2023-11-08 Regular Meeting
November 8, 2023 — 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. The public were able to make statements in this
meeting during public comment sections, including the public forum which began at 6:20 pm.
1. Call to Order
Mayor Harris called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
1A. Pledge of Allegiance and Land Acknowledgement
Retired Army Captain John Marshall led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and Mayor Harris
read the City’s Land Acknowledgement statement.
1B. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Shep Harris, Council Members Sophia Ginis, Maurice Harris, Denise La Mere-
Anderson, and Gillian Rosenquist
Staff present: City Manager Cruikshank, City Attorney Cisneros, Police Chief Green, Finance
Director Virnig, Equity and Inclusion Manager Kaempfer, Housing and Economic
Development Manager Shoquist, Water and Natural Resources Specialist Chirpich,
and City Clerk Schyma
1C. Minnesota Department of Veteran's Affairs Stable Housing Initiatives Presentation
Housing and Economic Development Manager Shoquist discussed the report including the Stable
Housing Initiatives Team’s mission and goals for 2024, HOMES for Veterans Program, and the
number of veterans currently experiencing homelessness in Golden Valley’s continuum of care.
1D. Proclamation Reaffirming the City of Golden Valley's Commitment to Beyond the Yellow
Ribbon
City Manager Cruikshank discussed the staff report including history of the Beyond the Yellow
Ribbon (BTYR) program, our relationship with BTYR, and the proclamation reaffirming the City’s
commitment.
Retired Army Captain John Marshall talked about BTYR and provided additional examples of how
the Council and City can help further support veterans and the mission of BTYR.
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Motion by M. Harris, Second by Ginis to support a proclamation reaffirming the City of Golden
Valley's commitment to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.
Motion carried 5-0.
1E. Proclamation Honoring November 1 - 30, 2023 as Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month
Equity and Inclusion Manager Kaempfer discussed the staff report.
Motion by Ginis, Second by M. Harri to support a proclamation honoring the month of November
as Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month.
Motion carried 5-0.
2. Additions and Corrections to Agenda
Motion by La Mere-Anderson, Second by Ginis 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 th ese
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 M. Harris, Second by La Mere-Anderson to approve the Consent Agenda as revised:
removal of Item #3D. 1. Approve School Resource Officer Agreement with Independent School
District #281.
Motion carried 5-0.
3A. Approval of City Council Minutes:
3A.1. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of October 17, 2023
3B. Approval of City Check Registers
3C. Licenses:
3C.1. Receive and File - Gambling License Exemption and Waiver of Notice Requirement -
American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 523
3D. Bids, Quotes, and Contracts:
3D.1. Approve School Resource Officer Agreement with Independent School District #281
3D.2. Approve Amendment to Law Enforcement Services Agreement between Hennepin County
Sherriff's Office and the City of Golden Valley
3E. Grants and Donations:
3E.1. Resolution No. 23-094 to Apply for MnDNR Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant Assistance
Program for DeCola Ponds Flood Risk Reduction Project--Isaacson Park-Industrial Area
Flood Storage & Pond Diversion.
3. Items Removed From the Consent Agenda:
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3D.1. Approve School Resource Officer Agreement with Independent School District #281
Police Chief Green discussed the agreement development process including the defining the role
of a school resource officer (SRO), partnership with the school district, and po tential timeline for
providing an SRO at Sandburg Middle School.
Council Member Ginis stated her support for Police Chief Green, Assistant Police Chief Perez, and
Assistant Police Chief White to be able to manage a successful SRO program and partner with the
school district.
City Attorney Cisneros stated that this contract is very thorough in defining roles, responsibilities,
and relationships. She added that this SRO agreement is very different from previous agreements
with the school district and also varies greatly from any agreement the school district has with
other cities. This new approach and agreement can hopefully be looked at as a template for other
entities moving forward especially since discussing the topic of having an SRO in schools is
sometimes difficult but ultimately the outcome of this program and the safety of students is vit ally
important.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by M. Harris to approve Agreement with Independent School
District #281 for School Resource Officer Services.
Motion carried 5-0.
4. Public Hearing
5. Old Business
6. New Business
All Ordinances listed under this heading were eligible for public input.
6A. First Reading of Updates to Animals Ordinance No. 771 (Bees) and No. 772 (Goat Grazing)
Water and Natural Resources Specialist Chirpich discussed the staff report, research, community
input, and recommendations regarding beekeeping and goat grazing.
Dawn Hill, Chair of the Environmental Commission, spoke about the process, community input,
discussion, inconclusive science about the benefits of urban beekeeping, and lack of formal
recommendation from the commission regarding beekeeping.
Mayor Harris opened the item for public comment. As there were no comments, the public
comment session was closed.
Council Member Ginis stated that currently she is not in favor of enacting a beekeeping ordinance
as she believes more time is needed due to the inconclusive science about the potential benefits
and harms of urban beekeeping. She added that if the Council were to allow beekeeping in the
City she would encourage a limit to the number of hives. She supports urban agriculture very
strongly but would like the ordinance placed on hold until the science is more conclusive so that it
can go back to the Environmental Commission for review and recommendation.
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Council Members Harris, Rosenquist, and La Mere-Anderson agreed with the comments and
concerns of Council Member Ginis.
Motion by Ginis, Second by M. Harris to refer Ordinance No. 771, amending Chapter 6 of the
Golden Valley City Code to include keeping of bees, back to the Environmental Commission to be
placed on hold until more conclusive science is available for the commission to review and provide
Council with a definitive recommendation.
Motion carried 5-0.
The Council did not entertain a motion to adopt first reading of Ordinance No. 771 amending
Chapter 6 of the Golden Valley City Code to include keeping of bees.
Motion by La Mere-Anderson, Second by M. Harris to adopt first reading of Ordinance No. 772
amending Chapter 6 of the Golden Valley City Code to include temporary goat grazing.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: S. Harris, Ginis, M. Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
6B. First Consideration of Ordinance No. 773, Establishing a 2024 Master Fee Schedule
Finance Director Virnig discussed the staff report including the need to remove the proposed fee
associated with beekeeping due to the Council’s direction provided as part of Item #6A.
Council Member Ginis provided a recommendation to staff to research another fee option,
possibly membership fees, for the Backyard since the only option now is to pay “per visit .”
Mayor Harris opened the item for public comment. As there were no comments, the public
comment session was closed.
Motion by M. Harris, Second by La Mere-Anderson to adopt first consideration of Ordinance No.
773, establishing a 2024 Master Fee Schedule as amended.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: S. Harris, Ginis, M. Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
6C. Review of Council Calendar
Mayor Harris reviewed upcoming city meetings, events, and holiday closures.
6D. Mayor and Council Communications
1. Other Committee/Meeting updates
The Council thanked staff and election judges for their work at the November 7, 2023 Municipal
Election. At the polls, Golden Valley voters approved three ballot questions authorizing the City to
impose a local sales and use tax of 1.25 percent to pay for projects to modernize its core service
operations.
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7. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:19 pm.
________________________________
ATTEST: Shepard M. Harris, Mayor
________________________________
Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk
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