Oakdale City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Conduit Debt Financing for Affordable Housing
Recognition of Outgoing Parks and Recreation Commissioner Glenn Berth
Proclamation of Maplewood Oakdale Lions Community Strides Day
Deer Population Concerns
Coordinated Mental Health Response Program Implementation
City Events and Program Updates
Planning Commission Activities
Votes (3)
Approval of Conduit Debt Financing for Washington 3 Portfolio Housing Project
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Council Member [00:10:49] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [00:11:00]
Finance Director Michaela Hwitt presented the request for the city to act as a conduit revenue bond issuer for the Washington 3 portfolio, an affordable housing project involving the purchase and rehabilitation of properties in Oakdale, Forest Lake, and Stillwater. The proposed $17 million in bonds will provide improvements to the Gentry Town Home project in Oakdale and extend affordability contracts for 15 years. The city will receive a 1% issuance fee and is not financially liable. Council discussion clarified that this mechanism benefits the city by generating revenue without impacting its credit rating.
Authorization for Mayor and City Administrator to Sign Conduit Debt Related Documents
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Council Member [00:12:44] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [00:13:00]
Following the approval of Resolution 2026-31 for conduit debt financing, the council moved to authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to execute all necessary project-related documents, including various loan, funding, regulatory, and joint powers agreements for the Oakdale, Stillwater, and Forest Lake properties, at a later date closer to the project's closing.
Approval of Coordinated Mental Health Response Program
Dissent: None
Moved by Councilwoman Mor [00:25:29] · Seconded by Unknown Council Member [00:25:34]
Councilwoman Mor championed the approval of the coordinated mental health response program, highlighting it as a tangible outcome of three years of collaborative work involving the city council, police department, and county. She stressed its importance as a new resource for residents with mental health issues, referencing its proven success in neighboring communities, and confirmed its launch on July 1st.
Notable Quotes (3)
The aggregate principal amount of the bonds proposed to be issued is estimated not to exceed 17 million... The city's conduit debt policy FR023 allows for tax exempt financing to be used for projects that provide a benefit to the city including housing opportunities and there are no requirements in the policy that the projects reside in the city. The project is expected to create a net positive benefit to the city in that it would include improvements and repairs to the existing Gentry Town Home project in addition to extending the affordability contract uh for an additional 15 years.
It's not the city taking out debt. We're not financially liable in the event of default. there's no net impact on the city other than we actually get revenue um from this debt issuance on behalf of a private party. ... In fact it helps with our our um finances in the city because we get a 1% fee on bonds issued under this model that the state governs.
The coordinated mental health response has been an over three-year endeavor. The city council has been working with the city, the police department, and I've sat here on the council for now going on almost four years where we've had mental health awareness, behavioral health awareness month, and I can think of the proclamations, right? Whereas we know that this is a prevalent issue, whereas we want to do something about it. Tonight, we get to do something very concrete in the same way that this has been successful for Woodbury and Forest Lake and Still Water and Cottage Grove. Uh we'll be starting this program July 1st.
Ordinances & Resolutions (16)
State statute authorizing cities to serve as conduit revenue bond issuers.
City policy allowing tax-exempt financing for projects that benefit the city, including housing.
Authorizing the issuance, sale, and delivery of its conduit multi-family housing revenue note for the Washington 3 portfolio project.
A program to be adopted in conjunction with the conduit debt financing.
Document to be signed for the conduit debt financing project.
Document to be signed for the conduit debt financing project.
Document to be signed for the conduit debt financing project, specific to the Stillwater property.
Document to be signed for the conduit debt financing project, specific to the Oakdale property.
Document to be signed for the conduit debt financing project, specific to the Forest Lake property.
Document to be signed for inter-city cooperation on the conduit debt financing project.
Document to be signed for inter-city cooperation on the conduit debt financing project.
City plan helped shaped by former Parks and Recreation Commissioner Glenn Berth.
City plan helped shaped by former Parks and Recreation Commissioner Glenn Berth.
A Planned Unit Development amendment that had a public hearing before the Planning Commission and was tabled.
A site plan amendment that had a public hearing before the Planning Commission.
Official declaration recognizing a day for diabetes awareness in the city.