Waconia City Council Regular Meeting - October 5, 2026

The Waconia City Council held its regular meeting at 6:00 PM on Monday, October 5, 2026. Mayor Tim Litfin presided. Councilmembers Nick Gleason, Jeff Grengs, and Jacob Coleman were present; Councilmember Derek Siddons was absent. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Southview Elementary fifth graders Faye Anderson and Isaac Fredericksen. The council adopted the agenda, heard the 2026 State of the Library presentation, approved the consent agenda, approved a public tree removal request at 25 Lake Street East, received a Carver County Sheriff's Office report, and heard announcements from Mayor Litfin.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved by a 4-0 vote with no items removed. It included:
• Approval of the September 21, 2026 City Council minutes and October 5, 2026 expenditures.
• Downtown Reconstruction Phase 4 Pay Request No. 5 to GMH Asphalt Corporation.
• Resolutions 2026-220 and 2026-221 declaring downtown reconstruction costs assessable, preparing a proposed assessment, and calling a public hearing.
• Resolution 2026-222 renewing the speed and volume data collection license agreement.
• Resolution 2026-223 authorizing plans and specifications and advertisement for bids for the 2027 PMP Sparrow Road Reclamation Project, covering Sparrow Road from Highway 284 to County Road 10.
• Approval of the draft Request for Proposals for the former farm supply site at 801 Highway 284 and direction to city staff to publish the RFP.
• Approval of a lodging tax reimbursement request from the Waconia Convention and Visitors Bureau for expenditures incurred June through September 2026.
• Resolution 2026-224 accepting a donation and approving a pass-through recommendation from the Waconia Fire Relief Association.
• Resolution 2026-225 authorizing a 2027 janitorial services contract with Jostan.
• Resolution 2026-226 approving an exempt permit/raffle application for the Waconia Lakettes Boosters.
• Resolution 2026-227 approving a special event permit for Lola's Lake House 10K.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the Open Forum.

Community Interest Presentation: 2026 State of the Library

• Carver County Library Director Jody Edstrom and Waconia Branch Manager Margot Barry presented the 2026 State of the Library. The agenda listed Margot Barry and Susan Blotz as presenters; the transcript identifies Jody Edstrom as the library director who spoke.
• They described extended access, a model allowing adult library-card holders to enter libraries from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 365 days a year, using a library card and PIN with security camera systems. Extended access has launched at the Victoria and Norwood Young America branches, with Waconia planned for launch by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
• System-wide library statistics included 48,000 program attendees, more than 1.5 million physical and digital materials checked out, and an estimated $32 million in community value based on American Library Association calculators.
• Waconia-specific statistics included 2,383 open hours, more than 63,000 visits, more than 184,000 physical items circulated, and 83 programs with about 2,000 attendees. Waconia circulation was the second-highest in the county.
• The Waconia Library has just under 13,000 cardholders after inactive cards were removed from the system; library staff said they will use this year as a new baseline.
• The library has an adult services librarian again after being without one for most of 2025 and into 2026. The branch is also communicating with community groups, including the senior center, about extended access. A new Chaska Library building project is planned for fall 2029.

Discussion Items

• Lake Street Tree Removal Request: City Administrator Shane Fineran presented a request from Don Baber, on behalf of his parents and property owners Jan and Bill Anderson, to remove three public boulevard sugar maple trees within the right-of-way at 25 Lake Street East. City staff had denied removal of all three trees but allowed removal of one tree for a driveway connection.
• Baber said an arborist described the maples as beautiful trees in the wrong place, citing roots growing over the curb, broken pavement, and future maintenance problems. He noted that tree replacement on the boulevard was optional during street work about 15 years ago and that few nearby properties chose it.
• Baber committed to replacing the trees with seven pinnacle birch trees on the private property, along with more than 45 arborvitae, five red oak trees, and other plantings. He said the replacement plantings would be located away from sidewalks and would create a park-like setting.
• Councilmembers asked whether Baber would cover the removal costs, and he confirmed the property owner would. Councilmembers expressed support for the request, citing similar boulevard tree removals elsewhere in the city and the risk of future curb and sidewalk damage.
• A motion to permit removal of the three public trees at the homeowner's expense passed 4-0.

Board Reports & Announcements

• Carver County Sheriff's Office: Sergeant Howard reported on an active shooter training held in September with local fire and EMS at Westwood Church in Chanhassen, using simunition scenarios. Upcoming range training was also noted.
• Sergeant Howard provided year-to-date statistics for Waconia: Group A crimes were down 11.6 percent, Group B crimes were down 29 percent, total crimes were down 17 percent, non-criminal calls were down 5.1 percent, and traffic incidents were down 11.4 percent. Mental health calls were 70, the same as last year, and miscellaneous non-criminal calls were 517, also the same as last year.
• Citations increased from 458 last year to 855 this year, with a large increase in winter parking violations. There were also increases in cell phone use while driving and no-proof-of-insurance citations, plus two e-bike citations in the past month.
• In response to a council question about the recent Eden Prairie incident, Sergeant Howard discussed school reunification plans and the importance of following law enforcement commands during chaotic events. He said city and county officials had discussed emergency coordination training using the new city Emergency Operations Center.
• Mayor's Report: Mayor Litfin attended the Minnesota Transportation Alliance trip to Washington, D.C., on September 22-23, paid for by the Southwest Transportation Coalition rather than city funds. Ninety Minnesotans participated, including 12 from Carver County. He lobbied for transportation funding, including a $5 million request for a Waconia frontage road project near Highway 5 and Hartman Drive, near St. Joe's cemetery. He reported that Congressman Emmer's office has the request earmarked for approval this fall, and the project is tied to 2028 redevelopment work rather than the 2027 Highway 5 project.
• Other announcements included the Chamber candidate forum on September 24, candidate Q&A forums hosted by the Waconia High School Mayor's Youth Advisory Council, the Senior Center's 10th anniversary, Cabinet Works' ribbon-cutting for an on-site free medical clinic, the Wilford grand opening, a visit from South Hill Elementary third graders, and upcoming City Square Park improvements involving underground wiring, light fixtures, and sidewalk work. Mayor Litfin clarified that City Square Park is not being removed.

Key Outcomes

• The council adopted the agenda and approved the consent agenda 4-0 without removing any items.
• The council approved the removal of the three public boulevard trees at 25 Lake Street East at the property owner's expense. The motion passed 4-0.
• City staff were directed to publish the 801 Highway 284 RFP and to proceed with assessment preparation and bid advertisement for the Sparrow Road project.
• The meeting was adjourned after board reports and announcements.