City Council Agendas & Packets

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025 – 5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER: The Council Meeting of the East Grand Forks City Council for Tuesday, July 1, 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; Michael Hedlund, Police Chief; Reid Huttunen, City Administrator; Jeremy King, Parks and Recreation Superintendent; Keith Mykleseth, Water and Light General Manager; 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 “Council Meeting” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of June 17, 2025. 2. Consider approving the minute summary of the “Closed Meeting” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of June 17, 2025. 3. Consider approving the minutes of the “Work Session” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of June 24, 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 July 1, 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 approving the Block Party application for the partial closure of 8th Street SE between 6th Avenue SE and Rhinehart Dr SE on July 4th from approximately 2:45pm to 9:15pm. 5. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-07-52 approving the appointment of Brad Ortzman to the Metropolitan Planning Organization Board. 6. Consider approving the update to the Special Event Application for the Cruz-In Forks Car Show which includes the closure of both parking lots along River Street on both sides of Demers Avenue scheduled for August 28, 2025. 7. Consider approving the updated Deer Management Plan setting the rules and regulations for the special archery hunts planned in 2025. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, 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 June 4, 2025. COMMUNICATIONS: NONE OLD BUSINESS: 9. Consider adopting Ordinance 47, 4th Series amending City Code Title XI, Chapter 120, an ordinance to regulate cannabis and lower-potency hemp edible businesses by amending Section 120.04 Subd. F and revoking Section 120.09 temporary cannabis events and amending/replacing Section 120.09 and by adopting by reference City Code Chapter 10 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 POKRZYWINSKI, TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 47, 4TH SERIES AMENDING CITY CODE TITLE XI, CHAPTER 120, AN ORDINANCE TO REGULATE CANNABIS AND LOWER-POTENCY HEMP EDIBLE BUSINESSES BY AMENDING SECTION 120.04 SUBD. F AND REVOKING SECTION 120.09 TEMPORARY CANNABIS EVENTS AND AMENDING/REPLACING SECTION 120.09 AND BY ADOPTING BY REFERENCE CITY CODE CHAPTER 10 AND SECTION 10.99 WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONTAIN 2|Page City Council Meeting July 1, 2025 PENALTY PROVISIONS (2ND READING). Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. NEW BUSINESS: 10. Consider approving the lease agreement between the City of East Grand Forks and the Independent School District 595 for the use of the Civic Center, VFW Memorial Arena, and Blue Line Arena for the 2025-2026 school year through the 2027-2028 school year. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO APPROVE THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS AND THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 595 FOR THE USE OF THE CIVIC CENTER, VFW MEMORIAL ARENA, AND BLUE LINE ARENA FOR THE 2025- 2026 SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH THE 2027-2028 SCHOOL YEAR. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 11. Consider approving the purchase and installation of the Indeeco Explosion Proof Duct Heater from Johnson Controls for a total of $55,350.00. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF THE INDEECO EXPLOSION PROOF DUCT HEATER FROM JOHNSON CONTROLS FOR A TOTAL OF $55,350.00. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 12. Consider approving the request to place the memorial sign in memory of Dave Aker at the Griggs Park Playground. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUMACHER, TO APPROVE THE REQUEST TO PLACE THE MEMORIAL SIGN IN MEMORY OF DAVE AKER AT THE GRIGGS PARK PLAYGROUND. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 13. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-07-53 approving the removal of the $2 monthly green site fee from residential and commercial utility bills. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-07-53 APPROVING THE REMOVAL OF THE $2 MONTHLY GREEN SITE FEE FROM RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL UTILITY BILLS. 3|Page City Council Meeting July 1, 2025 Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 14. Consider approving the request to change locations for the Disability is Not a Bad Word event scheduled for July 26th from the parking lot area by the Veterans Memorial to the parking lot on the south side of the Sorlie Bridge on River Street. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, TO APPROVE THE REQUEST TO CHANGE LOCATIONS FOR THE DISABILITY IS NOT A BAD WORD EVENT SCHEDULED FOR JULY 26TH FROM THE PARKING LOT AREA BY THE VETERANS MEMORIAL TO THE PARKING LOT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SORLIE BRIDGE ON RIVER STREET. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. CLAIMS: 15. Consider authorizing the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer to issue payment of recommended bills and payroll. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, 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 able to attend the Change of Command ceremony at the Air Base because Colonel Monroe was taking a job at the Pentagon and Colonel Rosales was taking over command. He congratulated Rod Hajicek on his retirement after over 35 years of service. He thanked those from the Fire Department who volunteered their time to help clean up in the Bemidji area which included Nate Viergutz, Tyler Tretter, Jack Chapusette, Austin Skjei, Andrew Robertson, Frank DeCouteau, Troy Tretter, and Jeff Boushee. He added he had received a call from a Bemidji resident who was very appreciative. He read an email from a resident who was very grateful and thankful for the implementation of the quiet zone and another email from a person who recently stayed in the campground who was very complimentary of the police and fire departments because they were so professional and kept calm when evacuating the campground due to severe weather. Council Member Casmey congratulated Mr. Hajicek on his retirement. Council President Larson stated he had received compliments about the flowers that were added to the planter by the VFW downtown. Mr. Huttunen told the Council he had received a call from a resident, Jim Broten, about the smell coming from American Crystal. He explained that most of the recent smells were coming from the storm water ponds, American Crystal was conducting maintenance on the storm water ponds, and things should be 4|Page City Council Meeting July 1, 2025 improving. Chief Hedlund reminded the Council the retirement party for Mr. Hajicek was going to be held the next day from 2pm to 4pm in the training room. ADJOURN: A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO ADJOURN THE JULY 1, 2025 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE EAST GRAND FORKS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL AT 5:14 P.M. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. _______________________________________________ Megan Nelson, City Clerk 5|Page