Wayzata City Meetings — Transcript

Wednesday, December 18, 2024Analysis complete

7 Topics in This Document

Exceptional Customer Service Award

APWA Minnesota Project of the Year Award

Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and TIF Funds

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Purchasing Agreement

2025 Property Tax Levy and Budget Approval

Cannabis Businesses Regulation Ordinance

Wayzata Beach Sauna Lease Agreement

Full Extraction
Passed (unanimous for consent agenda)
Passed (unanimous for consent agenda)
4-1 Approved
4-1 Approved
4-1 Approved
5-0 Approved

Capital Improvement plan... we're approving it tonight it's a living document... I do think that um maybe in the New Year we spend some time going through and really understanding the Tiff five and the Tiff six so that we know and we're maximizing those resources out of that those tiffs to be able to use them to the places that um you know might benefit other things like you know the the sidewalk and the parking lot at at clap Bridge Park...

Alex Implesic [26:03]Consent Agenda - Discussion on Capital Improvement Plan and TIF Funds

we work with our Consultants on a tiff cash flow every year um that ultimately updates the amount of increment that's generated and it compares it with the obligations that the each of the districts have so it changes but ultimately they're do they are more successful than we thought they were going to be... we talked uh internally today... about incorporating that that process into this year's budget or 20 2026 in 2025 the budget process and doing that um on an annual basis into the future.

Deputy City Manager Jagger [29:05]Consent Agenda - Discussion on Capital Improvement Plan and TIF Funds

SCBA Cooperative agreement uh will there be some applications for grants that go out is that the an item that typically will get either through the state or other mechanisms reimbursement for monies on protective equipment PPE for fire

Unknown Council Member [30:48]Consent Agenda - Discussion on SCBA Cooperative Agreement

yeah so we've actually applied for that Grant the last three or four years and have not been successful and unfortunately um the scbas need to be replaced this year so we won't be able to wait another Grant cycle um but that has been the plan and we've been actively applying for that I think three or four years in a row.

Deputy City Manager Jagger [31:15]Consent Agenda - Discussion on SCBA Cooperative Agreement

why did the levy increase this year what's driving that increase um the first is investments in it and Technology... second was to invest in employee compensation... and newly was to include a recruitment and retention incentive for our police officers... and the last driver was adding some Public Safety employees...

Deputy City Manager Jagger [35:50]Adoption of Resolution 57-2024 Certifying the Final Property Tax Levy for Taxes Payable 2025

some people might look at our budget growth and say that you know it's tracking higher than inflation has but uh what people fail to recognize that we are a robust growing community and uh we care about things like Public Safety and so the money that we're investing is truly to make the the community the community the people want if we were just to raise uh taxes by uh inflation rates we would actually diminish the city I believe so I just want people to know that that we looked long and hard at these numbers and and they make sense.

Alex Implesic [1:41:52]Adoption of Resolution 57-2024 Certifying the Final Property Tax Levy for Taxes Payable 2025

I think it's good to point out that our city is in a very strong financial position and and that's not by accident a AAA Bond rating is not normal for a city our size uh and our practice of funding ahead for projects is a little unusual also allows us not to bond and spend money on on on interest... it allows us to uh retain I think the best talent around and um and uh also just to to point out um our budget does not include general fund money for future phases of panway...

Ken Tonson [1:42:52]Adoption of Resolution 57-2024 Certifying the Final Property Tax Levy for Taxes Payable 2025

the retreat did submit a comment letter expressing concern about a cannabis retail business located in Colonial Square... a cannabis store right next door uh would lead to an increase in Temptation and a risk of relapse...

Consultant Planner Weber [53:26]Consider Approval of the First Reading of Ordinance 845 to Regulate Cannabis Businesses

the statute doesn't set a percentage doesn't set a number um so this is really I think we need to on staff's expertise about what what's a good case that we could make uh with with the buffers and the zoning changes that if you are a cannabis business you have a license from the state um you have options of locating in y Zetta...

City Attorney [59:06]Consider Approval of the First Reading of Ordinance 845 to Regulate Cannabis Businesses

I really hate the fact that we even have to be dealing with this I think that was a a very misguided State legislation but here we are... if there's one spot in a city we would want to maximize the buffer that would be it... The Retreat letter to me is something that is Meaningful... so I see no reason why we shouldn't expand the buffer to be the maximum that it is for this particular situation...

Alex Implesic [1:04:16]Consider Approval of the First Reading of Ordinance 845 to Regulate Cannabis Businesses

the letter from John Curtis was very impactful to me it's someone that I respect very much so and I've been a donor to The Retreat for the last decade... I'm looking at this as this is a Baseline and let's just move along as people get more comfortable so with that said I would vote in favor of the buffer from the property line at the rich treat...

Molly McDonald [1:11:43]Consider Approval of the First Reading of Ordinance 845 to Regulate Cannabis Businesses

I do believe that the the guests at The Retreat do leave the property and you know frequent luns and that kind of thing so um yeah that letter from John Curtis I found to be um very respectful and just a way to you know give us his perspective and that of the the residents... but I think the pr the Practical reality is whether there's a cannabis store directly adjacent to the Big Woods or if there's one across the street um it's still there and there are people that go there for treatment... I think what is proposed here is too aggressive...

Mayor Joanna [1:14:04]Consider Approval of the First Reading of Ordinance 845 to Regulate Cannabis Businesses

there's probably two uh priorities note in there that would fit this diversify Revenue... sustained Community character and safety... this is a low impact um addition to the to the beach area especially during the winter months when there's not much activity...

Parks and Environment Planner Keefer [1:28:52]Consider Approval of Lease Agreement with the Nordic Experience for a Sauna at Wayzata Beach

we have a a wellness Retreat Center there where we host weddings and U many different types of events private events that um so we have a lot of experience working with people bookings and things like that... we would have um portable bathrooms down there and then we're looking at an aspect of having this uh a changing area attached to the sonel that we're building right now...

Joseph Reese [1:33:04]Consider Approval of Lease Agreement with the Nordic Experience for a Sauna at Wayzata Beach

I've talked with Nick about it in one of the main points that was my concern I just wanted to make sure we were good on was the liability piece because this is a potentially a high impact activity for individuals and um you know I think the agreement as it's written in then our conversations with the applicant or potential Lee here too is that you know they'll be fully insured the city will be fully indemed ified and there will be as part of the sign up and registering process uh liability waivers for participants.

City Attorney [1:39:50]Consider Approval of Lease Agreement with the Nordic Experience for a Sauna at Wayzata Beach

I love the idea so I'm I'm going to vote for it but having just spent a week in Finland in June I can tell you this is a big deal there and the ratio of saunas to people is like two people to a sauna... And the whole experience is in it you know we're a Nordic State basically we got a Nordic Heritage here so only kind of makes sense to me and you know Finland is has been ranked I think for years upon years as the happiest place on Earth the people there that might have something to do with their SAS...

Alex Implesic [1:49:20]Consider Approval of Lease Agreement with the Nordic Experience for a Sauna at Wayzata Beach