** Aye. [25:19] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Opposed? We are adjourned. [25:31] **Mayor Luke Hellier:** Everything that was in that pack... [Music]