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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/10/2026LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 August 10, 2026 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present: Jeff Dains, Sharon Kelly, Evan Sayre, Duane Pulford, and Mayor Mary Gaasch. Councilors absent: None. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; and Miles Cline, Deputy City Clerk. Approvals Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any additions to the meeting agenda. Butkowski stated that she would like to add geotechnical and environmental testing at 2430 Larpenteur Avenue to the Additional Items section of the agenda. There being nothing else, Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were corrections to the minutes of the July 28, 2026, City Council meeting. Councilor Kelly stated that on page two of the minutes, in the second to last paragraph, "I" should read as "is." There being nothing else, Councilor Kelly moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to approve the July 28, 2026, City Council meeting minutes as amended. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Dains to approve the claims totaling $183,455.67. Motion carried unanimously. Consent Councilor Sayre moved and seconded by Councilor Dains to approve the Consent Agenda thereby acknowledging the July financial reports, and a quote for a topographic survey at 2430 Larpenteur Avenue West. Discussion/Action Item A. 2027 Draft General and Special Revenue Funds Budgets Butkowski said that staff had spent time revising the draft General Fund budget over the past month. The biggest change related to the public safety costs. Due to the new policing formula, the St. Anthony city manager said that Lauderdale won't see the five percent increase factored into the first draft budget. It is factored at one percent, but staff haven't received final costs. Ramsey County sent estimated values and fiscal disparities revenue. The City can expect an additional $15,294 in fiscal disparities. Factoring all the budget changes, the overall general fund budget increases $39,538 or 2.0%. Due to the additional fiscal disparities, the projected local levy increase totals 2.5%. Yet to be finalized is county assessor taxable market value information LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 August 10, 2026 for residential, apartment, and commercial classes. Those figures are needed to calculate the impact of the proposed tax increase. Based on information available on Ramsey County's website, staff expect the reports will show a less than one percent decrease in housing values with a median value home amount of $319,100 for 2027 versus $321,900 for 2026. Additionally, staff put together the other proposed fund budgets for 2027. They reflect the capital costs included in the capital improvement plan. Also provided is a calculation of tax impact to individual homeowners that was derived from the County's website. B. 2027 Budget Priorities and Capital Improvement Plan Butkowski presented the draft capital improvement plan along with a list of priorities that were discussed with the Council. C. Community Park Hockey Rink/Repair Replacement Part of the budgetary conversation for 2027 regards fixing or replacing the hockey rink. The City's park fund balance is $223,854. Approximately $28,000 of that was spent this year on resurfacing the tennis court and Community Park playground surface. Becker Arena provided pricing for repairing the sections that fell ($29,737), replacing the rink with a new wooden board system ($97,210), or replacing the rink with a new aluminum framed rink with poly dasher boards ($131,798). To have the hockey rink ready for the season, the Council had to decide which method of repairing or replacing was preferred. Discussions regarding how to fund the project can continue through the end of September when the Council sets the preliminary levy. Councilor Sayre made a motion to adopt Solution 2: Replace with an aluminum/poly dasher board system. This was seconded by Councilor Pulford and carried unanimously. Additional Items A. Geotechnical and Environmental Testing at 2430 Larpenteur Avenue Butkowski explained the next step in the redevelopment of 2430 Larpenteur is to have geotechnical and environmental testing completed. The original Phase I and II were completed by Peer Engineering in 2014. Peer Engineering was acquired by Braun and the employees that created the original Phase I and II continue to work at Braun. As noted in the proposal, the purpose of the geotechnical evaluation will be to "characterize subsurface geologic conditions at selected boring locations, evaluate their impact on the project, and provide geotechnical recommendations for the design and construction of the dispensary." In short, this proposal lays out for the architects the suitability of the site for construction. Part of the issue is that there is a known history of previous owners burying unwanted materials LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 August 10, 2026 underground along the south side of the property. The report will let the architects know whether stable soils exist or whether other methods will need to be used to build on the site. Braun also noted it is more cost effective to take additional environmental samples while they complete the geotechnical work noted in the proposal. The anticipated price is an additional $5,000. Staff recommend completing the environmental work now both from a cost perspective, and to situate ourselves for environmental grants through Ramsey County based on what the test results shows. Councilor Pulford made a motion to approve the Braun Intertec proposal for Geotechnical Evaluation and approve up to an additional $5,000 for environmental testing. This was seconded by Councilor Kelly and carried unanimously. Set Agenda for Next Meeting Butkowski stated that the next meeting may include the 2027 draft general and special revenue fund budgets and an update from Lauderdale representatives to the Les Bolstad community advisory committee. Work Session A. Staff Project Updates Butkowski stated that she has no further updates at this time. B. Opportunity for the Public to Address the City Council Mayor Gaasch opened the floor to those interested in addressing the Council. There being nobody interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor. Adjournment Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Kelly to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Miles Cline Deputy City Clerk