Oak Park Heights City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Police Officer Recognition
City Projects and Updates
Audit Report Presentation
Land Use and Development Approvals
City Hall Renovation Project
Staff Retirement Acknowledgment
Votes (7)
Police Award Presentation for Officer Dave Win
Police Chief recognized Officer Dave Win for 14 years of superior service with the Police Star, the department's second-highest award, and a Medal of Accommodation for four years as a School Resource Officer (SRO). His roles included SRO, SWAT team member, Field Training Officer, Use of Force/Fire Instructor, and Peer Support member.
Audit Report Presentation from Red Path & Company
The audit yielded a clean, unmodified opinion on financial statements with one minor audit adjustment finding (common). No Minnesota legal compliance findings. The auditor discussed accounting policy changes (coming 2026), sensitive estimates like land held for resale and net pension liability ($1.5M for 2025), and accounting for the Deep Well #3 project. The General Fund increased by $637k due to strong investment earnings and under-budget expenditures. The importance of maintaining sufficient general fund reserves and infrastructure savings in utility funds was stressed.
Reszoning to R1 Single Family Residential Preliminary and Final Subdivision Plat for 5676 Oak Green Avenue North
Dissent: Council Member Johnson voted 'Reluctantly. Yes.' on the ordinance.
Moved by Council Member Johnson [34:58] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [35:05]
The council approved rezoning the property from Open Space to R1 Single Family Residential and the preliminary/final plat for two new lots. Staff recommended the existing tree ordinance (Chapter 1307) was sufficient, not requiring a special conservation easement. Conditions were added for tree removal/replacement and property owner responsibility for utility lines. Concerns about maintaining the adjacent trail and access to Oak Green Avenue were discussed, with assurances given that new lots would not have direct access and efforts would be made to mitigate trail impact.
Conditional Use Permit for the construction of a new advisory building at 15026 Upper 63rd Street North
Moved by Council Member Johnson [39:46] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [39:47]
The permit allows for a new 28x35 ft (980 sq ft) garage, replacing an existing one, and a new deck within the setback at a corner property. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval, noting the project was consistent with the character of the older neighborhood, which often predates current zoning setbacks.
Architectural Services and Construction Observation for City Hall Projects and Transfer of Norell Funds
Moved by Council Member Johnson [42:37] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [42:40]
The council approved a proposal from Stantech (approximately $88,000) for architectural services, bidding, design, and construction observation for renovations at City Hall and the Police Department. The goal is to enhance front counter security and police back office functionality. Approval was conditioned on review and approval of an acceptable contract by city staff and the city attorney. The transfer of Norell funds was approved to cover subsequent construction costs.
City Cybersecurity Update
City Administrator Reich provided an update regarding recent cyber security issues affecting local utility water systems across the state and nation. He confirmed that Oak Park Heights' systems were secure and had not been impacted, attributing this to the director team's diligent monitoring and protocols. He assured the council that monitoring would continue.
Acknowledgment of Scott Richards' Retirement
Council Member Johnson extended thanks to Scott Richards for his dedicated service to the city, recognizing that this might be his final meeting. Scott expressed his gratitude and privilege for having worked in the community, commending the city staff, planning commission, and city council.
Notable Quotes (18)
Tonight, we recognize one of our officers for outstanding performance and work. Long overdue.
This honor is reserved for officers who demonstrate distinguished level of professionalism, leadership, and profound commitment to the safety and well-being of others.
Your dedication has made a lasting positive effect on lives on the youth and has strengthened the bond between our agency and the community we serve.
The results this year is that we've issued a clean unmodified opinion on the financial statements. It's the highest level of assurance we're able to provide and in summary it's really the result you would want.
For 2025, Oak Park Heights share of that liability is just under $1.5 million. um it's an estimate because it's an actuarily determined number and you don't have to pay on this but for your regular payroll contributions but I can showed a history here because you can see over the years how significantly this fluctuates it changes bas based on investment market conditions actuarial assumptions and state contributions to the plan.
It's extremely important to have reserves within your general fund to cover cash flow, to cover unexpected emergencies or problems, um to fund acquisitions in other funds.
Infrastructure costs in your utility funds are extremely expensive. Infrastructure does not get less expensive over time. Uh and it's really important that you maintain a gap between your revenues and expenses here so you can save for either debt service if you end up taking out debt or to pay cash for these infrastructure improvements.
Staff at this point recommends that uh uh the current tree ordinance is appropriate uh is sufficient uh for uh uh regulating the the trees the removal of trees...
The utilities are planned to be run along the front of the lots along 58th Street. So, they would be within the the lot properties with an easement to the city.
I'm disappointed that it's what we're going to lose that and the trail will change for a bit, but I think with our efforts from the city side, we might be able to reconstruct it a little bit and hopefully for the better.
What they are asking is really not out of character uh for what you see up and down the street on either side.
This is to not only include or improve the security at the front counters, uh but also the functionality of the uh back office police area.
I might recommend that approval of that work and those services would be subject to uh review and approval of an acceptable contract by your city staff and your city attorney.
And then also the transfer of the Nurell funds here to help pay for the uh subsequent uh construction work and so appreciate your support of that.
There were several articles um related to cyber security issues that uh local area utilities were having with their water systems. Uh this was happening across this the state.
There's no issue. I just want to uh confirm there's no issue here. Um we are secure. Um we're very fortunate with that.
And then I just wanted to thank Scott Richards for his service to our city um this might be his last meeting unless something comes up in August, but um appreciate everything you did and wish you good luck in your retirement.
It's been a privilege to work in this community for all these years. Uh it's always been a great group, planning commission, city council, staff, always topn.
Ordinances & Resolutions (19)
Opening ceremony of the meeting
City Council member's review responsibility as part of Bowser duties
Funding source for the Well Three project
Financial audit findings presented by Red Path & Company
Highest level of assurance provided on city's financial statements
Audit report detailing the city's internal financial processes
Minor finding related to material changes identified during the audit
Audit report checking adherence to state auditor requirements
Letter from auditors summarizing significant items specific to the city
Documents subject to the annual audit
Actuarially determined financial estimate related to employee pensions
Major city infrastructure project requiring specific accounting discussions
Change in zoning designation for 5676 Oak Green Avenue North
Proposed division of land into new lots at 5676 Oak Green Avenue North
City code governing tree removal, replacement, and landscaping
Guiding document referenced for allowed housing density
Permit for construction of a new advisory building at 15026 Upper 63rd Street North
Funds proposed for transfer to pay for City Hall construction work
Proposal for architectural services for City Hall projects