HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 10, 2026 City Council Workshop Meeting MinutesA
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CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
City Council Workshop
City Hall
2077 W estlarpenteur Avenue
MINUTES
}une10,2026
6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER: 6:01P.M.
ROLL CALL:GUSTAFSON-X- MAY_X-
MIELKE excused absence MOGEN _X_ WASSENBERG_X-
STAFF PRESENT: LINEHAN X
POLICY ITEMS:
1,. Les Bolstad Golf Course Sale Discussion (6:00 P.M.)
Linehan provided an update on the University of Minnesota's selection of Rachel
Development as the buyer for the Les Bolstad Golf Course site, announced the previous
Friday. The University had received five proposals and evaluated them based on fit with
the City's vision, price, and financial stability of the developer. The Board of Regents
Finance and Operations Committee was scheduled to review the proposal the following
day, with a full Board vote anticipated at the end of June or in July. Linehan noted that
once the Board approves the sale, the project effectively transitions from a University
matter to a city-led process.
Linehan introduced a RACI matrix framework (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted,
Informed) as a potential tool for clari$ring roles among the City Council, Planning
Commission, Community Advisory Committee (CAC), Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC), and other commissions throughout the development process. He explained that
a key principle of RACI is that only one party holds responsibility and one holds
accountability for any given task, preventing overlap and confusion.
Mogen sought clarification on the CAC's specific role, noting that while they would not
formally approve items such as an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) or an
Altemative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR), they would be doing substantive
preparatory work toward a master plan recommendation.
Linehan confirmed the CAC's role is advisory and recommending - th"y would work
through the details with the developer and recommend a master plan to the City
Council and Planning Commission, who hold formal approval authority.
Wassenberg agreed that the RACI framework was well-suited to distinguishing who
does the work from who makes the final decision, and suggested that commissions may
serve a "support" function distinct from being formally consulted. He recommended that
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staff prepare a first draft of the completed RACI matrix for council review, rather than
working through it line by line during a meeting.
May agreed with that approach and emphasized the value of linking the RACI matrix to
the existing project timeline as a living document. She also highlighted the importance
of defining how city commissions, particularly the Environment Commissiory given the
City's Climate Action Plan, could support their CAC representatives.
Linehan confirmed that periodic check-ins between the CAC, TAC, and City Council
were already built into the process map, with the intent to ensure alignment at key
milestones.
Regarding the timeline, Linehan noted that the developer's purchase agreement with the
University contemplates a contingency period of at least 12 months with multiple
extension options, aligning closely with the city's projected master plan adoption
timeline of approximately 20 months, placing a potential closing near the end of 2027.
Mogen raised a concem about the Snelling-Larpenteur Corridor Sfudy being treated as a
baseline document for the development, He stated that he does not view it as a
foundational planning documenf and expressed a desire for the developer and the CAC
to understand early on that the City's visioning document - not the Corridor Study -
should be the primary reference point, so there would be no confusion later about a
change in direction.
Gustafson provided context noting that the Corridor Study had originally focused on
blighted properties along Larpenteur Avenue and that the golf course was incorporated
somewhat incidentally as it came into consideration during the same period.
Linehan offered that the two documents are not in conflict - both emphasize open
space at roughly 18-20 percent of the land, prioritize higher-density housing, affordable
housing, green initiatives, and trail connectivity - but acknowledged the Corridor
Study's limitations, including that it never resulted in a comprehensive plan amendment
or rezoning. The current comprehensive plan still designates the site as a golf course.
Mogen affirmed that while the corridor study has value, the critical point is that the City
should communicate openly with the developer early and collaboratively, rather than
risk a developer claiming mid-process that they had been working off of a document the
City later departed from.
Council reached consensus directing staff and consultants to prepare a draft RACI
matrix for council review, with descriptions of key deliverables and identification of
major decision milestones. It was agreed that the document would be a living record,
updated as the process evolves.
2. Falcon Heights Elementary Backstop (6:30 P.M.)
Linehan provided background on the removal of one of two baseball backstops at
Falcon Heights Elementary. He explained that the City and school had historically
parhrered closely on programming and grounds maintenance, a relationship that had
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lapsed in the late 2000s to early 2010s. Re-establishing that relationship had been
identified as a City Council goal. When the school received a Tree Trust grant for a tree
planting project, Linehan participated on the working group/ and the school
subsequently asked whether the City could assist with some physical site
improvements, including removing a backstop that was interfering with their project
area. Staff confirmed the city had no planned programming uses for the backstop and
agreed to assist. City crews removed the strucfure at the school's request which
subsequently generated community concern and questions about who had made the
decision.
Council members broadly agreed that the school, as the property owrrer, had the
authority to make that decision, and that the City's involvement was appropriate
assistance to a neighbor.
Wassenberg noted that if there was any misstep, itmay have been in the school's
outreach to the surrounding neighborhood prior to the removal, but that the City had
properly acted in a consulting and supporting capacity, not as a decision-maker.
Mogen clarified that he viewed the two underlying questions - whether it was
appropriate for the city to use public works staff to assist and whose decision it was to
remove the backstop - as separate issues that had been conflated in public discourse.
He expressed no concern about the use of public works for such assistance and said he
would like the City to be even more proactive in offering help to the schools where
feasible.
May agreed that the school had clear authority over their property, but suggested the
Council be informed of such parbrerships in advance so they are not caught off guard by
resident questions. She also raised the broader concept of developing informal
guidelines for when public works assistance to outside entities is appropriate, so that
staff have a reference point for fufure requests - particularly as occasional one-time
help could evolve into ongoing service commitments.
Mogen agreed with the spirit of that idea while noting he would not want overly formal
processes to slow down the Cty's ability to be a responsive neighbor.
Linehan used the opporfunity to raise the related question of the northeast quadrant's
lack of a dedicated city park, noting that Falcon Heights Elementary serves as the de
facto park for many nearby residents. He suggested that a future parks master plan -
the last one having been completed in 201,4 - could explore a formal partrership with
the school around shared use and potential city investrnent in maintenance, in exchange
for broader community access outside of school hours.
Council members responded positively to the idea as a longer-term consideration, while
acknowledging the inherent constraints of school property use during school hours.
No formal action was taken. Council reached general consensus that the backstop
removal was handled appropriately, and that future opportunities for a structured
school partnership and a parks planning process merit further exploration.
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D. ADJOURNMENT: 6:57 P.M.
Wassenberg motions to adjoum the workshop meeting;
Approved 4-0
DISCLAIMER: City CouncilWorkshops are fuId monthly as an opportunity for Council Members to
discuss policy topics in greater detail prior to a formal meeting rnhere a public hearing may be held and/or
action may be taken. Members of the public that would like to make a comment or ask questions about an
item on the agendafor an upcoming workshop should send them to mail@falconheights.org prior to the
meeting. Alternatiaely, time is regularly allottedfor public comment during Regular Cig Council
Meetings (typtcally 2nd and 4thWednesdays) during the Community Forum.
Dated this 8m day of July,2026
C.
City Administrator
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