03-06-2017 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION APPROVED March 6, 2017 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE : March 6, 2017 5 TIME STARTED : 6:00 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED 8:48 p.m. 7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Rafferty, 8 Kusterman, and Mayor Reinert 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : Council Member Maher and 10 Manthey 11 12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Public Safety Director John 13 Swenson; Community Development Director Michael Grochala; City Planner Katie 14 Larsen; City Clerk Julie Bartell. 15 16 1. American Legion Land Acquisition —Community Development Director 17 Grochala explained that representatives of the Lino Lakes American Legion post were 18 present at the meeting to discuss their continuing interest in acquiring land from the city 19 to increase parking for their establishment. He noted that the council had received a 20 communication on the matter of the Legion's offer for the property; he advised the 21 council that it wouldn't be appropriate to discuss the offer unless they go into a closed 22 session 23 24 Ken Kennedy, American Legion Finance Director and Diana Cox, Post Manager 25 addressed the council. Ms. Cox noted that she lives in Lino Lakes, she has an interest in 26 serving the community and she has found a place for that service at the Legion. The 27 Legion work has turned into so much more than working with a bar. They receive and 28 respond to many, many requests for assistance. She manages the bar but most of her job 29 is what she does for the community (noted Toys for Tots, funeral assistance, work with 30 the schools, the Lino Lakes Ambassadors events, boys and girls scouts). For larger events 31 there is not enough parking so people do park on Lake Drive and that is not safe. 32 33 Mr. Kennedy added some additional ways the Legion has helped in the community and 34 explained his involvement and his leadership bringing this matter forward (working with 35 banks, working with the watershed district, survey information). He noted the original 36 purchase offer of the Legion, the original valuation and a slight increase in that valuation. 37 He pointed out that there are legacy members still involved in the Legion and there is a 38 commitment on the part of the club to get this done. The Legion is in a good financial 39 position now and shares with the community by giving back. They do not want to 40 overleverage themselves however into too risky a situation. He noted that they've 41 received a discount from many of the people they have dealt with so far. 42 43 Mayor Reinert concurred on the Legion's community involvement, noting that they are 44 more of a community center than anything else. Ms. Cox suggested that the addition of 45 a parking lot would actually add tax base for the city. 1