City Council Meeting

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, June 17, 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, Community Development Director Josh Doty, 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 No presentations. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA City Administrator Chapulis asked the council to add item 23 to the consent agenda to approve the appointment of a seasonal position. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Comments received from the public may be placed on a future meeting agenda for consideration. Joan Peterson (did not provide name), with FitQuest, explained the value of assessments should be based on the value of the property and asked the council to stall the project for 3 to 5 years. 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 June 3, 2025 2. Approve City Council Minutes from June 3, 2025 3. Approve the Payment of Bills and Finance Report (Addendum A) 4. Approve Temporary Liquor License for Jack Pine Brewery to Conduct Temporary Liquor Sales on July 12, 2025 at the Northland Arboretum 6/17/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 5. Approve Temporary Liquor License for Jack Pine Brewery to Conduct Temporary Liquor Sales on September 13, 2025 at Exit Realty 6. Approve Transferring the On-Sale Intoxicating and Sunday Sales Liquor license from Poncho and Lefty’s, Fiesta Restaurants Inc. to Poncho and Lefty’s, Adobe Restaurants Inc. for the Licensing Period of July 14, 2025 through June 30, 2026 7. Approve the Issuance of Tobacco Licenses for the Licensing Period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 8. Accept the Utilities Commission Minutes from June 4, 2025 9. Approve the RL Larson Excavating, Inc. Change Order No. 8 in the amount of $6,526.50 for the 2024 South Forestview Improvements Project, Municipal Project No. 4138 10. Approve RL Larson Excavating, Inc. Partial Pay Estimate No. 10 in the amount of $70,376.36 for the 2024 South Forestview Area Improvements Project, Municipal Project No. 4138 11. Approve Pratt’s Affordable Excavating Inc. Partial Pay Estimate No. 1 in the amount of $103,160.52 for work completed on Contract B related to the 2025 Water Supply Improvements – Wells 5 & 6, Municipal Project No. 6011-45040 12. Accept Quiet Zone Affirmation Process Memorandum 13. Accept the 2030 Welton Road, Ashley Road, Baywood Road, Black Oak Road and Springwood Drive Area Utility and Roadway Improvements, Municipal Project CPF 4143 Feasibility Report 14. Approve School Resources Officer Agreement with ISD #181 for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 School Years 15. Approve Quit Claim Deed from City to Amazon to Correct Permanent Easement for the Project Timber Wolf’s Offsite Pond 16. Approve Baxter/Brainerd Fourth of July Celebration Event Fireworks and Senior Center Annual Contributions as Budgeted 17. Approve the Issuance of Liquor Licenses for the Licensing Period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 18. Accept Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes from June 10, 2025 19. Adopt Resolution 2025-054 approving a variance to accessory structure height for property located at 6441 Foley Road 20. Adopt Resolution 2025-053 approving Interim Use Permit Amendment to allow a fireworks sales tent in the parking lot of Westside Liquor located at 15807 Audubon Way 21. Approve the name of the city’s dog park as “Baxter Dog Park” and the larger park as “Clearwater Park” 22. Approve Initiative Foundation Contribution for Economic and Community Development Activities as Budgeted 6/17/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 23. Approve Appointment to the Seasonal Position of Streets and Utilities Maintenance MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to approve the consent agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. PULLED AGENDA ITEMS Council Member Sundberg asked to pull consent agenda items 4 and 5 to abstain from the vote due to his ownership of Jack Pine Brewery. MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to approve Temporary Liquor License for Jack Pine Brewery to Conduct Temporary Liquor Sales on July 12, 2025 at the Northland Arboretum and Approve Temporary Liquor License for Jack Pine Brewery to Conduct Temporary Liquor Sales on September 13, 2025 at Exit Realty. Motion carried with Mayor Olson and Council Members Lyscio, Tabatt and Cross voting yes. Council Member Sundberg abstained. Council Member Tabatt asked to pull consent agenda item 22 due to his position with the Initiative Foundation. MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Sundberg to approve Initiative Foundation Contribution for Economic and Community Development Activities as Budgeted. Motion carried with Mayor Olson and Council Members Lyscio, Sundberg and Cross voting yes. Council Member Tabatt abstained. OTHER BUSINESS 24. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-055 Adopting Assessment Rolls for the 2025 Commercial Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project Municipal Project No. 4425 City Administrator Chapulis explained the three agenda items on Other Business were items that were tabled by the council on May 20th for additional information. The low bidder for the project stated they would not honor their bid prices and would ask to rebid the project with an updated scope. Widseth has provided a memo outlining other improvements that would need to be completed this year should the council not elect to complete the project this year. Rocky Waldin, explained he is an East Gull Lake Planning Commissioner, and stated that it seems like the public works department is dictating to the council on what should be done rather than the council directing the public works department. Council Member Cross explained the council adopted the policies that the public works department is following. The council discussed the additional information provided to them regarding the project. MOTION by Council Member Tabatt, seconded by Council Member Sundberg to Adopt Resolution No. 2025-055 Adopting Assessment Rolls for the 2025 Commercial Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project Municipal Project No. 4425; Adopt Resolution 2025-056 for Accepting the Bid from Anderson Brothers Construction Company in the amount of $737,884.85 for the 2025 Commercial Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project Municipal Project No. 4425; and Approve the Widseth Proposal Construction Administration Services for the 2025 Commercial Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project, Municipal Project No. 4425 in the Not to Exceed Amount of $95,000. Motion carried with Mayor Olson and Council Members Tabatt and Sundberg voting yes. Council Members Lyscio and Cross voting no. 6/17/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 Mayor Olson explained he discussed the proposed improvement project with Dutch Cragun. 25. Adopt Resolution 2025-056 for Accepting the Bid from Anderson Brothers Construction Company in the amount of $737,884.85 for the 2025 Commercial Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project Municipal Project No. 4425 26. Approve the Widseth Proposal Construction Administration Services for the 2025 Commercial Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project, Municipal Project No. 4425 in the Not to Exceed Amount of $95,000 COUNCIL COMMENTS 27. Connie Lyscio – Asked everyone to be kind to each other in light of the recent events with our elected state officials. 28. Zach Tabatt – Explained it is a very place today. 29. Patrick Sundberg – No comment. 30. Mark Cross – No comment. 31. Darrel Olson – Wished everyone a safe and happy July 4th. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT City Administrator Chapulis explained there will be a quorum of council members in Duluth for the League of Minnesota Cities conference. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT 32. Closed Session – Minnesota Statute 13D.03, Labor Negotiations MOTION by Council Member Lyscio, seconded by Council Member Tabatt to enter into a closed session at 8:03 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Tabatt to return to an open session at 8:57 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. City Administrator Chapulis explained at this time the council will not be taking any action related to the closed session discussion. ADJOURN MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Sundberg to adjourn at 8:58 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Approved by: Respectfully submitted, 6/17/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator