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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-10-25 Council Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council Work Session Minutes DATE: March 10, 2025 TIME STARTED: 6:00 P.M. TIME ENDED: 6:24 P.M. LOCATION: Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty Councilmembers Cavegn, Lyden and Stoesz. EXCUSED ABSENT: Councilmember Ruhland Staff Members Present: Interim City Administrator Dave Pecchia, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, Community Development Director Michael Grochala, City Engineer Diane Hankee, Human Resources & Communications Manager Meg Sawyer, and Interim Public Safety Director Curt Boehme. 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Mayor Rafferty called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Setting the Agenda: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items The agenda was adopted as presented. The Community Development Director stated that Item 6A "Consider Resolution No. 25- 21, Approving Permanent Right of Way Easement and Agreement with Ramsey County, 135/CRJ Interchange Project" is requested to be removed from the regular agenda this evening and it will be brought back at a future meeting. The Community Development Director stated that Item 6C "Consider Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 02-25, Amending Chapter 1007 of City Code (Zoning Ordinance), Relating to Cannabis Businesses" has a publication summary. It is requested that the adoption of the publication summary be added to the regular agenda. Administration Update The Interim City Administrator presented the following updates: The Public Services Director sent a report on the Rookery with the last City Council Weekly Update and proposes to send future updates approximately the third week of the month through the Weekly Update. This is in response to the Council request at the last work session for detailed information on the revenues and participation levels. He asked that the Council provide any feedback they have regarding the data that is included in the report going forward as the report format can be amended. Page 1 of 3 • The Police and Fire Department new promotional process is being developed and will be ready to go when the Citygate final report is presented. • There is the need to amend the City Code regarding the police and fire department structure under the proposed Citygate operational changes. • The Citygate report may be presented to the City Council in April. • The Public Services Department successfully resolved a recent citizen complaint that was received by the department. • At the last North Metro TV meeting there was discussion regarding the hiring of an Executive Director and the hiring discussion was forwarded to the Executive Committee. He stated that the current management structure has been working well under the Interim Co -Executive Directors leadership. • The City has received the report from the City Attorney regarding odd/even year elections and this item is scheduled for Council discussion on April 7tn • The City has hired a part-time seasonal employee for use of force training. • The Human Resource Department has initiated a flexible work schedule policy amendment to allow employees to work four/10-hour days. Under this arrangement they can not telecommute any days of the week. The flexible work schedule policy currently in place allows for two days per week for certain job classifications to telecommute. This has been extended to select additional job classifications that were previously exempt from the telecommute policy to allow for one day per week to telecommute. These changes will be evaluated over the next three months, after which a formal policy amendment will be presented to the City Council. It is requested that the Council provide future consideration to creating an Assistant City Administrator position. A key responsibility of this position would be to serve in the absence of the City Administrator. It is recommended that a current employee be appointed to this role. • All Department Managers have been asked to identify a person or persons within their department or an adjacent department, to be named as their backup in the event of extended absence or emergency. They have been providing their recommendations to the Interim City Administrator. • The City continues to respond to multiple data requests. Page 2 of 3 • Attended the all boards meeting, Northwest Quadrant meeting. Attended the March 61h EDAC meeting. Two commercial development brokers were present to discuss business development. They reviewed the need for housing development to support commercial development. Councilmember Stoesz confirmed as a Representative to the North Metro TV Board he did not support paying for a hiring process to find a new Executive Director. Noting that the revenues generated have been positive under the current management structure. Councilmember Stoesz also stated that the North Metro TV discussions regarding merging with a larger cable consortium have stalled for now and that the only city still considering alternatives is Fridley. Councilmember Stoesz requested that the City Clerk provide information on the number of cities that have odd vs. even year municipal elections. He noted that this information would be useful to the City Council as well as for the public as this is discussed. Mayor Rafferty requested that the Assistant City Administrator job classification and hiring information be presented at the next Cify Council Work Session for discussion. 4. Review Regular Agenda The Council reviewed the proposed Franchise Extension Agreement with Comcast. It was noted there was support for this amendment by the North Metro TV Commission. The Community Development Director reviewed the proposed ordinance amendments relating to zoning districts and business license fees for cannabis businesses. The Community Development Director reviewed the proposed amendment to the professional services agreement with MnSpect, LLP for building inspection work. The City Engineer reviewed the homeowner application to secure utility services from the City of Shoreview through a Joint Power Agreement between the City of Lino Lakes and City of Shoreview. 5. Adjournment Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 6:24 p.m. These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on March 24, 2025. /os��. Roberta Colotti, CIVIC, City Clerk Page 3 of 3 7t2r- n'-Ch- R R fferty, Mayor