HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 07-19 CC MinutesCity of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes July 19, 2022 1 | Page
City of Gem Lake
City Council Meeting – July 19, 2022
Meeting Minutes
Mayor Gretchen Artig-Swomley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers Len Cacioppo, Laurel
Amlee, Ben Johnson and Jim Lindner were present. Also present: City Attorney Patrick Kelly, Acting City Clerk
Melissa Lawrence, Ramsey County Emergency Manager Judson Fried, Planning Commission Chair Don
Cummings, and residents Jim Wilson, Sharon Roland and Paul Emeott.
June 21, 2022 Agenda
Prior to accepting the agenda, Mayor Artig-Swomley proposed an addition to the agenda to have a brief discussion
on the sale of THC. This discussion will be added to the agenda after the Corridor discussion. Councilmember
Lindner introduced a motion to approve the addition, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice vote taken, all
voted yes, motion passes, addition has been approved.
A motion was introduced by Councilmember Linder to accept the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo.
Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes, agenda accepted.
Minutes
A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo to approve the June
21, 2022, City Council Meeting Minutes. Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes, minutes approved.
Committee Reports – Planning Commission
There was no Planning Commission meeting held in July. No projects have been proposed, and two public hearings
are scheduled for the August 10, 2022 meeting as long as the applications are deemed complete by the City Planner.
Old Business
Mayor Artig-Swomley presented ideas for the next edition of the City Newsletter to include pieces such as a water
summit review, and a review on the emergency management services.
New Business
Ramsey County Emergency Management – Director of Emergency Management Judson Freed
Mr. Freed has been the director for 20 years. This department is funded by federal government money. The
department does risk assessments for cities within the County, and then plans accordingly. The Emergency
Management team analyzes threats and hazards throughout the County and decides how to lessen the impact of
emergencies. The County plan is currently being rewritten and will incorporate Gem Lakes plan into it.
Councilmember Lindner asked how often the emergency management plan for a City should be updated. Mr. Freed
said that it should be looked at formally every year. When putting contacts into the plan it should list titles and not
names, because employees can change. Every four (4) years is when it should be rewritten, and it should be
someone different that rewrites it so that it gets a different perspective.
Gem Lake Infrastructure Issues
Air Conditioning at Heritage Hall
The air conditioning at Heritage Hall for the main office has been fixed. This will be a shared expense with
the Township.
Well and Municipal Water Update
There is ongoing testing with nothing new to report. The MPCA has been invited to the Water Summit
Workshop in September.
City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes July 19, 2022 2 | Page
Gem Lake Trail Update
The Mayor has been meeting with Kim Uzpen and have been brainstorming ways to spend the park funds
money. It has been recommended that the area is not reseeded until next year. A second bench will be
added to the trail in honor of the first Mayor of Gem Lake, Henry Hoffman.
Recycling Hauler Proposals
The City received two proposals, one from Republic Services and the other from the current recycling
hauler Waste Management. After review of each proposal the Council was interested to pursue Republic
Services further.
Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to allow a contract to be evaluated by the City Attorney for
Republic Services, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes,
a contract will be drawn up and reviewed.
Possible Sprinkler System for Heritage Hall
The City received a proposal from Albrecht Company for an irrigation system at Heritage Hall. The
proposal included two (2) options, Base Bid and an Alternate Bid + Base Bid. The Base Bid comes to a
total of $5,341 and the Alternate Bid comes to a total of $4,981. Option one (1) would cost $5,341 and
option two (2) would cost $10,322. This would be a shared expense with White Bear Township and would
need to go through a board meeting for approval.
Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to recommend option two (2) to White Bear Township for
approval of the shared expense, seconded by Councilmember Johnson. Voice vote taken, four (4) voted yes
and Councilmember Lindner voted no, motion passes, and the proposal will be sent to White Bear
Township for review.
Public Works Request Software Program for Gem Lake
The Township’s current Report a Concern module within CivicPlus website software has become
antiquated and is no longer updated / supported by CivicPlus. In addition, the current solution does not
enable the Township to add a category of requests specific to Gem Lake. CivicPlus has a new solution
called SeeClickFix. SeeClickFix is a full service citizen relationship management (CRM) solution that
meets contactless expectations by enabling citizens and staff to communicate remotely and safely.
SeeClickFix – Request total investment for the 1st year is $6,156.99, which would be shared between the
two municipalities. Gem Lake’s portion would be $3,078.50. Annual recurring costs would be $8,619.79
with Gem Lake’s portion being $4,309.90.
White Bear Township is recommending the Gem Lake City Council approve the SeeClickFix cost share as
both technology and citizen expectations evolve the Town must increasingly rely on comprehensive citizen
request management (CRM) software that include online portals and mobile applications for our citizens to
place their requests.
Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to approve the first (1st) year’s amount of $3,078.50, followed
by the second (2nd) year’s and on amount of $4,309.90, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice vote
taken, all voted yes, motion passes, City Clerk will pass along the vote approval to White Bear Township.
Internal Management
The Facebook page has proven to be helpful as an additional form of communication in getting information out to
the City of Gem Lake residents.
Proposed Amendment to Liquor Ordinance Establishing Maximum On-Sale/Off-Sale License Availability
There were some slight amendments made to the Liquor Ordinance No. 9 for Intoxicating Liquor. Section 2, Subd. 3
had a change of 14% to 24% alcohol by volume for consumption with the sale of food based on the State Statute.
Section 3 got an addition of Subd. 4 which states the amount of licenses that will be issued within the City. Section
4, Subd. 3 was removed, bumping Subd. 4 to be the new Subd. 3. There will be a limit of four (4) on-sale licenses
and two (2) off-sale licenses available.
City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes July 19, 2022 3 | Page
Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to approve the amendments to the Intoxicating Liquor Ordinance No.
9, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes, Ordinance No. 9 has been
amended.
Corridor Project Update – Ben Johnson
Councilmember Johnson discussed the Memorandum of Understanding. This Memorandum of Understanding (this
“MOU”) is entered into by and between the City of White Bear Lake, a Minnesota municipal corporation, herein
after referred to as “WBL”, and The City of Gem Lake, a Minnesota municipal corporation, herein referred to as
“GL”. This MOU shall remain in effect until January 1, 2023 or terminated before January 1,2023 if the
reimbursement amount is paid and the Project is complete. This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended at
any time upon written agreement executed by the signatories below or their successors in office.
Councilmember Johnson would like to use Heritage Hall on Wednesday October 5th to hold a block exercise hosted
by the Corridor Management team. Mayor Artig-Swomley asked Councilmember Johnson to email the City Clerk to
verify that the date would be available.
Mayor Artig-Swomley signed the Memorandum and Councilmember Johnson will get the signed copy to the correct
person and send a copy to the Gem Lake City Clerk.
Sale of THC within the City
Mayor Artig-Swomley would like to request a moratorium on the sale of edible THC within the City while the City
works on putting together an Ordinance. Mayor Artig-Swomley has requested the help of the City Attorney to locate
a moratorium on this issue in other cities to present at next month’s meeting. This issue will be discussed at more
length at the August City Council meeting.
Charitable Gambling Donations
Resolution #2022-0016 July 2022 Donations to White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf
The motion for adoption of the foregoing Resolution was introduced by Councilmember Lindner and
seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo, and upon vote being taken thereon, the Resolution passed with a
vote of 5 in favor and 0 against.
Suggested August 2022 Donation to Willow Lane Elementary
Last year the City went to Walmart and picked up $500.00 worth of school supplies for the school based on
a list sent to the City Clerk. This was a donation that the City enjoyed and wanted to repeat for the 2022 –
2023 school year.
The City Clerk requested a new list for this year and Mayor Artig-Swomley suggested that due to inflation,
the Council should allow up to $1000.00 to be spent on school supplies this year. Councilmember Lindner
introduced a motion to approve a total of up to $1000.00 in school supplies for Willow Lane Elementary,
seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes, the City Clerk and
Mayor are allowed to spend up to $1000.00 on school supplies for Willow Lane.
Community Outreach to Other Cities and Government Bodies
Gem Lake City Clerk has been in contact with the Ramsey County Election because of the upcoming election on
August 9, 2022.
Mayor Artig-Swomley shared an article on the Purple Line that discusses the drop of downtown White Bear Lake
and the consideration of a stop at Century College.
Claims
Councilmember Lindner made a motion to pay the bills, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo Voice vote taken,
all voted yes, motion passes, and bills will be paid.
City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes July 19, 2022 4 | Page
Monthly Financial Reports
The financials for May and June were submitted and the Council had no comment.
Quarterly Financial Report
The 1st Quarter 2022 financial report was submitted and the Council had no comment.
Presentations from the public, 2 minutes maximum
Residents in attendance had no comments or questions.
Open Items for Council Members to Bring Up
Mayor Artig-Swomley reminded the Council of the MS4 hearing in September. Councilmember Lindner will reach
out to the Ramsey County Public Works and invite them to join the October City Council meeting.
Future Council Meetings
City Council, Tuesday August 16, 2022, Workshop, Monday August 8, 2022 to plan for the Water Summit in
September.
Adjournment
Being there no further business, following a motion from Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember
Cacioppo, the meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Melissa Lawrence