Oakdale City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Public Safety and Ordinance Enforcement Concerns
Residential Property Management and Safety Issues
Tanner Lake Development and Recreational Infrastructure
Willowbrook Fields Park Project Phases and Enhancements
Conditional Use Permit for Second Residential Garage
94 Exchange Industrial Development Approvals
Police Department's New Social Worker Program
Upcoming Community Events and City Initiatives
Closed Executive Session for Legal Discussion
Votes (9)
Open Forum
Three residents addressed the council with various concerns. Troy detailed public safety issues and ordinance enforcement failures regarding a neighbor's property, including variance non-compliance, illegal fireworks, and unaddressed commercial trailer parking. Rachel highlighted a severe public safety crisis at an RPM Living property, reporting increased police calls, management's inaction on security, and requesting a review of their conditional use permits. John Parnell presented a conceptual plan for the Tanner Lake project, proposing to relocate the motorized boat launch, convert the old one to non-motorized use, and develop a bike trail network to leverage state funding.
Award of Bids: City Project 2025-02 Willowbrook Fields Park (Restroom and Shelter)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [00:18:30] · Seconded by Unknown [00:18:50]
Public Works Director Corey Tits presented the bid award for the final phase of the Willowbrook Fields project, specifically for the construction of an open air shelter and restroom structure. Nine bids were received, with KA Wit Construction from New Prague, Minnesota, submitting the most favorable bid at $384,498.40 (including contingency), which was approximately $15,500 under the engineer's estimate. Staff recommended awarding the bid to KA Wit Construction.
Conditional Use Permit for Second Garage at 7582 25th Street North
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [00:22:00] · Seconded by Unknown [00:22:30]
City Planning Manager Luke Mlanahan presented a request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow a second garage at 7582 25th Street North, a property zoned R2. The request met all general and specific criteria, and the Planning Commission had previously recommended approval. Staff also recommended approval, subject to seven conditions. These conditions included adherence to setback requirements, a maximum size of 400 square feet and 25 feet in height, prohibition of its use as a dwelling unit or for commercial activities, and the requirement to obtain a building permit.
Comprehensive Plan Amendment for 94 Exchange
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [00:33:30] · Seconded by Unknown [00:33:50]
City Planning Manager Luke Mlanahan presented a request from Capital Partners for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the 94 Exchange site (36 acres at I-94/I-694). The request was to re-guide a portion of the site from 'office and limited business' to 'industrial office' because the B2 zoning now permits manufacturing, but the existing comp plan guidance did not. Staff recommended approval, noting review comments from watershed district and Metro Transit were received, with Mindot and DNR comments pending. The Planning Commission also recommended approval.
Preliminary Plat for 94 Exchange
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [00:34:30] · Seconded by Unknown [00:34:40]
Following the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Luke Mlanahan presented the Preliminary Plat for 94 Exchange. The plan involves replatting four existing parcels into new lots, including a 13-acre lot for the two industrial buildings. The developer must include specific easement requirements and satisfy park dedication. Mindot review comments for the plat were still pending, but the Planning Commission recommended approval. Staff concurred, subject to 12 conditions of approval, which were summarized.
Site Plan for 94 Exchange
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [00:35:10] · Seconded by Unknown [00:35:40]
Luke Mlanahan presented the Site Plan for the 94 Exchange project, detailing two proposed accesses (Hadley Avenue and 4th Street at Hail Avenue), 192 parking spaces (meeting code), stormwater provisions including a basin and underground system, and wetland impact mitigation. The plan also addressed utility connections, tree preservation with a replacement fee, and landscaping requirements. The proposed industrial buildings adhere to enhanced exterior design standards, meeting the 70% Class One materials requirement. The Planning Commission and staff recommended approval, subject to conditions that included submission of a photometric plan and details on screening mechanical equipment.
Willowbrook Fields Park Shade Umbrella Alternates
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [00:41:20] · Seconded by Unknown [00:41:40]
Corey Tits presented options for shade umbrellas at Willowbrook Fields, which were previously deferred. Based on community feedback prioritizing shade features and project balance, staff recommended approving 'alternate one' for shade features at the pickleball court, and 'add alternate B' for the installation of two additional 10x20 ft shade umbrellas at the soccer park and increasing the size of the volleyball court umbrella from 10x10 to 10x20. The total additional cost for these options is $99,000, which keeps the overall project within its $2.066 million budget.
Council Presentations and City Updates
Council Member Moore thanked residents for participation in the Acorn Award (landscaping) and celebrated the first day of the new embedded social worker with the police department. Council Member Morham echoed enthusiasm for the social worker and acknowledged candidates who filed for city office. Mayor Zabel provided extensive updates on upcoming community events: the Farmers Market, Night to Unite, a Pop-up Splash Pad (Fire Dept.), Community Picnic (Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce), and the annual Touch a Truck event, which is coordinated with Washington County's Back to School event, highlighting city-county partnership.
Motion to Close Meeting for Executive Session
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:52:40] · Seconded by Unknown [00:52:40]
The Mayor stated the city council would enter a closed executive session to discuss matters protected by attorney-client privilege, specifically relating to a pending lawsuit between the City of Oakdale and Oakdale Marketplace. The legal basis cited for closing the meeting was Minnesota statute 13D.05, 05 subdivision 3B. The City Attorney confirmed the necessity of the private discussion.
Notable Quotes (21)
I contacted the city police. City police came. City police said that's a county issue. I asked for a county sheriff to come. Then they refused to contact county sheriff. I also then stated to the city police, are you guys okay if someone gets in an accident again dies or get severely injured? They go, if that happens, then we'll interject. So, they want to be reactive, not proactive.
Since RPM Living took over in Midmay, police calls have spiked dramatically. This past July alone shattered records with 12 police calls.
If you make Tanner's Lake a trail head for a bike path that connects all of the other 39 other other part excuse me other parks in the area that will open the door for Minnesota DOT funding and grants which will save the taxpayer money as well as beautify the area.
The bid came back at $349,544 plus a 10% contingency for an overall of $384,498.40. So approximately $15,500 under the estimate engineers estimated um budget.
Staff recommends uh from is seeking recommendation um to the council uh for to award the bids to KA wit um construction for the general contractor and construction services of the Willowbrook Fields restroom and open air shelter.
The request for a second garage is allowed through the conditional use permit process. Uh when staff reviewed the request, it meets the general and specific criteria for the conditional use permit.
The structure cannot exceed 400 square f feet in size, 25 ft in height. Uh the structure cannot be used for a dwelling unit.
Although the B2 district allows manufacturing use, the comp plan guidance does not. So as such, the request is to reguide a portion of the site that is outlined in pink there on the screen from office limited business to industrial office.
This request requires additional review by other government agencies. Uh we did hear from the watershed district and Metro Transit. They did not have any comments on the the comp plan amendments. Review comments remain pending from Minnesota DOT and the DNR.
The property consists of four existing parcels that will be replatted. So, you can see proposed lot one there again in the northwest corner. That's approximately 13 acres and it will contain the two industrial buildings.
Number seven, the developer will be responsible for covering the cost of traffic signal improvements and pedestrian improvements at the fourth uh fourth street north and hail avenue intersection.
Industrial buildings in the B2 zoning district must adhere to higher exterior building material standards. So updated elevations were provided showing the building consisting of of a variety of materials. So brick veneer, glass, metal accent panels, um pre-cast.
There was an environmental site assessment and environmental review that was completed back in October of 2024. Uh besides verification of wetland boundaries, that site assessment did not recommend further environmental investigation.
Upon deliberation, the council chose to uh accept bid alternates uh for the shade umbrellas and at this point forego the uh field lighting.
Staff city staff is recommending that the council accept add alternate one uh for the shade features at the pickle ball court as well as add alternate B uh at an additional cost of $99,000.
So all athletic spaces would have some form of shade feature in addition to the uh recently approved and soon to be constructed open air shelter at uh at that place.
He shared that the social worker started today with the police department. And I just wanted to celebrate that because um what a huge uh milestone for our city.
Night to Unite is always a great evening for neighborhood gatherings uh with visits from our Oakdale Police and Fire Department... it's a great opportunity for neighborhoods to band together, get to know one another.
A couple years ago, the city and and the county kind of aligned these two great events together. We figured if families are coming for one thing, they might as well come for both things. And it has worked so well.
The city council is going to go into a closed executive session um to discuss matters protected by attorney client privilege pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.05, 05 subdivision 3B relating to a pending lawsuit between the city of Oakdale and Oakdale Marketplace.
Before you vote, just uh as stated in the motion, the purpose of this is to discuss matters protected by the attorney client privilege. I've determined that there's issues I need to talk to with you in private that outweigh the need for the public to attend. So, that's the basis for the motion.
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Approved plans and specifications for City Project 2025-02 Willowbrook Fields on March 11, 2025.
Approved the overall project budget for Willowbrook Fields and trails park project on December 10, 2024.
Awarding the bid for general contractor services for City Project P2025-02 Willowbrook Fields restroom and open air shelter.
Comprehensive park development project, including site work, courts, restroom, shelter, and shade features.
Permit process used to allow a second garage in an R2 zoned district.
Approving a Conditional Use Permit for an oversized accessory building (second private garage) at 7582 25th Street North.
Request to re-guide a portion of the 94 Exchange site from 'office and limited business' to 'industrial office'.
Approval for the replatting of four existing parcels at 94 Exchange into proposed lots for development.
Approval for the development plan of two light industrial buildings at 94 Exchange.
Approved in January, allowing light manufacturing use in the B2 district and adding exterior design standards.
Approving a comprehensive plan amendment for property located within 70494th Street North (94 Exchange) and authorizing submission to Metropolitan Council.
Approving the preliminary plat for 94 Exchange, subject to conditions.
Approving the site plan for 94 Exchange, subject to conditions.
Approved May 2025, awarding the base bid to Sunramm Construction for general contractor work on Willowbrook Fields.
Legal basis for closing the meeting to discuss attorney-client privileged matters related to a pending lawsuit.