HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-25 - City Council Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council
Work Session
Minutes
DATE: March 24, 2025
TIME STARTED: 6:00 P.M.
TIME ENDED: 6:27 P.M.
LOCATION: Community Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty Councilmembers Cavegn, Lyden, Stoesz and
Ruhland
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
Staff Members Present: Interim City Administrator Dave Pecchia, City Clerk Roberta Colotti,
Human Resources and Communications Manager Meg Sawyer, Community Development
Director Michael Grochala, City Engineer Diane Hankee, Interim Public Safety Director Curt
Boehme, Interim Fire Chief Dan L'Allier, and Public Services/Parks & Recreation 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
In the interest of allowing sufficient time to review the regular agenda items the Interim
City Administrator requested that the review of the agenda take place prior to the
administration update. The agenda was adopted as amended.
3. Review Regular Agenda
The Community Development Director reviewed draft Resolution No. 25-41 Supporting
Retention of City Zoning Authority. He stated that there are several bills being proposed
at the State Legislature that would reduce city zoning authority, and this resolution asks
that our State Representatives uphold the current zoning authority. He said that the
resolution would be sent to our State Senator and Representative as well as the League
of Minnesota Cities.
The Human Resources and Communications Manager stated that this evening the
Council was being asked to appoint a Paid On -Call Firefighter as well as a Part -Time
Firefighter. She reviewed the current staffing levels at each fire station.
The City Engineer stated that there are two public hearings on the agendas. One is for
the Pine Haven 2025 Street Reconstruction and Sewer and Water Extension project. The
other is for the Colonial Woods 2025 Street Reconstruction and Sewer and Water
Extension project.
Page 1 of 2
The Community Development Director reviewed the two resolutions declaring the
intent to reimburse certain expenditures from bond proceeds for the 2025 Street
Reconstruction and Sewer and Water Extension projects.
4. Administration Update
The City Administrator presented the following operations updates:
• The City continues to work with our legal counsel on current litigation.
• The Public Safety Department responded to a water rescue that posed significant
risk to the public safety responders. The department is conducting a debriefing
of the incident.
• The Human Resources Department is actively conducting the hiring process for a
payroll position within the Finance Department and several positions within the
Community Development Department.
• The Public Safety Department wellness consultant associate advised of an
opportunity for additional employee wellness and strategic planning services.
However, that would not be pursued unless grant funding can be identified to
support the costs.
• The agreement with Citygate has been extended until the end of May. It is
anticipated that the report will be presented at the April 14th or 28th Council
Meeting. Any amendments to the City Code resulting from the Citygate proposal
will be drafted by staff and reviewed by the City Attorney for presentation to the
City Council.
• A fire sprinkler permit plan & review ordinance is being researched by staff.
• The discussion regarding the Interim Assistant City Administrator position is
identified for the April 7th Work Session.
• The Administration, Finance and Community Development customer service
workload and need for additional Administrative Assistants is being reviewed
and will be brought forwarded to the Council at a future meeting.
• The Mayor and Interim City Administrator met with the Forrest Lake School
District regarding their busing routes and future population projections as it
relates to school district boundaries. They will be following up with the
Community Development Director.
• The Interim City Administrator continues to hold weekly department manager
team meetings and individual meetings with department managers.
5. Adjournment
Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 6:27 p.m.
These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on April 14, 2025.
�, t-r-r-tz
Roberta Colotti, CMC Rob Raffrty,
City Clerk Mayor
Page 2 of 2