Tuesday, July 9, 2024 · 6:00 PM
One-line summary
The Council approved claims, consent items, Petersen Acres, a modified Jorgenson/Popp shared-driveway CUP, Nowthen Pastures, Chris Riley's probation completion and wage increase, continued budget-consultant work, and the URRWMO JPA update; it tabled the fire education incentive and ADU ordinance work and sought more information on cannabis regulation and MS4 services.
24 items as recorded in the agenda, packet, and minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.
1Call to Order
Call to order, pledge, roll call, and approval of agenda.
Agenda approved as amended.
2Public Forum
Public forum.
No one spoke during public forum.
3aApproval of Claims and Treasurer's Report
Approval of claims June 6, 2024, to July 3, 2024 and June 2024 Treasurer's Report.
The Council pulled the claims from consent for questions, discussed them, and then approved the claims presented through July 3. During the discussion the Council told staff that escrows need to be treated as a priority, and staff noted that additional claims will be brought to July 16 and July 29 meetings to avoid late fees caused by the timing of the July and August regular meetings.
Pulled from consent for questions, then approved separately.
3bResolution Appointing Election Judges
Appointment of election judges for the 2024 elections.
Approved on the consent agenda as corrected to 2024 election judges.
3cAuthorization to Prepare Ordinance to Regulate Cannabis Businesses
Authorization or direction concerning an ordinance to regulate cannabis businesses.
Planner Nash recommended that she and Attorney Ruppe draft a cannabis ordinance before the City's moratorium expires on January 1, 2025, but an initial motion to begin drafting received no second. The Council instead directed Council Member Breyen to work with the League of Minnesota Cities and state representatives to determine whether Nowthen needs a cannabis business ordinance or whether the moratorium can be extended.
The Council did not authorize drafting that night; it directed Council Member Breyen to research whether an ordinance is necessary or the moratorium may be extended.
3dGrass/Hay Mowing on Three City Lots
Grass/hay mowing on three city lots.
Approved on the consent agenda.
3eTemporary Liquor License for Ramsey Lions Club
Temporary liquor license for the Ramsey Lions Club for the Nowthen Threshing Show.
Approved on the consent agenda; minutes noted the organization should be Ramsey Lions.
4Moore Engineering Presentation MS4 Program
Moore Engineering presentation on the MS4 program.
Moore Engineering presented on MS4 program needs, including recordkeeping and permit preparation. The Council wanted a comparison quote from Hakanson Anderson and approved asking HAA for a quote; the amended motion also authorized staff to start work if the administrator determines 2024 budget funds are available.
Council asked HAA for a comparison quote and authorized staff to proceed if the administrator finds 2024 budget funds are available.
5aEngineering Change Directive for Waco Street Area Project
Work change directive for the Waco Street, Waco Drive, 182nd Avenue and Ventre Lane project.
The packet requested approval of a $9,601.32 work change directive to replace a discovered culvert segment beneath Waco Street, using project contingency funds. The minutes in this bundle do not record Council action on the item.
The minutes in this bundle do not record Council action on this item.
6aFire Department Monthly Report
Fire Department monthly report.
Administrator Lehner reported that applications had been received for the Fire Chief position and that he and Chief Schmidt were scoring them. Council discussed whether the position should be full-time, recruitment challenges, Fire Department leadership needs, and possible duties beyond fire chief work; staff was directed to provide a job description showing other duties that could add value for the City.
No fire report was given.
6bFirefighter Education Incentive Program
Resolution authorizing a Fire Department education incentive program.
The Fire Department proposed education incentive payments for new recruits and existing staff who complete firefighting, hazardous materials, and EMT certifications. Council members supported the concept but wanted more detail; the item was tabled to August with direction to obtain total cost, 2024 funding source, and 2025 budget information from Chief Schmidt.
Tabled to August for additional cost and budget information.
6cRetirement of Chad Fossum
Resolution accepting the retirement of firefighter Chad Fossum.
The Council moved the resolution accepting firefighter Chad Fossum's retirement to the consent agenda and approved it with the consent agenda.
Moved to and approved on the consent agenda.
7aSheriff's Department Monthly Report
Sheriff's Department monthly report.
Chief Deputy Jacobson presented the Sheriff's Department report. The minutes note a trend of increasing calls at Bar None, with discussion attributing the issue to staffing problems, turnover, and lack of applicants, while also noting conditions remain better than in the past.
Report was presented; no formal action recorded.
8aPetersen Acres CUP and Preliminary Plat
Petersen Acres CUP for flag lot and preliminary plat.
Planner Nash explained that Petersen Acres still needs work before final plat approval and that residents remain concerned about surface-water drainage. The Council approved both the flag-lot conditional use permit and the preliminary plat resolutions as presented, with the conditions contained in the resolutions.
Both resolutions were approved as presented; the packet resolutions included conditions.
8bJorgenson/Popp Shared Driveway CUP
Conditional Use Permit for shared driveway for Jorgenson/Papp or Jorgenson/Popp properties.
The Council considered a conditional use permit for the Jorgenson/Popp shared driveway, including whether the existing driveway must be widened to meet fire-code requirements. After discussion about the existing 17.5-foot driveway, the fire code, and the City's ordinances, the Council approved the CUP allowing the current width, requiring the resident to maintain the existing driveway and turnaround, and removing the stricter fire-code width condition from the resolution.
Approved with amended conditions allowing the existing driveway width and requiring maintenance of the driveway and turnaround.
8cNowthen Pastures Development Agreement
Nowthen Pastures development agreement.
Planner Nash said Planning and Zoning recommended approval of the Nowthen Pastures development agreement and that financial security is standard practice. The Council approved the development agreement as presented.
Development agreement approved as presented.
8dAccessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance Direction
Consider directing staff/consultants to initiate a zoning ordinance amendment for accessory dwelling units.
Planner Nash reported that staff receives multiple ADU inquiries from current and prospective residents. Council discussed possible benefits and concerns, then tabled the item until August and directed the planner to provide a proposed ADU ordinance and information about what types of ADUs people are asking to build.
Tabled to August; planner was directed to provide a proposed ordinance and information on requested ADU types.
8ePlanning and Zoning Monthly Report
Planning and Zoning monthly report.
Planner answered questions; no formal action recorded.
9Administrator Update
Administrator update, including fire chief position, recruits, summer events, facility updates, organizational chart, solicitations, recycling center update, and LMC board update.
Administrator Lehner reported that applications had been received for the Fire Chief position and that he and Chief Schmidt were scoring them. Council discussed whether the position should be full-time, recruitment challenges, Fire Department leadership needs, and possible duties beyond fire chief work; staff was directed to provide a job description showing other duties that could add value for the City.
To shorten the meeting, several administrator-update items were moved to Friday updates or a later work session. The organizational chart was moved to a work session, the personnel policy work-session format was noted, and staff was directed to research how the City should handle solicitation permits.
Some items were discussed under Fire Department; several items were moved to Friday updates or a work session, and staff was asked to research solicitation permits.
10a1Chris Riley Probation Completion and Wage Increase
Chris Riley probation completion and wage increase.
The Council first considered a motion to raise Administrative Assistant Chris Riley's wage by $2.00 to $24.00 per hour; that motion failed 1-4. The Council then approved the resolution ending her probation and increasing her wage consistent with the staff recommendation.
The Council rejected a $24/hour amendment, then approved the staff-recommended resolution.
10a2Administrator and Staff Clarification Items
Clarification items regarding 2025 budget support, Council goals, code compliance, and SSTS compliance program.
Because it was late in the meeting, the Council deferred most staff-direction questions to a work session but acted on one urgent item: continuing Lori Yager of RTY Consulting to work on 2025 budget preparation.
Council approved continuing Lori Yager's 2025 budget work and moved remaining clarification topics to a work session.
10a3URRWMO JPA Update
Review and approve URRWMO JPA update.
Council Member Breyen explained that the URRWMO item was for review and approval to ease updating the joint powers agreement. The Council accepted the JPA update with no issues and asked to see the final draft for approval; Council Member Breyen was assigned to tell Jamie Schurbon.
Council accepted the JPA update with no issues and requested the final draft for approval.
10bOld Business
Old business items including uncompliant properties, ATV ordinance, Memorial Park schematic, Bootleggers off-sale license, fee schedule hearing, financial policies, code section work, emergency operations plan, per-meeting pay policy, and road study bids.
The minutes record that item 10b9, the per-meeting pay policy update, was moved to a work session. The minutes do not record action on the other old-business items listed on the agenda, including Bootleggers' off-sale liquor license, the fee schedule hearing, financial policies, and the ATV ordinance.
The minutes record moving the per-meeting pay policy item to a work session; the minutes do not record action on the other old business items listed on the agenda.
11Adjourn
Adjournment.
Meeting adjourned at 10:08 p.m.
14 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M001MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO APPROVE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville
5 AYES
M002MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Fladebo
5 AYES
M003MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS PRESENTED THRU JULY 3RD.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville
5 AYES
M004MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY BREYEN TO DIRECT COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN TO WORK WITH THE LMC AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO FIND OUT IF IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CITY OF NOWTHEN TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE TO REGULATE CANNABIS BUSINESSES OR IF THE MORATORIUM MAY BE EXTENDED.
moved by Pilon, seconded by Breyen
5 AYES
M005MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECOND BY ALDERS TO APPROVE BOTH RESOLUTIONS AS PRESENTED.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Alders
5 AYES
M006MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERS SECONDED BY BREYEN TO APPROVE THE CUP FOR A SHARED DRIVEWAY AND A DRIVEWAY THAT IS NOT 15' FROM THE PROPERTY LINE AND APPROVE THE DRIVEWAY AT ITS CURRENT WIDTH. RESIDENT MUST MAINTAIN THE EXISTING DRIVEWAY AND TURNAROUND.
moved by Alders, seconded by Breyen
5 AYES
M007MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY ALDERS TO APPROVE THE DEVELOPERS AGREEMENT FOR NOWTHEN PASTURES AS PRESENTED.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Alders
5 AYES
M008MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO TABLE THIS TONIGHT, DIRECT PLANNER NASH TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE REGARDING ADU'S FOR COUNCIL TO REVIEW, PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO ADMINISTATOR LEHNER AND BRING BACK TO THE AUGUST COUNCIL MEETING.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville
5 AYES
M009MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY ALDERS TO ASK HAA FOR A QUOTE TO COMPARE.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Alders
5 AYES, with amendment by Rainville to authorize staff to get it started if the Administrator feels money is in the 2024 Budget
M010MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL AUGUST MEETING AND DIRECT ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CHIEF SCHMIDT TO INCLUDE A TOTAL COST, HOW TO PAY FROM CURRENT 2024 BUDGET, AND 2025 BUDGET NUMBER NEEDED.
moved by Pilon, seconded by Rainville
5 AYES
M011MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY MAYOR PILON TO INCREASE HER PAY BY $2.00 TO $24.00 PER HOUR AS SHE HAS BEEN A VERY BIG ASSET.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Pilon
M012MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY MAYOR PILON TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-XX TO APPROVE THE COMPLETION OF PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR CHRIS RILEY AND INCREASE WAGE.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Pilon
5 AYES
M013MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECOND BY RAINVILLE TO CONTINUE SERVICES FROM LORI YAGER, RTY CONSULTING, TO KEEP WORKING ON THE 2025 BUDGET PREPERATION.
moved by Pilon, seconded by Rainville
5 AYES
M014MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ACCEPT THE UPDATING TO THE JPA, NO ISSUES WITH THE UPDATING AND WILL NEED THE FINAL DRAFT FOR APPROVAL.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Fladebo
5 AYES
The amounts the council actually voted to approve, each with the vote that approved it. Drawn from the official minutes.
Moore Engineering MS4 program development
$6,000
Moore Engineering MS4 data management system
$6,000
Moore Engineering Phase I MS4 total fee
$12,000
Moore Engineering MS4 employee training coordination
$5,500
Moore Engineering MS4 annual events coordination
$3,500
Moore Engineering Phase II MS4 total with option 2
$9,000
Nowthen Pastures required financial security
$28,961
Approved Chris Riley hourly wage
$23
Approved Chris Riley hourly increase
$1
Chris Riley prior hourly wage
$22
URRWMO average annual budget, 2021-2025
$43,890
When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.
The mayor question if council had authorized the GAP analysis and have we paid for it yet?
— Mayor Pilon
What this is about
Whether the City Council had previously authorized the Moore Engineering MS4 gap analysis.
The records I searched do not contain a prior City Council authorization for a Moore Engineering MS4 gap analysis, nor do they show a payment for that work. The search results provided are for unrelated 2026 packet items, including commission procedures, prosecuting attorney services, code assignment for Ordinance 2025-01, fee/escrow language, and subdivision/plat materials. None of the excerpts mention Moore Engineering, MS4, or a gap analysis.
At no time did any council member state they wanted a part-time chief.
— Administrator Lehner
What this is about
Prior Council direction on whether the open Nowthen Fire Chief position should be full-time or part-time.
The records searched do not contain a prior Council decision or direction matching the recollection that the open Nowthen Fire Chief position should be full-time or part-time. The closest fire-chief-related item is the Fire Chief’s monthly update in the April 14, 2026 meeting packet, which noted a “leadership void” in surrounding departments with several chief positions vacant, but it did not record Council discussion or action on whether Nowthen’s chief position should be full-time or part-time. Other fire-related records in the results concern department operations or facility items, such as hiring a firefighter in the May 12, 2026 packet and approving $9,205.40 for fire station garage door openers at the May 12, 2026 meeting. Those do not address the employment status of the Fire Chief position.
The City Council took action at its June 2024 meeting to recognize and accept the parcel as a buildable parcel.
— Planner Nash
What this is about
Prior June 2024 Council action recognizing the western Jorgenson parcel as buildable.
The records I searched do not contain a prior June 2024 Council decision matching this recollection. The search results include later 2026 materials on land-use application procedures, minor subdivision requirements, fee schedules, and unrelated assessment/project items, but they do not show Council action recognizing or accepting the western Jorgenson parcel as a buildable parcel. Based on these results, I cannot confirm from the provided records that the Council took that action in June 2024.
no direction for RRC or Collaborative Planning to work on the ordinances at this time.
What this is about
Prior code-compliance discussion and lack of direction from the March 18 work session.
The records I searched do not contain a March 18 work session record or a prior decision matching the recollection that Council gave “no direction for RRC or Collaborative Planning to work on the ordinances at this time.” The search results do include March and April 2026 references to Collaborative Planning, but they relate to development applications, staff memos, and land-use review procedures—not a code-compliance ordinance discussion or direction to RRC/Collaborative Planning. No formal vote or direction on that specific topic was found in these results.
Administrator Lehner asked the city council to provide 3-5 goals they have for the city staff to be focused on for 2024 by March 29th, he will then compile them, discuss and bring to the April Meeting to be sure City Staff and City Council are in lock step together for the remainder of 2024.
— Administrator Lehner
What this is about
Prior Council goal request and staff need for Council priorities.
The records I searched do not contain a prior Council decision or follow-up discussion matching this recollection about Administrator Lehner asking Council members to submit 3–5 goals for 2024 by March 29, with a compiled list to come back to the April meeting. The search results returned unrelated 2026 packet materials, mostly land use, permitting, and consultant information. They do not show whether Council later submitted goals, discussed the compiled priorities in April 2024, or took any formal action on staff priorities for the remainder of 2024.
Council may also appoint a council liaison who shall be a non-voting member who is not counted for quorum purposes. B. Terms. The members of the Commission shall be appointed for staggered terms of th
CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 # A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE SERVICE AGREEMENT W
# RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX ## A RESOLUTION ADDING CITY CODE ASSIGNMENT TO ORDINANCE 2025-01 WHEREAS, On February 11, 2025, the Nowthen City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-01; and, WHEREAS, the ordinance
agreements related to those applications, including direct costs such as recording fees and third- party consultants (Attorney, Engineer, Planner, septic, or others). Escrow amounts for applica
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