2024-12-03 - MIN - City Council Regular Meeting
December 3, 2024 — 6:30 PM
Council Chambers
Hybrid Meeting
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
City Council meetings are being conducted in a hybrid format with in -person and remote options
for attending, participating, and commenting.
1. Call to Order
Mayor Harmon called the meeting to order at 6:52 pm.
1A. Pledge of Allegiance and Land Acknowledgement
Mayor Harmon led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and read the City’s Land
Acknowledgement statement.
1B. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Roslyn Harmon, Council Members Sophia Ginis, Maurice Harris, Denise La
Mere-Anderson, and Gillian Rosenquist
Staff present: City Manager Schuchman, City Attorney Cisneros, Community and Economic
Development Director Goellner, Senior Planner Kramer, Planner Okey, City Engineer
Ryan, Finance Director Hodges, Recreation Supervisor Erickson, Equity and Inclusion
Manager Kaempfer, and City Clerk Schyma
1C. 2025 Allocation Recommendation From the Golden Valley Community Services
Commission
Lisa Roden, Community Services Commission Chair, and Josh Kelley, Community Services
Commission Vice Chair, discussed the 2025 allocation recommendations.
Council Member La Mere-Anderson thanked the commissioners for their work and
recommendations. She also thanked Recreation Supervisor Erickson for his efforts.
Council Member Ginis thanked the commission for their relationship building efforts with the
organizations that are requesting funds.
Motion by La Mere-Anderson, Second by Harris to receive and approve the 2025 Allocation
Report and to direct staff to notify the eleven agencies of their 2025 allocation amount.
Motion carried 5-0.
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1D. Proclamation Honoring December 10, 2024 as Human Rights Day
Equity and Inclusion Manager Kaempfer discussed the proclamation.
Motion by Harris, Second by Ginis to adopt a proclamation honoring December 10, 2024 as
Human Rights Day.
Motion carried 5-0.
2. Additions and Corrections to Agenda
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Harris to approve the agenda as submitted.
Motion carried 5-0.
3. Consent Agenda
Approval of Consent Agenda - All items listed under this heading are considered to be routine
by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no discussion of these
items unless a Council Member so requests in which event the item will be removed from the
general order of business and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by La Mere-Anderson to approve the Consent Agenda as revised:
removal of Item #3B.1. Accept Resignation from the Police Employment, Accountability, and
Community Engagement Commission.
Motion carried 5-0.
3A. Approval of City Check Registers
3B. Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces:
3B.1. Accept Resignation from the Police Employment, Accountability, and
Community Engagement Commission
3C. Bids, Quotes, and Contracts:
3C.1. Approve Contract for Construction Services for City Hall Phase 2 Office Remodel
with Advanced Design Contracting, LLC
3C.2. Approve Contract for Transportation and Disposal of Fill with M.B.E., Inc.
3C.3. Approve Contract for Debris-Impacted Soil Disposal with M & J Trucking Co., LLC
3D. Receive and File Quarterly Reports for Select City Funds
3E. Adopt Resolution No. 24-072 Granting City Council Consent for Housing and
Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Levy Payable in 2025
3F. Approve Resolution No. 24-073 Approving the 2025-2034 Capital Improvement Plan
3G. Approve Resolution No. 24-074 Adopting the 2025-2026 Budget for Enterprise, Special
Revenue and Internal Service Funds
3H. Adopt Resolution No. 24-075 Approving Purchasing Card Policy
3. Items Removed From the Consent Agenda:
3B.1. Accept Resignation from the Police Employment, Accountability, and Community
Engagement Commission
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Council Member Harris thanked Madeline Ryan on behalf of the Council for their service to the
community.
Motion by Harris, Second by Rosenquist to accept the resignation of Madeline Ryan from the
Police Employment, Accountability, and Community Engagement Commission, effective November
18, 2024.
Motion carried 5-0.
4. Public Hearing
4A. Code Updates Relating to Cannabis
4A.1. Public Hearing Regarding a Request for Approval of Zoning Code Amendment to Allow
the Cultivation, Manufacturing and Sale of Cannabis - Ordinance No. 787 and Resolution
No. 24-076
4A.2. First Reading of Ordinance No. 789 - Adult Use Cannabis Registration Ordinance
Senior Planner Kramer discussed the staff reports for Items #4A.1. and #4A.2., history of adult use
cannabis in Minnesota, and the proposed changes to the zoning code.
City Attorney Cisneros discussed the adult use cannabis registration process and how the City will
interact with the State of Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management during their licensing
process which is still being developed.
Mayor Harmon opened the public hearing for Item #4A.1. and public input session for Item #4A.2.
Mike Ruby, Planning Commission Chair, stated that the Planning Commission is very supportive of
this amendment. He added that the Commission had a great conversation about being consistent
with buffer areas for tobacco and cannabis.
Marti Micks, community member, asked if THC and CBD seltzers are covered by this ordinance.
Mayor Harmon closed the public hearing and public input session.
Senior Planner Kramer responded to the question raised by Ms. Micks that THC and CBD seltzers
would be covered by this ordinance.
Council Member Harris thanked the Planning Commission and staff for their work over the past
two years regarding the changes initiated by the State for both THC and adult use cannabis.
Council Member La Mere-Anderson stated that she supports the work that staff ha ve done on this
topic and will vote in favor of the ordinance, but she does not support making addictive
substances more readily available.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Harris to adopt Ordinance No. 787 approving zoning code
amendment allowing the cultivation, manufacturing, and sale of cannabis.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: Harmon, Ginis, Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
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Motion by Harris, Second by Rosenquist to adopt Resolution No. 24-076 approving publication of
ordinance summary.
This resolution requires a four-fifths vote of all members of the Council for approval.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: Harmon, Ginis, Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
Motion by Ginis, Second by Harris to adopt first reading of Ordinance No. 789 regulating adult use
cannabis.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: Harmon, Ginis, Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
4B. Code Updates Relating to Telecommunications
4B.1. Public Hearing Regarding Zoning Code Update to the Telecommunications Facilities
Section 113-154 regarding Small and Micro Cell Wireless Facilities, Ordinance No. 788
and Resolution No. 24-077
4B.2. First Reading of Ordinance No. 790 Telecommunications Code Update (Right -of-Way),
Amending Code Chapter 24, Article II - Right-of-Way Management
Associate Planner Okey and City Engineer Ryan discussed the staff reports for Items #4B.1. and
#4B.2. relating to telecommunications code updates.
Mayor Harmon opened the public hearing for Item #4B.1. and public input session for Item #4B.2.
Mike Ruby, Planning Commission Chair, stated that the biggest part of the Planning Commission
discussion on this item was about aesthetics including quantity, location, and intrusiveness.
Mayor Harmon closed the public hearing and public input session.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by La Mere-Anderson to Adopt Ordinance No. 788 approving
zoning code amendment to Telecommunications Facilities section.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: Harmon, Ginis, Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
Motion by Harris, Second by Rosenquist to Adopt Resolution No. 24-077 approving publication of
ordinance summary.
This resolution requires a four-fifths vote of all members of the Council for approval.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: Harmon, Ginis, Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
Motion by Harris, Second by La Mere-Anderson to Adopt First Reading of Ordinance No. 790
Telecommunications Code Update (Right-of-Way), Amending Code Chapter 24, Article II, Right-of-
Way Management.
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Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: Harmon, Ginis, Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
5. Old Business - None.
6. New Business
6A. Public Input and Approval of Resolution No. 24-078 to Adopt the Final 2025 Budget of
the General Fund Budget and Resolution No. 24-079 Adopting the Property Tax Levies
for Taxes Payable in 2025
Finance Director Hodges discussed the staff report and budget process.
Mayor Harmon opened the public input session.
Andre Alvaro, resident, had questions regarding the discrepancy between the rate of inflation and
the rate at which the City budget grows. He further asked what the City is going to do next year to
ensure that the City budget grows similar to the rate of inflation.
Marti Micks, resident, thinks it is important for the Council to reconsider bigger projects in the City
if the tax impact will make properties no longer affordable for residents. She encouraged the
Council to make cuts wherever they can next year.
Mayor Harmon closed the public input session.
Council Member Harris acknowledged the comments from residents about property tax increases
over the past several years. He said the goal of the Council is always to spend within their means,
including applying for grants, while still providing the high level of services that Golden Valley
residents have come to expect. He also spoke about property tax capacity and the rates paid by
commercial properties versus residential properties.
Mayor Harmon stated that staff and City Manager Schuchman were committed to keeping the tax
levy low this year and she appreciates their efforts. She acknowledged that any increase is hard on
residents and impacts families.
Council Member Ginis recognized the work of Finance Director Hodges and City Manager
Schuchman for putting together a very solid and balanced budget. She added that this budget
recognizes the needs of the City to keep it functioning at a high level and invests in important
initiatives that keep Golden Valley strong like economic development and infrastructure
maintenance.
Council Member Rosenquist echoed the comments of the Council and added that the current
fiscal disparities program of the legislature takes about forty percent of the City’s commer cial and
industrial tax capacity and redistributes it in the region. The City must make up for that loss and
some of that does unfortunately fall on residential properties. She also discussed the proposed
increases of neighboring cities to show that the 4.9% proposed increase for Golden Valley is
coming in under most other cities in the region.
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Council Member La Mere-Anderson acknowledged that any tax increase is not preferable or
pleasant for residents but appreciates the context that was shared by other council members
tonight. She stated that there are infrastructure, personnel, and economic development needs
that the community wants the Council to focus on so although an increase is a hard decision, it is
the right decision for the community going forward.
Motion by Harris, Second by Rosenquist to approve Resolution No. 24-078 adopting the 2025
budget of the General Fund.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: Harmon, Ginis, Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Harris to approve Resolution No. 24-079 adopting the property
tax levies for taxes payable 2025.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: Harmon, Ginis, Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
6B. Review of Council Calendar
Mayor Harmon reviewed upcoming city meetings, events, and holiday closures.
6C. Mayor and Council Communications
1. Other Committee/Meeting updates
7. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:27 pm.
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ATTEST: Roslyn Harmon, Mayor
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Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk
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