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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-26 - City Council Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council Work Session Minutes DATE: February 2, 2026 TIME STARTED: 6:15 P.M. TIME ENDED: 10:30 P.M. LOCATION: Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty, Councilmembers Ruhland, Lyden, Rennaker and Nelson ABSENT: None Staff Members Present: City Administrator Karen Anderson, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, Finance Director Tracy Thoma, Community Development Director Mike Grochala, City Planner Katie Larsen, Public Services Manager Rick DeGardner, Chief of Police Curt Boehme, Fire Chief Dan L'Allier and Fire Lieutenant Brian Finke. 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Mayor Rafferty called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. 2. Setting the Agenda: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items The agenda was adopted as presented. 3. Public Works Building, Bid Package No. 1 The Community Development Director stated that the City hired Oertel Architects in January 2025 to design the new Public Works building planned for construction in 2026. RJM Construction was also retained to serve as the Construction Manager for the project. The final design plans are now nearing completion. Due to significant lead times associated with several key building components, particularly those requiring specialized fabrication, the design team has prepared an initial bid package to maintain the project schedule and take advantage of pricing opportunities. This early package will primarily include demo, concrete, wall panels, electrical and structural steel. The estimated cost is approximately $11 million. Work will continue on plans for site improvements, sewer/water utilities, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FFE), and the remaining building components. These elements will be finalized during the initial bidding period. The Community Development Director introduced the representatives from Oertel Architects and RJM Construction present this evening to answer any questions. Page 1 of 5 Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to place approval of plans and specifications and advertisement for Bid Package No. 1, on the February 9, 2026 regular council agenda. 4. Peltier Ponds PUD Flexibility and Building Desing Standards The City Planner stated that the applicant, U.S. Home, LLC (aka Lennar), is proposing a master planned residential development located west of CSAH 54 (20th Ave N) across from Watermark, east of Peltier Lake, and north of the City of Centerville border. The development contains four (4) parcels totaling approximately 125 gross acres and 282 housing units. The proposed development is called Peltier Ponds. At the January 5, 2026 Work Session, staff and Council reviewed the proposal. The site layout and land use plan was generally supported. Reduced garage sizes for some of the single-family homes and all the townhomes were not supported. Exterior material percentages for the townhomes were also questioned. Lennar has revised the townhome garage sizes. All townhome garages are now at least 20 feet wide and garage sizes are 536-540 square foot. City standard is 20 feet wide and 520 square foot minimum. The City Planner introduced Josh Metzer with Lennar who was present to answer any questions about the development project. Council Direction The City Council provided direction regarding the requested Planned Unit Development (PUD) flexibility and building design standards, including a condition to permit 14 units to be at the lower garage standard as requested. This item will be brought back for formal consideration at a future Council meeting. Del Webb-Pulte Homes PUD Concept Plan The City Planner stated that the applicant, Pulte Homes of MN LLC, is proposing a master planned development in the northwest area of the City. It is located north of Main Street (CSAH 14), northeast of Sunset Ave. NE (CR 53) and south of Pine Street. The development contains approximately 260 gross acres and consists of a mix of 735 residential housing units. The proposed development will be referred to as Del Webb- Pulte Homes. The City Planner stated that the proposal consists of three different development areas. • The Del Webb neighborhood is in the northwest area of the site. • The Pulte Homes neighborhood is in the southeast area of the site. • A future Planned Residential/ Commercial area is in the southwest area of the site. Page 2 of 5 The City Planner introduced Paul H. with Pulte Homes, who was present to answer any questions. Council Direction The City Council provided high level feedback for the developer, as they move this project forward to the next stage in the planning process. 6. Pine Oakes PUD Concept Plan Review The City Planner stated that the applicant, M I I Homes of Minneapolis/St. Paul, LLC, is proposing 82 single-family villa lots in a conservation subdivision. The development is approximately 75 gross acres. It is located northeast of Natures Refuge North and is called Pine Oaks. Wetlands, buffers and stormwater ponds are integrated throughout the development creating approximately 55 acres (73%) of open space. The City Planner introduced Emily Becker with M I I Homes, who was present to answer any questions. Council Direction The City Council provided high level feedback for the developer, as they move this project forward to the next stage in the planning process. 7. White Bear Township and City of North Oaks, JPA Update The Community Development Director stated that the Wilkinson Waters Preliminary Plat and Planned Unit Development (PUD) Preliminary Plan along with a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) were approved in May of 2025. The project area is planned to be served by sanitary sewer and water from White Bear Township through the City of North Oaks. The proposed Wilkison Way road serving the development is located in both Lino Lakes and the City of North Oaks. The Community Development Director stated that the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the City of North Oaks and White Bear Township to provide water and sanitary sewer to the Wilkinson Waters Development appears to be moving forward. A JPA addressing the terms of the shared roadway is also required as part of the final plat approvals. Staff anticipate bringing this item forward at the second meeting in February. 8. Otter Lake Road Streetscape and Landscaping The Community Development Director stated that the Otter Lake Road extension will serve as an entryway to a growing commercial and industrial area along the 1-35E corridor. The project will include medians and two roundabouts which allow for inclusion of landscaping elements. Staff is proposing the inclusion of landscaping within the roundabouts and colored, stamped concrete within the project medians. The two roundabouts will be required to include lighting. This lighting typically consists of a shoebox style fixture on a standard 30 -40' pole. The Council has previously expressed Page 3 of 5 an interest in replacing the typical lighting with a decorative pole and fixture. If desirable staff would recommend inclusion of decorative lighting from the intersection of Main Street through the first roundabout. Standard lighting would be incorporated into the northern roundabout at Heritage Parkway. Council Direction The City Council provide direction to staff regarding the inclusion of decorative lighting and design standards for the Otter Lake Road project. 9. Police Department 2025 Report The Chief of Police presented the January through December 2025, Police Department report. The report included an overview of the police department's staffing levels and organizational structure, operational activity and crime statistics, training initiatives, community engagement efforts and operational equipment. The Chief of Police reported that the Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council is looking at a pilot program for real time crime responses. The program would be built using Flock Safety company equipment and would include cameras and drones. It is anticipated that there would be no cost to participating cities the first year and that the annual cost after that would be approximately $22,000. The Council discussed the cost of the full system proposed under the Joint Law Enforcement Council as compared to the purchase cost of license plate readers for the city, which had been considered with the 2026 budget. The Chief of Police stated that the Joint Law Enforcement Council is currently seeking interest statements from member cities, and a formal proposal would be developed if there is interest across the county. 10. Fire Department 2025 Report The Fire Chief presented the 2025 Annual Report for the Fire Department. He stated that it was a year of growth, transition, rebranding and investment in community safety and reliable response. He reviewed the number of calls for service by type, staffing levels and response times. 11. City Administrator Update The City Administrator presented the Q4 2025 Strategic Plan, Long -Term Core Strategies and Short -Term Goals report. She stated that the next steps include continued development of the action plans (measurables, action steps and resource needs), quarterly progress updates, City Council prioritization and decision points and community survey alignment with long-term direction and short-term goals. 12. Adjournment Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 10:30 p.m. Page 4 of 5 These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on February 9, 2026. it—t-I �, Roberta Colotti, CIVIC Rob aff rty, City Clerk Mayor Page 5 of 5