05-12-2020 Special City Council Meeting Minutes

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Special City Council Minutes May 12, 2020 Page 3 of 4 ------------------------------ should make it loud and clear that this is what we are doing and we are following all the guidelines. He stated that it would be safer to shop in one of Pequot Lakes' small businesses than one of the larger stores that are currently open. He stated that he is 100% for standing up for the City's businesses and he is voting on a resolution tonight to give the City's businesses some support before they are gone. Council Member Seils stated that she agrees Council Member Pederson and she likes his proclamation as it is clear and it shows more support for the City's businesses. She said hearing that the Governor may extended into June will really hurt the little stores in town and if they do not open we are going to have a whole bunch of stores in town closed forever which is not good. She said PequoYs little businesses are just like some of the big box stores that are open so she agrees they should be open also. She stated that she does not want to wait on this proclamation because the Governor may not let the order expire this month. She stated that the Senators from Minnesota did pass a resolution saying that some more little businesses should be open but they cannot be sure that that will ever going pass the House or that the Governor is going to sign it. She stated that she knows they had the best of intentions but there is not a guarantee on whether it gets signed or not. Council Member Pederson stated that some within the government, Paul Gazelka being one of them, who are trying to push more openings. He stated there are states opening up their restaurants and they are going by counties. He said Minnesota should follow suit and say we have to keep Minneapolis shut down because 95% of our cases are from the Twin Cities but the small towns is different. Council Member Pederson clarified that the City Council has now chosen to say all businesses can be open that choose to be open but they have to follow the CDC guidelines, OSHA guidelines, other guidelines that are out there. He stated that he believes businesses should lean on the Chamber of Commerce because they have come up with a very good strategy on how to open a business to be safe. He said the Council is not forcing anybody to open or forcing anybody to come out of their homes. He stated they are just saying they can if they want. COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20-21 DECLARING PEQUOT LAKES AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AND BUSINESS FRIENDLY COMMUNITY. COUNCIL MEMBER SWANSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4-1. COUNCIL MEMBER AKERSON OPPOSED. Council Member Seils asked if the Council wants the Resolution sent out and they ' confirmed that they would like it sent to the Govemor's office, Senator Ruud and ', Representative Heintzeman. Council Member Swanson suggested that the Mayor be prepared to answer questions from the press and other people to support the City's � position in a proper way. Council Member Seils asked to have the Resolution sent to the Chamber also to make them aware of the Council's position. Council Member's Swanson, Seils, Pederson and Mayor Tayloe stated they do not want to be paid for this � meeting. ' I � I