HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-2024 Council Work Session MinutesLINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORK SESSION
MEETING MINUTES
DATE: May 6, 2024
TIME STARTED: 6:46 PIVI
TIME ENDED: 9:19 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilmembers, Lyden., Stoesz,, Cavegn, Ruhland, Mayor
Rafferty
Staff Members Present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Finance Director Hannah Lynch; Public
Safety Director John Swenson; Community Development Director Michael Grochala; City Planner
Katie Larsen; City Attorney Jay Squires.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Mayor Rafferty called the meeting to order at 6:46 PM.
2. Setting the Agenda
Mayor Rafferty suggested moving Item #6 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment — Building
Type and Construction after Item #3 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment —Sacred
Communities and Micro -Unit Dwellings. The change was accepted.
3. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment — Sacred Communities and Micro -Unit Dwellings
City Planner Katie Larsen presented her staff report, referencing Minnesota Statue 327.30
which states cities must allow religious institutions to site micro -units on religious property.
The micro -units need access to water, sanitary sewer, and electricity. The only decision the
City has to make is whether sacred settlements should be permitted use or conditional use.
Staff recommends a conditional use permit. The Planning & Zoning Board voted 6-0 in favor
of the proposed ordinance amendment to require a conditional use permit.
Councilmember Ruhland inquired if they could use electrical cords for electricity.
Community Development Director Michael Grochala clarified they have to meet the City
code.
Councilmember Ruhland is in favor of a conditional use permit.
Attorney Jay Squires advised the City to require a conditional use permit.
Councilmember Stoesz inquired if the city could require PID numbers for the micro units for
emergency events. Public Safety Director John Swenson replied they would use the address
of the religious property and slot numbers.
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Attorney Jay Squires stated the" micro units have to meet the national electrical code.
Planner Larsen noted the toilets have to be dry compostable plumbed toilets.
Council agreed to move forward with required a conditional use permit.
4. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment— Building Type and Construction
City Planner Katie Larsen presented her staff report detailing a proposed amendent to the
City's zoning ordinance related to building exterior materials. Staff and the Planning &
Zoning Board recommend reclassifying Masonry Stucco from Class 2 to Class 3. Staff also
recommends amendments to clarify that primary material requirements apply to each
exterior wall. The Planning & Zoning Board voted 6-0 in favor of the proposed ordinance
amendment.
Council agreed to move forward with the 1st reading of Ordinance No. 05-24.
S. Water Treatment Plant Final Design Review
Community Development Director Michael Grochala introduced Jon Christensen from WSB
Engineering and Dan Greuel from Oertel Architects. Director Grochala walked through a
PowerPoint presentation detailing design and exterior architectural features. Staff is
anticipating requesting City Council approval of plans and specifications and authorization
to advertise for bids at the May 13, 2024 regular council meeting.
Jon Christensen from WSB Engineering gave a brief recap of the project and building layout.
This is a gravity filtration water treatment plant that removes iron and manganese from the
raw water.
Dan Greuel from Oertel Architects gave a recap of the architecture of the building.
Councilmember Lyden would like a flagpole added to the property.
Mayor Raffery and Councilmember Ruhland agreed to powder coat the ladder on the roof.
Councilmember Stoesz asked if the title Water Treatment Plant could be added to the
building. Director Grochala stated yes, the title would be added under the City of Lino Lakes
logo.
Mayor Rafferty inquired about the amount of noise the generator would create. Mr.
Christensen stated the generator only runs within an emergency or regular exercise and
does include a sound enclosure.
Mr. Christensen stated if bids are opened in June, the Water Treatment Plant could be
operational in 18 to 24 months.
Councilmember Lyden inquired if solar could be used to power the plant. Mr. Greuel replied
there is not enough square footage to power the plant by solar.
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Mayor Rafferty and Director Grochala discussed the bidding timeline. Mr. Christensen
stated they are in the process of updating the estimated cost for the Water Treatment
Plant.
6. 1-35E/CRJ Interchange — Centerville Rd/CRJ Intersection.
Community Development Director Michael Grochala presented his staff report detailing
that the final design for the 1-35E Interchange is underway with construction proposed for
the spring of 2025. North Oaks Company, owner of the property in the northwest quadrant
of the intersection, has expressed interest in modifications of this design to provide public
street access to their property. An alternative design would shift the intersection northerly,
providing a direct public road to the North Oaks property, which allows for Wilkinson Lake
Blvd to the street. The third option would be to leave the intersection in its current location
but curve the west approach northerly into Lino Lakes.
Councilmember Lyden asked what the rationale is for including the walkway on the
northeast side of the roundabout and the omission on the south and east sides. Director
Grochala stated to minimize the trail on the east side due to a large conservation easement.
Director Grochala will discuss with the county if the trail is necessary on the northeast
corner.
Councilmember Ruhland inquired if we are following the same plan as other gateway
entrances. Director Grochala replied we plan on having signage at the Northeast corner at
County Rd J and Ash Street and a logo on the northbound portion of the bridge.
The Council agreed to relocate the intersection and/or assume jurisdiction of the west leg of
the intersection.
7. 2025 Budget Goal Setting
Finance Director Hannah Lynch discussed the kickoff of the 2025 budget process, the City
Council should identify goals to be incorporated in the draft budget and tax levy, which will
be first reviewed in August 2024.
Mayor Rafferty asked when the labor contracts will expire. City Administrator Sarah Cotton
replied all four labor groups will expire at the end of 2024.
Councilmember Lyden would like to see a higher -level city goal session,, which then would
speak to a budget session.
Councilmember Cavegn and Stoesz would like to keep the tax rate flat. Director Hannah
stated staff would need guidance on where cuts should be made and they would be
significant.
Councilmember Ruhalnd is also in favor of a flat tax rate but also understands bad inflation
times and has four labor groups expiring this year.
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8. Q1 2024 Public Safety Update.
Public Safety Director John Swenson provided a detailed update on public safety statistics.
Director Swenson proposed bringing a final job offer to a particular candidate on the
condition of them successfully obtaining the post license; trying to secure talent before
someone else takes them.
The Council agreed with the proposal of a conditional job offer.
9. Request for Proposals for Public Safety Consultant
Public Safety Director John Swenson reviewed his staff report detailing that during the April
11 2024, Council Work Session, staff was directed by a majority of the Council to develop a
draft Request for Proposals (RFP)to identify a consultant to develop options for the delivery
of fire service in the community. The council also desired to examine the creation of a
stand-alone Fire Department and Police Department and interview police staff on cross -
training to serve as firefighters. Swenson reviewed the process in preparing the draft RFPs
for review.
Councilmembers Cavegn, Lyden, and Ruhland expressed their support for RFPs for both Fire
and Police.
Mayor Rafferty would like to set up a meeting with the City Administrator of Shakopee to
see what they did and what works. Councilmember Lyden does not want to meddle with
the process. Direct -or -Swenson stated anybody who responds to the proposal is required to
explain why they are qualified.
Director Swenson stated the consultant we hire would be responsible for obtaining
information about our organization. Asking questions will involve interacting with the RFP.
This is the work product of all our staff.
Councilmember Lyden asked Director Swanson what the best practice is moving forward.
Director Swanson recommends moving forward with the Fire and Police RFPs and soliciting
responses, and then we establish a deadline and bring it back to the council to select a
vendor.
Mayor Rafferty suggests hiring an outside consultant to head the project, not City staff.
Councilmember Cavegn proposed we continue the path we are on.
Mayor Rafferty is not ready to make a recommendation as he would like more information.
Councilmember Lyden supported staffs involvement in the RFPs for Fire and Police.
Councilmember Stoesz suggested discussing this topic at the next work session.
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Councilmember Ruhland would like the consultant to contact each Councilmember for an
interview.
Director Swenson summarized the consensus of the Council stating staff will be moving
forward with an RFPto hire a consultant for both Police and Fire and bring it back to Council
in June.
10. Notices and Communications
Councilmember Lyden would like to recognize the resident who organized a group to clean
up the street rights -of -way (Adopt -A -Highway).
Councilmember Ruhland inquired what the surplus was due to light snow plowing activities
this past winter and that this information be available during the upcoming budget
discussions.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned by Mayor Rafferty at
9:19 PM.
These minutes were considered and approved at the regular Council Meeting on June 24, 2024.
Roberta Colotti, CMC, City Clerk
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Oob Rafferty, Mayor