North Branch City Council had a long and productive meeting on April 23, with a list of agenda items that were discussed.
After being approached by North Branch Police for illegally riding on city streets in a golf cart, Sandra Nelson came to council asking them to consider adding golf carts to a city ordinance.
“Golf carts offer significant safety features including lights and more stable four-wheel design, making them remarkably safer than two-wheel alternatives,” she said.
According to Police Chief Dan Meyer, because there is no city ordinance stating whether golf carts are legal or not to ride on city streets, they are automatically illegal to ride.
Nelson explained the pros of using golf carts versus four wheelers or motor scooters, saying an environmental benefit includes not having exhaust, while there’s also no noise issues and it eases mobility.
She went on asking council to evaluate the integration of golf carts in the community, saying it’ll make the city more inclusive, environmentally friendly, and adaptable to needs of residents.
Mayor Kevin Schieber said he had an email exchange with Nelson and took the initiative to reach out to the Meyer and Jason Ziemer, interim city administrator, feeling surprised golf carts are not in any ordinance.
Council Member Kelly Neider mentioned she remembers when the ATV ordinance came before council and how surprised she was that golf carts were not part of the discussion at the time.
“I think it’s a great addition, a great change to the policy,” she said.
Council Member Robert Canada said he concurred with Neider, mentioning how golf carts are practical with the benefit of being battery operated.
After brief discussion, a consensus was agreed upon for city staff to add golf carts to the ATV ordinance. The amendment will be brought to council at a future meeting.
Chickens within city limits came up as another topic stemming from the public comment discussion.
Resident Sam Srock received a complaint from a neighbor regarding the five chickens he and his family have on their land.
“We received a complaint basically saying the city does not allow having chickens within the city residential district,” he said.
Srock explained, from his understanding, that according to the city code they were allowed to have five hen chickens on less than 5 acres.
“We have a really nice coop; we abide by all the rules within the section of the code (6-82),” he said.
Before getting the chickens just over a year ago, Srock said he looked up the ordinance to confirm he was able to have chickens on his 1.5 acres of land in the residential district.
“What I’m here for is really to understand what the intent of the ordinance is. What the correct interpretation is, because I think it’s self-contradictory,” he said.
Srock and his family aren’t the only ones who have chickens in town. He said he reached out on the city’s community Facebook page and majority of the responses all had the same understanding.
Discussion of the chicken ordinance was on the agenda later after public comment, where council member Travis Miles did a great deal of research after seeing questions regarding the ordinance on social media.
He addressed how the ordinance should be interpreted, the fact that many residents in a residential zone have them, and what animals actually fall under the term “live stock” that’s stated in the ordinance.
“There’s a lot of residents, where if we don’t allow chickens, are going to be affected by the 301-20 (city ordinance regulation of animals) and could be under the same circumstances that one of ours is already is (referring to Srock,)” Miles said.
Council agreed to clarify the term “live stock” and then go over amending the ordinance.
City administrator
City Council is preparing to solicit for a recruitment firm in the search of hiring a city administrator.
A request for proposals was approved during the meeting to start the process of getting a permanent administrator.
Ziemer said the position will be posted on the city website and League of Minnesota Cities website.
Proposals for different firms will be brought to the May 28 council meeting. Council will also have the option to interview firms of their choice.
Schieber said Ziemer is interested in applying for the position, so the submitted applications will be sent to Ragini Varma, the city clerk.
A unique point of discussion council had was whether they want to have a city administrator or a possibly change the title and duties to a city coordinator position.
“I was one of the counselors that was interested in forming an administrative coordinator function versus a city administrator, and I don’t know where that’ll go with these search companies,” Council Member Peter Schaps said.
Schieber told Schaps they can bring those questions to the firms that will be submitting proposals, which would help with their decision on what company to hire.
Neider added to Schaps’ comment.
“The level of authority and control that an individual has,” she said. “Maybe that’s one of the things Mr. Schaps was referring to (during a work session), that the council have more control and the city administration have less.”
Schieber stated he is still in favor of having a city administrator based on state statute and feels there is a lot more the position requires than just coordinating department heads.
“Council has ultimate authority and power over financial decisions, administrative decisions,” he said. “So if there is something that we don’t think is the right way to go about the way our city is being managed, then it’s up to us to make all the changes and amendments,” he said.
“I feel like I’m almost hearing this fear of trust in somebody.”
Four to six months is the suggested timeline the League of Minnesota Cities mentions for the process of hiring once they start the official search. Schieber said council still has a lot ahead of them.
Council approved the request for proposals unanimously.
Construction on Highway 95
Shawn Williams, public works director, gave an overview of the current construction on Highway 95, which is creating major detours on the frequently traveled stretch of road through downtown North Branch.
Williams said Highway 95 is maintained by the state but the current construction is being taken care of by the city.
“We’re replacing the water main on Highway 95. Once we get that done, they’ll (the state) come through in 2027-28 and do a full reconstruct of Highway 95, basically from the Oakview Ave. intersection down to the four-way stop at Grand Ave.,” he said.
“The part that’s going to impact North Branch the most is from the bridge or Oakview Avenue down to Grand. That’ll be a full reconstructed, repavement, drainage, sidewalks, etc.”
Williams explained that MnDOT wouldn’t do the reconstruction until the city fixed the water main.
The completion of the current construction should be done by early to mid-August, but Williams said if things continue to go as smoothly as they are currently, it could be finished sooner.
Neider censure
A censure against Neider is currently in the works, but was tabled at the April 23 meeting after miscommunication.
Canada, who was directed to be the liaison between attorneys, has not received an update from city attorney Nicholas “Niko” K.C. Lira Lisle. It was noted that Neider’s attorney was to communicate with the city attorney, but things have not gone smoothly.
“I will email Niko tomorrow along with my attorney and catch up,” Neider said.
Due to the confusion, council tabled the update on the censure of Neider.
Council’s request for her to resign her seat came after evidence allegedly proved she leaked information from a closed meeting.
The motion to request for Neider to voluntarily resign from the council was made on April 3, effective immediately. In addition, the resolution issued the council’s third censure of Neider.
It was approved 3-1, with Council Member Peter Schaps casting the lone nay vote.
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