Minnetonka City Council — Transcript
Monday, December 8, 2025
Recognition of 2025 Minnetonka Photo Contest Winners
Public Safety and Free Speech Concerns
ICE Activity and Community Inclusiveness
City Services and Community Engagement Updates
2026 Utility Rates and Infrastructure Investment
2026 Operating Budget and Property Tax Levies
Votes (6)
Approval of Consent Agenda Items 10A-10I
Moved by Council Member Calbertt · Seconded by Council Member Kley
The council reviewed and approved a series of routine administrative items as part of the consent agenda. No items were pulled for separate discussion, indicating general agreement on the proposals which included consulting agreements, easement amendments, a liquor license revocation, an ordinance related to the DEI commission, a lease renewal, electronic fund transfer authority, polling place changes, a TIFF note assignment, and an ordinance amending city fees.
Approval of Consent Agenda Items Requiring Five Votes 11A-11D
Moved by Council Member Romey · Seconded by Council Member Calbertt
The council considered and approved several consent agenda items requiring a five-vote majority. These included applications for renewed liquor licenses, a grant award for the Minnesota Housing Local Housing Trust Grant program, a Minnesota Chiefs of Police Foundation Community Partnership Grant, and a resolution accepting various gifts, donations, and sponsorships received by the city in 2025. Council Member Calbertt gave a 'shout out' to the two grants.
Introduction of Ordinance Amending City Charter Establishing the Number of Members of the Charter Commission
Moved by Council Member Calbertt · Seconded by Council Member Shaq
City Attorney Mr. Nelson introduced an ordinance to amend the city charter, formally establishing the Charter Commission's membership at nine members, with flexibility to expand to ten if a sitting council member serves. This is described as a technical, housekeeping amendment to align with historic practice and state law, and marks the first step in a multi-stage approval process, with a public hearing scheduled for January 12, 2026.
Introduction of Ordinance Amending City Charter to Reflect State Law Requirements Regarding Resident Signature Petitions
Moved by Council Member Wilburn · Seconded by Council Member Romey
City Attorney Mr. Nelson introduced a second ordinance to amend the city charter, aiming to clarify and align the requirements for resident signature petitions (for initiative and referendum) with existing state law. He emphasized that this amendment does not introduce substantive changes but provides greater detail. The process requires an introduction vote, a public hearing on January 12, 2026, unanimous council adoption, and a 90-day effective period allowing for a potential 60-day referendum period.
Public Hearing on 2026 Utility Rates and Related Items
Moved by Council Member Calbertt · Seconded by Council Member Romey
The City Council conducted a public hearing on proposed 2026 utility rates, which included increases for water, sanitary sewer, storm water, and environmental recycling. Staff presented a detailed rationale, emphasizing the need for proactive investment in aging infrastructure (particularly 1970s-era systems facing a major replacement spike by 2040), rising operational costs, and increased participation in organic recycling. The proposed changes restructure infrastructure fees, adjust water tiers to encourage conservation (lower first tier, higher third tier), and increase environmental recycling fees to cover contractual costs. One public commenter suggested doubling the highest water usage tier. Council members expressed reluctance about the significant 13-14% increase but affirmed its necessity to prevent catastrophic failures and costly special assessments seen in other communities.
Items Relating to the 2026 Operating Budget and Property Tax Levies
City Manager Mr. Funk and Mr. Nelson presented the comprehensive 2026 operating budget and property tax levies, outlining a proposed 7.91% increase (7.87% net including the HRA levy). The presentation detailed key drivers, including a 'business as usual' increase of 4.7% for staffing, health insurance, state mandates, and inflationary costs. Additional increases were attributed to subsidies for the Ice Arena and Marsh, significant investments in the Public Safety Master Plan (2.7%), and a dedicated 0.7% for future facility improvements (fire stations, community center). A decrease in the Capital Improvement Plan levy (0.9%) was possible due to transfers of general fund reserves. Staff provided context on homeowner impacts due to shifting property values and promoted awareness of property tax rebate programs. The council was prepared to receive public comment and consider three related resolutions.
Notable Quotes (12)
Thank you, Mayor. I second. And I just want to give a shout out to about the two grants that are in the the four consent agenda items.
Uh the requested action for both is the same. It's just to introduce the ordinance and schedule the public hearing for January 12th, 2026.
This first one establish establishes the number of charter commission members in the charter consistent with historic past practice which has been nine members.
The intent of this amendment is simply to provide greater clarification in the charter about those requirements and and by doing so to achieve better alignment with state law.
Uh this first step tonight is introduction which is four votes. Uh we will be doing a publication notice that's required uh before the public hearing and then uh assuming the council votes uh at the public hearing to adopt these amendments. It does require a unanimous consent of the council full vote and changes to the ordinance. Drafts cannot be made at that point.
It's crucial that we continue investing in our capital assets to reduce that risk of catastrophic breaks and backups with our water and sewer utilities.
I appreciate that we are looking forward because other cities that have not done so... have had things recently... where they've had water manes break... and residents of those cities were special assessed. 10 to 15,000 per household. And so that is something that we obviously want to avoid...
I hate to raise rates as much as we are, but I think it's better to do that than than to fall behind and have the kind of catastrophic failures that some of the neighboring communities have had.
I would suggest that that rate as proposed be doubled.
The vision uh for everyone's benefit is Minnitonka is an inclusive community committed to excellence where all residents, workers, and visitors are welcome in a beautiful sustainable place supported by quality, dependable city services.
Really when you look at cost of just doing the business as usual really nothing new added to the city except for the position as noted looking at a levy increase of 4.7%.
So you can really see that no matter what the levy does, it's these outside pressures that put a change in your property taxes as well too.
Ordinances & Resolutions (37)
Item 14A, discussed with public comment and multiple resolutions.
Item 14B, mentioned as an addendum to the agenda.
Item 14C, mentioned as an addendum to the agenda.
Minutes approved at the meeting.
Recognition of winners.
Guiding document for city operations, including inclusiveness and financial strength.
Long-term planning document that shapes the city budget.
Long-term planning document that shapes the city budget, worked on by Sustainability Commission.
Document instrumental in understanding community attitudes and feedback, used in budget framework.
Guiding document for public safety investments, a key budget driver.
Long-term planning document for city assets, shaping the budget.
Outlines goals for open spaces, guided by the park board, shapes the budget.
Guided by the park board, looks at park system and capital equipment needs, shapes the budget.
Five-year document for asset management, including streets, technology, equipment, parks, and trails.
Looks at business climate and investments in housing, shapes budget decisions.
Long-term visioning document developed every 10 years for city infrastructure, roads, trails, and parks.
Addresses needs of city buildings like the community center, Marsh, Williston, and Glen Lake Activity Center.
Item 10A, part of consent agenda.
Item 10B, part of consent agenda.
Item 10C, part of consent agenda.
Item 10D, part of consent agenda.
Item 10E, part of consent agenda.
Item 10F, part of consent agenda.
Item 10G, part of consent agenda.
Item 10H, part of consent agenda.
Item 10I, part of consent agenda.
Item 11A, part of consent agenda requiring five votes.
Item 11B, part of consent agenda requiring five votes.
Item 11C, part of consent agenda requiring five votes.
Item 11D, part of consent agenda requiring five votes.
Item 12A, introduced for public hearing on January 12, 2026, setting charter commission membership at nine, potentially ten with a council member.
Item 12B, introduced for public hearing on January 12, 2026, clarifying state law requirements for initiative and referendum petitions.
References an index for annual inflationary charge on municipal water and sanitary sewer connection fees.
Index used to determine increases in municipal water and sanitary sewer connection fees.
City communication tool for budget input.
Communication method for budget and utility rate information.
Sent in mid-November for the public hearing on the budget and levies.