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Record of Proceedings

Waconia City Council Regular Meeting - November 3, 2025

City Council — Monday, November 3, 2025
BodyWaconia, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, November 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

For uh Monday, November 3rd.

0:01

Thanks for being here with us tonight.

0:03

Um our streets are looking good.

0:06

Wanna highlight John Hawkins and Mike Dressel and all their team members.

0:10

Uh dare I say it, winter is right around the corner, and uh it they're looking great.

0:14

So congratulations to all of your team members out there.

0:17

They're fantastic, they're ready for what's coming next, and we know what comes next.

0:21

So, welcome to our guests, our visitors and presenters.

0:23

Uh, anyone watching this evening or those who will view this meeting in the future.

0:28

Uh stand if you're able and join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:31

Thank you very much.

Speaker 2

0:34

Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United

Speaker 1

0:36

States of America.

0:38

And to

Speaker 3

0:38

the

Speaker 1

0:38

Republic for which it stands.

Speaker 3

0:40

One nation under

Speaker 1

0:41

that

Speaker 3

0:42

indivisible with liberty and justice for

Unassigned speaker

0:45

all.

Unassigned speaker

0:48

So

Speaker 1

0:48

if you'd note that Nick Gleason is absent this evening, appreciate it.

0:51

Thank you very much.

0:53

Uh council members, we have a uh agenda in front of us.

0:56

Gotta have a motion to accept uh and the agenda.

0:59

So moved.

1:00

Councilmember Coleman, motion to accept the agenda.

Speaker 3

1:02

Second by councilmember Grings, thank you.

1:04

All in favor,

Speaker 1

1:06

aye, opposed.

1:07

Super, thank you.

1:08

Um we have a um open forum, and we have someone uh wanting to speak and address the council tonight.

1:16

So I'll just read the uh the rules of the open forum.

1:19

The visitors presentation portion of this meeting is the opportunity for members of the public to speak to the city council.

1:24

Those who have completed a request or would like to speak now will be invited to the podium.

1:29

Comments are limited to three minutes, and presenters are expected to state their name and address for the public record.

1:34

The city council will not take any formal action during visitors' presentation.

1:39

Thank you very much.

1:40

And Adam Sol seth.

1:42

Good evening.

1:43

Thank you, Adam.

1:46

Appreciate it.

1:47

Thank you.

Unassigned speaker

1:48

Yeah,

Speaker 4

1:48

my name is Adams.

1:49

Sorry.

Unassigned speaker

1:50

My

Speaker 4

1:50

name is Adam Solseth.

1:51

My address is 1249 Knight Trail in Waconia.

1:54

Thank you.

1:55

Um I was just here coming here today just to voice my opinion on the proposed city franchise fee that I learned about in the most recent uh city newsletter that's sent out with utility bills.

2:08

Um, in my opinion, or I guess I just wanted to express that I hope that the city council does not implement this fee.

2:15

Um I feel like it's not a transparent way of the city collecting money.

2:21

Um I think they should continue on with getting you know the bulk of the revenue from property taxes, um, property tax assessments for street projects, things like that.

2:32

Um I feel like most people won't even notice on the utility monthly utility bill that there is a fee.

2:40

If they see the city fee, they're gonna think that it's something or franchise fee, they're gonna think it's something that Excel Energy or the gas company is assessing.

2:48

They're probably not gonna know that it's actually going to Waconia.

2:51

Um, and I don't like the idea of a perpetual fee that can be increased every year in perpetuity.

2:59

Um I I just think that's asking for problems down the road.

3:02

Your guys' intentions maybe would be you know, noble and good, that you want it to go towards roads and and parks in Waconia.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████████28%
Public Safety██████████████████████22%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Transportation Safety████████████████16%
Mental Health Awareness█████5%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Pending Litigation██2%
Budget Equity Analysis██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Waconia City Council Regular Meeting - November 3, 2025

The Waconia City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 6:00 PM. Mayor Tim Litfin presided, with Council Members Derek Siddons, Jacob Coleman, and Jeff Grengs present. Council Member Nick Gleason was absent. Key topics included a public comment opposing a proposed franchise fee, a presentation on the 2026 County Attorney Prosecution Contract, adoption of the 2025 Pavement Management Plan, and changes to speed limits on Waconia Parkway South. The meeting concluded with a closed session to discuss the potential sale of city property at 401 13th Street East.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved with 14 items, covering routine approvals such as meeting minutes, expenditures, contractor pay requests, fire department resolutions, GIS/planning agreements, a solid waste grant, licenses, and the 2026 prosecution contract. Item 8.11 (Waconia Parkway South Speed Limits) was removed by Mayor Litfin for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Adam Solseth (1249 Night Trail) spoke in strong opposition to the proposed City Franchise Fee. He argued the fee lacks transparency, is hidden on utility bills, and acts as an unaccountable perpetual charge. He urged the city to continue relying on transparent funding mechanisms such as property taxes.

Discussion Items

  • 2026 Prosecution Contract: County Attorney Mark Metz presented the 2026 contract. Waconia represents about 23% of the county caseload, with a three-year average of 175 cases (reaching 200 in 2024). The proposed contract is $21,897.80, an increase of $2,652.58, reflecting a 3.5% personnel cost allowance and rising caseloads. Mr. Metz noted a county-wide upward trend in crime, especially DUIs, and highlighted the office's victim witness coordinators and the success of treatment courts (Drug Court and Veterans Court) in reducing recidivism. He also paid tribute to a long-time staff member, Beth Young, who recently passed away.
  • 2025 Pavement Management Plan Update: Public Services Director Jon Haukaas presented the updated plan, which uses an AI-based pavement evaluation by Vaisala. The city's weighted Pavement Condition Index is 61.5. The plan outlines a ten-year (2026-2035) program for street repair and replacement, organized into full reconstruction and mill/overlay projects. Mr. Haukaas emphasized that the plan requires annual council approval for specific projects. Mayor Litfin praised the completion of major 2025 projects including Wildcat Way, Downtown Phase 3, and the roundabout at Waconia Parkway South.
  • Waconia Parkway South Speed Limit Changes: Jon Haukaas presented the rationale for new speed limits based on a MnDOT study. The study recommended limits of 45 mph from County Road 10 to Heather Lane and 35 mph from Heather Lane to Highway 5. Mr. Haukaas discussed plans to develop a local policy for setting speed limits under state law, with estimated costs for a citywide study potentially reaching $50,000, for council consideration in 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Resolution 2025-265 approving the 2026 Prosecution Contract with Carver County.
  • Approved: Resolution 2025-264 accepting the 2025 Pavement Management Plan Update.
  • Approved: Resolution 2025-260 directing staff to change speed limit signs on Waconia Parkway South.
  • Closed Session: The council voted to enter closed session under Minn. Stat. 13.05, subd. 3(c)(3) to consider the sale of property at 401 13th Street East.
  • Upcoming: The Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee will present survey findings on December 1, 2025. Staff will develop a speed limit authority policy framework for 2026.

Meeting Transcript

For uh Monday, November 3rd. Thanks for being here with us tonight. Um our streets are looking good. Wanna highlight John Hawkins and Mike Dressel and all their team members. Uh dare I say it, winter is right around the corner, and uh it they're looking great. So congratulations to all of your team members out there. They're fantastic, they're ready for what's coming next, and we know what comes next. So, welcome to our guests, our visitors and presenters. Uh, anyone watching this evening or those who will view this meeting in the future. Uh stand if you're able and join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you very much. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under that indivisible with liberty and justice for all. So if you'd note that Nick Gleason is absent this evening, appreciate it. Thank you very much. Uh council members, we have a uh agenda in front of us. Gotta have a motion to accept uh and the agenda. So moved. Councilmember Coleman, motion to accept the agenda. Second by councilmember Grings, thank you. All in favor, aye, opposed. Super, thank you. Um we have a um open forum, and we have someone uh wanting to speak and address the council tonight. So I'll just read the uh the rules of the open forum. The visitors presentation portion of this meeting is the opportunity for members of the public to speak to the city council. Those who have completed a request or would like to speak now will be invited to the podium. Comments are limited to three minutes, and presenters are expected to state their name and address for the public record. The city council will not take any formal action during visitors' presentation. Thank you very much. And Adam Sol seth. Good evening. Thank you, Adam. Appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah, my name is Adams. Sorry. My name is Adam Solseth. My address is 1249 Knight Trail in Waconia. Thank you.

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