Council approves bond sale, staffing study RFP and housing-resolution; tables Inman/220 Fourth road petition

Forest Lake City Council on Monday voted to approve a street-reconstruction plan and authorize the issuance of up to $5.5 million in general obligation bonds to pay for street work, approved a request for proposals for a classification and compensation study, adopted a resolution opposing state-level changes to local zoning control and tabled a petition to begin a feasibility study for paving portions of Inman Avenue and 220 Fourth Avenue.

The council voted to adopt a street reconstruction plan and, separately, a resolution authorizing issuance of bonds in the proposed aggregate principal amount of $5,500,000 to fund the North Shore and related street projects. Municipal adviser Dan Titra of Ehlers outlined the process and required public-notice steps, including a 30-day reverse referendum period after plan adoption; Titra said the city would solicit bids and return to council to award the bonds. “I’ve personally never seen a reverse referendum petition on a bond of this nature,” he told the council during the presentation.

Council members also approved a motion authorizing staff to issue a…