OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Shakopee City Council Regular Meeting – October 7, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, October 7, 2025
BodyShakopee, Minnesota
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, October 7, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:44:33

Transcript — Verbatim
0:16

Folks all ready?

0:20

We'll call a Shakapee City Council meeting to order for October 7th, 2025.

0:25

If the clerk could please take the roll.

0:28

Councilmember Delaney?

0:30

Here.

0:30

Councilmember Whiting?

0:31

Here.

0:32

Councilmember Contreras?

0:33

Here.

0:33

Councilmember Laura?

0:35

Here.

0:35

Mayor Lehman?

0:37

Here.

0:38

Item number three.

0:38

If you want to join us for the Pledge of Allegiance, please.

1:03

Item number four.

1:04

We have two uh special presentations for AISA presentation by Southern Valley Alliance.

1:15

Officer Davis.

1:17

Welcome and good evening.

1:19

You can go ahead and pull that mic closer if need be.

1:22

Okay.

1:24

Good evening, Mayor and City Council members.

1:28

Thank you for having me here tonight.

1:29

My name is Josh Davis.

1:31

I am the investigation sergeant for the Shakapee Police Department.

1:35

And I also serve on the Board of Directors for Southern Valley Alliance.

1:40

As you're aware, October is domestic violence awareness month.

1:45

And now more than ever, it is imperative that the City of Shakapee recognizes and works to combat domestic abuse.

1:53

Southern Valley Alliance is the only organization to provide services to victims of domestic abuse in both Scott and Carver Counties.

2:02

In our last fiscal year, SVA served 225 victims in Shock Apee alone.

2:10

In addition, we answered over 2,000 calls to our crisis line and assisted victims and survivors in their greatest time of need by providing crisis intervention, emotional support, resources, housing, and safety planning.

2:26

SVA is a prevention and solutions focused organization that partners with law enforcement, health care, social services, and community members in Scott and Carver County.

2:39

Southern Valley Alliance was founded in the early 1980s in Bell Plain by local women who had experienced domestic abuse.

3:21

Amidst these cuts it is important that the City of Shacopee recognizes domestic violence awareness month and does all it can to support victims and survivors today and throughout the year.

3:34

We encourage community members to follow us online and to learn more about what SVA does.

3:40

So again, thank you for having me tonight.

3:43

Questions?

3:44

Mr.

3:45

Lara, I have a question.

3:46

Um there's statistics out there that showed um during COVID uh that the increase there was an intake of um domestic violence reports.

3:57

Have you guys noticed this that number falling as time goes on or this is staying about the same or uh I would say the numbers I don't have the historical numbers with me tonight, but I would say they have not gone down.

4:10

Uh I would say be uh partially because of our location change and just our ability to get in front of victims.

4:17

Our numbers therefore have gone up.

4:19

Um so I wouldn't necessarily say that the post-COVID numbers have shown a decrease at all.

4:25

Render course.

4:26

So I don't know what the nationwide numbers are.

4:28

Sure.

4:29

Councilor Controlers.

4:30

Here's a quick question.

4:31

Anything we can do as just anyone who's watching or is interested with all these cuts, something that we can do to help alleviate a little bit of these cuts.

4:43

Like how can we help SDA?

4:46

Uh I would say one of the most important things for community members is to call their legislator to let them know that uh funding is being cut at a variety of levels.

4:56

Um it's happening to a lot of nonprofits, not just SVA, but it certainly impacts our organization a lot.

5:03

Uh in addition to some of the things I mentioned here, uh SVA does a lot of uh temporary housing for victims of domestic violence, and that housing is expensive to provide apartments and places for people to live who are uh perhaps fleeing domestic violence and without that funding, we can't provide that housing.

5:25

And so uh I would encourage citizens to call their legislator, make them aware of the importance of the continued funding for these nonprofits.

5:34

I think it's been very evident in the news the uh the fraud uh that's been happening with so many nonprofits, and I think that puts the good ones under a bigger microscope and makes it harder for us to get the funding we need because of uh the people that have abused the system, unfortunately.

5:52

So uh SVA is doing it the right way.

5:55

Uh they're going um, you know, working with the state to get the right funding the right way, and then in turn using the funding for the right things.

6:04

And so it's a great organization.

6:07

That's why I am passionate about it and serve um on the board, and they just need to make sure the funding continues.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████25%
Education and Youth Programs█████████████13%
Procedural██████████10%
Public Engagement████████8%
Domestic Violence Awareness███████7%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Public Safety██████6%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Shakopee City Council Regular Meeting – October 7, 2025

The Shakopee City Council met on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included special presentations, approval of a consent agenda, public comment, a discussion on Lower Minnesota River Watershed District priorities, and a closed session for the city administrator's performance review. The council also heard from the school superintendent about an upcoming operating levy referendum and adopted a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Special Presentations

  • Southern Valley Alliance Update – Investigation Sergeant Josh Davis presented on behalf of the Southern Valley Alliance (SVA), the only domestic abuse service provider in Scott and Carver Counties. He reported that SVA served 225 victims in Shakopee in the last fiscal year and answered over 2,000 crisis line calls. The council unanimously adopted a proclamation declaring October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Councilmembers expressed support for SVA's work and encouraged community members to contact legislators about continued funding.
  • Shakopee School Superintendent Dr. Mike Redmond discussed the upcoming operating levy referendum. He explained that state funding has fallen short of inflation by $6.3 million annually over the past four years. The school district faces a $7–$9 million deficit for 2026-27 and $1–$4 million for 2027-28. The district plans $3.5 million in cuts regardless of the levy outcome. The two-question levy: Question 1 is tax-neutral ($620 per pupil, about $5 million/year); Question 2 adds $2.5 million/year ($8.71/month for a $400,000 home). Early voting has started; Election Day is November 4, 2025. Councilmembers commended the district's transparency and fiscal responsibility.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved the consent agenda (items 6a–6m) by unanimous vote. Items included:
    • Setting a public hearing for revenue obligations (conduit debt) for St. Francis Regional Medical Center.
    • Accepting design and construction manager proposals for the remodel of Fire Station 2.
    • Purchasing a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV truck for the Building Department.
    • Awarding a contract for the Arbor Bluffs Stream Stabilization Project.
    • Approving developer agreement amendments for County Highway 16 Extension Improvements.
    • Approving an agreement with Shakopee Public Schools for Safe Routes to School improvements at Sweeney Elementary.
    • Approving a gambling premises permit for the Shakopee Trap Club.
    • Approving grant applications (Firehouse Subs, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, etc.).
    • Approving the September 16, 2025, City Council minutes.
    • Surplus property declaration.
    • Authorizing a Met Life Minnesota Paid Family & Medical Leave private insurance agreement.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • One resident (Andrea, participating in the Safe at Home program) addressed the council regarding smart meter health concerns. She cited research on electromagnetic field (EMF) risks, including cancer links and fire hazards, and requested an opt-out option for analog meters without financial penalties. She noted that other utilities (Xcel Energy, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative) offer complete opt-out plans. The council clarified that the Shakopee Public Utilities Commission, not the City Council, has authority over smart meters. The speaker expressed frustration with the appeals process and urged the council to dig deeper into health implications.

Discussion Items

  • Lower Minnesota River Watershed District – City Priorities – City Engineer presented staff recommendations for the watershed's 10-year management plan update. The city's priorities include: maintaining good relationships with local partners, fixing legacy issues (erosion, flooding), not over-regulating areas where the city already manages standards, focusing on regional issues (upstream agricultural runoff), and maintaining funding partnerships. The city has received 52% of the Lower Minnesota River's WBIF grant funding over the past five years (about $260,000), plus $425,000 in cost-share participation. Councilmembers expressed support for the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, noting that the city's water quality exceeds what comes into the community. The new watershed administrator, Will Lightle, acknowledged the district's financial challenges and stressed the need to tie funding to impacts rather than property taxes. He stated that the district's levy has been unusually low for two decades and that a transformation is needed to align finances with objectives. Councilmembers cautioned against significant levy increases and emphasized that the city should not be penalized for its good stewardship. No formal vote was taken; staff will incorporate feedback into the city's submission to the watershed district.

Key Outcomes

  • Proclamation Adopted – Unanimously approved October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
  • Consent Agenda Approved – All 13 routine items passed unanimously.
  • School Levy Referendum – No council action required; informational presentation only.
  • Watershed Priorities – Council directed staff to submit the recommended priorities to the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, with emphasis on addressing legacy issues and avoiding over-regulation.
  • Closed Session – The council held a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subdivision 3, for the city administrator's performance review. No action was taken.
  • Next Meeting – Adjourned to October 21, 2025, at 7:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Folks all ready? We'll call a Shakapee City Council meeting to order for October 7th, 2025. If the clerk could please take the roll. Councilmember Delaney? Here. Councilmember Whiting? Here. Councilmember Contreras? Here. Councilmember Laura? Here. Mayor Lehman? Here. Item number three. If you want to join us for the Pledge of Allegiance, please. Item number four. We have two uh special presentations for AISA presentation by Southern Valley Alliance. Officer Davis. Welcome and good evening. You can go ahead and pull that mic closer if need be. Okay. Good evening, Mayor and City Council members. Thank you for having me here tonight. My name is Josh Davis. I am the investigation sergeant for the Shakapee Police Department. And I also serve on the Board of Directors for Southern Valley Alliance. As you're aware, October is domestic violence awareness month. And now more than ever, it is imperative that the City of Shakapee recognizes and works to combat domestic abuse. Southern Valley Alliance is the only organization to provide services to victims of domestic abuse in both Scott and Carver Counties. In our last fiscal year, SVA served 225 victims in Shock Apee alone. In addition, we answered over 2,000 calls to our crisis line and assisted victims and survivors in their greatest time of need by providing crisis intervention, emotional support, resources, housing, and safety planning. SVA is a prevention and solutions focused organization that partners with law enforcement, health care, social services, and community members in Scott and Carver County. Southern Valley Alliance was founded in the early 1980s in Bell Plain by local women who had experienced domestic abuse. Amidst these cuts it is important that the City of Shacopee recognizes domestic violence awareness month and does all it can to support victims and survivors today and throughout the year. We encourage community members to follow us online and to learn more about what SVA does. So again, thank you for having me tonight. Questions? Mr. Lara, I have a question. Um there's statistics out there that showed um during COVID uh that the increase there was an intake of um domestic violence reports. Have you guys noticed this that number falling as time goes on or this is staying about the same or uh I would say the numbers I don't have the historical numbers with me tonight, but I would say they have not gone down. Uh I would say be uh partially because of our location change and just our ability to get in front of victims. Our numbers therefore have gone up. Um so I wouldn't necessarily say that the post-COVID numbers have shown a decrease at all. Render course. So I don't know what the nationwide numbers are. Sure. Councilor Controlers. Here's a quick question. Anything we can do as just anyone who's watching or is interested with all these cuts, something that we can do to help alleviate a little bit of these cuts.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com