##VIDEO ID:wqjMS4GJerE## seems strange not to uh call the meeting to order before we start but we're going to have the certificate of election to office and the oath of office uh from our city clerk Bernie Nelson I'd like to extend a welcome to everyone mayor ree our council members members of the families of the newly elected officials and ouring audience here in the gallery and at home right now I'd like to invite our newly elected council members to join me out front the city of Wilmer conducted a general election on November 5th 2024 which resulted in the citizens reelecting two council members to their respective Wards and electing newly coun new council members to Wards 1 and two these results were canvased before a quorum of the board on November 14th 2024 in accordance with the Wilmer City Charter section 9.04 every council member elected or appointed official and board and commission members shall before entering upon the duties of their office take And subscribe an oath of office as follows please repeat after me raise your right hand I state your name do solemnly swear do swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States I will support the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the state of Minnesota the constitution of the St and the city Charter of the city of wmer and the City of the city of w and that I will Faithfully execute and discharge the duties of the office of city council member for the city of wmer for the city of County of candy ohigh County of Cy state of Minnesota state of Minesota according to law and to the best of my abilities and understandings as a city clerk and chief office of in charge of voting I would like to take this opportunity to present you with this certificate of election and I ask that you take a moment to sign the oath before returning to your seats May raise you lower your hand thank you Steve Steve Tom and Tom Tom G Steve you thank you Rene congratulations welcome um we'll call the meeting to order and we'll start with roll call Mayor re here council member OS here Nelson here Gilbertson Here Gardner here beggerly here Davis here Butterfield here and sches here nine present zero absent please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge alance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands One Nation God indivisible with liy and justice for all I've asked uh Pastor Rod race to uh pray and uh do an invocation oh thank you it's going to be here this evening beautiful balmy mosquito free wonderful wmer Minnesota evening let us pray father God I pray for this council meeting tonight give the council members wisdom and guidance may you generously give each of them wise and Discerning Hearts to skillfully govern our community give mayor Reese and City Council Members city leaders staff and staff wisdom so that they may solve issues and bring stability and prosperity to our community we pray for the newly elected council members Gardner and Gilbertson and the reelected councelor members ask in Butterfield bless them and their families for their service to our city in the name of Jesus Amen thank you Rod any uh proposed additions or deletions to the agenda agenda i' offer a motion to approve the agenda as presented second we got a motion and a second any discussion hearing none roll call council member OS I Nelson I Gilbertson I Gardner i baggerly i Davis I Butterfield I and scheldes I eight eyes zero nose that passes next we'll uh meet our new manager of the MU Jaren Smith welcome Jaren we're pleased to have you here yeah it's good to be here I don't know if you want me to introduce myself yes okay so I'm jiren Smith I've been in the community all my life uh my wife works at the community Christian School here here in town and I've got four daughters I've rubbed shoulders along and worked alongside many of you in different community events um my family was active in getting the village Children's Museum off the ground here in Wilmer I've been part of a lot of chamber events I uh uh currently serve on the United Way Board and then on the Wilmer Municipal Utilities end I started in 2010 I got my professional engineering license in 2014 14 and I've been uh working here for 14 years so it's really exciting to be moving up uh climbing the ladder corporately and professionally and I I love the Wilmer Community I helped build the robins Island Playground I thought that was a great initiative um I want to see the utility grow I want to see staff grow and I want to see Wilmer Thrive so thank you so much for this opportunity any questions congratulations jiren and welcome we look forward to working with you any questions from any of the counselors thank you so much I kind of thought this was a test being a playoff night thank you jar all right um I don't know we don't need a motion on that do we yes you do we do yes okay so we need a motion to what I I see I was supposed to call on you and I apologize that's quite all right we're going to have a motion to accept the hiring of WM jiren Smith for general manager I still move second okay we got a motion and a second discussion roll call council member Nelson I Gilbertson I Gardner I fager Le I Davis I Butterfield I shes I and oos I eight eyes zero nose that passes from there we're going to go into our organization reorganization resolutions and the first is a resolution to elect mayor protim I would as mayor would like to see um council member ask continue as mayor protim mayor Reese I would make a motion to adopt a resolution appointing um council member Justin OS as mayor protm for the year's 25 and 26 second second we got a motion and a second discussion all those in FA of roll call council member Gilbertson I Gardner i baggerly i Davis I Butterfield I sches I oos I and Nelson I eight eyes zero nose that passes the next is a resolution to adopt Rules of Order Leslie you can continue as you have uh this is just to adopt standard code of parliamentary procedure that we have used for the last many years so if there's any change that's time is to change now so I need a motion so moved got a motion to adopt the standard code of parliamentary procedures second we got a second discussion roll call council member Gardner I fagly I Davis I Butterfield I sches I OS I Nelson I and Gilbertson I eight eyes zero nose that passes next uh Leslie you want to outline maybe the sure so the next uh resolution is to adopt the establishing of our City Council meetings this would be the first and third third Monday as we have been meeting so far for the last two years we would beting at 6:30 in the evening and it would be at the normal meeting date place and would be at the County Health and Human Services building need a motion so move second we got a motion and a second discussion roll call council member faggle I Dave Davis I Butterfield i sches i o i Nelson I Gilbertson I and Gardner I eight eyes zero nose that passes next is uh an resolution designating the West Central Tribune as the official newspaper for the city of Wilmer I need a motion to that effect I can make that motion second got a motion in a second discussion Tom Tom B well I looked up uh cuz I think last year and year before got brought up about Lakes area review being added in there we were told that haded been in the city I looked up uh the statutes and everything uh this weekend and it's not the case we could have any paper that's in the wmer in the county or in a joury county that could be our record of paper of for legal notices and that was found on the state of Minnesota and the league of uh Minesota League of Voters I believe let me quick pull up Le of cities yeah cities what C member fairly brought up so I would like to move that over to the L's uh area review I believe the county brought this up too this the other year all right did I have a motion or yes I did so this would be a um Amendment what say Tom's asking to amend the motion discussion yeah discussion um council member I don't know what to do now Justin you I I use the first name I like that thank you Mr Mayor um my understanding is the county chose the West Central Tribune as the official paper of record in this cycle is that accurate I would tell you for sure okay that's what I believed and the readership is far far different the West Central and dwarfs all other papers in the area lakes area does not offer an online presence where West Central does it seems to me that changing from anything other than the West Central Tribune just hurts the city's ability and our ability as a council to communicate with our constituents and our our voters the people that have sent us here so I I would be very much in favor of continuing with the West Central trip agree I was just questioning the ability to amend that to that because that would be changing it completely um it feels like we need to vote on the motion that was on there that his request to amend it would be basically changing the whole motion uh mayor members of the council um I I think the amendment was a valid Amendment to the motion the motion being to designate an official newspaper and the amendment being to change that newspaper that means the council would need to vote on the amendment uh which is the vote would be on the question of whether to change the official newspaper from the West Central Tribune to the other publication Mr Butterfield mentioned um but before the council votes on that motion there are two issues the council needs to be aware of one is there is a statutory requirement that when uh there is at least one newspaper it's office of public a is in the city that one of the the the paper must be must have its office of publication in the city that is a statutory requirement and then the second issue is something that we had researched several years ago um which is that when uh one of the if there are multiple papers in the city and one of them has a certain circulation which we researched at the time and West Central Tribune did um that paper must be the one designated um I have not updated the research this year but I can tell you a couple years ago and we looked at it the West Central Tribune was the only newspaper that could be lawfully designated by the city um if the city council would like our office to confirm that is still the case we certainly could do that but we have not done so before tonight okay so really I I don't have a second for the amendment so is there anybody going to Second the amendment that fails for a second the original motion is for the West Central Tribune any further discussion roll call council member Davis I council member Butterfield I sches I OS I Nelson I Gilbertson I Gardner I and faggle I eight eyes zero nose that passes next is the resolution for Council Committee Member liaison uh assignments City man administrator we Havey certainly so each year for the banal we have a list of C longstanding committees and boards that uh we have uh Council Le leaz on so uh you have a listing in here of a draft of who um had is going to fill the vacant positions if there's any council member that would like to move or change this is the time to have that discussion if there's any change that the council would like to see so you have the appointed board and commission members on the first page and along then with our uh leaz On's positions on the second page of your Council packet anyone want a a change or Audrey May thank you Marice I just have two questions I see that the wmer cable Advisory Board it says about combining later in 2025 but what's happening with it right now nothing's been happening with it right now so we don't have't been no they haven't been meeting at all okay then my second question is on the intergovernmental planning and communication committee I think last year we had a third uh uh an alternate if one of the two couldn't go because my assumption is you would go to all of the meetings that you would not be a Committee Member you well we're not yeah we don't vote anyway it's not a voting no I know that but that you're to go there I just am concerned that we have at least two people that can attend that and I was the alternate last year I'm not um but I never knew that there was a meeting so um I can't tell you if they met I can't tell you what they did can't tell you whether anybody went it's just a question is should there be an alternate certainly Council can appoint an alternate um do they meet yes we do meet accordly three times y z okay is that something that can be just if someone can't go that you could just call and ask someone else to do to go to do that and that that if there's if um Mr Gardner could not make it we certainly can fill ask somebody else to join the meetings are usually at 3:30 in the afternoons okay that sounds great I'm just concerned that people go okay Justin yes thank you Mr Mayor I'm just wondering did we miss downtown Wilmer on this list we no longer have a downtown Wilmer board they have been disbanded when was that Christopher when did they disband if my memory serves me correctly I believe it was uh September or October of this year of last year yeah didn't know that um maybe it would be helpful to have an update on what's going on with that we do have a staff person don't we or we do so it's kind of in transition yet okay so we can find out more about that another time okay all right any other otherwise we'll vote on on the way it's laid out here i' offer that motion you got a motion we got a motion do we have a second second we got a second any discussion roll call council member Butterfield I sches I OS I Nelson I Gilbertson I Gardner I baggerly I and Davis I eight eyes zero nose that passes next is a resolution to designate responsible Authority data practices Leslie okay yes so this is an annual no this is by annual to also to designate the responsible Authority for our data practices it we in the past it has been our city clerk that we designate and that is something that we want to continue that our city clerk vene Larson will continue as the person to collect information and storage and make sure that everything is in order to um pass on that data request I'll make that motion second we got a motion and a second discussion roll call council member shes I askos I Nelson I Gilbertson I Gardner i pagerly i Davis I and Butterfield I eight eyes zero nose next is a consent items and I'll call on our city clerk mayor Reese and council members for your consideration tonight I have the city council minutes of December 16th 202 24 the Municipal Utilities Commission meeting minutes of December 23rd 24 the Planning Commission minutes of December 18th 24 the Planning Commission minutes of January 8 25 the police commission meeting minutes of December 4th 24 the police commission meeting minutes of December 18th 24 resolution appointing official depositories resolution to authorize electronic funds transfers memorandum of agreement and and a memorandum of understanding between the city of Wilmer and the askme local number 65 General unit accept and final seal quat project number 248 Civic Center in Robins Islands security cameras Civic Center in Robins island security camera cable and installation the Wilmer firefighters Association lawful gambling application and the accounts payable report from 12224 to 1825 and for your information I have the monthly building permit report from December of 24 motion to approve the consent agenda second we got a motion and a second discussion roll call council member askos I Nelson hi Gilbertson hi Garder hi faggle hi Davis hi Butterfield I and sches I eight eyes zero nose that passes next I'll call on our operations director Kyle box for an introduction of a cannabis regulation ordinance thank you Mr Mayor members of the council tonight T is the introduction um two ordinances actually related to cannabis first we'll discuss the uh cannabis registration ordinance um wanted to highlight a couple of things here so again this proposed ordinance uh before you tonight is in response to recent legislative changes under state of under the state of Minnesota's cannabis legalization framework as Minnesota moves forward with legalization of adult use cannabis municipalities are asked to establish or um asked to establish local regulations to ensure the safe regulated distribution and use of cannabis products within their community so in the in your packet is the the attached ordinance provides a detailed analysis of um of the ordinance regulating cannabis and hemp retail businesses within the city of Wilmer again this ordinance establishes a framework for licensing operating and enforcing the rules related to cannabis and lower potency hemp edible uh for lower potency hemp edible retailers as well as temporary cannabis events again the goal is to align with State Statute or with state laws while imposing further restrictions and regulations specific to the city uh key themes throughout the ordinance you'll find include the registration requirements operational restrictions buffer zones and enforcement mechanisms as well as the unique Provisions that allow the city itself if it wishes uh to be a cannabis retailer so we'll go through here uh on a couple of points I wanted to highlight again um so under the proposed ordinance we are uh proposing to limit the number of retail businesses in the city of Wilmer to two again this is prescribed in States in state law that we must issue one retail business per every 12,500 residents so the minimum number for the city of Wilmer uh for retail businesses is two uh again if this was highlighted uh when I presented the overview to the council at the last meeting in December if at any point the council throughout this entire ordinance um can change so if that number would like at the wishes of the council would like to increase that can happen uh moving on to Section 8 uh 374 uh the so part of the application process for the preliminary in there will be a preliminary inspection prior to retail registration so prior to the issuance of any cannabis uh ret retail business registration the city will conduct preliminary inspections to to ensure compliance with the requirements of the ordinance and that it um is compliant with all city ordinances uh Section 8 379 the annual compliance checks uh similar to what we do with alcohol in the city of Wilmer there will be annual compliance checks uh that will be conducted by the Wilmer Police Department uh which could include unannounced age verification compliance checks um if there are any failures there'll be compliance checks for failures um and then other compliance checks so not withstanding or nothing in the section if there's any additional state or federal laws educational research training purposes that those could fall under those compliance checks as well uh moving on to Section 8 uh- 388 we highlighted the minimum buffer requirements within the ordinance statute allows the city to impose uh buffer requirements to schools dayc carees treatment facilities uh and then public parks or recreational areas frequently used by miners the city will be is proposing to um is proposing the maximum buffer zones for each of those uh specific areas so uh no cannabis retailer would be able to set up within a th000 feet of a school 500 ft of a daycare 500 ft of a residential treatment facility 500 ft uh with any public park or attraction that's frequently used by miners moving along to section 8- 389 the zoning districts again just wanted to highlight on the retail side specifically where the um where we're proposing for retail businesses to be set up uh which would include the general business district uh General bu General business district 2 and general business District 3 as well as the central business district so if you think of uh Wilmer uh think of First Street uh downtown would be your Central Business dist district and then along East and West along Highway 12 and there are some other scattered sites throughout and there is a map attached in your packet as well moving along to section 8- 395 this addresses uh if the city so chooses to be a cannabis retailer itself uh so the council does have the authority to establish own and operate one Municipal cannabis retail business um the Municipal cannabis retail business uh is not counted towards that uh minimum or maximum number that would be prescribed by this ordinance so if the city does have two retail businesses in town and does wish to pursue a municipal business that would be in addition to it would not count towards that maximum number uh moving on to section 8- 412 uh this would be I just wanted to highlight the the registration fees and renewals um specifically on uh the low potency hemp um businesses that are currently existing uh we'd have eight um businesses in Wilmer currently that serve or that are licensed to sell low potency uh THC products um since the state has not started or launched their licensing process for 2025 the city did request or require that those businesses renew their application with the city at that license at the city's fee scheduled license amount um when the state will move forward with their licensing process uh we do have it carved out in that this ordinance that those existing businesses would not be charged again for an additional registration fee with the city um any new businesses that would come that are currently not existing in the city uh of Wilmer would pay the full uh registration fee with the city but just wanted to specifically carve out those that are currently existing moving on to section 8- 434 uh this is specifically to Temporary events within the city so the state statute specifically will uh office of cannabis management will have a a specific license for temporary cannabis retailers uh while the city cannot Pro uh strictly prohibit those licenses from being issued we can put parameters around to where those events could be held at uh we are proposing um that light locations that would be prohibited from these temporary cannabis popup events um that they cannot be located within a residential district or on public property continuing on to within the temporary um temporary cannabis license uh we are proposing that on-site consumption of cannabis flour cannabis products low potency hemp Edibles hemp derived consumer products or any combination of these items uh shall not be permitted at temporary cannabis events so again we would be recommending to prohibit uh the consumption of cannabis products low potency products at these temporary cannabis events uh Mr Mayor members of the council I will pause there um I tried to highlight some of the the things that we brought up at the last council meeting um if there are any specific questions I'd be happy to to dive into those a little bit more um I will add this before um Mr Mayor uh just today the office of cannabis management published a updated um updated administrative rules um that would be that's open to public comment at this time um so those were just released today uh that public comment period will close February 12th and then move through uh the proper channels it needs to at the state level uh so while I think it's still important to proceed with the introduction of this ordinance and with the zoning ordinance to follow um the council should expect amendments to this ordinance uh in the coming months but I still think it's we're in a position to move forward with an introduction and adoption at the first meeting in February I'll pause there for any questions any questions Tom on 8.33 4 the suspension are we going to get this tied back into with the the lower hemp one CU we had a problem with that last year you know with the them selling uh marijuana at the place so to prevent that from happening again are we going to kind of get that moved over into our other one for the CBC one yes councilman Butterfield that's a great question um it when Once uh the state begins their licensing process uh we will effectively be repealing uh recommending to repeal the existing THC ordinance all of the um cannabis THC those types of products will all live under this ordinance but until there is a state program officially put in place we will be operating with two ordinances until that time thank you Tom Justin it's a lot of times th um I'm wondering about the temporary cannabis event section on the um ordinance there would the same uh restrictions and like the for boundaries that were provided for school schools and child carees and Parks but those apply to the temporary event license as well it almost seems like those are two separate applications that people would apply for and I don't see those same boundary restrictions that's a great question um we I don't know specifically for that if that uh we can follow up on that and get a specific answer but if it's going to be licensed as a retail council member R we'll clarify that at the public hearing I don't have a c for sure answer on that yes Kyle do we have a is there a limit on the lower potency competible retailer registrations or there is there no cap on that like we do on the division two yeah thank you for the question council member Gardner uh uh no there is not a cap uh we are not allowed to place a cap on low potency thank you Mary I'm curious for the buffer uh thousand feet is that doorstep to doorstep is it property lines or where where is that from yeah we're under the impression of property line to property line thank you anything else otherwise I need a motion to call for a public hearing I'll make that motion okay second got a motion in a second discussion roll call council member Nelson I Gilbertson I Gardner i baggerly i Davis I Butterfield I sches I an o i eight eyes zero nose that motion passes then we need a motion to uh publish the ordinance by summary move second got a motion and a second discussion roll call council member Gilbertson I Gardner i baggerly i Davis Hi Butterfield hi shis hi OS hi and Nelson hi eight eyes zero nose and that passes Kyle the introduction of an ordinance amending the zoning ordinance yes yes thank you Mr Mayor so to complement the last ordinance that was just introduced by the council uh this amendment to the zoning ordinance would uh like I had mentioned would complement all of the uh specific zoning districts where different types of cannabis businesses would be allowed within the city uh if memory serves correct there's right around 13 different licenses or business types that the state could issue uh retail businesses micro businesses men meso businesses cultivators manufacturers retail ERS is what what we had just focused on uh wholesalers Transporters testing facilities delivery businesses low potency hemp edible manufacturer and low potency hemp edible retailers uh so throughout the ordinance you can see um we're trying to align where we best feel that these types of specific types of businesses would work within the city uh within City Limits again this would be the introduction of the ordinance uh if there's any specific questions I'd be happy to answer those and even potentially call on planning and development director Corbett to help maybe clarify any zoning questions we uh we need a motion for a public hearing on that same February 3rd date so move second second we got a motion and a second discussion roll call council member Garder I baggerly hi Davis I Butterfield hi shes I OS hi Nelson I and Gilbertson I 8 eyes zero nose that passes now we need a motion to publish the ordinance by summary so move second we got a motion and a second discussion roll call council member faggle hi Davis Hi Butterfield hi shes Hi O hi Nelson hi Gilbertson I and Gardner I eight eyes zero nose that passes thank you mayor thank you Kyle next is a Cooperative agreement for building official services and I'll call on our planning and development director Christopher Corbett thank you Mr Mayor members of the council um for your consideration tonight is the Cooperative agreement um to enter um into contract or agreement with three municipalities surrounding municipalities which are Atwater candy ohigh and New London and this conversation has been going on for almost a year now um the three communities as mentioned uh they're building official gym so high um is retiring in March um and so they have reached out to us um they reached out to the county and to the city of Wimer and for for our services so for us to provide them with permitting and inspection services too in your packet you have the pending agreement or the draft agreement um for your review uh I have some background information as well um that I can talk through um in your pacet you also have the workflow that we um internally took a look at just to make sure that this could work so I I wanted to go over just a few things about the way this will work and uh you know to answer any questions about capacity for the city of Wilmer and our inspectors um you know we our inspectors actually brought this ideal to us um once the county said that they didn't have capacity to do so and this was done probably back in October of 2024 and we sat down internally just to discuss our workload and the flow that we have um since I've been director um our processes and internally our processes and um our workflow has improved and so we have made some improvements to that um so we took some time for and had conversations with all three municipalities to really discuss to make sure that this was worthwhile and to make sure that we had a process in place uh that we could add capacity for them and provide them with this service um so in front of you and in your packet through the workflow we have really planned for a success and a roll out uh I will have to say that this is only a pilot program so this is only for one year um each municipality will have their own agreement and their scopes of services will be different um I'm happy to go through the agreement with you or the workflow uh if you feel the need to and I'll take any questions Justin just a quick question for clarification is the city of panach included in this agreement it is in our documents but I didn't hear you speak that name just a second ago yep no you're correct uh the city of pinok did reach out to us recently but they may have another option they are their building official is retiring but they have um a whole year and so um the three municipalities at Water keny Ohio New London uh they're building a offal he will retire this March and so we're trying to do just like some overlay to make sure that we're taking a look at all open permits if any okay that sounds great and I'd make a motion to approve the resolution to enter into a Cooperative agreement with the surrounding municipalities to provide building official Services second got a motion and a second discussion Rick thanks Mr Mayor so these smaller communities did they adopt all of the rules of the building code that we have or there some rules they haven't adopted great question council member ferly the uh surrounding communities have they operate from the same International building call that we do uh the only difference will be is their zoning map and they have provided us with copies of all of their zoning Maps Okay so all the inspections that they do in Wilmer they'll do in these small communities correct based on the project yes okay thank you any other questions discussion roll call council member Davis I Butterfield I shes i o i Nelson I Gilbertson I Garder I and faggle I eight eyes zero nose thank you that motion passes next is a resolution to acknowledge donations for the fourth quarter of 2024 ver council members mayor ree the city of wmer has received donations which have been acknowledged by the city administrator and expressing our community's appreciation for the period of October 1st 24 through December 31st of 24 we received $100 from Steve and Emily POS for the Wilmer Police Explorers we received $100 from Darlene bratberg for the Wilmer Police explor Explorers $146 from from a fundraiser for the fire explorers $150 from campaign funds for Josiah ampion for the Wilmer firefighters $200 from dues petroleum for the Wilmer Community Center $250 from Iron Warriors MC for the Wilmer Police Explorers $250 from the iron Warriors motorcycle club for the Wilmer Police Explorers another $250 from the iron W Iron Warriors motorcycle club for the Wilmer Police Explorers $300 from New London American Legion for the Wilmer Police Explorers $300 from mcquinn Insurance Agency Inc from the Wilmer Community for the Wilmer Community Center $300 from horal Financial Service Corp for the Wilmer Community Center $500 from Edward Jones for the wmer fire department $500 from Candy ha power charitable trust for the Wilmer Community Center $1,777 66 from the Wilmer Hockey Association for the Blue Line scoreboard another $1,777 66 from the Wilmer hockey boosters for the Blue Line scoreboard $2,375 from Walmart for the police department Shop with a cop and $2,500 from horale financial services for the community growth events I would ask the city to approve make a m motion to approve this donation the donation so moves second we got a motion in a second discussion hearing none roll call council member Butterfield hi sheldes hi OS hi Nelson hi Gilbertson hi Garder I baggerly I and Davis I eight eyes zero nose and motion passes Community Pride announcements anybody it's SK Vikings all right do I have a motion to adjourn so move we're adjourned thank you