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The Chisago City Council came early and stayed late for its Aug. 27 meeting. 

The council announced as the regular meeting started that they had met in closed session prior to the meeting to discuss a potential land purchase. No further information was a provided. When the regular meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m., the council stayed for a workshop session and “Highway 8 Final Design Discussion.” 

During the regular meeting, the council modified zoning ordinances, and discussed two topics that involve potential changes to city ordinances. 

The first of those topics focused on easing the city’s restrictions on use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on streets within the city limits. 

Council Member Craig Meyer has raised the issue before. He said Chisago City is becoming “an island” where the popular all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles, known as side-by-sides, cannot travel on city streets while surrounding communities are easing their restrictions. At Meyer’s request, North Branch’s ATV/UTV ordinance was distributed to the council for review in preparation for a workshop session to discuss the ordinance. Meyer contends that Chisago City’s restaurants and gas stations are losing business since people cannot ride the vehicles on city streets to get to them. Meyer said he wants to see some action taken before the lakes freeze and ice fishing season begins.

Mayor Jeremy Dresel commented, “This issue was the number one topic that everyone brought up to me during Ki-Chi-Sago Days.”  

Council Member Marie Rivers said of UTVs, “They are pretty much a car now. They cost as much as a new car.”

“We certainly could have a workshop meeting in the next month or so,” said Administrator John Pechman, adding that if they did want a new ordinance  “we should try to do something similar with Lindstrom.” The discussion ended with no workshop date set but with a general consensus that a new ordinance should be enacted before winter

“Mother-in-law apartments” Developer Randy Kempenich appeared before the council requesting another extension for the final plat of Nature View Homes on North Avenue. Kempenich also asked the council to consider an ordinance change to allow “Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs),” commonly referred to as “mother-in-law apartments.” 

This is the fourth extension for Kempenich in as many years without being able to provide a final plat or developer’s agreement for the North Avenue property. He has found the area difficult to develop for single family residences because property along North Avenue has become increasingly commercial and multi-family in nature. This drives up the cost to develop single family homes in that area, he says.

In requesting yet another extension, Kempenich says he wants to “explore creating an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) development.” The ADU would allow a home owner to provide a small rental unit within the property, which he says would help defray housing costs while maintaining a small town character. 

Kempenich explains that, from the outside, a residence with an ADU would look just like any single family home. It would also make rental housing more available and affordable for single individuals.

Kempenich stated that 20 percent of new housing units in California are now ADUs.

The council agreed to grant Kempenich a 12-month extension and to look into the issue of allowing ADUs in single family homes. Mayor Dresel, however, advised Kempenich that this will be the last extension. “A fifth time, I’m not going with.” Dresel declared.

In other business, the council:

- amended the city’s zoning maps and ordinance to accommodate higher density housing. Currently Chisago City’s two highest density zones are R-3, medium density residential, which permits eight units per acre, and R-4 mobile home residential. 

Research showed surrounding communities offer high density of up to 15 units per acre. Chisago City’s new revised ordinance changes its R-4 designation to high density residential (up to15 units per acre), and adds an R-5 designation for mobile home residential.

-vacated pre-existing drainage and utility easements and an unused 30-foot wide right of access in the Lawrence Subdivision, future site of the Chisago Lakes Apartments. The property is surrounded by Gateway Avenue, North Avenue, Sportsman Drive and U.S. Highway 8.

-on recommendation of City Engineer Nate Stanley, issued final payment of $9,128 to Bituminous Roadways Inc. for 2023 street and utility improvements.

-granted Fire Chief Zach Reed’s request for $12,048 from Fund 23 for purchase of a new washer and dryer for $2,058, a gas meter for $3,300, a thermal imager for $1,034 and repair and maintenance of a 2003 vehicle for $5,656.  

Also discussed were financing options to purchase 18 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) and related equipment at a quoted estimate of $189,000. Reed said the department has been unsuccessful in its attempts to obtain a grant for the past five years and their existing units will expire at the end of this year. 

“If we had a house fire on Jan. 1, we could be in a corner,” Reed told the council. Reed said the department may be able to make a hardship request for emergency funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).    Reed told the council that, with $62,948 available in the department’s capital fund, the remainder of the $189,000 cost would need to be financed in some way if the department cannot obtain a grant or get emergency funds through FEMA.

- approved the hiring of Jeff Olson to fill the open parks maintenance position. 

- heard Sue Skow of Deer Garden Lane ask that the city take “whatever action necessary” to deal with a neighbor who she said hasn’t mowed their yard in years and refuses to mow, despite offers of assistance from neighbors. 

“Something has to be done, “ said Skow. “The city needs to get somebody out there and then just put (the cost) on the property’s taxes.”  Mayor Dresel told Skow that he and Administrator Pechman will take a look at the situation.

- at the workshop session which followed the council meeting, Administrator Pechman guided the council through the Highway 8 improvement project from east to west seeking their “final comments.”  The council focused on a multitude of details ranging from bike trails, dead-end roads, snow removal and plowing of cul de sacs, hammer handles, “loons” and other street configurations, and also potential location of sewage lift stations. 

Chisago City will extend its municipal sewer system to the west in conjunction with the highway reconstruction. Residents interested in viewing a detailed map of the project may inquire at city hall.

    

    

    

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