HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-12-2024 - Council Meeting MinutesLINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
DATE: August 12, 2024
TIME STARTED: 6:30 PM
TIME ENDED: 7:01 PM
LOCATION: City Council Chambers
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty, Councilmembers Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
Staff Members Present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton, Community Development Director
Michael Grochala, City Engineer Diane Hankee, Public Works Superintendent Justin Williams,
HR & Communications Manager Meg Sawyer, Deputy Director/Fire Dan L'Allier, Public Safety
Director John Swenson, and City Attorney Jay Squires.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rafferty at 6:30 PM.
Mayor Rafferty provided an overview of the Rules of Decorum and provided first warning
regarding enforcement of the rules.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Rafferty stated that before opening the public comment period, he wanted to state that
the City is in receipt of a complaint regarding an email response sent by a Council member. The
statements made do not reflect or represent the views of the City Council as a whole. He statec
that the City Council takes the complaint seriously and is reviewing the matter in accordance
with the City Council Code of Conduct.
Mayor Rafferty opened the public comment period at 6:34 p.m.
Jameel Ahmed, 12142 Bataan Street NE. Blaine, stated that regarding the email identified by
the Mayor, he requests that the Council demand the immediate resignation of the
Councilmember that sent the email. He requested that the Council issue a public apology to the
Muslim community, CAIR-MN and Zikar Holdings. He stated that it's about the future of our
community, a future that every resident, regardless of race, religion or background feels safe,
respected and valued. He stated that we cannot allow hate to fester in our community, nor can
we ignore when it rears its ugly head from a position of power. He concluded by submitted
documents for the public record.
Randy Rennaker, 379 Carl Street, stated that he represented the committee submitting the
three petitions. He recognized that this evening the City Council is scheduled to adopt a
resolution regarding the legal validity of the proposed Initiative and Charter amendments. He
requested that if determined to not meet the legal validity standards, that they not be forward
to the Attorney General, as drafted in the proposed resolution. He requested instead that the
City Council provide advice to the committee and community on what options are available and
how they can assist in planning the northwest quadrant.
Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
The City Administrator announced that concludes the list of people present at this time, who
requested to speak at public comment.
iviuuun iu muse tine pumic comment penuu at o:,+u p.m.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Lyden
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz'
NAYS:
None
Councilmember Lyden requested a moment to provide a response to CAIR's letter and the
discussion regarding the email. He stated that to clarify matters, no amount of tactics,
intimidation or bullying will taint this Council's work. He reiterated that he has no ill will against
Muslims or any other religion or race. He stated that as he said before Martin Luther King, said it
best people should be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
He stated that his concern is with an organization, the organization of the Council of American
Islamic Relations (CAIR), period.
Councilmember Lyden referenced a US News article dated February 11, 2024 regarding CAIR. He
stated that the article is long, but it reads like this, a controversial Muslim civil rights advocacy
organization experienced a major blow to its reputation last week after the Florida House of
Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution to denounce the Council of
American Islamic Relations, introduced by Senator Randy Fine. The Senator encourages all state
and local government agencies in Florida to suspend contact and outreach activities with CAIR,
citing the group's extensive history of terror connections and anti-Jewish bigotry. It has been
stated that seven CAIR officials have been arrested, convicted and deported for related actions.
Councilmember Lyden stated what is important to understand here is that the turmoil and unrest
that CAIR subjected Lino Lakes to, can happen to any community across the State of Minnesota.
SETTING THE AGENDA
The Agenda was adopted as presented.
1. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Items #1A, 1C through 1F as presented.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Stoesz
SECONDER:
Lyden
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
2. FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT
None
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Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
3. ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT REPORT
3A, Resolution No. 24-107, Legal Validity of Initiative and Charter Amendment
Petitions.
The City Attorney provided an overview of his opinion, stating that the Initiative and
Charter Amendment Petitions were discussed at the July 22nd meeting and the Council
requested at that time that a resolution be drafted reflecting his opinion that they did
not meet the legal validity requirements for formal action. At that time the option of
forwarding the matter to the Attorney General was presented as an option for a second
opinion. Tonight, there has been discussion about removing that section from the
resolution and if there is interest in removing that section, the motion would be to
adopt the resolution, striking Item #4.
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 24-107, Legal Validity of Initiative and Charter
Amendment Petitions, striking Item #4 related to the State Attorney General Opinion.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
3B, Appointment of Building Permit Technician
Motion to approve the appointment of Dana Rozan to the Building Permit Technician
position within the Community Development Department, at step 1 of the wage scale.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
4. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT REPORT
4A, Promotion of Paid -On Call District Chief Firefighter
Motion to appoint Vincent Kasprowicz for the Paid On -Call Fire Lieutenant position at
Fire Station #1, as presented.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Lyden
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
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Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
5. PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPORT
5A, Resolution 24-108, 2024 Woods Edge Street Scape Rejuvenation Project
Motion to adopt Resolution 24-108, Accepting Quotes, 2024 Woods Edge Streetscape
Rejuvenation Project
RESULT: CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER: Stoesz
SECONDER: Ruhland
AYES: Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS: None
6. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT
6A, Public Hearing — Vacating Drainage & Utility Easement, 904 Kelly Street
The City stated that the property owners at 904 Kelly Street are requesting the vacation
of a drainage and utility easement to install a pool on their property. The easement was
dedicated to the City over the Great River Energy power line easement. The City does
not allow for structures (i.e. pools) to be constructed within easements. They have an
encroachment agreement with Great River Energy, and they also have coordinated
setbacks of the pool from the power lines. With that the vacation of the drainage and
utility easement is recommended for approval.
Motion to open the public hearing at 6:56 p.m.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
No public comments were presented.
Motion to close the public hearing at 6:56 p.m.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
First Reading of Ordinance No. 12-24 Drainage and Utility Easement Vacation (904
Kelly Street, Lot 11, Block 3, Pine Glen 2"d Addition, Anoka County, Minnesota)
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Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
Motion to dispense with the full reading of Ordinance No. 12-24 Drainage and Utility
Easement Vacation (904 Kelly Street, Lot 11, Block 3, Pine Glen 2nd Addition, Anoka
County, Minnesota)
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Lyden
SECONDER:
Ruhland
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
Motion to provide first reading of Ordinance No. 12-24 Drainage and Utility Easement
Vacation (904 Kelly Street, Lot 11, Block 3, Pine Glen 2nd Addition, Anoka County,
Minnesota)
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Lyden
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
6B, Resolution No. 24-104 — Payment No 4 and Final, 2022 Surface Water Maintenance
Project
Motion to approve Resolution No. 24-104, Approving Payment No. 4 and Final, 2022
Surface Water Maintenance Project.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Lyden
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
6C, Resolution No. 24-105 Accepting Quotes, 2024 Rejuvenator Project
Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 24-105 Accepting Quotes, 2024 Rejuvenator Project.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Lyden
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
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Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
8. NEW BUSINESS
None
9. NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS
Community Calendar: A Look Ahead
a. 2024 State Primary Election, Tuesday, August 131h from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., polling
location information is available on the City website.
b. Planning & Zoning Board Meeting, Wednesday, August 14th at 6:30 p.m. at City
Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 7:01 p.m.
These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on December 9, 2024.
Roberta Colotti, CIVIC b R fferty,
City Clerk r
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