Coon Rapids City Council on Monday approved a set of routine administrative resolutions, confirmed appointments to city boards and commissions and adopted procedural rules for 2025.

The council voted to continue a contract with Time Saver Off-site Secretarial for meeting-minute preparation with a 3.5% base-rate increase and unit-rate increases of $1.50 per hour and $0.50 per page, the council heard. Council members also approved the schedule of electronic payments from Dec. 12, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024, as required by Minnesota state statute.

Why it matters: the items set how the city publishes legal notices, records meeting minutes and manages city banking and transfers — routine actions that affect transparency, legal compliance and administrative costs.

Most significant items

- Time Saver Off-site Secretarial: Council adopted resolution 25-1 to designate Time Saver as the council’s recording secretary for 2025. Staff said the small rate increases can be absorbed in the city’s approved 2025 budget; the minutes format will continue to exclude full staff reports to limit production costs.

- Council rules and calendar: Council adopted resolution 25-2 to establish the council rules of procedure for 2025, including the regular meeting calendar (normally the first and third Tuesday of each month) and the process for placing items on or removing items from the consent agenda.

- Official newspaper: The council adopted resolution 25-3 designating the Anoka County Union Herald as the city’s legal newspaper for 2025. The Herald’s proposed publication rate rose from $10.75 to $11.00 per column inch.

- Depositories and electronic funds transfers: The council adopted resolution 25-21 designating official depositories and investment collateral management procedures and resolution 25-22 designating electronic funds-transfer authority (to the finance director) for payments and tax collections.

- Boards and commissions: The council adopted a slate of reappointments and new appointments across multiple boards and commissions and approved work plans and rules for boards. Highlights included naming Kelsey Brot as chair of the Sustainability Commission for 2025, appointing Mary Anne Keane as chair of the Arts Commission and reaffirming Neil Livermore as chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission. The council said it will continue to recruit to fill remaining vacancies on the planning and other commissions in coming meetings.

What council members said

Mayor Cook and several council members thanked volunteers and urged residents to consider serving on commissions. Finance Director Ashley Hanson reviewed the electronic funds-transfer authority and said there were no substantive changes. City Manager Matt Stemwiddle said staff would follow up with applicants for commission seats to confirm continued interest when vacancies are filled.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt agenda: Motion by Pat Carlson; second by Christopher Geisler — adopted (all in favor).
- Approve minutes, Dec. 17, 2024: Motion by Novak; second by Brad Grishkoviak — adopted (motion carried with 2 abstentions).
- Resolution 25-1 (Time Saver Off-site Secretarial designated): Motion by Carlson; second by Armstrong — adopted.
- Resolution 25-2 (Council rules of procedure and 2025 meeting calendar): Motion by Novak; second by Butler — adopted.
- Resolution 25-3 (Anoka County Union Herald designated official newspaper): Motion by Novak; second by Grishkoviak — adopted.
- Resolutions 25-4 through 25-11 (boards/commissions appointments, work plans, and rules): Motion by Carlson; second by Armstrong — adopted.
- Resolutions 25-12 through 25-20 (council appointments to external organizations): Motion by Carlson; second by Armstrong — adopted.
- Resolution 25-21 (Designating depositories and investment collateral procedures): Motion by Novak; second by Geisler — adopted.
- Resolution 25-22 (Designating electronic funds-transfer authority to finance director): Motion by Armstrong; second by Novak — adopted.
- Motion to adjourn: Motion by Novak; second by Armstrong — adopted.

Ending: Council members said staff will continue outreach to fill commission vacancies and that the 2025 calendar and administrative designations will provide the framework for the year ahead.