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Presiding officer announces quarterly public forum, tightens public-comment rules; resident urges sales tax
Summary
The presiding officer announced a non‑voting quarterly public forum beginning March 3 to hear grievances outside council meetings and clarified public-comment rules; resident Patrick McDonald urged the council to explore a local sales tax, while staff said state approval and a ballot would be required.
The presiding officer told attendees the council will begin holding a quarterly "public forum" starting March 3 at 6:00 p.m. to provide a space for grievances and questions outside regular council business, and emphasized these forums will not include votes.
"The first one is gonna be March 3, and we're gonna hold it here. 06:00. It's not gonna be on the owl. It's not gonna be Zoomed," the presiding officer said, adding the sessions are meant to let people raise concerns that are inappropriate for formal council debate and to provide an opportunity for private follow-up when warranted.
The presiding officer outlined ground rules for participation: speakers should sign up, state their name and address, and direct remarks to the presiding officer; disruptive or obscene conduct may result in removal. The presiding officer said public-comment periods at regular meetings will remain but that grievances could be moved to the forum "that we can handle it a little bit healthier and keep this to city work, city business." The presiding officer also said the council will allow private follow-up meetings with staff when appropriate.
At the public-comment portion, long-time resident Patrick McDonald identified himself and urged the council to pursue a city sales tax as a revenue source that would not increase property taxes. "If you're gonna spend money, you gotta generate revenue," McDonald said, citing nearby Hermantown's use of sales-tax revenue to pay for local projects.
Tony (city staff) responded that the state currently has a moratorium on new local-option sales taxes and that establishing one requires legislative approval and a voter referendum; staff noted not all retail items are taxable under state law. "Right now, you have to go get legislative approval, and then it has to go to your ballot for your residents to vote on it," Tony said.
City staff described the forum as a chance to hear concerns while maintaining decorum and protecting personnel and HR matters from public airing, and encouraged residents who want more information on meeting materials to contact staff after the meeting.
Next step: the first quarterly forum is scheduled for March 3 at 6:00 p.m. at city hall; it will be a public, non‑voting opportunity for residents to raise issues, and the council said it will revisit procedures if attendance or outcomes warrant further changes.
