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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-23-25 - Council Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council Work Session Minutes DATE: June 23, 2025 TIME STARTED: 5:30 P.M. TIME ENDED: 6:27 P.M. LOCATION: Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty Councilmembers Cavegn, Ruhland (arrived at 5:55 p.m.), Lyden (arrived at 5:37 p.m.) and Stoesz MEMBERS ABSENT: None Staff Members Present: City Administrator Karen Anderson, Consultant Dave Pecchia, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, Finance Director Kelly Horn, Accountant Tracy Thoma, Community Development Director Mike Grochala, City Engineer Diane Hankee, Chief of Police Curt Boehme, Fire Chief Dan L'Allier and Fire Lieutenant Brian Finke. 1. Call to order and Roll Call Mayor Rafferty called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Rafferty welcomed Karen Anderson to the city in her new role as City Administrator. Setting the Agenda: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items The agenda was adopted as presented. Municipal Cannabis Dispensary, Feasibility Study Proposal The City Administrator presented a proposal from Great White Companies MN, LLC, to complete a Municipal Cannabis Retail Store Feasibility Study, that would be community specific. The feasibility study proposal stated that it will help illustrate the potential market and highlight projected sales. The City Administrator stated that after reviewing the proposal and speaking with other area cities and consultants, the contract is recommended for approval. Mayor Rafferty stated that this item was discussed as a potential revenue source. He stated that it was the Council's direction to have staff review options to complete a study and tonight the Council is being presented with a proposal for consideration. He stated that he also spoke with other area cities to research this matter further. Councilmember Cavegn highlighted that by State Law; the city is required to allow cannabis retail stores. He stated that he supports authorizing the feasibility study as presented. He stated that the projected revenues from a municipal cannabis retail store Page 1 of 5 would need to be significant for him to support moving forward with constructing a store. Mayor Rafferty stated regarding potential revenue; the cannabis store would have more competition than a municipal liquor store. The City is required to allow two private cannabis retail stores in addition to the proposed municipal store, in accordance with our current population numbers, under State law. Councilmember Stoesz reiterated that as stated at past meetings on this topic, he is not in support of a municipal cannabis retails store. He stated it is not a core function of a city. Furthermore, having enforcement responsibilities and revenue generated with a retail cannabis store is a conflict of interest. Mayor Rafferty stated that the feasibility study approval is on the regular meeting agenda for formal action tonight. He stated that the feasibly study would provide the City with cost/revenue information that can be used in making a determination regarding opening a municipal cannabis retail store. Mayor Rafferty returned to the subject of the municipal cannabis store when Councilmember Lyden joined the meeting to receive his feedback on the proposal. Councilmember Lyden stated that he supports moving forward with the feasibility study. He noted that the location of the retail store will be an important decision. Mayor Rafferty also returned to the subject and asked Councilmember Ruhland his opinion on the municipal cannabis retail store feasibility study when he arrived. Councilmember Ruhland asked if the study would include demographic information. The City Administrator confirmed that it would include demographic information. Councilmember Ruhland stated that he was in favor of the feasibility study as presented. 4. Contract for Strategic Planning Sessions The City Administrator presented the proposed City Council Strategic Planning and Goal Setting contract with Facilitator Phil Kern. The proposal outlined scheduling two workshops focused on three elements of strategic planning and organizational leadership. The outline for the process would be long-term direction, organizational performance, and development of a short-term goals program to support immediate needs and the vision/strategic plan of the City. Mayor Rafferty stated that there are several recent requests and recommendations that have been presented to the Council for consideration, and developing a Strategic Plan to Page 2 of 5 respond to these is important. This item is scheduled for formal approval at the regular meeting this evening. 5. 2026 Budget Calendar The Interim Finance Director presented the proposed 2026 Budget Calendar for review by the City Council. Mayor Rafferty questioned the timeline for the hiring process for the new Finance Director in relation to the budget calendar. The Interim Finance Director reported that Human Resources is currently conducting the hiring process, and the new Finance Director should be onboard by July or August. She recommended moving forward with the budget calendar as presented, given the Preliminary Budget deadline in September. She noted that the Final Budget would not need to be set until December. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to approve the 2026 Budget Calendar as presented. 6. Review Regular Agenda The Interim Finance Director reported that the General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025A, in the original aggregate principal amount of $8,090,000 sale this morning went well. With a strong number of bidders, the City received a more favorable interest rate. She presented the updated resolution approving the sale and stated that the Municipal Advisor Keith Dahl would be present this evening to make a presentation. Mayor Rafferty reviewed the consent agenda items including approval of claims. The City Clerk reviewed draft Ordinance No. 12-25 Regulating Pet Stores, that was scheduled for First Reading this evening. The Mayor reported that the residents that made the request during the June 91n Council Meeting to adopt the ordinance expressed their appreciation that the City was moving forward with this ordinance. The City Clerk reviewed the proposed amendments to the Rules of Decorum, including amendments to regulations regarding signs, apparel with messaging, ADA accommodations, written public comment submissions, and the process for receiving and processing reports and information submitted for consideration during the meeting. The Council debated the draft regulation regarding apparel with messaging. With the majority expressing their support for the regulation and Councilmembers Ruhland and Page 3 of 5 Lyden stating that they were opposed to including the regulation in the Rules of Decorum. The Chief of Police reviewed the appointment of Colton Timmons to the Police Officer position at Step 1 of the Police Officer wage scale, scheduled for action at the regular meeting. Councilmember Stoesz asked if future staff reports could include information on any hiring bonus offered with the wage information presented. The Chief of Police stated that they can include that information with future reports. The Fire Chief reviewed the appointment of Ky Page to the Paid On -Call Firefighter position, at Step 1 of the Paid On -Call Firefighting wage scale, scheduled for formal action at the regular meeting. Councilmember Cavegn asked why this new hire was being assigned to Fire Station #2, since that station has more firefighters than Station #1. The Fire Chief stated that Ky Page lives closer to Fire Station #2. The Fire Chief reviewed the appointment of Cody Kanowitz to the Paid On -Call Firefighter position, at Step 1 of the Paid On -Call Firefighting wage scale. The Fire Chief reviewed the appointment of Samuel Gibson Eyestone to the Part -Time Firefighter position, at Step 6 of the Part -Time Firefighter wage scale. He reported that Samuel Gibson Eyestone has been working for the City and is being recommended for this new appointment. Mayor Rafferty asked which station Samuel Gibson Eyestone would be assigned to work at. The Fire Chief reported that he would be assigned to Station #2. The Fire Chief recommended that the language for the approval to provide healthcare benefits to firefighters working over 30-hours per week, be amended to include the language "as and when required by law". The City Administrator stated that there is still some work that needs to be done on the policy. The Interim Finance Director stated that the 2025 Budget impact was discussed and the 2025 Budget still potentially needs to be amended in relation to this item. The cost of this coverage can be planned for in the 2026 Budget. Staff is working on clarifying when Page 4 of 5 an individual firefighter becomes eligible under law and the City is required to provide coverage. City staff need to work on the personnel policy. This is the direction the City is going but we are not at the point of implementation of the full policy immediately. Councilmember Ruhland asked what the cost of the insurance was for this program. The Interim Finance Director stated the cost was approximately $18,000 or a payment if the firefighter does not take insurance. She stated that staff need to review the city policies and laws regarding this insurance payment. Councilmember Ruhland stated that he is in favor of the insurance payment. Mayor Rafferty requested further clarification regarding the payment made when a firefighter does not take insurance under the program. The Interim Finance Director clarified that Human Resources needs to review the policy regarding payment to those that do not take insurance. She stated that this is a new classification of employees, who are not covered by a union or current policy. She stated that is why the clarifying language regarding providing insurance when required by law is being recommended. Councilmember Lyden stated that he is in favor of providing insurance. Mayor Rafferty noted the time and stated that there is another meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. 7. Adjournment Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 6:27 p.m. These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on July 14, 2025. Roberta Colotti, CIVIC ob Ra ferty, City Clerk Mayor Page 5 of 5