Votes at a glance: July 7 Blaine City Council

Below is a concise summary of the formal actions taken by the Blaine City Council on July 7. Where available, staff‑provided amounts and brief context are included.

- Consent agenda: Approved as moved and seconded; Councilmember Newland noted an abstention on bills payable for a payment related to a business he owns and pulled item 7.3 for discussion. (Item: consent agenda)

- 7.3 — Du Portugal Circus, North Town Mall: Council approved a permit for a ticketed, animal‑free circus (tent ~22,000 sq ft, no pyrotechnics or animals); staff required tent permit and fire inspection. Motion moved by Councilmember Newland; seconded; motion prevailed. (Item 7.3)

- 07:10 — Barr Engineering proposal (Northeast Well Field permitting and monitoring): Council approved moving forward with Barr Engineering to prepare a well interference response plan, plans/specs for two monitoring wells near Ham Lake, an aquifer test pumping plan using wells 19, 20, and 21, groundwater model revisions as needed, and coordination with DNR. Staff estimated these next steps could take about 6 to 12 months to advance. Motion moved by Councilmember Masolia; seconded; motion prevailed. (Staff: Deputy Director of Public Works; item referenced Barr Engineering proposal.)

- 8.1 — Project 2405 (street/reconstruction assessments): Held public hearing on assessments and adopted the resolution declaring project cost and assessments; no public testimony at hearing. (Item 8.1)

- 9.2 — Conditional Use Permit: Hyper Kids indoor recreation (former Aldi building at 10985 Ulysses St NE): Planning Commission recommended approval; staff recommended approval with two conditions; council approved the CUP. Motion moved by Councilmember Robertson; seconded by Councilmember Mesolia; motion prevailed. (Item 9.2)

- 9.3 — Final plat: 8634 Central Avenue (two lots): Council approved the final plat. Motion moved by Councilmember Masolia; seconded; motion prevailed. (Item 9.3)

- 9.4 — Waiver of park dedication fee for Lot 1 at 8634 Central Avenue: Council approved waiver for the existing office lot (see separate article for details). Motion moved by Councilmember Mesolia; seconded by Councilmember Larson; motion prevailed. (Item 9.4)

- 9.5 & 9.6 — First readings: Council held first readings of ordinance amendments to home occupations (sec. 33.1) and to temporary sign regulations (sec. 34.04/34.13); second readings set for July 21. (Items 9.5, 9.6)

- 9.7 — Cannabis zoning amendments: Council held the second reading and adopted amendments to allow cannabis/hemp manufacturing and cultivation in I‑2/I‑2A as conditional uses per state rule changes. Motion moved and seconded; motion prevailed. (Item 9.7)

- 10.1 — Joint mill/overlay on Woodland Road with City of Circle Pines: Council approved a cost participation agreement to include the City of Blaine’s portion of Woodland Road in Circle Pines’ mill/overlay project; staff reported Blaine’s share is approximately $70,570 and Circle Pines will handle design and administration. Motion moved by Councilmember Newland; seconded; motion prevailed. (Item 10.1)

- 10.2 — 25th Street rehabilitation project: Council awarded contract to GMH Asphalt Corporation (low bid ~$1,700,000) and approved a 10% contingency, yielding a project budget of approximately $1,900,000. Funding: PMP funds, public utility funds, special assessments, and municipal state aid; sufficient funds available. Motion moved by Councilmember Newland; seconded; motion prevailed. (Item 10.2)

- 10.3 — Year‑end interfund transfers and fund closures: Council approved staff recommendations to transfer $160,000 to the self‑insurance fund (land use litigation settlement related), $100,000 to the workers’ compensation fund to resolve a 2024 deficit, close the City Hall remodel fund (deficit ~ $59,000), and transfer bond interest (approx. $87,000) to debt service for early defeasance. Motion moved by Councilmember Newland; seconded; motion prevailed. (Item 10.3)

- Other business — Transparency motion: Council voted to place credit card statements and employee reimbursement information on the council agenda quarterly (staff to provide department‑level detail; format to be developed cooperatively). Motion by Councilmember Mesolia; seconded by Councilmember Larson; motion prevailed. (Other business)

Where the transcript recorded only a voice “aye” vote, the agenda reflects the motion as prevailing; individual roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the transcript for most items. For the few items with extended debate, separate coverage appears in full articles.