Minnetonka City Council — Transcript
Monday, November 10, 2025
City Governance and Management Overview
Staff and Community Recognition
Public Health and Youth Protection (Flavored Tobacco)
Financial Policy and Strategic Planning
Board and Commission Structural Amendments
Election Administration and Integrity
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Affordable Housing
Community Development and Historic Building Reuse
Votes (9)
Retirement Recognition for Facilities Manager Kevin Moss
The council and Mayor Wearsome honored Kevin Moss for his 10 years of service as Facilities Manager, noting his contributions to major city projects like the Public Safety Facility and solar installations, his commitment to sustainability, and his prior experience. He is retiring on November 20, 2025.
Proclamation for Native American Heritage Month
Council Member Romey read a proclamation declaring November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month. The proclamation acknowledged the rich histories, diverse cultures, and invaluable contributions of native peoples, reflected on historical injustices, and reaffirmed the city's commitment to equity and inclusion, recognizing Minnetonka's location on ancestral Dakota and Anishinaabe lands.
Ordinance Amending Senior Advisory Board Membership
Moved by Council Member Calbertt [00:52:50] · Seconded by Council Member Kley [00:52:57]
Miss Diamond introduced an ordinance to reduce the Senior Advisory Board's membership from 15 to a maximum of 12. The change aims to address difficulties in maintaining consistent participation and scheduling, ultimately promoting stronger engagement and more effective decision-making. The proposal is an introduction, requiring further review and a second vote.
Ordinance Amending DEI Commission Young Adult Member Eligibility
Moved by Council Member Wilburn [00:57:48] · Seconded by Council Member Shack [00:58:00]
Miss Diamond presented an ordinance to expand the eligibility parameters for young adult members of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission. The proposed amendment would change the age range from '22 and younger, enrolled in high school or undergraduate program' to '18 to 24' and remove the school enrollment requirement, aligning with other commissions and broadening recruitment to include young adults in the workforce or non-traditional paths.
Temporary On Sale Liquor License for Rotary Club of Minnetonka Foundation
Moved by Council Member Calbertt [01:01:25] · Seconded by Council Member Shack [01:01:35]
The council considered and approved a temporary on-sale liquor license for the Rotary Club of Minnetonka Foundation to hold a fundraising event on December 5, 2025, at 15,000 Minnetonka Boulevard. There were no public comments during the hearing, and council members encouraged community participation, noting the event's benefit to the Rotary Club's community work.
Resolution Certifying November 4, 2025 Municipal General Election Results
Moved by Council Member Romey [01:10:48] · Seconded by Council Member Foster Bolton [01:11:39]
City Clerk Miss Kuzman presented the official results of the November 4, 2025, municipal general election, which saw a 33.04% voter turnout, the second-highest since 2001. All three council seats (Mayor Rebecca Shack, Seat A Deborah Calvert, Seat B Kimberly Wilburn) were won with maximum possible thresholds in the first round of ranked-choice voting, negating the need for further tabulation. The council adopted the resolution to certify these results.
Selection of Office and Precincts for Post-Election Review of Voting Systems
Moved by Council Member Calbertt [01:15:32] · Seconded by Council Member Romey [01:15:46]
City Clerk Miss Kuzman conducted a public random selection of one office and two precincts for the post-election review of voting systems, as required by city code. The office of At-Large C and Precincts 4D and 4B were chosen. The post-election review, involving a hand count of ballots, was scheduled for November 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the Minnetonka Council Chambers and is open to the public.
Modifications to Applewood Point, Glenn Haven, and Shady Crossing Tax Increment Financing Districts
Moved by Council Member Wilburn [01:33:57] · Seconded by Council Member Calbertt [01:34:04]
The council approved modifications to the TIF plans for Applewood Point, Glenn Haven, and Shady Crossing districts. These changes enable the city to pool tax increment funds into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund through 2026 and beyond, with an estimated $3.3 million available for projects supporting residents at 80% Area Median Income or less. While the decision has a minor impact on the general fund for the Applewood Point district, the council emphasized the importance of TIF as a tool for increasing housing affordability and achieving the city's strategic goal of being a welcoming and inclusive community.
Concept Plan for English Rose Suites at 2000 Hopkins Crossroad
The council reviewed concept plans for English Rose Suites, a proposed dementia care facility on a 2.5-acre site at 2000 Hopkins Crossroad, home to the historic Oak Knoll Elementary School. The developer, Joshua Wart, emphasized the growing need for high-quality dementia care in Minnetonka and his preferred two-home 'cluster house' plan, which involves demolishing the existing school building. Extensive discussion ensued regarding the potential preservation of the historic school, with financial and functional challenges (ADA compliance, operating costs, parking for other uses like daycare) cited as reasons for demolition. Council members expressed a desire to explore all preservation options but acknowledged the project's overall community benefit and the developer's financial constraints. No formal vote was taken, as this was a concept review for feedback.
Notable Quotes (16)
Mr. Moss has served as the city's facilities manager for the building maintenance division of public works for the last 10 years where he oversaw 10 staff and managed 15 city facilities.
it's been a privilege to serve the community of Minnetonka and I've been a resident uh for 36 years now.
Whereas the city of Minnitonka resides on the ancestral homelands of the Metawakatan, Dakota people and Anashanabi Ajiway people, and honoring this land and its original stewards deepens our appreciation for the history, culture, and enduring presence of indigenous peoples in our community.
The challenge with that there's difficulty in maintaining consistent participation and scheduling and limits the board's ability to hold productive discussions and reach timely discussions.
This definition excludes young adults who have graduated, joined the workforce, or pursued non-traditional paths resulting in limited and inconsistent applicant pools.
I can just say that this is an event being hosted by the marsh um sponsored the liquor sponsored by the Rotary. So it sounds like a really fun event. People should register when you can register with the Marsh.
All three seats this election won with the first round preferences. So, that's called maximum possible threshold.
Our election staff does a great job and our election judges do a great job and uh our polls are well staffed by friendly, nice, happy people and um and that's a that's a big deal.
The purpose of this is to review the voting systems and tabulation of the results the scope and conduct of the test the post-election review must be conducted in public with a sample of ballots cast for one rank choice voting election for the municipal off office office.
What you're doing with a new project is taking new tax money, new tax dollars, and using it for some, and in Minnetonka, it's typically for a public purpose.
this isn't this isn't free money, but it is money that we haven't accounted for in many ways and it helps us further a a lot of our priorities.
it's been a primary tool of our city to make our city more affordable. And one of our six pillars of our strategic plan is we want to be a welcoming and inclusive community. Well, if you're unaffordable, you can't be welcoming and inclusive.
But the statistics are even more uh uh astonishing in the city of Minnitanka. So in America, we're going to see a 17 17% increase every decade of the older adult population, but in Minnetonka, by your own reports, we're going to see a 40% increase in the next 10 years.
I will say that the building itself needs significant renovation, particularly if it were ever to be used by seniors from an ADA compliance standpoint.
It's really sad to me that we have lost so many of our historical buildings um over the years and it it really pains me to, you know, the the the prospect of losing another one.
I don't want this project which I think is very beneficial to the community to go away for that reason but I'd like us to you know make sure we've given it the old college try to try to find a way to use it and make it valuable to our community.
Ordinances & Resolutions (14)
Addendum item for future consideration regarding general obligation bonds, tied to city's AAA bond rating.
Ordinance passed in 2020 restricting flavored tobacco sales to tobacco-only shops, subject of public comment regarding non-compliance.
Assessment finding 100% non-compliance of Minnetonka tobacco retailers with flavored tobacco ordinance.
Report on progress toward city's strategic priorities, including financial excellence.
Two-lot subdivision at 18420 Old Excelsior Boulevard, discussed on the consent agenda with comments on development impact.
Item on the consent agenda.
Item on the consent agenda.
Proposed amendment to reduce Senior Advisory Board membership from 15 to 12 members.
Proposed amendment to expand Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission young adult member eligibility to ages 18-24 and remove school enrollment requirement.
Requires municipal election results certification between the 3rd and 10th day post-election.
Official certification of the municipal election outcomes.
Requires selection of office and precincts for post-election review of voting systems.
Plans for TIF districts that were modified to allow pooling of increment for affordable housing.
Guides land use for the English Rose Suites site as low-density residential.