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2024-12-16 City Council Minutes ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 16, 2024 – 7 pm Council Chambers Albertville City Hall 1. Call to Order Acting Mayor Cocking called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance – Roll Call Present: Acting Mayor Cocking, Councilmembers Hayden and Zagorski. Absent: Mayor Hendrickson and Councilmember Olson Staff Present: City Administrator Nafstad, Fire Chief Bullen, City Attorney Couri, City Planner Brixius, City Planning Consultant Faulker, City Planning Consultant Edwards, Finance Director Lannes and City Clerk Luedke. 3. Recognitions – Presentations – Introductions A. Recognize Alan Brixius on his Retirement The City Council recognized Alan Brixius on his retirement and thanked him for his many years of service to the City of Albertville. The Council stated that they appreciated his unwavering dedication and commitment to the City. City Administrator Nafstad expressed his appreciation of the work that City Planner Brixius performed for the City which included many new developments, working with both the Planning Commission and the City Council and stated he would be greatly missed. City Attorney Couri stated that it had been a pleasure working with Mr. Brixius over the past years. 4. Public Forum – None 5. Amendments to the Agenda There were no amendments to the agenda. MOTION made by Councilmember Hayden, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to approve the December 16, 2024, agenda as submitted. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hendrickson and Olson. The motion carried. 6. Consent Agenda All items under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the City staff and will be enacted by one motion. In the event an item is pulled, it will be discussed in the order listed on the Consent Agenda following the approval of the remaining Consent items. Items pulled will be approved by a separate motion. A. Approve the December 2, 2024, Truth-in Taxation Meeting minutes as presented. B. Approve the December 2, 2024, regular City Council Meeting minutes as presented. City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 Regular Meeting of December 16, 2024 C. Authorize the Monday, December 16, 2024, payment of claims as presented, except bills specifically pulled which are passed by separate motion. The claims listing has been provided to City Council as a separate document and is available for public view at City Hall upon request. D. Approve the renewal of the THC license for the licensee listed in the staff report for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. E. Authorize the payment of all claims received by December 31, 2024, which would be the year-end closeout of payment and claims. F. Approve Payment Estimate No. 3 to Omann Contract in the amount of $302,419.76 for the 2024 Street Improvement Project. MOTION made by Councilmember Hayden, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to approve the December 16, 2024, Consent Agenda as submitted. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hendrickson and Olson. The motion carried. 7. Public Hearing – None 8. Wright County Sheriff’s Office – Updates, reports, etc. There were no updates from the Wright County Sheriff's Office. 9. Department Business A. City Council 1. Committee Updates (STMA Ice Arena, Planning, JPWB, Parks, Fire Board, FYCC, etc.) Councilmember Zagorski provided an update from the Planning Commission meeting which included a discussion on the proposed cannabis ordinance being presented at tonight’s meeting. He reported he had also attended the Joint Water Board meeting which included a discussion on the bidding process for the data conversion project of the control panels for one of the wells. 2. Appointment of New Parks Committee Member City Clerk Luedke reported the City received a letter of interest for the open Parks Committee seat. She said the Parks Committee interviewed Ms. Nina Durand and recommended she be appointed to the Parks Committee. MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, seconded by Councilmember Hayden to adopt Resolution No. 2024-45 appointing a new Parks Committee Member. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hendrickson and Olson. The motion carried. B. Building – None C. City Clerk 1. Adopt 2025 Fee Schedule Ordinance City Clerk Luedke presented the staff report and said the majority of the City’s fees would remain the same for 2025. She provided information on the proposed fee increases and said if approved, the fee schedule would be effective on January 1, 2025. She answered questions from Council regarding the proposed fees. City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 Regular Meeting of December 16, 2024 City Administrator Nafstad answered question from the Council regarding the proposed increases to the reservation fees. He also stated that included in the schedule were fees related to the cannabis ordinance which would be heard shortly. He said if the cannabis ordinance did not pass, the proposed fees for the cannabis related items would not take place. MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, seconded by Councilmember Hayden to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-14, amending Title 3, Chapter 1, Section 3-1-3 (City Fees, Fines and Rate Schedule in the Albertville City Code) as amended and approve summary Ordinance for Publication. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hendrickson and Olson. The motion carried. D. Finance – None E. Fire 1. MN PERA Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Plan Update Fire Chief Bullen presented background information on the MN PERA Statewide Volunteer Firefighter (SVF) Plan and outlined the transition of the Albertville Fire Department to the SVF Plan which in part included a benefit increase. He provided details from the PERA MN SVF Plan’s Actuarial Valuation report. Chief Bullen reported City staff recently met to discuss a potential benefit level increase for 2025. He said staff was concerned due to future State Aid decreases for the portion of the City of Otsego that the Albertville Fire Department would no longer cover once Otsego started their own fire department in 2028. Therefore, he said staff was not recommending an increase to the annual pension benefit for 2025. Chief Bullen said the future funding deficit was not due to the fire department moving to the PERA MN SVF plan but the loss of State Aid once the City of Otsego begins their own department and provided options that the Council could consider in the future. He answered questions from the Council. City Administrator Nafstad provided additional information and reported City staff had analyzed the financial numbers in house at a high level and, in the future, the City would engage ABDO to provide additional financially projections and added Chief Bullen would be reviewing the Albertville Fire Department operation model as 2028 approached. There was Council discussion regarding PERA SVF plan, options for the future and they agreed with the recommendation not to increase the annual benefit levels in 2025 but stated that they want to make sure the Albertville Fire Department are taken care of. F. Planning and Zoning 1. Amend City Code and Zoning Code relating to the Regulation and Registration of Cannabis Planning Consultant Faulker introduced herself and provided background information on her work history and reported she and Planning Consultant Edwards would be working together for the City of Albertville. Planning Consultant Edwards provided background information on himself and presented the staff report which included the information on the State of Minnesota’s legalization of adult cannabis and the 13 different types of cannabis licenses that would be available. He reported the ordinance being presented tonight addresses the issues of time, place and manner of operation and was the most conservative approach allowable per Statute with only one cannabis retail business being allowed in the City. Consultant Edwards also outlined the other ordinances City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 Regular Meeting of December 16, 2024 addressing regulatory duties required of the City by statute. He said the Council could chose to relax the ordinance if they would prefer to and reported the Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval 4-0 with one Commissioner member abstaining. Mr. Felix Langford, 12053 78th Street NE, owner of one of the THC establishments, answered questions from Council regarding the proposed regulations. City Clerk Luedke answered questions from Council regarding the current number of THC licenses the City has that may be interested in a future cannabis license which was four. There was Council discussion regarding the proposed ordinance, the current THC licenses and the number of licenses that the City could offer whether it was one or four based on the number of current THC licenses. Planning Consultant Faulker recommended the Council adopt the zoning regulations and registration rules. She said the State’s rules would likely change and then the ordinance could be amended without a public hearing because the licenses were not being issued at this time but once they were the City would have established regulations. City Attorney Couri agreed with Ms. Faulker recommendation and answered questions from Council. He further explained the State Statute regarding the minimum required retail establishments and reported the ordinances being offered are the most restrictive allowed by Statute but could be amended in the future. There was further Council discussion regarding the possible number of licenses that could be issued, and the consensus was to approve the ordinances as presented recognizing due the Office of Cannabis Management not issuing licenses at this time the Council could have further discussions. MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, seconded by Councilmember Hayden to adopt: • Ordinance No. 2024-10, and summary ordinance for publication, approving amendments to Title 4 regulating Temporary Cannabis Events. • Ordinance No. 2024-11, and summary ordinance for publication, approving amendments to Title 4 regulating Cannabis Businesses. • Ordinance No. 2024-12, and summary ordinance for publication, approving amendments to Title 5 related to excessive noise. • Ordinance No. 2024-13, and summary ordinance for publication, approving amendments to Appendix A relating to the regulation of Cannabis Businesses. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hendrickson and Olson. The motion carried. G. Public Works/Engineering – None H. Legal – None I. Administration 1. Public Works Director Vehicle Reimbursement City Administrator Nafstad presented the staff report and answered questions from Council. City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 Regular Meeting of December 16, 2024 MOTION made by Councilmember Hayden, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to approve increase in City Administrator/Public Works Director bi-weekly (every two weeks) vehicle reimbursement from $100 to $250, effective January 1, 2025. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hendrickson and Olson. The motion carried. 1. City Administrator’s Update City Administrator Nafstad reviewed the City Administrator’s Update which included an update on the Street and Parks Maintenance position and the residentials who still have basketball hoops installed in the public right-of-way. He reported the City would continue to work with the residents to get the hoops removed. Announcements and/or Upcoming Meetings December 23 Parks Committee, 7 pm – Meeting Canceled December 25 City Offices Closed in observance of the Christmas Holiday January 1 City Offices Closed in observance of New Years January 6 City Council, 7 pm January 13 STMA Arena Board, 6 pm January 14 Planning Commission, 7 pm 10.Adjournment MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, second by Councilmember Hayden to adjourn the meeting at 8:06 pm. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hendrickson and Olson. The motion carried. Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Kristine A. Luedke, City Clerk