City Council Meeting

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, June 04, 2024 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 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Darrel Olson and Council Members Connie Lyscio, Zach Tabatt, Jeff Phillips, and Mark Cross were present. City Administrator Brad Chapulis, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Steele, Police Chief Jim Exsted, Assistant City Engineer Trevor Thompson, Public Works Director Trevor Walter, and Finance Director Jeremy Vacinek were present. 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. Bud Reponen, 14330 Memorywood Drive, explained there are members of the community wondering if there is a way to move forward with construction of additional pickleball courts. Mr. Reponen’s pickleball group is willing to help fundraise for more courts. Kevin Dens, owner of four Baxter properties, thanked Mayor Olson for responding to his email and explained the need for additional pickleball courts due to the popularity of the sport. Mayor Olson explained the city has a plan for the further development of Oscar Kristofferson Park which includes additional pickleball courts. Craig Franke, 7309 Mississippi Road, questioned the city’s mandate of requiring property owners to connect to city water when the city has a shortage of water. Mr. Franke asked the council to consider not requiring property owners to connect but still require them to pay the special assessment. Rose Bankers, 12619 Camwood Trail, thanked Council Members for responding to her email and asked the council to only require property owners to connect to city water and sewer once their well or septic is no longer working. CONSENT AGENDA - The following items are 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 6/4/2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 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 Special Minutes from May 16, 2024 2. Approve City Council Special Minutes from May 20, 2024 3. Approve City Council Minutes from May 21, 2024 4. Approve the Payment of Bills and Finance Report (Addendum A) 5. Approve Permit for Retail Sales of Fireworks for Costco for the period of June 5, 2024 through May 31, 2025. 6. Approve Appointment to the Seasonal Position of Park Attendant 7. Special Event Application for Lakes Area Skate Park Walk and Ride A-thon October 5th, 2024 8. Approve the Widseth Proposal for Fee Amendment for the Part II Wellhead Protection Plan in the Not to Exceed Amount of $22,040 9. Approve the Widseth Proposal for Professional Services in the Not to Exceed Amount of $53,640.00 for the Lead Service Line Inventory Project 10. Approve the Cancellation of the Baxter Design, LLC, Purchase Agreement 11. Approve Environmental Resources Technician Agreement Joint Powers Agreement 12. Adopt 2025 Budget Calendar 13. Approve Driftwood Enterprise Construction Contract Agreement in the Amount of $2,762.00 to Remove and Replace Two Sets of Safety Netting Over Spectator Area of Ballfields at Oscar Kristofferson Park. 14. Approve Driftwood Enterprise Construction Contract Agreement in the Amount of $14,406.00 to Demolish and Install Three Dugouts at Oscar Kristofferson Park 15. Approve the Thein Well Company Change Order No. 1 in the Increased Amount of $30,891.00 for the 2024 Well Rehabilitation Project 16. Approve of SEH Contract Amendment No. 1 in the Not to Exceed amount of $27,605.00 for 2024 Well Rehabilitation Project 17. Accept the Special Utilities Commission Minutes from May 22, 2024 MOTION by Council Member Tabatt, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously. PULLED AGENDA ITEMS None. 6/4/2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 OTHER BUSINESS 18. Public Hearing – Annual Progress Report – Stormwater (MS4) Assistant City Engineer Thompson presented the annual storm water public meeting as defined with the city’s MS4 permit. After the presentation, the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit and the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP). Assistant City Engineer Thompson explained there are six minimum control measures the city must follow to ensure compliance with the permit. The new updated 5-year permit was issued in 2021. Any municipality with a population greater than 10,000 or that discharges into an impaired waterway is subject to MS4 permit requirements. The City of Baxter discharges into the Mississippi River. No comments from the public were received. Council Member Cross left the meeting at 7:17 p.m. due to an emergency. COUNCIL COMMENTS 19. Connie Lyscio – Explained she is interested in holding a discussion at a future work session to discuss requirements for property owners to connect to city water and sewer. 20. Zach Tabatt – Explained it makes the city look unfavorable when the city is unable to cover our current water usage demands and suggested the council have further conversations on this topic. 21. Jeff Phillips – Explained pickleball is very popular during the summer and hockey is very popular during the winter at Loren Thompson Park. Suggested the council have employees complete a survey to gain their feedback on how the city can be more efficient and what we can do better. Explained Baxter can do better with the lodging tax revenue that is being provided to Visit Brainerd. The city does not have an agreement with Visit Brainerd and perhaps the city should consider hiring a marketing person for this service. The lodging tax can only be used for a very specific purpose and plenty of other cities use the revenue to bring visitors to their city, youth sports, and conferences. Recommend the city withhold funding to Visit Brainerd until we can work through these issues. 22. Mark Cross – Absent. 23. Darrel Olson – No comment. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT No report. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT No report. ADJOURN MOTION by Council Member Phillips, seconded by Council Member Tabatt to adjourn at 7:35 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. 6/4/2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 Approved by: Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator