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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-25 - City Council WS MinutesLino Lakes City Council Work Session Minutes DATE: April 7, 2025 TIME STARTED: 6:00 P.M. TIME ENDED: 7:51 P.M. LOCATION: Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty Councilmembers Cavegn, Lyden, Stoesz and Ruhland MEMBERS ABSENT: None Staff Members Present: Interim City Administrator Dave Pecchia, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, Community Development Director Michael Grochala, Interim Fire Chief Dan L'Allier, City Planner Katie Larsen, and City Attorney Kristin Nierengarten. 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Mayor Rafferty called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. Setting the Agenda: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items The agenda was adopted as presented. 3. Administration Update The City Administrator presented the following operations updates: • Resolution No. 25-41 "Supporting Retention of City Zoning Authority" was sent to the Lino Lakes State Representative and Senator, as well as the League of Minnesota Cities. Our State Senator thanked the city for sending the resolution and provided notice that the state hearing on the proposed amendment to city zoning authority had been cancelled. • Staff have received the final draft of the public safety department report from Citygate. Citygate representatives have requested a special meeting date of April 30th or May 7th to reduce travel costs. • Working on the agenda for the Joint Work Session with the Charter Commission on April loth and the Special City Council Meeting on April 151h, which was scheduled to interview City Administrator candidates. • Ordinance No. 04-25 "Franchise Extension Agreement" with Comcast, which was adopted by the City Council on March loth, has been fully executed by all parties. • The debriefing of the recent water rescue indicated that one of two ambulances left that was needed at the time of the rescue. The overall ambulance service Page 1 of 4 response times are being reviewed with a goal of reducing response time, so that they are at the same level as other area response times. This is an item for ongoing discussion between the city and ambulance service provider. • The Interim City Administrator and Community Development Director met with the Forrest Lake School District. The School District is working on future growth estimates and busing numbers. • The City continues to work with our legal counsel on current litigation. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to schedule the presentation of the Citygate report for the April 28th regular meeting. 4. Even -Year Elections The City Clerk presented information on the option to move to even -year elections for municipal offices. She reported that the City Council, Charter Commission or citizens through a petition could carry a request to amend the City Charter to establish even - year elections for municipal offices. Furthermore, the effective date for the change from odd -year to even -year elections could be set for a future date. The City Clerk reviewed that voter engagement and cost savings are two factors to consider in reviewing the change to even -year elections. In 2024 Lino Lakes had 15,322 registered voters at 7 a.m. on the day of the General Election and 14,135 people voted that day. By comparison at the 2023 municipal election 1,785 people voted. There is also a cost to hold a stand-alone municipal election separate from the even -year general election. Currently there are 18 cities out of 856 that are scheduled to hold an odd -year election in 2025 according to the Secretary of State's office. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to forward this matter to the Charter Commission at the April 10, 2025, Joint Meeting and to defer to the Charter Commission to sponsor any amendments to the Charter. The City Clerk noted that the Charter Commission will have two procedural options for processing the amendment, if supported, including the option to place the question of moving to even -year elections on a future ballot as a question for the voters. The City Attorney stated that she would prepare a memo for the Charter Commission regarding the legal steps for their review. 5. Joint Meeting with the Charter Commission Overview The City Clerk reviewed the agenda for the Joint Meeting with the Charter Commission Page 2 of 4 It was noted that the City Council would be holding a Work Session, and the Charter Commission would be holding their regular meeting. It was identified by the City Council that the topic "Other Questions for Council or Charter Commission" was too broad of a category to give sufficient notice of the topic of discussion, and as a result no vote or direction would be given on any items brought forward under this category. 6. Main Street Master Plan & AUAR Update Kimley Horn Representative Leila Bunge presented a summary report of the Mapping NW Main planning meeting and feedback. She reported that they are preparing to move forward with the Alternative Uran Areawide Review (AUAR) portion of the project. Ms. Bunge stated that based on the feedback to date, there are two scenarios that are highlighted for continued discussion. Scenario 1 is based on the existing 2040 Comprehensive Plan and is required under the AUAR process. Scenario 2.1, which focuses on the "Gateway" into Lino Lakes at Sunset and Main Street, is also proposed for further study. Councilmember Lyden requested that the original scenario be considered as well. Ms. Bunge reported that the original and current scenarios are posted to the project page on the City website. No formal action is required this evening as this information is being presented for the information of the Council regarding the status of the planning effort. 7. Otter Crossing South Preliminary Plat The City Planner reported that TYME Properties LLC, is proposing to Preliminary Plat one commercial lot south of CSAH 14 (Main Street), east of 1-35E and west of CR 84 (Otter Lake Road) for the purpose of construction an ALDI's grocery store. She reviewed the site performance agreement details. This item is scheduled for review at the next regular Council meeting. 8. Lake Ameila Ditch Study Update The Community Development Director reported that in 2023 the City completed the A'meilia Lake Ditch study. The ditch has a drainage area of approximately 255 acres. It is a private ditch, meaning that maintaining the ditch is the responsibility of the individual property owners. Based on the existing concerns and anticipated future changes to the area, two phases of work were recommended. The Community Development Director reported that in March, staff met with the six property owners to discuss the potential for the City taking over maintenance responsibilities of the ditch and completing a maintenance project to remove accumulated sediment and removal of lower quality trees and shrubs along the banks. Page 3 of 4 The overall intent of maintenance is to maintain/improve conveyance capacity and improve water quality entering Ameila Lake. City maintenance would be subject to the provisions of easements, by the owners, at no cost to the City. The property owners expressed some interest in the exchange but wanted time to consider. Staff will reach out to the property owners in two to three months to gauge interest. 9. Water Treatment Plant Construction — Building Setback The Community Development Director introduced Jon Christensen, PE, WSB and Brian Bourassa. Mr. Christensen stated that the City's new Water Treatment Plant building, located at 6590 12th Avenue S., was intended to have a 50' setback from the right-of-way boundary on Birch Street and on 121h Avenue S. The actual building currently under construction has a 46' setback from the right-of-way boundary on Birch Street. He reported that the building and associated sitework shift was caused by a data conversion process error at the start of the design phase of the project. The Community Development Director stated that based on the WSB review it appears that the primary issue will be conformance with the zoning code. The property is in the PSP, Public/Semi Public zoning district. The setback from a major collector or arterial street is 50 feet. He presented four options to correct the issue. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to pursue option #3 "Amend the Zoning Ordinance requirement in the PSP District". 10. Notices and Communications Mayor Rafferty reported that the next VLAMO meeting is in a few weeks. Councilmember Stoesz questioned when the North Metro TV report would be presented. The City Administrator reported that a date has not been announced for the meeting. Mayor Rafferty extended his appreciation to the public safety personnel who responded to the Baldwin Lake rescue. 11. Adjournment Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 7:51 p.m. These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on April 28, 2025. Roberta Colotti, CIVIC, City Clerk Page 4 of 4 Rob 4affety, Mayor