Lakeville City Council — Transcript
Monday, December 8, 2025
Story
Lakeville Council advances short-term rental rules, housing projects
Short-Term Rental Discussion
Local Affordable Housing Update (Baja)
Solid Waste Hauling Discussion
2026 Legislative Priorities Review
USA 250 / Panrog 60th Anniversary Planning
Work Session Format Discussion
First Center Director Hiring Update
Votes (8)
Lake Mary and Greenway Trail Update
Staff provided a comprehensive update on the Lake Mary Greenway Trail, focusing on Phase 1 (4.5 miles). Key discussion points included new trail construction in Ritter Farm Park, the proposed trailhead with year-round restrooms, improvements at the Kendrick Road crossing, and speed mitigation strategies for the Juno Trail segment. The project aims to utilize existing infrastructure while meeting regional trail standards (10-foot width, 100-foot turning radius). Funding from LCCMR and DNR grants dictates construction timelines, with work potentially starting in spring for one segment and after July 1st for others.
Short-Term Rental Ordinance Discussion
Katie presented a draft ordinance for short-term rentals (STRs), proposing an annual permit, collection of lodging tax, requiring MN-based owner/management, and limiting ownership to one homestead plus one non-homestead property. Occupancy would be two adults per bedroom plus children, with off-street parking. Unaddressed items included restricting the total number or location of STRs in the city. Council members supported annual renewals for enforcement and leverage, acknowledged the reliance on neighbor reports and platform communication (Airbnb/VRBO) for enforcement, and noted Lakeville is not currently an STR 'hot spot' but aims to be prepared for future demand.
Local Affordable Housing Update (Baja)
Staff provided an update on Lakeville's 2024 ($229,464) and 2025 ($635,100) allocations from the new state housing bill, outlining eligible uses including emergency rental assistance, non-profit support, and construction/rehabilitation. Dakota County CDA requested a commitment of $250,000 for 2025 for its enhanced home improvement and radon mitigation programs, which have seen success. Staff also suggested using remaining funds for construction costs (site prep, utility extensions) for a new senior apartment building on the Fisher property. Discussion included a potential legislative fix to allow capital funding for domestic violence shelters (like 360 Communities). The Council expressed support for continuing the partnership with Dakota County and exploring the Fisher property project, with a resolution of support for the county planned for January.
Solid Waste Hauling Discussion
The discussion revisited the city's 2019 hybrid waste hauling system, which reduced truck traffic by limiting haulers to three days a week across east/west zones. While complaints about trucks have decreased, issues with missed pickups and visible trash cans for two days on residential streets were raised. Council members expressed frustration with multiple trucks for different waste types and an interest in exploring a one-day-per-week pickup schedule per zone. Concerns were voiced about maintaining competition among haulers if zones become too restrictive, potentially impacting prices. Staff was asked to research options for a one-day system and its feasibility with current haulers.
Review of 2026 Legislative Priorities
Taylor presented the redline draft of the 2026 legislative priorities. Key additions included advocating for local government aid and control for adult-use cannabis, e-bike safety statutes (age restriction of 15, headgear), reverting tax-forfeited property procedures to promote city cooperation, and requesting $22 million for the County Road 550 interchange. The broadband high-speed internet section was removed. Council discussed adding EMS funding as a league priority and expressed strong interest in a broadband franchise fee, noting Woodbury's legal challenge and proposed legislation. The priorities will be finalized for approval at the next meeting.
USA 250 / Panrog 60th Anniversary Planning
The Mayor initiated a discussion on celebrating the USA's 250th and Panrog's 60th anniversaries. Ideas included promoting Lakeville as a 'Great American Road Trip' stop, public art (murals, community art projects, specifically mentioning a wall near Dairy Delight), a traveling 250-flag exhibit, special downtown banners, and themed fireworks. There was skepticism about the efficacy of state or national initiatives, suggesting local efforts would be more impactful. Council members expressed interest in engaging public art and historical displays that would engage residents and visitors.
Work Session Format Discussion
A council member proposed merging work sessions with regular council meetings (first and third Mondays) to reduce meeting frequency. Other council members generally opposed the idea, preferring the current separate format. They highlighted that work sessions require a different 'mindset' and that combining them might reduce efficiency or clarity of discussions.
First Center Director Hiring Update
An update was provided on the hiring process for the First Center Director. The city has submitted a final request for $800,000 for the center. Over 40 applications were received, with 8-10 candidates interviewed in the first round. Four finalists are scheduled for interviews the following week. The new director will report to the City Administrator, and candidates include facility managers with public safety management experience.
Notable Quotes (26)
The total project when complete would be approximately 20 miles long and connect Burnsville, Savage, Credit Township, Lakeville, Arlington, uh and then eventually to Murphy area.
Well, that's a lot of miles.
So we're looking at are there a five or 10 mile speed along the Juno Trail segment. It is a little bit of a unique area because uh we have property owners that own land on both sides of the trail. So to access their docks, they've got to be able to cross.
with that grant we cannot start construction on the trail um from Dodd into Rita Farm Park until after July 1st.
We are restricting the number of short-term rentals operated by the same homeowner to two properties. Right now, it's listed as one homestead and one nonh homestead. uh that was to try to prevent people buying up a bunch of properties and not living in them and maintaining that housing stock their families live here.
I'm in favor of an annual renewal for the main reason that if you do develop problem we have a little more leverage other do.
I think we're ahead of the curve for the demand.
I like that nobody else does that.
Lakeville this year for the 2025 allocation is 635,1 cities can use this for aid for emergency rental assistance. Cost of operating emergency facilities. Financial support for nonprofit housing providers. Projects for the construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, demolition, removal of existing structions, structures, construction financing, permit financing, interest rate reduction, um and gap financing.
I talked to Senator Port who wrote the bill. said it was not our intention to exclude emergency shelter. And so they're having their legal staff and legislature see if it's how it's interpreted because right now CDA and the state are interpreting a little bit differently.
We can come back. I mean, I think we're hearing clear that you're okay with the county ask for the home rehab part of it. We'll come back with a resolution on that.
Um trash cans being out all the time. So the council at that time looked at a couple different options of um what could we do different to reduce the number of trucks on the roads to the neighborhoods.
I think the frustration that I hear is people like, I can't believe there's three trucks per company between yard waste recycling and regular waste.
I mean, I would be open to it. Yeah. I'd like to see the options there too because I do I mean that would I think that's initially what think I might have raised this the two when when we switched in our old neighborhood and all of a sudden we were in two days of trash cans out.
We if we condense it, we're causing the prices to increase.
state regulation of adult use cannabis, they removed the um local government cannabis aid fund. Um so we're asking that any legislative move legislation moving forward um keep local government in mind as they're the ones implementing the cannabis laws.
We are now asking, we've updated our ask um we're requesting an additional 22 million from the state to cover the funding gap of that project.
I think we just charge it. Woodbury is doing it. I My only problem is I wouldn't have to collect it for a year and then write a check back.
We can put some draft language in there and see if you okay with it.
I just thought because it's the 60th anniversary of Hannah Brock and the 250th anniversary, you know, there's could be some extra fun for the city of Lake to think about like the anniversary for us.
So I like the public art idea. Um, years ago, Metro Equity said they'd be willing to paint that um hand wall outside as a mural.
I think anything like that that draws somebody attend somebody's attention. And I would love to see something that engages, you know, so they're going to start asking, well, what about these up for a while?
I like this format for work session. So then you're saying leave the table to go to the work section at any.
Yeah. It's just that it gets to be such a mindset difference.
We have submitted what we think is our final request for $800,000 for the uh first center for the bed. So hopefully we're going to be getting that payment.
four finalists they have it down the floor now we're interviewing them next week um their background of facility managers um some pretty some current managers or current facilities obviously facilities so um yeah
Ordinances & Resolutions (11)
Grant for $1.79 million for the Lake Mary Greenway Trail, with construction restrictions until after July 1st.
Grant for $250,000 for the Lake Mary Greenway Trail, with similar construction restrictions.
New ordinance setting a system-wide speed limit of 15 mph for multi-use trails, allowing further reduction on specific segments like Juno Trail.
Current ordinance covering short-term rentals, described as dated and unclear on occupancy and duration.
Proposed new permit type for short-term rentals, requiring annual renewal and specific compliance.
Existing program for long-term rentals, used as a model for some STR ordinance aspects, requiring owner/management to be Minnesota-based.
State legislation that created a regional sales tax and allocated funds for affordable housing initiatives to cities like Lakeville.
Lists specific areas where affordable housing funds can be utilized, guiding Lakeville's project selection.
Planned for early January to commit Lakeville's 2025 housing allocation to Dakota County's rehab and radon mitigation programs.
Redline draft document outlining the city's legislative advocacy goals for the upcoming year, covering cannabis, e-bikes, property, and funding.
The 2019 ordinance that implemented the hybrid solid waste hauling system, reducing trucks and setting specific pickup days.