Minnesota Record
Blaine
TN

Tom Newland

Councilmember Ward 12023-01-04 – 2027-01-01 (oath of office Jan 4, 2023 per the Jan 4, 2023 City Council agenda item 3; month-level end: 2027-01 per four-year council terms, oaths four years apart: Jan 3 2019 and Jan 4 2023, Jan 4 2021 and Jan 6 2025)

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Jan 1, 2027.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
20
Total speaking time
1:05:49
Avg per meeting
3:17
Segments
716

Want every word Newland has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Newland said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

high↑May 2026[29]

Revocation of conditional use permit for Minnesota Performance

No direct city cost; parking allocation disputes among tenants are private matters.

high↑Jun 2026[25]

Utility Franchise Renewals (Connexus and Xcel Energy)

About $144 a year for the median $346,000 home, generating $5-6 million citywide annually.

high↑Oct 2026[25]

Hammer Farms development impacts

He asked that traffic signal and road costs be borne by the development rather than the city or existing residents.

medium↑May 2026[24]

Electrical box obstruction at 99th/Lexington Avenues

Relocation cost will rise substantially once new electrical lines are installed, per the resident's testimony.

high↑Oct 2026[22]

2026 pavement management bond sale

Up to $6 million in bonds backed by the city's full faith, credit, and taxing power.

high↑Jun 2026[22]

2027 Charitable Gambling Fund Awards

Gambling revenue funds youth sports and community programs; no direct city tax impact.

high→May 2026[21]

2050 comprehensive plan — board wants a seat at the table

No direct cost to residents discussed; the city is doing most of the work in-house instead of hiring a consultant.

high↑Oct 2026[20]

Trail replacement program

If approved, it covers the full trail section connecting two neighborhoods without tapping more local open space funds.

high↓Sep 2026[18]

Gateway Fiber citywide expansion

No direct city cost; a franchise agreement would set terms for private fiber investment across the city.

medium→Sep 2026[18]

Lindahl Estates subdivision

One speaker claimed a roughly 400% increase in city tax revenue from the additional homes; staff called tax projections beyond the commission's purview.

medium↑May 2026[17]

Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Site 7 monitoring and fall burn

Unknown — test plots are meant to produce a confident cost estimate for large-scale treatment.

high↑May 2026[17]

Florin property land donation negotiations

Donation of land valued as a gift to the city, with removal costs already borne by the donor.

medium↑Jul 2026[17]

2025 Street Rehabilitation Assessments (T2505)

Assessed property owners in the project area pay a share of the $1.06 million assessment roll, payable over up to 15 years.

medium↑Sep 2026[15]

Alcohol at Mary Ann Young Center rentals

The jewelry sale is one of the senior center's largest fundraisers and outperformed the prior year.

high↓Sep 2026[15]

2027 property tax levy

Roughly $25 more per year on a median-value residential property, with the total levy capped just under $2.2 million.

medium↑Jun 2026[14]

Terrano Apartments final plat

$234,912 in park dedication fees due before building permits are issued.

low↑Oct 2026[13]

Resident complaint over utility box code enforcement

medium↑Jul 2026[12]

Pickleball courts at TPC Twin Cities

Funded through the capital improvement/park dedication budget; no new cost figure given beyond the parking lot extension already underway.

high↑Jun 2026[12]

Election rosters: paper vs. electronic

Speaker characterized the county's litigation defense as a waste of taxpayer dollars.

medium↑Jun 2026[12]

Labor Negotiations Status

3% wage increases each year; a $683 budget overage absorbed through vacant positions.

Decisions during term (198)

Recorded while Newland was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

Voting record (19)

0 yes8 no11 abstained

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted noOct 19, 2026

RES 26-177 Comprehensive Plan Amendment — Pulte Group (Wellington)

AbstainedOct 5, 2026

that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved.

Voted noSep 21, 2026

adopt the Second Reading of Ordinance No. 26-2617, Approving a Rezoning from 105th Redevelopment District (RD) to Planned Business District (PBD) at 2180 and 2190 105th Avenue NE

AbstainedSep 21, 2026

the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved

Voted noSep 21, 2026

ORD 26-2617 — Rezone National Sports Village to Planned Business District

Believed the property was presented as the gateway to the 105th Avenue redevelopment and that repeated changes to that intent should stop.

AbstainedSep 9, 2026

Moved by Councilmember Newland, seconded by Councilmember Robertson, that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved.

AbstainedSep 9, 2026

Consent Agenda (Items 7.1–7.13)

Conflict of interest: his own business appears on the bills payable list.

AbstainedAug 17, 2026

that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved

Voted noAug 17, 2026

RES 26-154 CUP — Scheels sign plan, 2105 105th Avenue NE

Believed the signage request was too much for the district and that Scheels offered no compromise.

Voted noAug 17, 2026

to adopt a Resolution Granting a Conditional Use Permit for a Sign Plan that Includes Four Wall Signs and One LED Display per Section 117-23 of the Zoning Code, in the 105th Avenue Redevelopment Distr

AbstainedJul 6, 2026

that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved.

AbstainedJul 6, 2026

Consent Agenda (Items 7.1–7.13)

Conflict of interest with a business he owns that will receive payments in that period.

AbstainedJun 15, 2026

that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved.

AbstainedJun 15, 2026

Approval of Consent Agenda

Conflict of interest with a business he owns that appears on the bills list

Voted noJun 15, 2026

RES 26-109 Montean Meadows Preliminary Plat Approval (as amended to 5-year reimbursement)

Moved to reduce the reimbursement term from 12 years to 5, calling the 12-year term an unpleasant last-minute surprise

Voted noJun 1, 2026

table action on this item to the June 15 city council meeting so a workshop discussion could be held

Voted noJun 1, 2026

RES 26-107 — Jim Peterson Park Improvements Contract (Tabled)

Opposed delaying the park project

AbstainedMay 18, 2026

that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved.

AbstainedMay 18, 2026

Schedule of Bills Paid (2026-115)

Conflict of interest with a company he partially owns that received payment.