To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all. Agenda item number two, public comment. If anybody would like to approach the council and make a public comment on
anything that's not on tonight's agenda, you're welcome to do so. Just state your name and address. >> Come up to the podium. >> Mike Fando, 125 17th Avenue Southeast. A couple comments. I was just in the work session. Uh, a couple things I wanted to
say. Uh, pros and cons. You stated the pro was we get a pond built by these guys for future retention. I feel that is a pro to a self-inflicted wound. If that road a we don't own it, it's county operated and b it was just resurfaced.
So, we're looking 20 to 30 years out before any of what you're proing is going to be needed. Uh the other comment I wanted to make is I don't feel us as a city should be jumping through any hoops for to make things more convenient, less
cost or anything to make their project smoother, quicker or easier towards approval. U you're for it. You're for it. Those are the two that I heard in there. Maybe three, but uh please listen
to the city. Uh you said that we need housing. Uh, from what I heard, there's a 5% open rate in the city of St. Joe. That's more units than they're proposing building. So, I do not see a need for more multi or for more high dense u
let's focus our town on people who want to live here, who want to plant roots here and more single family. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Anyone else for public comment? Seeing no others, we'll close the public comment period. Item number three,
approval of the agenda. >> I move to approve. >> Second. >> Seeing a motion, a second. Any further comment? >> All those in favor signify by I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Item number four, consent agenda.
>> I move to approve. >> I'll second that. Seeing a motion, a second for the consent agenda. Any other comments? All those in favor signify by I. >> I I opposed. Motion carries. Item number five, public
hearing for special event Rocktoberfest. Theres or David, are you carrying that one? >> Um, yeah. I'm getting started on that one here. So, thank you. Um, so yes, so we have a public hearing tonight um for the special event request for Rocktoberfest. So, a little background
on this. Uh, the St. Joseph Booster Club has submitted a special event application for Rocktoberfest. This event will occur on Saturday, September 27th from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and would take place in the church parking lot on the corner of Minnesota Street and College Avenue. Uh the street uh
closure requested is from Minnesota Street from College Avenue to First Avenue Northeast. And the request also includes adding a third uh offduty officer specifically for traffic control. That was where what the request has come has come in. specifically. We have had some discussion with um the
event organizers on this with both myself and Chief Fannenstein. We can certainly address the council with that with what the recommendations would be more specifically as far as what we would be requesting um for closing College Avenue starting at Baker but allowing some access to get into that
lower um to that lower parking lot. So if you look at the map there, so it would show that it would Minnesota Street and College Avenue would be closed there. So if you're coming say east on Minnesota Street um from the west there, you would be able to turn
left, but you would not be able to go straight or turn right. Um that block of Minnesota Street um to the east of College Avenue would be closed. Um and also there would be the road closure at Baker Street uh on College Avenue and that would allow traffic to come uh
the good up College Avenue in to get into that lower parking lot. However, but there would not be through traffic. Uh, also the um there would be a soft closure on First Avenue for that alley. Um, meaning you could get in th
those houses that live that are there. They can get into their property. However, they would not be able to go through on that alley. So uh with that that is kind of what some of the discussion has been but we will hear what any any the comments are from the public. So with that we're going to
conduct public hearing. We want to open the public comment period for anybody that like to speak on the matter. >> Chris you just want to state your name for the >> raise. So I want to start with that. You guys are doing it fant
uh anyways. Hey, thank you for this opportunity. Uh, I talked to you guys, spoke to you guys last year. Uh, and we had some discussion back and forth uh about the road closure and uh I want to start by saying I'm really grateful that uh the city works with us so much on
this uh event. I want to highlight what this event is for. Uh we're exclusively raising money uh for the Catholic school. Uh if you follow some happenings within the dascese um they're clos they're closing schools they're closing
churches. Uh there's many of us here that the only reason I ever come to St. Joe uh I drive by three churches and a couple uh schools to get here is that. So I think it's a great asset. Obviously that's been around uh this this uh city
for a long time. So, um, and David, I I do want to say that, uh, although we disagree, I think David and Dwight have been very respectful, um, about our disagreements. Uh, my proposal was, as stated, just to close off right in front of our event. Uh, and for some folks
that may not know about our event, it is completely enclosed. We spend a lot of money on fencing to, uh, do that. We regulate the entrance. There's only one exit, one entrance. Um, we we have no use for the streets. um like some other events that set up boosts and things
like that, there was no spillage. We are I submitted in your packet, we're completely enclosed. Uh I disagree with the city's recommendation and Dwight's I'm going to lay out why. Um my number one issue is
the south lot, south of our event where it is. Um so towards Baker Street, uh that's a large portion of parking that we're trying to get access to. That's what the crux of this disagreement is. Um, last year was the first year that
you guys closed off uh, College Avenue South for our event. Um, and I want to highlight that no one has come to me and given me specific examples or evidence that there was ever an issue with our event from a road
closure standpoint that, you know, there was an accident or a possible accident. Um, we obviously tried to do that. Our number one complaint was accessibility of parking, especially for people who aren't very mobile. Again, our event is
kind of a two-wave event. We have a traditional poker band that comes in right away. Draws a very elderly crowd. Uh, they have mobility challenges. There's no way around it. Um, it was suggested last year that, well, they can just use the parking lot in Heritage
Hall. um which is true. Uh however, it's really not adequate from the size of our event. Um and so what I'm asking is to leave College Avenue open um so we have access to that lot, which I'm going to highlight again that's a private lot.
The church owns it, rents it to St. Ben's. And I think there's also some advocacy here that the road closure is infringing on the, you know, rights of, if you will, the church to access their own uh lot. Um, so like I said, the
accessibility is the main reason why. So why I think you should consider deviating from uh David's recommendation is past precedent. So last year when I was discussing this in front of this council, um it was stated to me that even though you hadn't closed off other
events in the matter that you're closing ours um that you're going to in the future and I asked David, I said, you know, have anybody else been in front of you and what have you done for road closures? And so I looked that up and I'm not picking on these events. I'm just showing you guys these for
comparison. Law Jam, I have their application here. And I do want to say that u Sean and an have been great uh sponsors of ours. I think that goes through a great cause with the uh fire department. 1,800 people. We have 1,800
people. Okay. They're having a band. Um they're serving a toxicity liquor liquor. We are not. We're completely fenced in. They are not. Okay. They're on a quarter acre lot. We're on 3/4 of an acre as measured on Onyx. Um we're completely on a private lot. there over
the top I believe of right away with that alley. Um yeah, you guys closed no roads. Um and I posed that question to several people and one of the excuses that I or the reasons I heard was that I
I I think I I got from Dwight or somebody some combination of that um people approaching on College Avenue South. That's the concern of traffic zooming through Okay, I drove your I drove the city today multiple times. If there's a
visibility issue, it's on College Avenue North. There's parking on both sides of the road. If somebody was coming to our event from the south, they'd likely park in the lot that I'm trying to get. Number two, there is no parking on that road. The visibility, you can see from
threequarters of mile away as soon as you come over, you know, the hill back here a little bit. So, I don't I don't buy that argument uh at all. Um, the other one is rock for Alzheimer's. Um, historically, I don't think there's been road closures. So, then I looked and I
said, "Okay, I want to look at it from you guys perspective. When have you closed roads?" You've closed roads when the events use the roads. Like they have stands. I'll give you an example would be uh the arts fair. Is it Milstream Arts Fair? Um, they report 5,000 people
and I believe you close College Avenue in front of the or excuse me, Minnesota in front of the church and then you close College Avenue South. Um, which makes sense because their diagram literally shows they're putting booths there and uh vendors and I'm
coming back to, you know, these precedent. I don't care if that's your guys's application within this city. That's your der prerogative as a council. But I do think it's extremely important to apply this standard across
the board. Um, so back to my event, you didn't close them down for those other two. I'll agree to one close and I think that's being extremely reasonable and generous of us. And my reasoning isn't anything except for I want access to a
private lot, which by the way that the city benefits greatly from this lot. And when the when the you know church and the school is trying to throw event, we don't have access to our own lot because of in my you know view uh your guys'
closures on that. Um I made my point about the streets. You know, we have a stellar safety record, too. Um we have a gentleman that typically pars around the perimeter the entire time. Again, to my knowledge,
nobody's ever told me that there's been an issue with a pedestrian in a car. Uh, two years ago when I first started on this, by the way, we're all volunteer staff. Uh, there was an issue the previous year where a gentleman that I don't think was even part of our event,
came into the front towards the close and tried to steal a bunch of our merchandise. He was asked to leave, and maybe Dwight can attest to this, but this my memory. Asked to leave several times. He didn't. So then the officers said, "Well, we're going to have to write you a ticket." They had to pull uh some resources from the city. So then
the next year they said, "Hey, we probably need two cops." Awesome. No problem. Um the other discussion around this has been uh if you leave it open then maybe, and this was my idea initially, but then when I stopped and looked at all your other applications, um I I kind of disagreed with it in the
sense that if you put a cop in the intersection, it's the third cop that we have to carry from an expense standpoint. uh you know, we're making maybe a 15% margin. You're talking $10,000 of our sales are just going to that third police officer for an event that's never had an issue. Um and so
before you today, I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm asking for uh fair application of what you guys have done previously. And I would even say that, you know, even closing one street down, you're still closing down, you
know, more than you had other uh events. My final point, it's almost comical to me, not I shouldn't say comical, it's ironic, that if you move forward with the city's recommendations on this, we are going to
be denied access to our own lot. However, almost every other event that I see other than Fourth of July where it makes sense they use it and it's closed, where do you think they park? They park in our lot and then you don't close your streets down and the same thing happens.
They walk across. So an event that is on the lot that this that the the church own rents it to St. Ben. We're being denied access to something that everybody else in the town consistently uses and it's really frustrating. Our
event went down by 10% next year. I'm not a genius on causation, but the number one complaint and it was largely elderly and I think uh Meg Schneider came in here. There's folks that want to attend this in wheelchairs. Where do you want them to park? We have a solution.
We're not asking for anything that nobody else is getting. In fact, I'd agree to, like I said, the lot the street being closed in front of us on Minnesota, which is more than you've done to other events. Uh with that, I'll take any other questions. So Dwight, is there anything that Mr.
Yazgger said that would change your mind in terms of the recommendation that you put to the city? >> Nope. I gave him a solution. The alleyway that runs east west from lot one to the overflow by the south part of the parking lot. They're talking about taking up. There's another entrance just
south of that that will allow them access. If we put a detour sign up at Baker running a moround and coming down First Avenue, they still have exclusive um access to that lot fully there. Um I question whether or not all of their event people can fit in that parking lot
anyway. So once it's full, where are they going to park? Are they going to hand out a numbering system that the people that are handicapped can go 1 through 50 or they when it's full, it's full? You know, that's kind of where we're at. As far as traffic goes, yes. Um, there is no parking on College Avenue, so it's of no benefit for them
to keep it open or closed. But I question how many people are still going to come across from either Heritage Hall, come up from walking off site, wherever it is. And that's been the number one complaint from my officers working the event over the years is there's a lot of people on foot. And it was a direction of the council a few
years ago to city staff was to find safe recommendations so we do not have an accident. And just because we haven't had one in the past doesn't mean we won't have one in the future. So there's a lot this is a big footprint that's exposed from the outside to where people
are driving by and they may have their attention divided and it just takes one person to run out. So because this is loud and it's out in front and it's not normal. You don't see these tents here on a normal basis. It draws from people's attention. So >> thank you. My my recommendation was it
will not impact their parking ability in that south parking lot and the detour will be just a minimal impact to the rest of the residents. >> Thank you. So >> can I ask? >> No, Mr. Yazgar, I'm going to stand by
uh our chief's recommendation and of everything that you said tonight, the one thing I'm taking away from what you said is we have to look at other in terms of street closures >> like lodge jam. So, thank you. Thank you
very much. >> Okay. >> I have nothing else to say. >> I have a question for Dwayne. So, they still have access to that that parking lot and so how I'm understanding it is >> um they are coming in from the alleyway.
>> No, they becoming in this they becoming north on College Avenue. >> That's a closure. >> This is the hard can Oh, >> yeah. So, if I can clarify >> I can clarify the map a little bit. So, the red the red lines are hard closures. Okay. >> Nothing's going through. So, you see
kind of by the south part of that lot there, that red line kind of midway through, that's a hard closure. So, that's just to the north of the entrance >> into that parking lot. >> Okay, perfect. And Dwight, the reason why you want that closed is just because of the um the uh
development of a large group. >> It just takes vehicle traffic out of the equation. >> Okay. >> Oh, perfect. Okay. Thank you, >> Dwight. Is the increase from like two officers to three officers just because of the growth of the event or because of
the additional street closures? >> That was not our recommendation. We we stayed with the two officers. They had brought up possibly renting a third officer to keep that intersection open. So, um I I was good with just the two officers. Okay.
>> I tend to think and and again, we're all speculating at this point, but one officer assigned to a tea intersection keeping College Avenue open, they're going to have their hands full, speaking of somebody who's worked the last 6 Fourth of July at that intersection in the morning, it's there's a lot to keep
your head on a swivel. So to ask an officer to stand there for 10 hours and be alert and try to keep cars that are going through there, it's just easier to block that off. Make it a 90 degree turn with the proper signage and you taking the vehicle traffic out of it. >> So if we were to leave this as proposed
with the street closures, you're fine with two. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Adam, you had any further comment or question for Chris? >> Yeah. And I, you know, and Dwight, thank you. I I had asked a couple of the staff like, "Have you been to our event?" And
the answer was no. So, it was tough for me to understand. The people that are crossing from west to east that are parking in the church parking lot are largely elderly. Um, and you're right, Kevin, I was looking for consistency. I think that's extremely important at
polit, excuse me, in city um events. But yes, with mobility as it's proposed here, I you know, it's something I can work with. But it also I I didn't understand that, Dwight. And if that's what you're trying to tell me over the phone, I did not understand that. I when we had talked, you had said I could let
people through the barricades. I was confused by that. I do think that it's important to understand. So, if somebody's coming to our event from the north, I think closing this creates more congestion myself, but um you guys are the experts on the um that and uh as
Kevin pointed out, it's not consistent with your other events. >> Any other questions for Chris? >> It's my understanding that you just learned that you'd have access to this the parking lot >> from that route. I mean although not
ideal. Um, yes. A happy medium. >> Yes. Sure. >> I think that's all we have for questions for you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We are still in the middle of our public hearing. If anybody else wants to
address the council on the subject of Oktoberfest, they're welcome to. Seeing nobody else come forward, we'll look to close the public hearing. Is there any further comment from the counselors? >> This votes going to be on two officers.
I think the the verbage said three. So just a point of clarification, they would only require two officers. >> The staff recommendation in our packet is for three. So you could always make a motion to approve this with a modification if you
wish. Dwight, are you okay with that? >> Yeah. Again, it wasn't my recommendation. They just offered that up. So, >> I think the recommendation is for two. >> Correct. >> And the applicant wanted a third. So, if we pass a motion to approve
Rocktoberfest, which we will, there'll be two officers required, and then the applicant can work with the police department if they want to have a third officer at their expense. Can I clarify that?
>> Go ahead. Sure. >> Was contingent on a solution I was coming up with to keep the road open would be put an officer in that which Dwight obviously said is not effective. So I would withdraw that >> request. >> Thank you. So it's to approve it with
two officers. >> Does that make sense to everybody? >> I make the motion. >> Second. Seeing a motion second. Any further comment for approving Rocktoberfest with two police officers?
Seeing no further comment, all those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. Thank you, Chris. On to item number six, the resoning of 172nd AB Northwest.
Uh, thank you, mayor and councel. Um, I'll be presenting the resoning request that's being that was submitted by Mark Martini, the property owner of 17 2nd Avenue Northwest. He has requested a resoning from R3 multifamily to B1
central business district. Um, currently the site um has uh the Second Avenue cuts um business on it. It's just north of the house food and tap. Um what prompted this request is uh the property owner had put um asphalt millings on the
property and the city ordinance requires a hard surface of concrete or asphalt. Um and so he he could seal that um uh and and have that in R3 zoning. However, he's limited to 50%. So that's also what
prompted that reszoning request to to um the B1 central business district. It allows um up to um actually there's no maximum impervious in the B1 um district. Um so with that uh the the future land use within your
comprehensive plan does guide the property for central business district. So this resoning would be consistent uh with um your comprehensive plan and again he could um cover the the entire lot um with that asphalt concrete
provided he seals it. Uh the planning commission did hold a public hearing on the resoning request. Um they are recommending um approval um of that request. Um so before you this evening uh there is a resolution approving um
the findings of fact 202545 as well as um a resolution approving um the ordinance 2025008. >> Just for clarity for the council, this parcel is the barber shop north of the
house. >> Correct. >> Is there any questions or comments? With that, I'll make the motion for the finding of fact resolution 2025-045. >> Second. >> Seeing a motion, a second. Any further
comment on the finding a fact motion. All those in favor signify by I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. I'll also make a motion on ordinance resolution 2025-008 establishing the resoning.
>> Second. >> Seeing a motion a second. Any further comment? All those in favor signify by I. >> I I >> opposed. Motion carries. Thank you, Trice. On to item number seven, a variance for
height of accessory building 31897 Cedar Ridge Road. >> Uh yes, Randon and Tracy Ike. Uh they are proposing to construct a detached pull shed at their property um located at 31897 Cedar Ridge Road. It's part of the um
Sunset Ridge subdivision and actually when it was developed it was in St. Joseph Township and the city had annexed it in 2018. Um so during that time in the annexation it was uh zoned rural residential. Um and much of that zoning
district does allow um the height of buildings to be higher than um 26 excuse me 20 feet. However, there were certain uh during that time of drafting of that ordinance, there were certain residential subdivisions, if you will, that uh weren't necessarily uh small
lots. For example, this was about nine acres, but some of them are um quite smaller. Uh they were identified as residential subdivisions and had higher stricter standards. So, this is one of those um examples where they're limited within the ordinance to 20 feet high. uh
they are proposing 26 um so a variance of six feet um and uh they they are proposing that for compatibility to match their house um and is this the roof peak that they are proposing to do would provide for better um snow load
and and drainage of that. Um when you review um a zoning or excuse me a variance uh you apply the practical difficulty uh test which is established in state statute as well as your ordinance. Um and those were outlined um within the um resolution the findings of
fact u approving the variance. Um is that property um owner proposing to use it in a reasonable manner? Uh the finding is that they they are uh um it would match the match the house. Um is the the applicant's request unique um
given the property is owned rural residential um and uh it is similar to other structures within that neighborhood. Um, and lastly, does that variance alter the essential character of the neighborhood? And again, it would it would match the the character of that neighborhood um with the other sheds in
in the area. They're also proposing to put it in behind their house as well. Uh so with that, um there is a resolution adopting the findings of fact um and approving that variance. >> Thank you, Trice. Any questions from the
council? I don't see any issue with this proposal because looking through the packet there appropriate space away from wetlands. I understand snow load issue where Minnesota we have an abundance of that in the winter so that's understandable. I'll make a motion for finding effect
resolution 2025-046. >> I second that. >> Seeing a motion second. Any further comment? >> All those in favor signify by I. >> I oppose. Motion carries. Thank you.
And on to item number eight, zoning text amendment for Bob Ethan. >> Yes. So Bob Ethan has requested a zoning ordinance text amendment to allow minor vehicle sales as a conditional use in the um light industrial district. Um Mr.
Ethan owns AMI Auction um located at 30865 Colar Court. It's an industrial park that was developed when it was with within uh St. Joseph Township. Um again, that was also annexed in 2018. Uh Mr. Ethan sells recreational vehicles. Uh
the sales are completed um all all online, but the vehicles are stored outside. Uh he is planning to purchase property just south on Sterling Drive to downsize his business. Um he would continue to sell vehicles online, but would store um three to four vehicles on
site. Um both the properties are within the light industrial uh zoning district and vehicle sales are not permitted um as a they're not a permitted use or a conditional use. Um his current operation is considered a legal uh non-conforming use by state law where
it's allowed to continue. However, it doesn't transfer to a different property. Um uses within the industrial district are generally manufacturing, warehousing and assembly type industry to create jobs. um vehicle sales, including automobile and recreation, um
are allowed um by conditional use within the highway business district. Um planning commission did review this request um and the unanimously recommended approval um of the ordinance amendment to allow for minor vehicle sales as a conditional use in the light
industrial district um with the following items included in the definition um of um of minor vehicle sales. And that would be, it was laid out in your uh staff report, but the maximum size of the lot um would be 2 and a half acres. Uh no more than five
vehicles stored or sold on the property at any given time. Um and then indoor sales and storage only. Uh so with that, there's two u requested actions this evening. A motion on the ordinance amendment resolution 2025009
and then a motion on the summary publication resolution 2025 047. >> Thank you Trice. Any comments from the counselors? >> Yeah, I just uh want to thank Mr. Ethan for all the years that you worked here
in St. Joseph with AMI. an awesome business. Really gave us a lot of good I mean publicity with your billboards and things like that. I knew a lot of people that would go to your auctions and I want to congratulate you on your retirement.
And I hope that this uh solution that you and Nate worked out is acceptable to you for you be able to do what you want with this new space you're buying. So with that I move to approve uh ordinance amendment resolution 2025-009.
>> I second that. >> Seeing a motion to second. Any further comment? >> All those in fa. Excuse me. >> You're not selling cars on >> a couple. So, I'm going to be doing that. Bob, if you keep talking, would you want
to just jump up at the podium that then the people at home can see you? >> Yep. One of the things that I want to make clear is I'm selling AMI and I'm going to sell it in its entirety and the dealer's license will go with it. I'm
going to tell them and force them to put me in a no compete clause. As much as I like that business, I don't want to be tempted by it. The new building, there will be nothing outside except my truck when I come to work. And we have leased the front part of it to Chantel Jansky.
She has um whatever that they are excited about having the the I'm trying to think of a showroom. That's going to be great for them. You're going to walk in the back and see a cool place, you know, place to be. There might be a Corvette sitting in there and I'm going to play around with some Mustang
convertibles and that's what I want to do. So, it's I'm not going to be I want nothing outside for sale because the minute you have it outside, it means somebody can drive by and come in. I don't want that. So, keep it neat and clean. I think the the chief will tell you in 20 I've had a dealer's license
for 27 years. Never been a problem. My business there is neat and clean and everything is taken care of. There's never been a problem. And this new place is going to be just as nice and a lot a lot more fun. So,
>> thank you, Bob. We we do have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. Looking for a motion on summary publication. >> I move to approve 2025-047.
>> Second. >> Seeing a motion, a second on the summary publication. Any further comment? All those in favor signify by I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you, Bob. go retirement
by the city. >> So, your next step would be to submit that conditional use permit application and I can follow with up with you with an email, but I know Nate also shared information with you on that too, but I'll follow up with you tomorrow. It's a pretty simple.
>> Thank you. >> Good luck. >> Thank you. >> Trying to find myself in our packet. Item number nine, tourism coordinator, proposed contract for Mary Bruno. Uh
David, do you have this or is Mary carrying it for herself? >> I I do not. This uh came out of community development. I'm not sure if if Theresa if you are prepared for for discussion. I think you had some discussion with Nate or not. >> Yeah, this one I'm I'm not prepared for. >> I did sit on the EDA meeting so I can
speak to it. At least open it. >> Sure. >> Um so the EDA and I think the city council had asked Mary to generate a um contract for her services that she's been providing since 2018 for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Um she's
been paid $9,000 a year for those services um since 2018. Has not had any increase um since then. The contract before you is to try to describe the services that she is going to provide for those that stipen that
she receives um and kind of hold her into those those items because I think she can speak for herself. I think she gets pulled in a lot of different directions that are kind of outside of what the scope is that um we're hiring her to do.
Um in looking at rates comparable for other CBBS for certain types of directors are doing this the social media work that she does do which is a lot more than just social media but um the the wages that they receive are higher than that 9,000 on average. And
so Mary's asking for an increase on that as well. And that increase will come partly from well her 9,000 will continue to be getting paid out of the the lodging taxes that we receive. And the EDA is recommending that um they'll take on the other 5,400 a year to bring up
her annual stipen to 14,400. We don't collect enough in lodging taxes to cover that whole amount. So the EDA will um absorb that cost out of their professional services budget. So can speak to her contract
um and what's in there. >> I don't have any questions for you, Mary, but just thank you for everything that you've done for the city over the years and I'm glad that we have something formalized for you because it gives your position and what you're accomplishing for us more structure and we're getting you more pay which you
duly deserve. So, thank you. >> Yeah, thanks. The clarification is good for me, too. So, yeah. And I'd like to second that in the in the in the systematic now as a city um so that Mary can actually do even more magic that she already is being able to just clarify
that Joetown tourism and then um what I had noticed in here CBB known as Joetown and so just clarifying that for us as a city and the businesses so that as she goes out now that she's not ahead of those she's her own entity. for the
city. And so being able to make sure we have a chairman for um the CBB and of course they already have uh for Joe Joton tourism and so again thank you so much Mary and I just keep on kicking it.
>> Yeah. Thank you. >> Any other questions, comments? >> Yeah, my comment is um I support this 100%. Thanks for everything you do for our city. >> Thank you. I talked to Nate before he went on leave about who you would be
accountable to and I think we agree that it would be the EDA as a group would you know monitor this and hold hold you accountable for what you're working on and u that's all I have to say
>> Adam love what you do I think you put on a great event at the house the other day um >> yeah sweet >> I uh looking forward for what you have to offer. >> Yeah, it's kind of blowing up. Like, we got all these businesses sending, you know, getting involved. So, that's huge.
>> Do you have a headcount on how many showed up? >> I mean, there was over 60 and I've probably gotten um, you know, investment from half. >> Sweet. >> That's amazing. Yeah. So, we got big plans.
>> I think that's all we got for you. Thank you, Mary. >> Thanks, guys. With that, I'll make a motion to approve the proposed tourism coordinator contract fumbled that football for Mary Bruno. >> I second that. >> All any other comment.
All those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> Oppose. Motion carries. >> Thank you, Lori. On to item number 10, department reports. Any reports? Just a one real quick one.
Um just for me personally, I um want to take the time to make to give you formal notice that I will be gone for about two and a half weeks starting at the end of September into early October. So I will be working on making sure that we're as
ready as possible for for that time. I'll be away, but um I will be taking a little time away. >> Thank you. So, in that event, who fills in for you? >> I mean, who takes over running the city when you're gone for two and a half weeks?
>> Um, typically we >> I'm thinking Lori or is it Kayla? Kayla. >> I don't know that it's I don't know that it's formally put into our into our collective into our uh documents here, but typically the the finance director
is what called is what's called the acting city administrator. Thank you. >> You got to put that on a business card, Lori. >> I was going to mentioned I am going to be on vacation next week visiting my
in-laws down in Kentucky. So, >> okay, >> Ryan. >> And I will be in Chicago Thursday through Sunday. >> Nate, >> we appreciate you, Dwight. Dwight, can you give us some uh insight as to where
we're at on trying to hire another officer? >> Um >> are are we going to dangle some opportunities out there that you want to run past us to pass so that we can >> put some >> incentives to hire another officer because you're still one or two people
short. Yes. >> Correct. Yep. And uh so tomorrow we're going to I've got all the information put together. that we're going to give to Kayla because she was gone last week and so we're going to have it posted on the Minnesota Post board and on the League of Minnesota Cities and wherever else we post it. So, I'm going to get
that to Kayla tomorrow and uh hopefully I think we're going to leave it open this time until filled instead of setting a deadline and just take them as they come in. So, >> are we adding any other incentives like other cities are doing like >> correct? >> So, what are we adding? So, basically
we're going to try to do on this round is, and there there's a lot of language you can play with, and I looked at a lot of the postings, we're going to go up to a two-year um hire. Basically, if somebody comes in with two years or less of experience, we're looking like a $1,500 incentive to complete probation.
Some will say upon hired, some will say upon um FTO. I think through probation, which is generally six months to a year, they'll get $1,500. And then if they stay on with St. Joe for two years, they'll get the remaining 1,500. So
essentially $3,000 hiring bonus. And the council gave us direction to go up to 5,000. So then if we get an officer who has two plus years of experience, we would offer them 2500 to complete probation, 2500 to stay on for two years, hopefully getting them over that
hump to want to remain here. And then we would frontload 40 hours of vacation and 40 hours of sick leave. So that way they can come here if they have a family and need to take some sick time. It's not like they have to try to earn it. It's it would be frontloaded first. >> So, those are what we're going to start with.
>> And Alec Tech just recently graduated however many students and now um they're basically taking their post licenses. So, of the approximately 75% that don't have conditional offers already coming out of school, we're going to try to see what's of the 25% how many will apply
with us with these incentives. So, there's a lot of other incentives out there that are quite a bit more generous, but we're going to stay with it in the council's direction of trying to keep it at 5,000 or less for this round. If it doesn't work, we'll come back. >> Thank you.
>> With that, mayor and council reports. I personally have nothing to report at this time. >> Uh Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I'm going to the greater uh coalition in Baiji. >> Oh. Just wanted to put that out there. >> Awesome. >> Okay.
>> Thanks for doing that. >> Yeah. Anything you guys have specifically that I should draw from that. >> Um yeah, ask the OCM about our license. >> That'd be wonderful.
>> Yeah. Bring that license back with you. >> I move to >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. We are adjourned. >> That doesn't fall within your six year. >> Recording stopped.