HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-13-26 - City Council Meeting MinutesLINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
DATE: July 13, 2026
TIME STARTED: 6:30 PM
TIME ENDED: 7:05 PM
LOCATION: City Council Chambers
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rafferty, Councilmembers Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
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, City Engineer Diane Hankee, Public Service Director Rick DeGardner and Chief of Police
Curt Boehme.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rafferty called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
SETTING THE AGENDA
The agenda was adopted as presented.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Rafferty opened the Public Comment period at 6:33 p.m.
Chris Stowe, 426 Pine Street, Lino Lakes, stated regarding current and proposed gas and electric
franchise fees of 4%, when his home was built the original builder paid the utility company to drag
the natural gas line all the way up 4th Avenue out of their own pocket. Because that was the only
way to serve their area. That was a private investment in infrastructure. Since then, the City has
raised his taxes and his neighbors by roughly double digits percentages year after year, the exact
numbers vary by year and by property, but the effect is the same, their property taxes continue to
increase faster than their incomes.
Mr. Stowe stated that meeting packets, audits and bond resolutions are technically public, but most
residents do not have a practical way to track the money trail. That's not real transparency.
Mr. Stowe stated that at the July 6, 2026, City Council Work Session the City talked about backing a
loan to get 1 % or $60,000. That is not a free $60,000, that comes with risks. He stated that the City
did that three times before. One was for the YMCA which failed. He stated that according to the
City's fiscal reports, it looks like one year the City spent between $600,000 and $700,000 bailing out
the YMCA, which is now The Rookery and owned by the City. At one meeting the City spent $10,000
on treadmills for The Rookery. He questioned why the City is taking a risk to make $60,000?
Mr. Stowe stated that one of the City Councilmembers was disappointed by the number of trees
that were cut down in their backyard by the utility company. He stated that those trees were cut
down because that is a sub -station. The way a substation works is it changes the voltage, the
reason they need to increase the voltage is because of all the development in Lino Lakes. With the
Natures Refuge development, which resulted in trees being cut down impacting that area, the
energy company needed extra power. So, now it's kind of ironic and poetic justice that the trees in
the City Councilmember's backyard were cut down to be able to fuel the power going to the
development, if his understanding is correct.
Motion to Close the Public Comment period at 6:36 p.m.
RESULT: Carried [5-0]
MOVER: Lyden
SECONDER: Nelson
AYES: Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS: None
1. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Expenditures for July 13, 2026 (Check No. 125242 through 125366) in the
Amount of $1,929,762.36
B. Approval of June 22, 2026, City Council Work Session Minutes
C. Approval of June 22, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes
D. Approval of June 22, 2026, City Council Special Closed Meeting Minutes
E. Approval of Resolution No. 26-125 Authorizing the Issuance of a Solicitor's License to
Custom Remodelers Inc. (CRI)
F. Approval of Resolution No. 26-126 Authorizing the Issuance of a Solicitor's License to
Pommier Window Washing LLC
G. Approval of Resolution No. 26-133 Authorizing the Execution of License Agreement
between the City of Lino Lakes and Anoka County for Landscape Median
Improvements
H. Appointment to the Planning and Zoning Board
I. Hiring of Part -Time Staff for the Rookery Activity Center
J. Approval of Resolution No. 26-139 Stormwater Re -use Agreement, Wilkinson Waters
Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Items 1A through 1.1 as presented.
RESULT:
Carried [5-0]
MOVER:
Rennaker
SECONDER:
Lyden
AYES:
Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS:
None
2. FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-137 Authorizing Preparation of Utility Rate Study and
Utility Rate Structure Review.
RESULT: Carried [5-0]
MOVER: Nelson
SECONDER: Ruhland
AYES: Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS: None
3. ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT REPORT
No Report
4. POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
No Report
5. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
No Report
6. PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPORT
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-136, Accepting Quotes and Awarding a Construction
Contract, 2026 Trail Maintenance Project.
RESULT: Carried [5-0]
MOVER: Ruhland
SECONDER: Lyden
AYES: Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS: None
7. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT
A. Wilkinson Waters Second Addition
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-127 for PUD Final Plan/Final Plat.
RESULT: Carried [5-0]
MOVER: Lyden
SECONDER: Nelson
AYES: Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS: None
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-128 for Development Agreement.
RESULT:
Carried [5-0]
MOVER:
Lyden
SECONDER:
Rennaker
AYES:
Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS:
None
B. Peltier Ponds
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-131 for PUD Final Plan/Final Plat.
RESULT: Carried [5-0]
MOVER: Ruhland
SECONDER: Nelson
AYES: Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS: None
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-132 for Development Agreement.
RESULT:
Carried [5-0]
MOVER:
Ruhland
SECONDER:
Rennaker
AYES:
Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS:
None
C. Economic Development Strategic Plan
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-130, Approving Economic Development Strategic
Plan.
RESULT:
Carried [5-0]
MOVER:
Rennaker
SECONDER:
Nelson
AYES:
Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS:
None
D. 2026 Public Works Utility Extension Project
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-129, Order Project, Approve the Plans and
Specifications and Authorize the Ad for Bid, 2026 Public Works Utility Extension Project.
RESULT: Carried [5-0]
MOVER: Ruhland
SECONDER: Lyden
AYES: Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS: None
E. Production Well No. 7
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-134, Order Project, Approve the Plans and
Specifications and Authorize Ad for Bid, Production Well No. 7.
RESULT: Carried [5-0]
MOVER: Ruhland
SECONDER: Nelson
AYES: Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS: None
F. County Road J and Centerville Road Roundabout Landscaping Project
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-135, Accepting Quotes and Awarding a Construction
Contract, County Road J and Centerville Road Roundabout Landscaping Project.
RESULT: Carried [5-0]
MOVER: Lyden
SECONDER: Nelson
AYES: Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS: None
G. Roadway Improvement and Easement Agreement, Wilkinson Way
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-138, Approving Roadway Improvement and
Easement Agreement, Wilkinson Way.
RESULT: Carried [5-0]
MOVER: Ruhland
SECONDER: Rennaker
AYES: Rafferty, Lyden, Nelson, Ruhland and Rennaker
NAYS: None
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
9. NEW BUSINESS
None
10. NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS
The next City Council meeting is on Monday, July 27th, beginning with a Work Session at 6:00
p.m. followed bythe Regular Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Rafferty adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
These minutes were approved at the City Council Meeting on July 27, 2026.
Roberta Colotti, CIVIC R fferty,
City Clerk Mayor