2024 03 19 CC Work Session MinutesCITY OF AMP DOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine called the work session to order at
5:00
p.m. Councihnembers Lorberbaum,
Mazzitello, Miller (arrived at 5:55 pm)
and Paper were
also
present.
Other in attendance were: City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator
Kelly Torkelson, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek, Park and Recreation Manager Meredith
Lawrence, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Community Development Manager Sarah
Madden, City Attorney Amy Schmidt, and City Clerk Nancy Bauer,
SHORT TERM RENTALS
Community Development Manager Sazah Madden presented information on short-term rentals in
Mendota Heights including the background and history of the current rental housing ordinance,
that is not currently in use, along with discussion points for short-term rentals. She stated that
there is currently a moratorium on short-term rentals to allow for future study of the topic. She
was looking for direction on next steps in order to draft a short-term rental ordinance and/or
license process.
Regulating and endorsement of a short-term rental ordinance/license was discussed. Mayor
Levine reported that Inspection would be able to do inspections of rental properties to help
enforce an ordinance.
City Administrator Jacobson stated state statues aze silent on short-term rental licenses and
concentration of licenses. City Attorney Schmidt reported that there is a rental licensing bill
being considered at the State legislature and that this bill focused on corporate ownership of
single family housing for rental purposes.
It was the consensus to draft an ordinance for short-term rentals with the conditions being:
• the definition of a short-term rental would be 30 days or less
• the number of occupants limited to two occupants per legal bedroom (with means of
egress needed)
• the home be homesteaded
• rented with afive-night minimum of
• parking be provided on -site for four operable vehicles on a paved surface
March 19, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Workshop page -1
• owners follow the existing property maintenance code
A draft
ordinance
would be brought
to a future workshop with more research such as limiting the
number
of times a
short-term rental
could be rented.
It was also the consensus to discuss at a later time long term rentals.
MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING AND SIMILAR LEGISLATION
City Administrator Jacobson reported on Minnesota legislation SF 1370 and HF4009. The SF
1370 bill was a delete all bill and is now the omnibus land use and zoning bill. These bills
exempt the city's authority overland use and housing. A letter regarding the SF1370 bill was
drafted for the Mayor to sign.
The main House bill is HF4009 that is moving through committee and a draft letter would be
modified to send to the House legislators. Staff has been working with Representative Clardy
regarding the bill. Jacobson noted that a meeting was being held with other cities to discuss our
opposition and concerns with the House bill. Representatives Kraft and Howard, the authors of
the bill, were invited to the tomorrow's meeting.
The draft letter to Senator Carlson was shared and City Administrator Jacobson stated that the
four main points of the letter are:
• The 2023 Legislature invested $1 billion in housing. The Minnesota Housing
Agency would deploy the investment. The Legislature should give the investment
time to work.
• The City's Comprehensive Plan that has been used since the 1960's -Mendota
Heights has invested in multifamily housing over that time.
• Discusses needed plans for additional infrastructure such as sewer, water, and
roads
• Keep the public input process open to the public
Councilor Mazzittello suggested putting storm water and impervious services in the
infrastructure portion of the letter.
It was the consensus for the Mayor and Councilors to sign the letter(s).
The rideshaze ordinance being discussed by the city of Minneapolis was briefly brought up for
discussion.
CLOSED SESSION
CITY ADMINSTRATOR PERFORAMNCE EVALUATION
March 19, 1024, Mendota Heights Council Workshop page -2
A motion to close the meeting was made by Councumember Paper, seconded by Councilmember
Lorberbaum. Motion carried 5-0.
The Mayor, Councilmembers, and City Administrator moved to the large conference room for a
closed session. The closed session was pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, § 13D.05, subd. 3(a) to
conduct the City Administrator's performance evaluation.
Mayor Levine called the closed session to order at 6:35 pm.
Those present for the closed session were Mayor Levine, Councihnembers Lorberbaum,
Mazzitello, Miller, Paper, and City Administrator Jacobson.
CALL BACK TO ORDER AND ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by made by Councihnember Mazzitello, and seconded by Councihnember
Paper to adjourn the closed meeting and return to the regular City Council meeting. Motion
carried 5-0.
Mayor Levine adjourned the closed meeting at 6:56 pm.
ATTEST: 4&
StQj%anielILevine, Mayor
N cy auer, City Clerk
March 19, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Workshop page -3