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Record of Proceedings

Blaine City Council Meeting - March 2, 2026: Parking Structure Term Sheet Passes 4-3; Multiple Ordinances Introduced

City Council — Monday, March 2, 2026
BodyBlaine, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, March 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

5:17

Good evening, everybody.

5:19

Welcome to City Hall this evening.

5:20

I'm going to call the city council meeting for Monday, March 2nd, 2026 to order.

5:25

Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Unassigned speaker

5:28

I

Speaker 2

5:29

pledge allegiance to

Speaker 3

5:30

the

Speaker 2

5:30

flag

Speaker 1

5:31

of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

5:45

Thank you, everyone.

5:46

The clerk will take the roll.

Speaker 4

5:47

Councilmember Slemming.

5:48

Here.

5:49

Ford?

5:49

Larson?

5:50

Here.

5:50

Miss Olia.

Speaker 1

5:51

Here.

Speaker 4

5:52

Newland?

Speaker 1

5:52

Here.

Speaker 4

5:53

Robertson?

5:53

Here.

5:54

Mayor Sanders.

Speaker 1

5:55

Here.

5:56

All right.

5:57

Good evening, everyone.

5:58

Welcome.

5:59

Uh we have no awards or presentations here this evening.

6:04

So the first thing that we will do this evening is move to our open forum, which is an opportunity for the public to share comments, concerns, or input on other items.

6:14

Well, the open forum is not intended to provide uh response or discussion during the meeting.

6:21

If cities uh if if your item does require follow-up, city staff will contact you after the meeting uh um and follow up with you.

6:29

Each speaker is limited to three minutes, and there's a maximum of 15 minutes set aside for the open forum.

6:35

Also, we do have a public hearing here this evening, so if you wish to speak on agenda item 8.1, you will have an opportunity to speak on agenda item 8.1 during that public hearing.

6:46

There's anyone here that wishes to participate in the open forum, you're welcome to come to the podium at this time.

6:53

Good evening, sir.

6:54

Welcome.

6:55

Name and address for the record, please.

Speaker 5

6:58

Rosemanthy 4101, 99th Avenue.

7:01

Uh

Unassigned speaker

7:03

you

Speaker 5

7:03

should know me by now, Mr.

7:05

Sanders.

7:05

We've been here since uh last summer with the issue of the uh electrical box on 99th Avenue in Lexington.

7:14

I'm uh was here a month ago, and Mr.

7:17

Larson was kind enough to send me a letter after three months I waited for

Unassigned speaker

7:22

it.

Speaker 5

7:23

Not too bad.

7:24

But he neglected in his letter because Dan, I don't believe gave him adequate information regarding the counties report on this electrical box where it is obstructing visibility.

7:43

It is a safety hazard.

7:45

We've had the Anoka County out there, we've talked to the State Department.

7:49

They have an ordinance also.

7:51

Now it's not in their trunk line, so they're not worried about

Unassigned speaker

7:55

it.

Speaker 5

7:55

But you guys have your own ordinance, or over 30 inches.

7:59

And Mr.

8:01

Um.

8:06

Eric.

8:06

Eric, you got the wrong name in front of you.

8:08

I'm sorry, it threw me off.

8:12

Who is he today?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████27%
Fiscal Sustainability█████████████████████21%
Economic Development██████████████14%
Procedural█████████████13%
Personnel Matters████████████12%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Transportation Safety███3%
Public Engagement███3%
Environmental Protection██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Blaine City Council Meeting - March 2, 2026

The Blaine City Council met on March 2, 2026 at 7:06 PM and adjourned at 7:53 PM. The meeting included a public hearing, development business, and administrative items, with a key vote on a $15 million parking structure term sheet passing 4-3.

Consent Calendar

The council approved 6 routine items (2026-59, 2026-60, 2026-61, 2026-62, RES 26-29, RES 26-40) by a 6-0-1 vote (Councilmember Newland abstained on 7.1). Item 7.7 (North Metro TV as broadband franchise operator) was pulled for separate consideration and approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Bruce Manthei (4101 89th Avenue NE) expressed continued concerns about an electrical box at Lexington Avenue and 99th Avenue NE, claiming it violates city ordinance (over 30 inches), obstructs visibility, and is a safety hazard. He stated he would involve AASHTO and other parties.

Discussion Items

  • Communications: Councilmember Newland announced he will not seek re-election; filings open within 90 days.
  • 8.1 ORD 26-2603 (First Reading): Ordinance approving the sale of a portion of Outlot A Club West 9th Addition to MNDOT for Highway 65 for $289,550 ($276,622 real estate plus $12,928 damages). No public input; placed for second reading on March 16, 2026.
  • 9.1 RES 26-31: Conditional Use Permit for Magnifi Financial to build a 4,224 sq ft bank with a zero-lot line at 10903 Austin Street NE. Planning commission recommended approval; passed unanimously.
  • 9.2 ORD 26-2602 (First Reading): Rezoning from Farm Residential to Development Flex at 3700 and 3900 125th Avenue NE for Pulte Group (Ravenwood) to construct 79 single-family homes and 56 twinhomes. Councilmember Massoglia voiced strong opposition, stating it requires a comprehensive plan amendment and does not align with the council's vision for larger lots. Placed for second reading on March 16, 2026.
  • 9.3 ORD 26-2601 (First Reading): Amendments to remove detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) from the zoning code, keeping attached ADUs. Two public comments received in opposition. Placed for second reading on March 16, 2026.
  • 10.1 ORD 26-2600 (First Reading): Amending Chapter 90 on shade tree management to change enforcement of hazardous trees on private property (only if risk to public property). Placed for second reading on March 16, 2026.
  • 10.2 RES 26-41: Authorizing LCCMR grant application for Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Trail (phases 1&2, estimate $5.871 million), requesting up to $4.403 million with a 25% city match from open space funds. Passed unanimously. Councilmember Robertson urged exploring additional grants.
  • 10.3 2026-64: Motion to approve a non-binding term sheet for a $15 million west parking structure (approx. 320 stalls) as part of the 105th Redevelopment project. Extensive debate: Councilmember Newland opposed, proposing a $7 million alternative funded by alternative revenue streams; Councilmember Robertson stressed a net-zero levy impact; Councilmember Ford expressed concerns about additional funding and lack of vertical construction; Councilmember Massoglia supported it as a generational project. Passed 4-3 (Councilmembers Ford, Larson, and Newland opposed).
  • 10.4 2026-65: 2026 board and commission mayoral appointments: Planning Commission (Ward 1 - Jacob Geiselhart reappointment, Ward 2 - Mark Freeman new, Ward 3 - Maisa Olson reappointment); Charter Commission (Ward 2 - Amir Malik new, Jason Hartmann reappointment; Ward 3 - Al Goracke reappointment); Fire Board (Ward 2 - Terry Wold contingent on bylaw changes, Becky Booker reappointment); Senior Advisory Board (Ward 1 - Leon Wanna). Passed unanimous.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved 6-0-1 (Newland abstained on bills).
  • 7.7 North Metro TV broadband franchise operator authorized unanimously.
  • 8.1, 9.2, 9.3, 10.1 ordinances introduced for second reading on March 16, 2026.
  • 9.1 CUP approved unanimously.
  • 10.2 LCCMR grant application authorized unanimousl.
  • 10.3 Parking structure term sheet approved 4-3.
  • 10.4 Board and commission appointments approved unanimousl.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everybody. Welcome to City Hall this evening. I'm going to call the city council meeting for Monday, March 2nd, 2026 to order. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Thank you, everyone. The clerk will take the roll. Councilmember Slemming. Here. Ford? Larson? Here. Miss Olia. Here. Newland? Here. Robertson? Here. Mayor Sanders. Here. All right. Good evening, everyone. Welcome. Uh we have no awards or presentations here this evening. So the first thing that we will do this evening is move to our open forum, which is an opportunity for the public to share comments, concerns, or input on other items. Well, the open forum is not intended to provide uh response or discussion during the meeting. If cities uh if if your item does require follow-up, city staff will contact you after the meeting uh um and follow up with you. Each speaker is limited to three minutes, and there's a maximum of 15 minutes set aside for the open forum. Also, we do have a public hearing here this evening, so if you wish to speak on agenda item 8.1, you will have an opportunity to speak on agenda item 8.1 during that public hearing. There's anyone here that wishes to participate in the open forum, you're welcome to come to the podium at this time. Good evening, sir. Welcome. Name and address for the record, please. Rosemanthy 4101, 99th Avenue. Uh you should know me by now, Mr. Sanders. We've been here since uh last summer with the issue of the uh electrical box on 99th Avenue in Lexington. I'm uh was here a month ago, and Mr. Larson was kind enough to send me a letter after three months I waited for it. Not too bad. But he neglected in his letter because Dan, I don't believe gave him adequate information regarding the counties report on this electrical box where it is obstructing visibility. It is a safety hazard. We've had the Anoka County out there, we've talked to the State Department.

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