HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-27-25 - City Council Meeting MinutesLINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
DATE: October 27, 2025
TIME STARTED: 6:30 PM
TIME ENDED: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: City Council Chambers
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty, Councilmembers Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland
and Stoesz
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
Staff Members Present: City Administrator Karen Anderson, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, Human
Resources and Communications Manager Meg Sawyer, Community Development Director Mike
Grochala, City Engineer Diane Hankee, Chief of Police Curt Boehme and Fire Chief Dan L'Allier.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rafferty at 6:30 PM.
SETTING THE AGENDA
At the Work Session Meeting prior to the Regular Meeting this evening there was Council
direction to move Special Presentations to immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion to adopt the agenda as amended to move Special Presentations to immediately
following the Pledge of Allegiance.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Lyden
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
The Lino Lakes Ambassadors provided a report on the parades, events and activities that they
had participated in recently and the upcoming events.
Mayor Rafferty thanked the Lino Lakes Ambassadors for their work in representing Lino Lakes.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Rafferty opened the public comment period.
Lajos (John) Miho, 858 Lois Lane, Lino Lakes, stated that his wife was issued a citation for the
temporary fence on their property. He requested clarification on the issuance of the citation.
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Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
Mayor Rafferty stated that he would review the conditions of the citation with staff and follow
up with Mr. Miho.
Catherine Decker, 614 Pine Street, Lino Lakes, stated that her property is located along the
northeast side of the Nature's Refuge North development. She stated that she believes the City
of Lino Lakes, Rice Creek Watershed District and the developer M I I Homes are actively violating
drainage and grading laws. She stated that she will pursue legal action if these violations are not
immediately corrected. She stated that there is documentation that the grading plan shows the
developer has raised the ground elevation higher than the adjoining properties including her
property. She stated that the drainage path, which has historically carried water off their land
has been cut off. She stated that M I I Homes has built a retaining wall of dirt at the property line,
turning neighboring parcels into receiving basins for storm water. There is no functioning Swale,
no permanent outlet, no drainage easement protecting existing residents. She reviewed city
code, watershed district rules, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regulations, related to
adverse drainage impacts on adjacent properties.
Ms. Decker stated that if this project continues without a properly designated perimeter swale
along the northeast boundary to a recorded drainage easement protecting affected
homeowners, and there isn't independent verification that runoff will not exceed pre -
development levels. She will initiate a civil lawsuit naming M I I Homes, the City of Lino Lakes and
any responsible engineers as defendants. She stated that she expects an immediate enforcement
of the rules, a stop work order on the northeast section, and full transparency regarding all storm
water and grading documents. If that does not happen voluntarily it will happen through the
court.
Chris Stowe, 426 Pine Street, Lino Lakes, expressed his strong opposition to the City owning and
operating a cannabis retail business while also issuing business licenses to private competitors.
The City's role is to regulate businesses, not to compete with private citizens. He stated that by
entering the cannabis business the city exposes itself to enormous legal liability when a private
customer leaves a city owned dispensary impaired and causes and accident.
Mr. Stowe stated that the Minnesota Constitution prohibits public funds from being used
privately or for private or proprietary ventures. He stated that any resident of Lino Lakes has a
legal standing to challenge this decision in court. If the Council proceeds, it is inviting litigation
and public scrutiny, and he will be among those ready to pursue both. The City of Lino Lakes
should not be in business. It should be supporting businesses. He urged the Council to
immediately withdraw any city involvement in cannabis.
Mr. Stowe stated that on another matter he wanted to address the serious drainage problem
affecting his neighbors and other nearby properties. He stated that the problem his property is
experiencing right now is historically the drainage that flowed south from their properties, and
then west through the culvert where the new road is being built and into the ditch south of Andall
Street is now flowing north of Andall Street. And the Andal Street pipe is two feet too high. He
stated that he has been complaining about that pipe being too high for years now. He said the
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Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
city needs to lower the pipes because the building alternations are flooding him out worse than
before.
Motion to close the public comment period at 6:46 p.m.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-01
MOVER:
Lyden
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
1. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Expenditures for October 27, 2025 (Check No. 123732 through 123831) in
the Amount of $690,918.81
B. Approval of October 13, 2025, City Council Work Session Minutes
C. Approval of October 13, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes
D. Approval of October 20, 2025, City Council Special Work Session Minutes
E. Approval of Resolution No. 25-152 Authorize Termination of Assessment Deferral,
Outlot A, ALINO Addition
F. Approval of Hiring of Part -Time Staff for the Rookery Activity Center
G. Approval of Exempt Gambling Permit
Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Items 1A through 1G as presented.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-01
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
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Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
2. FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT
No Report
3. ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT REPORT
A. Fee Schedule
The City Clerk reported that the City Council annually reivews the fee schedule
ordinance. That the utility rates were disucssed as part of the preliminary budget
diuscssion. She stated that at the Work Session held earlier that evening, the Council
requested additional review of the filing fees for city office and further amendments
may be porposed at a future meeting.
Mayor Rafferty opened the Public Hearing on the proposed amendments to the utlity
rates as presented in the fee schedule at 6:48 p.m.
No comments presnted
Motion to close the public hearing at 6:49 p.m.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Stoesz
SECONDER:
Ruhland
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
Motion to Waive the full reading of Ordinance No. 19-25, Amending City Code Chapter
218, Fee Schedule.
RESULT:
- -- -- _ ------.....------- ----- - ---- - - -- -- - - - - -- -
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Stoesz
SECONDER:
Lyden
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
Motion to provide first reading of Ordinance No. 19-25, Amending City Code Chapter
218, Fee Schedule.
RESULT: CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER: Stoesz
SECONDER: Lyden
AYES: Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS: None
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Lino Lal<es City Council Minutes
B. Personnel Policy
Motion to adopt the revised personnel policy as presented.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Stoesz
SECONDER:
Lyden
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
4. POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Motion to approve the donation of unclaimed property (bicycles) to Bikes for Kids or a
similar charitable organization.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Stoesz
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
S. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Motion to waive the full reading of Ordinance No. 18-25, Amending Chapter 1002.01,
Fire Code Adoption.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
NAYS:
CARRIED [5-0]
Lyden
Ruhland
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
None
Motion to provide second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 18-25, Amending Chapter
1002.01, Fire Code Adoption.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Cavegn
SECONDER:
Ruhland
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
Roll Call Vote
6. PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPORT
No Report
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Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
7. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT
A. Hampton Addition Assessments
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 25-150, Adopting Special Assessments, Hampton
Addition
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Cavegn
SECONDER:
Ruhland
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
B. Assessments 2025
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 25-151, Adopting Individual Assessments
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Cavegn
SECONDER:
Ruhland
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
C. Zoning Ordinance — Cannabis Microbusinesses and Mezzobusiness
Motion to waive the full reading of Ordinance No. 17-25 Zoning Ordinance Text
Amendment Relating to Cannabis Microbusiness and Mezzobusiness.
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Cavegn
SECONDER:
Lyden
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
Motion to provide second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 17-25 Zoning
Ordinance Text Amendment Relating to Cannabis Microbusiness and
Mezzobusiness
RESULT:
CARRIED [5-0]
MOVER:
Cavegn
SECONDER:
Lyden
AYES:
Rafferty, Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland and Stoesz
NAYS:
None
Roll Call Vote
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Lino Lakes City Council Minutes
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
9. NEW BUSINESS
None
10. NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS
• Environmental Board Meeting, Wednesday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m.
• City Council Work Session, Monday, November 311 at 6:00 p.m.
• The 2025 General Election is Tuesday, November 4th. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.
to 8 p.m. Find more information on the City's website.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
These minutes were approved at the City Council Meeting on November 10, 2025.
Roberta Colotti, CIVIC
City Clerk
R ferty,
Mayor
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