--- ## title: July 20, Council Minutes Approved ## author: Tremble, Pamela S date: D:20230621204500Z --- ## City of Blaine ## City Council July 20, 2026 | 7:00 PM ## Blaine City Hall ## 10801 Town Square Drive NE ## Blaine, MN 55449 ## MINUTES 1. Call to Order by the Mayor The meeting was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Sanders followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the Roll Call. 2. Pledge of Allegiance ## 3. Roll Call PRESENT: Mayor Tim Sanders, Councilmembers Terra Fleming, Chris Ford, Chris Massoglia, Tom Newland, and Jess Robertson. ABSENT: Councilmember Leslie Larson. Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Erik Thorvig; Community Development Director Sheila Sellman; Safety Services Director/Police Chief Brian Podany; Director of Administrative Services Scott Johnson; Director of Engineering Dan Schluender; Finance Director Jason Zimmerman; City Attorney Eric Larson; and City Clerk Catherine Sorensen. ## 4. Awards - Presentations - Organizational Business None. ## 5. Open Forum Open Forum is an opportunity for the public to share comments, concerns, or input on other items. While Open Forum is not intended to provide responses or discussion during the meeting, city staff will contact the speaker(s) after the meeting if follow-up is needed. Each speaker is limited to three minutes, with a maximum of 15 minutes set aside for Open Forum. Mayor Sanders opened the Open Forum at 7:01PM. Bruce Manthei, 4101 99th Avenue NE, shared continued concerns regarding the electrical box location at 99th and Lexington Avenues. There being no further input, Mayor Sanders closed the Open Forum at 7:04PM. 6. Communications None. ## 7. Approval of Consent Agenda: All items listed under the "Consent Agenda" are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. Moved by Councilmember Newland, seconded by Councilmember Robertson, that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved. Councilmember Massoglia highlighted the renaming of Park Drive to Memorial Park Drive and thanked Steve Guider for his work on the Veterans Memorial Park. Motion adopted unanimously. 7.1. 2026-148 Schedule of Bills Paid ## Sponsors: Jason Zimmerman, Finance Director 7.2. 2026-149 Approval of Minutes ## Sponsors: Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk 7.3. 2026-150 Motion to Approve a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for St. ## Timothy's Annual Carnival, 707 89th Avenue NE ## Sponsors: Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk 7.4. 2026-151 Acknowledge Receipt of the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report ## (ACFR) ## Sponsors: Jason Zimmerman, Finance Director 7.5. RES 26-147 Resolution Approving the Renaming of Park Drive NE to Memorial Park Drive NE and Updating the Official Address of Veterans Memorial Park ## Sponsors: Daniel Schluender, Director of Engineering 8. 7:00 PM - Public Hearing and Items Published for a Certain Time 8.1. RES 26-139 Resolution Granting a Conditional Use Permit Amendment to Add an Outdoor Pickleball Court and a 10-Foot High Fence to Tournament Players Club of the Twin Cities in a Development Flex (DF) Zoning District at 11444 ## Tournament Players Parkway NE. TPC Twin Cities (PC26-0035/ACK) ## Sponsors: Sheila Sellman, Community Development Director Community Development Director Sellman stated the applicant is requesting an amendment to allow construction of three pickleball courts with a 10-foot high fence just south of the existing building. Staff commented on the request further and recommended approval with conditions. Mayor Sanders opened the public hearing at 7:07PM. Mike Chmieleski, 2332 Lehman Lane, asked for further information on the proposed court location, how many courts were being proposed, and expressed concern regarding the lighting and noise impacts. Ms. Sellman reviewed the location of the pickleball courts, noting the request was for three courts. She explained the courts would operate from 7AM to 7PM noting lighting was not being requested at this time. Barbara Braaten, 2289 Lehman Lane, asked for a better description of a black vinyl fence. Ms. Sellman explained the applicant would be installing a black maintenance-free fence surrounding the pickleball courts. A neighbor confirmed that lighting would not be allowed without an additional public hearing process. There being no additional public input, Mayor Sanders closed the public hearing at 7:13PM. Moved by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Councilmember Fleming, to adopt a Resolution Granting a Conditional Use Permit Amendment to Add an Outdoor Pickleball Court and a 10-Foot High Fence to Tournament Players Club of the Twin Cities in a Development Flex (DF) Zoning District at 11444 Tournament Players Parkway NE. Councilmember Robertson thanked the neighbors in attendance for coming forward with their comments and questions. Motion adopted unanimously. 8.2. RES 26-133 Conduct Public Hearing and Adopt a Resolution to Vacate a Portion of the 30-foot Scenic Easement created by Document No. 303325, which is contained within Lot 1 and Lot 2, Block 1, Ball Road Industrial Park, according to the recorded plat thereof, Anoka County, Minnesota; Vacation ## No. V26-06 ## Sponsors: Daniel Schluender, Director of Engineering Director of Engineering Schluender stated the city received a petition dated May 28, 2026, from Robert Carlson, representing Rendova Partnership, requesting the vacation of the portion of the 30-ft wide scenic easement as created and recorded as Document No. 303325, which is contained within Lot 1 and Lot 2, Block 1, Ball Road Industrial Park; according to the recorded plat thereof, Anoka County, Minnesota as outlined in Exhibit A. Mayor Sanders opened the public hearing at 7:15PM. There being no public input, Mayor Sanders closed the public hearing at 7:15PM. Moved by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Councilmember Massoglia, to adopt a Resolution to Vacate a Portion of the 30-foot Scenic Easement created by Document No. 303325, which is contained within Lot 1 and Lot 2, Block 1, Ball Road Industrial Park, according to the recorded plat thereof, Anoka County, Minnesota; Vacation No. V26-06. Motion adopted unanimously. ## 8.3. ORD 26-2607 Public Hearing and Second Reading ## Ordinance Granting to Connexus Energy, a Minnesota Cooperative ## Association, Its Successors and Assigns, Permission to Construct, Operate, Repair and Maintain in the City of Blaine, Minnesota, an Electric ## Distribution System and Transmission Lines, Including Necessary Poles, Lines, Fixtures and Appurtenances, for the Furnishing of Electric Energy to the City, its Inhabitants, and Others, and to Use the Public Ways and Public Grounds of the City for Such Purposes, and Prescribing Certain Terms and ## Conditions Thereof ## Sponsors: Daniel Schluender, Director of Engineering Mr. Schluender stated the city of Blaine and Anoka Electric Cooperative, D/B/A/ Connexus Energy last entered into a franchise agreement in 1998, Ordinance Number 98-1698. This agreement allowed them to operate their electric distribution system within the city's right- of-ways for a period of 20 years. This franchise agreement has now expired, and it is the desire of both the city and Connexus Energy to renew an agreement. To enact a franchise ordinance, the city has a process for adopting the ordinance. • June 1, council opened the public hearing to allow for comments and continued the public hearing to June 15. • On June 15, council reconvened the public hearing and allowed for additional comments, had the first reading of the proposed ordinance and continued the public hearing until July 6. • On July 6, council re-convened the public hearing and continued it to July 20. Second reading of the proposed ordinance was tabled. • Tonight, the council is asked to reconvene the public hearing and allow for additional comments, then close the public hearing and table second reading of the ordinance to a future meeting once final negotiations are complete. Mayor Sanders reconvened the public hearing at 7:18PM. There being no public input, Mayor Sanders closed the public hearing at 7:18PM. Moved by Mayor Sanders, seconded by Councilmember Newland, to table Second Reading of Ordinance No. 26-2607, Granting to Connexus Energy, a Minnesota Cooperative Association, Its Successors and Assigns, Permission to Construct, Operate, Repair and Maintain in the City of Blaine, Minnesota, an Electric Distribution System and Transmission Lines, Including Necessary Poles, Lines, Fixtures and Appurtenances, for the Furnishing of Electric Energy to the City, its Inhabitants, and Others, and to Use the Public Ways and Public Grounds of the City for Such Purposes, and Prescribing Certain Terms and Conditions Thereof to a future meeting. Motion adopted unanimously. ## 8.4. ORD 26-2608 Public Hearing and Second Reading ## Ordinance Granting to Northern States Power Company, D/B/A/ Xcel ## Energy, a Minnesota Corporation, Its Successors and Assigns, a ## Nonexclusive Franchise to Construct, Operate, Repair and Maintain in the ## City Of Blaine, Minnesota, an Electric Distribution System and Transmission ## Lines, Including Necessary Poles, Lines, Fixtures and Appurtenances, for the Furnishing of Electric Energy to the City, Its Inhabitants, and Others, and to Use the Public Ways and Public Grounds of the City for Such Purposes, ## and Prescribing Certain Terms and Conditions Thereof ## Sponsors: Daniel Schluender, Director of Engineering Mr. Schluender stated the city of Blaine and Northern States Power, D/B/A/Excel Energy last entered into a franchise agreement in 1998, Ordinance Number 98-1699. This agreement allowed them to operate their electric distribution system within the city's right-of-ways for a period of 20 years. This franchise agreement has now expired, and it is the desire of both the city and Excel Energy to renew an agreement. To enact a franchise ordinance, the city has a process for adopting the ordinance. • June 1, council opened the public hearing to allow for comments and continued the public hearing to June 15. • On June 15, council reconvened the public hearing and allowed for additional comments, had the first reading of the proposed ordinance and continued the public hearing until July 6. • On July 6, council re-convened the public hearing and continued it to July 20. Second reading of the proposed ordinance was tabled. • Tonight, the council is asked to reconvene the public hearing and allow for additional comments, close the public hearing, then table second reading until a future meeting date. Mayor Sanders opened the public hearing at 7:18PM. There being no additional public input, Mayor Sanders closed the public hearing at 7:18PM. Moved by Mayor Sanders, seconded by Councilmember Newland, to table Second Reading of Ordinance No. 26-2608, Granting to Northern States Power Company, D/B/A/ Xcel Energy, a Minnesota Corporation, Its Successors and Assigns, a Nonexclusive Franchise to Construct, Operate, Repair and Maintain in the City Of Blaine, Minnesota, an Electric Distribution ## System and Transmission Lines, Including Necessary Poles, Lines, Fixtures and Appurtenances, for the Furnishing of Electric Energy to the City, Its Inhabitants, and Others, and to Use the Public Ways and Public Grounds of the City for Such Purposes, and Prescribing Certain Terms and Conditions Thereof to a future meeting. Motion adopted unanimously. ## 8.5. ORD 26-2609 Public Hearing and Second Reading ## Ordinance Granting to Northern States Power Company, D/B/A/ Xcel ## Energy, a Minnesota Corporation, Its Successors and Assigns, a ## Nonexclusive Franchise to Construct, Operate, Repair, and Maintain ## Facilities and Equipment for the Transportation, Distribution, Manufacture, and Sale of Gas Energy for Public and Private Use and to Use Public Ways and Public Grounds of the City for Such Purposes; and Prescribing Certain ## Terms and Conditions Thereof ## Sponsors: Daniel Schluender, Director of Engineering Mr. Schluender stated the city of Blaine and Northern States Power, D/B/A/ Excel Energy last entered into a franchise agreement in 1998, Ordinance Number 98-1710. This agreement allowed them to operate their gas distribution system within the city's right-of-ways for a period of 20 years. This franchise agreement has now expired, and it is the desire of both the city and Excel Energy to renew an agreement. To enact a franchise ordinance, the city has a process for adopting the ordinance. • June 1, council opened the public hearing to allow for comments and continued the public hearing to June 15. • On June 15, council reconvened the public hearing and allowed for additional comments, had the first reading of the proposed ordinance and continued the public hearing until July 6. • On July 6, council re-convened the public hearing and continued it to July 20. Second reading of the proposed ordinance was tabled. • Tonight, the council is asked to reconvene the public hearing and allow for additional comments, close the public hearing, then table second reading of the proposed ordinance. Mayor Sanders opened the public hearing at 7:19PM. There being no additional public input, Mayor Sanders closed the public hearing at 7:19PM. Moved by Mayor Sanders, seconded by Councilmember Newland, to table the Second Reading of Ordinance No. 26-2609, Granting to Northern States Power Company, D/B/A/ Xcel Energy, a Minnesota Corporation, Its Successors and Assigns, a Nonexclusive Franchise to Construct, Operate, Repair, and Maintain Facilities and Equipment for the Transportation, Distribution, Manufacture, and Sale of Gas Energy for Public and Private Use and to Use Public Ways and Public Grounds of the City for Such Purposes; and Prescribing Certain Terms and Conditions Thereof to a future meeting. Motion adopted unanimously. ## 9. Development Business None. 10. Administration 10.1. RES 26-143 Resolution Approving a Contract for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan ## Consultant Services ## Sponsors: Sheila Sellman, Community Development Director Ms. Sellman stated staff recommends selecting Bolton and Menk as the consultant for technical assistance and engagement services related to the 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update with a total cost of $105,100. Moved by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Councilmember Newland, to adopt a Resolution Approving a Contract for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan Consultant Services. Motion adopted unanimously. ## 11. Other Business None. 12. Adjournment Moved by Councilmember Newland, seconded by Councilmember Robertson, to adjourn the meeting at 7:22PM. Motion adopted unanimously. Signed by ## Tim Sanders, Mayor Signed by ## Catherine M. Sorensen, City Clerk