Minnetonka City Council — Transcript
Monday, August 10, 2026
Recognition of Innovation and City Excellence
Communications Division Achievements
Strategic Plan Mid-Year Review
Kinsell Neighborhood Reconstruction Project
Temporary Liquor License Approval
Economic Development Authority Action (Marsh 2 Project)
Community Engagement and Other City Updates
Votes (7)
2026 City of Excellence Award
The League of Minnesota Cities presented the 2026 City of Excellence Award to Minnetonka for its 'Drones as First Responders' (DFR) program. Speakers highlighted Minnetonka as the first city in Minnesota and one of the first in the Midwest to implement such a program. The DFR initiative was praised for its innovation, efficiency (drones respond faster than squad cars 68% of the time), and transparent approach to privacy concerns. Teamwork across multiple city departments (police, fire, admin, IT, public works, communications) and council support were recognized as key to the program's success. Minnetonka's long-standing leadership and contributions to the League were also acknowledged.
Recognition of the Communications Division Awards
The City's Communications Division was celebrated for winning four awards in the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators' Northern Lights contest. Individual team members were recognized for specific projects: Jessica Chase for the Drones as First Responders communications plan, Amy Knapp for a creative slogan, John for an animated fire safety video ('Fire Brigade Bucket Talk'), and Kristen Dorn for a fire department recruitment campaign. The communications manager acknowledged the challenges in public safety hiring and the team's efforts to create engaging, breakthrough content. Summer interns, Levi Black and Sophia Ashworth, were also highlighted for their contributions to social media and video content, particularly promoting parks and trails.
Strategic Plan Quarter Two Report
Moved by Council Member Calvert [0:38:43] · Seconded by Council Member Romilly [0:38:51]
The Senior Management Coordinator, Serissa Saraki, presented the mid-year report for the city's 2025-2027 Strategic Plan, covering progress for the first six months of 2026. The report detailed accomplishments across six strategic priorities, including maintaining strong financial ratings, expanding emergency response capabilities, implementing climate action initiatives, advancing housing strategies, undertaking major utility projects, and promoting community inclusiveness. Staff reported 59% overall completion for 2026, with 77% of action steps on track and 19% fully completed. Council members praised staff for the comprehensive work and efficient management of the plan, noting few challenges were reported. The report also highlighted the city's commitment to accountability and transparency, including a public community dashboard.
A temporary liquor license for the Minnetonka Rotary Club for Links and the Links and Libations event at 14350 County Road 62
Moved by Council Member Romilly [1:07:37] · Seconded by Council Member Calvert [1:07:54]
The Minnetonka Rotary Club requested a temporary liquor license for its annual 'Links and Libations Golf Tournament Fundraiser' scheduled for September 10th at the Glen Lake Golf and Practice Facility (14350 County Road 62). Ms. Wishnak from city staff recommended approval, citing it as an annual charity event that provides grants and scholarships. Chris Rosendahl, representing the Rotary Club, detailed the event's activities, including golf, grilled dinner, beer tasting, silent auction, and family games. He emphasized that 100% of net proceeds fund various local and international charitable initiatives. No public opposition was voiced.
Resolution for the Kinsell neighborhood reconstruction project number 27602
Moved by Council Member Foster Bolton [1:44:03] · Seconded by Council Member Wilbern [1:44:37]
Public Works Director Mr. Manchester presented the Kinsell neighborhood reconstruction project, proposing full street replacement (widening from 16-30ft to 20-26ft with concrete curb and gutter) and upgrading aging utilities (water, sanitary, storm sewers). The project aims to improve water quality into Glen Lake and increase flood resiliency, including significant storm sewer upsizing. Crucially, the feasibility report recommended *not* including proposed trail segments from the city's Trail Improvement Plan (segments 65 and 67) due to narrow roads, significant property impacts, high easement requirements, and strong resident opposition. Overhead utility burial was also not recommended due to high costs. Residents expressed concerns about the loss of the neighborhood's rural character, tree removal, the necessity of street widening and concrete curbs, and property easements. Staff emphasized long-term planning for future generations and emergency access. Council members praised staff for their responsiveness to resident feedback in shaping the project, despite its disruptive nature.
Planning Commission appointment
Moved by Mayor Schack [1:46:42] · Seconded by Council Member Foster Bolton [1:46:58]
City Manager Mike Funk recommended the appointment of Hindi Abdi to the Planning Commission to fill an existing vacancy. The recommendation followed recent candidate interviews conducted by the City Council. The Mayor noted upcoming work to align ordinances for other boards and commissions.
Marsh 2 collateral assignment
Moved by Commissioner Calvert [1:51:39] · Seconded by Commissioner Maxwell [1:52:13]
Community Development Director Ms. Wishnak presented a request for the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to approve a collateral assignment related to the Marsh 2 housing project. This 197-unit rental development, including 40 affordable units, received $4.6 million in tax increment financing (TIF). The collateral assignment is a standard procedure in which the developer, Minnetonka Marsh LLC, assigns its rights under the TIF contract to Wells Fargo Bank as the new permanent lender, replacing the construction financing. The action was described as routine for securing affordable housing.
Notable Quotes (16)
Minnetonka was the first in the state of Minnesota to uh implement such a program and and frankly one of the first cities in the Midwest. And so we're very proud of this effort and really want to go back to Chief Borboom, Chief Tate for their vision and initiative to really utilize this new technology.
At a time when residents are rightfully concerned about privacy issues, the city has done a commendable job in aligning community expectations and existing privacy standards with a commitment with a city commitment to transparency and accountability. To help maintain public trust, the city provides accessible information about drone operations and communicates openly about the procedures guiding this program.
Uh the Communications Division, I think we're all a little bit different from each other, but I will tell you it's pretty safe to say one thing I think we all have in common is that we do not like the spotlight on us. We're much happier if it's elsewhere and we're talking about other things...
public safety hiring and recruitment right now is tough, and we're looking for ways to be creative and break through.
This is your strategic plan. And so we in this report this evening want to make sure we showcase that work that's happened for the first 6 months.
So we are 59% complete with our 2026 plan. The goal is to hit 100% end of a 2026. So this means 77% of our action steps are on track. 4% hit some disruption and 19% are fully completed.
I I want to echo what the Mayor said about all the hard work and when you uh Ms. Saracino didn't get into it, but in the report it talks about uh accomplishments, it talks challenges. There are very few challenges and uh few challenges that were mentioned um are are being dealt with swiftly and and sensibly, and it just makes me incredibly proud to work for this city because we are so well run...
This is the annual event for the Minnetonka Rotary Club's um fundraising event. It will be held on September 10th uh in the afternoon from 1:00 until 7:00. It is a charity event and they do provide grants to folks who need scholarships.
100% of the net proceeds go to our foundation which provides grants and scholarships to organizations such as Lift Garage, Resource West, ICA Food Shelf, Senior Serve at Minnetonka High School, Can Do Canines, Special Olympics Minnesota. We also do some international projects including clean water projects in Central America, Books for Africa.
Our recommended action tonight is a motion to adopt the attached resolution receiving the feasibility report, which does not include trails along Kinsell Road, Mayberry Road, Glenmar Road West, and South Street, ordering the improvements, authorizing the preparation of plans and specifications, and then authorizing easement acquisition for the Kinsell neighborhood reconstruction project number 27602.
And the second thing is that the proposed concrete curb and gutter uh many of the neighborhood would like to see the asphalt bituminous curbing retained to give it the characteristic neighborhood that we have. Uh the argument by the city engineers was that it creates longevity for the road by putting concrete. And I'm going to challenge the city to demonstrate to us why that is true for narrow [snorts] roads with very minimal traffic because my understanding from most studies I've done on concrete curbs uh and uh bitmus uh [snorts] roadways, it's for larger higher traffic situations. So, as a neighborhood I can't speak for everybody, but I can speak for quite a few of the neighbors. We like the characteristic of our neighborhood.
If you go from South Street and look north after this project's done, a bulk of the trees are going to be removed, and we're going to have white stripe curb in there. I don't want the curb. We're going to lose our rural look widening the streets.
We're building these roads for what? Two generations from now. People who are living in these houses, we don't want to one have to add infrastructure to meet the times. We want to anticipate what the times will call for in developing infrastructure...
In front of you this evening is a recommended action to approve Hindi Abdi's appointment to the planning commission.
This is 197 units of rental housing right along 394, and it had 40 affordable units in the building. Uh, to secure that, uh, affordable housing, you did issue 4.6 million in tax increment financing.
And when the bank is the lender, they ask the developer and the ownership group to assign their rights under the tax increment financing contract with the city. And that's what the collateral assignment is all about.
Ordinances & Resolutions (18)
Minutes from a previous City Council meeting approved during routine operations.
Award from the League of Minnesota Cities recognizing Minnetonka's 'Drones as First Responders' program.
Event where Minnetonka's City of Excellence Award was showcased.
Award-winning plan for public outreach and transparency regarding the Drones as First Responders program.
Statewide awards program by the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators, recognizing city communications work.
The city's three-year strategic plan, for which a mid-year Quarter Two report was presented.
Mid-year progress report on the city's 2026 strategic plan action steps and performance metrics.
City plan for sustainability and resilience, mentioned in the strategic plan report.
Draft update to modernize development regulations and support future community goals, now live for public view.
Resolution adopted to receive the feasibility report, order improvements, and authorize plans and easement acquisition for the Kinsell project.
Detailed report outlining the scope, impacts, and recommendations for the Kinsell neighborhood reconstruction project.
City plan identifying potential trail segments, from which Kinsell neighborhood segments were considered and not recommended.
License granted to the Minnetonka Rotary Club for their Links and Libations fundraising event.
Routine agreement approved as part of the consent agenda.
Routine resolutions approved as part of the consent agenda.
Minutes from a previous Economic Development Authority meeting approved during routine operations.
EDA resolution approving the transfer of rights for the TIF agreement for the Marsh 2 project to Wells Fargo.
Agreement between Minnetonka Marsh LLC and the city for tax increment financing, subject to collateral assignment.