Waconia City Council Regular Meeting – December 1, 2025

The Waconia City Council met in regular session at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2025, with Mayor Tim Litfin presiding. Council Member Jacob Coleman was absent. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Waconia Mayor's Youth Advisory Council. The agenda was adopted as published, no public hearing or open forum was held, and the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• The Council approved the consent agenda, with Mayor Litfin pulling items 8.9 and 8.10 for separate discussion. Approved items included the November 8, 2025 City Council minutes; December 1, 2025 expenditures; a lodging tax reimbursement request from the Waconia Convention & Visitors Bureau; contractor pay requests for the Water Treatment Facility Piping Modifications (#11 to Municipal Builders), Wildcat Way Reconstruction (#2 to GMH Asphalt Corporation), and Downtown Reconstruction Phase 2 (final #8 to W.M. Mueller & Sons); Firefighter Nick Burkhalter's resignation (Resolution 2025-275); Fire Officer appointments (Resolution 2025-276); an exempt raffle permit for the Waconia Hockey Association (Resolution 2025-279); a tobacco license (Resolution 2025-280); and a liquor license for SKGK Ventures LLC, DBA Colony Plaza Inc. (Resolution 2025-281).

Community Interest Presentations

• Members of the Waconia Youth Mayoral Advisory Council — Tallulah Kovaleski, Kendall Tyhurst, Oscar Butler, Colette Newman, Mara Ryan, and Reidun Trostad — presented results from a Waconia High School survey conducted in October 2025, with just over 400 responses. Highlights included: Lake Waconia and local restaurants as favorite amenities; family restaurants and a dog park as top desired additions; 95% of students feeling safe in the evening; 58.9% saying Waconia is growing "just right," 33.7% "too fast," and 7.4% "too slow"; 90.5% reporting no vehicle speed concerns; about half saying trails are important and roughly one-third saying the City needs more trails; a 50/50 split on whether the City makes decision-making information available; high participation in the Carver County Fair (85%) and Nickel Dickle Day (75%); and 82.3% feeling proud to live in Waconia. Council members thanked them and said the data would inform future decisions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mike Todd, 148 Scott Lane, questioned the stormwater fee's double-digit increases, averaging about 12% annually. Finance Director Nicole Meyer responded that stormwater increases will be minimal going forward and the current plan includes a proposed 2% increase for 2027.
• Deann Buss, 483 Lakeview Terrace Boulevard, asked whether temporary staffing costs were budgeted to backfill employees on family leave. Assistant City Administrator Jackie Schulze responded that the City does not budget temporary labor and existing staff absorb the workload.

Discussion Items

• 2026 Budget & Levy Presentation: Finance Director Nicole Meyer presented the final 2026 budget and levy. No formal action was required. The proposed city tax rate is projected to increase 6.82% from 2025; the average home value in Waconia is about $450,000, up approximately 4.6%. The final proposed levy is slightly lower than the preliminary levy approved September 15, 2025. Meyer reviewed the annual budget timeline, general fund departments, enterprise funds, and utility funds. The average city utility bill is scheduled to increase about $4.32 per month, driven mainly by stormwater, with smaller increases in water, sewer, and street lighting, plus a $0.46/month state drinking water surcharge. Transfers from the general fund are budgeted at $825,000 for capital projects and $675,000 for capital equipment.
• Council discussion addressed the state Paid Family Medical Leave program. Jackie Schulze explained it is a state mandate effective January 1, 2026; the City selected Mutual of Omaha as private administrator, the cost is 0.88% of annual wages, and the City will split the cost 50/50 with employees.
• Speed Data Collection Agreement (Item 8.9): Public Services Director Jon Haukaas explained the proposed Urban SDK license, which uses connected-vehicle big data to provide speed information for every street segment, including average and 85th-percentile speeds and time-of-day patterns. He cited a Waconia Parkway North example where restriping reduced speeds by 2–3 mph. The Council adopted Resolution 2025-277 authorizing the license agreement; the motion by Council Member Grengs, seconded by Council Member Gleason, carried 4-0.
• Grant Applications (Item 8.10): City Administrator Shane Fineran presented Resolution 2025-278 to apply for grant funds for two 2027 park projects: pickleball courts at Brook Peterson Park and new park development at Sudheimer Park south of Industrial Boulevard along County Road 10. The DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant has a $350,000 maximum and requires a 50% match; the City will also apply for an LCCMR Environmental Trust Fund grant for Sudheimer Park. Application preparation costs are estimated at $25,000 for Sudheimer Park, with the pickleball application covered through increased in-kind support from Bolton & Menk. Applications are due in March 2026, with awards expected around July/August 2026. The Council adopted Resolution 2025-278; the motion by Council Member Siddons, seconded by Council Member Grengs, carried 4-0.
• All-Way Stop Evaluation — Sparrow Road at Ravenwood Road: Jon Haukaas reported on a Bolton & Menk traffic analysis. The all-way stop does not meet applicable warrants; average vehicle speed is 28 mph with a posted 30 mph limit, and speeds are consistent throughout the day. Staff recommended leaving the intersection as a two-way stop. In council discussion, a council member who lives in the area opposed a four-way stop because of the westbound downhill approach and winter stopping concerns, and suggested a flashing pedestrian crossing beacon instead. Another council member noted resident concerns about pedestrians crossing. Haukaas said staff would consider the pedestrian beacon option. Similar evaluations are underway for First Street & Vine Street and planned for Elm Street & Second Street.

Board Reports, Announcements & Mayor's Report

• Mayor Litfin reported attending the Waconia High School Strive Group on November 19, the Waconia Youth Mayor's Advisory Council meeting and Park Board meeting on November 20, and the Waconia Senior Center on November 24. He also joined a Zoom call about the Waconia Ice Dive scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026; this will be his eighth jump, and last year's event raised $193,000. The next "Mayor Is In" session is December 3 from 7:30–8:30 a.m. at City Hall. Other council members had nothing to report; Council Member Coleman was absent.
• No law enforcement update was provided; Sergeant Howard was unable to attend.
• City Administrator Fineran announced that the Community Needs Assessment survey is live on the city website and Facebook page and will remain open through December 21, 2025, to gather public input on recreation amenities and sports programming.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda adopted unanimously by voice vote.
• Consent agenda approved with items 8.9 and 8.10 removed for separate action.
• Resolution 2025-277 (Urban SDK speed data license) approved 4-0.
• Resolution 2025-278 (grant applications to DNR and LCCMR) approved 4-0.
• No action taken on the 2026 budget and levy; it is scheduled for final approval at the December 22, 2025 regular City Council meeting.
• The Sparrow Road at Ravenwood Road intersection will remain a two-way stop; staff will consider a flashing pedestrian crossing option.
• Upcoming meetings: Planning Commission December 4, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.; special City Council meeting December 8, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.; regular City Council meeting December 22, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.