Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-05-26 - City Council Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council Work Session Minutes DATE: January 5, 2026 TIME STARTED: 5:30 P.M. TIME ENDED: 8:37 P.M. LOCATION: Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty (arrived at 5:55 p.m.), Councilmembers Ruhland, Lyden, Rennaker and Nelson 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 and Fire Chief Dan L'Allier. 1. Oath of Office The City Clerk Administered the official Oath of Office for Mayor Rob Rafferty, Council Member Randy Rennaker, and Council Member Julia Nelson 2. Call to Order and Roll Call In accordance with City Code Section 202.04, Order of Business, the City Clerk called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Motion to appoint Councilmember Ruhland as Temporary Chairperson in accordance with City Code Section 202.02, Presiding Officer — Appointment. RESULT: CARRIED [4-01 MOVER: Nelson SECONDER: Rennaker AYES: Lyden, Ruhland, Rennaker and Nelson NAYS: None 3. Setting the Agenda: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items Councilmember Lyden requested that the Council discuss the memorial of Firefighter Tim Bertz. Councilmember Lyden requested that the Council discuss the local resident request to support the letter to MN State Representatives, Senators and the Governor, drafted by City of Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeest regarding the fiscal direction of the State. The agenda was adopted as amended to include the two items requested by Councilmember Lyden. Page 1 of 6 4. 2026 Annual Appointments The City Council provided direction to staff regarding the list of appointments of officers, committee representatives, the official newspaper, financial institutions, consultants and others. Formal action is scheduled for January 12, 2026. The City Council provided a first and second choice for the dates for the 2026 Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting, to be submitted to Anoka County. 5. 2026 City Board and Committee Appointments The City Clerk requested that the Council provide direction on the process for appointing candidates to the city's three boards and one committee. In addition to presenting a current list of candidates. The City Council provided direction for each individual board/committee regarding the appointment of members, and scheduling interviews for the new applicants to the Parks and Recreation Board and EDAC. Interviews will be scheduled for the January 12, 2026 Work Session, with the Mayor to interview candidates that are unable to attend. First round appointments are scheduled for the January 12, 2026 Regular Meeting. Mayor Rafferty joined the meeting at 5:55 p.m. Motion to turn the meeting over to the Mayor. RESULT: CARRIED [4-0] MOVER: Ruhland SECONDER: Lyden AYES: Lyden, Ruhland, Rennaker and Nelson NAYS: None 6. City Operations: Code of Conduct and Rules of Decorum The City Council reviewed the Code of Conduct and Rules of Decorum. No changes were made. This item is scheduled for formal approval at the January 12, 2026 meeting. 7. Metropolitan Council Imagin 2050 Regional Plan Dr. Gail Cederbeg, Metropolitan Council Representative District 11 and Emma Dvorak, Senior Planner attended the January 5, 2026 City Council Work Session. They provided an overview of the Imagine 2050 Regional Plan process and goals. 8. Lyngblomsten PUD Amendment #3 — Skilled Nursing Care Center The City Planner stated that this item is scheduled for formal approval on January 12, 2026. Lyngblomsten is an existing senior living building, and they are planning to expand Page 2 of 6 to add a skilled nursing building. This project has been before the Council previously as this is the third amendment to the project. The current amendment is to move from a two-story building to a three-story building. This will allow for a design that sets the floorplan so the nursing staff can most efficiently provide assistance. The City first reviewed this application in 2024 and has generally been supportive. The realtor with the project stated that they have three development pads at this site. The advancement of the skilled nursing building has been their priority. However, they have had interest in the other sites from commercial developers and as this project moves forward, they will be working to develop those sites next with interested development companies. Mayor Rafferty stated that Lyngblomsten is a nice complex and represents a significant investment in the community. The council is excited to see the development of the site, and this is fantastic for the residents of Lino Lakes. 9. Peltier Ponds Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Rezoning, PUD Preliminary Plan and Preliminary Plat The City Planner stated that this is a new home subdivision being planned by Lennar Homes. The Concept Plan was introduced in 2024; the Planning and Zoning Board reviewed the Preliminary Plan in 2025. On January 12th the City Council will be asked to approve the Preliminary Plan. Following Preliminary Plan approval is Final Plan approval. The City Planner outlined the three housing types, single family, townhome and rowhomes. She stated that with the Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat approval there are certain aspects that the developer is seeking flexibility on, and it is requested that the Council provide feedback on those requests. The developer was present to review those items that were being requested to be amended as part of the flexible approval elements. The City Council provided feedback to the City Planner on each of the requested flexible approval elements. The developer opposed any modifications to the requested Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat and associated flexible item approvals. The City Planner stated that the staff report for January 12, 2026 would include the plan as presented this evening and the Council could either vote in favor or against approval of the flexible items at that time. Page 3 of 6 10. Town Center South Master Plan Update Process The Community Development Director asked that the Council determine the meeting format and possible meeting dates for the first Town Center South Master Plan meeting with the consultant preparing the plan. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to hold a joint meeting with the Planning and Zoning Board and Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) for the first Town Center South Mater Plan meeting. The Council discussed a general date range for the meeting and directed the Community Development Director to schedule the joint meeting. 11. City Administrator Update The City Administrator updated the City Council on current activities including: • Strategic Plan: The Department Directors were assigned short-term goals as part of the Strategic Plan and the 2025 Q4 Report will be submitted to the Council in February. • The Rookery: Revenues have increased. They recently created a video to promote The Rookery. The November Black Friday and 2026 New Year's sales were successful, generating 75 and 22 new memberships respectively. The Rookery upgraded the software system with the start of the new year. • Ice Rinks: The outdoor ice rinks are now open. • City Website: The Communications Division is leading a website update which will be completed over the coming months. • Recycling: The new recycling postcards are being sent mid -March and will have a magnetic backing. • Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) North Oaks/White Bear Township Update The Community Development Director reported that the North Oaks Development Company project in Lino Lakes is waiting on the completion of the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the City of North Oaks and White Bear Township for water and sanitary sewer services. This is between the two entities and the discussion surrounding metering is currently the topic requiring resolution. The City of Lino Lakes Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat approval has two conditions: 1. Signed JPA for water service. 2. Metropolitan Council approval of the Comp Plan Amendment which is required for the city to approve the plan. Item #2 Metropolitan Council approval is being held by them until a signed JPA is submitted for the water service. Otherwise, the Metropolitan Council generally favors the proposed Comp Plan Amendment as submitted. Page 4 of 6 The Community Development Director stated that North Oaks Company has asked about alternatives for water service to the White Bear Township JPA. For the City of Lino Lakes, the focus is on securing the JPA to provide services. The Community Development Director stated that the time limit for the North Oaks Company project Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat approval is about to expire. They can approve a 60-day extension as offered by the city. However, if they do not approve the 60-day extension, the City Council will be asked to deny the project. The City will not issue the Final Plan/Final Plat until all conditions of the Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat have been met as outlined. Fire Department: December 2025 the fire department had 84% of the Duty Crew shifts filled. January 2026 only five hours are not filled. Councilmember Ruhland asked how many firefighters are taking health insurance. The Fire Chief stated that because this is a new offering and there is a six-month look back period to establish the number of hours worked, there haven't been any Duty Crew firefighters registered for health insurance to date. 12. Firefighter Memorial Mayor Rafferty brought forward the item requested to be added to the agenda by Councilmember Lyden, regarding the memorial for firefighter Tim Bertz. The Fire Chief stated that Tim Bertz had been an active member of the Lino Lakes Fire Department and had just become a St. Paul firefighter. He recently passed away and was recognized by the Lino Lakes and St. Paul Fire Departments as well as his family and the broader community. He reported on the memorial and recognition by the department and commended Firefighter Bertz service to the community. Mayor Rafferty and the City Council also recognized Firefighter Bertz for his service to the community. 13. Letter to the State Councilmember Lyden asked if the Mayor had received the local resident request to support the letter to MN State Representatives, Senators and the Governor, drafted by City of Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeest regarding the fiscal direction of the State. Mayor Rafferty stated that he had not received the request but would secure and review a copy of the request. Page 5 of 6 14. Notices and Communications Councilmember Ruhland stated that there were three items he would like to discuss in the future including the fire department ambulance study, EDA sale of the 10-acres behind Tower Park and construction of a park concession stand. 15. Adjournment Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m. These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on January 26, 2026. =ol' s Roberta Colotti, CMC Rob Fferty, City Clerk May Page 6 of 6