--- ## author: Sara Ludwig date: D:20260522100956-05'00' --- ## WORKSHOP MINUTES ## OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL ## MAY 12, 2026 The City Council held a Workshop on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at Oakdale Discovery Center, 4444 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting began at 5:30 PM. ## Present: Mayor Kevin Zabel ## Council Members: Kari Moore ## Andy Morcomb ## Gary Severson ## Katie Wrich ## City Staff Members: Chris Volkers, City Administrator ## Sara Ludwig, City Clerk ## Brian Bachmeier, Consulting City Engineer ## Andy Gitzlaff, Community Development Director ## Mikaela Huot, Finance Director ## Melanie Lee, Human Resources Director ## Nick Newton, Police Chief ## Lori Pulkrabek, Communications Manager ## Mark Statz, City Engineer ## Cory Tietz, Public Works Director ## Others Present: Stan Karwoski, Washington County Commissioner ## HELMO STATION PARK NAMING Communications Manager Lori Pulkrabek explained that the Parks and Recreation Commission discussed potential park names at their April 21, 2026 regular meeting and came up with three finalists for Council consideration – Helmo Station Park, The Yard at Helmo Station, and Helmo Crossing. The Council discussed potential names and ultimately decided upon Helmo Station Park. It was requested, to be consistent when referring to this area, to utilize Helmo Station instead of specific development names for future park name suggestions. ## AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE STORAGE Community Development Director Andy Gitzlaff explained that this is a follow up from the January 27, 2026 Workshop in which Council expressed interest in removing existing seasonal parking requirements, increasing the allowed number of Recreational Vehicles on residential lots from one to four, and allowing parking on permeable surfaces in the side and rear yard. Due to an outstanding question at the April 28, 2026 City Council regular meeting, the proposed ordinance was tabled and City staff was asked to explore recreational vehicle ## WORKSHOP MINUTES ## MAY 12, 2026 ## PAGE TWO storage registration requirements. Mr. Gitzlaff shared staff’s findings and noted that the City Attorney was comfortable requiring some form of occupant registration requirement. The Council revisited the maximum number of recreational vehicles allowed to be parked or stored on a single lot, citing examples of the many combinations of recreational vehicle types that one occupant could have parked or stored on their property. In response to Mayor Zabel’s question about whether a snowmobile on a snowmobile trailer is considered one or two recreational vehicles, Mr. Gitzlaff stated it would be considered one. Mayor Zabel brought up a potential maximum height requirement much like maximum building height for each residential district in the City’s Zoning Code. After reviewing the definition of ‘recreational vehicle’ and determining the maximum building height of each residential district, the Council agreed on the following: • The restriction on the number of recreational vehicles allowed should be raised to a maximum of three all year long. • The height of any recreational vehicle should not exceed twenty feet. • The recreational vehicle being parked or stored must be owned by an occupant of the residence on which the recreational vehicle is parked or stored. Additionally, the owner of the recreational vehicle must present proof of ownership upon request. • If a recreational vehicle(s) is stored on a trailer that counts as one recreational vehicle. Because this item was tabled to a date certain – May 26, 2026 – City staff will incorporate Council’s direction and bring forth the ordinance for formal approval at the next City Council regular meeting. ## FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION ON PARKING RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF OAKDALE Brian Bachmeier, Engineering Consultant with Bolton-Menk, explained the proposed changes related to “Parking Restriction Districts” within the new proposed City Policy as noted in the Council Memorandum. In response to Council Member Severson’s question about the definition of ‘MSA’, Mr. ## Bachmeier stated ‘Municipal State Aid.’ The Council was comfortable with the new proposed language in subsection 3.6 as presented in the packet materials. As part of the April 14, 2026 Workshop discussion, Council identified a need to periodically review the City’s parking restrictions to determine if they are still applicable. Mr. Bachmeier referred to the proposed language in subsection 6.3, which identifies a review during the annual street reconstruction project. An additional suggestion was based on the sign’s reflective sheet warranty, which expires after about 15 years. The Council agreed that City ## WORKSHOP MINUTES ## MAY 12, 2026 ## PAGE THREE staff should review applicable street signage during the annual street reconstruction project. City Engineer Mark Statz added that an engineer’s opinion should be documented prior to street signage installation or removal. Mayor Zabel suggested using the Minnesota Manual of Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) as a guide when reviewing the current street signage within the City, especially those signs that were installed via Council action that may not meet federal regulations. If it is determined that a street sign does not qualify, then depending on the impact to public safety – stop sign versus no parking sign – the notification to the public and ultimate removal will look different. The parking restriction audit list was reviewed, and the Council agreed on the following changes to City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, Article 3, Section 12-19: • “48 th Street from T.H. 120 to Gershwin Gentry Avenue, north and south sides”. • “Grenadier Way 24 th St N from Grenadier Avenue to the east, south side”. • “Gresham Avenue from Gresham Court to 40 th Street, east side”. • “Grospoint Avenue between 15 th Street and Greystone Avenue, east side”. • “Upper 33 rd St, east of Hadley Avenue, both sides”. It was reaffirmed that the current parking restriction street signage on 40 th Street, 450 feet east of TH 120 to 630 feet east of TH 120 and from 860 feet east of TH 120 to 1,040 feet east of TH 120, north side, will remain due to the Fire Department’s access to the buildings. In reference to using a signal turn lane as justification for parking restrictions, it was suggested to add subsection 3.7 to identify signal turn lanes adjacent to State Aid highways. Regarding the Council-requested parking restrictions audit, especially those not found in the current City Code, City staff was asked to do additional research and a physical field inventory of parking restriction signs in the City to determine if these restrictions are still in place. If a street sign is in existence and is not currently in City Code then it will be added via a Council- approved ordinance. Whether or not the street sign is justified will be determined during the annual street reconstruction project review process. Next steps include the approval of the new proposed City Policy, a field inventory of all street signage, and an update to the City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, Article 3, Section 12-19 once the audit is completed. ## ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE Ms. Volkers brought up the current entrant count for the Summerfest Parade. The Council was comfortable moving forward knowing that additional units will apply in the coming days. Staff was asked to secure five musical acts and strategically order the units for placement in the parade. ## WORKSHOP MINUTES ## MAY 12, 2026 ## PAGE FOUR Council Member Morcomb offered to reach out to Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue about joining the parade. Ms. Volkers will let Oakdale Summerfest Community Organization (OSCO) know that the parade has been confirmed. ## Regarding possible Regional Solicitation and Active Transportation Solicitation opportunities, Ms. Volkers shared several application categories including the minimum and maximum funding awards for each and any local match requirements. ## Washington County Commissioner Stan Karwoski reported that Regional Solicitation funding will likely be awarded for State Highway 36 and Highway 120 (Geneva/Century Avenue) Interchange improvements. Mr. Gitzlaff stated that the 40 th ## St N Pedestrian Bridge would qualify for Active Transportation funding. The Council was supportive of this application. For the 50 th St N Trail connection, the Council was supportive of City staff preparing the Active Transportation funding application and Washington County submitting it. Ms. Volkers inquired about the 10 th St N/Washington County Highway 10 improvements. Mr. Gitzlaff said the stretch from Century Avenue to Hadley Avenue was identified in the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan for improvements. This shared use path has also been identified in Washington County’s Capital Improvement Plan beginning next year. The Council was supportive of the City requesting that Washington County submit the Active Transportation Planning funding application. Mayor Zabel asked about the trail connection around Tanners Lake on the south side, from the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) trail north until it reaches City property, which could support BRT usage. City staff will look into this Active Transportation Planning application. ## COUNCIL TOPICS Council Member Severson brought up the donation of old playground equipment to Kids Around the World, an organization that upcycles playgrounds worldwide. The Council was supportive of City staff exploring this initiative. Regarding electric powered bike and scooter usage in the City, it was noted that the Communications Division is sharing relevant information and the Police Department is enforcing applicable laws. In response to Council Member Moore’s question about the Tanners Lake redevelopment project, Ms. Volkers indicated that staff is working with the City Attorney’s Office to establish ownership given the agreement is currently in default with the developer. ## WORKSHOP MINUTES ## MAY 12, 2026 ## PAGE FIVE Council Member Wrich shared that she is excited for the Summerfest Parade. Council Member Morcomb inquired about the status of Prairie Trails Park and Willowbrooke Fields. Public Works Director Cory Tietz stated that Prairie Trails Park is near completion. A few amenities at Willowbrooke Fields will be available once the grass is fully established, but the entire park will be fully open to the public in 2027. Council Member Morcomb requested that he and Council Member Wrich be seated in the direction of City staff for a more cohesive dialogue during Workshop meetings. ## WORKSHOP RECESSED FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:59 PM ## WORKSHOP RECONVENED IN THE DISCOVERY CENTER DISPLAY ROOM AT 8:13 PM AFTER ## THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ## COUNCIL TOPICS, CONTINUED Mayor Zabel brought up the status of the Oakdale Athletic Association contract. It was agreed that City Administrator Volkers will attempt to bring this effort to a conclusion with the support of our legal counsel. Mayor Zabel shared his experience with hosting the Tanners Lake Neighborhood Meeting on May 7, 2026. ## ADJOURNMENT The Workshop was adjourned at 8:37 PM. Respectfully submitted, ## Sara Ludwig, City Clerk