East Bethel City Council — Transcript
Monday, September 28, 2026
Recognition of Community Service and Achievement
Public Safety and Fire Department Reports
Front Yard Fencing Ordinance Amendment
Short-Term Rental (STR) Regulation
City Staff Restructuring and Retention
Pickleball Court Fencing and Fire Department Analytics Tabling
Votes (15)
East Bethl Royalty Presentation and Recognition
Moved by Mr. [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
This item was primarily ceremonial, recognizing three young ladies selected as East Bethl Ambassadors for their commitment to representing the city at various functions and festivals.
Recognition of Cub Scout Pack 387 and Boy Scout Troop 733
Moved by Mr. [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
The city council recognized the Cub Scout Pack 387 and Boy Scout Troop 733 for their annual volunteer efforts in cleaning Booster Park after the city's Booster Day festival.
Sheriff's Report
The Sheriff's representative provided a detailed report on August 2026 law enforcement activities, including calls for service, arrests, and specific case examples. A council member raised a question regarding the significant decrease in DUI arrests compared to the previous year and its correlation with traffic stops, prompting a discussion on policing strategies and personnel changes.
Fire Department Report
The Fire Chief presented the August 2026 report, detailing 59 calls for service, community engagement (National Night Out, Star of the North Academy), successful live burn training, FirstNet coverage confirmation, and promoting an upcoming open house. The report highlighted the department's active role in community safety and training.
Ordinance Amendment: Six-Foot Fences in Front Yards
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Council Member [Approx. Start]
Planning Director Eric Look presented a proposed ordinance to allow six-foot fences in front yards abutting county highways, emphasizing benefits like screening and privacy. The Planning Commission generally favored the change, noting that larger lots along such highways minimize visibility concerns. A public hearing was held with no input from the public, leading to council discussion and approval.
Public Forum on Short-Term Rental (STR) Regulation
Several residents spoke regarding the proposed STR ordinance. Tim Buzzy (STR owner) requested clear, objective standards and less arduous requirements for compliant rentals. Suzanne Peterson and Elizabeth Gorski, neighbors of a problematic STR, detailed ongoing issues (noise, parking, large events exceeding septic capacity, safety concerns) and urged the council to adopt strict enforcement and revoke licenses for commercial-style operations. Dave Sakowski also expressed concerns about noise pollution.
Consent Agenda Item D: TIFF Note and Agreement Transfer
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
A council member questioned the transfer of a Tax Increment Financing (TIFF) agreement related to the sale of a senior living facility, asking why it wasn't paid off and if the new buyer's credibility was checked. Staff clarified that TIFF agreements are tied to the development's infrastructure, not the specific company, and the city is fulfilling a long-term financial commitment.
Consent Agenda Item E: Pickleball Court Fencing Approval
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
A council member expressed frustration that pickleball court fencing was not included in the initial approval, and that new estimates were inconsistent and potentially incomplete (e.g., missing a bottom rail). The item was tabled to allow for clarification from staff and to obtain consistent, comprehensive estimates.
Consent Agenda Item F: Fire Department Echo Data Analytics Purchase
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
The Fire Chief explained that Echo Data Analytics would automate payroll, freeing up 3-5 days of staff time monthly for other projects like inspections, and provide real-time data for members. A council member questioned if other quotes were sought and how the $11,000+ cost would be covered. The item was tabled to allow the Chief to seek additional estimates.
Consent Agenda Item G: State Aid Dollars Approval
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
A specific approval of $7,200 was discussed briefly, with a council member asking for clarification on the funding source. It was confirmed that the funds would come from 'State Aid dollars' (MSA).
Consent Agenda Item I: Senior City Planner and Administrative Assistant Positions
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
The council discussed the creation of new Senior City Planner and Administrative Assistant positions as part of a staff restructuring. The plan was presented as a response to Mike Jarski's departure, addressing complex HR needs and communication. Funding would be reallocated from an unfilled Community Development Director position and a downgraded Finance Director role, ensuring it would not be an additional budget increase.
Adoption of Short-Term Rental Ordinance (2026-04)
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
Following extensive public input and prior workshops, the council considered adopting the Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance Chapter 51. The ordinance, similar to those in other communities, includes requirements for parking, habitability, and fire inspection, with an Interim Use Permit (IUP) process for higher-density units. Amendments included verification of violations, a 29-day maximum rental period, city attorney review for grandfathering, and required posted language and renter acknowledgement of city ordinances. Council also discussed revocation of licenses and parking on impervious surfaces.
Approval of Short-Term Rental Fee Schedule (2026-51)
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
To support the newly adopted Short-Term Rental Ordinance, the council considered and approved Resolution 2026-51, amending the city's fee schedule to include administrative license fees ($150) and acknowledging existing Interim Use Permit fees ($600). The fees are intended to cover administrative costs and track applications.
Amendments to Chapter 50: Traditional Rental Properties (2026-05)
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
The council approved Ordinance 2026-05, which amends Chapter 50 of the city's ordinance to clearly distinguish between traditional residential rentals (occupancy 30 days or greater) and short-term rentals (less than 30 days). This change clarifies that properties will not be subject to both regulatory programs and resolves ambiguities in the previous broad definition of 'rental dwelling'.
Retention of Mike Jazorski as Finance Person
Moved by Council Member [Approx. Start] · Seconded by Unknown [Approx. Start]
A council member reported having proactively negotiated with Mike Jazorski, who agreed to remain as the city's Finance Person. This involved removing his HR and Deputy City Administrator duties and accepting a reduced pay grade (Grade 11 from 13). The move aims to retain his expertise while aligning with his preferences and creating budget efficiencies.
Notable Quotes (21)
The East Bethl scholarship program organizes and sponsors the annual scholarship coronation where individuals compete to represent the city of East Bethl as an ambassador for a 12-month period with numerous appearances at city festivals, celebrations, and official functions.
The Scub the Cub Scout Pack 387 and Boy Scout Troop 733 have annually volunteered to clean up in Booster Park following the city's booster day festival and activities. The city of East Bethl would like to thank these scouts for investing their time in the community and helping to keep the park clean and ready for community use.
Looking at DUI arrests year to date 2026 versus 25. Uh this year there's been 14 DUI arrests and last year this point was 41. Yep. Significantly lower which is huge. But then I also noticed that with the traffic stops there's a,020 this year and last year at this point there's almost 1,600.
It's it's a little bit different style of policing that that we're seeing just based on the personnel that we do have in the city.
Council Member Urkl, I did verify that we do have good coverage throughout the city.
Uh we learned lessons. Uh we have training topics for 27 which was the goal of this uh live burn training session.
The proposed amendment that's shown on the screen would allow a sixoot fence um in front yards um where normally and in most communities typically only allows 4 foot fence or a decorative fence.
You drive down some of these county roads and they have bushes, lilac bushes, trees all the way up to the to I mean it a fence is not going to change the visibility any more visibility than what Nobody prevents any kind of bushes from being built grown.
I'm not asking the city to abandon regulation. I'm asking for them to to work this through. Given compliant rentals and administrative license based on an objective, occupancy, septic, parking, safety, insurance, um, and local contact standards is important and we should do that.
We've called the cops because we've been told to do that and they've come like Saturday and told my husband that their hands are being tied by the city council. So, we're in the middle of what are we supposed to do?
The senior center is the senior um living place is being sold to um a place in from California. I'm not sure why they're not just paying off the tiff as it is and letting the other people just buy it. Why why are we transferring the tiff?
The tiff doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the company. It has to do with the development.
I didn't realize, I don't know if anybody else realized that it didn't include the fencing. So now this week they want us to approve the fencing for another 26,000 some dollars. And I think we approved like 25 or 26,000 for the original. So I would have assumed that the fencing would have been included.
There's a lot of different things that we could be doing that we could be putting our time forward. We could be out doing more inspections. Uh we could be moving other projects forward.
Uh this will come out of our um state a dollars.
we've used to have an HR position in the past, then Mike kind of took it on and um and what we're finding is that human resources is far more complex than a part-time kind of why don't you take a stab at it type of type of position.
The planning commission did support the short-term rental rules. Um they did have extensive meetings and took quite a bit of public input.
I was looking at the parking on there and it just said mentioned something about the street parking. It didn't mention that they can't park on their yard on impervious services, you know. So, and that's what's one of the thing that's happening.
Staff is proposing keeping it you know relatively low um under an administrator license $150 um if there's any consultant fees that's typical language in your ordinance your interim use permit I believe it's $600 for there's a $300 application and believe $300 escrow, but that's already in place.
It just clarifies that this does not relate to short-term rentals. We we had the similar conversation with the owner of 19520 uh Trio West Trioke and we had to explain that no under the current ordinance you must get a rental license and the comments back well they're not renting you know for months and months. I said I understand that but that's not how the ordinance is defined. So it's important we clean this up as well.
I'm going to call Mike and I'm going to ask him, if we get rid of these HR and the deputy city administrator, would you agree to stay on as our finance person? And he said yes. And also, he's at a grade 13, I believe. I said, would you do it for a grade 11? So, it's a reduction in pay because he's getting rid of the two things that he doesn't want to do. And he Yes to that too.
Ordinances & Resolutions (10)
Recognizing Miss East Bethl Kayla Dorne.
Recognizing Miss East Bethl Rosemary Day.
Recognizing Miss East Bethl Llaya Dennis.
Recognizing Cub Scout Pack 387.
Recognizing Boy Scout Troop 733.
Amendment allowing six-foot fences in front yards abutting county highways.
Adoption of Chapter 51, the Short-Term Rental ordinance.
Amending the fee schedule to include short-term rental fees.
Existing ordinance for traditional rental properties, updated to clarify distinction with short-term rentals.
Amendments to Chapter 50 to establish separation between traditional and short-term rental programs.