City Council Meeting

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, December 06, 2022 at 7:00 PM Baxter City Hall, 13190 Memorywood Drive, Baxter, MN “A Growing Community” CALL TO ORDER Mayor Olson called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Darrel Olson and Council Members Connie Lyscio, Zach Tabatt, John Ward, and Mark Cross were present. City Administrator Brad Chapulis, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Steele, Community Development Director Josh Doty, Finance Director Jeremy Vacinek, Public Works Director Trevor Walter, and Police Chief Jim Exsted. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE All joined Mayor Olson in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATIONS None. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA None. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Comments received from the public may be placed on a future meeting agenda for consideration. Amy Aus, 13463 Maplewood Drive, previously sent the council a letter expressing her concerns with Oscar Kristofferson skating rink. As a mom, teacher, and taxpayer, she has concerns seeing the boards removed from the skating rink. It was disappointing to see the basketball courts removed, then the tennis courts removed, and now the hockey rink was the last straw. Loren Thompson Park is nice, but she doesn’t want children to cross the highway. When the skating rink lights are turned off, negative activity seems to occur in the park. The families living near the park would be willing to volunteer and staff the warming house. Katie Haakonson, 13607 Maplewood Drive, sent a letter to the council. By the time the kids get home from school they can only skate for a short period of time due to not turning on the rink’s lights. CONSENT AGENDA - The following items are considered non-controversial by staff and are recommended to be read and passed in one motion. Any council person, staff, citizen, or meeting attendee can request one or more items be pulled from the Consent Agenda and the item will be pulled and addressed immediately after the passage of the Consent Agenda; otherwise, the following items will be passed in one motion: 1. Approve City Council Work Session Minutes from November 15, 2022 2. Approve City Council Minutes from November 15, 2022 3. Approve City Council Special Minutes from November 15, 2022 12/6/2022 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 4. Approve the Payment of Bills and Finance Report (Addendum A) 5. Accept the KO Storage Municipal Improvements as Outlined in the Development Agreement 6. Adopt Resolution 2022-104, Accepting Resignation and Declaring a Vacancy 7. Approve EMS Partners LLC/Hapco Contract for Street Light Poles for the 2023 Cypress Drive and Douglas Fir Drive Improvements project 8. Approve Appointment to the Seasonal Position of Park Attendant, Public Works Maintenance, and Warming House Attendant 9. Approve Bill Ludenia Appraisals Inc. Contract No. 2 for 2023 Cypress Drive and Douglas Fir Drive Improvements project 10. Adopt Resolution 2022-105, Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Development Agreement with Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity 11. Adopt Resolution 2022-106 Setting the 2023 Fee Schedule 12. Adopt Resolution 2022-107 Approving the 2023 Property Tax Levy of $8,304,500 13. Adopt Resolution 2022-108 Approving the 2023 Budget of $22,322,000 14. Approve the Mississippi River Overlook Masterplan and Community Use Policy 15. Authorize Execution of Contract with BS&A Software for Integrated Local Government Software and Implementation Services MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Ward to approve the consent agenda. Motion unanimously carried. PULLED AGENDA ITEMS Council Member Ward asked to pull item 6, Adopt Resolution 2022-104, Accepting Resignation and Declaring a Vacancy to abstain from the vote. MOTION by Council Member Tabatt, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to Adopt Resolution 2022-104, Accepting Resignation and Declaring a Vacancy. Motion carried with Mayor Olson and Council Members Tabatt, Lyscio, and Cross voting yes and Council Member Ward abstaining. Council Member Tabatt asked to pull item 10, Adopt Resolution 2022-105, Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Development Agreement with Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity to abstain from the vote due to being a member of the Crow Wing County HRA. MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to Adopt Resolution 2022-105, Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Development Agreement with Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity. Motion carried with Mayor Olson and Council Members Lyscio, Ward, and Cross voting yes and Council Member Tabatt abstaining. Council Member Cross asked to pull item 14, Approve the Mississippi River Overlook Masterplan and Community Use Policy to clarify how the council is going to proceed. 12/6/2022 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 Community Development Director Doty explained the council can approve the plan and continue to have discussions on a future outtake partner. Staff’s goal is to have the plan approved and available for the public to view. The DNR will consider a 20-year lease. MOTION by Council Member Tabatt, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to Approve the Mississippi River Overlook Masterplan and Community Use Policy. Motion unanimously carried. OTHER BUSINESS None. COUNCIL COMMENTS 16. Connie Lyscio – Appreciated the residents that attended the two special council meetings and explained their comments have been heard. The annual holiday lighting contest is underway. 17. Zach Tabatt -No comment. 18. John Ward – Thanked residents for discussing Oscar Kristofferson Park with the council and encouraged the residents to continue having conversations with the city. Thanked the citizens for the opportunity to serve on the council and to the council for covering while absent. The council and staff are turn public servants and serve for the right reasons. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve on the city council. 19. Mark Cross – No comment. 20. Darrel Olson – Thanked Council Member Lyscio and Renee Richardson with the Brainerd Dispatch for holding the 3rd annual holiday light contest. City staff is caring out the policy set by the council in regard to Oscar Kristofferson Park. If residents have concerns, please talk to the council about the concerns, not city staff. Thanked Council Member Ward for his representation of Baxter. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT City Administrator Chapulis asked the council to enter into a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.03 for labor negotiations. Mayor Olson explained the city has a planning document for Oscar Kristofferson Park and staff will share the plan with the residents. MOTION by Council Member Lyscio, seconded by Council Member Cross to enter into a closed session at 7:37 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT 21. Closed Session – Minnesota Statute 13D.03, Labor Negotiations ADJOURN The council returned to an open session at 8:38 p.m. and Mayor Olson explained staff was directed to continue negotiations. 12/6/2022 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 MOTION by Council Member Lyscio, seconded by Council Member Cross to adjourn at 8:39 p.m. Motion unanimously carried. Approved by: Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator