Council approves consent item including letter opposing state "missing middle" bills; members agree to expand resident outreach

During the consent portion of the meeting the City Council approved a consent agenda item that included a draft letter of opposition to proposed state "missing middle" housing bills. Council members who spoke during the consent discussion said the bills would limit local zoning authority by restricting cities’ ability to deny duplexes, triplexes and accessory dwelling units in single-family neighborhoods.

Several council members urged broader resident outreach. One council member suggested distributing a sample template letter residents could personalize and mail to their state representatives; another asked staff to post a downloadable template to the city website after council approval. Staff said the League of Minnesota Cities maintains a sample letter the council could use as a starting point and offered to provide that template to councilors.

Council members discussed a possible direct-mail option to notify residents. Staff estimated a mailed notice could cost roughly $5 per household for printing and postage; council members asked staff to draft a short cover letter that would explain the issue and include a pre-filled sample letter and return address so residents could more easily contact their legislators. No state hearing outcomes were altered by the city; members noted a scheduled state committee hearing had been canceled the day of the meeting, giving more time for outreach.

The consent vote passed 5-0. Council members said staff would prepare a template and public notice for circulation and return to the council if specific language changes were needed prior to mass distribution.