Loading records…
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Agenda
Not posted
What was on the agenda.
One-line summary
Council tabled 2015 council appointments, adopted several routine resolutions via consent, dissolved the shared fire study group, tabled the city administrator initiative until deemed necessary, and addressed property, meeting-process, and zoning/code-enforcement items.
31 items as recorded in the packet and minutes.
ACall to order / Pledge of Allegiance / Meeting policy
Agenda lists these opening items; minutes begin with meeting description and agenda approval but do not record the pledge/meeting policy reading as separate actions.
BApprove/amend the meeting agenda
Agenda was approved with amendments adding multiple Council Items (7.j through 7.s).
1Floor Items
Public comment
Multiple residents spoke about city administrator process, signage request, meeting transparency/cameras, parks committee direction, and use of modesty panels funding priorities.
2Sheriff Update
Lt. Wayne Heath reported calls for December 2014.
3Adopt Resolution 2015-01 - A Resolution Making Council Appointments
Initial motion to approve failed 2-3; then appointments were tabled until the next workshop.
4Adopt Resolution 2015-02 - A Resolution Appointing a Responsible Authority
5Adopt Resolution 2015-03 - A Resolution Making Formal Appointments to Commission and Committees
Council voted to continue current appointments for commissions/committees until roles/responsibilities are defined.
6.1Consent: Approve December 2, 2014 Special Meeting minutes; December 9, 2014 Regular Meeting minutes; December 19, 2014 Special Meeting minutes
Approved as part of the consent agenda motion.
6.2Consent: Financial Report
Approved as part of the consent agenda motion.
6.3Consent: Approve all audited bills Claim #9211 through Claim #9272 plus net distribution reports (Dec 11, 15, 22, 23, 2014 and Jan 2, 2015)
Approved as part of the consent agenda motion.
6.4Consent: Resolution 15-04 to dissolve Shared Fire Service Study Group
Approved as part of the consent agenda motion.
7.aCouncil Item: Address comments from the December 19 and December 29 meetings
Council carried motions to (1) table the city administrator position until deemed necessary, (2) address public comments at a future meeting, and (3) have staff provide a synopsis of questions for a workshop.
7.bCouncil Item: Declare old tanker truck obsolete
Declared obsolete except for the tires.
7.cCouncil Item: Modesty panels
Tabled until specifications are defined and more bids are obtained; staff also asked to get bids for table skirts.
7.dCouncil Item: Adopt Resolution 2015-05 - Tax forfeit property
Council approved classification and sale (did not acquire the parcel).
7.eCouncil Item: Anoka Area Chamber newsletter article
Reighard to handle the article; council approved Pilon to attend State of the Cities luncheon with reimbursement and mileage.
7.fCouncil Item: Nowthen Lions Fishing Contest
Staff to provide snow removal and trash cleanup for the contest.
7.gCouncil Item: Zoning clarifications for residential homes in commercial zones
Ordinance question was sent back to Planning & Zoning Commission for review and discussion.
7.hCouncil Item: Code Enforcement - Council direction (Glenn Connelly)
Council authorized staff to identify and apply credit toward Connelly IUP fee, and requested improved code-enforcement reporting format.
7.iCouncil Item: Use of baseball field - maintenance in lieu of rental fee
Approved Nowthen Knights request.
7.jCouncil Item (added): Request for proposal for City Engineer and City Attorney
Motion died for lack of second.
7.kCouncil Item (added): Closing the Mayor's Office
Motion to close the Mayor's office failed (2-3).
7.lCouncil Item (added): Calling the City Attorney
Motion failed for lack of second.
7.mCouncil Item (added): Future workshops
Motion to hold workshops only as-needed (not scheduled monthly) failed 2-3.
7.nCouncil Item (added): Wage study done
Motion to release wage study in entirety failed 2-3; follow-up motion passed to have attorney advise whether it can be released.
7.oCouncil Item (added): Rescind Resolution 2014-07
Motion failed for lack of second.
7.pCouncil Item (added): Meeting policy (reimbursement)
Motion requiring council approval to attend reimbursable meetings failed 2-3; follow-up motion passed directing staff to draft a reimbursement meeting policy.
7.qCouncil Item (added): Employee review and raises
Motion failed for lack of second.
7.rCouncil Item (added): Admin policy
Added Administrative Policies topic to next council meeting agenda.
7.sCouncil Item (added): Road and Bridge 2014 balance transferred to R&B Equipment Fund
Motion failed for lack of second.
8Introduction of New Items
None introduced.
What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
Council appointments for 2015 (Resolution 2015-01)
Council attempted to adopt Resolution 2015-01 for 2015 appointments, but the motion failed on a 2-3 split after discussion about acting mayor, committee/liaison assignments, the official newspaper, and whether to keep a personnel committee. Council then voted to table the appointments until the next workshop.
Agenda: 3. Motions: M2. Speakers: Pilon, Rainville, Bettinger, Scheffler, Reighard.
City administrator process and public comments from December 2014 special meetings
Residents and staff raised concerns about the December 19 and 29 special meetings and asked the new council to proceed more methodically, consider written comments, and improve transparency. Council voted to table the city administrator position until it is deemed necessary, agreed to address the collected comments at a future meeting, and directed staff to provide a synopsis of the submitted questions for workshop discussion.
Agenda: 1, 7.a. Motions: M6, M7, M8. Speakers: Debbie Mahutga, Janine Madsen, Dan Williams, Pilon, Rainville, Bettinger, Scheffler, Reighard.
Consent agenda approvals (minutes, financial report, audited bills, and dissolving shared fire study group)
Council approved the consent agenda in one motion, including prior meeting minutes (Dec. 2, Dec. 9, and Dec. 19, 2014), the financial report, audited bills (claims 9211–9272 plus net distribution reports), and Resolution 15-04 dissolving the Rum River Regional Fire Study Group.
Agenda: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4. Motions: M5. Speakers: Bettinger, Scheffler.
Old tanker truck declared obsolete
Council declared the old tanker truck obsolete except for the tires, with members noting a desire to sell it if possible after declaring it obsolete.
Agenda: 7.b. Motions: M9. Speakers: Scheffler, Bettinger, Pilon.
Modesty/privacy panels for meetings
Council discussed modesty panels (with residents also questioning spending on table skirting) and ultimately tabled the item until specifications can be defined and more bids obtained; staff was also asked to obtain bids for table skirts.
Agenda: 7.c, 1. Motions: M10. Speakers: Williams, Bettinger, Pilon, Rainville, Scheffler.
Tax-forfeit parcel classification and sale (Resolution 2015-05)
Council adopted Resolution 2015-05 approving the classification and sale of a tax-forfeit parcel (rather than acquiring it), passing on a 4-1 vote with Rainville opposed.
Agenda: 7.d. Motions: M11. Speakers: Bettinger, Reighard, Rainville.
Zoning clarifications for residences in commercial zones (Elfelt and Perkins/Greenberg)
The city planner described situations involving a residence with a law office and proposed firearms sales requiring an IUP for an extended home occupation, and a separate commercial-zoned property where a residence had been used as offices and was reportedly being lived in again contrary to ordinance language. Council voted to send the relevant zoning ordinance provisions back to Planning & Zoning for review and discussion.
Agenda: 7.g. Motions: M14. Speakers: Stockman, Scheffler, Reighard, Rainville.
Code enforcement direction for Glenn Connelly IUP credit and reporting format
Council heard the planner’s update that Mr. Connelly agreed to apply for an interim use permit for a craft house and was requesting credit for a prior application. Council authorized staff to identify and apply the appropriate credit toward the current IUP fee and directed improvements to the code enforcement summary format (page numbering and bullet-point summaries).
Agenda: 7.h. Motions: M15, M16. Speakers: Stockman, Bettinger, Rainville, Reighard.
Mayor attendance at Chamber event and city newsletter article
Council assigned Reighard to handle the Chamber newsletter article and approved Mayor Pilon to attend the Anoka Area Chamber State of the Cities luncheon with meeting reimbursement and mileage.
Agenda: 7.e. Motions: M12. Speakers: Reighard, Pilon, Rainville.
Nowthen Lions ice fishing contest city support
Council directed staff to provide snow removal and trash cleanup support for the Nowthen Lions’ 6th annual fishing contest.
Agenda: 7.f. Motions: M13. Speakers: Bettinger, Reighard.
Meeting reimbursement policy and wage study release question
Council rejected a proposed policy requiring council approval for reimbursable meetings but directed staff to draft a formal council reimbursement policy for discussion at the next meeting. Council also voted down a motion to release the wage study in full and instead directed the attorney to advise whether the study can be released and why or why not.
Agenda: 7.p, 7.n. Motions: M19, M18. Speakers: Bettinger, Scheffler, Pilon, Reighard, Rainville.
Baseball field use (maintenance in lieu of rental)
Council approved the Nowthen Knights’ request to use the Memorial Park baseball field under a maintenance-in-lieu-of-fee arrangement.
Agenda: 7.i. Motions: M17. Speakers: Bettinger, Scheffler.
21 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1Rainville made a motion to accept the amendments to the agenda; Pilon seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Pilon
All in favor; motion carried.
M2Scheffler made a motion to table the appointments until the next workshop; Reighard seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Scheffler, seconded by Reighard
All in favor; motion carried.
M3Rainville made a motion to approve Resolution 2015-02, A Resolution Appointing a Responsible Authority; Bettinger seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Bettinger
All in favor; motion carried.
M4Rainville made a motion to continue with the current appointments, until such a time as they can define the roles and responsibilities of the Commission and Committee Members, to see if there are any changes in the direction. Pilon seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Pilon
All in favor; motion carried.
M5Bettinger made the motion to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented; Scheffler seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Bettinger, seconded by Scheffler
All in favor; motion carried.
M6Bettinger amended his motion to table the Administrator Position, until it is deemed necessary; Scheffler seconded.
moved by Bettinger, seconded by Scheffler
M7Scheffler stated that he has read the comments that have come in and made a motion that Council take the time to address the comments that are germane to the December 19th and December 29th Special City Council Meetings, at a future meeting.
moved by Scheffler, seconded by Rainville
All in favor; motion carried.
M8Rainville made a motion to have staff provide a synopsis of the questions so they can address them at a workshop; Reighard seconded.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Reighard
All in favor; motion carried.
M9Scheffler made a motion to declare the Tanker Obsolete, except for the tires; Bettinger seconded.
moved by Scheffler, seconded by Bettinger
All in favor; motion carried.
M10Pilon made a motion to table until they can define the specifications and obtain more bids; Rainville seconded. Four in favor; Bettinger opposed. Motion carried.
moved by Pilon, seconded by Rainville
M11Bettinger made a motion to adopt Resolution 15-05, a Resolution Approving the Classification of Non-Conservation Property for Land Sale Purposes; Reighard seconded. Four in favor; Rainville opposed. Motion carried.
moved by Bettinger, seconded by Reighard
M12Rainville made a motion to approve Pilon to attend the Anoka Area Chamber State of the Cities Luncheon and that he would be allowed to collect meeting reimbursement and mileage; Reighard seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Reighard
All in favor; motion carried.
M13Bettinger made a motion for staff to provide snow removal and trash cleanup for the 6th Annual Lions Fishing Contest; Reighard seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Bettinger, seconded by Reighard
All in favor; motion carried.
M14Scheffler made a motion to send the zoning ordinance, which pertains to residential homes in commercial zones, back to the Planning & Zoning Commission for review and discussion; Reighard seconded. Four in favor; Rainville opposed. Motion carried.
moved by Scheffler, seconded by Reighard
M15Bettinger made a motion to approve for staff to identify the amount of credit towards the Interim Use Permit application and apply it to the current fee; Rainville seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Bettinger, seconded by Rainville
All in favor; motion carried.
M16Rainville made a motion to continue with the code enforcement summary from Stockman and request that she number the pages and that she provide bullet point summary for the top discussed items; Reighard seconded; All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Reighard
All in favor; motion carried.
M17Bettinger made a tion to approve the baseball field request; Scheffler seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Bettinger, seconded by Scheffler
All in favor; motion carried.
M18Reighard made a motion to have the attorney advise the Council if they can release the study or reasons behind why they cannot; Rainville seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Reighard, seconded by Rainville
All in favor; motion carried.
M19Scheffler made a motion to have staff draft a meeting policy for Council Reimbursement of attendance of meetings for discussion at the next meeting; Reighard seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Scheffler, seconded by Reighard
All in favor; motion carried.
M20Bettinger made a motion to add the Administrative Policies topic to the next Council Meeting; Reighard seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
moved by Bettinger, seconded by Reighard
All in favor; motion carried.
M21Rainville made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 PM; Pilon seconded. Four in favor; Bettinger opposed; motion carried.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Pilon
Each figure links back to the document it came from. When the council voted on the amount, the motion is shown.
F1
Total for selected claims (audited bills) in Claims History for date range 12/12/2014 to 01/08/2015; these claims were approved via the consent agenda (Claim #9211 through Claim #9272 plus net distribution reports).
expenditure · Audited bills / claims
$185,231.35
outflow
F2
Estimate for privacy/modesty panels (Lakeside Cabinets and Woodworking). Item was tabled pending specifications and additional bids.
estimate · Modesty panels estimate
$2,416.64
unknown
F3
Estimate for privacy panels (Samuelson Custom Cabinetry). Item was tabled pending specifications and additional bids.
estimate · Modesty panels estimate
$4,000
unknown
When someone tried to remember earlier business, we cross-reference the corpus and write a short related-history note.
Janine Madsen of 7221 223rd Ave NW, Elk River said that she is hoping that residents' attendance at council meetings will improve from typical past attendance - that there will be as many people in the audience at most council meetings as there were at the special meetings held December 19th and 29th of 2014.
— Janine Madsen
What this is about
Recalls unusually high attendance at the December 19 and 29, 2014 special meetings and hopes for similar turnout going forward.
The resolver has not run for this cue, or the search did not find a strong match in the corpus.
Madsen is hoping that the council will be, as Council Member Jeff Pilon announced at the December 29, 2014 special meeting, slower and more methodical, in their consideration of the issues and process concerning the possible creation of a position of Nowthen City Administrator.
— Janine Madsen
What this is about
References a statement from the December 29, 2014 special meeting about proceeding more slowly/methodically on the city administrator issue.
The resolver has not run for this cue, or the search did not find a strong match in the corpus.
Madsen is hoping that the residents' written comments and questions submitted after those two special council meetings will be seriously considered and addressed by council members. She sees that this is a topic on tonight's meeting agenda.
— Janine Madsen
What this is about
Points back to written comments collected after the two December 2014 special meetings and asks that council address them.
The resolver has not run for this cue, or the search did not find a strong match in the corpus.
Scheffler asked if they are going to address the item on the agenda. Pilon said that comments are still coming in and Council is free to address them. He doesn't think all the information is in and they don't have enough to comment as a public body.
— Scheffler
What this is about
Recalls that the council had requested/was receiving comments from earlier special meetings and discusses whether to address them now or later.
The resolver has not run for this cue, or the search did not find a strong match in the corpus.
Scheffler said that one of the reasons why they moved the City Offices was because the basement has moisture issues and possibly some mold issues.
— Scheffler
What this is about
Recalls the reason for moving City Offices (basement moisture/mold concerns) during discussion of closing the Mayor’s office in the basement.
The resolver has not run for this cue, or the search did not find a strong match in the corpus.
Every document and recording archived for this meeting.
The structured brief on this page is auto-generated and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording remain the official record.