City Council Meeting

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, January 07, 2025 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, Patrick Sundberg, and Mark Cross were present. City Administrator Brad Chapulis, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Steele, Finance Director Jeremy Vacinek, Assistant Police Chief Matt Maier, and Public Works Director Trevor Walter were present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE All joined Mayor Olson in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATIONS None. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA City Administrator Chapulis explained there are a few changes to the agenda, including the addition of consent agenda item 7 for the trade of a squad car, item 4 RCA was corrected for the annual designations, and Council Member Sundberg was added to council comments. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Comments received from the public may be placed on a future meeting agenda for consideration. None. 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 Minutes from December 17, 2024 2. Approve the Payment of Bills and Finance Report (Addendums A and A-1) 3. Adopt Resolution 2025-001, Establishing the 2025 Council Appointments 4. Adopt Resolution 2025-002, Establishing the 2025 Annual Designations 5. Authorize Execution of Annual Advertising Contract with the Brainerd Dispatch 6. Accept Water System Planning and Hydraulic Model Report 1/7/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 7. Approve the Trade of 2018 Police Squad MOTION by Council Member Lyscio, seconded by Council Member Sundberg to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously. PULLED AGENDA ITEMS None. OTHER BUSINESS 8. Adopt Resolution 2025-003 Temporarily Designating the Entity Responsible for the Disbursement of the City of Baxter’s Lodging Tax Proceeds City Administrator Chapulis explained staff was directed to present a resolution that temporarily designates Visit Brainerd as the marketing organization and visitor’s bureau through February 2025. The purpose of the temporary resolution is intended to bring the city into compliance with state statute and city code while the city explores a permanent solution regarding the use of the lodging tax proceeds. Visit Brainerd is scheduled to present to the council during the January 21, 2025 work session. MOTION by Council Member Lyscio, seconded by Council Member Tabatt to Adopt Resolution 2025-003 Temporarily Designating the Entity Responsible for the Disbursement of the City of Baxter’s Lodging Tax Proceeds. Motion carried unanimously. COUNCIL COMMENTS 9. Connie Lyscio – Explained the Brainerd Dispatch published a 2024 year-end review which highlighted the growth occurring in Baxter, expressed concerns about what the potential 2101/371 interchange could look like and welcomed Mr. Sundberg to the council. 10. Zach Tabatt -Welcomed Mr. Sundberg to the council and discussed several items he would like to have the council address in 2025. Those items include city hall, establishing a gateway district, a new mixed use zoning area that is walkable, would like to continue selling other properties held by the city including the County Road 48 and Rush Lake corner, understands MnDOT wants to move traffic through Baxter as fast as possible but we should slow traffic so that they continue to support our economy, and would like to see Cypress Drive looking more scenic with the planting of trees in the median. 11. Patrick Sundberg – Explained he was excited to be on the council and to be part of the city’s growth and is willing to help out where he can. 12. Mark Cross – Absent. 13. Darrel Olson – Wished everyone a happy new year and explained he is happy to have Mr. Sundberg join the council. Mayor Olson thanked the residents who supported the council and for work of the election workers. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT City Administrator Chapulis asked the council to complete a ballot for the Sourcewell board of directors. 1/7/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 City Administrator Chapulis asked the council to enter into a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, Subd. 3 (c) for the property identified on the agenda. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT 14. Closed Session Under Minnesota Statutes § 13D.05, Subd. 3 (c), Review counteroffer and present the purchase of temporary easements for PID 40050606 MOTION by Council Member Tabatt, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to enter a closed session at 7:12 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. MOTION by Council Member Lyscio, seconded by Council Member Tabatt to return to an open session at 7:19 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. City Administrator Chapulis explained based on the council discussion during the closed session, that staff is looking for the council to make a motion to accept the counter offer for the temporary easement. MOTION by Council Member Tabatt, seconded by Council Member Sundberg to accept the counter offer for the temporary easement. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURN MOTION by Council Member Lyscio, seconded by Council Member Tabatt to adjourn at 7:21 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Approved by: Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator