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Nowthen City Council Work Session meeting, April 7, 2022

Council Work Session

Thursday, April 7, 2022 · 5:30 PM

This meeting on the city's website ↗

Agenda

Not on file

What was on the agenda.

Packet

Not on file

The supporting materials the board reviewed.

Minutes

Open PDF ↗

The official record of what happened.

One-line summary

At a work session, the council discussed a PERA firefighter pension and ARPA fund options, directed staff to get pension scenarios, and unanimously supported using ARPA Option 1.

What was on the agenda

3 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.

  1. 1CALL TO ORDER

    Mayor Pilon called the work session to order and roll was recorded. Council Member Rainville had an excused absence.

    Call to order and attendance only.

    • meeting administration
    No action
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Mayor Pilon called the meeting to order at 5:30pm Present: Council Member: Alders, Blake, Greenberg Council Member Rainville-Excused Absence Also Present: Chief Dave Schmidt, Assistant Chief Joe Lawrence, Interim City Administrator Boyles

  2. 2aDiscuss Proposal to Provide Firefighter Pension through PERA

    The council discussed whether to provide a paid-on-call firefighter pension through PERA and directed staff to request PERA calculations for benefit and city-contribution scenarios, with the item to return to the next council meeting with a resolution.

    The council reviewed whether to join PERA’s statewide paid-on-call firefighter pension program for Nowthen firefighters. Members and fire staff discussed state fire aid, possible city contributions, vesting, benefit levels, solvency, portability, and the need to act soon enough to preserve the state aid. Staff was directed to ask PERA for scenario calculations and bring back a resolution at the next council meeting.

    No formal motion was recorded; staff was directed to get PERA calculations and bring the item back with a resolution.

    • firefighter pension
    • PERA
    Discussion only
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)a) Discuss Proposal to Provide Firefighter Pension through PERA Mayor Pilon presented this item. Typically paid on call firefighters receive an hourly pay for recruitment and expense reimbursement. A pension is also received as a means of retaining fully trained firefighters.p. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Staff was directed to request that PERA calculate benefit levels at $2000, $2500, $3000 and city voluntary contribution levels at $7000, $10,000, and $15,000. The item is to be placed on the next city council meeting agenda together with the Resolution approving participation in the PERA Firefighters Pension Program.

  3. 2bDiscuss Usage of ARPA Funds

    The council discussed allowable uses of ARPA funds and unanimously supported using Option 1, the lost public-sector revenue standard allowance approach, because it had less onerous recordkeeping.

    The council discussed how to classify and use the city’s ARPA funds. Members favored Option 1, which treats the funds as replacement public-sector revenue and reduces reporting burdens, while also discussing potential needs such as fuel increases, a well, and broadband-related expenses. The minutes record unanimous support for Option 1, with formal action expected at a later council meeting.

    The minutes record unanimous support for Option 1, but no formal motion or vote tally was recorded in this work-session record.

    • ARPA funds
    • city budget
    Discussion only
    p. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)### b) Discuss Usage of ARPA Funds Department of the Treasury guidelines set forth the allowable uses of ARPA Funds. The city received $260,000 of ARPA Funds in 2021. It is expected that the same amount will be received in 2022.p. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)The city council discussed the four alternatives. A new guideline has been provided by the department. It provides the opportunity for receivers to use the funds wherever city services have been impacted by COVID. The record keeping requirements are less onerous. The city council unanimously supported Option 1 which is…

Prior history on this business

When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.

  • previously when the fire department was part of ramsey there was a contribution that the city would make so we had to budget an amount per contract that we would give to the city of ramsey and they would put into the pension account

    — Mayor Pilon

    What this is about
    Prior fire-service arrangement with Ramsey and the annual contribution to the Ramsey pension account.

    1:41previously when the fire department was part of ramsey there was a contribution that the city would make so we had to budget an amount per contract that we would give to the city of ramsey and they would put into the pension account

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior decision or contract matching this recollection about Nowthen paying an annual amount to the City of Ramsey for fire-service pension contributions. The Ramsey references in the results are unrelated, including Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association donations, attorney background materials, and legal-service client lists, and do not document a fire-service arrangement or a budgeted contribution to a Ramsey fire pension account.

    • Dec 23, 2025DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends ap
    • Feb 10, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 # RESOLUTI
    • Sep 23, 2025Option A: The cul-de-sac can be installed in substantial compliance with the Approved Plans and an easement acceptable t
    • Feb 10, 2026## CITY & GOVERNMENT CLIENTS Our public sector clients include: Municipal Clients: City of Annandale City of Andover P C
    • Apr 14, 20266\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 square feet that is in a fenced and secured area a
  • but because of the legislation we're able to put in place last year we're able to get that state aid a year early

    — Mayor Pilon

    What this is about
    Special legislation tied to the new Nowthen Fire Department and early eligibility for state fire aid.

    2:41but because of the legislation we're able to put in place last year we're able to get that state aid a year early

    Related history

    The records searched do not contain a prior decision matching the Mayor’s recollection of “special legislation” adopted or pursued last year to make the new Nowthen Fire Department eligible for state fire aid a year early. There is a partial match on the state-aid/pension funding issue: at the April 14, 2026 meeting, the packet included a 2025 budget amendment noting that State of Minnesota pension revenue and expenditure for the Nowthen Firefighters totaled $49,518 and had not been recorded during audit preparation. The staff memo said recording it had “zero impact” on overall city funds, but caused the Fire Department to exceed its 2025 budget by about $25,000, so the proposed resolution moved $15,000 from Administration and $10,000 from Contingency to Fire training. The excerpts provided do not show a completed vote tally for that item.

    • May 12, 2026##### A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF ZACHARY WYTTENHOVE TO THE NOWTHEN FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHEREAS, The City of Now
    • Apr 14, 2026WRIGHT HENNEPIN SECURITY <table> <tr> <th>MEMORIAL PARK PAVILION AND 2 BATHROOMS</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>Feature</
    • Apr 14, 2026## WHSECURITY City of Nowthen Recycling Center Access Control Update: Replace Main CPU, Reader with Keypad. Reuse 1 Door
    • Apr 14, 2026### A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT OF 2025 BUDGET WHEREAS, Resolution No. 2024-105 appropriated funds for personal s
    • May 12, 2026# RESOLUTION No. 2026-63 ## A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF (4) GARAGE DOOR OPENERS IN THE NOWTHEN FIRE DEP
  • when the firefighters switched over from ramsey to the nowland department we also had legislation allowed us to pay them out fully so anything that they had in the ramsey account we arranged for them to get paid 100 percent

    — Mayor Pilon

    What this is about
    Prior payout of Ramsey relief association pension amounts when firefighters moved from Ramsey to Nowthen.

    7:49when the firefighters switched over from ramsey to the nowland department we also had legislation allowed us to pay them out fully so anything that they had in the ramsey account we arranged for them to get paid 100 percent

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about legislation authorizing firefighters to be paid out 100% of Ramsey relief association pension amounts when moving from Ramsey to the Nowthen Fire Department. The only fire-department-related result returned was a May 12, 2026 packet item authorizing the hiring of Zachary Wyttenhove to the Nowthen Fire Department; it does not address pension relief association payouts, Ramsey accounts, or a transition from Ramsey to Nowthen.

    • Mar 10, 2026<table> <tr> <th colspan="9">BURGLARIES</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Number</th> <th>Case Number</th> <th>Created On</th> <th>Off
    • May 12, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth
    • Apr 14, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth
    • May 12, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 ## RESOLUT
    • Mar 10, 2026# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA # ORDINANCE NO. 2026-XX # AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES F
  • so when we uh ran the glass fiber down twin lakes down there into that community down there didn't we have a grant that helped us out with that got the carriage funds had cares funds

    — Greenberg

    What this is about
    Earlier Twin Lakes fiber project funded with CARES money and EDA funds.

    1:04:20so when we uh ran the glass fiber down twin lakes down there into that community down there didn't we have a grant that helped us out with that got the carriage funds had cares funds

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection of a Twin Lakes fiber project funded with CARES money or EDA funds. The only Twin Lakes-related matches in these results are later park facility/security items, including 2026 proposals for access control, cellular camera service, and related equipment at Twin Lakes Park, not a glass fiber installation or grant-funded broadband project.

    • Feb 10, 202698 WHSECURITY Card Access System Proposal Proposal Number WHSQ30857 PO Box 330, 6800 Electric Dr, Rockford, MN 55373 Pho
    • Apr 14, 2026## WHSECURITY ### Option for Twin Lakes Video Camera #### City of Nowthen Twin Lakes Add Video thru Alarm.com cellular.
    • Feb 10, 2026#### Option for Twin Lakes Video Camera City of Nowthen Twin Lakes Add Video thru Alarm.com cellular. Combine the cell m
    • Sep 13, 20223b 09/06/22 3:55 PM CITY OF NOWTHEN *Claim Register@ August CC Deposits August 2022 <table> <tr> <td>Cash Receipt Invoic
    • Feb 10, 2026WHSECURITY PO Box 330, 6800 Electric Dr, Rockford, MN 55373 Phone: 763-477-3664 Fax: 763-477-3054 www.wh-security.com <t
  • because i know when we're on the fire board the growth went up exponentially as we handled more medicals

    — Mayor Pilon

    What this is about
    Prior fire board experience with growth in medical calls.

    43:18because i know when we're on the fire board the growth went up exponentially as we handled more medicals

    Related history

    The records searched do not contain a prior fire board discussion or decision specifically documenting that medical calls “went up exponentially” during Mayor Pilon’s fire board service. There is a partial match in recent call-volume reporting: at the April 14, 2026 meeting, the Fire Chief’s March 2026 update reported 37 total fire department calls, including 16 medical calls. At that same meeting, the Anoka County Sheriff’s report for March 2026 noted deputies responded to 147 calls for service, including 19 medical calls. Those records show medical calls were a significant part of recent public-safety activity, but they do not provide the historical fire board comparison or growth trend the mayor was recalling.

    • Dec 23, 2025DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends ap
    • Sep 23, 2025Option A: The cul-de-sac can be installed in substantial compliance with the Approved Plans and an easement acceptable t
    • Apr 14, 20266\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 square feet that is in a fenced and secured area a
    • Mar 24, 20265\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by the OCM. Even if granted by the OCM in the fut
    • Mar 23, 2026# Standard Measures for Cities <table> <tr> <th>Category</th> <th>#</th> <th>Measure</th> <th>Notes:</th> </tr> <tr> <td

Where this came up before

  1. Dec 23, 2025
    City Meeting

    DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the Minor Subdivision subject to the following conditions: 1\.

    DocDECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the Minor Subdivision subject to the following conditions: 1\.
  2. Feb 10, 2026
    City Meeting

    CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 # RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX ## A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A DONATION FROM THE ANOKA RAMSEY ATHLET

    DocCITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 # RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX ## A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A DONATION FROM THE ANOKA RAMSEY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $
  3. Sep 23, 2025
    City Meeting

    Option A: The cul-de-sac can be installed in substantial compliance with the Approved Plans and an easement acceptable to the City Attorney recorded prior to the recording of the lot split. A pr

    DocOption A: The cul-de-sac can be installed in substantial compliance with the Approved Plans and an easement acceptable to the City Attorney recorded prior to the recording of the lot split. A pr
  4. Feb 10, 2026
    City Meeting

    ## CITY & GOVERNMENT CLIENTS Our public sector clients include: Municipal Clients: City of Annandale City of Andover P C/P City

    Doc## CITY & GOVERNMENT CLIENTS Our public sector clients include: Municipal Clients: City of Annandale City of Andover P C/P City
  5. Apr 14, 2026
    City Meeting

    6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 square feet that is in a fenced and secured area as shown on the Site Layout. All cultivation shall occur not less than 200

    Doc6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 square feet that is in a fenced and secured area as shown on the Site Layout. All cultivation shall occur not less than 200

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

Show a sample of the transcript (457 segments, 1:08:28 total)
  • 0:08 this is thursday april 7th 2020 this is a work session for the now then city council to
  • 0:16 discuss firefighter proposed firefighter pension through the pera system of the state and
  • 0:26 and then secondly to discuss potential uses of our arpa funds our funds from the federal government so uh
  • 0:36 it's 5 35 we'll get started here frank would you call roll please certainly mayor pila here council member elders
  • 0:44 here council member blake here council mother greenberg here chief schmidt here there you go and assistant chief lawrence here thank you
  • 0:53 counselor council member rainville has an excused absence she was called away by a beach in florida
  • 1:01 i'm very excused someone was not able to meet the criteria for remote participation so but she did
  • 1:11 call in and make arrangements so so the first thing on our on the agenda tonight is the discussion a proposal provide
  • 1:21 firefighter pension through pera public employee retirement it's actually the um what is it the
  • 1:32 statewide volunteer plan statewide volunteer fire so this is just for firefighters correct and so it's different than the
  • 1:41 traditional pair but but through the para organization and as we're starting to discuss here previously when the fire department was
  • 1:55 part of ramsey there was a contribution that the city would make so we had to budget an amount per contract that we would give to the city of ramsey
  • Showing first 12 segments. Open the YouTube video for the full transcript.

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