Roseville City Council — Transcript
Monday, June 8, 2026
MDOT Turn Lane Removal Impact
Willow Pond Dredging Project and Environmental Assessment
Minor Plat for Cleveland and Centerpoint Drive North Property
Aldine Street Right-of-Way Vacation and Pathway Feasibility
Votes (3)
Approval of Willow Pond Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Schroeder [Unknown Timestamp] · Seconded by Council member Grath [Unknown Timestamp]
Public Works Director Jesse Fryhammer and Leila Bungi from Kimley Horn introduced the EAW for the Willow Pond dredging project, which aims to remove 20,000 cubic yards of sediment to improve habitat, aesthetics, and stormwater function. The EAW found no significant environmental effects. Council discussion included the classification of dredged material (Level 1 vs. Level 2), and potential impacts on specific wildlife species like the Blandings turtle and northern longeared bat, noting efforts to mitigate these through construction timing (winter vs. summer dredging). The EAW process included a 30-day public comment period with no public comments, and three agency comments that were addressed.
Public Hearing and Consideration for Minor Plat at Cleveland and Centerpoint Drive North
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Grath [Unknown Timestamp] · Seconded by Council member Bower [Unknown Timestamp]
City Planner Thomas Pashki presented a request for a minor plat to subdivide a single unaddressed property at the southwest corner of Cleveland and Centerpoint Drive North into two lots. This property is part of the former Veritas campus. The proposed lots conform to the requirements of the Centerpoint Plan Unit Development. A public hearing was held, but no public comments were received. The Council noted the straightforward nature of the request and expressed hope for future development on the site.
Aldine Street Right-of-Way Vacation and Pathway Feasibility Study
Dissent: Strong division among public speakers for and against vacation/pathway.
Moved by N/A - Public comment ongoing at transcript end · Seconded by N/A - Public comment ongoing at transcript end
Parks and Recreation Director Matt Johnson and Dana Schumacher from TKDA presented the feasibility study for an accessible trail in the Aldine Street right-of-way. Option 1, combining boardwalk and gravel, was highlighted as a way to build a path while minimizing impact on mature oak trees, particularly by using raised structures over critical root zones. Two oak trees (12 and 13) were identified as greatly impacted due to grading requirements. The City Attorney discussed conservation easements as a potential mechanism for tree protection if the right-of-way were vacated, emphasizing its voluntary nature. Public comment was extensive, with proponents stressing the path's role as a vital community connector, promoting safety for children, and noting the impermanence of the right-of-way if vacated. Opponents emphasized tree preservation, fiscal prudence, concerns about environmental damage from construction (oak wilt, root zone compaction), existing encroachments, and the path not being a city-wide priority. They highlighted the number of residents supporting vacation and the offer of a tree conservation easement by underlying property owners.
Notable Quotes (10)
The purpose of the EAW is to inform the public about the project, uh, document any future permitting or approvals that would be needed, identify potential impacts and mitigation strategies to address those impacts. Um, but it is not anything that necessarily proves or denies a project. It really just is a source of information to help guide future steps.
Yeah. So we so we've already done uh testing on it, so we're pretty confident it's all level two. So, that will all have to be taken to a certified land for all that. So, yeah, it's not reusable material.
As you indicated, mayor, this is a uh public hearing for a minor plat for a lot that was created back in, I believe, n 2020 as a part of a different project that was proposed on the property, which is a piece of the uh former Veritas campus. It's at Cleveland and uh Centerpoint Drive. And so the uh proposal is to create uh two lots from the single lot.
So this study looks at that and summarizes that there there is a way to do it. I mean there is some some um balancing of course as we go through the study.
If we did vacate this right away, um, we do have utilities, um, both overhead and adjacent. We have some underground, so we would request, uh, utility easement be retained, so there will still be some sort of, uh, ownership by the city.
The city does have the ability only certain entities can hold a conservation ement. The city can um but the and the property owners can voluntarily give it to you, but you cannot require it of them as part of this action.
Each killed tree costs wildlife, beauty, shade, and hits our property values... Vote for tree preservation. Once path development invisibly kills the oaks, we will never get them back. Please vote to vacate the rightway easement.
Uh this is not just a decision about today. It's a decision about the future... This is a moment in time when you have the opportunity to preserve a public asset for generations to come. I'd urge you to think beyond today's circumstances and return this right retain this right away uh and build a trail for the future of Roseville.
Almost every tree on this spreadsheet has a decline in health due to path option one installation. There is only one tree that doesn't decline and it's a witch hazel tree.
I think that we can protect trees. I think that we can respect people's rights as owners of property and I think we can somehow figure out a way to allow people to walk through that area that has meant a lot to a whole lot of people.
Ordinances & Resolutions (18)
State law ensuring public access to government meetings and materials.
The official list of items to be discussed at the meeting.
A part of the agenda for routine administrative approvals, typically voted on as a single motion.
A document prepared to determine if additional environmental review is needed for a project, specifically for the Willow Pond dredging project.
A specific rule that mandates an EAW for public waters wetland projects.
A plan to prevent pollution during and after construction activities, required for the Willow Pond dredging project.
Rules outlining criteria for evaluating EAW findings regarding significant environmental effects.
An official document adopted by the council to formally approve the Willow Pond EAW.
A permit required for any changes to existing land use or zoning classification, mentioned in the context of the Willow Pond project.
A future permit needed for the Willow Pond project, requiring coordination with the DNR.
A specific development plan that sets requirements for the minor plat property at Cleveland and Centerpoint Drive North.
An official document adopted by the council to approve the minor plat.
A past meeting where the Aldine Street right-of-way vacation was initially considered as a city-initiated action.
A past meeting where the Aldine Street right-of-way vacation shifted to being petition-driven.
A study commissioned by the council from TKDA and Three Trees Horticulture to assess the possibility of building an accessible trail through the Aldine Street right-of-way.
The city's overarching plan for non-motorized pathways, used to score potential trail connections like Aldine Street.
A document providing details on the health and condition of individual trees within the Aldine Street right-of-way, referenced during discussion.
Core values articulated by the city (e.g., community, equity, safety) referenced by a speaker regarding the impact of the vacation decision.