Tonka Bay City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Parks and Docks Slip Fee Increase and Park Improvements
Safety Building Bonding for Maintenance Needs
Tucker Bay Parking Lot Repair Deferral
Votes (3)
Parks and Docks Presentation on Slip Fees and Park Improvements
Dissent: Council Member Bross voiced strong opposition to the proposed fee increase.
Eric Latkovich presented the Parks and Docks Commission's recommendation for a $100 slip fee increase in 2027 and 2029, citing rising project costs, inflation, and competitive rates in nearby communities. The commission proposes a senior rate lock-in. Discussion included current park projects (Manitou Park, Lakota Park, Old Orchard Pier) and planned future projects (ice rink, tree planting, kayak racks). Council Member Bross strongly opposed the increase, calling it 'greedy' for the additional $7,500 over the existing $150,000 annual revenue. Other council members acknowledged the need for funding for various community projects and the modest nature of the increase.
Shannon Sweeney, Safety Building Bonding Presentation
Shannon Sweeney provided an overview of the bonding mechanism required for significant maintenance and renovation of the joint Police and Fire building. Mayor Jennings clarified that Tonka Bay would be the custodian city, bearing the initial risk, but highlighted existing Joint Powers Agreements (JPAs) that protect against member city defaults. The presentation covered the historical precedent with Shorewood as the previous custodian, the collateral for the bond (police station), and the coordination required among member cities.
Tucker Bay Parking Lot Bid Review
City Engineer John presented a single bid of $121,452 for the Tucker Bay parking lot repair, noting the project's complexity due to poor soil. Mayor Jennings expressed that the bid was higher than expected and suggested deferring the project. The council agreed that consolidating it with the larger 2027 Street Utility Improvement Project would likely yield better pricing and economies of scale.
Notable Quotes (8)
We felt a more gradual increase over a period of time would be more palatable to the citizens of Tonka Bay.
Why do you need this extra money in a city of 1,550 people? Why do you need another, let's say $7,500 on top of $150,000? That's what I don't understand.
I think the ice rink is a really good example of the estimated price tag on that is $300,000. So if we're getting $150,000 a year, that means we have to wait for two years before we can really kind of do anything, right?
I thought it was incumbent upon us to discuss it as a council first to determine whether or not this is something that's feasible and that we are comfortable with as a group.
Ultimately, my point to you is, let's not reinvent the wheel. We've already got the wheel. Let's just use it one more time. We're only changing the issuer that's associated with the debt potentially...
The bond world believes that these are essential services that people have a really hard time walking away from.
The project, one of the problems with the parking lot is that it sits on really bad soil. And so the project that's proposed is to mill off the existing asphalt, put down a geo-fabric fiber, build class five on top of it, and then the parking lot on top of that.
I think it probably makes more sense for us to punt. And like you were saying, especially because I think, one, I think we could get better pricing probably in the spring, just a general. But two, to your, if we wrap it in with the overall project, we're going to get the economies of scale on the pricing for the roadway...
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
Approved with minor corrections regarding fishing type, time, and reporting terminology.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Informational item on the consent agenda.
Informational item on the consent agenda.
Reference for Parks and Docks' long-term project planning.
Mentioned for beefing up tree management line item.
Governs ways to issue bonds for funding projects like the safety building.
Governs the police and fire district and includes provisions for member withdrawal and bond repayment.
Used as a basis for calculating tax impact of potential safety building bonding.
City-wide plan in development, related to a DNR grant application.
Grant application for $150,000 for tree management and a tree plan.
Major infrastructure project for 2027, with which the Tucker Bay parking lot repair will be integrated.