City Council Work Session

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 6:00 PM Baxter City Hall, 13190 Memorywood Drive, Baxter, MN “A Growing Community” CALL TO ORDER Mayor Olson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Darrel Olson and Council Members Connie Lyscio, John Ward, and Mark Cross were present. Council Member Zach Tabatt was absent. City Administrator Brad Chapulis, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Steele, Community Development Director Josh Doty, Finance Director Jeremy Vacinek, Parks and Trails Supervisor Alex Hondl, Police Chief Jim Exsted, and Public Works Director Trevor Walter were present. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. 2023 Commercial and Residential Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project Scott Hedlund, SEH, explained the council previously expressed concerns with potential private and public utility relocations. All of the lots along Cedar Scenic will have public utilities that need to be moved. The council discussed placing a grade separated trail along Cedar Scenic rather than Brownsville Circle. The estimated private utilities relocation expense for Cedar Scenic is approximately $125,000. Mr. Hedlund does not believe there are private utilities that will need to be moved along Clearwater Road but there will be some public utilities. Mr. Hedlund provided additional updated estimated costs for the trails. A public informational meeting will be held on October 20th to get public input on the proposed project. The council prefers a grade separated trail along Clearwater Road and Cedar Scenic Road. Staff and the consultants have received phone calls regarding the project trail placement and assessments. The council discussed the timing of the capital improvement plan for Oscar Kristofferson Park. 2. Discuss Winter Operations of Skating Rinks and Warming Houses Public Works Director Walter explained the city struggled to hire seasonal employees this summer and assume the city will struggle to hire seasonal employees this winter. The current parks budget includes operating both the Oscar Kristofferson rink and Loren Thompson rink. Staff did not complete the needed repairs at either rink this summer. Staff is recommending permanently closing the Oscar Kristofferson rink and warming house to repurpose the area and put future investments into Loren Thompson rinks and warming house. 10/18/2022 City Council Work Session Minutes Page 2 The council consensus is to take down the boards at Oscar Kristofferson and not open the warming house. The rink will still be flooded for skating. The Loren Thompson rink will be flooded and the warming house opened and staffed. 3. Review of short-term rentals Community Development Director Josh Doty explained through a recent article in the Brainerd Dispatch, staff has become aware Crow Wing County has a short-term rental ordinance that went into effect in 2021 and is being considered for possible amendments. The ordinance is listed as a health ordinance which means the ordinance applies to all properties in Crow Wing County. Staff has learned the county is licensing six short-term rentals in Baxter. If the city wants to take over jurisdiction of short-term rentals from Crow Wing County, the city’s ordinance must be equally or more restrictive than the county’s ordinance. The city has a long-standing rental program which regulates all rentals in Baxter. The city requires any rental be licensed annually with a rental inspection every other year. The focus of the city’s rental program is to ensure that all rental units in the city comply with the building code and life safety requirements. Staff is looking for council feedback on several questions. Does the council want to provide comments to Crow Wing County? Does the council wish to stay status quo? Does the council wish to formally opt out of the county’s short-term rental ordinance, requiring a city-wide ban on short term rentals? Does the council want to take over jurisdiction from the county? If the city takes over jurisdiction, does the council want to consider other ordinance amendments that are specific to short-term rentals? If the city amends our rental ordinance to add short term rental, property owners only have to get a license from the city. The council consensus was to move forward with an ordinance amendment. ADJOURN MOTION Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member ward adjourn at 6:57 p.m. Motion unanimously carried. Approved by: Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator