HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-01-25 - Council Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council
Work Session
Minutes
DATE: December 1, 2025
TIME STARTED: 6:45 P.M.
TIME ENDED: 8:42 P.M.
LOCATION: Community Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: Acting Mayor Stoesz, Councilmembers Ruh land, Lyden and Cavegn
EXCUSED ABSENT: Mayor Rafferty
Staff Members Present: City Administrator Karen Anderson, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, Finance
Director Tracy Thoma, Finance Consultant Kelly Horn, Community Development Director Mike
Grochala, City Planner Katie Larsen, City Engineer Diane Hankee, Environmental Specialist Tom
Hoffman, Chief of Police Curt Boehme and Fire Chief Dan L'Allier.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Acting Mayor Stoesz called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
2. Setting the Agenda: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items
The agenda was adopted as presented.
3. 2026 Final Proposed Budget
The Finance Director reviewed the 2026 Final Proposed Budget and presentation
materials for the upcoming Truth -in -Taxation hearing on December 8tn
Councilmember Lyden stated that he appreciated the information and graph presented
in the report. He stated that he supports sharing any and all information available at the
public hearing and in advance if possible.
Acting Mayor Stoesz stated that the Council has provided extensive review of the
budget over the past six months, and no changes from the 2026 Proposed Final Budget
as presented this evening are recommended prior to the public hearing. He stated that
the Council will receive public comments at the Truth -in -Taxation hearing on December
8tn He commented that Anoka County held their Truth -in -Taxation hearing today.
4. Lino Lakes Dealership and Offices — Motor Vehicle Sales Lot Conditional Use Permit
The City Planner presented the Planning & Zoning Board recommendations related to
the Lino Lakes Dealership and Offices, proposed to be built at 7920 Lake Drive. The
applicant Tyler Heubsch (DBA Dealer Units) has submitted an application for a
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Motor Vehicle Sales Lot and a Site Improvement
Performance Agreement. The Planning & Zoning Board recommended certain
conditions, and additional conditions may be considered by the City Council.
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Council Consensus
It was the consensus of the City Council to include the conditions as recommended by
the Planning & Zoning Board in the CUP, with direction to staff to discuss the number of
auto -use parking spaces (requested 72, council consideration of 25, 50 or 72) and to
report back to the council at the December 81" Work Session prior to the regular
meeting with a recommendation. Furthermore, to remove the one-year review of the
CUP to instead provide review of the CUP as conditions warrant.
5. Waldoch Farm Agritourism Conditional Use Permit Amendment
The City Planner reported that the applicant, Waldoch Farm, submitted a land use
application for Waldoch Farm Agritourism. A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required
for agritourism. The property address is 8174 Lake Drive
Per the applicant's narrative, Waldoch Farm has been in operation since 1916.
Overtime, the site has intensified in use with barnyard experiences, hay wagon rides and
in 2011, the Joyer Adventure Farm and maze. Most recently, Waldoch Farm proposed to
construct a new building with concessions and corn box and add a commercial kitchen
to an existing building. The applicant's narrative further details current and future on
site agritourism activities.
The City Planner stated Waldoch Farm is considered to have a conditional use permit
since it was operating prior to July 14, 1997. As they propose to intensify the use, a
formal conditional use permit amendment is required. This will allow Waldoch Farm and
the City to have a clear understanding of existing and proposed future agritourism uses.
The Planning & Zoning Board held a public hearing on November 12, 2025 and the Board
recommended approval of a conditional use permit amendment for agritourism with
the following additional conditions:
1. Lake Drive shall be the main public ingress and egress to the site unless the Lino
Lakes Police Department, Lino Lakes Fire Department or other government
agency determines there is an emergency that warrants other temporary ingress
or egress is necessary.
2. Hours of operation should be applied to the agritourism activities.
After the meeting, staff asked the applicant what reasonable hours of operation would
be. The applicant requests no hours of operation be applied because they have been
operating for 28 years without restrictions or issues
The applicant provided further background on the project. He requested that Item #6 of
the draft resolution approving the CUP be removed as it requires the combining of two
parcels. One is a five -acre parcel north of the house and one is south. As it stands the
five -acre parcel is a buildable lot and it would not be buildable if it was combined. That
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would eliminate the ability for him to build a future home and would reduce the value
of the land.
The Council confirmed that the applicant understood that if the parcels remain
separate, they must each meet setback requirements.
The applicant requested that the condition requiring the police or fire department to
determine that there was an emergency before opening the gate to access Elbe Street
be adjusted to simple state that the gate can be open in the event of an emergency as
the property owner would be the one to call the police and fire department in the event
of an emergency. He noted that they have not used this access often and do not
anticipate using it often in the future. He also wanted to clarify that the road is part of
their road access and that they would like to use the road for their agricultural
operations, as needed.
The applicant stated that the State Fire Code adopted by the City of Lino Lakes has
additional requirements that he would like to seek an exemption form in the future, for
example he plans to build a corn pit with a building that has three sides open and the
fire requirements are focused on indoor building designs.
The applicant stated that regarding a restriction on hours of operation there hasn't been
a restriction to date, and he requested that one not be placed on the operations as part
of the CUP.
Council Consensus
It was the consensus to move the CUP application forward with direction to staff to
update the conditions to exclude the requirement that the two parcels as identified be
combined; to remove the requirement that the police or fire department determine the
emergency exists but to keep the requirement that the gate to Elbe Street be open only
in an emergency, and to exclude regulations of hours or lighting.
The City Council thanked the applicants for their contributions to the community as a
destination business within Lino Lakes.
Acting Mayor Stoesz recommended that they talk with staff about the Gateway
program as something that may benefit their business.
6. Environmental Board Annual Work Plan 2026
The Environmental Specialist stated that the Environmental Board serves to provide aid
and advice to the Council in its efforts to encourage productive and enjoyable harmony
between people and their environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or
eliminate damage to the environment and stimulate the health and welfare of people;
to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important
to the city; to advise the city in the use and management of its natural resources in
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order to preserve and enhance the environmental amenities for present and future
residents, and to improve and ensure a lasting quality of life within the city. (City Code
Chapter 217.01)
City Code Chapter 217.03 (12) describes as a duty of the Board to 'report not less than
once each year to the Council on the state and condition of the environment in the City
and on the work of the commission.' This report has historically taken the form of an
annual work plan that the Board presents to the Council for approval. This annual plan
includes a list of initiatives concerning current environmental issues in the major areas
of focus of the Environmental Board, including wildlife, forestry, natural resources,
water, and solid waste management.
The Environmental Specialist stated that the Environmental Board provided staff with
feedback on the Annual Work Plan at their November 25, 2025, meeting that is included
in the staff report.
Acting Mayor Stoesz questioned the methodology for measuring success of the organics
recycling program.
The Environmental Specialist stated that the number of customers and number of tons
of material collected were used as measurements.
The Environmental Specialist added that in 2030 all residential properties will be
required to have curbside organics collection. In addition there are changes being
proposed related to plastic recycling and commercial operations. The city will work to
inform residents and businesses as these new state/county regulations become
effective.
Acting Mayor Stoesz asked if the Environmental Board had a presence at the Blue Heron
Days event.
The Environmental Specialist stated that they do not have booth at the event as there is
no longer that aspect of the festival, however, they did have recycling information.
The City Council received the report as presented.
Main Street Master Plan Comprehensive Plan Amendment
The Community Development Director stated that he City of Lino Lakes has initiated a
Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) to implement the adopted Main Street Master
Plan that was completed as part of an Alternative Urban Area Review (AUAR) process in
the northwest corner of Lino Lakes. The CPA area totals approximately 934 acres
The Community Development Director reported that the Planning & Zoning Board held
a public hearing on November 12, 2025. The property owners at 154 Pine Street (06-31-
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22-21-0002) (also speaking on behalf of family members at 166 Pine Street) and 180
Pine Street (06-31-22-24-0001) asked to have their properties moved from Phase 3 (post
2040) to Phase 2b (2035 — 2040) of the staging plan.
Council Consensus
It was the consensus of the City Council to support the Comprehensive Plan Amendment
(CPA) draft with the addition of a footnote indicating that the properties at 154 Pine
Street, 166 Pine Street and 180 Pine Street are to be considered for a future
amendment to the plan, as a placeholder to identify their request.
8. Town Center South Master Plan
The Community Development Director stated that the City's Town Center South area,
lying adjacent to Lake Drive, south of 35W continues to be one of the most significant
economic development opportunities for the community. The EDA owns approximately
9-acres of property, including parcels across from City Hall, land adjacent to the Rooker
Activity Center, and two commercial pad sites along I-35W. These sites, combined with
nearby underutilized property west of Lake Drive, form a strategic project area with
potential to strengthen the City's economic base, expand amenities, and enhance
community identity.
Over the past year the Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC) has
engaged brokers, developers, and architects to explore options for updating the Town
Center Master Plan. The City Council's recent strategic planning process identified this
update as a short-term priority, aligning with broader goals of campus planning and
developing community identity.
As a result of these discussions and City Council direction, staff has worked with Tushie
Montgomery Architects to develop a high-level planning process to evaluate options for
development of the City property along with adjacent commercial properties. With the
assistance of EDAC the project area has been defined to include not only the City
property but the undeveloped/underutilized property west of Lake Drive.
The proposal includes the following elements:
1. Preparation of a Market Study including analysis of residential and commercial
market assessments. The study will include a specific analysis of entertainment -
based retail (themed food and beverage venues) as a target user for the site.
2. Engagement and Visioning with Council and advisory boards to determine key goals
and metrics.
3. Use of the market study to aid in development of conceptual site masterplan that
outlines overall density, land use, and conceptual organization.
4. Masterplan Financial Analysis including analysis of highest and best use and most
feasible scenarios, Projections of ROI and funding.
5. Civil Engineering and Utility review of site constraints and infrastructure needs. The
proposal also includes an add -on to the market study to include additional analysis
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of the Rookery focusing on potential to increase membership and expansion
opportunities or needs
The Community Development Director stated that funding would be provided from the
Economic Development and Planning professional services budgets, with
reimbursement from land sale proceeds
The Community Development Director requested authorization to proceed with the
base study ($30,00); or base study + Rookery study ($37,800).
Council Consensus
It was the consensus of the City Council to authorize staff to proceed with the base
study + Rookery study for the Town Center Master Plan as presented.
Councilmember Ruhland stated that with the Rookery study he would like the
consultant to contact the local athletic associations as they have a vested interested in
the development of baseball fields, hockey rinks, and other athletic facilities.
9. 2025 Street Reconstruction Project Corrections
The Community Development Director introduced Monica Heil, WSB Senior Vice
President and Brian Bourassa, Vice President of Corporate Development,
Ms. Heil reported that the 2025 Street Reconstruction and Utility Extension project in
the Pine Haven and Colonial Woods neighborhoods were completed earlier this year.
The new sanitary sewer has undergone through testing, including televised inspection,
and has been confirmed to meet all performance and material standards. However, the
Minnesota Department of Health has raised an issue with the separation distance
between the newly installed municipal sewer line and private water supply wells.
Ms. Heil reviewed the staging of the municipal water connections in the neighborhood
and identified the properties that are impacted by this decision of the MN Dept. of
Health. To address the issue WSB is proposing to cover the cost to either connect to city
water and cap the individual well or construct a new well for the property owner. If the
property owner chooses to connect to the water system, two years of water service
costs will be covered. The property owners have been notified through a door hanger
and letter. The majority of property owners have contacted the city to discuss this
proposal and only two have not yet responded. A neighborhood open house is planned
for Tuesday, December 9th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at City Hall.
The City Council appreciated WSB's responsiveness in resolving the issue. They
questioned if a property owner wanted to connect to city water and have an irrigation
well drilled if that would be an option. WSB stated that this would need to be reviewed
if a request is received as the intent was to either connect to the system or drill a new
well.
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10. Adjournment
Acting Mayor Stoesz adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m.
These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on December 8, 2025.
Roberta Colotti, CMC
City Clerk
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Rob I�f erty,
Mayor