Minnetrista City Council — Transcript
Monday, May 4, 2026
2050 Comprehensive Plan Update
Woodland Cove Crosswalk and Stop Signs
Joint Letter Regarding Roundabout with St. Boniface
Fire District Resolution with St. Boniface
Closed Session for Pending Litigation
Votes (5)
2050 Comprehensive Plan Update
Dissent: None
Staff presented on the upcoming state-mandated comprehensive plan update, due to the Met Council by December 31, 2028. Key steps include obtaining a proposal from WSB and Associates for consulting services and forming a 7-person steering committee. There was extensive discussion regarding the potential impact of a state housing bill on local zoning authority, Met Council growth requirements (e.g., 3.5 units per acre, water resources, climate change), and challenges in committee recruitment. Concerns were also raised about the cost of the update and the efficiency of using an existing engineering firm (WSB) versus a new consultant. The council reached a consensus to move forward with requesting a proposal from WSB and to begin the process of forming the steering committee.
Woodland Cove Crosswalk and Pedestrian Feature
Dissent: None
Staff presented a follow-up on a resident's request for a four-way stop and crosswalk at Woodland Cove Boulevard and Lotus Drive. Staff recommended approval for a four-way stop based on technical guidelines and a crosswalk due to high pedestrian usage (near the pool). An additional request for LED pedestrian crossing signs at the regional trail crossing on Woodland Cove Boulevard was introduced. Costs were estimated at $2,500 for curb ramps, stop signs, and striping, and over $6,000 for the LED signs. Council members debated the high cost of LED signs and discussed the possibility of the HOA cost-sharing for them. Staff was directed to research cheaper LED sign alternatives.
Joint Letter Regarding Roundabout with St. Boniface
Dissent: None
The city administrator and staff presented a joint letter, to be co-signed with the Mayor of St. Boniface, urging MnDOT to reconsider the location of a planned roundabout. The current plan is for a roundabout at County Road 92 and Highway 7. The letter proposes moving it to the Wildwood Hunters Trail and Highway 7 intersection, citing problematic access and benefits for both communities, particularly for large vehicle access in St. Boniface. The council expressed unanimous agreement with the proposal.
Fire District Resolution with St. Boniface
Dissent: None
Staff presented a draft resolution supporting the exploration of forming a fire district with only St. Boniface, covering Minnetrista's service area currently handled by St. Boniface. This model is proposed as an initial step, with the long-term goal of potentially including Mound and Spring Park. A council member identified a clerical error in the draft resolution, requesting a change from 'Joint Powers Agreement' to 'fire district.' The council generally supported the initiative to examine the district model.
Closed Session
Dissent: None
Moved by Mayor [1:02:46] · Seconded by Council Member [1:03:00]
The Mayor announced the transition to a closed session to discuss pending litigation. The specific case was identified as City of Minnetrista versus Sunny Field LLC et al., with court file number 27-CV-245609. The closed session was called under Minnesota Statute Section 13D.05 subdivision 3B, citing attorney-client privilege. A motion and second were made to enter the closed session.
Notable Quotes (13)
So, we'll first talk about the 2050 comprehensive plan update, Woodland Cove Crosswalk, and then the joint letter um about the roundabouts with St. Bonnie, and then fire district resolution with St. Bonnie. Then we're going to have a closed session.
We are required by state law to update our comprehensive plan. Um goes back to the Municipal Land Planning Act of 1967 that was enacted in Minnesota. Um the next go-round will be uh due by December 31st of 2028. That is um how long we have to submit our plan to the Met Council for their review and approval.
So, one thing I don't want to jump the gun here because um I kind of want to see want to make sure that no housing um bill is passed or at least you know that supersedes um local zoning and planning for this year at least. Because if it does this is going to change. This whole thing is going to change.
Um so I think there's some high-level components of the comprehensive plan that um you know regardless of where the Met Council comes in at with with unit counts speaking from a water and sewer infrastructure for example you take a look at where where do you extend how do you extend sewer to serve certain areas...
The The other question, you know, other than the formation of the group is, are you okay with WSP providing this? Um I would say that that's the most cost effective.
So we are recommending that those be put in and then we also when we come to crosswalks the the manual that we use to to guide us through these processes recommends a full out study and we didn't think staff didn't think that that was necessary. So we we took a look at it. We're like, well, it's a four-way it would be we're recommending a four-way stop. It's a high pedestrian generation in the summer, right? It's it's certainly and so staff would be supportive of installing a crosswalk at that location as well.
Why are the LED pedestrian crossing signs so expensive? Like a quick Google search shows them to be substantially cheaper.
So, here's my recommendation that we do the ADA compliant pedestrian curb ramp and the stop signs and stop ahead signs for 2,500 or maybe a few hundred dollars more for the striping and that we talk to the HOA to ask them to flip for the LED pedestrian crossing signs because that was their request.
But really what it does is it it urges MnDOT to move the roundabout that's planned at County Road 92 and 7 to the Wildwood Hunters um Trail and uh Wildwood and 7 area. So, urging them to do that, at least engage in a conversation with us about that to see if if there's a possibility um to move that.
So, they they already what they're planning on right now is a roundabout at 92 and 7. And they already have a light there with turn lanes. So, what we're saying is that the Wildwood and the Hunters Trail inter- those entrances onto 7 are somewhat problematic. So, what we're saying is, well, could you take the money that you would be using at 92 and 7 and instead transfer that and align the Wildwood and Hunters Trail um intersections or entrances together and do a roundabout there instead.
What this resolution does is just indicate support from City Council to proceed with examining this. So the team would likely be um the city administrator in St. Boniface, myself and the um fire chief in St. Boniface, uh Eric Anderson working on some of the details and then bringing that to the back to the various city councils.
Yeah, I just had a question about the be it further resolved and then it has the joint powers agreement in line in there. I don't know why that's there.
So we are going to go into closed session. This is pursuant to Minnesota statute section 13D.05 subdivision it's called a attorney client privilege to discuss pending litigation. It's the city of Minnetrista versus Sunny Field LLC at all and it's court file number 27-CV245609.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
Mandatory update required by state law every 10 years, due by December 31, 2028.
State law in Minnesota requiring comprehensive plan updates.
Met Council document outlining requirements for comprehensive plans, including growth strategies like 3.5 units per acre and addressing water resources/climate.
The city's current comprehensive plan, being updated to the 2050 plan.
Resolution proposed to indicate City Council support for examining the formation of a fire district with St. Boniface.
Previous agreement with Mound, St. Boniface, and Spring Park, mentioned as a template for the fire district resolution.
Legal basis for holding a closed session due to attorney-client privilege.
Court file number for the pending litigation discussed in closed session (City of Minnetrista vs. Sunny Field LLC et al.).