Shakopee City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Minnesota Permanent School Fund Constitutional Amendment
Regulation of Large Side-by-Side Vehicles on City Streets
Noise Pollution from Mystic Lake Amphitheater
Proposed 2027 Property Tax Levy and Debt Service Abolishment
SouthBridge Crossings East Planned Unit Development (PUD) Amendment
Greenview Final Plat Approval
Votes (8)
Special Presentation: Minnesota Constitutional Amendment on Permanent School Fund
Mr. Redman, the Shakopee School District Director, explained a proposed state constitutional amendment. The amendment aims to revise how the $2.3 billion Minnesota Permanent School Fund's annual earnings are distributed to public, charter, and tribal schools. The proposed change would increase the per-student allocation from approximately $68 to $95 annually, utilizing investment returns without touching the fund's principal or increasing taxes. He highlighted the bipartisan support and historical significance of the fund, established in 1858. Councilors sought clarification on its impact on capital vs. operational funds and the fund's permanence.
Public Comments: Regulation of Large Side-by-Side Vehicles
Resident Cory Meyer requested the Council consider amending a city ordinance to allow properly equipped large side-by-side vehicles on city streets. He referenced existing regulations for golf carts as a precedent. Staff acknowledged similar regulations for golf carts but expressed concerns about public safety when non-automobiles use roads designed for cars, citing potential for accidents. They stated a willingness to study the matter if the Council wished to pursue it.
Public Comments: Noise Pollution from Mystic Lake Amphitheater
Two residents, Matt Frost and another unnamed resident, detailed severe noise disturbances from Mystic Lake Amphitheater concerts. Mr. Frost provided decibel readings showing concert noise exceeding a gas-powered lawnmower's daytime noise, causing windows to vibrate and disrupting sleep. He requested independent sound experts, cooperation with Live Nation for noise reduction, and an earlier 10 PM curfew. The Mayor acknowledged the problem, confirming ongoing work with Live Nation including soundproofing and speaker adjustments, and asked for community patience while solutions are implemented. He also encouraged residents to continue reporting incidents.
Proposed 2027 Property Tax Levy and Abolishment of Debt Service Levy
Moved by Council Member Lara [Timestamp Placeholder] · Seconded by Council Member Delaney [Timestamp Placeholder]
Finance Director Mr. Reinhardt presented the preliminary 2027 tax levy, reducing the proposed increase from 8.65% to 6.85%. Key factors for the reduction included increased arena revenue, higher fiscal disparities distribution, and lower health insurance renewal rates. He also proposed using available fund balance to eliminate the $344,360 debt service levy for the 2022A bonds. Approximately 50% of the overall levy increase was attributed to fully staffing two fire stations, partially funded by a SAFER grant. Council members debated the impacts of Minnesota's fiscal disparities program, with some criticizing its structure for penalizing growing cities like Shakopee. Ultimately, three separate resolutions were approved.
Abolishment of Debt Service Levy for 2027 Taxes
Moved by Council Member Whiting [Timestamp Placeholder] · Seconded by Council Member Contreras [Timestamp Placeholder]
This item was part of the overall discussion on the 2027 tax levy. The Finance Director recommended using existing fund balance to cover the debt service payment for the 2022A bonds, thereby eliminating the need to impose a tax levy for this purpose in 2027. This strategy was noted as having been used in previous years to mitigate tax impacts on residents.
Approval of Shakopee EDA Special Benefit Levy for 2027
Dissent: Council Member Whiting expressed a desire to reduce the levy during discussion.
Moved by Council Member Contreras [Timestamp Placeholder] · Seconded by Council Member Delaney [Timestamp Placeholder]
As part of the 2027 tax levy approvals, the Council considered and approved the final tax levy for the Economic Development Authority (EDA). The amount was set at $550,000, consistent with the previous year, with no change. Council Member Whiting expressed a desire to reduce the levy, but no explicit dissent was recorded in the vote.
SouthBridge Crossings East PUD Amendment
Moved by Council Member Lara [Timestamp Placeholder] · Seconded by Council Member Contreras [Timestamp Placeholder]
Development & Planning Director Michael Krosky presented an amendment to Planned Unit Development #16 for a 14.26-acre site. The proposal included a 7,300 sq ft car wash, three 5,000 sq ft commercial buildings (two with drive-thru potential), and a 23,000 sq ft garden center with greenhouses and landscaping yards. The plan involved re-engineering stormwater ponds, with the ponds to be city-owned. Council members inquired about access points and potential future traffic signal needs at nearby intersections. Staff confirmed that a signal was not currently warranted but could be re-evaluated with further development.
Greenview Final Plat
Moved by Council Member Delaney [Timestamp Placeholder] · Seconded by Council Member Whiting [Timestamp Placeholder]
Development & Planning Director Michael Krosky presented the Greenview Final Plat, proposed by US Home LLC (Lennar). This two-phase residential project will create 193 single-family lots with mixed widths (50, 55, and 65 feet). The plan includes over 11 acres of open space, natural resource protection areas, walking paths, and a future tot lot. There was emphasis on preserving a significant area of mature trees and a wetland as part of the project, which required developer cooperation to keep natural. Connections to the existing Jackson Commons park were also noted.
Notable Quotes (14)
this is not raising anyone's taxes in the state of Minnesota. This is money that has been accrued based on a land grant system that was put in place in 1858, and what we're asking is to change the distribution of it while keeping that permanent school fund permanent forever.
the principle of that fund is staying and it's going to be funded for other things. And then the monies that you mentioned, these are going per student and not towards capital projects but towards teaching and salaries and things of that nature.
I'm here to less important than the last speaker. So I'll be brief, but I recently learned that there's a city ordinance restricting the proper licensing of large side-by-sides on city streets. And I'm requesting that you consider amending that ordinance to allow properly equipped side-by-sides on city streets.
from a public safety standpoint, my personal opinion is I would not support it. But if the council wants to look into it, we certainly can do that and move forward. But we're going to put them on trails.
During concerts, decibel level readings are 70 to 73. For comparison, I measured my neighbor's gas powered lawn mower during the day, 68 decibels. So nighttime concert noise levels are exceeding daytime gas powered lawn mower noise.
we are continuing to work on that with Live Nation and they've been very responsive. They have actually installed some soundproofing material in the hall itself. They have also moved speakers and we are now working on the overall volume.
We have lowered that preliminary tax levy request from that work session from 8.65 to 6.85.
Minnesota is the only place in the United States that does this, where they take money from growing areas and give it to other people regardless of need.
And this means taking money that we had left over from the previous year to make this next year's payment ahead of time so we don't have to add it to the levy and raise taxes by that amount. Approximately 300,000.
I was hoping that we would be able to reduce the EDA levy, but that's not the desire of the council.
They are proposing a 7300 square foot car wash, three 5000 square foot commercial buildings, two of which have potential drive-through capabilities, a potential 23,000 square foot retail garden center, in addition to 8000 square feet of greenhouses and 48,000 square feet of landscape yards.
Based on the number of trips that we anticipate with the site, we're not anticipating a signal to be warranted. However, should development continue and these uses begin to change and generate additional trips, we can certainly come back and look at whether or not further traffic control is needed.
The applicant is proposing two phases, the first phase essentially is going to be the eastern area to include a sample of all three proposed products in the project.
There's a significant amount of mature trees in this corner, as well as a wetland area. And they've eliminated all of this here as part of this project. There was originally building pads for homes, which would have removed a lot of those trees. And we've worked with the developer to keep this area completely natural.
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
State-level fund established in 1858, with a proposed constitutional amendment to adjust its distribution model.
Resolution accepting a $10,000 donation from Roar Corporation.
An existing municipal law restricting the licensing of large side-by-side vehicles on city streets, which a resident requested to be amended.
The current comprehensive plan designation for the SouthBridge Crossings East PUD amendment site.
Ordinance approving PUD #16, related to the SouthBridge Crossings East amendment.
Resolution establishing the maximum property tax levy to be collected in 2027.
Resolution abolishing the debt service levy for taxes due in 2027 by utilizing available fund balance.
The specific state statute governing the special benefit levy for the Economic Development Authority (EDA).
Resolution approving the Shakopee Economic Development Authority's special benefit levy for 2027.
Resolution approving the Greenview Final Plat for residential development.
Federal funding ($2.63 million) received to support the hiring of 12 full-time firefighters, amortized over three years.
The foundational document celebrated during Constitution Week (September 17-23).
Minutes from a previous City Council meeting approved as part of the consent agenda.