05-01-2023 Council Work Session Minutes

Home Search

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE : May 1 2023 5 TIME STARTED : 6:00 PM 6 TIME ENDED : 7:15 PM 7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmembers Stoesz, Lyden, Ruhland 8 Cavegn and Mayor Rafferty 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None 10 Staff members present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Director of Public Safety John 11 Swenson; Community Development Director Michael Grochala, Public Services Director 12 Rick DeGardner; City Clerk Jolleen Chaika. 13 14 1. Wetland Bank Prospectus 15 Community Development Director Michael Grochala presented to Council on the status of 16 the Wetland bank Prospectus as the City continues to consider establishment of a wetland 17 bank on property located east of 35E and north of Main Street. The City has notified the 18 owners of our interest;the owners are conferring with their legal and financial advisors and 19 will update the City as to their decision. Director Grochala explained the three (3) steps 20 required to establish a wetland: Draft Prospectus, Prospectus, and Mitigation Banking 21 Instrument. Director Grochala provided explanation as to wetland credits, sale of wetland, 22 and City ownership of the wetland in perpetuity. The City is currently set to proceed to 23 Step 2, Prospectus; Director Grochala sought direction from Council as to moving forward 24 to Step 2. 25 26 Councilmember Stoesz asked if a smaller portion of the land would make sense if the 27 property owners do not want to sell all. Director Grochala advised any less land than what 28 is currently proposed would not be worthwhile. 29 30 Councilmember Ruhland inquired of higher water levels and any impact that may have in 31 the bank. Director Grochala explained that monitoring of levels is ongoing and that the 32 land has existing drain tile which leads to the assumption of higher ground water levels, a 33 good sign for building up wetlands. 34 35 Council directed a proposal for Step 2 be brought forward for full Council consideration 36 and approval. 37 38 2. Public Works Facility Site Selection 39 40 Community Development Director Michael Grochala requested further guidance from 41 Council on the site selection of a future public works facility. He reviewed a 2017 analysis 42 of the existing public works site at Main Street and Birch Street properties, as well as a 43 further evaluation of the existing site in 2019. He asked for further input from Council as 44 to focus on these two sites or include other areas to evaluate. 45 1