## City of Blaine ## City Council Workshop August 3, 2026 | 5:00 PM ## Blaine City Hall ## 10801 Town Square Drive NE ## Blaine, MN 55449 ## AGENDA ## NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING In accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01 of the Blaine City Charter, a Council Workshop meeting is scheduled for the following purpose: 1. Call to Order ## 2. Roll Call ## 3. New Business 3.1. 2026-152 Closed Session Pursuant to MN Statute 13D.03 Subd. (1)(b) - Labor ## Negotiations Update (30 Minutes) ## Sponsors: Scott Johnson, Director of Administrative Services 3.2. 2026-153 Community Engagement with FlashVote (30 Minutes) ## Sponsors: Ben Hayle, Communications Manager ## 4. Other Business 5. Adjournment Page 1 of 20 ## City of Blaine ## Staff Report ## File Number: 2026-152 ## Agenda Date ## Status August 3, 2026 ## In Control ## File Type ## City Council ## Workshop Item ## New Business - Scott Johnson, Director of Administrative Services Agenda Item # 3.1 Closed Session Pursuant to MN Statute 13D.03 Subd. (1)(b) - Labor Negotiations Update (30 Minutes) ## Background Labor Attorney Lida Bannink will attend the Closed Session virtually to provide an update on labor negotiations with the Deputy Police Chief Union and the new LELS bargaining unit. ## Staff Recommendation ## Questions for Council ## Attachment List ## None Page 2 of 20 ## City of Blaine ## Staff Report ## File Number: 2026-153 ## Agenda Date ## Status August 3, 2026 ## In Control ## File Type ## City Council ## Workshop Item ## New Business - Ben Hayle, Communications Manager Agenda Item # 3.2 ## Community Engagement with FlashVote (30 Minutes) ## Background One year ago, staff began the onboarding process with FlashVote to provide a new method for community engagement through short issue-based surveys. Through summer and early fall 2025, staff worked alongside FlashVote to build the system and grow the survey panel. The initial goal was to have 300 residents sign up for the survey panel. This would allow for statistically valid data for a city the size of Blaine. By the time the first survey launched in fall 2025, nearly 500 residents had signed up to be on the survey panel. Today we have over 900 residents on the survey panel, and we see growth each time we conduct a survey. Surveys are intended to be conducted quarterly with the option to do two additional surveys each year if a need arises. Surveys are sent by email, text message, or by phone. When signing up, the resident is able to choose how they receive the survey notification. FlashVote surveys are always five questions and are designed to be completed in less than one minute. The survey is open for 48 hours and then the results are delivered to everyone who took the survey. The results can be broken down by council ward, police patrol districts, and other standard demographics. ## Completed Surveys ## • Community Satisfaction • Communications • Parks Page 3 of 20 As a part of the workshop presentati…

--- ## title: August 3 Workshop CC Approved ## author: Tremble, Pamela S date: D:20230621204500Z --- ## City of Blaine ## City Council Workshop August 3, 2026 | 5:30 PM ## Blaine City Hall ## 10801 Town Square Drive NE ## Blaine, MN 55449 ## MINUTES ## NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING In accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01 of the Blaine City Charter, a Council Workshop meeting is scheduled for the following purpose: 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor Sanders at 5:30PM. ## 2. Roll Call PRESENT: Mayor Tim Sanders, Councilmembers Terra Fleming, Chris Ford, Leslie Larson, Chris Massoglia, Tom Newland, and Jess Robertson. ABSENT: None. 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 Attorneys Jacob Saufley and Lida Banninck; Communications Manager Ben Hayle; and City Clerk Catherine Sorensen. ## 3. New Business 3.1. 2026-152 Closed Session Pursuant to MN Statute 13D.03 Subd. (1)(b) - Labor ## Negotiations Update (30 Minutes) ## Sponsors: Scott Johnson, Director of Administrative Services After a motion and second, the council moved to a closed session meeting pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.03 Subd. (1)(b) to receive a labor negotiations update. 3.2. 2026-153 Community Engagement with FlashVote (30 Minutes) ## Sponsors: Ben Hayle, Communications Manager Communications Manager Hayle stated one year ago, staff began the onboarding process with FlashVote to provide a new method for community engagement through short issue- based surveys. Through summer and early fall 2025, staff worked alongside FlashVote to build the system and grow the survey panel. The initial goal was to have 300 residents sign up for the survey panel. This would allow for statistically valid data for a city the size of Blaine. By the time the first survey launched in fall 2025, nearly 500 residents had signed up to be on the survey panel. Today we have over 900 residents on the survey panel, and we see growth each time we conduct a survey. Surveys are intended to be conducted quarterly with the option to do two additional surveys each year if a need arises. Surveys are sent by email, text message, or by phone. When signing up, the resident is able to choose how they receive the survey notification. FlashVote surveys are always five questions and are designed to be completed in less than one minute. The survey is open for 48 hours and then the results are delivered to everyone who took the survey. The results can be broken down by council ward, police patrol districts, and other standard demographics. It was noted the city completed surveys on the following topics: ## • Community Satisfaction • Communications • Parks Mr. Hayle shared how information was gathered through the surveys and provided infor…