HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-25 - City Council Special Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council
Special Work Session
Minutes
DATE: August 18, 2025
TIME STARTED: 6:46 P.M.
RECESSED/RECONVENED: 9:10 P.M. / 9:17 P.M.
TIME ENDED: 10:52 P.M.
LOCATION: Community Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty Councilmembers Ruhland, Lyden and
Stoesz
MEMBERS EXCUSED ABSENT: Councilmember Cavegn
Staff Members Present: City Administrator Karen Anderson, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, Interim
Finance Director Kelly Horn, Finance Director Tracy Thoma, Community Development Director
Mike Grochala, Human Resources and Communications Manager Meg Sawyer, Chief of Police
Curt Boehme, Fire Chief Dan L'Allier, Fire Lieutenant Brian Finke, Public Services Director Rick
DeGardner, and Public Works Superintendent Justin Williams.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Mayor Rafferty called the meeting to order at 6:46 p.m.
2. Setting the Agenda: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items
The agenda was adopted as presented.
3. Preliminary Tax Levy, General Fund Budget 2026 CIP — Overview
The Interim Finance Director presented information on Lino Lakes market values, tax
capacity, and five-year historical taxable market values. It was noted that market values
start with Anoka County's assessment of property values. The 2026 taxable market
value has increased over last year, and Lino Lakes has a slightly higher property value
than the average in Anoka County.
The Interim Finance Director stated that in 2025 Lino Lakes was ranked the 8th lowest of
21 cities in Anoka County. Currently we are on the lower end of this pack of cities that
are all hovering right around 40-45% city tax capacity rates. If we were to apply our
proposed 2026 rate to this graph we would move to exactly where Bethel is now, and
we'd be the 14th lowest of 21 cities, but still in the pack that are close together, and still
solidly below the cities on the high end of the graph. The actual levy of other cities in
2026 will determine our standing after the 2026 budgets are finalized across the county.
The Interim Finance Director stated that the proposed 2026 preliminary total operating
and debt levy is $18,217,980. Providing for a city tax capacity rate of 43.442% in 2026.
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4. Administration & Finance, Community Development, Public Services and Police
Department Budgets
The City Council reviewed the department budgets, including the proposed changes in
line items from 2025 to 2026.
5. Recess / Reconvene
Mayor Rafferty recessed the meeting at 9:10 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 9:17
p.m.
6. Fire Department Budget
The City Council reviewed the Fire Department budget. Further staffing and equipment
investments for 2026 are presented in the draft preliminary budget as recommended by
the Citygate study completed earlier this spring. The full implementation is part of a
multi -year plan.
7. Council Discussion 2026 Budget
The City Council discussed the proposed 2026 Budget and Levy and requested that it be
brought back to the next budget work session for additional review and consideration.
8. Adjournment
Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 10:52 p.m.
These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on September 8, 2025.
Roberta Colotti, CMC To&ferty,
City Clerk Mayor
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