HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-2023 Council Work Session Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES
LINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
MINUTES
DATE : May 22, 2023
TIME STARTED : 6:02 PM
TIME ENDED : 6:18 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmembers Stoesz,Lyden,Ruhland,
Cavegn, Mayor Rafferty
Staff members present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Community Development Director
Michael Grochala; Public Services Director Rick DeGardner; Public Safety Director John
Swenson; Human Resources Director Meg Sawyer; City Planner Katie Larsen, City Clerk
Jolleen Chaika.
1. Text Amendment: Backyard Chickens.
City Planner Katie Larsen advised Council that the Planning and Zoning Board is interested in
pursuing a zoning text amendment to allow for chickens within residential neighborhoods; the
board is looking to see if there is Council support for such an action before staff is asked to begin
the work on a draft amendment.
Mayor Rafferty stated that chickens are already allowed in much of the city and does not feel it is
necessary to expand the areas where chickens are allowed; he is not interested in a change at this
time. Councilmember Stoesz concurred that he is not interested in any change at this time either.
Councilmembers Cavegn and Lyden noted that they would be open to further discussion on the
topic. Councilmember Ruhland would be open to consideration of an amendment if there is
community support, shown through a poll or petition but that at this time,he does not believe
there is support to move an amendment forward.
Planning and Zoning Board Chair Michael Root was present at the Work Session and addressed
Council. He advised that a neighbor of a board member had approached with the question of why
hens/chickens are not allowed on residential lots in the city so the member brought the question
to the board. The board voted in favor 6-1 of bringing Council the request to consider an
amendment.
3/5 Councilmembers were not in favor of further consideration of a zoning text amendment at
this time.
2. Review Regular Agenda
Items 3A: Human Resources Director Meg Sawyer briefly reviewed her forthcoming hiring
recommendation for a Parks Maintenance Worker; she noted that the recommended hire, Bryce
Shannon, has experience with Anoka County Parks.
Item 5A: City Engineer Diane Hankee reviewed the two quotes received for the trail project.
Councilmember Ruhland asked of the paving machine that was recently purchased by the city
COUNCIL MINUTES
and whether or not this could be used rather than contracting for the project. Public Services
Director Rick DeGardner stated that the machine would not be conducive to the sizable paving
project contemplated under the proposed contract.
Item 5B: Public Services Director Rick DeGardner briefly reviewed the recommendation to
approve the contract with PlayPower LT Farmington, Inc. for the park in the Watermark
development. Several community members were present and noted their support for the project
but asked that further consideration be given to rubberized ground covering. The community
members planned to further address Council at the regular meeting.
Item 6A: Community Development Director Michael Grochala briefly discussed his staff report
and noted that a purchase agreement has been reached with the property owners for the land to
be used for the new water treatment plant.
Items 6B: Community Development Director Michael Grochala highlighted the proposed
ordinance amendment outlined in his staff report. He noted that the purpose of the amendment is
to preserve water quality in the city by requiring storage requirements and standards for deicing
materials. Councilmember Stoesz asked if there would be any costs to the city once the
ordinance is implemented. Director Grochala stated that the city's supply of salt is already stored
in accordance to the recommended methods so no expenses are anticipated.
Item 6C: City Engineer Diane Hankee briefly highlighted her staff report and noted that
approval of the resolution will result in additional designated miles of state aid roads which make
the city eligible for more state funding.
The Council Work Session ended at 6:18 PM.
These minutes were considered and approved at the regular Council Meeting on May 22, 2023.
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Jolleen Chaika, City Clerk 0.,f-4--)rafferty, Mayor