HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-22-2021 Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
3
4 DATE March 22, 2021
5 TIME STARTED 6:00 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED 6*25 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT Council Member Stoesz, Lyden, Ruhland,
8 Cavegn and Mayor Rafferty
9 MEMBERS ABSENT None
10 Staff members present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Community Development
i 1 Director Michael Grochala; Director of Public Safety John Swenson; Public Services
12 Director Rick DeGardner; City Engineer Diane Hankee; City Clerk Julie Bartell
13
14 1. Blue Heron Days —Councilmember Stoesz noted interest in having a Blue Heron
15 Days event this year. In lieu of a festival centered at Lino Park, he's requesting
16 discussion of organizing a parade. He suggests setting up a committee to organize and he
17 is volunteering his services. He's aware of others in the community interested in serving
18 also. There could be some staff time involved but volunteers leading the effort. He has
19 discussed the matter with the League of Minnesota Cities and has learned that a COV1D
20 restriction compliance plan would be required. He is suspecting that other cities will be
21 looking at parade possibilities.
22
23 Mayor Rafferty noted that he's been hearing from community members who are anxious
24 to get out. He likes the idea of a celebration but understands that it needs to be an
25 appropriate situation. Another question arose about finding a site (city land adjacent to
26 the freeway?) for blow up rides, etc. Councilmember Stoesz remarked that his interest is
27 only in a parade.
28
29 Councilmember Cavegn asked staff to weigh in. Administrator Cotton noted that the
30 current Minnesota Executive Order has strict requirements and she struggles to see how a
31 parade fits into that. However she's heard from some other cities that are planning
32 events conditioned upon what restrictions are in place. She has spoken with Public
33 Services Director DeGardner about the possibility of a parade and staff time necessary;
34 there is no funding budgeted to staff an event but discussion can continue.
35
36 Public Safety Director Swenson noted that his department's role is to review the special
37 event details; in his experience there are generally City resources required to execute an
38 event such as a parade. He also noted that there is a neighborhood that gets "shut off' if
39 the road is closed and that's an issue that would need to be addressed as part of moving
40 forward; in the past staff has sought a solution through the Target property and that was
41 found to have challenges including the approval necessary from Target Corporation and
42 probably expenses that would have to be covered by the City.
43
7
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
;W W-M / a]
44 Councihfnember Lyden noted that it would be hard for him to support event planning with
45 an Executive Order saying that it isn't fully safe. He read a post from a person who had
46 been vaccinated that outlined the impact that COVB) 19 has had upon many people.
47
48 Mayor Rafferty remarked that he thinks Councilmember Stoesz is suggesting an event
49 only if it is possible.
50
51 Councilmember Stoesz clarified that he'd like to go forward with the understanding that
52 planning work can be done but the rules will be followed.
53
54 Councilmember Cavegn said he'd be open up to exploration of the possibility including
55 possible costs to the City. Mayor Rafferty concurred adding that it would be an
56 opportunity to address outstanding issues.
57
58 Councilmember Ruhland said he concurs with Cavegn and would like to have an exit
59 strategy (conditional permission). He'd support looking at the possibility. Certainly
60 before any City money is committed, the council needs to understand that.
61
62 The council concurred to move forward with an initial review. Councilmember Lyden
63 suggested that Councilmember Stoesz should go forward with a private group and not
64 utilize any City resources. The council will receive a report back at a future work session.
65
66 2. Review Regular Agenda of March 22, 2021—There were no changes to the
67 agenda.
68
69 The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
70
71 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
72 April 12, 2021.
73
74
75
76
77 Juliann Bartell, City Jerk
78
2
Rafferty, Mayor