Council approves billboard permit, authorizes wetland credit purchase, awards Sunrise Pond contract and names park board appointee

The Blaine City Council on Aug. 18 approved a conditional-use permit for a 65-foot dynamic billboard, authorized the engineering director to purchase about $130,000 in wetland mitigation credits for the Zest Street project, accepted a low bid for the remaining Sunrise Pond park construction and appointed Paul Perez to fill a vacancy on the Park Advisory Board.

Staff told the council the billboard application from Outfront Media would place a 65-foot dynamic sign on the southeastern corner of the Village of Lane Shopping Center and met the criteria for a conditional-use permit in the planned business district. Assistant community development staff noted a prior 2023 variance request for a 75-foot sign had been denied; the current request seeks 65 feet and includes masonry on the sign supports and required setbacks. The council opened and then closed the public hearing with no public speakers and approved the permit by voice vote.

On the Zest Street extension project, Director of Engineering Schulander told council the current design will impact “a little over an acre of wetland” and staff proposes to buy wetland credits from the Butterfly Marsh Wetland Bank. Schulander said the cost for roughly one acre of credits was approximately $131,000 and that the cost would be covered as a project expense funded by assessments, public utility funds and state aid. The council authorized the director to execute the purchase agreement and related paperwork.

For Sunrise Pond, senior recreation manager Jerome Krieger reported five bids received on July 24 ranging from $286,685 to $447,047; the low bidder was New Look Contracting. Krieger said the project has about $1,150,000 in multi-year funding and that a watershed requirement to install an infiltration pond increased costs slightly. With a 10% contingency the total rose to $1,159,902.49; staff requested a budget amendment of $9,902.49 to cover the overage. The council accepted the low bid and approved the requested budget amendment.

The council also filled a Park Advisory Board vacancy created when a board member accepted the city forester role. Clerk Sorensen said five applications were received and council moved to appoint Paul Perez to a term expiring March 31, 2028; the motion passed by voice vote.

The meeting began with approval of the consent agenda by voice vote. Councilmember Newland announced an abstention from the July 18 bills payable because of a conflict of interest; the clerk noted the abstention and the consent agenda motion prevailed.

Motions, movers and outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript: - Consent agenda: moved by Councilmember Newland; second by Councilmember Robertson; outcome: approved by voice vote; recorded abstention: Councilmember Newland (July 18 bills payable). (Motion text: approval of the consent agenda as presented.) - Conditional use permit (Outfront Media, 65-foot billboard): moved by Councilmember Roberts; second by Councilmember Fleming; outcome: approved by voice vote. (Motion text: approve agenda item 8.1.) - Zest Street wetland-credit purchase (~$130,000): moved by Councilmember Robertson; second by Councilmember Fleming; outcome: approved by voice vote. (Motion text: authorize the Director of Engineering to execute the purchase agreement in the amount of $130,000 and any additional paperwork required.) - Sunrise Pond (award to low bidder New Look Contracting; budget amendment $9,902.49): moved by Councilmember Newland; second by Councilmember Ford; outcome: approved by voice vote. (Motion text: accept the low bid and amend the budget by $9,902.49.) - Park Advisory Board appointment (Paul Perez): moved by Mayor Sanders; seconded (recorded second); outcome: approved by voice vote. (Motion text: fill the 2025 Park Advisory Board vacancy with Paul Perez.)

No roll-call tallies were recorded in the public transcript for the votes; motions were recorded as passed by voice vote.

The council adjourned at the conclusion of the regular business.

Provenance (transcript excerpts used in this article): • “We have a conditional use permit request tonight, for a billboard from Outfront Media.” — Assistant community development director presentation (transcript segment starting 1073.13).

• “a little over an acre of wetland impact... The cost of that acre worth of wetland is approximately $131,000” — Director of Engineering presentation (transcript segment starting 1243.2999).

• “5 bids ranging from $286,685 to $447,047 the low bidder was New Look Contracting.” — Senior recreation manager presentation (transcript segment starting 1395.91).

• “When commissioner Chris Paul, Paul Seth accepted the position to serve as our city forester, He was no longer able to serve on the Park Advisory Board... I will move, that we fill the 2025 park advisory board vacancy with Paul Perez” — Clerk Sorensen and mayoral motion (transcript segments starting 1567.115).