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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes October 17, 2023 2 | Page Old Business Newsletter The next issue of the Newsletter will include pieces on the MPCA presentation to the City Council, 2024 preliminary budget, Tessier Road repaving project, County Commissioners Report, MN Senators visit, dog license renewal reminder, VLAWMO, White Bear Lake police chief old and new, truth in taxation hearing date, trail improvements, and the garbage hauler survey. Code Violation – 1621 Goose Lake Road Update This code violation is getting closer and closer to a resolution. The homeowner is currently in default because they failed to respond to the court order. A hearing date is being scheduled for a date in December resulting in the removal of the trailer at that time. Neighbors have been very patient with the whole process. The homeowner was not in attendance for the City Council meeting. Municipal Water Funding Request Update The City has grant proposals out at the federal and state level. Each of these are slow moving. At this time the City is a finalist for the state funding. The House Capital Investment Committee stopped by Gem Lake on September 28 to tour the City and to get a better idea of why the City is requesting funding. Gem Lake was the 23rd stop of 23 for the day, so the committee was quite exhausted by the time they got to Gem Lake. Cookies and coffee were served while they attended the presentation portion of the tour. Update on Cannabis Law: Issues and Questions The City has one tobacco shop and they would like the opportunity to sell low dosage THC edibles and drinks that have no more than .3% THC. Their competitors in neighboring cities have been authorized to sell this product and because of this the tobacco shop is missing out on sale opportunities. The past moratorium the City adopted prohibited this type of request, the recent adopted one does not. The City is open to approving this request, but would like to adopt an ordinance before issuing any type of license. White Bear Lake and Vadnais Heights both have an application process the City can borrow. City Attorney Kevin Beck suggests that the City propose an interim hemp derived ordinance at the November meeting and gather feedback from Councilmembers and the public. Trail Sign Update The new descriptive signs have been set up along the trail and look great. The trail entrance signs were missed being ordered the first time around and the City has received a design and quote for those two (2) signs. Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to approve the quote for the trail entrance signs from Vacker Sign, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion carried. Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence will put the order in for the signs. New Business Interim Use Permit First Year Review for Goats at 3944 Scheuneman Road Homeowners Ted & Nikki Pax submitted an IUP renewal to harbor two (2) goats on their property located at 3944 Scheuneman Road. The renewal request was first heard by the Planning Commission on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 where a public hearing was held on the topic. No complaints have been reported regarding the property on the keeping of goats over the last year. The homeowners are interested in harboring an additional two (2) goats on the property, but according to City ordinance it would only allow for one (1) additional goat. The applicants have been asked to do some research and submit it to the City Planner. An amendment would then need to be made which would require a zoning request from the applicant as well. The application was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission to the Council at the October 17, 2023 City Council meeting, based on the conditions suggested by City Planner Evan Monson below: