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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-04-2024 - Council Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council Work Session Minutes DATE: November 4, 2024 TIME STARTED: 6:03 P.M. TIME ENDED: 8:45 P.M. LOCATION: Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty, Councilmembers Cavegn, Lyden, Stoesz and Ruhland MEMBERS ABSENT: None Staff Members Present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton, Community Development Director Michael Grochala, City Planner Katie Larsen, Public Works Superintendent Justin Williams, Public Safety Director John Swenson, Finance Director Hannah Lynch, HR & Communication Manager Meg Sawyer, and City Engineer Diane Hankee. 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Mayor Rafferty called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. 2. Setting the Agenda: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items The agenda was adopted as presented. 3. North Metro TV Update North Metro TV Interim Co -Executive Directors Eric Houston and Danika Peterson provided an overview of the current operations and discussion surrounding a possible merger. They provided a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the following: • NMTV is a Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) television station working under a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) of the North Metro Telecommunications Commission serving the cities of Blaine, Centerville, Circle Pines, Ham Lake, Lexington, Lino Lakes, and Spring Lake Park. • NMTV started operations in 1983 • NMTV is on Comcast channels 15 & 859, Lino Lakes City Channel is on Comcast channels 16 & 799, Public Access is on Comcast channel 14 • Funding is through a Comcast franchise fee .5% of gross revenue on local subscribers and PEG fee on cable bill of $3.30 per subscriber. • NMTV has a $1.6M budget. Included in that budget, NMTV gives money to its member cities each year for the city to use on communication projects. In 2025, NMTV will return nearly 10% of the annual franchise fees to cities. Related to the possible merger the following information was provided: • In 2023, Blaine cable commissioner Chris Massoglia suggested the idea of NMTV considering a merger with another community TV station. Page 1 of 5 • Commissioner Massoglia suggested that we look at the Northwest Suburbs Cable Communications Commission (NWSCCC). That's the cities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth, and Robbinsdale, and operates as CCX Media. • After discussions, the NMTV cable commission voted in July to reach out to NWSCCC and gauge their interest. • In July of 2024, NMTV executive directors, three city administrators, and legal counsel met with members of CCX Media for a brief discussion. • In August, NMTV executive directors met with CCX Media executive director to compare and contrast the two stations. • In September, that document was presented to the NMTV cable commission. • The commission agreed to consider the pros and cons, discuss it with their city councils and city administrators, and return in November to discuss it again as a group. Councilmember Stoesz, as the City of Lino Lakes Representative to the NMTV Board, reported that he approached the discussion of merger from a discovery perspective in moving forward with the review and consideration. He stated that the City of Blaine representative initiated the discussion based on a desire to have the most professional production possible. Also to explore the costs and benefits of a merger. He stated that a vote of the Commission is needed to authorize a merger. NMTV Co -Executive Director Houston stated that a date for a Commission vote on a merger has not been set, that the next step is a workshop in November for the Board to review its goals and consider aspects of what a potential merger should be and if NWSCC is the best partner for a possible merger. Then in December the Board will have a regular meeting at which any action items can be finalized. If there is ratified interest by the Board in pursuing a merger, the first step would be legal due diligence. The City Administrator stated some concerns with merging with a larger organization include what our service levels will look like after the merger and if they provide coverage for City Council meetings. The main question for the Board is just what we are trying to achieve with merger. Councilmember Stoesz noted that if Blaine left that would impact the remaining organization. The City Administrator concurred that Blaine leaving would impact the current JPA. She referenced the service agreement with Fridley and potential for other cities to be part of the organization. Page 2 of 5 NMTV Co -Executive Director Houston requested that the Council start to think about the priorities for the City of Lino Lakes and what services are too important to lose. This is a topic that the Board will continue to discuss as well. Mayor Rafferty stated that the current services are appreciated. He added that it is fair to say there are unanswered questions, but he values what we have. The City Administrator referenced that going forward the Council can look to Councilmember Stoesz to bring back information to the full Council as the City's representative to NMTV. She stated that there are significant differences between the current JPA and the operations of the other cable television cooperative that will need to be reviewed by legal and the City Council if a merger were to proceed. 4. Lino Retail 2.0 The City Planner reported that Java Companies, LLC, is proposing to plat and develop three (3) commercial lots near Lake Drive, Marketplace Drive, and 77th Street. Their Land Use Application is for the following: (1) Rezoning of NB, Neighborhood Business to GB, General Business (2) Preliminary Plat (3) Conditional Use Permit (4) Site & Building Plan Review and (5) Vacation of a Portion of 771h Street. This item will be presented at a future meeting for formal action. 5. Closed Session Mayor Rafferty recessed the Work Session at 7:13 p.m. Mayor Rafferty announced that pursuant to Minnesota Statues, Section 13D.05, subdivision 3(c)(3), the meeting will be closed to discuss offers and counter offers for the lease of real property located at 1710 Birch Street. Motion by Councilmember Ruhland and seconded by Councilmember Cavegn to close the meeting at 7:13 p.m. pursuant to Minnesota Statues, Section 13D.05, subdivision 3(c)(3), the meeting will be closed to discuss offers and counter offers for the lease of real property located at 1710 Birch Street. By Roll Call Vote - In Favor: Mayor Rafferty, Councilmembers Stoesz, Ruhland, Lynden, and Cavegn. Voting Against: None. (Motion passed 5-0) Mayor Rafferty reconvened the Work Session at 7:40 p.m. The Community Development Director summarized the Closed Session, stating that the Council directed staff to negotiate a lease agreement. 6. 2025 Annual Budget and 2025-2029 Financial Plan The Finance Director reported that the City Council adopted the 2025 preliminary tax levy on September 23, 2024. That levy was certified to Anoka County and represents what will be included on property owner's proposed 2025 tax statements in mid - Page 3 of 5 November. The proposed 2025 final levy presented this evening totals $15,604,954 and represents a $1,484,023 or 10.51% increase over the 2024 levy. The resulting city tax rate is estimated at 39.025%. The Finance Director summarized that staff would make the adjustments as discussed, this evening and the 2025 Annual Budget and 2025-2029 Financial Plan is scheduled for final adoption following the public hearing on December 9, 2024. 7. Public Works Building RFP The Public Works Superintendent reported that over the past 10 years, the City has been evaluating the construction of a new public works building to replace the existing facility, located at 1189 Main Street. Constructed in 1971, the buildings are substandard and do not meet the current and future needs of the City. The Council provided direction for an RFP for Architectural and Engineering Services for a new public works facility to be drafted. This item will be scheduled for City Council for approval at the November 12th Council meeting. Mayor Rafferty suggested that staff tour other area facilities as part of the project design planning. 8. PFAS Update The Community Development Director reported that to address public inquiries regarding PFAS, staff have set up a webpage with background information, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, and links to multiple MDH and EPA resources. The Lino Lakes page can be found at: www.linolakes.us/pfas The Community Development Director stated that additionally, staff has started the process for replacement of Well No. 2. A preliminary well assessment was completed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) in September. Staff will be bringing forward a proposal from WSB to develop a test well and evaluation services at the November 11, 2024 regular council meeting. The Community Development Director stated that the new water treatment plant does not treat for PFAS. PFAS removal requires a completely different process than what is used for Manganese and Iron. Testing results do not currently warrant development of a treatment process. However, the site planning process did incorporate a location to accommodate this additional treatment process if needed in the future. The City and MDH will continue to monitor PFAS concentrations and adjust well pumping accordingly. This information is ever evolving, and the city is continuously monitoring the EPA's and MDH's guidance on PFAS Maximum Containment Levels and are always considering the health and safety of the residents. Page 4 of 5 9. Education and Training Mayor Rafferty introduced the discussion on staff training and requested consideration of an agreement related to length of service associated with authorized training programs. The Mayor stated that there were three police officer training and education grants presented this year. He requested that future similar grant programs be presented at a Work Session prior to being presented for formal action. The Public Safety Director reviewed the police department grants, including local costs and status of candidate recruitment. He noted that the candidates for the police education and training grants have college degrees, and the grant program supports an intensive full-time police training program. That the program is a recruitment tool. Mayor Rafferty suggested a tired system for reimbursement based on years of service following employee professional development training. The City Administrator reviewed that the City has a years of service policy related to tuition reimbursement but that doesn't apply to professional development training or professional conferences. The Council discussed professional training and conferences and determined that no further policies are required related to training and terms of service. 10. Notices and Communications None Adjournment Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on November 25, 2024. , �e1-1—e--rl�- Roberta Colotti, CMC R Raf rty, City Clerk Mayor Page 5 of 5