Meetings

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Agenda spine

13 items as recorded in the packet and minutes.

1Call to Order / Approve Agenda

Call to order, Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the agenda.

Agenda approved as presented after a requested clarification was discussed.

meeting administration

Approved

p. 1p. 1p. 1

2aNonresident recyclers using the Nowthen Recycle Center

Receive and file update regarding nonresident recyclers using the Nowthen Recycle Center.

Handled under the consent agenda by a motion approving Resolution 2025-102 to accept additional Anoka County funds.

recycling center subsidy

Consent calendar

p. 1p. 1

3aApproval of Ordinance 2025-XX Amending Cannabis Zoning Ordinance

Approval of ordinance amending the cannabis zoning ordinance.

Approved as Ordinance 2025-09 with language removed from Section 9g.

cannabis zoning ordinance

Approved

p. 1p. 2

3bApproval of Summary Publication for Ordinance 2025-XX Amending Cannabis Zoning Ordinance

Approval of summary publication for the cannabis zoning ordinance amendment.

Approved in the same motion as Ordinance 2025-09.

cannabis zoning ordinance

Approved

p. 1p. 2

3cApproval of IUP for Burns Bottle Shop Low Potency THC Sales

Approval of an interim use permit for Burns Bottle Shop low potency THC sales.

Approved as written, without the additional fence requirement recommended by the Planning Commission.

Burns Bottle Shop IUP and variance

Approved

p. 1p. 3

3dApproval of Variance for Burns Bottle Shop Low Potence THC Sales

Approval of a variance for Burns Bottle Shop low potency THC sales.

Approved in the same motion as the Burns Bottle Shop IUP.

Burns Bottle Shop IUP and variance

Approved

p. 1p. 3

4aRecycle Center Staff Request Hours Change for Winter

Recycle Center staff request to change winter hours.

Hours were shifted to 10 AM-4 PM, with staff asked to track traffic for future review.

recycling center winter hours

Approved

p. 1p. 3

5aApproval of Ordinance 2025-XX Repealing and Replacing Chapter 1 Section 5 Administrative Enforcement

Approval of ordinance repealing and replacing Chapter 1 Section 5 Administrative Enforcement.

Approved using Option 2 with a flat fee amount of $1,250.

administrative enforcement ordinance

Approved

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5bApproval of Summary Publication for Ordinance 2025-XX Repealing and Replacing Chapter 1 Section 5 Administrative Enforcement

Approval of summary publication for the administrative enforcement ordinance.

Approved after passage of the administrative enforcement ordinance.

administrative enforcement ordinance

Approved

p. 1p. 5

5cApproval of Ordinance 2025-XX Amending the Fee Schedule

Approval of ordinance amending the fee schedule.

Approved with administrative enforcement fees updated to match the Option 2 ordinance just passed.

fee schedule amendment

Approved

p. 1p. 5

5dApproval of Summary Publication for Ordinance 2025-XX Amending the Fee Schedule

Approval of summary publication for the fee schedule ordinance.

Approved in the same motion as the fee schedule ordinance.

fee schedule amendment

Approved

p. 1p. 5

5eApproval of Resolution 2025-XX Approving updates to the Personnel Policy

Approval of resolution updating the personnel policy for paid family and medical leave.

Tabled to the next meeting for budget confirmation, rate comparison, and research on nearby cities.

personnel policy PFML

Tabled

p. 1p. 6

6Adjourn

Adjournment.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

meeting administration

Approved

p. 1p. 6

Issues addressed

What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.

Anoka County recycling center subsidy for nonresident users

The council accepted additional Anoka County funding for non-Nowthen residents who use the Nowthen Recycle Center. The packet explained that Anoka County calculated a 2026 nonresident user subsidy of $15,972.00 based on 32% of the City's $49,912.50 SCORE-eligible funding, and the minutes record approval of Resolution 2025-102.

Agenda: 2a. Motions: M2. Speakers: Council Member Breyen, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Rainville.

Cannabis zoning ordinance for lower potency hemp edibles

The council approved Ordinance 2025-09 and its summary publication to change lower potency hemp edible retail sales from an interim use to a permitted commercial use, while removing the phrase "lower potency hemp edibles or hemp derived consumer products" from Section 9g so the cannabis sales-hour limit would not apply to those products.

Agenda: 3a, 3b. Motions: M3. Speakers: Planner Nash, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Swenson, Council Member Rainville, Attorney Allseits.

Burns Bottle Shop low potency THC IUP and variance

Because the zoning ordinance change would not take effect until publication and the applicants needed to proceed with state applications, the council approved Burns Bottle Shop's interim use permit and variance for low potency THC sales at 8163 Viking Blvd NW. The approval was as written and did not include the Planning Commission's additional fence requirement.

Agenda: 3c, 3d. Motions: M4. Speakers: Planner Nash, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Swenson, Attorney Allseits.

Recycle Center winter hours

The council approved shifting winter Recycle Center hours from 11 AM-5 PM to 10 AM-4 PM for mid-November 2025 through mid-April 2026. The discussion focused on safety in darkness, low use during the last hour, maintaining staff hours, and tracking 10-11 AM traffic for future evaluation.

Agenda: 4a. Motions: M5. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Glaser, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Swenson.

Administrative enforcement and fee schedule updates

The council approved a replacement administrative enforcement ordinance using Option 2 with a $1,250 flat fee, then approved publication. It also approved the fee schedule ordinance and publication, with the administrative enforcement fee language updated to match Option 2, and separately authorized staff and subcontractors to work on zoning code enforcement.

Agenda: 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d. Motions: M6, M7, M8, M9. Speakers: Attorney Allseits, Mayor Hybben, City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Swenson, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Breyen.

Personnel policy update for Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave

The council tabled the proposed personnel policy update on Paid Family and Medical Leave. Members wanted to confirm what was budgeted, compare the 0.88% and 0.66% contribution rates for city employees, and check what nearby cities were doing before deciding whether the City should cover the employee portion.

Agenda: 5e. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Attorney Allseits.

Motions and votes

10 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

M1MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, TO APPROVE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Council Member Swenson

Passed

YMayor Hybben
YCouncil Member Breyen
YCouncil Member Glaser
YCouncil Member Swenson
PCouncil Member Rainville

p. 1p. 1

M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GLASER TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION 2025-102 TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM ANOKA COUNTY FOR NON-NOWTHEN RESIDENT USERS WHO RESIDE IN ANOKA COUNTY.

moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Council Member Glaser

Passed

YMayor Hybben
YCouncil Member Breyen
YCouncil Member Glaser
YCouncil Member Swenson
PCouncil Member Rainville

p. 1p. 1

M3MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GLASER, TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-09 AMENDING THE CANNABIS ZONING ORDINANCE WITH THE REMOVAL OF "LOWER POTENCY HEMP EDIBLES OR HEMP DERIVED CONSUMER PRODUCTS" LANGUAGE FROM SECTION 9G ON PAGE 7 OF THE PACKET, AND TO APPROVE THE SUMMARY PUBLICATION OF SAID ORDINANCE.

moved by Council Member Swenson, seconded by Council Member Glaser

Passed

MOTION CARRIED.

p. 2

M4MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GLASER, TO APPROVE THE IUP FOR BURNS BOTTLE SHOP LOW POTENCY THC SALES AS WRITTEN (WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL FENCE REQUIREMENT) AND APPROVE THE VARIANCE FOR BURNS BOTTLE SHOP LOW POTENCY THC SALES.

moved by Council Member Swenson, seconded by Council Member Glaser

Passed

YMayor Hybben
YCouncil Member Breyen
YCouncil Member Glaser
YCouncil Member Swenson
PCouncil Member Rainville

p. 3p. 1

M5MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GLASER, SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN, TO CHANGE THE RECYCLING CENTER HOURS FROM 11 AM - 5 PM TO 10 AM - 4 PM FOR THE MONTHS OF MID-NOVEMBER 2025 THROUGH MID-APRIL 2026, WITH THE ADDITIONAL REQUEST THAT STAFF TRACK TRAFFIC OF THE RECYCLING CENTER FOR THE SAKE OF RE-EVALUATING THE WINTER HOURS IN 2026-2027.

moved by Council Member Glaser, seconded by Mayor Hybben

Passed

YMayor Hybben
YCouncil Member Breyen
YCouncil Member Glaser
YCouncil Member Swenson
PCouncil Member Rainville

p. 3p. 1

M6MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER 1 SECTION 5 OF THE NOWTHEN CITY CODE TO AMEND LOCAL STATUTES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT, USING OPTION 2 WITH A FLAT FEE AMOUNT OF $1,250.

moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Council Member Swenson

Passed

YMayor Hybben
YCouncil Member Breyen
YCouncil Member Glaser
YCouncil Member Swenson
PCouncil Member Rainville

p. 5p. 1

M7MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, TO APPROVE THE PUBLICATION OF THE ORDINANCE JUST PASSED.

moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Council Member Swenson

Passed

YMayor Hybben
YCouncil Member Breyen
YCouncil Member Glaser
YCouncil Member Swenson
PCouncil Member Rainville

p. 5p. 1

M8MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN, TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AND PUBLICATION OF SAID ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FEE SCHEDULE, USING THE FEES UPDATED BASED ON THE UPDATED ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT ORDINANCE JUST PASSED (OPTION 2).

moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Mayor Hybben

Passed

YMayor Hybben
YCouncil Member Breyen
YCouncil Member Glaser
YCouncil Member Swenson
PCouncil Member Rainville

p. 5p. 1

M9MOTION BY MAYOR HYBBEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN TO AUTHORIZE STAFF AND SUBCONTRACTORS TO WORK ON ZONING CODE ENFORCEMENT.

moved by Mayor Hybben, seconded by Council Member Breyen

Passed

YMayor Hybben
YCouncil Member Breyen
YCouncil Member Glaser
YCouncil Member Swenson
PCouncil Member Rainville

p. 6p. 1

M10MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON.

moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Council Member Swenson

Passed

p. 6

Money discussed

Each figure links back to the document it came from. When the council voted on the amount, the motion is shown.

Annual ongoing subsidy recommended by Anoka County and accepted by Resolution 2025-102.

grant · Anoka County nonresident recycling center subsidy · FY 2026

$15,972

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Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GLASER TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION 2025-102 TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM ANOKA COUNTY FOR NON-NOWTHEN RESIDENT USERS WHO RESIDE IN ANOKA COUNTY. Passed

p. 2p. 1

The county used the 2026 SCORE program funding eligible amount to calculate the nonresident user subsidy.

grant · SCORE program funding eligible amount · FY 2026

$49,912.5

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Council approval status: not yet on record.

p. 2

Council approved the administrative enforcement ordinance using Option 2 with a flat fee amount of $1,250.

fine · Administrative enforcement flat fee

$1,250

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Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON, TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER 1 SECTION 5 OF THE NOWTHEN CITY CODE TO AMEND LOCAL STATUTES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT, USING OPTION 2 WITH A FLAT FEE AMOUNT OF $1,250. Passed

p. 5

The council discussed Option 2 with a $2,500 cap before passing the ordinance using Option 2.

fine · Administrative enforcement annual cap discussed for Option 2

$2,500

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p. 4

Fee schedule line for administrative hearing fee.

fee · Administrative hearing fee

$100

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Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN, TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AND PUBLICATION OF SAID ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FEE SCHEDULE, USING THE FEES UPDATED BASED ON THE UPDATED ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT ORDINANCE JUST PASSED (OPTION 2). Passed

p. 57p. 5

Fee schedule added a cardstock paper fee to recoup costs.

fee · Cardstock paper one-sided copy fee

$0.5

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p. 48p. 5

Fee schedule added a cardstock paper fee to recoup costs.

fee · Cardstock paper two-sided copy fee

$0.75

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p. 48p. 5

Resident rental fee listed in the amended fee schedule.

fee · Historic Town Hall resident rental

$65

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p. 50p. 5

Nonresident rental fee listed in the amended fee schedule.

fee · Historic Town Hall nonresident rental

$135

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p. 50p. 5

F10

Deposit listed in the amended fee schedule for Historic Town Hall use.

fee · Historic Town Hall key, damage and cleaning deposit

$50

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p. 50

F11

Kitchen use fee listed in the amended fee schedule.

fee · Historic Town Hall kitchen use

$25

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p. 50

F12

Resident rental amount shown for these park shelters in the amended fee schedule row that also displays prior amounts.

fee · Twin Lakes Beach Shelter and Nowthen Memorial Park Shelter resident rental

$65

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p. 50

F13

Nonresident rental amount shown for these park shelters in the amended fee schedule row that also displays prior amounts.

fee · Twin Lakes Beach Shelter and Nowthen Memorial Park Shelter nonresident rental

$135

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p. 50

F14

Nonresident rental amount shown for other park shelters in the amended fee schedule row that also displays prior amounts.

fee · All other park shelters nonresident rental

$50

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p. 50

F15

Rate discussed for Nowthen as a small city; the personnel policy item was tabled.

rate · Paid Family and Medical Leave discounted contribution rate · FY 2026

$0.66

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Council approval status: not yet on record.

p. 58p. 6

F16

Attorney's example of the total annual contribution at the 0.66% rate; the personnel policy item was tabled.

estimate · PFML annual contribution example for a $50,000 employee · FY 2026

$330

outflow

Council approval status: not yet on record.

p. 6

F17

Attorney's example of the city-responsible portion at the 0.66% rate; the personnel policy item was tabled.

estimate · City share of PFML annual contribution example · FY 2026

$247.5

outflow

Council approval status: not yet on record.

p. 6

Memory cues and prior history

When someone tried to remember earlier business, we cross-reference the corpus and write a short related-history note.

When the initial cannabis ordinance was adopted in Fall of 2024, lower potency hemp edibles (LPHE) were included as an Interim Use in the Commercial zoning district.

— Cindy Nash

What this is about
The prior cannabis ordinance adopted in 2024 required interim use permits for lower potency hemp edibles before the council considered making them a permitted commercial use.

p. 5