06-02-25 - Council Work Session Agenda

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Profile of the Government The City of Lino Lakes, incorporated in 1955, is a growing community in the southeast corner of Anoka County. It covers an area of 33 square miles and has a population of approximately 22,376. The population has grown by over 30% since 2000. Within the City's borders lies the 5,500 acre Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park. Access to St. Paul and Minneapolis is provided by 1-35W and I-35E. The City Charter, as amended, establishes a mayor -council form of government and grants the City Council full policy -making and legislative authority to the Mayor and four Council Members. The City Council is responsible, among other things, for passing ordinances, adopting the budget, appointing committees, and hiring a City Administrator. The City Administrator has the responsibility of carrying out the policies and ordinances of the City Council and for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the City. The City Council is elected at -large on a non -partisan basis, with Council Members serving four-year terms and the Mayor serving a two-year term. Elections are held every two years with two council seats and the Mayor being up for election each election cycle. The City provides a full range of municipal services. These services include: general government, public safety (police, fire and building inspections), public works (streets and fleet), culture and recreation (parks and recreation), conservation of natural resources (environmental, solid waste abatement, forestry), community development, public improvements, and providing and maintaining water, sewer, and storm water infrastructure. The annual budget is the foundation for the City of Lino Lakes' financial planning and control. All departments are required to submit appropriations requests to the City Administrator for review and consolidation into a proposed budget. The City Administrator is responsible for submitting the proposed annual budget to the City Council in August of each year. The City Council is required to hold a public hearing on the proposed budget and to adopt by resolution a final budget and certify it no later than December 30. The budget amounts cannot increase beyond the estimated receipts except to the extent that actual receipts exceed the estimate. Department Directors may make transfers of appropriations within a department, but transfers of appropriations between departments require City Council approval. Budget -to - actual comparisons for the General Fund and The Rookery Activity Center Fund, the only governmental funds for which an annual budget has been adopted, are provided in Statements 10 and 11, respectively. Factors Affecting Financial Condition The information presented in the financial statements is perhaps best understood when it is considered from the broader perspective of the specific environment within which the City of Lino Lakes operates. Local economy. Commercial and industrial sectors remain strong with few vacancies and new commercial projects underway on both the 35W and 35E Corridors. Approximately 76,000 square feet of industrial space was added in 2024. Five new free-standing national -chain projects are currently underway. The 35E corridor has also gained additional attention through a partnership with Anoka and Washington Counties, neighboring cities, and Connexus Energy, to establish the Minnesota Technology Corridor. Over 1,000 acres are available along the corridor with strong transportation, fiber and utility infrastructure to serve the growing data and tech fields. The City recently approved the 93 lot Nature's Refuge North, a single-family development and the City's largest residential development, the 864 lot Watermark project, expanded into its eighth addition. Multiple