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The new North Branch city administrator Matthew Hill attended his first city council meeting last week and the council thanked interim city administrator Linda Woulfe for her skill and enthusiasm in helping to run the city while the search went on.

~ The firefighter pension payout was increased unanimously to $5,300 per year of qualified service from $5,000.  Fire Relief Association Treasurer Chad VanDyke said the benefits fund can support this and it doesn’t cost the taxpayers anything.

North Branch firefighters are 60 percent vested at 10 years and get full benefit at 20 years— based on hitting age 50.  

~ Council supported closing the city compost site, immediately erasing the 24/7 access it has enjoyed in the past. Due to abuses of disposal rules and because people who are not residents have been leaving debris (license plate video verifications) the public works department asked to restrict operations.  

Shawn Williams, Public Works Director, said he’d like to just be open on weekends to residents and have an employee there to check identification.  

He needs a season to tweak operations, he said, and he’ll report back on how it goes.  Large stump and branch hauling and/or contractor use of the compost site is prohibited and council  was shown still photos from the security camera of a number of violations.

~ The citywide comprehensive plan amendment changing zoning guidance for property west of the freeway and south of Highway 95,  was adopted 5-0.

The property is 12 acres and will be shifted to R3 (residential) from Commercial zoning to accommodate a senior living campus.  Nate Sondrol, planner, said North Branch has 200 acres of commercial land in and around the freeway corridor, and this plan revision won’t have any noticeable impact on future growth of commercial.

It will address what was identified in a housing study as much-needed housing options.

The developer proposes an apartment development to be built in two phases, with duplex and townhome structures nearby and outdoor activity areas.   

It is under the working title of Westside Commons for now. Groundbreaking wouldn’t be until later in 2025, as an acceptable concept, there are still fine points to be worked out.

~ A request from accounting for a contracted special service from public finance experts Abdo, to straighten out the cash reconciliation system, was tabled for more information.

Finance Director Sharon Wright said she’s been with North Branch a little over two years and the deposits just don’t work themselves out correctly. The software potentially is mis-written or has a bug and she would like to address this issue by the end of this year.

The city reviewed three proposals and Abdo was recommended at approximately $35,000 to $40,000. The city will theoretically save audit costs in the future, if this can be resolved.

The vote was 5-0 to table for more details on the contract.

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