City of North Branch

The Commission addressed several items including the administration of the oath of office for a new commissioner, review of park fund balances, and project updates. Key actions included the approval of the Veterans Memorial Fiscal Agent Agreement with requested modifications, approval of the Laborers Training Center Addition plat, and discussions regarding land dedication requirements for the Preserve at Spring Hill 2nd Addition. The meeting also covered improvement requests for Roger Johnson Memorial Park, an update on the Malmquist Property, support for the ECRAC Arts and Culture Heritage Fund Legacy Grant for summer concerts, approval of the Northwood Park Improvements DNR Grant, and a discussion on the PTOS Strategic Plan including Wildridge Survey results.

The City Council meeting addressed various operational and administrative matters. Key actions included the approval of a resolution supporting land acquisition by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, authorization of several pay requests for ongoing city infrastructure projects, and the passage of amendments regarding accessory structures and fence locations. The Council also approved special event permits, a mobile food truck license, and a pollinator pathways proposal. Additionally, the Council accepted the retirement of a police officer, reviewed primary election information, discussed public works updates, and approved the hiring of an executive search firm to assist in recruiting a new City Administrator. The meeting concluded with a closed session to discuss labor negotiation strategies.

The City Council conducted interviews with three firms as part of their executive search for a new City Administrator. The firms interviewed included South Central Service Cooperative, GMP Consultants, and Baker Tilly. Following the interviews, the Council performed a brief review and reached a consensus to continue these discussions in a subsequent meeting.

The council discussed the request for proposals for engineering and legal professional services, reaching a consensus to postpone action until a new City Administrator is hired. Additionally, the Finance Director provided an introduction and overview of the proposed North Branch Financial Management Policy.

The City Council conducted a special meeting to review candidates for the City Administrator position, resulting in a decision on which candidates to proceed with for interviews. Additionally, the Council held discussions regarding the 2025-2035 operating and capital budgets, providing staff with feedback and planning for a preliminary levy amount of $7,717,357.