City Council Agendas & Packets

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 – 5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER: The Council Meeting of the East Grand Forks City Council for Tuesday, January 21, 2025 was called to order by Council President Larson at 5:00 P.M. CALL OF ROLL: On a Call of Roll the following members of the East Grand Forks City Council were present: Mayor Mark Olstad, Council President Brian Larson, Council Vice-President Tim Riopelle, Council members Tami Schumacher, Ben Pokrzywinski, Dale Helms, Donald Casmey, and Karen Peterson. Staff Present: Karla Anderson, Finance Director; Jeff Boushee, Fire Chief; Maggie Brockling, Economic Development Director; Steve Emery, City Engineer; Ron Galstad, City Attorney; Michael Hedlund, Police Chief, Charlotte Helgeson, Library Director; Reid Huttunen, City Administrator; Jeremy King, Parks and Recreation Superintendent; Megan Nelson, City Clerk; and Jason Stordahl, Public Works Director. DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM: The Council President Determined a Quorum was present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: OPEN FORUM: Council President Larson stated the open form was an opportunity for members of the public to address the City Council on items not on the current agenda and items requiring Council action maybe deferred to staff or Boards and Commissions for research and future Council Agendas if appropriate. He asked if anyone would like to address the City Council, please come up to the podium to do so. No one came forward. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Consider approving the minutes of the “Organizational Meeting” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of January 7, 2025. 2. Consider approving the minutes of the “Regular Meeting” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of January 7, 2025. 3. Consider approving the minutes of the “Work Session” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of January 14, 2025. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POKRZYWINSKI, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE (1) THROUGH THREE (3). Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. City Council Meeting January 21, 2025 SCHEDULED BID LETTINGS: NONE. SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE CONSENT AGENDA: Items under the “Consent Agenda” will be adopted with one motion; however, council members may request individual items to be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion and action if they choose. 4. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-01-10 approving the following Board and Commission appointments and reappointments as presented by the appropriate elected officials. 5. Consider approving the updates to the bylaws of the East Grand Forks Fire Relief Association. 6. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-01-11 approving the designated council appointments to the boards and commissions for 2025-2026. 7. Consider approving the Special Event Application for the Vintage Snowmobile Show to be held on Saturday, February 1st from 7:30am to 4pm and allow them to block off some parking spaces in the parking lot by restaurant row. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO APPROVE ITEMS FOUR (4) THROUGH SEVEN (7). Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: 8. Regular meeting minutes of the Water, Light, Power, and Building Commission for January 2, 2025. COMMUNICATIONS: NONE OLD BUSINESS: 9. Consider adopting Ordinance 44, 4th Series amending City Code Chapter 33 Entitled "Finance and Taxation" by adding sections 33.15 to 33.24 Sales And Use Tax Local Improvement Projects, and by adopting by reference City Code Chapter 1 and Section 10.99 which, among other things, contain penalty provisions (2nd Reading). A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 44, 4TH SERIES AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 33 ENTITLED "FINANCE AND TAXATION" BY ADDING SECTIONS 33.15 TO 33.24 SALES AND USE TAX LOCAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND BY ADOPTING BY REFERENCE CITY CODE CHAPTER 1 AND SECTION 10.99 WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONTAIN PENALTY PROVISIONS (2nd READING). Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 2|Page City Council Meeting January 21, 2025 NEW BUSINESS: 10. Consider approving the summary for Ordinance 44 4th Series to be published in place of the complete ordinance. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, TO APPROVE THE SUMMARY FOR ORDINANCE 44 4TH SERIES TO BE PUBLISHED IN PLACE OF THE COMPLETE ORDINANCE. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 11. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-01-12 approving the formation and appointments to the Recreation Facility Improvement Project Steering Committee. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POKRZYWINSKI, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUMACHER, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-01-12 APPROVING THE FORMATION AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE RECREATION FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE. Mayor Olstad asked for the Council President Larson to give an outline of why this committee was being formed and what the benefits were. Council President Larson said the formation of this steering committee was an important milestone for this project, the committee members included a Council Member, the Mayor, the City Administrator, and the Parks and Recreation Superintendent. He stated the committee would be working with the design team and contractors on the park and rec facility projects to help identify the scope of work, help with budgets, incorporate public input, and the work efficiently. He added this group would be reporting back to the Council, they would keep everyone informed, the Council would only be the ones to approve everything such as bid letting or contracts, and the Council would be overseeing the financials and actions of the committee. He added this small group would make things more efficient. Mayor Olstad said the four people that would be appointed to this committee would include himself, Council member Peterson, Mr. Huttunen, and Mr. King. There were no other questions. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 12. Consider approving the lease agreement between the City of East Grand Forks and the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the lease of office space in the East Grand Forks City Hall. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, TO APPROVE THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS AND THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR THE LEASE OF OFFICE SPACE IN THE EAST GRAND FORKS CITY HALL. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 3|Page City Council Meeting January 21, 2025 CLAIMS: 13. Consider authorizing the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer to issue payment of recommended bills and payroll. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR/CLERK-TREASURER TO ISSUE PAYMENT OF RECOMMENDED BILLS AND PAYROLL. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS: Mayor Olstad stated he was looking to move forward with the sales tax project, hoped everyone had a good week, and was glad it was getting warmer. Council Member Pokrzywinski asked when it was getting warmer because it was still pretty cold. Chief Hedlund introduced an intern, Justine Vonasek, who was a UND student working in the Police Department for the semester. He told everyone she was the granddaughter of former council member Ron Vonasek and she had already made a couple trips to Crookston on her shifts. ADJOURN: A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, TO ADJOURN THE JANUARY 21, 2025 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE EAST GRAND FORKS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL AT 5:10 P.M. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. _______________________________________________ Megan Nelson, City Clerk 4|Page