Waconia City Council Regular Meeting - October 20, 2025

Mayor Tim Litfin called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Council Members Nick Gleason, Jeff Grengs, Jacob Coleman, and Derek Siddons were present. The Council adopted the agenda, held three public hearings, approved the consent agenda, and voted 5-0 on all formal actions.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the October 6, 2025 City Council minutes and October 20, 2025 expenditures.
• Approved Safari Island Community Center and Ice Arena expenditures from Sports Facilities Companies for September 2025.
• Approved contractor pay request No. 1 to GMH Asphalt for the 2025 Street Improvements Project (mill and overlay) and pay request No. 4 to Minger Construction for CSAH 10 and Waconia Parkway North Improvements.
• Adopted Resolutions 2025-245 through 2025-250 accepting Fire Department cash donations, authorizing the 2025-2026 snow hauling agreement, approving the winter towing and impound agreement with R&V Service and Towing, authorizing the LRIP grant application for the TH5 Frontage Road Extension, approving the steep slope permit for 748 Old Beach Lane, and adopting Ordinance 783 amending Chapter 515 of City Code related to cannabis sales with summary publication.

Public Hearings

1. 2025 Downtown Reconstruction Phase 3 Final Assessment Hearing Consulting City Engineer Jake Saulsbury (Bolton & Menk) presented the final assessment. The total final project cost was $5,248,080; final assessments totaled $538,091; the City share was $4.71 million, 15.7% below the amount presented during feasibility. Street and storm sewer costs were $237.55 per front foot, sanitary sewer $3,100 per unit, and water main $5,361 per unit. The assessment rate is 4.44% over 10 years. There are 27 properties in the project area, 26 proposed for assessment, and 18 assessment amounts were reduced after the benefit evaluation. The project remains under contract; remaining work includes light poles, final paving and striping, punch-list repairs, and coordination with adjacent apartment construction.

Public comments: Carl Runk, co-owner of Olive and 2nd Street Apartments, praised the work and asked whether sidewalk costs were included in assessments; Saulsbury confirmed sidewalk costs are City-funded and not part of assessments, with a development-agreement nuance for the apartment project. A written comment from Michael Dehn, 25 2nd Street West, addressed driveway and sod restoration; City Administrator Shane Fineran said these are on the contractor's punch list.

The Council adopted Resolution 2025-242 approving the assessment roll.

2. Annexation - Dircks Property (15 acres of PID 070300400) Community Development Director Lane Braaten said the City has a purchase agreement with the Dircks family for about 15 acres for future Water Treatment Plant #4. The remnant parcel will remain in Laketown Township. Laketown approved the joint resolution on October 13, 2025. No public comments were received. The Council adopted Resolution 2025-243 approving the joint annexation resolution.

3. Certification of Delinquent Charges for 2026 Tax Payment Finance Director Nicole Meyer explained the required public hearing and notification process. A delinquent account list reflected payments received through close of business October 20, 2025. No comments were received. The Council adopted Resolution 2025-244 certifying delinquent utility and other charges for payment with 2026 taxes.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during Open Forum. Public testimony was limited to the hearing comments summarized above.

Community Interest Presentations

• Southern Valley Alliance - Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Executive Director Christie Larson said Southern Valley Alliance is the only domestic violence services provider in Scott and Carver Counties, served 33 victims in Waconia in the last fiscal year, and answers more than 2,000 crisis line calls annually. She noted a 20% increase in service demand since moving to Shakopee and cited funding cuts. Mayor Litfin read a proclamation declaring October 2025 Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Waconia.
• District 110 Referendum: Superintendent Brian Gersich presented the school district's operating referendum request. He said the district achieved its first positive fund balance since 2017 and needs about $5 million to $6 million in fund balance, but projects expenses exceeding revenues in FY27 without action. The request is $731 per pupil, indexed annually to inflation, first levied in 2025 for taxes payable in 2026, for ten years. Nearly 80% of district funding comes from the state, and Waconia remains near the bottom in state revenue; the tax impact on a median $450,000 home would be about $27 per month. He said he was not asking for Council support but wanted the Council informed; if the referendum fails, the district would have to reduce expenses, potentially affecting staff and class sizes. Election Day is November 4, 2025.

Council Business

• Playground Equipment Order: Fineran presented Resolution 2025-251 to order equipment for Pine Hill Park replacement and Island View Estates new neighborhood park. Ordering in 2025 locks in 2025 pricing and avoids a projected 5% cost increase. Contracts with Flagship Recreation were $116,057 for Pine Hill (budget $128,750) and $199,151 for Island View Estates, with an expected $140,000-$145,000 in additional site work. The vendor will store equipment at no cost for spring/summer 2026 installation. A neighborhood meeting drew more than 40 votes, with Option 2 as the overwhelming choice. The Council adopted the resolution.
• City Sponsorship Program for Summer Events: Assistant City Administrator Jackie Schulze proposed a new sponsorship program to sustain and expand free community events, including Music in the Streets, the children's show, and National Night Out. Proposed sponsorship levels are Title Sponsor, National Night Out Band Sponsor, Gold, Silver, and Friends of Music in the Streets. The program would support five rotating block events plus a children's show in a park and reduce reliance on general fund support. The Council adopted Resolution 2025-252.
• Polling Place Boundaries and Locations for 2026: Schulze recommended adding a fourth precinct and moving all polling places to public facilities: Senior Center at City Hall, Paradise Commons at Lake Waconia Regional Park, Waconia Ice Arena, and Waconia Fire Department. Precincts would each have about 2,500 voters; the 2024 Ice Arena precinct had more than 3,500 registered voters. The fire station training room was designed for polling use. The Council adopted Resolution 2025-253.

Reports, Announcements, and Mayor's Activities

• Council members had no board reports. Mayor Litfin reported attending the Waconia High School Mayor's Youth Advisory Council and the school musical on October 9, presenting to 100 fifth graders at Laketown Elementary on October 14, and meeting on October 15 with residents interested in a Spring Into Health series. He thanked Jackie Schulze and Jen Friesen for the Mayor's Minute.
• Fineran reminded residents that winter parking restrictions begin November 1 and run through April 1, with safe harbor parking available at lower Lot 4. Council Member Gleason wished the Waconia High School football team luck against Mankato West in their first playoff game on October 21.

Key Outcomes

The Council adopted all actions by 5-0 votes, including:

• Resolution 2025-242 approving the Downtown Reconstruction Phase 3 assessment roll.
• Resolution 2025-243 approving the Dircks property annexation.
• Resolution 2025-244 certifying delinquent charges for 2026 tax collection.
• Resolution 2025-251 approving the playground equipment order.
• Resolution 2025-252 approving the summer sponsorship program.
• Resolution 2025-253 adding a fourth precinct and establishing 2026 polling locations.
• The consent agenda, including Resolutions 2025-245 through 2025-250 and Ordinance 783.

The regular meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.