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<br /> <br /> Staff Report <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />From: Ben Harrington, AICP, Community Development Director <br /> <br />Date: November 12, 2025 <br /> <br />Re: Tokle Electric Inspections Contract Renewal <br /> <br />Action To Be Considered: <br />Motion to approve, table, or deny the following: <br />• Consultant Services Agreement for Stephen Tokle Inspections Inc. for electrical <br />inspection services. <br /> <br />Background: <br />The City has contracted with Peter Tokle of Tokle Inspections for over twenty years. Peter is <br />retiring and transferring the business to his son, Steve Tokle. Tokle Inspections is a highly <br />reputable firm used by several neighboring communities, including St. Anthony and Shoreview. <br />Little Canada’s Building Department staff have maintained a positive and productive working <br />relationship with the firm over the years. <br /> <br />Electrical inspections operate as a pass through service. Permit holders schedule inspections <br />directly with Tokle’s staff, who have access to the City’s permitting software. Tokle’s team <br />establishes the inspection fee schedule, and fees are collected through the City’s permitting <br />software. The City retains a percentage of each permit fee for administrative costs, and the <br />remainder is remitted to Tokle Inspections. Results of the inspection are recorded on the City’s <br />permitting software. <br /> <br />The City has not formally renewed its contract since the initial agreement in the early 2000s. As <br />the agreement is being transferred to a new party, City staff believes it is appropriate and best <br />practice for the Council to approve the new contract formally. <br /> <br />The Building Official evaluated alternative service models and considered cost and service <br />implications for the city and residents. If the City did not renew with Tokle Inspections, the next <br />best option would be to contract directly with the State of Minnesota. Staff expects that a state <br />arrangement would increase administrative workload to track permits, cause the City to lose <br />permit fee revenue, and create new communication and record silos. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br />Tokle is proposing modest fee increases beginning in 2026, consistent with past practice. <br />Updated fees will be incorporated into the City’s annual fee schedule revision in December. No <br />additional City cost is anticipated given the pass-through structure and the City’s retained <br />administrative percentage.