Monday, March 18, 2024 · 6:00 PM
Agenda
Not posted
What was on the agenda.
One-line summary
The council approved an amended agenda, adopted a resolution opposing state housing-law preemption of local zoning authority, discussed code compliance and ordinance cleanup without directing outside work, and adjourned without recorded action on Personnel Policy Phase 2.
5 items as recorded in the packet and minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.
A1Call to Order, Roll Call, Approve Agenda
Call to order, roll call, and approval of the agenda for the March 18, 2024 council work session.
The work session was called to order, roll call was taken with Council Member Rainville excused, the agenda was approved as amended, and the meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
The agenda was amended to add a housing update and an 8:00 p.m. wrap-up goal, then approved.
A1aHousing Update from the LMC
Added agenda item on state housing legislation and local zoning authority.
The council added a housing update to the agenda, discussed state housing bills that could reduce local control over zoning, lot sizes, public hearings, accessory dwelling units, parking, and building-permit timelines, and approved a resolution opposing state preemption of local zoning and land-use authority. Council also wanted residents to receive a template letter and contact information for state officials.
Council approved a resolution opposing state housing proposals that would preempt local zoning and land-use authority.
A2Code Compliance Process and Action Items
Discussion of code compliance process, complaint handling, code updates, Rum River Consulting, ordinance format, and possible fee schedule updates.
The council discussed how Nowthen should handle code complaints after code compliance was removed from the city planner’s role, including possible use of Rum River Consulting, review by the Administrator before follow-up, updating outdated zoning, nuisance, and general ordinances, making the code searchable, and reviewing penalties and hearing fees. The council assigned several follow-up items but gave no direction for RRC or Collaborative Planning to begin ordinance work at that meeting.
Council discussed the issue and assigned action items, but the minutes state that no direction was given to RRC or Collaborative Planning to work on the ordinances at that time.
A3Personnel Policy Phase 2
Proposed Phase 2 updates to the personnel policy, including drug and alcohol testing, pay administration, driver checks, leave, COBRA, travel expenses, technology policy, overtime, holiday pay, and PTO.
The packet contained proposed Phase 2 personnel policy changes, but the minutes do not record discussion or action on that item before the work session adjourned.
The minutes do not record discussion or action on Personnel Policy Phase 2 before adjournment.
A4Adjourn
Adjournment of the work session.
The work session was called to order, roll call was taken with Council Member Rainville excused, the agenda was approved as amended, and the meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
3 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M001MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
moved by Pilon, seconded by Breyen
M002MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLADEBO TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-xx see attached.
MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLADEBO TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-xx see attached.
moved by Pilon, seconded by Fladebo
M003MOTION TO ADJOURN.
When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.
Again, the Elkins Bill repeals Nowthen's Exemption. Nowthen has been exempt from Met Council since 2017. If repealed, the council is unsure what the consequences will look like.
What this is about
Prior state legislation exempting Nowthen from the Metropolitan Council and a pending effort to repeal that exemption.
The records I searched do not contain a prior city discussion or decision matching this recollection about 2017 state legislation exempting Nowthen from the Metropolitan Council, or about a pending “Elkins Bill” to repeal that exemption. The only Metropolitan Council reference in these results is unrelated: at the March 10, 2026 meeting packet, staff noted that a proposed preliminary plat could not proceed in its current configuration unless related Comprehensive Plan and rezoning amendments were approved by the City Council and Metropolitan Council. That does not document the 2017 exemption or any repeal effort.
we back in 2017 we were able to get legislation passed that Exempted the city of from [Music] Cil
What this is about
A past 2017 effort to get Nowthen exempted from the Metropolitan Council.
The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection. The search results provided are from 2026 packets and relate to unrelated items such as law enforcement reports, prosecuting services, farmers market support, hazard mitigation, fire department hiring, and personnel policy. I did not find a 2017 council discussion, resolution, vote, or legislative action in these results showing that Nowthen obtained an exemption from the Metropolitan Council.
problem we have this year we've been fighting the iteration of these bills for a couple of years successfully they haven't made it to a this year they have put together a massive Coalition
What this is about
Past housing-bill fights over several years and the possibility that similar provisions may return in an omnibus bill.
The records I searched do not contain a prior City Council decision or discussion matching this recollection about fighting state housing bills over the past several years or similar provisions returning in an omnibus bill. The search results mainly relate to attorney services, employee wages, financial analysis, road assessments, and individual property/building concerns. They do not show a formal vote, resolution, or recorded council position on prior housing legislation.
Discussion when the last time the code was updated and codified. A current and complete City Ordinance file has not been found.
What this is about
When the city code was last updated and codified, and whether a complete ordinance file exists.
The records I searched do not contain a prior decision identifying when the entire City Code was last comprehensively updated or codified, and they do not confirm that a current, complete ordinance file exists. There are partial matches showing recent individual code amendments. For example, Ordinance 2023-02 establishing City Code Chapter 3, Section 6 on THC products was adopted on September 12, 2023; Ordinance 2025-09 was passed on October 30, 2025; and the March 10, 2026 packet includes adopted summaries for a Planning Commission code amendment and a fee schedule amendment. The March 10, 2026 packet also includes a resolution to assign Ordinance 2025-01 to Chapter 1, Section 7 of the City Code because that ordinance had been adopted on February 11, 2025 “without an assignment to the City Code” and needed an assignment “to codify the Ordinance.” The search result does not show the completed vote outcome for that resolution. Several ordinance notices state that a printed or full copy of the ordinance is available for inspection through City Hall or the City Clerk, but the records provided here do not show a complete, current codified code book or ordinance file.
The current code violation list is quite extensive, and many properties have been on the list for years with no resolution.
What this is about
Old code-violation files that may have remained unresolved for years.
The records I searched do not contain a prior decision or specific discussion matching the recollection that old code-violation files had remained unresolved for years, nor do they show a formal council action addressing an extensive long-term code-violation list. There is one partial match: in the April 28, 2026 packet, during Planning Commission candidate interviews, Jeff Pilon discussed code enforcement generally and said he supported Nowthen’s complaint-based approach, emphasizing neighbor-to-neighbor communication over citation-based enforcement. That item reflects a policy perspective during an interview, but no formal vote or action on unresolved code-violation files was recorded in the search results provided.
DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the Minor Subdivision subject to the following conditions: 1\.
6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 square feet that is in a fenced and secured area as shown on the Site Layout. All cultivation shall occur not less than 200
5\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by the OCM. Even if granted by the OCM in the future, these activities may not be commenced or undertaken under this Interi
method of access and can change the methodology following the process in Clause 2.10. 2.3 Federal Systems Access. In addition, pursuant to 28 CFR §20.30-38 and Minn. Stat. §299C.58, BCA may pro
DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the City Council approves the Final Plat for Palomino Estates subject to the following conditions: 1\. No trail shall be
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2024-03-18)
Minutes · Monday, March 18, 2024
3 pages
Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2024-03-18)
Packet · Monday, March 18, 2024
38 pages
Meeting recording
YouTube
Transcript · 291 segments · 47:06
The structured brief on this page is auto-generated and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording remain the official record. What do the trust labels mean?