Blaine council approves assessments, plats, land-use changes, sign rules, tree contract and sewer repair

The Blaine City Council on July 21 approved the consent agenda and adopted a series of routine and policy items, including assessments for the San Bernal Drive reconstruction, a preliminary plat for Lexington Crossing Second Addition, amendments to the home-occupation ordinance, revisions to the temporary sign permit rules, a contract for removal of diseased emerald ash borer (EAB) trees, and a sewer-repair contract award.

San Bernal Drive assessments (Resolution, agenda item 8.1): Council heard a presentation from the director of engineering describing a joint project with Spring Lake Park. The City of Blaine's portion of the project totaled $684,000; earlier feasibility estimates had placed Blaine's share at $446,000. Construction revealed additional deficiencies; staff reported that the total to be assessed to property owners is almost $83,000, with a payments-management program contributing about $257,000 and municipal state aid contributing approximately $344,000. Council opened and then closed the public hearing with no members of the public speaking, and by motion (moved by Council member Newland, seconded by Council member Robertson) adopted the resolution to levy the assessments. The assessments will be levied over a five-year payment period; staff said eligible state-aid funds would be applied to cover the overrun and that the project came in about $14,000 over the capital improvement program budget.

Lexington Crossing Second Addition (Preliminary plat, agenda item 9.1): Assistant Community Development Director Sheila presented a preliminary plat to split Lot B into four lots and two outlots in a B-5 community commercial zone. The lot sizes range from 0.97 to 10.46 acres; no development is proposed with the plat. The Planning Commission held a public hearing July 8 and recommended approval with nine conditions. By motion (moved by Council member Roberts, seconded by Council member Miss Solia) the council approved the preliminary plat.

Home-occupation ordinance amendments (Second reading, agenda item 9.2): Council considered second-reading amendments clarifying what can be stored outside for a home occupation, vehicle restrictions, allowance for employment of one non-resident employee, and permitting home occupations in accessory buildings with maximum floor-area limits (3,000 sq ft in most residential districts; 800 sq ft in farm residential). The ordinance also lists prohibited uses (auto repair/body shop, auto sales) and conditional uses (blacksmithing, welding, heavy-equipment rental, small-engine repair) with conditions on visibility and nuisance. The Planning Commission recommended approval. Council member Masolia moved an amendment to also include residential-estate zoning parcels of 3 acres or greater in the conditional allowances; the amendment was seconded and adopted. Council then adopted the ordinance as amended (moved by Council member Larson, seconded by Council member Miss Solia).

Sign ordinance amendments — temporary signs (Second reading, agenda item 9.3): Staff presented amendments to Section 34-13 to limit the general temporary sign permit to four weeks per calendar year (down from eight), limit the number and sizes of permitted sign types (e.g., banners, feather flags, A-frame signs), create a separate special-event temporary sign permit allowing additional signage for up to two weeks per calendar year, and prohibit balloons and inflatables. The Planning Commission recommended approval; staff said enforcement will remain primarily complaint-driven but code officers may act on observed violations. Council adopted the sign-ordinance amendments; staff said changes take effect after a 30-day period and that postcards and a QR-code webpage will be used to notify businesses and sign companies.

EAB tree-removal contract (Administration, agenda item 10.1): The city forester recommended accepting a bid from Cars Tree Service to remove diseased and hazardous boulevard and city-owned trees affected by emerald ash borer. The contract amount was set not to exceed $150,000 (funded in the 2025 budget); staff said the contract would facilitate removal of approximately 200 EAB-affected trees. Council approved the contract (motion moved by Council member Robertson; the meeting record shows no opposition).

Sewer repair award (Administration, agenda item 10.2): Public works staff reported two identified sewer-repair locations. Only one bid was received (Dressel) for Location A at 100th and Ninth/6th Street; staff recommended awarding Location A only at a quoted $66,000 plus a 10% contingency for a total budget of about $73,000. Funding was identified in the 2025 sewer CIP (approximately $80,000). Location B will be delayed to seek better pricing. Council awarded the contract to Dressel for Location A (moved by Council member Newland, seconded by Council member Missolia).

Across the items above, the council recorded motion votes with no opposing votes on the official record; motions were announced as prevailing and items were approved. Where the transcript recorded mover/second, that information is noted. No formal roll-call vote tallies with named yes/no votes were read into the record on the items summarized here.