2025 03-18 City Council Meeting Minutes

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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 2 All items on the consent agenda were reviewed by the Council. Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to approve all the items listed on the consent agenda, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Motion carried 5-0. Committee Reports No representative from the Planning Commission was in attendance. Mayor Artig-Swomley shared with the Council that she would like to encourage the Planning Commission to assign someone as a swing person in the case that there will be no quorum, and one is needed to hold a necessary meeting. The mayor will have a conversation with Planning Commission Chair Don Cummings regarding the suggestions. Old Business Newsletter Updates / Topics / Suggestions Some topics for the next newsletter would include the MPCA presentation, news on the work the golf course and KIA dealership are doing, scholarship recipients and the 2nd stormwater article written by Councilmember Jim Lindner. Code Enforcement Issues Discussion A letter was sent to the owner of the rental property on Scheuneman Road informing them that their property would need to be reinspected after a list of items was corrected. The inspection has still not been scheduled at this point. Barnett KIA Developers Agreement Draft A draft agreement has been created but is still being reviewed by staff. The Mayor asked the council if she could be given authority to approve it after the review has been completed instead of waiting until the next City Council meeting. This will help to keep the project on schedule. Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion authorizing the Mayor the authority to approve the agreement after legal has finalized it, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Motion carried 5-0. New Business Conditional Use Permit – 4039 Scheuneman Road – Gem Lake Hills Golf Course Graduate Community Planner CJ Sycks from TKDA summarized the request in a memo to the City Council. The applicant is requesting an amendment to an existing Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the Gem Lake Hills Golf Course at 4039 Scheuneman Road. The applicant is proposing to add a miniature golf putting course (putting course) and an ambient outdoor speaker system (speaker system) to the property. The proposed putting course will be constructed in the location of the old hitting cages, located on the east side of the property, near the primary building (the clubhouse) and parking lot. The hitting cages were removed in the spring of 2024. The clubhouse includes an open space with a bar, customer seating space, three bathrooms, and an office. There is also a maintenance department with an office, lawn mower and utility vehicle parking, and a large walk-in refrigerator. The active CUP was originally approved on March 14, 1964, and has been amended four (4) times since then. The most recent amendment was approved on February 20, 1989. CUPs were formerly referred to as Special Use Permits (SUPs). In a narrative provided by the applicant and included in the Meeting Packet, the applicant states that the addition of a putting course will provide a recreational option for all ages and will increase the appeal of their facility. They state that the putting course will be designed to minimize any potential impact on the environment and will adhere to all zoning regulations. The site area is approximately 19,000 square feet in size. The landscaping within the putting course will be artificial turf, with areas of turf designed to look like sand. In addition, a new deck is planned to be built on the west side of the building, near the putting course.