City Council Meeting

Mayor Hakes and Councilors Costello, Kennedy, Lenz and Sivertson were all present for today's City Council Meeting.  Also present were Mike Roth, Kim Dunsmoor and Attorney Chris Hood (via phone).

Open Forum
No member of the public opted to speak at the Open Forum.

Consent Agenda
The Consent Agenda was approved with (1) minor correction.

Snowmobile Club Request
Kim Linnell, Chamber of Commerce President, and Dan Anderson of the Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club requested the Council consider and approve the bike trail between 3rd Avenue West and the west edge of Grand Marais for snowmobile traffic.  The Snowmobile Club will be responsible for grooming the trail and signage.  Linnell and Anderson presented a letter of support with signatures from nearly all of the business owners along this portion of the bike trail.  Council expressed concern for pedestrian traffic, noise, logistics of trail grooming.  Council voted 5-0 to approve this portion of the trail be used for snowmobile traffic for the winter season of 2010-2011, subject to review in the Spring 2011.

PUD/Subdivision Regulation Issue 
Cook County Planning and Zoning has received an application for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) under the County's zoning ordinance.  The PUD at issue is proposed to be located outside the City, but is located within the two mile area upon which the City's subdivision regulations apply.  In this case, the County has zoning jurisdiction and the City has subdivision jurisdiction which raises the question of who should process the PUD application.  Both governmental jurisdictions have a portion (but not all) of the legal authority governing a PUD application under these circumstances.  Council directed Mike Roth and Tim Kennedy to set up a meeting with Tim Nelson (County Planning & Zoning), Tim Scannell (County Attorney) and Jan Hall (Commissioner District 5) to discuss potential solutions for consideration by the County Board and City Council.

Ordinance 2010-02 2nd Reading
Council unanimously approved the 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2010-02 to amend Grand Marais Zoning Ordinance to rezone Lots 4-17, Block 26 and lots 4-10, Block 27, all in Harbor Addition from C/I Commercial Industiral to MU Commercial-Residential Mixed Use zoning.

Curling Club Consumption and Display Permit Renewal
Council unanimously approved the Renewal of Consumption & Display Permit for the Cook County Curing Club.

Council Feedback to EDA
Councilor Jan Sivertson requested the Council provide her with ideas and feedback on where the EDA should focus its efforts in 2011.  Many ideas were discussed with general agreement that growing existing business was a priority.  Hakes provided written comments for the EDA to consider.

Council & Staff Reports
Tim Kennedy reported that the Biofuels Project hired Gary Atwood as Project Coordinator and is in the process of interviewing engineers.  A Public Meeting will be held on December 9 at 6 PM.
Bill Lenz reported that materials are arriving for the repair of the pool roof.  Lenz said completion of the project is weather dependent.  He is also concerned about the aging boiler.
Sue Hakes reported that the Miss North Shore Pageant will be held on January 8, 2011 at the Two Harbors Auditorium.  The Pageant requested $500 from the City of Grand Marais for their scholarship program.  The City is unable to honor this request and asked Mayor Hakes to send a letter of regret.
Mike Roth reported that Crystal Clemens has resigned from the Park Board.

Mark Your Calendar
Wednesday, December 8 at 4:30 pm, City Council Meeting
Wednesday, December 8 at 6:00 pm, Truth in Taxation Meeting
Wednesday, December 29 at 4:30 pm, City Council Meeting