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Record of Proceedings

Blaine City Council Meeting - July 6, 2026

City Council — Monday, July 6, 2026
BodyBlaine, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 39:28

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

5:00

Good evening.

5:01

We're gonna call the city council meeting for July 6, 2026 to order.

5:06

Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Speaker 2

5:09

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

Speaker 1

5:14

and to the Republic for which it stands.

5:16

One

Speaker 2

5:17

nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for

Unassigned speaker

5:21

all.

Speaker 1

5:24

Thank you, everyone.

5:26

The clerk will take the role.

Speaker 3

5:27

Council members Fleming.

5:28

Here.

5:29

Ford Larson.

5:30

Here, Missolia.

5:31

Newland.

5:32

Robertson?

5:33

Here.

5:33

Mayor Sanders.

Speaker 1

5:34

Here.

5:35

Right, good evening and welcome everyone.

5:37

Thanks for attending uh our uh first council meeting in the month of July.

Unassigned speaker

5:42

Uh

Speaker 1

5:43

we will start off this evening with open forum, which is an opportunity for the public to share comments, concerns, or input on other items.

5:50

While the open forum is not intended to provide response or discussion during the meeting, staff will contact the speakers after the meeting if follow-up is needed.

5:58

Each speaker is limited to three minutes.

6:00

There is a maximum of 15 minutes set aside for the open forum.

Unassigned speaker

6:04

If

Speaker 1

6:04

you'd like to participate in the open forum, you're welcome to come to the podium at this time.

6:11

If you are here for a public meeting uh item, which is uh agenda item eight.

6:17

So anything um under agenda item eight, you'll have an opportunity to speak at that time.

6:22

Otherwise, if you wish to address council this evening, now is your time.

6:26

Good evening, sir.

6:26

Welcome.

6:27

Name and address for the record, please.

Speaker 4

6:28

Tom Adigan, one two oh three seven Vermillion Street.

6:32

I have with me tonight Rob Howley.

6:35

He's at one two oh two Vermillion Street.

6:38

We are neighbors.

6:40

I was here on May 19th last year before you to uh talk about algae blade and city stormwater ponds.

6:50

Uh I want to thank the staff for having put it in the budget for 26 to address it.

6:56

Unfortunately, it didn't make the final council budget.

7:00

So I'm here tonight with some reinforcements.

7:03

I have a petition I'd like to present to you of neighbors who are asking the city to address

Unassigned speaker

7:09

it and

Speaker 4

7:10

address the blight.

7:11

So if I

Unassigned speaker

7:13

who

Speaker 4

7:13

do I give this to?

Unassigned speaker

7:14

Could

Speaker 1

7:14

you give it to the city clerk, please?

Speaker 4

7:16

Okay.

7:28

I also have materials.

7:29

Uh I did a little Google search because I got the impression that maybe there was some concern uh with regard to the use of LG or chemicals on your city ponds.

7:39

So I did some research and I have information I'd like to hand out to the council uh for you to read at your leisure to see what uh the U.S.

7:50

Fish and Wildlife, the uh DNR of Minnesota, and the watershed district, Coon Creek has to say about the use of that and other options.

8:01

So if you look at the petition uh as you read it, uh we're not telling you what to do to fix it, we're asking you to fix

Unassigned speaker

8:09

it.

Speaker 4

8:10

Okay.

8:11

Uh, can I hand those out?

Speaker 1

8:13

Yes, you can hand them to the city clerk.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████41%
Procedural██████████████████████████████30%
Utility Franchise Fees█████████9%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Transportation Safety███████7%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Cannabis Regulation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Blaine City Council Meeting - July 6, 2026

The Blaine City Council met on July 6, 2026, at 7:04 PM at Blaine City Hall. Mayor Tim Sanders presided with Councilmembers Terra Fleming, Chris Ford, Leslie Larson, Tom Newland, and Jess Robertson present; Councilmember Chris Massoglia was absent. The meeting included an Open Forum with three speakers, approval of a 13-item consent agenda, multiple public hearings on utility franchises and property matters, several development approvals, and authorization of a federal grant for a new command vehicle. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved 13 routine items by a 6-0-1 vote (Councilmember Newland abstained from item 7.1, the June 12 bills paid, due to a potential conflict of interest). Items included schedule of bills paid, approval of minutes, appointment of election judges for the 2026 State Primary Election, a temporary liquor license for the VFW, a gambling permit for Centennial Football Boosters, final plat approval for North Meadows Fourth Addition, a flood mitigation and storm shelter planning contract, several conditional use permits for accessory structures and a passenger vehicle service, approval of city attorney contracts with Eckberg Lammers, and authorization of the 3M Open security plan with temporary road closures.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Tom Madigan (12037 Vermillion Street) presented a petition from neighbors asking the city to address algae blight in stormwater ponds. He provided information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota DNR, and Coon Creek Watershed District regarding treatment options.
  • Rona Nesser (765 122nd Avenue NE) expressed opposition to the council's decision to create no-mow zones in Oak Creek Park, which borders her backyard. She stated the weeds are waist-high and that she has lived in her home for 40 years; she urged the council to mow the entire park, citing concerns about rodents and declining services despite rising taxes.
  • Kumar Seemakurthy (4335 130th Court NE) requested the city work with MnDOT to extend the left-turn lane from Lexington Avenue onto southbound I-35W to reduce congestion, and also addressed merging issues on northbound Lexington north of 125th Avenue. He suggested adding compost bins in the Lexington Waters neighborhood park and recommended increased speed enforcement for cars and e-bikes in that area.

Public Hearings

  • Ordinances 26-2607, 26-2608, 26-2609 (Franchise Renewals for Connexus Energy and Xcel Energy): Director of Engineering Dan Schluender explained that the existing franchise agreements with Connexus Energy (electric), Xcel Energy (electric), and Xcel Energy (gas) expired and need renewal. The public hearings were reconvened; no public testimony was offered. Council unanimously voted to continue the public hearings and table second readings to July 20, 2026.
  • Resolution 26-128 (2025 Street Rehabilitation Project Assessment): The total project cost was $2,741,237. Assessment amounts totaled $108,210.35, with additional contributions of $20,095.34 from Public Utility Funds, $225,742.23 from Pavement Management Program funds, and $1,713,020.73 from Municipal State Aid funds. The project covered four areas on Lakes Parkway and Baltimore Street. No public testimony was received; the resolution was adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 26-131 (Easement Vacation – Blaine Town Center West): The city received a petition to vacate a portion of a ponding drainage and utility easement no longer needed due to replatting. No public testimony; adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 26-132 (Wetland Boundary Vacation – 11985 Lever Street NE): The property owner provided an updated wetland delineation; the previous wetland boundaries were no longer accurate. No public testimony; adopted unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Terrano Apartments Preliminary Plat (RES 26-124): Housing Program Coordinator Elizabeth Showalter presented a proposal to reconfigure land into two lots and four outlots at 111 99th Avenue NE. The apartment building (48 units) had already been approved; only the plat was under consideration. Park dedication of $234,912 is due. The planning commission recommended approval. Council adopted the resolution unanimously.
  • Blaine Ventures First Addition – Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Preliminary Plat, and Conditional Use Permit (RES 26-125, 26-126, 26-127): The applicant seeks to redevelop 4131 Pheasant Ridge Drive NE for commercial uses including a bank, retail, restaurant, medical office, and shared parking. The comprehensive plan amendment changes the land use from Planned Industrial (PI) to Planned Industrial/Planned Commercial (PI/PC). The preliminary plat creates four lots and two outlots. All uses require a conditional use permit in the Planned Business District. The planning commission recommended approval. Council adopted all three resolutions unanimously.
  • Joint Powers Command Vehicle Replacement Grant (RES 26-134): Police Chief Brian Podany reported the Blaine Police Department was awarded a $1,470,000 federal grant from the COPS Office FY2026 Technology and Equipment Program to replace the 20-year-old joint powers command vehicle. The new vehicle will serve over 100,000 people in Anoka and Ramsey counties and support security for events hosting over half a million people annually (e.g., USA Cup, 3M Open). The vehicle will be built by LDV with a 14-month build timeline. Council adopted the resolution unanimously.
  • Summary Resolutions for Publication (RES 26-136, 26-137, 26-138): These resolutions were tabled to July 20, 2026, in conjunction with the franchise ordinance timeline.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved 6-0-1 (Newland abstained on item 7.1).
  • Franchise Ordinances: Public hearings continued; second readings tabled to July 20, 2026 (all votes unanimous).
  • Street Rehabilitation Assessment: Resolution adopted unanimously.
  • Easement Vacation (V26-05): Resolution adopted unanimously.
  • Wetland Boundary Vacation (V26-04): Resolution adopted unanimously.
  • Terrano Apartments Preliminary Plat: Resolution adopted unanimously.
  • Blaine Ventures Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Preliminary Plat, and Conditional Use Permit: Three resolutions adopted unanimously.
  • Command Vehicle Replacement Grant: Resolution adopted unanimously.
  • Summary Resolutions: Tabled to July 20, 2026 (unanimous).
  • Adjournment: 7:38 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. We're gonna call the city council meeting for July 6, 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. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, everyone. The clerk will take the role. Council members Fleming. Here. Ford Larson. Here, Missolia. Newland. Robertson? Here. Mayor Sanders. Here. Right, good evening and welcome everyone. Thanks for attending uh our uh first council meeting in the month of July. Uh we will start off this evening with open forum, which is an opportunity for the public to share comments, concerns, or input on other items. While the open forum is not intended to provide response or discussion during the meeting, staff will contact the speakers after the meeting if follow-up is needed. Each speaker is limited to three minutes. There is a maximum of 15 minutes set aside for the open forum. If you'd like to participate in the open forum, you're welcome to come to the podium at this time. If you are here for a public meeting uh item, which is uh agenda item eight. So anything um under agenda item eight, you'll have an opportunity to speak at that time. Otherwise, if you wish to address council this evening, now is your time. Good evening, sir. Welcome. Name and address for the record, please. Tom Adigan, one two oh three seven Vermillion Street. I have with me tonight Rob Howley. He's at one two oh two Vermillion Street. We are neighbors. I was here on May 19th last year before you to uh talk about algae blade and city stormwater ponds. Uh I want to thank the staff for having put it in the budget for 26 to address it. Unfortunately, it didn't make the final council budget. So I'm here tonight with some reinforcements. I have a petition I'd like to present to you of neighbors who are asking the city to address it and address the blight. So if I who do I give this to? Could you give it to the city clerk, please?

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