03-26-2025 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA MARCH 26, 2025 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a Workshop meeting of the City Council of Little Canada, Minnesota was convened on the 26th day of March, 2025 in the Conference Room in the City Center located at 515 Little Canada Road in said City. Mayor Tom Fischer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the following members of the City Council were present at roll call: ROLL CALL: In attendance were Mayor Fischer, City Council Members Miller, Gutierrez and Kwapick. Absent: City Council Member Malone. ALSO PRESENT: Acting City Administrator Laura Linehan, Community Development Director Ben Harrington, Finance Director Sam Magureanu and City Clerk/HR Manager Heidi Heller. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES & DISCUSSION The Acting City Administrator explained that there are several requests from organizations and government agencies to provide resolutions of support and other types of legislative support this year for various projects, bills and legislation amendments. She stated that staff wants Council to discuss each request before staff brings formal letters or resolutions to a Council meeting for action. Statutory change expanding use of Ramsey County Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) — Request from Ramsey County expanding the Ramsey County HRA levy authority to include economic development agency (EDA) powers. The Community Development Director explained why Ramsey County was requesting to be able to use the funds also towards economic development and business assistance. He stated that staff does not see issues with supporting this. Kwapick stated he has concerns about the structure and noted that this will take away some of the housing funds, even if it is only a little. He stated that the county tends to spend half on St. Paul and the suburbs are left to share the other half. There was Council consensus to learn more about this before considering to support this effort. Retention of city zoning authority — The Community Development Director reviewed four bills that would affect the city and zoning requirements, primarily related to residential zoning policies: Minnesota Starter Home Act (SF 2229/HF 1987), More Homes in the Right Places Act (SF 2231/HF 2140). Transforming Main Street Act (SF 2286/HF 2108), and People Over Parking Act (SF 1268/HF 1309). He explained these bills are primarily driven by a coalition of housing developers and non-profit organizations and the League of Minnesota Cities has had limited success trying to work with the coalition. Mayor Fischer stated that these topics have been discussed at mayor meetings and there is no support other than a little from the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul.