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North Branch Council last week reviewed the municipal liquor operations manager’s request to have CBD and hemp derived THC products on the municipal store shelves, and approved the concept with Council member Kelly Neider absent.  

The council was advised that the operations manager has registered the city with the Office of Cannabis Management and the city’s point of sale electronic processor Square,  has the ability to handle nine products in this category.  Manager Carla Golden will move ahead on the work needed and bring the products to North Branch.

The council also gave approval to set closing for the east store or Store Number One, at 9 p.m.  Sales have not justified having staff working later at night.

An issue with a recreational vehicle generating complaints for being parked on a city street, triggered a discussion between the chief of police and council on if there’s any appetite for rewriting the law.  Chief Meyer said there are rules that vehicles can’t stand for more than 48 hours without being moved, and seven days is a maximum for having friends and family park their RV on your street and inhabit it.

North Branch also has its winter parking ordinance that keeps streets clear for plowing.  It prohibits any overnight street parking November to April. 

Chief Meyer said the council could go in many directions on the wording of city code, other cities are tougher on their RV storage. Some disallow any recreational vehicle from ever standing on a street.

There can be extentuating circumstances as the police will respond to such reports as blocking a sidewalk, not obtaining a property owner’s permission to park, littering associated with the vehicle and that type of thing.

Council member Robert Canada remarked he will sometimes bring his RV to get it “set up” for an upcoming excursion and it may sit for a couple days outside his home,  and he saw no problem with allowing this level of activity.

Council directed Chief Meyer to check with patrol officers and see if RV parking or on-street vehicles in general is a widespread problem and report back.  No action was taken last week.

There is an on-line survey posted on the city website  looking to get feedback on the status of the two streets, above and below the Highway 95 route. The Elm and Maple corridors were opened up as detours and stops were eliminated due to the increased traffic.  One resident, Joe Sausen, advised the council the stop signs probably need to get put back up before students driving to and from school get used to not having to stop.  The Highway 95 construction tasks are complete.

Council took the situation under advisement. 

Take the survey at ci.north-branch.mn.us

Mayor Kevin Schieber introduced the idea of creating an Arts & History citizens’ council, which would preserve and help interpret North Branch history.  He asked if council supports “exploratory” steps sanctioned by the city.  The staff could put out feelers and connect with the county historical society and set up a meeting date to share information and organize the next  steps.  Acting City Administrator Lynda Woulfe suggested later in fall, after kids are back in the school routine and there’s a possible new administrator on board.

This was accepted as a good idea and council supported pursuing an Arts & History Council.

A Bolton & Menk consulting engineers study of rental market status was presented, with no action immediately. 

The analysis of incomes, rental rates, number of units, and a host of other indicators shows that 51 percent of the population does not have the level of income to afford rent alone.  Median rent is $1,343 and this is a “stretch” for the demographic most apt to rent.  The largest age grouping affected by local housing policy, in North Branch is 25 to 29 years old.

There are programs that incentivize rental developments, there are grants to assist in controlling escalation of rent charged and the consultant was happy to continue to meet with the city and consider options.  Having this data will improve grant applications.  The study findings will be a tool for anyone considering bringing a housing project to town and give direction on what’s in demand.

No motions were made, council simply accepted the data/report.

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