Waconia City Council Regular Meeting — November 2, 2026

The Waconia City Council met at 6:00 PM on Monday, November 2, 2026, with Mayor Tim Litfin presiding and Council Members Nick Gleason, Jeff Grengs, Jacob Coleman, and Derek Siddons participating. Students Arya and Owen led the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was adopted with one change: item 9.1, the 8th Street parking restrictions request, was deferred to the November 16 meeting because the presenter was ill. The council conducted the final assessment hearing for Downtown Reconstruction Phase 4, approved the consent agenda except for the audit contract that was pulled for separate consideration, authorized an RFP for legislative lobbying services, and renewed the city's audit services agreement on a 4-1 vote.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda 5-0, excluding item 8.8, which Mayor Litfin pulled and moved to item 9.3.
• The 13 approved items included the October 19, 2026, council minutes; November 2 expenditures; Downtown Reconstruction Phase 4 Pay Request No. 6 to GMH Asphalt Corporation; Water Treatment Plant No. 4 Pay Request No. 1 to Magney Construction, Inc.; Well #9 Pay Estimate No. 4-Final to Traut Companies; Resolution No. 2026-246 for the storm sewer CIPP lining contract; Resolution No. 2026-247 authorizing the 2027 Carver County Solid Waste Reduction Grant application; Resolution No. 2026-249 accepting cash donations; Resolution No. 2026-250 for the 2027 prosecution joint powers agreement; Resolution No. 2026-253 approving a leave of absence for Firefighter Bryson Burkholder; Resolution No. 2026-254 adopting a council proclamation policy; Resolution No. 2026-251 for a temporary on-sale liquor license for St. Joseph Catholic Church; and Resolution No. 2026-252 for an exempt permit raffle.

Public Hearing: Downtown Reconstruction Phase 4 Final Assessment

• Jake Salisbury of Bolton & Menk presented the final assessment for Phase 4, the last of four downtown reconstruction phases. The project included reconstruction of First Street, Elm Street, and Second Street; storm sewer replacement and expansion; lighting replacement and expansion; removal and vacation of the Pine Street right-of-way; and sewer and water replacement with water main upsizing. Salisbury said the project is not complete: punch-list repairs, final paving, and striping remain for next year, and the work will sit through a freeze-thaw cycle.
• Final total project cost was just under $5.4 million ($5.36 million), compared with an original estimate of $6.6 million — about 19–20% lower, or roughly $1.3 million less. Salisbury attributed the reduction to a low bid $400,000 below the second bid, a reduced Elm Street parking lot, a narrower Second Street after tree and church discussions, only one water service drilling instead of three or four as in Phase 3, the contractor missing schedule/staging incentives (saving $40,000-plus), and minimal soil correction.
• The calculated assessment amount was $888,000; after benefit evaluation, just under $510,000 was assessed. Street assessments were $260.02 per front foot, down from the $287 feasibility estimate. Sewer assessments were $4,720 per unit, roughly $1,000 below the feasibility estimate of about $5,700 or $5,800. Final water main assessments were $7,910, down from close to $10,000 in the feasibility study. The city's bond rate was 3.15%; by policy, property owners carrying assessments on taxes pay 4.15%.
• Total project costs—design, construction, legal, and bonding—were 24.05% of construction cost, versus a 30% feasibility estimate, 27.2% for Phase 3, and 28.7% for Phase 2.
• Thirty of 34 properties were assessed. The benefit evaluation lowered assessments for about three-fourths of properties and reduced the total by $300,000–$400,000. Owners may prepay within 30 days of the hearing; otherwise the city files with the county and the assessment appears on 2027 taxes.
• No one spoke at the public hearing, and no written comments were received. The hearing was opened and closed by unanimous motions, and Resolution No. 2026-245 approving the assessment roll was adopted 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the public hearing or open forum.
• The scheduled Community Interest Presentation by Christie Larson of Southern Valley Alliance did not occur because no representative was present.

Discussion Items

• Legislative lobbying services RFP: City Administrator Shane Fineran presented Resolution No. 2026-255, approving an RFP for legislative services and proposed 2027 legislative priorities. The prior lobbying contract ended in October, and the council had directed staff to issue an RFP. Proposals are expected back at the end of November, with interviews in early January and a firm onboard as the legislative session begins. Priorities are: (1) carryover authority for local social districts; (2) continued funding for Highway 5 Phase 2 and the adjacent frontage road, following $4.7 million secured from the state last session, with the project out for bid and funded through federal, Met Council regional solicitation, and state sources; and (3) recreation facilities, including the aging Safari Island, with a focus on local control, local option sales tax authority, and state bonding. The RFP will be posted on the city website and the League of Minnesota Cities portal. Mayor Litfin said the city has received good return on its lobbying investment and supported testing the market through an RFP. Adopted 5-0.
• Audit services agreement: Mayor Litfin pulled item 8.8 to question renewing Redpath and Company without bidding; the city has worked with the firm for 10 years. Staff recommended a three-year agreement for fiscal years 2026–2028 with a 4% annual increase, citing the firm's familiarity, good service, and the disruption and staff workload a change would create amid Acela implementation, tracking federal Highway 5 funds, and selecting new financial software. Fineran said there had been no dissatisfaction in the last five years and noted the city's CAFR award, received for more than 10 consecutive years. A council member asked whether an RFP could be done closer to the end of the three-year term; staff agreed that would allow more planning time. Resolution No. 2026-248 was adopted 4-1, with Mayor Litfin voting no.

Staff and Council Reports

• Fineran reminded residents that winter parking rules took effect November 2: no parking on streets from midnight to 6 a.m. The city is issuing warnings during a grace period and will begin towing once snow falls. He also reminded residents that Election Day is November 3, with polls open 7 a.m.–8 p.m.; polling locations have changed and are at City Hall, the fire station, Paradise Commons in Lake Waconia Regional Park, and the ice arena.
• Mayor Litfin reported on the October 20 Mayor's Youth Advisory Council meeting; the October 21 West Carver Rotary STRIVE meeting with 12 Waconia High School seniors, where he spoke about attitude; the October 21 groundbreaking for Bongards Premium Cheese's expansion, which employs more than 200 people at the site and is expected in 2028; and the October 28 Halloween game day at the Waconia Senior Center, attended by 25 adults.
• Litfin thanked election judges Vicky Cummings, Brenda Grams, Constant Nelson, and Cindy Roloffs, and staff Sue Schwalbe, Brenda Jurik, and Jackie Sul Schultz. The council will certify Waconia's election results on November 16. He noted that 3,543 early voters participated in 2024 and that this year's early-voting total was approaching that number.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution No. 2026-245 approving the Downtown Reconstruction Phase 4 assessment roll: adopted 5-0.
• Consent agenda, excluding item 8.8: approved 5-0.
• Resolution No. 2026-255 approving the legislative services RFP and 2027 priorities: adopted 5-0.
• Resolution No. 2026-248 approving the Redpath and Company audit engagement for fiscal years 2026–2028: adopted 4-1, Mayor Litfin opposed.
• Item 9.1, 8th Street parking restrictions: deferred to the November 16 meeting.
• Council will certify election results on November 16.