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The Chisago City Council on June 25 pondered whether or not to take any action at this time regarding the regulation of retail cannabis sales when it becomes legal. Chisago County, which has set a maximum of five cannabis retail sales locations in the county based on population, recently asked cities to clarify  licensing of retail cannabis sales in their community. While some cities have enacted a moratorium on applications in order to look into the topic, Chisago City has taken no action regulating retail sale of cannabis.

On the advice of City Attorney Patrick Doran, the council agreed to have Doran and City Administrator John Pechman come back to next month’s meeting with wording of a possible moratorium  to give the city time.  Council members were clearly uncertain as to how to proceed and relied on guidance from their attorney, who said there was no great urgency to act immediately. But council should have some serious discussions before October just in case things start to move quickly, he added.

“The object is to have something available at the time the cannabis law is set up and ready to go, which the state has said should be Jan. 1, 2025,” said Doran.

In other business, the council:

- amended the city’s off-street parking and loading ordinance for restaurants and manufacturers. Associate Planner Leah Nelson explained that parking requirements for manufacturing facilities should be revised relaxed because increased automation means companies require fewer employees. 

City staff therefore recommended parking requirements for manufacturers be based on square footage of the building rather than the number of employees. 

For manufacturing, Chisago City will now require one parking space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area for the first 25,000 square feet and one parking space per 3,000 square feet of gross floor area after the first 25,000 square feet. For restaurants and bars, the city will now require four parking spaces per every 12 seats. No public comment was received at a June 6 planning commission hearing on the parking amendments, which the council passed 4-0 with Mayor Gustafson absent. 

Although parking requirements for multifamily housing was not among the amendments discussed at the June 6 planning commission hearing, that topic did arise in connection with a new apartment complex which came for review before the commission June 6 and the council on June 25.

Based on input received from the apartment developer, and comparisons with other cities, Planner Nelson said city staff is now considering a change from two parking spaces per apartment unit with 50 percent being an enclosed garage, to two spaces per unit with 25 percent being an enclosed garage.  

The apartment developer pointed out that the garages often become storage units rather than being used for parking which then overflows to the available spaces. 

Acting Mayor Dresel asked whether the proposed change made any provision for visitor parking. Nelson responded that it did not, but said that it was similar to multifamily parking requirements in the majority of comparable communities. 

- passed a resolution governing the reporting of the counting of write-in votes. As  state statute now allows, votes for write-in candidates in Chisago City will be counted individually only if the total number of write-in votes for an office is equal to or greater than the fewest number of non-write-in votes for a candidate on the ballot for that office.  The council agreed this will save time and resources not having to itemize frivolous write-in votes.

- approved using 10 percent of Fund 29 (charitable gambling proceeds of pull tab sales by the Lakes Area Recreation Association (LARA) and Chisago City Fire Relief) for the following expenditures: Ki-Chi-Sago Days fireworks - $10,000; Children’s Lighting Festival $2,750; City volunteer recognition - $2,750; Fire Department Volunteer Steak Fry - $1,200; Lakes Area Police Department employee recognition $900. That will leave a balance of $44,660 in Fund 29.

- made a conditional offer of employment for the Parks II maintenance position pending completion of a background check. Administrator Pechman said that 38 applications were received, 16 people interviewed and the top three candidates interviewed a second time. “All three finalists were excellent,” said Pechman, “It was a tough decision.” 

- approved Fire Chief Zach Reed’s request for $4,190 from the building fund to retro-fit electric lighting at the fire station with the balance of the total cost covered by a $2,889 rebate from Xcel Energy. It is estimated the new energy-efficient lighting will save $2,058 annually, resulting in a two-year ‘payback” in lower bills.

- was informed that, after three decades, Russell Oehme of Affordable Lawn Care has stepped down from mowing Chisago City Parks. Oehme started mowing Chisago City parks in1994. Administrator Pechman told the council that Paradise Outdoor Services has agreed to finish the contract.

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