White Bear Lake City Council 05/12/2026

The City of White Bear Lake City Council held a meeting on May 12, 2026, which included several procurement and infrastructure-related discussions. Key procurement topics included the upcoming traffic signal replacement project at the intersection of Second Street and Highway 61, with coordination between the city and MnDOT, and plans for construction starting in spring 2027. The council was briefed on the project scope, detour plans, and community outreach efforts. Additionally, the council reviewed the 2025 financial audit presented by ABDO, highlighting the city's strong financial management, fund balances, and debt service obligations. The public works and engineering departments provided a biannual report covering staffing, maintenance activities, and capital projects, including water main rehabilitation and stormwater management. The council also discussed a zoning text amendment related to tobacco shops and premium cigar lounges, with extensive deliberation on public health, zoning consistency, and compliance with the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act. Finally, a concept plan for Serenity Senior Care Center's parking lot expansion was presented, involving a plan unit development amendment to add 35 parking stalls to alleviate neighborhood parking issues. No formal votes on procurement contracts were recorded, but future cooperative agreements and right-of-way permits related to the traffic signal project were anticipated for council consideration.