This transcript features **Mayor Wayne Boucher**, the **Hermantown City Council**, **City Administrator John Mulder**, and other city staff members. Note: In the raw transcript, some names were phonetically transcribed incorrectly (e.g., "Jones" for Peterson, "Leah" or "the block" for LeBlanc, and "jelly" for Hjelle). These have been corrected to match the official list provided. [0:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: 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. Roll call, please. [0:06] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Peterson? [0:08] **Joe Peterson**: Here. [0:10] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Geissler? [0:12] **John Geissler**: Here. [0:13] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Hjelle? [0:15] **Andy Hjelle**: Here. [0:16] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor LeBlanc? [0:17] **Brian LeBlanc**: Here. [0:18] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Mayor Boucher? [0:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Here. Announcements—do any councilors have announcements they’d like to give for the general good of all? [0:24] **Andy Hjelle**: Not just a reminder of a Taste of Hermantown this Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Aad Shrine Temple on Miller Trunk Highway. It's a fundraiser for the Hermantown Community Fund, a worthy community organization. Some of us will be there. [0:48] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Um, we have no public hearings on the agenda tonight, no communications to highlight. We will move on to public discussion. This is the time that individuals can address the council about any item not on the agenda. The time is limited to three minutes per person. There will be time during agenda items for public discussion on those items. Is there anyone who would like to address the council this evening under general public discussion? [1:23] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: If anyone wishes to address the council, please start with your name and address. Anyone online, Joel? [1:33] **Joe Wicklund (Assistant City Administrator)**: Uh, one online, but I think we're good. [1:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Okay. Uh, last opportunity for general public discussion. Hearing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. Consent agenda is the minutes approval or correction of the October 7th, 2024, city council continuation minutes and approval or correction of the October 10th, 2024, city council work session minutes and accounts payable approved General City warrants from October 1st, 2024, through October 15th, 2024, in the amount of $2,100,000. [2:30] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor LeBlanc? [2:32] **Brian LeBlanc**: Aye. [2:33] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Peterson? [2:34] **Joe Peterson**: Aye. [2:35] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Geissler? [2:37] **John Geissler**: Aye. [2:38] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Hjelle? [2:39] **Andy Hjelle**: Aye. [2:40] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Mayor Boucher? [2:41] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Aye. Next is ordinances. Second reading of Ordinance 2024-19, an ordinance amending Hermantown code of ordinances section 270 Fee Schedule. This is the second reading. Is there a motion? [3:00] **Andy Hjelle**: Motion to approve. [3:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? [3:04] **John Geissler**: Second. [3:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [3:07] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: Each year we take a look at our fee schedule and look to see if there's any changes that need to be made. Um, we do have a few changes in here on some of the fees, but primarily this represents the increase in the water and sewer and storm water. The water is up 7% after receiving a 9.25% increase from the City of Duluth, and then sewer and the storm water fees are up per staff recommendations. [3:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Hearing none, is there any public comment on this ordinance? Any public comment on Ordinance 2024-19? [4:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Is there any public comment on the ordinance amending Hermantown code of ordinances section 270 fee schedule? Roll call, please. [4:10] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Hjelle? [4:12] **Andy Hjelle**: Aye. [4:13] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor LeBlanc? [4:14] **Brian LeBlanc**: Aye. [4:15] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Peterson? [4:16] **Joe Peterson**: Aye. [4:17] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Geissler? [4:18] **John Geissler**: Aye. [4:19] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Mayor Boucher? [4:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Aye. Next is Ordinance 2024-25, amending City Code Section 210, Council, to increase the salaries of Mayor and council members. Is there a motion? [4:37] **John Geissler**: Move to approve. [4:38] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [4:41] **Andy Hjelle**: Second. [4:42] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [4:44] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: Um, this is after the discussion with the City Council. The compensation for the Mayor and Council hasn't increased since 2015, so this would make an increase for both the Mayor and the Council. [5:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions from Council or comments? [5:05] **Brian LeBlanc**: I guess I just hope it either irritates enough people to get involved or it motivates enough people to get involved, one or the other. [5:12] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Anything else from Council? Mr. Mulder, do you know or recall what the percentage of these increases is? [5:22] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: I believe it was about 12%. [5:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: And that's over a nine-year period? [5:26] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: Yes. [5:27] **Joe Peterson**: I will just say that I understand bringing it up to times and accommodating for inflation. I just don't think it's going to move the needle as far as getting people involved, so I do not support. [5:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Is there any public input on this ordinance? Any public input on amending city code section 210? Is there any public input on Ordinance 2024-25? Roll call, please. [6:15] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Peterson? [6:17] **Joe Peterson**: Nay. [6:18] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Geissler? [6:19] **John Geissler**: Aye. [6:20] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Hjelle? [6:21] **Andy Hjelle**: Aye. [6:22] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor LeBlanc? [6:23] **Brian LeBlanc**: Aye. [6:24] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Mayor Boucher? [6:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Aye. Next is the first reading of an ordinance amending Title Two of the Hermantown city code by amending the official zoning map. We will not need a motion or a second. Mr. Mulder, could we have a short explanation of this? [6:42] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: Sure. Um, previously the city council approved a zoning district called the Hermantown Business Park zoning district but did not apply it to any land. We have worked with the landowners for this particular property for quite a while, and so we're proposing to rezone their property at the corner of LaVaque Bypass and Highway 53 to the Hermantown Business Park district. [7:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Are there any city council comments? We will be taking a vote on this at the second reading at our next city council meeting. Is there any public input on this ordinance? Any public input on the first reading of ordinance 2024-24? [8:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Hearing none, we will conclude the first reading of an ordinance amending Title Two of the Hermantown city code by amending the official zoning map and we will move on to resolutions. Resolution 2024-206, resolution approving preliminary and final plat of Payton Acres phase three and imposing conditions on the final plat. Do we have a motion? [8:21] **Brian LeBlanc**: Move to approve. [8:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [8:25] **Joe Peterson**: Second. [8:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, do you want Mr. Johnson? That’d be helpful. [8:30] **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director)**: Great, thank you very much, Mayor and City Council Members. So this is the latest phase of the Payton Acres development. This particular phase is plus or minus 21 acres in size. It's going to include eight lots for development. Those lots are each over a half-acre in size, and then there's going to be one outlot, and that outlot contains the remaining developable land within this particular development. The storm water pond for this particular phase was constructed previously under phase two, so that is accommodated for. Utilities, just like the other phases, would be similar, taken from Payton Drive. There'll be an interior sidewalk associated with this with bituminous roadway, curb and gutter, and sidewalk as well. We're hoping to loop a water main from this particular development to the adjacent one to the west, as well as provide some pedestrian access via trail at a future date as well. [9:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from councilors? Hearing none, we'll open to public input. Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2024-206? [9:48] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Is there any public input on the resolution approving preliminary and final plat of Payton Acres Phase Three and imposing conditions on the final plat? Roll call, please. [9:58] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Geissler? [10:00] **John Geissler**: Aye. [10:01] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Hjelle? [10:02] **Andy Hjelle**: Aye. [10:03] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor LeBlanc? [10:04] **Brian LeBlanc**: Aye. [10:05] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Peterson? [10:06] **Joe Peterson**: Aye. [10:07] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Mayor Boucher? [10:08] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Aye. Next is Resolution 2024-207, resolution declaring cost to be assessed and ordering preparation of proposed assessment roll for Road Improvement District number 541 and 542, Hermantown Road and Bridge 7742. Do we have a motion? [10:30] **John Geissler**: Move to approve. [10:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [10:35] **Andy Hjelle**: Second. [10:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [10:38] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: So this is a step in the process for the assessment process. And just to clarify, we've included the bridge in this, but the bridge is not being paid for by assessments. Just the Hermantown Road and Old Midway Road are being paid for by assessments, in part by assessments. So this orders the preparation of the assessment roll, and then the next resolution will call for the public hearing. [11:08] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions from Council? Is there any public input or comment on this resolution? Are there any members of the public that wish to comment on Resolution 2024-207? [11:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Is there any public input on the resolution declaring cost to be assessed and ordering the preparation of a proposed assessment roll for Hermantown Road improvement district 541 and 542? Roll call, please. [11:49] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Peterson? [11:51] **Joe Peterson**: Aye. [11:52] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Geissler? [11:53] **John Geissler**: Aye. [11:54] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Hjelle? [11:55] **Andy Hjelle**: Aye. [11:56] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor LeBlanc? [11:57] **Brian LeBlanc**: Aye. [11:58] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Mayor Boucher? [11:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Aye. Next is Resolution 2024-208, resolution receiving proposed assessment roll and ordering a public hearing for Road Improvement District number 541 and 542, Hermantown Road and Bridge 7724, and ordering thereon. Do we have a motion? [12:24] **Brian LeBlanc**: Move to approve. [12:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [12:28] **Joe Peterson**: Second. [12:29] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, is there anything that needs to be added beyond what was on the last resolution? [12:35] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: Yeah, so let me just add a couple other items. This sets the hearing date for November 18th. Notices will be put in the paper over the next two weeks, and then also all of the residents will receive a notice as well. And the proposed assessment is $9,400, as opposed to the previous—we had discussed and communicated that it would be $9,750 to the residents, but after the appraisal, we have set it at $9,400. [13:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Would any member of the public like to comment or discuss Resolution 2024-208, a resolution receiving a proposed assessment roll and ordering a public hearing? Roll call, please. [13:38] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor LeBlanc? [13:40] **Brian LeBlanc**: Aye. [13:41] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Hjelle? [13:42] **Andy Hjelle**: Aye. [13:43] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Geissler? [13:44] **John Geissler**: Aye. [13:45] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Peterson? [13:46] **Joe Peterson**: Aye. [13:47] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Mayor Boucher? [13:48] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Aye. Next is Resolution 2024-209, resolution authorizing and directing Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver agreement for consulting services with Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) independent contractor. Do we have a motion? [14:06] **Joe Peterson**: Move to approve. [14:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? [14:10] **John Geissler**: Second. [14:11] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [14:13] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: So back in 2022, the city worked with SEH to kind of review our water distribution system and make recommendations for improvements. One of those improvements was to have a second connection of water to the City of Duluth. Currently, we just have one, which is on Haines Road north of Arrowhead. So this would create a second connection with Duluth on Haines Road near Anderson Road. SEH would design the connection and then go out for bid and do the construction engineering as well. It's planned that we would make this connection sometime in 2025. [14:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from Council? [15:02] **Brian LeBlanc**: Just for me, as discussed in our pre-agenda, I'd like the understanding that there's going to be an above-ground building associated with this valve. I'd like the building to look a little bit more architectural style than just an industrial-looking building. I think everybody kind of agreed that that was a good idea, but hopefully we can move forward in that direction. [15:23] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: Yeah, just on that process, John, what we'll do is we'll have Short Elliott Hendrickson prepare the plans and specs. They'll come back here for approval and authorizing to go out for bid, and so then that'll be your chance to review what they've come up with and make changes if necessary. [15:42] **Brian LeBlanc**: Perfect, thanks. [15:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Are there any other questions or comments from Council? I think it's a good idea to build some kind of a structure that blends with a neighborhood, especially at a stoplight when people are entering Hermantown. Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2024-209? Is there any public input on the resolution on the agreement for consulting services with Short Elliott Hendrickson? Roll call, please. [16:17] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Hjelle? [16:19] **Andy Hjelle**: Aye. [16:20] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor LeBlanc? [16:21] **Brian LeBlanc**: Aye. [16:22] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Peterson? [16:23] **Joe Peterson**: Aye. [16:24] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Geissler? [16:25] **John Geissler**: Aye. [16:26] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Mayor Boucher? [16:27] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Aye. Resolution 2024-210, approving pay request number five for Fichtner Park improvements to Caskey Incorporated in the amount of $5,915,193. Is there a motion to approve or disapprove? [16:53] **John Geissler**: Motion to approve. [16:54] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Geissler. Do we have a second? [16:57] **Joe Peterson**: Second. [16:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Peterson. Thank you, especially for the effort. Mr. Mulder? [17:03] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: So this is the work that's been done in the last month at Fichtner Park. [17:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from Council? [17:13] **Brian LeBlanc**: I had one question, and Joe, maybe you can speak to this—did you say you were going to put out some type of notice about the park being closed through the winter? [17:23] **Joe Wicklund (Assistant City Administrator)**: Yes. (Wicklund provides details on park closure notice). [17:28] **Brian LeBlanc**: Thank you. [17:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any other questions or comments? [17:33] **Andy Hjelle**: We talked about the quality of the basketball court. Is that going to be redone this year or is that on tap for next spring? [17:43] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: (Mulder responds regarding the basketball court schedule). [17:55] **Andy Hjelle**: I'd hate to have our grand opening for the park and then have the basketball court not ready to be used. [18:03] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Right, right. Any other comments from Council? [18:06] **John Geissler**: It looks really nice otherwise. It looks really nice. [18:09] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. And any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2024-210? Is there any public input on approving pay request number five for Fichtner Park? Roll call, please. [18:34] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Peterson? [18:36] **Joe Peterson**: Aye. [18:37] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Geissler? [18:38] **John Geissler**: Aye. [18:39] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor Hjelle? [18:40] **Andy Hjelle**: Aye. [18:41] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Councilor LeBlanc? [18:42] **Brian LeBlanc**: Aye. [18:43] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk)**: Mayor Boucher? [18:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Aye. Resolution 2024-211, authorizing city staff to execute a contract with Lexipol for policy development tracking and compliance. Do we have a motion? [19:02] **Brian LeBlanc**: Motion to approve. [19:04] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Wow, we had three of them. Let's—I'll take the second. [19:07] **Joe Peterson**: Councilor Peterson has a second. [19:09] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Councilor Peterson has a second, but Councilor LeBlanc made the motion. Mr. Mulder? [19:15] **John Mulder (City Administrator)**: So this is an agreement for our Police Department that would help them maintain all of their required operational policies and maintain compliance. It would also provide additional resources for officers to be trained. There's an initial startup of $17,000 and then there'll be an annual fee of $9,800 to maintain the system. [19:42] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [19:45] **Brian LeBlanc**: I personally have availed myself of these services in other employment, and they're a pretty good company. They're really good at keeping their policies for law enforcement agencies up to date, which can keep law enforcement agencies and their employers out of trouble. It's good that we are taking these steps to make sure that our department and our officers are best prepared to do their jobs. [20:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Is there any other comment from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution for a contract with Lexipol? Any public input on Resolution 2024-211? [21:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Hearing none, we are at the end of our agenda. Motion to adjourn? All in favor say aye. [21:28] **Council (Collective)**: Aye. [21:29] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Oppose same sign. Thank you.