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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-03-25 - City Council Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council Work Session Minutes DATE: November 3, 2025 TIME STARTED: 6:00 P.M. TIME ENDED: 8:04 P.M. LOCATION: Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty Councilmembers Ruhland (arrived at 6:03 p.m.), Lyden, Stoesz and Cavegn ABSENT: None Staff Members Present: City Administrator Karen Anderson, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, Community Development Director Mike Grochala, City Planner Katie Larsen, Chief of Police Curt Boehme, Fire Chief Dan L'Allier and Public Service Director Rick DeGardner. 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. 2026 Public Improvement Project Financing The Community Development Director introduced Jason Aarsvold, Senior Municipal Advisor, with Ehlers. Mr. Aarsvold presented a recommendation for funding the 2026 Improvement Projects, including the Otter Lake Road Extension Project and the Public Works Building Construction. The projects will be funded with a combination of bonds and cash on hand. He reviewed the city's bonding authority, timeline and process. He reviewed the alternatives to the proposed financing plan. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to move forward with the financing plan as proposed. 4. Lino Lakes Dealership and Offices — Motor Vehicle Sales Lot Conditional Use Permit The City Planner presented the land use application for Lino Lakes Dealership and Offices. The proposed development is a motor vehicle sales lot and office building. The property address is 7920 Lake Drive. The applicant Tyler Heubsch (DBA Dealer Units) has submitted an application for a Conditional Use Permit for Motor Vehicle Sales Lot and a Site Improvement Performance Agreement. Page 1 of 5 The City Council did not favor the use at this location given the surrounding land uses, traffic flow, and location on the corner of Lake Drive and Kelly Street. The City Planner reported that this item will be brought forward for formal action at the November 10, 2025 City Council meeting. 5. ATV / Golf Carts on Public Streets The Chief of Police reported that City Code Chapter 807, Subd. 03 regulates the operation of ATVs and snowmobiles. Current city code allows snowmobiles to operate on city streets at speeds under 15 mph, while ATVs are prohibited from operating on any city street. The ordinance does not address the use of golf carts; and since their use is not explicitly permitted, it is prohibited by default. The Chief of Police reported that Minnesota Statute 169.045 authorizes the governing body of any city to permit, by ordinance, the operation of motorized golf carts, all - terrain vehicles, utility task vehicles, or mini trucks on designated roadways under its jurisdiction. The statute requires that the city ordinance: • Designate the specific roadways where operation is allowed. • Limit hours of operation unless the vehicle is equipped with original headlights taillights, and rear -facing brake lights. • Prohibit operation during inclement weather. • Require the display of a slow -moving vehicle emblem. Authorization to operate a motorized golf cart, all -terrain vehicle, utility task vehicles, or mini truck must be granted through a permit process. Minnesota Statute establishes that the permits may not exceed three years. If the city proceeds, it would need to adopt a permit fee schedule and collect sufficient information to determine permit eligibility. Permit fees in other communities range from no fee to $30. The permit would require at the minimum: • Name and address of the applicant • Model name, make, and year and number of the vehicle • Driver's license information • Insurance and registration in compliance with the provisions of Minn. Statutes Police staff reviewed ordinances from 20 neighboring and similarly sized communities to determine how common it is to allow golf cart and ATV use. The review also identified common restrictions used to address potential issues. The survey showed that nine (9) communities do not allow golf cart or ATV use, nine (9) communities allow golf cart use and seven (7) of those cities also allow ATVs. Two (2) communities allow ATVs but not golf carts. Page 2 of 5 Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to prepare further information and recommendations related to an ordinance amendment to allow golf cart use on certain streets with conditions. (Mayor Rafferty and Council Member Cavegn were opposed.) Councilmember Lyden stated that he would like the city to review regulations related to e-bikes as well. 6. Amendment to Endurance Fitness, Professional Management Services and Fitness Center Agreement The Public Services Director reported that the Professional Management Services and Fitness Center Agreement between Endurance Fitness and the City of Lino Lakes was prepared by ISG prior to the opening of The Rookery Activity Center in May, 2022. The current contract ends December 31, 2026. Negotiations will begin after the first of the year for a new contract. The Public Services Director stated that all sections of the current agreement have worked well for both entities with the exception of the revenue sharing formula. He reviewed the requested amendments to the current contract. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to authorize staff to proceed with the addendums to the Professional Management Services and Fitness Center Agreement for the current contract with Endurance Fitness as outlined in the staff report. 7. Metropolitan Council 2050 System Statement The Community Development Director stated that Minn. Stat. 473.145 requires the Metropolitan Council (Met Council) to adopt a comprehensive development guide for the metropolitan area. Minn. Stat. 473.175 requires the Met Council to review local government comprehensive plans to determine compatibility with this regional development guide. These plans are developed and updated every 10 years. The Community Development Director reported that in early 2025, the Met Council adopted Imagine 2050 as the comprehensive regional development guide. It establishes the regional vision for the seven -county metropolitan area for the next 25 years. The guide includes 5 policy plans: 1. 2050 Land Use Plan 2. 2050 Transportation Policy Plan 3. 2050 Water Resources Policy Plan 4. 2050 Regional Parks Policy Plan 5. 2050 Housing Plan Page 3 of 5 The Community Development Director reported that on September 25, 2025, the Met Council issued the 2025 System Statement for Lino Lakes. The system statement explains the implications of the policy plans for each individual community. Pursuant to Minn. State 473.864, subd. 2, within three years after receiving a system statement Lino Lakes is required to review its comprehensive plan to ensure continued conformity with metropolitan system plans and amend if necessary. The Community Development Director stated that the amendment/update of the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan is due by December 31, 2028. The Community Development Director stated that a representative of the Met Council has been invited to attend the December 1, 2025 Council Work Session. 8. 2026 Fee Schedule The City Clerk provided additional information on filing fees as requested by the City Council in review of the 2026 Fee Schedule. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to include a filing fee of $40 in the draft ordinance amendment for formal action later this month. The City Clerk stated that this item would be re -presented for first reading at the November 101h meeting and second reading at the November 24th meeting. 9. Administration Update The City Administrator reviewed the 2025 Strategic Plan and provided an overview of the strategic planning sessions with staff and council members. The City Administrator presented the eight core strategies that were identified to guide the organization and community into the future. These strategies form the foundation of our Strategic Plan. From those core strategies, the City Administrator shared several short-term priorities that will be the focus in the coming year. Council and staff also developed a mission statement that reflects the purpose and values behind the core strategies. Quarterly progress reports to the City Council are planned. The first report will be presented after the end of the 4th Quarter of 2025. The City Administrator reported that the 2025 City Survey has gone out to households and the results will be reviewed against the Strategic Plan. The results are anticipated to be returned in December. Once results are available, staff will review alignment with our strategies and goals and hold another strategic planning session to incorporate feedback. The survey includes primarily standard questions as prepared by the survey firm and a number of custom questions based on the strategic plan initiatives. Page 4 of 5 10. Adjournment Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 8:04 p.m. These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on November 10, 2025. Roberta Colotti, CMC Rqdgf erty, City Clerk Mayor Page 5 of 5