The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About06-01-26 - City Council Work Session MinutesLino Lakes City Council Work Session Minutes DATE: June 1, 2026 TIME STARTED: 6:00 P.M. TIME ENDED: 9:00 P.M. LOCATION: Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty (arrived at 6:59 p.m.), Councilmembers Lyden, Ruhland, Nelson and Rennaker MEMBERS ABSENT: None Staff Members Present: City Administrator Karen Anderson, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, Finance Director Tracy Thoma, Accountant Christine Stifter, Community Development Director Mike Grochala and Chief of Police Curt Boehme. 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Acting Mayor Ruhland 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. City Audit Presentation Andy Hering with Redpath & Company presented the 2025 Audit Report. The Finance Director reported that the 2025 Audit will be presented at the June 81" Regular Meeting to be accepted by the City Council. 4. 2050 Comprehensive Plan: Consultant Contract Kendrahl Lindahl with Landform Consultants presented her firms proposal to prepare the 2050 Comprehensive Plan. Her firm employs 20+ staff members and Landform has served as the City's Planning Consultant agency for 15+ years. Services will be billed on an hourly basis, and the total estimated cost is $170,153. Landform has partnered with TC2 to assist with the Parks and Natural Resources elements and anticipate working with the City's engineering consultant, WSB, to develop the engineering elements of the plan. It is their understanding that WSB will prepare a separate scope of work for their chapters. They have partnered with both firms in the past and have confidence that this Project Team will be able to collaborate to effectively create the 2050 Lino Lakes Comprehensive Plan. The City's 2050 Comprehensive Plan is required to be completed by December 31, 2028. The Community Development Director stated that the Metropolitan Council has a $40,000 grant available. The City has budgeted for the project cost over three years. Page 1 of 4 The City Council reviewed and discussed the proposed scope of services including the public engagement calendar. Council Member Lyden stated that he would like to see the costs to complete the 2050 Comprehensive Plan reduced. It was noted by the consultant that the number of community engagement events would be the area that would be cut if there was a need to reduce the costs. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to schedule formal approval of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan contract, as presented, with Landform for the June 81h meeting. (Councilmember Lyden favored a reduced cost plan.) Harvest Grange: Rezoning and Preliminary Plat The City Planner reported that the applicant, Twin Cities Land Holding, LLC, is proposing a residential development in the southwest quadrant of CSAH 54 (20th Ave S) and Cedar Street. The development contains four (4) parcels totaling approximately 27 gross acres and 95 housing units. It is called Harvest Grange. The City Planner provided an overview of the Rezoning and Preliminary Plat application. She stated that formal action would be taken at the June 811 meeting. 6. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA): Farm Animals The City Planner reported that staff has been asked to discuss the City's zoning ordinance regarding keeping farm animals, specifically chickens and bees. The current City's zoning ordinance (CHAPTER 1007: ZONING CODE) allows for the keeping of farm animals such as chickens and bees on rurally zoned properties (R, Rural or R-X, Rural Executive). The City Council discussed the recent public comment requests to allow for the keeping of chickens and bees in residential districts. It was reviewed that 8,919 acres (52%) of the zoned land in Lino Lakes is rurally zoned and allowed to keep farm animals. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to retain the current zoning ordinance regulations related to the keeping of chickens and bees. 7. Franchise Agreements The City Clerk presented electric and gas utility franchise agreement drafts. She presented information on franchise fees, noting that would be established by a separate ordinance as authorized in the franchise agreement. Page 2 of 4 The Council discussed the draft franchise agreements and franchise fees. They requested additional information on a 4% residential franchise fee, commercial and industrial fees, and general information on franchise agreements for consideration at the July 6th Work Session. 8. Ordinance Amendment to Restrict the Sale of Flavored Vape and Tobacco Products The Chief of Police reported that on April 27, 2026, Nathan N., a high school student, spoke during the public comment portion of the City Council meeting and asked the Council to consider adopting a city ordinance restricting the sale of commercial flavored vape and tobacco products. The City Council requested additional information regarding the potential regulation of flavored tobacco and vape products in the city. The Chief of Police provided background information the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, the 2020 Minnesota law change setting the minimum sale age for all tobacco products from 18 to 21, a survey of area cities with further restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco products, and a review of the business impact/current tobacco license holders. The City Council reviewed the information provided and discussed the considerations of an ordinance amendment. It was noted that the request is intended to prevent youth smoking and tobacco product use and the current law prohibits sales to those under age 21. Councilmember Nelson stated that she was in favor of amending the ordinance to further prevent tobacco use by youth. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to retain the current ordinance. (Councilmember Nelson favored amending the ordinance.) 9. City Recreational Complex Development Update The Community Development Director reported that at the March 2, 2026, City Council work session the City Council discussed the possibility of selling a portion of the City's Recreation Complex land to a private entity, with the requirement that it be used for recreational purposes. The intent is to have a private group construct a private recreational facility that would generate activity on the site and provide seed money for additional public park improvements. The consensus of the Council was to direct staff to investigate the feasibility of marketing a portion of the property for sale. At that time staff identified several items that would need to be examined as part of any consideration. The Community Development Director reviewed the latest research on the project options. Council Consensus It was the consensus of the City Council to sell the 10-acres as part of the area sports complex/recreation development. The Community Development Director gathered further input from the City Council relating to the project area development including preferred types of uses, open access to residents and purpose for the land sale. Page 3 of 4 10. City Administrator Update No Report 11. Notices and Communications There is a Special City Council Meeting and Closed Session immediately following tonight's Work Session, to be held in the Community Room. 12. Adjournment Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. These minutes were approved at the regular Council Meeting on June 22-2026. I , d—. �, K 4 4! V� - Roberta Colotti, CMC Ro of rty, City Clerk Ma Page 4 of 4