2024 01 23 CC Workshop MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine called the work session to order at 5:00 p.m. Councilmembers Lorberbaum,
Mazzitello, Miller and Paper were also present.
Others present include City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator Kelly
Torkelson, Park and Recreation Manager Meredith Lawrence, Finance Director Kristen
Schabacker, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek, Community Development Manager Sarah
Madden, Planning Consultant Jennifer Haskamp, and City Clerk Nancy Bauer,
Mayor Levine raised the topic of handwritten thank you notes as per Councilor Lorberbaum
suggestion. Handwritten notes would be signed by the City Council for donations over $1,000.
The Mayor would write the thank you note and council members would then sign.
Mayor Levine discussed group emails sent to all City Council members. She suggested that she
would respond for the group and cc the other Council members. She would say "on behalf of the
City Council" in the email. The idea being to avoid everyone responding to the same email and
to make messages consistent.
PD/CITY HALL BUILDING UPDATE
City Administrator Jacobson stated that the author of the bonding bill for the Police
Department/City Hall building renovation/expansion project suggested that the amount requested
for the project be trimmed. She and Chief McCarthy had been working on the request. The
request had been reduced from $11 million to $10 million. Administrator Jacobson noted that
the House Capital Investment Committee toured the building this past November as part of the
bonding tour.
Chief McCarthy stated the city is exploring additional regional partnerships to support the
Mendota Heights Police Department/City Hall building project.
Councilor Lorberbaum asked if we would be adding on to the existing building or starting over
with a new building. Chief McCarthy answered that there are no definite plans as of now and
that we need to determine the needs for the project. Knowing if a state bonding bill is passed
would give us good direction for further planning.
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Councilor Paper asked when a decision would need to be made on whether to build a new
building or add on to existing building. Chief McCarthy answered that if the bonding bill passes
there may be a deadline as to when breaking ground would need to take place.
Mayor Levine reported that the recommendation from the task force was to tear down the
existing building and start building from scratch. Steve Norton from the audience stated that
building a new building would be cheaper than trying to retrofit the existing building.
If a teardown of the existing building was done, how long it might take to build a new one and
finding temporary spaces for employees was briefly discussed.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW
City Administrator Jacobson stated that an even year is typically a bonding year at the state
legislature. The session starts on February 12th and scheduled to end on May 20th. All bills
introduced in 2023 are still in play and there were over 6,700 bills introduced There were 74
new chapters signed into law in 2023.
Administrator Jacobson noted that a major bill that passed was the Adult Use Cannabis bill. She
added that rule making is taking place as well as the establishment of the State Office of
Cannabis Management. She also highlighted the passage of the Minnesota Paid Family and
Medical Leave bill, and the quarter percent sales tax for local affordable housing aid that is
already being collected. She noted that a one-time public safety aid payment was received, and
that the state put a two-year moratorium on local sales tax requests.
She added that the upcoming session may see various bills introduced similar to the one
introduced by Representative Elkins last session focusing on preemption relating to local land
use and zoning policies. Various parts of the bill have shown bipartisan support. Additional
bills may be introduced especially for zoning, land use, high density, and aesthetic requirements.
Chief McCarthy stated she has been working with the Office of Traffic Safety on the use of
speed cameras. There is a pending House and Senate bill that would allow for the writing of
citations from a speed camera. The anticipated legislation may be helpful to the city. Chief
McCarthy is also tracking language for another bill regarding the redaction of body worn
cameras.
CHARITABLE GAMBLING
City Administrator Jacobson provided a brief overview of charitable gambling. She noted that
the topic was last discussed by council in September of 2019. She highlighted that the main
request of interested businesses is for the ability to sell pull -tabs and that two interested parties
were in attendance today.
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Administrator Jacobson highlighted the city's ability to establish an administrative account and
require license holders to contribute 10% of their net proceeds to be spent on eligible expenses
and eligible purposes within the target area. The target area is defined as Mendota Heights and
abutting cities to Mendota Heights. She added that eligible expenses and purposes are defined in
state statute.
After discussion, council requested more information on possible city revenue, and what the
administrative revenue could be spent on. The council also discussed conducting a survey of
Mendota Heights residents asking if they would want charitable gambling in the city. As part of
the survey these items should be included: charitable gambling should be defined, the cities that
allow it, mention businesses do want charitable gambling, discuss the benefits of allowing
charitable gambling, include information on who would benefit from charitable gambling, and
include some demographic questions such as age and confirmation that respondents were
Mendota Heights residents. The answers should be based on a sliding scale such as agree,
strongly agree, disagree and strongly disagree.
COMMUNITY CENTER FEASIBLITY STUDY UPDATE
Parks and Recreation Manager Meredith Lawrence updated the Council on a community center
survey that was conducted with West St. Paul. The community center feasibility study is being
done as part of West St. Paul's master parks plan. The survey results were preliminary data and
more information would be provided at a February meeting.
ZONING CODE UPDATE
Jennifer Haskamp, Planning Consultant, stated that there were only a few topics that needed to
be discussed to be ready for the public open house for the Zoning Code Update. At the last
meeting, it was decided to take the traditional neighborhood overlay district (TNO) out of the
zoning code update. She noted that character standards associated with the TNO included height
averaging of roof lines centered around tear downs and infill redevelopment, and that if someone
wanted to exceed that average height it could be done by a conditional use permit. She noted
that this standard could be applied universally across R-1 properties. After discussion, it was the
consensus to also apply the standard to R-1 properties.
Haskamp noted that murals and wall signs are not currently allowed. The Planning Commission
is generally in support of allowing them. There is language in the draft zoning code that states
murals and wall signs are allowed with an Interim Use Permit. It would run with the business or
owner and if the business/owner changed the mural or wall sign would need to be removed.
After discussing the topic, it was the consensus to leave the language in the zoning code update
and it be presented at the open house.
Dog boarding in the Industrial Zone was also discussed and it was the consensus to leave the
language in the zoning code update and that it also be presented at the open house.
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White vinyl fencing would not go in the zoning code update as a restriction.
Haskamp stated that the public open house is scheduled for Thursday, February 15, 2024, from
5:30 pin to 7:30 pin. at City Hall. There will be a short presentation at 6:00 pm. The goal is to
hold the meeting in -person and virtually. If needed after the open house, anther work session
would be set up to address questions or concerns received during the open house. It was noted
that a new draft of the zoning code update will be available on the city's website two weeks
before the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Levine adjourned the meeting at 6:49 p.m.
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ATTEST:
N ncy uer, City Clerk
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Page 4 City Council Work Session 0123, 2024
Step t anie Levine, Mayor