--- title: April 20 Minutes ## author: Tremble, Pamela S date: D:20230621204500Z --- ## City of Blaine ## City Council April 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 Leslie Larson, Chris Massoglia, Tom Newland, and Jess Robertson. ABSENT: Councilmembers Terra Fleming and Chris Ford. Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Erik Thorvig; Community Development Director Sheila Sellman; Safety Services Director/Police Chief Brian Podany; Finance Director Jason Zimmerman; Director of Administrative Services Scott Johnson; Director of Engineering Dan Schluender; City Attorney Eric Larson; Communications Manager Ben Hayle; and City Clerk Catherine Sorensen. ## 4. Awards - Presentations - Organizational Business 4.1. 2026-89 Proclamation Recognizing the Blaine Bengals Boys and Girls Basketball Team ## Sponsors: City Council Mayor Sanders read a proclamation in full for the record recognizing the Blaine Girls and Boys Basketball teams for their outstanding accomplishments during the basketball season, for being Section 7AAAA champs and for representing Blaine well at the state tournament. A round of applause was offered by all in attendance. ## 4.2. 2026-90 Police Officer Swearing-in Ceremony ## Sponsors: Brian Podany, Safety Services Manager/Police Chief Safety Services Manager/Police Chief Podany stated when new officers successfully complete the field training program and advance to solo patrol, a swearing-in ceremony is performed in front of the city council. This is a special time for new officers and their families to celebrate their accomplishments and be recognized in front of the city mayor, city councilmembers, city manager, Police Chief Podany, fellow police staff, and the public. The following new officers will be participating in the ceremony and take their oath of office: ## Braden Olmstead, Badge #272 ## Thomas Shields, Badge #273 ## Jaclyn Groshens, Badge #274 City Clerk Sorensen administered the oath of office to the newly appointed officers and badges were pinned on. A round of applause was offered by all in attendance. 4.3. 2026-91 Proclamation for Arbor Day 2026 ## Sponsors: City Council Mayor Sanders read a proclamation in full for the record declaring April 22, 2026 to be Arbor Day in the city of Blaine. ## 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 7:32PM. Bruce Mathei, 4101 99th Avenue NE, shared continued concerns regarding the electrical box located at 99th Avenue and Lexington Avenue NE. There being no further input, Mayor Sanders closed the Open Forum at 7:36PM. 6. Communications Councilmember Robertson acknowledged the excellent work of the Blaine Police Department, specifically the K-9 teams and community outreach teams. ## 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 Newland abstained from approval of Item 7.1 due to a potential conflict of interest. Motion adopted 6-0-1 (Councilmember Newland abstained). 7.1. 2026-92 Schedule of Bills Paid ## Sponsors: Jason Zimmerman, Finance Director 7.2. 2026-93 Approval of Minutes ## Sponsors: Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk 7.3. RES 26-59 Resolution Granting Final Plat Approval to Subdivide 31.92 Acres into 32 Single Family Lots and 6 Outlots to be Known as Flowerfield on the NE ## Corner of Lexington Avenue and Flowerfield Road NE. Fenway Land ## Company (Case File No. 26-0014/SLK) ## Sponsors: Sheila Sellman, Community Development Director 7.4. RES 26-63 Resolution to Approve Plans and Specifications and Order Advertisement for Bids for the 2026 Street Rehabilitation Project, Improvement Project No. ## T2605 ## Sponsors: Daniel Schluender, Director of Engineering 7.5. RES 26-65 Resolution to Approve Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) No. CCON26- 000486 with Anoka County for Intersection Improvements at CSAH 52 (Radisson Road) and CSAH 12 (109th Avenue) and Signalization at ## Mankato Street/Tournament Players Pkwy and CSAH 12 (109th ## Avenue), Improvement Project No. T2518 ## Sponsors: Daniel Schluender, Director of Engineering 7.6. RES 26-73 Resolution Accepting Parks and Recreation Donations for Quarter 1 of 2026 ## Sponsors: Jerome Krieger, Park and Recreation Director 7.7. 2026-94 Approve Police Department Wellness Program Contract with The PARC using ## Public Safety Funds ## Sponsors: Brian Podany, Safety Services Manager/Police Chief 7.8. RES 26-74 Resolution to Receive Petition and Order Public Hearing for Vacation of Drainage and Utility Easements within Lot 2, Block 1, Prime North Addition and Lot 2, Block 1, Glimcher Northtown Mall, Second Addition, according to ## the recorded plat thereof, Anoka County, Minnesota; Vacation No. V26-02 ## Sponsors: Daniel Schluender, Director of Engineering 7.9. RES 26-75 Resolution to Receive Petition and Order Public Hearing for Vacation of the Drainage and Utility Easement as documented by Ordinance No. 95-1566, recorded as Document No. 1206692.0, which lies within Lot 2, Block 1, Prime North Addition, according to the recorded plat thereof, Anoka County, ## Minnesota; Vacation No. V26-03 ## Sponsors: Daniel Schluender, Director of Engineering 7.10. RES 26-76 Resolution Authorizing Temporary Parking Restrictions and Road Closures ## for the Johnsville Area Garage Sale Event Security Plan ## Sponsors: Russ Clark, Captain 8. 7:00 PM - Public Hearing and Items Published for a Certain Time 8.1. RES 26-52 Resolution Granting a Conditional Use Permit Amendment to Reduce the South and East Parking Lot Setbacks From 30-Feet to 25-Feet for an Existing Childcare Center in a Development Flex (DF) Zoning District at 12612 Central Avenue NE. The Goddard School of Blaine (Case File No. 26-0012/ACK) ## Sponsors: Sheila Sellman, Community Development Director Community Development Director Sellman stated the applicant is requesting a conditional use permit amendment to reduce the south and east parking setback from 30-feet to 25- feet in order to construct an additional parking stall. Mayor Sanders opened the public hearing at 7:42PM. There being no public input, Mayor Sanders closed the public hearing at 7:42PM. Moved by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Councilmember Massoglia, to adopt a Resolution Granting a Conditional Use Permit Amendment to Reduce the South and East Parking Lot Setbacks From 30-Feet to 25-Feet for an Existing Childcare Center in a Development Flex (DF) Zoning District at 12612 Central Avenue NE. Motion adopted unanimously. 8.2. 2026-95 Approve On-Sale and Sunday Intoxicating Liquor Licenses for Bravos Tequila ## Bar, 11712 Ulysses Lane NE, Suite 200 ## Sponsors: Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk City Clerk Sorensen stated council is asked to approve the on-sale and Sunday intoxicating liquor licenses for Bravos Tequila Bar to allow the ability to serve intoxicating liquor. A public hearing is required prior to the approval for on-sale and Sunday intoxicating liquor application for Bravos Tequila Bar. Jorge Morales and Veronica Navarro, applicants, have submitted the on-sale and Sunday intoxicating liquor application for Bravos Tequila Bar. The applicants have paid the required license fees, submitted forms and documents, and the background investigations were conducted by the Blaine Police Department with no concerns found. The on-sale and Sunday liquor licenses, if approved, would be valid until June 30, 2026, and run concurrent with annual liquor license renewals beginning July 1, 2027. All required information will be submitted to the state's alcohol and gambling enforcement division upon approval of the licenses by the council. Owners of the previous restaurant, Best Taste of Pho Saigon, were able to serve alcohol in the adjacent Vertex Nails as they owned both the restaurant and salon and their licensed premise included both businesses. Because the new applicants only own the restaurant, no alcohol will be allowed in the salon. Staff has communicated this with the applicants and will ensure alcohol service does not occur as part of the Blaine Police Department's required compliance checks. Mayor Sanders opened the public hearing at 7:45PM. There being no public input, Mayor Sanders closed the public hearing at 7:45PM. ## Moved by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Councilmember Newland, to Approve On-Sale and Sunday Intoxicating Liquor Licenses for Bravos Tequila Bar, 11712 Ulysses Lane NE, Suite 200. Motion adopted unanimously. ## 9. Development Business None. 10. Administration 10.1. 2026-96 Ratification of Local 49 (Public Works) Labor Agreement for 2026-2028 ## Sponsors: Scott Johnson, Director of Administrative Services Director of Administrative Services Johnson stated council is asked to ratify and approve the 49ers Local #49 (Public Works) labor agreement. Moved by Councilmember Newland, seconded by Councilmember Larson, to approve the Ratification of Local 49 (Public Works) Labor Agreement for 2026-2028. Councilmember Massoglia thanked staff for all of their efforts on this labor agreement. Motion adopted unanimously. ## 11. Other Business City Manager Thorvig reported the Blaine Business Council would be meeting Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 a.m. 12. Adjournment Moved by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Councilmember Massoglia, to adjourn the meeting at 7:50PM. Motion adopted unanimously. Signed by ## Tim Sanders, Mayor Signed by ## Catherine M. Sorensen, City Clerk