What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
Revised agenda and recess to April 20
Because some participants and staff were absent or remote during the pandemic, the Council narrowed the April 13 meeting to time-sensitive items and recessed the rest of the agenda to a continued meeting. The revised agenda passed 4-1, with Blake voting no, and the meeting later recessed to the next Tuesday for remaining items.
Agenda: 1, 13. Motions: M1, M12. Speakers: Pilon, Alders, Greenberg, Rainville, Blake.
Consent agenda
The Council approved the consent agenda, including the March 9 minutes, Treasurer's Report, claims, and Nowthen Historical Power Association yearly CUP events. The claims batch approved through consent totaled $53,049.94.
Agenda: 2a, 2b, 2c. Motions: M2. Speakers: Greenberg, Rainville.
Elk River Youth Softball field use request
Anthony Schlegel asked whether Elk River Youth Softball could again use Nowthen fields and maintain them during the season in lieu of payment. The Council did not decide the request that night and directed him to contact Clerk Streich to be placed on the April 20 agenda.
Agenda: 3. Speakers: Anthony Schlegel, Pilon.
2022 Sheriff's contract proposal
Commander Heath described the Sheriff's Office history with Nowthen and proposed moving from an eight-hour law-enforcement contract to a 12-hour dedicated deputy model, likely from 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM, with a dedicated squad car and possible Nowthen workstation. The Council asked for exact numbers and expected to discuss the proposal further in a work session or future meeting.
Agenda: 4a. Speakers: Commander Heath, Pilon, Alders, Rainville.
MS4 stormwater permit application
The Council authorized staff to submit the MS4 permit application to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The discussion noted new requirements and coordination among the engineer, Public Works Supervisor, and Clerk on responsibilities.
Agenda: 6a. Motions: M3. Speakers: Pilon, Rainville.
Ebony and Garnet road improvement project
The Council approved plans and specifications and ordered advertisement for bids for the Ebony and Garnet Street NW project. It also approved assessment-hearing preparation for May 13 at 6:00 PM and approved a reimbursement resolution for improvement-bond financing.
Agenda: 6b, 6e, 6f. Motions: M4, M7, M8. Speakers: Greenberg, Alders, Rainville, Pilon.
Rogers Lake Area road improvement project and 185th Lane
The Council approved plans and specifications for the Rogers Lake Area project, including paving the currently gravel portion of 185th Lane, and ordered advertisement for bids. During the assessment discussion, the Council corrected the project amount to $863,763, with the City portion at $546,163 and residents' portion at $317,600, and set the assessment hearing for May 13 at 7:00 PM.
Agenda: 6c, 6d, 6g. Motions: M5, M6, M9. Speakers: Rainville, Blake, Greenberg, Alders, Pilon, Shane Nelson.
Ramsey-Nowthen fire JPA termination
The Council approved the agreement to terminate the Joint Powers Fire Protection Agreement with Ramsey. The discussion emphasized that the agreement depended on the Legislature and Governor completing special legislation concerning the Ramsey Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Association; otherwise the existing JPA rights would remain in place.
Agenda: 7a. Motions: M10. Speakers: Pilon, Rainville, Alders.
Cote lot split
The Council approved the Cote lot split reconfiguration and conditional use permit based on the planner's and Planning and Zoning Commission's findings and recommendations. The action split off a 10-acre parcel from a larger property, with drainage, driveway, and easement clarifications discussed; Rainville abstained because she was not comfortable voting on late-arriving materials.
Agenda: 8d. Motions: M11. Speakers: Pilon, Alders, Greenberg, Rainville, Blake.
Items recessed to April 20
Public Works items, Recycle Center items, the City Facebook page, and the North Metro Animal Control contract were all held over to the April 20 continued meeting. Packet materials included major financial proposals for the Mack truck purchase, dust control bids, seasonal wages, Recycle Center revenue and grants, and animal-control contract fees, but no final April 13 vote was taken on those items.
Agenda: 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b. Speakers: Pilon, Rainville, Greenberg, Blake.