Dayton City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Correction of Previous Meeting Minutes
Public Feedback and Community Events
City Updates and Council Appointment Process
City Center Master Plan Development
Oppedin Development (Dayton Field Fifth Edition)
Zoning Amendment for GMU4 District
Approval of Payment Claims
Award of Engineering Services Contract
Consideration of Waiving Attorney-Client Privilege
Closed Session for Labor Negotiations
Votes (7)
City Center Master Plan Discussion (Item F1)
Dissent: Concerns expressed by multiple council members regarding the size and scope of the plan, and past failures.
John, the City Engineer, initiated discussion on redoing the city center master plan using a Hennepin County grant. Consultant Cardo presented the 6-month process for the 1100-acre study area. Council members expressed concerns about the expansive scope, potential for repetition of past failed plans, and the long-range 2050 focus. Specific desires were voiced for pedestrian-focused development, support for local businesses distinct from surrounding suburban communities, and clarity on the Dayton Parkway.
Oppedin Development: Dayton Industrial / Dayton Field Fifth Edition (Item G)
Moved by Council Member [00:18:33] · Seconded by Council Member [00:18:36]
Grace Gerard presented a proposal for a 152,000 sq ft industrial warehouse. The application involved amending the comprehensive plan to industrial and rezoning from manufactured housing to light industrial. The plan included a preliminary plat and site plan with significant buffers, landscaping, and setbacks from the adjacent Dayton Park mobile home community, addressing prior council concerns. Discussion clarified that a 'future truck bay' was for trailer parking, not another building. The updated landscaping plan was accepted despite not strictly meeting minimums due to existing site conditions. A supermajority vote (3 of 4) was confirmed as required.
Ordinance Amending City Code for GMU4 District (Item H)
Moved by Council Member [00:20:03] · Seconded by Council Member [00:20:04]
John, the City Engineer, presented an ordinance to increase the parking setback in the GMU4 general mixed-use district (Balsam Lane area) from 5 feet to 20 feet, aligning it with the building setback. The change primarily affects two specific properties in the area. Existing non-conforming parking lots are grandfathered, but any redevelopment would require adherence to the new setback requirements.
Approval of Payment Claims (Item I)
Moved by Council Member [00:20:50] · Seconded by Council Member [00:20:51]
The council reviewed and approved the presented payment claims. A council member inquired about a 'uniform artic grip' expense. City Administrator Zach clarified that it was for seven pairs of anti-slip firefighter boots for new part-time staff, costing approximately $625 per pair.
Award of Engineering Services for General Consulting (Item J)
Moved by Council Member [00:22:42] · Seconded by Council Member [00:22:43]
City Administrator Zach recommended awarding the general consulting engineering services contract to Hawkins and Anderson following a comprehensive RFP process and negotiations. The five-year contract includes specified costs for the first three years, which represent a budget savings compared to current costs. The city plans to use a pooled engineering resource group in the future and potentially an internal city engineer. The contract includes a 30-day termination clause. The motion for approval was made subject to final legal review by the city attorney.
Consideration of Waiving Attorney-Client Privilege (Item K)
City Administrator Zach brought forward a resident's request to waive attorney-client privilege for documents related to the August 13th council meeting. City Attorney Cynthia noted the unusual nature of such a request and the council's lack of prepared information. A council member pointed out that the resident has an alternative path through the Minnesota Department of Administration's data practices office. Another council member expressed discomfort with voting without having re-read the specific document. No motion was made to waive the privilege.
Closed Session for Labor Negotiations (Item L)
Moved by Mayor [00:24:00] · Seconded by Council Member [00:24:01]
The council moved into a closed session to conduct labor negotiations. The session was held pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.03 and specifically concerned negotiations with the LS public law enforcement union local number 320.
Notable Quotes (11)
it's always a good idea to get ahead of development and you need a plan to do that.
I would like to see more local coffee shops, more local restaurants, more local businesses... I want to be different than everyone else who's around us because there's a million communities that if you if you blindfolded someone and dropped them off, they probably would be like, 'Well, there's a Target and there's a Cub and there's a Kohl's and there's all the exact same area'.
we really need to get the Dayton Parkway pinned down. And if that's all we get out of this, I will consider it a success.
I would love to see this stay a part of the mobile home park, but I think it became clear at the last meeting when we talked about this that that's just not going to happen... this seems like the best compromise in terms of of putting a a as close to a permanent buffer as we can and as big of a buffer as we can between industrial and residential.
for for us this is kind of a a flipping back uh really for the the use of this land that it was industrial at one point and then there was interest in expanding the mobile home park that so we did make that change um and then that fizzled on us.
that is our firefighted boots. So, they're roughly about $600 uh probably about $625 per set of boots.
This is a reduction from our current costs that we have for general engineering. So, I want to make sure that is known as well from the council is that this is a budget savings.
we feel like we can get a bench of people that we really feel can give us a resource here while also keeping Jason Rowdy around as that historical knowledge because that is gigantic in Yes. in today's world.
considering I've never ever had a council meeting where this has been on an agenda and I've been around for a while. Um it may be something that the council needs more information before they can make a decision because I didn't prepare anything for this.
a no motion or denial here. there is still a path forward if I'm understanding this a bit that the person interested in this information could then go to the Minnesota Department of Administration and the data practices office and request a review of the dispute.
I'm not saying I'm not saying no I'm saying I don't feel comfortable today saying this without having a chance to reread it and and and know what I'm saying yes to I guess.
Ordinances & Resolutions (18)
The plan of items to be discussed at the meeting.
Records of previous meetings, subject to correction.
Legal protection for communications, requested to be waived for August 13th meeting documents.
A comprehensive development plan for the city's central area, being revisited.
A specific planning effort for a defined area, in this case, the City Center.
An official change to the city's overall development plan.
The city's long-range comprehensive plan target for the year 2050.
A previous comprehensive plan that included the historic village framework.
An official change to the city's zoning map.
Initial approval for the division of land into lots.
Review of the detailed layout and design of a proposed development.
Name for the Oppedin development project.
A specific zoning district in the city code.
Ordinance amending zoning map related to the Oppedin development.
Resolution approving comprehensive plan amendment, preliminary plat, and site plan review for Oppedin development.
A plan detailing how impacts to wetlands will be offset.
Request for Proposals process for engineering services.
Statute allowing for closed sessions for labor negotiations.