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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes December 19, 2023 4 | Page <br />Old Business <br /> <br /> Newsletter Updates / Topics / Suggestions <br />Mayor Artig-Swomley presented ideas for the next edition of the City Newsletter to include pieces such as <br />information on the 2024 City Budget, the presentations from the City of White Bear Lake, Cadillac Ribbon <br />Cutting, MS4 Report, Recycling, Smart Salting, and possibly something on the Corridor Project. <br /> <br />Code Violation – 1621 Goose Lake Road <br />December 4th, 2023 has come and gone. Mr. Igo’s lawyer did not reach out before that deadline. A new <br />hearing date has been scheduled for January 26th for a motion for default. This hearing date could grant <br />motion to schedule removal to which the property owner would be billed for. <br /> <br />New Business <br /> <br /> 2024 Fee Schedule Approval <br />Minimal changes were made to the fee schedule for 2024: <br />• Commercial flat rate demolition fee was changed to be based off of valuation. <br />• Fire Protection section were added <br />• Sewer and Water connection fees were updated to fall in line with a similar fee <br />• City sewer charges were increased by $5.00 per quarter to match the metered rate <br />• Edible Cannabinoid License fees were added <br />Councilmember Lindner requested that a change be made to the Heritage Hall Rental fee for the <br />cleaning/staffing fee. Currently the fee is a flat rate of $30.00. Councilmember Lindner suggests we change <br />it to a per hour fee with a minimum of 2 hours and change the fee for $20.00/hr for residents and $25.00/hr <br />for non-residents. Mayor Artig-Swomley agreed with this suggestion. <br /> <br />Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to accept the 2024 Fee Schedule with the suggested changes <br />to the room rental fees, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice vote taken, all in favor, motion <br />carried. <br /> <br />2024 Meeting Schedule <br />Council reviewed the meeting dates for the year and had no issues. <br /> <br />2024 COLA Discussion <br />According to the Consumer Price Index there was a 3.1% COLA increase for 2024. While an increase is <br />not guaranteed each year, the budget included a 3.1% increase for all city employees. Councilmember <br />Lindner introduced a motion to approve a 3.1% increase for city employees, seconded by Councilmember <br />Cacioppo. Voice vote taken, all in favor, motion carried. <br /> <br />Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Discussion <br />January 1, 2024, Minnesota’s new earned sick and safe time law goes into effect. This law requires <br />employers to provide paid leave to employees who work in the state. The Council would like to ask City <br />Attorney Kevin Beck to take a look at the City’s current employee manual to include language on the new <br />law. <br /> <br />Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to request the services of the City Attorney to review the <br />employee manual and suggest language for the new law, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice <br />vote taken, all in favor, motion carried. <br /> <br />Clerk Training <br /> <br /> University of Minnesota – Permit Technicians – 1/22/2024 <br />Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence will be closing the office on January 22, 2024 to attend <br />permit technician training. The City Council encourages training whenever available.