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City of Gem Lake Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024 1 | Page <br />City of Gem Lake <br />Planning Commission Meeting – February 13, 2024 <br />Meeting Minutes <br /> <br />Planning Commission Chair Joshua Patrick called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission Members Art Pratt, <br />Don Cummings, and Stephanie Farrell were present. Not present was Derek Wippich. Also present: City Planner <br />Evan Monson, Apprentice City Planner CJ Sycks, City Attorney Kevin Beck, and Acting City Clerk Melissa <br />Lawrence. <br /> <br />February 13, 2024 <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Pratt to accept the agenda, seconded by Commissioner Farrell. Voice vote <br />taken, all voted yes, motion passes, agenda accepted. <br /> <br />Minutes <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Pratt to approve the January 9, 2024, Planning Commission Meeting minutes <br />with a slight amendment under Open Items for Commission Members to Bring Up by Commission Cummings, <br />seconded by Commissioner Cummings. Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes, minutes are approved. <br /> <br />Public Hearings <br />None <br /> <br />Old Business <br /> <br /> Ordinance No. 45 Garbage and Refuse Discussion <br />City Planner Evan Monson presented the Commission with a memo regarding the research he has been <br />doing on the garbage and refuse ordinance. He suggested some minor changes and edits for the commission <br />to review and discuss such as how early to set out containers for collection, hours for garbage pick-up, size <br />limitations on containers and possibly including language for composting. Mr. Monson also shared that he <br />discussed the possibility of Gem Lake joining White Bear Townships hauling agreement with the Town <br />Board. The Town Board was open to the idea if the city was to adopt or update its ordinances to allow for <br />licensed hauling. The commissioners may want to discuss whether to pursue the licensing idea further, and <br />whether such service would be for residential only, or if non-residential establishments (multi-family, <br />commercial, etc.) should be included as well. The commission should also review the draft of Ordinance <br />No. 45. The Commission may recommend further changes or updates to the draft Ordinance, or may <br />recommend it to the City Council for their review and approval. <br /> <br />Discussion took place on Mr. Monson’s suggestions and a few minor edits were suggested. Mr. Monson <br />will work on creating a final draft for the March 12, commission meeting for the commission to review and <br />suggest for approval to the council. <br /> <br />Gem Lake Tree Policy Discussion <br />City Attorney Kevin Beck shared that he has begun to work on the FAQ page request, but wanted a bit <br />more clarification on what the commission was looking for before he took a deep dive into it. The <br />Commission is interested in creating an FAQ page for the website for private properties, and not so much <br />changing the current tree policy that dictates what the city is responsible for. Mr. Beck will work on getting <br />some FAQ topics for the commission to review at the March 12 commission meeting to review and suggest <br />for approval to the council. <br /> <br />New Business <br /> <br /> Beekeeping Discussion <br />Apprentice City Planner CJ Sycks presented the Commission with a memo regarding the research she has <br />been doing on the beekeeping information request. Gem Lake’s current ordinances have no mention of <br />bees, which may imply beekeeping is permitted with no limit, unless considered a nuisance. It may also <br />imply that beekeeping is prohibited, dependent on one’s interpretation of the absence. Ms. Sycks gave a <br />basic overview of how other communities regulate bees and beekeeping. Before evaluating the specific