Council approves urban forestry fee ordinance, library MOU and backs research into artisan-industry zoning

The New Richmond City Council on a single evening approved three separate policy actions: adoption of Ordinance 632 creating an urban forestry code and fee, approval of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) clarifying roles and responsibilities between the city and the library board, and direction to staff to research and return a draft ordinance for an artisan-industry zoning approach.

Staff said the urban forestry ordinance was proposed to secure funding for the removal and replacement of an estimated 339 ash trees on city right-of-way and city-owned land, in part because the emerald ash borer has accelerated tree losses. The ordinance renames the former "trees and shrubbery" code section (Section 90) to "urban forestry," adds missing definitions and establishes a fee that staff proposed at $2.75 per month per parcel to be billed on utility bills or specially assessed on property tax bills for parcels without utility service. Staff recommended suspending the rules and approving the ordinance with implementation beginning in 2026. The council discussed whether private property owners could receive tree replacements or seedlings from a city program; staff said those potential uses were under consideration and would be brought back to the council.

On the library MOU, staff said the document is intended to memorialize existing roles and practices (for example, how the library director is hired and whether library employees are subject to the city employee handbook) and not to alter authority granted to the library board under state statute. Council members asked whether approving the MOU before the library board's formal approval would be appropriate; staff and council clarified that the library board would still need to approve the MOU because it retains statutory authority. A motion to approve the roles-and-responsibilities MOU passed.

Finally, staff presented a concept for an "artisan industry" or small-scale manufacturing zoning category for a parcel on 140th Street near County Road K (a concept submitted by property owner Jerry Clausen). Council members expressed interest while urging careful definitions (size limits, employee counts, long-term transition rules to prevent heavier industrial uses). A motion directing staff to research and prepare a draft ordinance passed.

All three measures passed by recorded vote during the meeting. Implementation steps — including publishing the new fee schedule, coordinating MOU approval with the library board, and returning a draft artisan-industry ordinance — were assigned to staff.