2024 11 19 CC Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a work session of the Mendota Heights City Council was
held at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine called the work session to order at 5:00 pm. Councilors Lorberbaum, Mazzitello,
and Paper was also present. Councilor Miller was absent.
Others present included: City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek,
Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Natural Resources Coordinator Krista Spreiter, Community
Development Manager Sarah Madden, Park and Recreation/Assistant Public Works Director
Meredith Lawrence, City Attorney Amy Schmidt, City Attorney Leah Koch, Councilmember Elect
John Maczko, and City Clerk Nancy Bauer,
PARTNERS INENERGY —ENERGY ACTION PLAN (DRAFT)
Natural Resources Coordinator Krista Spreiter provided an update on the Mendota Heights
Energy Action Team's efforts over the past six months to develop a comprehensive citywide
energy action plan. If adopted, the plan will serve as a roadmap for the city's energy initiatives
over the next 18 months.
Spreiter explained that the effort is part of Xcel Energy's Partners in Energy program, atwo-year
initiative designed to help communities establish and achieve their energy goals. The Energy
Action Team brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including residents, students,
commission members, county officials, and city staff, to craft the plan.
Representatives from Xcel Energy —Paolo Sperin, Ana De La Torre, and Sophie Troutman —
presented details of the proposed plan. They emphasized its goal of promoting energy efficiency,
renewable energy use, and beneficial electrification across the city's residents, businesses, and
municipal operations. The overarching objective is to build a more energy -resilient community.
Sperm highlighted the targets of the program. By 2030, Mendota Heights aims to save
approximately $1.6 million through energy efficiency initiatives and prevent the emission of
9,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e). This reduction is equivalent to
removing 200 gas -powered cars from the roads annually through the decade.
The presentation outlined strategies for achieving these goals in four focus areas: residential
energy efficiency, business and municipal energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and
beneficial electrification. Discussions touched on approaches to engage local businesses, funding
mechanisms, educational outreach, and the role of solar projects in achieving these objectives.
November 19, 2024, Mendota Heights City Council Wark Session Minutes Page - 1
Councilor Lorberbaum expressed gratitude to the Xcel representatives for their efforts and
detailed presentation.
Mayor Levine inquired about the plan next steps. Troutman responded that the plan is
scheduled to be presented for approval at the December 3, 2024, City Council meeting, provided
there are no substantial changes or new feedback. She encouraged written feedback from
stakeholders before the meeting.
CANNABIS ORDINANCE
Community Development Manager Madden reviewed the updates to the drab cannabis
ordinance. The draft ordinance was modeled after the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM)
model ordinance for the registration of a cannabis business. Madden noted that the draft
ordinance does include modifications to the Zoning Ordinance use chart to incorporate the new
uses.
The council asked about buffers and their application to or from a bordering city. Attorney Koch
stated buffers would be measured within the city. The state statute allowed buffers from parks
and schools were reviewed.
Mayor Levine stated she would like a cannabis business to be located in the industrial area
Attorney Koch stated that the cap in the state statute was for cannabis retail businesses.
Councilors agreed that cannabis retail business should be removed from the MUPUD district in
the zoning use chart.
Attorney Koch reported that the OCM administrative rules are anticipated to go into effect
early/mid 2025 and not the January 2025 timeline as originally expected.
City Administrator Jacobson asked for information regarding the OCM licensing process for
cannabis businesses. Attorney Koch said the state will look at potential applications to license
cannabis businesses. She noted that a good registration ordinance would be recommended to
help the city maintain some of the power that cities have been granted.
Community Development Manager Madden stated she would need to come back to the council
with a registration ordinance and noted that performance standards could be listed in the
registration ordinance.
Councilor Mazzitello asked if someone were to apply for a cannabis business registration with
the city, would they need to apply to the OCM first for a license. Community Development
Manager Madden stated yes.
Councilor Lorberbaum asked if the city should be planning on doing random checks on a
cannabis business. Attorney Koch replied that the city is required to do one compliance check
per calendar year for age verification compliance. Community Development Manager Madden
stated the compliance check is in the draft ordinance. Attorney Koch said that there is an
expedited complaint form that could be sent to OCM also.
November 19, 2024, Mendoza Heights City Council Work Session Minutes Page - 2
Mayor Levine verified that Community Development Manager Madden had enough direction to
update the draft ordinance. It was recommended by Attorney Koch that the draft ordinance be
approved first then a registration ordinance be drafted.
Community Development Manager Madden stated that a public hearing on the draft ordinance
will be held at the Planning Commission meeting on November 26, 2024, on the zoning use chart
portion of the draft ordinance. The draft ordinance then will be presented to the City Council at
their December 17, 2024, meeting.
CITY HALL —POLICE STATION VISIONING
City Administrator Jacobson provided background on the need to align the police
departmentleity hall building project with a clear vision that reflects the community's needs and
values. She stated that what was being asked of the council was for them to provide input on
what key elements they believe should be incorporated into a municipal campus.
Councilor Mazzitello asked if the existing city hall could provide for the needs of the police
department. Chief McCarthy responded that it could generally but one of the needs is more
means of ingress and egress among a host of other issues.
Councilor Mazzitello stated that the police department is out of date and out of space. He added
that what residents like about the existing building is its residential location and that it looks like
a residential building.
Councilor Lorberbaum said she is looking for something with a stamp of approval. Lorberbaum
described here STAMP acronym noting that S — safe for the public and staff as well as healthy,
T —technology -the must provide tools that are needed, A — accessible, M — modem built for the
future, P — proud (all stakeholders are proud when walking into city hall).
Councilor Paper would like a building built on the ballfreld so that no additional rent would be
paid while the building is built. He noted that residents do appreciate having their own police
department and the cost of construction does not go down. He stated that the building is long
past due for a remodel.
Councilor -elect John Maczko stated that when the existing building was built it was built to add
on where the solar panels are. He recalled that there was extensive community input when it was
built. He stated that a city hall should be on this site and that the footprint needs to be guided by
what the needs are.
Councilor Mazzitello said he did see a scenario for keeping the building and adding an addition
where the police deparnnent moves into the addition. The downstairs then could be repurposed.
What this scenario would not solve is the ingress and egress issue.
Mayor Levine stated there will be a task force and community input for this issue. She likes the
building but does not like that residents can't fmd the police department easily. She noted the
communal space in the center of city hall. She noted her love for the council chambers and
stated it is one of the best she has seen.
November 19, 2024, Mendota Heights City Council Work Session Minutes Page - 3
ADJOURNMENT
Council Mazzitello made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Lorberbaum seconded the
motion. Motion carried 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:47 pm.
Stephanie 6. Levine, Mayor
ATTEST:
a, c�
N icy Bauer, City Clerk
November 19, 2024, Mendota Heights City Council Work Session Minutes Page - 4