Lake Elmo City Council approves agenda, minutes and consent items; schedules follow-ups

The Lake Elmo City Council approved its meeting agenda and routine business items and heard several council and staff reports.

Council Chair (identified in the transcript as Speaker 1) opened the meeting and took a motion to approve the agenda; Speaker 2 moved and Speaker 3 supported the motion. "Second item is approval of the agenda," Speaker 1 said before the motion passed. The council then approved minutes from the Jan. 13 workshop and the Jan. 20 meeting after motions and seconding by Speaker 3. The council also approved a consent agenda that included: approval of payments and disbursements; the 2026 planning commission work plan; the 2026 parks commission work plan; and acceptance of improvements and approval of a security reduction for Bridgewater Bank. Speaker 3 moved to approve the consent agenda and the motion passed.

During council reports, Speaker 3 raised a resident inquiry about a climate action plan and asked staff to gather information about the Met Council’s requirements, saying, "I was wondering if staff could gather some information for us about what the Met Council will require." Speaker 4 noted the city has a sector representative at the Met Council and asked to receive the resident email for follow-up.

Speaker 3 also requested that the council add discussion of the nation’s 250th anniversary to a future agenda to consider a city event, proposing a volunteer committee and downtown involvement. "We have our 200 and fiftieth anniversary coming up of this country this summer," Speaker 3 said, and asked for another councilor’s support to put the item on a future agenda; Speaker 2 expressed support and suggested possible events such as food trucks and fireworks.

Administrator Miller (as identified in the transcript) provided an informational item noting the board of appeals will be held in council chambers and asked staff to check on training-email notices for local board members. Mister Stanley reported that bids for the 2026 Street Utility Improvement Project are due the next day and that staff will return a recommendation at the next council meeting.

Miss Insala cited local code ("section 3.08 0.04") and reminded the group that, under that provision, items are intended to go to a work session before being placed on a regular meeting agenda. Councilors debated how that requirement interacts with Section 2 agenda procedures and how council-initiated items should be scheduled.

The council noted the Lake Elmo Airport Advisory Commission is meeting Monday at 4 p.m.; Speaker 2 said they will report to council at the next meeting. With no further business, Speaker 1 adjourned the meeting at 07:15.

Actions taken at the meeting: the council approved the agenda, approved minutes for 01/13/26 and 01/20/26, and approved the consent agenda (payments/disbursements; 2026 planning commission work plan; 2026 parks commission work plan; acceptance of improvements and security reduction for Bridgewater Bank).