Hultstrom Temporarily Steps Away From Osseo Council After Car Crash
An Osseo City Council member is temporarily stepping away from her role after she was hurt in a car crash.
Council Member Juliana Hultstrom wrote a letter to her colleagues dated Feb. 20 saying she’d been in a crash in November 2024.
“Recovery from this accident is a journey; one which involves more than physical healing,” she wrote. “It is with a heavy heart and utmost future optimism; I will step away from my elected council position at this time according to state statute; reserving the right to return to office. However, returning will require more time to recover completely.”
According to city staff members, she hasn’t attended a meeting in more than 90 days.
As a result, state law gives the city council the option to declare a vacancy. Likewise, her seat could temporarily be filled by an appointee until she’s able to return.
The council opted to declare the vacancy, but decided against appointing a temporary fill-in member.
“She was elected to represent the people — nobody else was really elected,” said Council Member Mark Schulz. “In other situations [where we appointed a new council member], we had somebody openly just resign … I do believe that by declaring the vacancy, it’s honoring what Council Member Hultstrom asked for in her letter to us. Just saying that she’s stepping away from her role because she knows that she can’t fill it at this point in time. But she wants to come back.”
Her term ends on Jan. 4, 2027.
