Blaine City Council Meeting – January 5, 2026: Organizational Actions, Public Hearings, and Development Approvals

The Blaine City Council met on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Blaine City Hall, 10801 Town Square Drive NE. Mayor Tim Sanders presided, and all seven councilmembers were present. The council completed annual organizational business, heard public testimony and two public hearings, approved street reconstruction orders and design contracts, acted on development items, and adopted three ordinances. Most votes were unanimous except for four 6-1 votes tied to street project funding and one 6-1 vote on playground replacement.

Organizational Business

• RES 26-1, Mission Statement Affirming Council/Staff Responsibilities, was adopted unanimously.
• RES 26-2, Rules of Procedure and Quorum/Order of Business, was adopted unanimously.
• 2026-004, Appointment of Liaisons to Various Boards and Commissions, was approved unanimously. The approved slate included a 2026 change designating Councilmember Ford to the Anoka County Airport Advisory Commission with Councilmember Newland as alternate.

Consent Agenda

• The Consent Agenda was approved unanimously by one motion. It included:
  • Schedule of Bills Paid
  • Approval of Minutes
  • Designation of the Official Newspaper for 2026 (Blaine Wave)
  • Recording Secretary Service Agreement for 2026
  • Adoption of the Council Code of Conduct
  • Designation of Official City Depositories for 2026
  • Designation of the Finance Director to Make Electronic Funds Transfers
  • Acknowledgment of Financial Contributions of Organizations Conducting Lawful Gambling
  • Resolutions releasing North Meadows and North Meadows 2nd Addition from recorded development agreements
  • Final Plat approval for Blaine Town Center East District, creating six lots and two outlots
  • Authorization for temporary removal of parking restrictions on 91st Avenue, between Eldorado Street and Isanti Street, for the Ferguson Waterworks Training Academy on February 3-5, 2026

Public Comments & Testimony

Open Forum

• Bruce Manthei, 4101 99th Avenue NE, shared continuing concerns about the electrical box at 99th Avenue and Lexington Avenue, arguing it blocks sight lines and does not meet city or state standards. He said the issue had not been properly vetted and stated he would continue raising it.
• Steve Fellows, 10604 Madison Street, asked why the council does not hold a dialogue during open forum. He questioned why public safety takes up 40% of the city budget (minutes; transcript says 43%), noting the council rarely hears directly from police and fire chiefs. He raised concerns about snow plowing, sidewalk priorities, budget increases, city debt, the split vote on the 2026 budget, water bill increases, and incentives offered to Scheels and the National Sports Center. He said he believed the city was becoming too big and that the council did not know how to run it.
• Dana Carlson, 287 117th Avenue NE, shared continuing concerns related to family issues and asked for cooperation from local agencies.
• Diane O'Brien, 10617 Quincy Boulevard, questioned where city money is going, said she understood $4.7 million was being used for roadwork, and argued that if the city had money set aside, it should not assess residents. She raised concerns about staff salaries, oversight, and potential corruption, suggested an audit by the Attorney General's office, and recommended that planning commissioners rather than the mayor or city manager select the planning director.
• Open Forum ran from approximately 7:07 PM to 7:24 PM.

Quincy Area Street Reconstruction Public Hearing

• The 2026 Quincy Area Street Reconstruction Project, Improvement Project No. T2604, was presented for public hearing. The total estimated project cost was $4,710,940, with $1,009,961.91 proposed to be assessed to benefiting properties over a 15-year period. Replacement of sanitary sewer castings/rings and select hydrants/valves was estimated at $645,320 to be paid from City Public Utility Funds, with $3,055,658.09 proposed from the City's Pavement Management Program Fund.
• Diane O'Brien, 10617 Quincy Boulevard, expressed concerns about the cost and traffic speed along Quincy Boulevard, suggested speed bumps and a 25 mph speed limit, and argued the assessment should be shared by all Blaine residents because the road is heavily used. She said she should not be charged 35% of the roadway through an assessment.
• Lynn Basham, 10614 Monroe Drive, expressed concerns about mobility and access during construction and urged the city to improve accessibility throughout the project.
• Steve Fellows, 10604 Madison Street, asked about construction staging and the difference between 25% and 35% assessment rates. He said he supported the project and was willing to pay his assessment, and he asked about hardship exceptions and bonding. Staff responded that 35% is the policy maximum for benefiting parcels, with deductions for corner lots and parks, and encouraged residents to contact staff with follow-up questions.
• The resolution ordering improvements and preparation of plans and specifications was adopted 6-1, with Councilmember Robertson opposed. She said she objected to the bonding mechanisms used for road projects.

Meadowbrook Area Street Reconstruction Public Hearing

• The 2026 Meadowbrook Area Street Reconstruction Project, Improvement Project No. T2606, was presented. The estimated project cost was $4,112,300, with $911,202 proposed to be assessed over 15 years. Sewer and water utility work was estimated at $94,666 and $513,127, respectively, to be paid from City Public Utility Funds, with $2,593,305 proposed from the Pavement Management Program Fund. Staff proposed phasing the project, with one portion in 2026 and another in 2027.
• Roseann Mackenthun, 725 125th Lane NE, said the curbs along her street were in excellent condition and asked why full curb replacement was needed. She also asked about ADA access during construction.
• Jake Kadles, 12610 Able Circle, noted his street was scheduled for the 2027 phase. He asked how much asphalt would be removed for water main work, questioned the need for full curb replacement, raised concerns about concrete driveway quality, and asked about his custom mailbox. Staff said if more than 35% of curbs are damaged, it is less expensive to replace all curbs than to do spot repairs. Staff also said all mailboxes would be removed during construction, with a gang mailbox installed at a selected corner, and encouraged residents with custom mailboxes to remove them themselves.
• Jeannie Thiede, 733 125th Lane, asked about assessment costs, payment timing, and interest for residents on fixed incomes. She also asked whether open forum questions are researched and answered. City Manager Thorvig explained that council does not respond to open forum topics during the meeting, but staff follows up with residents directly.
• Councilmember Massoglia noted that information about assessment hardship deferrals for senior citizens, total disability, and active military duty is available on the city website.
• The resolution ordering improvements and preparation of plans and specifications was adopted 6-1, with Councilmember Robertson opposed.

Development Business

• RES 26-10, Preliminary Plat Approval for North Meadows Third Addition, was adopted unanimously. The plat subdivides 8.36 acres into 1 lot and 2 outlots at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 109th Avenue NE. Councilmember Robertson asked for confirmation that the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary would not be developed; Community Development Director Sellman confirmed that the wetland area is not part of the proposal and that some land had been deeded back to the city because it cannot be developed.
• RES 26-11, Conditional Use Permit for North Meadows Third Addition, was adopted unanimously. The CUP allows general retail, office, animal hospital, restaurants, outdoor dining for two restaurants, a zero lot line on the north property line, and shared access/parking in a Development Flex (DF) Zoning District. The planning commission recommended approval.
• RES 26-12, Conditional Use Permit Amendment for Minnesota Performance, was tabled unanimously for 60 days. The request was to expand an existing auto repair business into an adjacent tenant space at 1550 91st Avenue NE, #306. Councilmember Newland expressed concerns about code enforcement issues involving outside storage and parking, and neighboring tenant concerns. City staff noted the 60-day deadline was January 23, the site had 128 parking stalls versus 53 required by code, and code enforcement was already addressing outdoor storage violations.

Administration

• 2026-012, accepting quotes for playground equipment and installation at Jefferson Park, was adopted 6-1, with Councilmember Massoglia opposed. The quote was $75,745 for equipment from Landscape Structures and $39,228 for installation by Flagship Recreation, for a total project cost of $114,973 within the approved $115,000 budget. Staff said the U.S. Communities cooperative purchasing contract saved over $6,400. Councilmember Massoglia preferred repairing the existing structure and expressed concern about replacing a larger structure with a smaller one and fewer swings. Parks and Recreation Director Krieger said the current equipment is about 20 years old, the swing structure is about 50 years old, maintenance costs have increased, and replacement is needed.
• ORD 25-2597, second reading of a charter amendment adding Section 5.14 on Recall and amending Section 2.04 on Council Vacancies, was adopted unanimously. The proposed amendment had been considered previously and required a unanimous vote.
• ORD 25-2595, amending administrative adjudication procedures and check valve/meter fines, was adopted unanimously.
• ORD 25-2596, amending the peddlers, solicitors, and transient merchants ordinance, was adopted unanimously. The amendment clarifies solicitor licensing requirements but does not address individuals in highway medians.
• 2026-013, authorizing a contract with Bolton & Menk, Inc. for the 2026 Quincy Area Street Reconstruction Project, was adopted 6-1, with Councilmember Robertson opposed. The contract amount was $450,502, plus a 10% contingency, bringing the total to approximately $495,000.
• 2026-014, authorizing a contract with SEH for final design and construction services for the 2026 Meadowbrook Area Street Reconstruction Project, was adopted 6-1, with Councilmember Robertson opposed. The contract amount was $341,300, plus a 10% contingency, bringing the total to approximately $375,000.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously approved: organizational resolutions, Consent Agenda, North Meadows preliminary plat and CUP, all three ordinance second readings, and the motion to table the Minnesota Performance CUP amendment.
• Adopted 6-1 with Councilmember Robertson opposed: Quincy Area Street Reconstruction order, Meadowbrook Area Street Reconstruction order, Bolton & Menk contract, and SEH contract.
• Adopted 6-1 with Councilmember Massoglia opposed: Jefferson Park playground equipment and installation quotes.
• The Minnesota Performance CUP amendment was tabled for 60 days to allow code enforcement issues to be addressed.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.