Welcome to the August 5th, 2026 City Council meeting. I hereby call the meeting to order. We have a packed audience, uh which is awesome, and we'll get to that in a minute. But, members of the public may attend the City Council meeting in person or may watch it listen remotely by viewing the meeting on channel 8, WCTV, and at the city's website at wayzata.org. Public comment during the public forum and or public hearing portions of the meeting may be provided in person at the meeting in advance or by logging onto our Teams call and raising your hand during the public hearing. When your name is called in the meeting, you will be seen and heard in our council chambers and cable channel. You'll be asked to unmute and make sure your camera's on to begin your comments. All public comments should include your first name and the name or group you represent. Next on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. If I could ask everyone to stand if you are able and follow along. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Next on our agenda is our roll call. Let the record reflect that all council members are present this evening. Earlier this evening, we held a workshop in chambers here to discuss the following items: discussion of the bid results and funding options for the Lake Street landscaping improvement project. We had a report from our outside advisors on the Wayzata and Shoreline Fire Department cooperative framework agreement. And then we reviewed our future workshop topics. Next, I would have someone approve our tonight's agenda or is there any changes requested from council? >> [clears throat] >> I'll move to approve the agenda as all in, Mr. Mayor. >> Great. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussions? Hearing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> That passes 5 to 0. Next is our public forum, which is why you are all here tonight. So a reminder for those members in the public attendance tonight and interested in speaking, please state your name and street address and indicate who you're representing in a group and limit your comments to 3 minutes. If you want to see speak to something that's on the agenda, hand your card or if it's not on the agenda now is your time after we get to the first item on our public forum, which is the swearing in of Fire Chief Kevin Klaberich and I'll turn it over to our city manager. I'm going to join join her. And then we will go through our process. Thank you. >> Thank you Mayor and Council and everyone for being here tonight. This is really really meaningful. Before I start the swearing in, I do want to say a few words about Chief Klaberich. I'd like to acknowledge that this swearing in could in one way seem kind of odd considering that Chief Klaberich has served on the Wayzata Fire Department for the last 47 years and has been the Fire Chief for the last 20. But I want to acknowledge that this swearing in swearing in represents a huge milestone for the department, for this community and in recognition of Kevin's service to the city. Him stepping into the role as the first full-time Fire Chief I think is a really important investment in our fire department in and in our community as well. And I also want to acknowledge that I think that this is probably a huge milestone for his family as well. As many of you know, he comes from a family that is incredibly committed to the fire service with his father Paul serving as a long-time fire chief in Wayzata and his brothers also serving on the department. Kevin officially stepped in as full-time Chief on June 29th of this year and throughout his years of service as Chief, he has exemplified dedication, integrity and the utmost care for our community. It was an honor to bring him in in this full-time capacity and I look forward to his continued leadership and service to Wayzata. So, with that, Kevin, I'd like you to step forward. Bring the mic over. Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Kevin Klapatch, >> I, Kevin Klapatch, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> the Constitution of the United States, >> the Constitution of the United States, >> the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, >> the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, >> and that I will faithfully discharge >> and that I will faithfully discharge >> the duties of the office of fire chief >> the duties of the office of fire chief >> in the City of Wayzata, >> in the City of Wayzata, >> County of Hennepin, >> County of Hennepin, >> State of Minnesota, >> State of Minnesota, >> to the best of my judgment and ability. >> to the best of my judgment and abilities. >> Congratulations, Kevin. >> [applause] [applause] [applause] >> And I know that as part of his badge pinning, it means a lot to him to have his dad, Paul, do his pinning. >> I want to have you stand here. Please hold. Where's the hole there? It's here. You put them in there. Oop, right here. >> Ouch. >> [laughter] >> I can find a hole. I can find a hole. There it is. >> All right. >> [applause] >> Now Kevin, I I I do want to turn it over to Kevin to say a few words, but um before I do that, um as a man who loves the spotlight, um I'm going to shine another one on him as well. So, um I want to acknowledge and take a moment to um celebrate not only his full-time chief appointment, but also to recognize him with a life-saving award. Um on the morning of June 4th, the Wayzata Fire Department was paged to an appliance fire at 190 Wayzata Boulevard East. Chief Klapsteich first and found a fire on the stove burning up a back wall setting cupboards on fire. Um police officer Dave Wilson, who's also in the room, um responded shortly after and he and Chief Klapsteich were able to knock the fire down with extinguishers on site until the fire truck and the rest of the fire department arrived on the scene. But while all this was happening, um the chief heard a resident on an upper floor of that building, um but the smoke conditions were really really bad. The chief stepped in and helped get that person down the stairs and out of the building. That person was transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but ultimately recovered. Chief Klapsteich's swift actions in this emergency saved this person's life. For this reason, I'd like to recognize Chief Klapsteich for his exemplary response in a life or death situation and present him with a life-saving award. >> [applause] [applause] >> So Kevin, just so you love this so much, your council wants to extend some words of gratitude and thanks before you take the modia the podium. So, who would like to lead us off? >> Thank you. >> Anyone? >> I'll I'll start. I didn't plan anything, of course, but just I know I personally and this body is so incredibly grateful for your service sacrifices from your family and everything you've dedicated and given back to this wonderful community. So, thank you. >> Thank you. I'd like to go next. Mr. Sorenson. >> Yeah, Chief, I you know, I think I can speak for the entire community when I say we're lucky to have you. We're very lucky to have you as our Chief. Not only as our Fire Chief, but the your commitment of your family to this community for so long. It's a very unique thing and I can tell you we all are honored and very pleased to announce you as our full-time Chief and couldn't be happier about it. Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. >> Mr. Cook. >> Yeah, along the same lines, you know, we are truly blessed in this community to have such a our public safety is is really the pride of our community. It's one of the things probably the most important thing that a city can do is provide the basic services of protection and the fire department is is a huge part of that. A testament to your leadership is the room that's here today. So, I am truly grateful for your service, your family's many decades of service in town. You guys have come to my house a couple of times. >> [laughter] >> Uh, burn food? Burn food that I was somehow blamed for. Um, but in all seriousness, I'm just truly grateful for your service and am so happy to see this well-deserved recognition for you and your family and thank you for your continued leadership and look forward to that continuing on. Thank you. Mr. Prakash. >> Yeah, I did want to go last among the the council members cuz I have a bit of a unique perspective. Uh for 16 years of my life, you were my boss as the fire chief. Uh that was a tremendous experience for me. I kind of wish I was still on it, but it was time to move on. What I would say is Wayzata is a unique place. Uh Wayzata has a lot of history in so many different ways. And everybody that's here tonight is witnessing history, and you are part of that history, and you forever will be. Uh I'm very grateful to know you, Chief, and look forward to working with you in the future. >> Thank you very much. So, in the storied history of the Klapmeier family and the storied history of Wayzata, I I don't know which is greater or or more interesting, but they're both interesting stories, and it's such a blessing that they're intertwined for multi-generations in in our community. And I'd also like to recognize not only, you know, your brothers that served in fire service, but their spouses and your mom and and the the kids and all the sacrifice of the totality of the Klapmeier family that's given to the city Wayzata, not just in fire service. Many uh have also served uh on our staff in other capacities, whether it be public works, city manager, um volunteering countless hours and times as all of the individuals in the back of the room do every day, every week. Fire service and volunteer and on-call service in Wayzata is more than just showing up to getting paid on call. It's all the events that you are. You're the face of our community, and it's not lost on me going around last night uh at at night to night and visiting all our neighborhoods. I think everyone up here would agree, the first words out of every citizen's mouth is, "Thank you for Wayzata police. Thank you for Wayzata fire." And so, you are the face of our community. You are the people that actually provide the service that everyone cares and remembers. And Kevin, you're the leader of that and leader through service, through action, through words. Probably not not too few, not too not too many words, but we're going to make you give a few tonight, which I know makes you really uncomfortable, but I hope you can just take a moment and pause and look into that audience and look at the support in the community that you have and what it represents to to you as part of our community, Kevin. And the last word is yours. >> Well, thank you. Uh I know at the couple meetings ago Alex wanted a long speech. >> I'm timing you, chief. >> I thought uh I don't know about a long speech cuz they probably got a lot of business to take care of after we get done here. Then then then I looked at the agenda >> [laughter] >> and I figured I'd better make it even shorter because they probably want to get out of here a little sooner. I even offered to not do it tonight so they could go home earlier, but they weren't buying. So anyways, I have a lot of people to thank. Uh and I'll I'll start with I'll start with my family. Uh there's been a lot of uh Christmas dinners, uh birthday parties, a lot of stuff has been screwed up and uh they have managed it all without uh uh not just me, but when uh it used to be three of us left the table. Actually, at one time it was four of us left the table uh at at Christmas time and uh we're we're down to two now, but uh just a thank you for that. Uh those guys in the back of the room, I want to I want to say thank you to all of the present Wasilla firefighters and the past Wasilla firefighters. I want to I want to say a thank you to Aurora uh for trusting me. I want to say thank you to the city staff. And I'd also want to say thank you to the mayor and the city council. Uh without you guys I wouldn't be here. Uh >> [snorts] >> Wyzetta residents and businesses, thank you. Uh and the firefighting colleagues from around the metro area and around the state. Uh I'm grateful for the opportunity. It's It's an honor and a privilege to be the first full-time fire chief in Wyzetta. And it's probably I would say a maybe a dream come true. Uh I look I look forward to serving the city with fairness, kindness, and humility. I take responsibility seriously, but I will never take my own myself too seriously. I am here because of a because of an army of people who did an awful lot for me along the way. Uh I did I didn't get here alone. Uh I just want to say thank you for very much for this incredible opportunity. I am truly humbled. Thank you. Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] [applause] >> All right, we're going to take a short recess to allow for some pictures. Oh, go ahead, please. Please. >> Aurora, I just want to say thank you for the award. Uh that wasn't a fun day, but uh everything worked out. And Jamie, are you sure you don't want to tell everyone that I was on the fire department before you were born? >> [laughter] >> She doesn't have to. >> Well, thank thank you to all those employers out there that allow all these individuals to serve, including Kevin's previous employer who really gave him the flexibility to be the part-time fire chief as well. So, um with that we'll take a short recess and we'll take some pictures and then um we'll move on to our meeting. So, we'll go in recess. >> [applause] >> Can we get some of the fire guys up here? >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Bring us back into session. Um that was a well-deserved break in honor of Chief Clapper and all his supporters. So, probably one of our longer breaks, but one of the most well-deserved. So, uh do we have anyone else that wanted to speak on the public forum tonight? >> Mr. Mayor, we do not. >> Okay. So, now we're on to new agenda items. Does anyone on council have new agenda items to discuss uh now or in the future? Hearing none, I'll move on to the consent agenda. Uh Items on the consent agenda are as follows: approval of the city council workshop and regular meeting meeting minutes of July 7th, 2026, approval of our check register, approval of municipal licenses, approval of professional services agreement with New History for the section foreman's house restoration, approval of professional services agreement with Cushing Terrell for the section foreman house restoration, approval of professional services contract with World I'm sorry, Wold Architects and Engineers for the design of the library window replacement project, award of contract to WW Gooch and Associates for the rehabilitation of high service pump at water treatment plant three, that's a mouthful, award of contract for the 2026 street rejuvenation project to corrective asphalt materials LLC, and adoption of resolution 38 2026 approving a modification to the tax increment financing plan for tax increment financing district number six downtown west, and lastly approval of professional services agreement with Van Meter Williams LLP for consulting services on design standards. I would need a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented or if any items need to be pulled for discussion. Mr. Sorenson. >> Yeah, Mr. Mayor, I would uh appreciate if we could just pull item E4 just for discussion. >> Okay. So, uh we will pull item What did you say? Item E, right? >> It's E. >> E, okay. And probably along with it D because they're they're similar. Um so, I would approve a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended, and then we'll discuss those two items. So, if I could uh have someone make that motion, please. >> So moved. >> Okay, I need a second to approve the consent agenda as amended. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> That passes five to zero. So, let's just go through those two items, Mr. Sorenson. >> Um yeah, so pertaining to item E, this um professional services agreement with Cushing Terrell. And just reading about the scope of services that they're providing, I'd like to maybe just have our city manager explain uh kind of what our approach is with them and how we intend to really use them on the project. >> Yeah, happy to talk about that, Mayor and Councilmember Sorenson. Um so, the two items that were pulled, um item D and item E, are for consultant services related to us working on the Section 4 Man House project. Item E specifically, the work work with Cushing Terrell, there are identified pricings of hourly not to exceed or um rates for about four different work scopes. Um and I want to comment on kind of staff's philosophy of including those work scopes and our our intended utilization of Cushing Terrell. So, given our work on the Section 4 Man House and working with a donor to finalize construction plans, um they may need from Cushing Terrell and or New History as we go through the process to make sure that we maintain the historic designation and get it through the appropriate um approval process with the State Historic Preservation Office and our and our own site alteration permit given its historic designation. So, these are consultants that could help our donor as they finalize their construction documents. So, we've really lined it up to use them as needed as that donor needs to make sure that the construction documents are going to move through that approval process. However, with the Cushing Terrell contract specifically, there that that's all kind of outlined in scope number one. Um but there are four three other scopes in there for any services that we thought maybe they might be consulted on as the project moves forward. So, I would say even though there are not to exceed amounts, we wanted to make sure we had pricings on a contract in place. So, if their services were needed, we wouldn't have to stop, wait 2 weeks to get council approval, but at this point we are only planning to utilize Cushing Terrell for work scope number one to finalize those construction documents. But, if as we go along the the along the project, if there are additional work needed that we wouldn't need another separate agreement to do that. But, like I said, the scope is much more limited at this point to really just finalizing construction documents. >> Did that address your question? >> Um yeah, that did answer the question. I think it's important that it get clarified in that way because it's going to be a little unique on this project. We have Streeter as a design-builder, so they will they will be the designer of record, right? So, we have another purely architectural engineering firm doing something. And when I read the scope of services, it seemed like we probably don't really need everything that was outlined here, but the way you described it makes a lot of sense. We start with scope of work one, and if we did need a little help along the way, we'd do it. I'm just cautious to not be duplicative of and and hire these consultants to uh do some of the work that was outlined there, especially in the construction administration sense. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> And they're not owners' reps. They are a engineer they're a they are a architectural and engineering firm. >> Mhm. >> So, they're not they're not touching budget or schedule, which we'll deal with in a different way, I think. >> Right, right, absolutely. Yeah, I think um just to build off of Council Member Sorensen's comments, um as we move forward with the project, I think it would be important for us to think about if an owners' rep um would be helpful um managing, you know, the donors' work, the trail connection, BNSF permitting, and schedule components that impact all of that. It can be pretty complicated, so um I think that that's um good advice for us to think about um potentially using an owners' rep for this project as it moves forward. >> Yep. Yes, I'm glad you brought that up, Mr. Sorensen, because both both those consulting organizations have been on this project for years and um they have provided us robust information over the years on historical significance down to signage, down to fixtures, down to material. So, um I want to amplify what you said. This is not an open purchase order for both consulting firms to double down and revisit all the work that we've paid them to do over the last decade to get to this point. And we have to be judicious of this donor and the other financial donors behind it. And I'm sure the city will have to kick in a little bit of money to do the enabling work around it. So, we just got to be mindful of all that. So, I think we're not saying it to you, we're saying it to the record for new history and for Cushing Terrell to send a very strong message. So, thank you. Thank you for bringing it up, Mr. Sorenson. Um anything else on that item? Okay. We have no public hearing. We have no new business tonight. So, now >> still have to vote on these. >> Oh, do we? Well, we voted on the consent You're right. Thank you. So, now that we've made those and pulled those two items, let's approve those consent agenda items. Thank you. So, I would need a motion to approve the two items that were pulled from the consent agenda item D and item E. I would accept that motion, please. >> Well, if we can combine them together, I'll make that motion to approve both. >> Perfect. Uh I need a second. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> That passes. Thank you for that clarification, Mayor Pro Tem Plunkett. Um no public hearing. No new business. Now, let me move on to city manager's report and discussion items. >> Thank you, Mayor and council members. I want to take the opportunity to thank everybody for their participation last night in Night to Unite. From everybody who hosted a block party, who attended one, to the council for showing up, the staff and those involved with planning and coordinating it. Um it really I think is a highlight of our community, our our social connectedness, the bonds between neighbors. Um and it's a privilege to be a part of it as staff. So, I just want to thank everybody for for making time to do that. I think it's one of the things that makes Wayzata really special. Um, it was definitely another successful year. I also want to highlight given the time of year we're in that it is um early voting season for the primary election. You can vote now early at City Hall through the 10th during our regular open hours, but we do have a couple of upcoming extended voting hours. So, this Saturday City Hall will be open for voting from 9:00 to 3:00 p.m. And Monday we will be open from 7:00 to 5:00. And then election day is Tuesday, August 11th. So, we'll be open typical voting hours from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. So, that's a lot of dates and times. There's that information's all on our website, too, but just want to make sure people know that they they can vote early now and or on election day um at City Hall with the special opportunity this Saturday as well. The last thing I'd like to highlight is just bringing more awareness to the ever-changing MnDOT Highway 12 construction projects. This week there were a number of ramp closures and ramp openings. So, you may notice traffic patterns changing around the community as people try and figure out what ramps are open, what's the best way to get where. Um, but I think notable some ramp openings were um at Gleason Lake to get eastbound on Highway 12 like through BP, westbound Highway 12 to Shoreline Drive open, westbound Highway 12 to Central Ave is open, um and Central Ave to westbound Highway 12 is all open. But, there's a couple of um important road closures. So, just keep on with the project. Those all ramp closures are going to last through September and the full project is anticipated to wrap up in November. So, I would anticipate at the end of November um for planning purposes, but we're in the home stretch. We're in the home stretch. And that's all I have for you. >> Yeah, thank you for that update. Any questions of City Manager at this time? Hearing none, I would now no public forum has come in. So, I would accept a motion to adjourn, please. >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you very much. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you. We're adjourned.