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Record of Proceedings

Waconia City Council Regular Meeting: November 18, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, November 18, 2025
BodyWaconia, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 18, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:21

A special thank you tonight for to our public works team for getting the Christmas and holiday lights up throughout our town and our community.

0:27

They they just look great.

0:29

And it's a nice time of the year, of course.

0:31

Please have this evening minutes reflect that Councilmember Gleason is missing, otherwise everyone is here.

Unassigned speaker

0:37

Uh

Speaker 1

0:37

ladies and gentlemen, tonight we begin having a student

Unassigned speaker

0:40

from

Speaker 1

0:40

one of our Waconya schools lead the city council and the community in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:45

We are very pleased to welcome second grader Addie Ishi from St.

0:49

Joseph's Catholic School.

0:50

Addie, thank you for being with us tonight.

0:52

Uh ladies and gentlemen, please stand as you are able, remove your hats and join Addie as together we honor America while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:00

Thank you, Addie.

Speaker 2

1:02

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Unit States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:10

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Speaker 1

1:17

Excellent, Hattie, thank you.

Unassigned speaker

1:22

That's

Speaker 1

1:23

a big deal.

1:24

Second grader.

1:25

Wow.

1:26

Way to go, Hattie.

1:27

Thank

Unassigned speaker

1:28

you.

Speaker 1

1:29

Council members, we have an agenda in front of us.

1:32

Could I have a motion to accept the agenda?

Speaker 3

1:34

So moved.

Speaker 1

1:35

Councilmember Coleman, motion to accept the agenda.

1:37

Second by Councilmember Green's, thank you.

1:39

All in favor?

1:40

Aye.

1:41

Opposed.

Speaker 3

1:41

Excellent.

Speaker 1

1:42

We have an agenda to work with.

1:44

Um no public hearing, no public comments tonight.

1:47

So move right into uh the uh consent agenda.

1:51

We have an a consent agenda in front of us.

Unassigned speaker

1:53

The

Speaker 1

1:53

items listed on the consent agenda are considered routine and non-controversial by the council and will be approved by one motion.

2:00

There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff, or citizens so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered at the end of the regular agenda.

Unassigned speaker

2:11

Uh

Speaker 1

2:11

council members, do I have a motion or would you like to pull one of the items?

2:14

Anyone?

Unassigned speaker

2:15

Not that I'm not sure.

Speaker 4

2:16

Nope.

2:16

Nope.

Speaker 1

2:17

Again, nothing from the public or staff.

2:19

Very good.

2:19

Can I have a motion to accept the consent agenda?

2:22

Councilmember Siddons, thank you.

2:24

Second by Councilmember Coleman, thank you.

2:26

All in favor?

2:27

Aye.

2:27

Very good.

2:28

Passed.

2:29

Uh regular agenda items tonight, Council and public.

2:33

We have item number 9.1, after the fact variants, 301 Oak Street South.

2:38

Uh Mr.

2:39

Lane Brought.

2:40

Thank you very much for being with us.

2:41

Mr.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████50%
Procedural███████████████████████25%
Community Engagement██████████████15%
Parks and Recreation█████████10%
Summary of Proceedings

Waconia City Council Regular Meeting - November 18, 2025

The Waconia City Council held its regular meeting on November 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM with Council Member Nick Gleason absent. Mayor Tim Litfin presided. The council unanimously approved the consent agenda and two variance requests. The meeting concluded at 6:30 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of November 3, 2025.
  • Approved expenditures for November 18, 2025.
  • Approved Safari Island Community Center expenditures from Sports Facilities Companies for October 2025.
  • Approved Ice Arena expenditures from Sports Facilities Companies for October 2025.
  • Approved Pay Request #1-Final to Minger Construction for Bayview Turf Lot Reconstruction.
  • Approved Pay Request #2 to GMH Asphalt Corporation for 2025 Street Improvements Project.
  • Approved purchase of replacement security gate at Public Services Facility (USA Security, Inc.) via Resolution 2025-266.
  • Approved replacement Dell server with local storage (Marco) via Resolution 2025-267.
  • Approved amendment to Corporate Bylaws of Ridgeview Medical Center via Resolution 2025-268.
  • Supported Carver County’s LRIP application via Resolution 2025-269.
  • Accepted safety grant proceeds from Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry via Resolution 2025-270.
  • Called a public hearing for revision to City’s Fee Schedule (Chapter 1100).
  • Approved Zoning Map Amendment at 9550 Airport Road (R-3 to P District) via Resolution 2025-271.
  • Approved exempt permit application for a raffle from St. Joseph’s Church via Resolution 2025-272.

Discussion Items

  • After-the-Fact Variance – 301 Oak Street South: Community Development Director Lane Braaten presented three variances for a garage rebuilt without a permit on a nonconforming slab. The variances sought: (1) 9.8-foot rear yard setback vs. required 10 feet, (2) 14.1-foot setback from 3rd Street vs. required 15 feet, and (3) 41% hardcover vs. allowed 35%. The applicant proposed removing a shed and installing a stormwater plan to reduce hardcover to 35%. Elizabeth Smieja, sister of the occupant, confirmed ongoing cleanup. The Planning Commission recommended approval 5-0 on November 6, 2025. The council adopted Resolution 2025-273 unanimously.
  • Variance – 748 Old Beach Lane: Lane Braaten presented a variance to allow replacement and expansion of retaining walls within the bluff/bluff impact zone and to exceed the 25% hardcover maximum in the Shoreland Overlay District by 1% (200 sq ft) for replacing a wooden staircase with stone steps. The property had previously received a steep slope permit on October 20, 2025. The Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval with 12 conditions, including a native planting plan reviewed by Soil and Water. The council adopted Resolution 2025-274 unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous approval of both variance resolutions (2025-273 and 2025-274).
  • Mayor Litfin proposed changing a 35 mph speed limit sign to 30 mph on Main Street near Highway 5. Councilmember Coleman noted an ongoing citywide speed study, and the mayor agreed to wait for the study’s results before pursuing a change.

Board Reports and Announcements

  • Mayor Litfin’s Report:
    • November 5: Mayor Is In session had 5 attendees; next session is December 3, 7:30 AM at City Hall.
    • November 6: Chamber Coffee Connection with approximately 40 attendees.
    • November 6: Attended Planning Commission meeting; commended staff and commission.
    • November 8: Safari Island grand reopening after remodel of weight/fitness rooms and new sauna.
    • November 10: Attended Waconia American Legion Post 150 Veterans Day event at Westview Acres.
    • Reminded residents that fall is budget season; encouraged input to council members.
  • City Administrator Shane Fineran announced the Chamber of Commerce’s Homespun Holiday Tree Lighting event at City Square Park on Friday, November 28 at 6:00 PM.
  • Assistant City Administrator Jackie Schulze announced Santa at the Fire Department on Saturday, November 29 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.

Meeting Transcript

A special thank you tonight for to our public works team for getting the Christmas and holiday lights up throughout our town and our community. They they just look great. And it's a nice time of the year, of course. Please have this evening minutes reflect that Councilmember Gleason is missing, otherwise everyone is here. Uh ladies and gentlemen, tonight we begin having a student from one of our Waconya schools lead the city council and the community in the Pledge of Allegiance. We are very pleased to welcome second grader Addie Ishi from St. Joseph's Catholic School. Addie, thank you for being with us tonight. Uh ladies and gentlemen, please stand as you are able, remove your hats and join Addie as together we honor America while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Addie. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Unit States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Excellent, Hattie, thank you. That's a big deal. Second grader. Wow. Way to go, Hattie. Thank you. Council members, we have an agenda in front of us. Could I have a motion to accept the agenda? So moved. Councilmember Coleman, motion to accept the agenda. Second by Councilmember Green's, thank you. All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Excellent. We have an agenda to work with. Um no public hearing, no public comments tonight. So move right into uh the uh consent agenda. We have an a consent agenda in front of us. The items listed on the consent agenda are considered routine and non-controversial by the council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff, or citizens so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered at the end of the regular agenda. Uh council members, do I have a motion or would you like to pull one of the items? Anyone? Not that I'm not sure. Nope. Nope. Again, nothing from the public or staff. Very good. Can I have a motion to accept the consent agenda? Councilmember Siddons, thank you. Second by Councilmember Coleman, thank you.

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