SUNFISH LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING - JANUARY 3, 2023

- DRAFT –

 SUNFISH LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 3, 2023

FIRST CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH – 5495 S ROBERT TRAIL

7:00 P.M.

Attendants:


Mayor:                             Dan O’Leary

Councilmembers:         Shari Hansen and Shannon Nelson

                                           Absent:  Steven Bulach and Mike Hovey

City Forester:                Jim Nayes
Police Chief:                   Brian Sturgeon

City Clerk:                       Christy Wilcox

                                          Cathy Iago

                                          Members of the General Public

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor O’Leary called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.    Mayor O’Leary gave an update relative to the meetings now being held at the Church and explained why the City can no longer conduct zoom meetings based upon the emergency proclamation ending and in accordance with State law.  Mayor O’Leary did contact all staff and directed them that they were not required to attend the meeting due to the weather conditions. 

 

OATH OF OFFICE:  Clerk Iago administered the Oath of Office to Mayor O’Leary.  Mayor O’Leary then administered the Oath of Office to Councilmember Nelson.

  1. Councilmember Hansen moved to adopt Resolution No. 23-01 titled, RESOLUTION ACCEPTING RESIGNATION OF CITY CLERK AND ADMINISTRATOR CATHERINE IAGO, seconded by Mayor O’Leary. Motion carried (3-0)   Mayor O’Leary expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to Cathy Iago for her partnership and leadership for over the last 15 years with the City of Sunfish Lake.  Mayor O’Leary, and on behalf of the residents of Sunfish Lake, thanked Cathy for her dedication, willingness to take on any project and her outstanding performance.  Cathy demonstrates the very best in her profession and he wishes her happiness and health in her retirement.
  2. OATH OF OFFICE: Mayor O’Leary administered the Oath of Office to City Clerk Wilcox.
  3. Mayor O’Leary moved to adopt Resolution No. 23-02 titled, RESOLUTION APPOINTING CHRISTY WILCOX AS CITY OF SUNFISH LAKE CITY CLERK/ADMINISTRATOR AND APPROVING EMPLOYMEMT AGREEMENT WITH CHRISTY WILCOX seconded by Councilmember Nelson. Motion carried (3-0)

  4. APPROVE AGENDA: Mayor O’Leary asked if there were any additions or corrections to the agenda and there was no response.  

Councilmember Hansen moved to adopt the agenda as presented, seconded by Councilmember Nelson.  Motion carried (3-0)

  1. CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor O’Leary asked if there were any questions or comments relating to any items on the Consent Agenda and there was no response.        

Mayor O’Leary moved approval of the Consent Agenda as presented, seconded by Councilmember Hansen.  Motion carried (3-0)

 

  1. Regular Council Meeting Minutes of December 6, 2022
  2. List of Bills
  3. Monthly Financial Statements
  4. Receive Building Inspector Report
  5. Receive Forester Report
  6. Receive Public Safety Report

 

  1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: The Mayor asked if there were any comments from the public. Tom Hendrickson spoke and congratulated Mayor O’Leary on his re-election, welcomed Councilmember Nelson and City Clerk Wilcox.  Mr. Hendrickson wished Cathy Iago the best in her retirement.

    5.  ADOPTION OF 2023 STANDARD CITY BUSINESS PROCEDURES:

 

       5-A1.  Memo and Resolution Designating Official Newspaper:  Mayor O’Leary referred to the memorandum from the City Attorney dated December 30, 2022, which explained that each year the City must name a legal newspaper.

 

       Mayor O’Leary moved to adopt Resolution No. 23-03 titled, RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS AS THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR THE CITY OF SUNFISH LAKE FOR THE YEAR 2023, seconded by Councilmember Nelson.  Motion carried (3-0)

 

       5-A2.  Memo and Resolution Designating Official Depositories for City Monies:  Mayor O’Leary referred to the memorandum from the City Attorney dated December 30, 2022, which explained that each year the City designates official depositories for City funds.  Councilmember Hansen recommended a change to paragraph 2.

 

       Mayor O’Leary moved to adopt, as amended, Resolution No. 23-04 titled, RESOLUTION DESIGNATING FUND DEPOSITORIES FOR THE CITY OF SUNFISH LAKE FOR 2023, seconded by Councilmember Hansen.  Motion carried (3-0)

 

       5-A3.  Appointment of Acting Mayor:  The Mayor recommended the appointment of Councilmember Hovey as the senior member of the Council to serve as Acting Mayor in his absence.

 

       Mayor O’Leary moved to appoint Councilmember Hovey as acting Mayor in the absence of the Mayor in 2023, seconded by Councilmember Nelson.  Motion carried (3-0)

 

       5-A4.  Planning Commission Appointments:

 

  1. Mayor O’Leary moved to re-appoint Jeannine Nayes to a 3-year term from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025, seconded by Councilmember Hansen. Motion carried (3-0)
  2. Mayor O’Leary moved to re-appoint Ginny Beckett to fill her term that expired December 31, 2022, for a 3-year term from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025, seconded by Councilmember Nelson. Motion carried (3-0)
  3. Mayor O’Leary moved to appoint Kevin Wu to fill the unexpired term of Shannon Nelson that expires December 31, 2023, seconded by Councilmember Hansen. Motion carried (3-0)
  4. Mayor O’Leary moved to reappoint Commissioner Tom Hendrickson to serve as Chair of the Planning Commission for 2023, seconded by Councilmember Nelson. Motion carried (3-0)

 

5-A5. Appoint Weed Control Manager:

 

              Mayor O’Leary moved the appointment of City Forester Jim Nayes, dba Living Sculpture Tree and Shrub Care, Inc. as the Weed Control Manager for 2023, seconded by Councilmember Hansen.  Motion carried (3-0)

 

       5-A6.  Appointment of NDC4 Council and Resident Representatives:  Cathy Iago noted that there have not been any volunteers for this appointment.  No action taken at this time.

 

  1. PLANNING COMMISSION/PLANNER’S REPORT: Accepted the Planner’s Report dated January 3, 2023, which was included in the City Council agenda packet.  Councilmember Hansen asked if there were any questions relating to item number 6 on the report that dealt with the budget and overages noted on their December invoice.  Mayor O’Leary acknowledged that the overage was due to time spent on review of the city ordinances and this amount will be accounted for in the general fund.  Mayor O’Leary asked if there was any further discussion and there was no response.

 

  1. ENGINEER’S REPORT: Accepted Engineer’s Report dated January 3, 2023.

  2. NEW/OTHER BUSINESS:

 

Relative to Item #1C on the agenda, the Mayor discussed the purchase of a computer for Clerk Wilcox.  A motion was made by Mayor O’Leary that the City will purchase a reasonable/acceptable computer which will include an appropriate security software program, seconded by Councilmember Nelson.  Motion carried (3-0)

 

       8-A  Consider Resolution approving contract between the City of Sunfish Lake and Iago Consulting, LLC for a 3-month transitional period with the new City Clerk.  Mayor O’Leary pointed out that there may be a substantial amount of time spent between Cathy and Christy during the first month of the transitionary period and he suggested that the contract be amended to pay Cathy a monthly fee vs an hourly fee during the first month of the transition. 

 

       Mayor O’Leary moved to amend the agreement with Iago Consulting relating to Compensation that the 1st month will be paid at regular monthly salary with the remaining two months being hourly basis.  Mayor O’Leary than moved to adopt Resolution No. 2023-05 as amended , titled, Resolution Approving Transitional Services Agreement between the City of Sunfish Lake and Iago Consulting, LLC, seconded by Councilmember Hansen.  Motion carried (3-0)

 

       8-B  Discuss Escrow Accounts from 2020, 2021, and 2022:   As mentioned at the start of the meeting, all staff were not required to attend this meeting and because this information has not been completed, no action is necessary at this time.

 

       8-C  No Agenda Item

 

 

 

 

 

 

       8-D  Schedule Special Meeting to Conduct Consultant Reviews at 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 7th at First Calvary Baptist Church.

 

       Mayor O’Leary moved to schedule a Special Meeting to conduct consultant reviews to be held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7th at First Calvary Baptist Church, seconded by Councilmember Nelson.  Motion carried (3-0)

 

       8-E  Consider Approving Date of Arbor Day Celebration:

 

       Mayor O’Leary moved to set the date of the Arbor Day Celebration as May 6, 2023, seconded by Councilmember Hansen.  Motion carried (3-0). 

 

       8-F  Other:  Mayor O’Leary asked if there was any further business and there was no response.


  1. ADJOURN:  Mayor O’Leary adjourned the meeting at 7:28 p.m.


____________________________                                 ________________________________

Christy Wilcox, City Clerk                                                    Dan O’Leary, Mayor