Agenda spine

3 items as recorded in the packet and minutes.

1. 1CALL TO ORDER

   Mayor Pilon called the work session to order and roll was recorded. Council Member Rainville had an excused absence.

   Call to order and attendance only.

   • meeting administration

   No action
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Mayor Pilon called the meeting to order at 5:30pm Present: Council Member: Alders, Blake, Greenberg Council Member Rainville-Excused Absence Also Present: Chief Dave Schmidt, Assistant Chief Joe Lawrence, Interim City Administrator Boyles

2. 2aDiscuss Proposal to Provide Firefighter Pension through PERA

   The council discussed whether to provide a paid-on-call firefighter pension through PERA and directed staff to request PERA calculations for benefit and city-contribution scenarios, with the item to return to the next council meeting with a resolution.

   No formal motion was recorded; staff was directed to get PERA calculations and bring the item back with a resolution.

   • firefighter pension
   • PERA

   Discussion only
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)a) Discuss Proposal to Provide Firefighter Pension through PERA Mayor Pilon presented this item. Typically paid on call firefighters receive an hourly pay for recruitment and expense reimbursement. A pension is also received as a means of retaining fully trained firefighters.p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Staff was directed to request that PERA calculate benefit levels at $2000, $2500, $3000 and city voluntary contribution levels at $7000, $10,000, and $15,000. The item is to be placed on the next city council meeting agenda together with the Resolution approving participation in the PERA Firefighters Pension Program.

3. 2bDiscuss Usage of ARPA Funds

   The council discussed allowable uses of ARPA funds and unanimously supported using Option 1, the lost public-sector revenue standard allowance approach, because it had less onerous recordkeeping.

   The minutes record unanimous support for Option 1, but no formal motion or vote tally was recorded in this work-session record.

   • ARPA funds
   • city budget

   Discussion only
   p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)### b) Discuss Usage of ARPA Funds Department of the Treasury guidelines set forth the allowable uses of ARPA Funds. The city received $260,000 of ARPA Funds in 2021. It is expected that the same amount will be received in 2022.p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)The city council discussed the four alternatives. A new guideline has been provided by the department. It provides the opportunity for receivers to use the funds wherever city services have been impacted by COVID. The record keeping requirements are less onerous. The city council unanimously supported Option 1 which i…

Issues addressed

What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.

• PERA paid-on-call firefighter pension

  The council reviewed whether to join PERA’s statewide paid-on-call firefighter pension program for Nowthen firefighters. Members and fire staff discussed state fire aid, possible city contributions, vesting, benefit levels, solvency, portability, and the need to act soon enough to preserve the state aid. Staff was directed to ask PERA for scenario calculations and bring back a resolution at the next council meeting.

  Agenda: 2a. Speakers: Mayor Pilon, Alders, Blake, Greenberg, Chief Dave Schmidt, Assistant Chief Joe Lawrence, Interim City Administrator Boyles.

• ARPA funds and city cost pressures

  The council discussed how to classify and use the city’s ARPA funds. Members favored Option 1, which treats the funds as replacement public-sector revenue and reduces reporting burdens, while also discussing potential needs such as fuel increases, a well, and broadband-related expenses. The minutes record unanimous support for Option 1, with formal action expected at a later council meeting.

  Agenda: 2b. Speakers: Mayor Pilon, Alders, Blake, Greenberg, Chief Dave Schmidt.

Money discussed

Each figure links back to the document it came from. When the council voted on the amount, the motion is shown.

• pera_benefit_scenario_2000

  One firefighter pension benefit level staff was directed to have PERA calculate.

  estimate · PERA firefighter pension benefit scenario

  $2,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Staff was directed to request that PERA calculate benefit levels at $2000, $2500, $3000 and city voluntary contribution levels at $7000, $10,000, and $15,000.

• pera_benefit_scenario_2500

  One firefighter pension benefit level discussed and included in the calculation request.

  estimate · PERA firefighter pension benefit scenario

  $2,500

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Staff was directed to request that PERA calculate benefit levels at $2000, $2500, $3000 and city voluntary contribution levels at $7000, $10,000, and $15,000.37:52↗so the scenarios are twenty five hundred three thousand thirty five hundred

• pera_benefit_scenario_3000

  One firefighter pension benefit level discussed and included in the calculation request.

  estimate · PERA firefighter pension benefit scenario

  $3,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Staff was directed to request that PERA calculate benefit levels at $2000, $2500, $3000 and city voluntary contribution levels at $7000, $10,000, and $15,000.37:52↗so the scenarios are twenty five hundred three thousand thirty five hundred

• pera_benefit_scenario_3500

  A firefighter pension benefit scenario recited in the work-session discussion; this differs from the $2,000 scenario listed in the minutes.

  estimate · PERA firefighter pension benefit scenario

  $3,500

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  37:52↗so the scenarios are twenty five hundred three thousand thirty five hundred

• pera_city_contribution_scenario_7000

  One city voluntary contribution level staff was directed to have PERA calculate.

  estimate · PERA city voluntary contribution scenario

  $7,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Staff was directed to request that PERA calculate benefit levels at $2000, $2500, $3000 and city voluntary contribution levels at $7000, $10,000, and $15,000.

• pera_city_contribution_scenario_10000

  One city voluntary contribution level staff was directed to have PERA calculate.

  estimate · PERA city voluntary contribution scenario

  $10,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Staff was directed to request that PERA calculate benefit levels at $2000, $2500, $3000 and city voluntary contribution levels at $7000, $10,000, and $15,000.

• pera_city_contribution_scenario_15000

  One city voluntary contribution level staff was directed to have PERA calculate.

  estimate · PERA city voluntary contribution scenario

  $15,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)Staff was directed to request that PERA calculate benefit levels at $2000, $2500, $3000 and city voluntary contribution levels at $7000, $10,000, and $15,000.

• state_fire_aid_estimate_23000

  Estimated state fire aid available for the firefighter pension fund, described as previously about $23,000.

  revenue · state fire aid estimate

  $23,000

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  2:51↗so that two percent is is uh previously has been about 23 thousand dollars maybe 26 thousand dollars that's available to go into this fund

• state_fire_aid_estimate_26000

  Estimated state fire aid available for the firefighter pension fund, described as maybe $26,000.

  revenue · state fire aid estimate

  $26,000

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  2:51↗so that two percent is is uh previously has been about 23 thousand dollars maybe 26 thousand dollars that's available to go into this fund

• prior_pension_contribution_6200

  Amount described as Ramsey’s prior annual budgeted pension contribution connected to Nowthen’s prior fire-service arrangement.

  expenditure · prior city pension contribution

  $6,200

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  4:10↗so ramsay budgeted about sixty two hundred dollars annually um it's been suggested that we we raise that to ten or fifteen thousand dollars

• fire_department_pension_budget_15000

  Amount described as available in the fire department operations budget for pension-related expenses.

  budget · fire department operating budget pension amount · FY 2022

  $15,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  36:12↗we did budget fifteen thousand dollars in this year's operating budget for pension related expenses because we still didn't have a finite number of where we were going to end up okay so there is 15 000 available within the fire department operations

• pera_accrued_liability_2022_40000

  Approximate accrued liability estimate at the end of 2022 for the sample firefighter group discussed.

  estimate · PERA accrued liability estimate · FY 2022

  $40,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  35:04↗at two years on a sample not including your three new hires um in 2022 at the end your accrued liability would be just under 40 000

• pera_accrued_liability_2023_60000

  Approximate accrued liability estimate discussed for the end of 2023; the speaker said just under 60,000 to be safe, probably mid-50,000s.

  estimate · PERA accrued liability estimate · FY 2023

  $60,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  35:13↗and at the end of 2023 it would be just under probably just unders i'd say 60 to be safe but probably mid 50s thousand

• arpa_received_2021_260000

  ARPA funds the city received in 2021.

  grant · ARPA funds received · FY 2021

  $260,000

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)The city received $260,000 of ARPA Funds in 2021. It is expected that the same amount will be received in 2022.

• arpa_expected_2022_260000

  Expected ARPA funds for 2022, described as the same amount as the 2021 receipt.

  grant · ARPA funds expected · FY 2022

  $260,000

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)The city received $260,000 of ARPA Funds in 2021. It is expected that the same amount will be received in 2022.

• arpa_total_expected_520000

  Total expected ARPA funds from the 2021 and 2022 payments discussed at the work session.

  grant · total expected ARPA funds

  $520,000

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  57:57↗so all totaled we would have 260 000 from last year and 260 000 from this year so 520 thousand dollars is what we expect to have in arpa funds

• fuel_estimate_60000

  Estimated current-year fuel cost discussed as an example of city expenses affected by rising costs.

  budget · fuel cost estimate · FY 2022

  $60,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  1:02:05↗one of the things joe was saying the other day fuel is going to be over 60 000 this year we budgeted 20.

• fuel_budget_20000

  Budgeted fuel amount compared with an expected cost over $60,000.

  budget · fuel budget · FY 2022

  $20,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  1:02:05↗one of the things joe was saying the other day fuel is going to be over 60 000 this year we budgeted 20.

• well_quote_115000

  Cheapest quote discussed for a well from start to finish.

  estimate · well quote

  $115,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  53:48↗right now our cheapest quote for a well start to finish has gone up dramatically and is about 115 000 at the cheapest and that's assuming they have the availability of life

• prior_broadband_cares_140000

  Prior CARES money contribution for the Twin Lakes fiber project, discussed while considering possible ARPA uses.

  grant · prior broadband project city CARES contribution

  $140,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  1:04:45↗we put in 140. okay we put in a hundred forty thousand dave it was a million dollar project we put in 140 of the cares money and 200 000 from our eda fund

• prior_broadband_eda_200000

  Prior EDA fund contribution for the Twin Lakes fiber project, discussed while considering possible ARPA uses.

  expenditure · prior broadband project EDA contribution

  $200,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  1:04:45↗we put in 140. okay we put in a hundred forty thousand dave it was a million dollar project we put in 140 of the cares money and 200 000 from our eda fund

• prior_broadband_city_total_340000

  Total city contribution described for the earlier fiber project.

  expenditure · prior broadband project total city contribution

  $340,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  1:05:01↗so we put in a total of 340 they put in the other 700 000 right

• prior_broadband_other_contribution_700000

  Amount described as paid by the other party on the earlier fiber project.

  other · prior broadband project non-city contribution

  $700,000

  unknown

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  1:05:01↗so we put in a total of 340 they put in the other 700 000 right

Memory cues and prior history

When someone tried to remember earlier business, we cross-reference the corpus and write a short related-history note.

• previously when the fire department was part of ramsey there was a contribution that the city would make so we had to budget an amount per contract that we would give to the city of ramsey and they would put into the pension account

  — Mayor Pilon

  What this is about
  Prior fire-service arrangement with Ramsey and the annual contribution to the Ramsey pension account.

  1:41↗previously when the fire department was part of ramsey there was a contribution that the city would make so we had to budget an amount per contract that we would give to the city of ramsey and they would put into the pension account

  Related history

  The records I searched do not contain a prior decision or contract matching this recollection about Nowthen paying an annual amount to the City of Ramsey for fire-service pension contributions. The Ramsey references in the results are unrelated, including Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association donations, attorney background materials, and legal-service client lists, and do not document a fire-service arrangement or a budgeted contribution to a Ramsey fire pension account.

  • ·Dec 23, 2025<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="17" --> DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the
  • ·Feb 10, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 # RESOLUTI
  • ·Sep 23, 2025<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="32" --> Option A: The cul-de-sac can be installed in substantial compliance with the
  • ·Feb 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageHeader="181" --> <!-- PageHeader="BERGLUND, BAUMGARTNER & GLASER, LLC" --> ## CITY & GOVERNM
  • ·Apr 14, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="151" --> 6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 squar

• but because of the legislation we're able to put in place last year we're able to get that state aid a year early

  — Mayor Pilon

  What this is about
  Special legislation tied to the new Nowthen Fire Department and early eligibility for state fire aid.

  2:41↗but because of the legislation we're able to put in place last year we're able to get that state aid a year early

  Related history

  The records searched do not contain a prior decision matching the Mayor’s recollection of “special legislation” adopted or pursued last year to make the new Nowthen Fire Department eligible for state fire aid a year early. There is a partial match on the state-aid/pension funding issue: at the April 14, 2026 meeting, the packet included a 2025 budget amendment noting that State of Minnesota pension revenue and expenditure for the Nowthen Firefighters totaled $49,518 and had not been recorded during audit preparation. The staff memo said recording it had “zero impact” on overall city funds, but caused the Fire Department to exceed its 2025 budget by about $25,000, so the proposed resolution moved $15,000 from Administration and $10,000 from Contingency to Fire training. The excerpts provided do not show a completed vote tally for that item.

  • ·May 12, 2026##### A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF ZACHARY WYTTENHOVE TO THE NOWTHEN FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHEREAS, The City of Now
  • ·Apr 14, 2026WRIGHT HENNEPIN SECURITY <table> <tr> <th>MEMORIAL PARK PAVILION AND 2 BATHROOMS</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>Feature</
  • ·Apr 14, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="272" --> ## WHSECURITY City of Nowthen Recycling Center Access Control Update: Repla
  • ·Apr 14, 2026### A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT OF 2025 BUDGET WHEREAS, Resolution No. 2024-105 appropriated funds for personal s
  • ·May 12, 2026# RESOLUTION No. 2026-63 ## A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF (4) GARAGE DOOR OPENERS IN THE NOWTHEN FIRE DEP

• when the firefighters switched over from ramsey to the nowland department we also had legislation allowed us to pay them out fully so anything that they had in the ramsey account we arranged for them to get paid 100 percent

  — Mayor Pilon

  What this is about
  Prior payout of Ramsey relief association pension amounts when firefighters moved from Ramsey to Nowthen.

  7:49↗when the firefighters switched over from ramsey to the nowland department we also had legislation allowed us to pay them out fully so anything that they had in the ramsey account we arranged for them to get paid 100 percent

  Related history

  The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about legislation authorizing firefighters to be paid out 100% of Ramsey relief association pension amounts when moving from Ramsey to the Nowthen Fire Department. The only fire-department-related result returned was a May 12, 2026 packet item authorizing the hiring of Zachary Wyttenhove to the Nowthen Fire Department; it does not address pension relief association payouts, Ramsey accounts, or a transition from Ramsey to Nowthen.

  • ·Mar 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="44" --> <table> <tr> <th colspan="9">BURGLARIES</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Number</th> <th>
  • ·May 12, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth
  • ·Apr 14, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth
  • ·May 12, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 ## RESOLUT
  • ·Mar 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="307" --> # CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA # ORDINANCE NO. 2026-XX #

• so when we uh ran the glass fiber down twin lakes down there into that community down there didn't we have a grant that helped us out with that got the carriage funds had cares funds

  — Greenberg

  What this is about
  Earlier Twin Lakes fiber project funded with CARES money and EDA funds.

  1:04:20↗so when we uh ran the glass fiber down twin lakes down there into that community down there didn't we have a grant that helped us out with that got the carriage funds had cares funds

  Related history

  The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection of a Twin Lakes fiber project funded with CARES money or EDA funds. The only Twin Lakes-related matches in these results are later park facility/security items, including 2026 proposals for access control, cellular camera service, and related equipment at Twin Lakes Park, not a glass fiber installation or grant-funded broadband project.

  • ·Feb 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> 98 WHSECURITY Card Access System Proposal Proposal Number WHSQ30857 PO Box 330, 6800 Electric Dr, Roc
  • ·Apr 14, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="274" --> ## WHSECURITY ### Option for Twin Lakes Video Camera #### City of Nowthen T
  • ·Feb 10, 2026#### Option for Twin Lakes Video Camera City of Nowthen Twin Lakes Add Video thru Alarm.com cellular. Combine the cell m
  • ·Sep 13, 2022<!-- PageBreak --> 3b 09/06/22 3:55 PM <!-- PageNumber="Page 3" --> CITY OF NOWTHEN *Claim Register@ August CC Deposits
  • ·Feb 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="99" --> WHSECURITY PO Box 330, 6800 Electric Dr, Rockford, MN 55373 Phone: 763-477-3

• because i know when we're on the fire board the growth went up exponentially as we handled more medicals

  — Mayor Pilon

  What this is about
  Prior fire board experience with growth in medical calls.

  43:18↗because i know when we're on the fire board the growth went up exponentially as we handled more medicals

  Related history

  The records searched do not contain a prior fire board discussion or decision specifically documenting that medical calls “went up exponentially” during Mayor Pilon’s fire board service. There is a partial match in recent call-volume reporting: at the April 14, 2026 meeting, the Fire Chief’s March 2026 update reported 37 total fire department calls, including 16 medical calls. At that same meeting, the Anoka County Sheriff’s report for March 2026 noted deputies responded to 147 calls for service, including 19 medical calls. Those records show medical calls were a significant part of recent public-safety activity, but they do not provide the historical fire board comparison or growth trend the mayor was recalling.

  • ·Dec 23, 2025<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="17" --> DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the
  • ·Sep 23, 2025<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="32" --> Option A: The cul-de-sac can be installed in substantial compliance with the
  • ·Apr 14, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="151" --> 6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 squar
  • ·Mar 24, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="14" --> 5\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by th
  • ·Mar 23, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="8" --> # Standard Measures for Cities <table> <tr> <th>Category</th> <th>#</th> <th>

Sources

Every document and recording archived for this meeting.

• Document

  Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2022-04-07)

  Minutes · 2022-04-07

  2 pages

  ↗
• Video

  Meeting recording

  YouTube

  Transcript · 457 segments · 1:08:28

  ↗