Laserfiche WebLink
City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes August 15, 2023 1 | Page <br />City of Gem Lake <br />City Council Meeting – August 15, 2023 <br />Meeting Minutes <br /> <br />Mayor Gretchen Artig-Swomley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers Jim Lindner, Len <br />Cacioppo, and Ben Johnson were present. Councilmember Laurel Amlee was not present. Also present: City <br />Attorney Kevin Beck, City Treasurer Tom Kelly, Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence, White Bear Township <br />Senior Finance Analyst Haley Rodriguez, Ramsey County Commissioner Nicole Frethem, VLAWMO <br />Administrator Phil Belfiori, Planning Commission Chair Joshua Patrick, and Gem Lake residents Jim Wilson, Isaac <br />Nelson, and Richard Pientka. <br /> <br />August 15, 2023 Agenda <br />A motion was introduced by Councilmember Linder to accept the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. <br />Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes, agenda accepted. <br /> <br />Minutes <br />A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo to approve the July <br />18, 2023, City Council Meeting Minutes. Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes, agenda accepted. <br /> <br />A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo to accept the August <br />9, 2023, Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes, agenda accepted. <br /> <br />Special Presentations <br /> <br /> Ramsey County Update - Commissioner Nicole Frethem <br />Ramsey County Commissioner Nicole Frethem gave the Council an update on some of the County <br />Initiatives. The County’s Appropriate Response Initiative has plans in place that are taking effect now, <br />some are in progress and will take effect in the future. Right now, social workers are being embedded in <br />ECC to respond to mental health-related crisis and mobile crisis teams are responding to 911 calls. <br /> <br />Soon the County will address the public health response to substance use calls that are not medical <br />emergencies. In progress right now the County is looking to contract a community organization to hire and <br />train responders to respond to certain calls. By late fall 2023 the County is working on a County-Wide Co- <br />Response Model. <br /> <br />Some other initiatives the County is working on include a City/County Business Retention and Expansion <br />Pilot, a Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Levy, a Food Scraps Pickup Program and Non-Public <br />Safety Traffic Stops. <br /> <br />VLAWMO Annual Report – Administrator Phil Belfiori <br />VLAWMO Administrator Phil Belfiori gave an overview of the Past and possible future efforts between <br />VLAWMO and the City of Gem Lake. Gem Lake currently holds both the chair for board (Jim Lindner) <br />and technical (Gloria Tessier). Currently 94% of Gem Lake’s land are is within VLAWMO boundaries. <br />Some possible future partnerships/projects are Smart Irrigation and Feasibility Study/Planning for the <br />Commercial District. <br /> <br />As the City is looking to add an irrigation system at Heritage Hall, it is a possibility that the City would like <br />to participate in the Smart Irrigation Controller Pilot Program. The Commercial District Area consists of <br />about .03 sq miles, 101,607 sq yards. A large amount of rooftop and impermeable surfaces are draining into <br />Gem Lake. This study could help the City determine better plans for the drainage. <br /> <br />Consent Agenda <br /> <br /> Resolution #2023-014 August 2023 Donation to White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf <br />Resolution #2023-015 August 2023 Donation to Willow Lane Elementary <br />Monthly Financial Report(s)