Monday, March 27, 2023
What happened
Council approved the agenda and prior minutes, approved the consent agenda, adopted a resolution to advertise for bids on the University Ave NW project, discussed sheriff activity reports and engineering updates, approved a City Clerk salary adjustment to $80,000/year effective 3/27/23, and adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
6 motions on the record.
M1MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA AS AMENDED.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA AS AMENDED.
moved by WYLIE, seconded by BRAY JOHNSON
All in favor.
M2MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.
moved by TRADEWELL, seconded by WYLIE
All in favor.
M3MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
moved by WYLIE, seconded by BRAY JOHNSON
All in favor.
M4MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE TO ADOPT 23-050 APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATION AND ORDERING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID FOR UNIVERSITY AVE NW.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE TO ADOPT 23-050 APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATION AND ORDERING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID FOR UNIVERSITY AVE NW.
moved by TRADEWELL, seconded by WYLIE
All in favor.
M5MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON TO ADOPT 23-046 APPROVING A SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR CITY CLERK.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON TO ADOPT 23-046 APPROVING A SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR CITY CLERK.
moved by WYLIE, seconded by BRAY JOHNSON
All in favor.
M6MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL TO ADJOURN.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL TO ADJOURN.
moved by WYLIE, seconded by TRADEWELL
Amounts named in or tied to a motion that passed, each shown with the motion. A motion can approve an amount, cap it, or remove it from a list, so read the motion text. These links are AI-extracted, and the minutes control.
Increase City Clerk salary to $80,000/year effective 3/27/23 (Resolution 23-046).
$80,000
23 items as recorded in the agenda and minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.
0Call to Order; Pledge of Allegiance; Roll Call
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.; pledge and roll call completed.
1Public Forum
Speakers are requested to come to the podium, state their name and address for the clerk's record, and limit their remarks to three minutes.
A resident, speaking for the East Bethel Elementary PTO, asked the city for a charitable donation to help fundraise for new or repaired playground equipment and mentioned they were seeking volunteers to help demo the old equipment. The Mayor asked whether a specific amount was being requested and suggested using the city donation request form; staff said they would provide the form, and no donation amount or council action was decided at this meeting.
A speaker requested a charitable donation for playground equipment fundraising; staff provided a donation request form.
2Announcements
No announcements recorded in the minutes.
3Setting of Regular Agenda
This is an opportunity to approve the regular agenda as presented or add/delete an agenda item by a majority vote of the Council members present.
Approved as amended; Administrator noted a revision to Resolution 22-046 and added it under Administrator Updates.
4Approval of Council Minutes
Agenda listed: March 13, 2023; minutes section heading: March 12, 2023.
Minutes approved; agenda and minutes documents disagree on the date of the minutes being approved (agenda: March 13, minutes text: March 12).
5Acknowledge Receipt of Commission and Committee Minutes
Parks Commission minutes for March 15, 2023
Council acknowledged receipt.
6Sheriff's Report for January and February 2023
Meet the Deputies
The council heard the sheriff’s report for January and February 2023 and met the deputies assigned to the Oak Grove contract. Lieutenant Knotz explained his title change, introduced the deputies, and reviewed call and enforcement statistics for both months; council members asked about animal complaint calls and whether the liaison might change, and the sheriff said there were no plans to change the liaison at this time.
Lieutenant Knotz introduced deputies and reported January/February calls; council discussed animal complaint calls and liaison continuity.
7Public Hearings
No hearings recorded in the minutes.
8Petitions, Individuals, Presentations, and Inquiries
No items recorded in the minutes under this heading.
9AConsent Agenda — Claims and Accounts
Council approved the consent agenda in a single motion, covering claims and accounts and three resolutions: 23-047 (waiver of statutory tort liability limits), 23-048 (closing escrow accounts), and 23-049 (accepting resignation of Levi Hillman). The minutes record the consent agenda motion as approved with all in favor, with no item pulled for separate discussion.
Approved via consent agenda motion.
9BConsent Agenda — Resolution 23-047 Waiver of Statutory Tort Liability Limits
Council approved the consent agenda in a single motion, covering claims and accounts and three resolutions: 23-047 (waiver of statutory tort liability limits), 23-048 (closing escrow accounts), and 23-049 (accepting resignation of Levi Hillman). The minutes record the consent agenda motion as approved with all in favor, with no item pulled for separate discussion.
Approved via consent agenda motion.
9CConsent Agenda — Resolution 23-048 closing Escrow Accounts
Council approved the consent agenda in a single motion, covering claims and accounts and three resolutions: 23-047 (waiver of statutory tort liability limits), 23-048 (closing escrow accounts), and 23-049 (accepting resignation of Levi Hillman). The minutes record the consent agenda motion as approved with all in favor, with no item pulled for separate discussion.
Approved via consent agenda motion.
9DConsent Agenda — Resolution 23-049 accepting resignation of Levi Hillman
Council approved the consent agenda in a single motion, covering claims and accounts and three resolutions: 23-047 (waiver of statutory tort liability limits), 23-048 (closing escrow accounts), and 23-049 (accepting resignation of Levi Hillman). The minutes record the consent agenda motion as approved with all in favor, with no item pulled for separate discussion.
Approved via consent agenda motion.
10AConsulting Engineer — Resolution 23-050 approving Plans and Specification and ordering advertisement for bid for University Ave NW
The city engineer reviewed the plans and specifications for the University Ave NW project (to be shared with East Bethel). A resident requested to see the plans, and the engineer said he would provide a link that the administrator could share. Council adopted Resolution 23-050 approving the plans and specifications and ordering advertisement for bids.
Resolution 23-050 adopted to approve plans/specifications and order advertisement for bid.
10BConsulting Engineer — Engineer Updates
Engineering updates included notice that bids for 2023 street improvements would be opened April 4 with an update planned for April 10. The administrator described a letter sent to residents of The Refuge explaining that the trail system was not part of the road project because trails are private, and some residents had questions. The engineer also presented a concept plan for The Ponds redevelopment area; council supported retaining land for a potential future sewer/water site, and the engineer stated the site has about 20–25 acres of buildable land.
Updates included timing of 2023 street improvement bids, communication to The Refuge residents, and a concept plan for The Ponds redevelopment; council favored retaining land for future sewer/water site.
11Fire Department
No Fire Department actions recorded under this agenda heading.
12Public Works Department
No Public Works Department actions recorded under this agenda heading.
13Parks
No Parks actions recorded under this agenda heading.
14Planning Department
No Planning Department actions recorded under this agenda heading.
15ACity Administrator Updates & Discussion Items — Administrator Updates
Administrator discussed meeting with cleaning companies to fill a vacancy, clarified planning commission term end dates, noted insurance renewal work, audit completion and upcoming presentation, laptop purchases for Heart Safe program and fire department, and announced a work session before the next meeting.
15BCity Administrator Updates & Discussion Items — Resolution 23-046 Increasing Salary of City Clerk
Agenda wording: Increasing Salary of City Clerk; minutes wording: approving Salary Adjustment for City Clerk.
The administrator told the council that the City Clerk had accepted a new position and submitted a resignation, but after further discussion she decided to stay. He recommended amending Resolution 23-046 to remove the resignation language and instead increase the clerk’s salary to $80,000 per year effective 3/27/23. Council adopted Resolution 23-046 approving the salary adjustment.
Resolution 23-046 adopted to approve a salary adjustment for City Clerk; Administrator recommended amending the resolution to rescind resignation language and increase salary to $80,000/year effective 3/27/23.
16Mayor/Council Requests/Updates
Next Regular Meeting scheduled for Monday, April 10, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
The administrator reported that a bill to expand early voting hours had been introduced in the legislature and was scheduled for a hearing. He said Anoka County and the Association of Minnesota Counties were preparing a joint sign-on letter for election administrators to express concerns to the bill author, and the council indicated support for signing the letter.
The Mayor asked about the status of a letter the city previously signed supporting the City of St. Francis in seeking funding for State Highway 47 improvements. The administrator said he would contact the City of St. Francis to get an update.
Council discussed animal-complaint call guidance, early voting hours bill and signing a joint letter to express concerns, and request for an update on a letter supporting St. Francis Highway 47 improvements; next meeting and work session times announced.
17Adjournment
Adjourned at 8:04 p.m. (motion carried 4-0).
Options the council weighed, and what happened to them. The record of the road not taken.
Filling cleaning services vacancy
under studyUse one of two cleaning companies to fill the vacancy left by the part-time public works employee
Why: Administrator said he would meet with two cleaning companies and bring a proposal for the council to consider at the next meeting.
Raised by Administrator Wickham
University Ave NW plan sharing with residents
adoptedProvide residents a link to the project plan through the Administrator
Why: Engineer said he would send the Administrator a link to the plan that he can share with residents.
Raised by Engineer Schwartz
The Refuge road improvements scope
rejectedInclude the trail system in the project
Why: Administrator stated the trail system is not part of the project because trails are not public and are located on private property.
Raised by mentioned_only
The Ponds redevelopment area planning
adoptedRetain land for a sewer/water site in case it is needed in the future
Why: Council favored retaining land for future sewer/water needs.
Raised by The council
City Clerk employment status and resolution language (Resolution 23-046)
adoptedAmend Resolution 23-046 to rescind the resignation language and instead increase salary to $80,000/year effective 3/27/23
Why: Clerk reconsidered resignation and decided to stay; Administrator recommended amending the resolution accordingly.
Raised by Administrator Wickham
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
Packet
Not in this archive
The supporting materials the board reviewed.
The summary on this page is AI-extracted and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording are the official record. What do the trust labels mean?