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Home My WebLink About2025 05-20 City Council Meeting MinutesCity of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 1 City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting – May 20, 2025 Meeting Minutes Mayor Gretchen Artig-Swomley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers Jim Lindner, Len Cacioppo, Ben Johnson and Joshua Patrick were present. Also present: City Attorney Martin Norder, City Treasurer Tom Kelly, White Bear Lake Fire Chief Greg Peterson, White Bear Lake Police Chief Dale Hager and White Bear Lake Police Administrative Captain Isaac Tuma, Gem Lake Business Owners Jeff Taylor, Max Vannelli, Tiffanie Taylor, Mitchell Vannelli and Ron Vannelli, Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence, and residents Jim Wilson and Rick Bosak. May 20, 2025, Agenda A motion was introduced by Councilmember Linder to accept the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Motion carried 5-0. Minutes A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo to approve the April 15, 2025, City Council Meeting minutes. Motion carried 5-0. A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo to approve the April 15, 2025, Closed city Council Meeting Minutes. Motion carried 5-0. Special Presentations/Public Hearings White Bear Lake Fire and Police – Fire Chief Greg Peterson and Police Chief Dale Hager White Bear Lake Fire Chief Greg Peterson gave an overview of fire operations in the past year for the city’s coverage area, which includes the City of Gem Lake. He explained that the Fire Department is responsible for coverage in a 35 square mile area and serves 38,000 plus people. There were 4,784 calls in 2024. Overall, 72% of calls to the department were medical calls and 28% were fire/rescue related calls. Chief Peterson described his current staffing (3 full-time Captains, 15 full-time Firefighters/Paramedics,1 full-time Firefighter/EMT, 12 part-time staff and an Assistant Chief of Operations and Training) and then went on to discuss a variety planned community events, IV Acetaminophen medication trial, Vial of Life Program and annual training their team receives. White Bear Lake Police Chief Dale Hager gave an overview of police operations in the past year for the city’s coverage area, which includes the City of Gem Lake. There are approximately 66 personnel in the department, including sworn officers and support staff. In 2024 there were 17,839 Department Case Numbers (440 Gem Lake), 301 Department-Wide Arrests (9 Gem Lake), 3,506 Department Traffic Stops (84 Gem Lake), 305 Department-Thefts (5 Gem Lake), and 151 Department Domestics (1 Gem Lake). The department participated in 75 community engagement events in 2024 but could have done many more. Consent Agenda Resolution #2025-014 May 2025 Donation to White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf. Resolution #2025-015 May 2025 Jordan Jonas Scholarship Resolution #2025-016 May 2025 Lydia Erickson Scholarship Resolution #2025-017 May 2025 Bianca Sauer Scholarship Monthly Financial Report(s) Claims 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 meeting was held in May, nothing to report. City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 2 Old Business Newsletter Updates / Topics / Suggestions A newsletter was given to the Council for edits. The Acting City Clerk will send the newsletter to the printers by Thursday, May 22, to have ready to send out for June. Acting City Clerk Performance Review / Pay Discussion Summary (per MN State 13D.03; 13D.05) Mayor Artig-Swomley summarized the evaluation and pay discussion. At the April 15 closed session meeting Councilmember Johnson introduced a motion to approve the evaluation and pay increase, seconded by Councilmember Lindner. Motion was carried 5-0. Code Enforcement Issues Discussion The initial rental inspection and reinspection both took place for the rental property located on Scheuneman Road. It all comes down to the non-permitted structure built on the back on the property, all other violations were corrected. The city was informed that it was separated into two pieces, after a drive by from the building official he has stated it is still standing and is still in violation. Potential Water System Funding / Planning The city currently has the 2023/2024 federal funding award of $959,757. The Mayor and the City Engineering firm (SEH) had a meeting and discussed options for using the money, so it does not get revoked. SEH suggested that the city use some of the funds to go towards a bid for a design. This will make future applications look more appealing because it will show that the city has a plan ready. Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion authorizing City Engineer, SEH, to request a bid for a municipal water system design, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Motion carried 5-0. Comprehensive Plan / Met Council Interaction Mayor Artig-Swomley met with a person from the Met Council that has City Planner experience to discuss the City of Gem Lake’s Comprehensive Plan and Hoffman’s Corner. Mayor Artig-Swomley was informed that no Comp Plan change would need to take place if a strictly commercial business rather than a commercial/residential mixed development wanted to go into Hoffman’s Corner. Barnett KIA Developers Agreement Draft A final redlined draft was sent to the city and its contracted departments for review. The final copy will be signed within a couple of days and then work can begin on the new dealership. Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to authorize the mayor to sign the agreement when it is ready, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Motion carried 5-0. New Business VLAWMO JPA Comment Period VLAWMO is working to update its Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) in conjunction with its work to develop the 2027-2036 Watershed Plan. The current JPA was adopted in 2016 and will expire on December 31, 2026. While the current JPA will not expire until next year, VLAWMO determined the concurrent review of the JPA, and the Watershed Plan is the most efficient and will help ensure the documents are properly aligned. VLAWMO staff requests any comments on the draft JPA be provided via email to Phil Belfiori at Phil.belfiori@vlawmo.org by Wednesday May 28, 2025. Any comments will be used to prepare an updated draft of the JPA for review by the VLAWMO Board. Cannabis Registration Application 1599 County Road E East An application for a cannabis microbusiness registration in Gem Lake was received. Gem Lake is allowed a minimum of one (1) retailer per 12,500 residents. Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to approve the registration, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Motion carried 5-0. City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 3 Heritage Hall Room Rental Coverage Wednesday, June 4, 2025 – Hillary Farm HOA – No AV Needed – 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Councilmember Lindner volunteered to cover this rental. Future Charitable Gambling Donations White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf Mayor Artig-Swomley suggested that the Council make a donation in June in the amount of $1,500.00 to the White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf. Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to request a donation in the amount of $1500.00 for the White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Motion carried 5-0. Community Outreach to Other Cities and Government Bodies Mayor Artig-Swomley shared that at her last meeting with Vadnais Heights that they gave a proposal to Gem Lake regarding water billing that wasn’t what the city needed because it didn’t address the mayor’s problem. The mayor is waiting for a counter proposal. Presentations from the Public, 2 Minutes Maximum None Open Items for Council Members to Bring Up None Future Council Meetings City Council, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. City Council Workshop, Monday, June 9, 2025, is CANCELED. Attendance Inquiry At this time all Councilmembers in attendance will be at the June meeting. Adjournment Being there no further business, following a motion from Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Johnson, the meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Lawrence