Forest Lake Council approves consultant to write airport minimum standards, caps cost at $30,000

Forest Lake City Council on Jan. 27 approved a scope of work with Bolton & Menk to develop formal airport minimum standards for the Forest Lake Airport, a move staff said will remove ambiguity from the existing 2009 "guidelines" and give the city a clearer enforcement and leasing framework. The council approved the contract by voice vote after a staff presentation and council questions.

City staff and consultant Silas of Bolton & Menk told the council the document will lay out administration and enforcement procedures, minimum insurance requirements for aircraft and leased buildings, standards for general aviation users and aeronautical businesses (for example, fixed‑base operators and flight instruction), processes for variance requests, and penalties for noncompliance. Silas said the standards also would address "through‑the‑fence" access — permitting aircraft based off‑site to access airport property — and recommended documenting the variance and enforcement process so staff and the airport commission can apply the rules consistently.

City attorney Amanda Johnson and Silas proposed forming a steering committee that would include city council members, airport commission members and city staff to review drafts. Silas told the council he expects the work to follow a multi‑meeting review process and said the document could be used to clarify how existing and future lease agreements should be updated.

Councilmembers asked whether the standards would be used to designate certain newly constructed hangar lots for business uses versus general aviation. Silas and staff replied that the council would make any lot‑use decisions and that the airport layout plan could be incorporated to designate lots for commercial uses if the council chose to do so. Staff also told the council that the Minnesota Department of Transportation had recommended constructing the initial four north‑side lots and would consider additional south‑side development once the north lots were built or leased.

Councilmember Erickson moved to approve the Bolton & Menk proposal with a not‑to‑exceed cost of $30,000; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Councilmembers asked staff to return with details on the steering‑committee membership and a March–April timeline to begin committee meetings.

The contractor agreement is intended to replace the older 2009 airport "guidelines" with a formally adopted rules‑and‑regulations document the city can cite in leases and enforcement actions.

The council did not record a roll‑call vote in the transcript; the motion passed by voice vote.