--- ## author: Sue Barry date: D:20260710081223-05'00' --- 1 ## REGULAR MEETING MINUTES ## OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL June 23, 2026 ## CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Oakdale was held on June 23, 2026 at Oakdale Discovery Center, 4444 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Zabel at 7:00 PM. ## ROLL CALL On a call of roll, the following were present: ## Mayor Kevin Zabel ## Council Members: Kari Moore ## Andy Morcomb ## Gary Severson ## Katie Wrich ## Staff Present: Kelli Bourgeois, City Administrator ## Chris Volkers, Outgoing City Administrator ## Sara Ludwig, City Clerk ## Rachel Tierney, Assistant City Attorney ## Andy Gitzlaff, Community Development Director ## Mikaela Huot, Finance Director ## Melanie Lee, Human Resources Director ## Nick Newton, Police Chief ## Lori Pulkrabek, Communications Manager ## Cory Tietz, Public Works Director ## Kevin Wold, Fire Chief ## Others Present: Susan Willenbring, Former Council Member ## PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ## APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO ## APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED FOR THE MEETING OF JUNE 23, 2026. ## 5 AYES ## APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Workshop, June 9, 2026 ## Regular Meeting, June 9, 2026 ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON ## TO APPROVE THE WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 9, 2026. ## 5 AYES 2 ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WRICH TO ## APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 9, 2026. ## 5 AYES ## PUBLIC HEARINGS None. ## OPEN FORUM a) Proclamation: Park and Recreation Month and Park and Recreation Professionals Day Mayor Zabel proclaimed the month of July as “Park and Recreation Month”, and July 17 th as “Park and Recreation Professionals Day”. Mayor Zabel thanked the Parks and Recreational staff for the incredible work they do. Mayor Zabel invited comments from the audience. Susan Willenbring, 2183 Holly Ave N, requested that the City Council review the City’s sign ordinance to allow flexibility for missing pet signs. She also offered a farewell to Outgoing City Administrator Chris Volkers as she retires on June 30, 2026. ## CONSENSUS MOTIONS a) Request per City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 4, Sec.2-36 (c) that the City Council appoint Leif Gustafson as a full-time probationary Street Maintenance Worker, effective on or after June 24, 2026, at a rate of pay consistent with the City base pay schedule, conditioned on passing all background requirements. b) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2026-36, Approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Oakdale and the Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Employee’s Union, Local 197 (Patrol Officers), relating to Behavioral Health Unit Office Assignment Premium Pay. c) Request that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to sign the quote from Ferguson Waterworks for the procurement of new water meters and transmitters in the amount of $49,248. d) Request that the City Council approve the reappointment of the below noted individuals to their respective advisory body commission, with the term to expire June 30, 2029. ## Environmental Management Commission Term to Expire ## Noah Gerding June 30, 2029 ## Chang Yang June 30, 2029 ## Laura Fenstermaker June 30, 2029 ## Planning Commission Term to Expire ## Beau Wilson June 30, 2029 ## Parks and Recreation Commission Term to Expire ## Jen Schorr June 30, 2029 3 ## Mike Prosser June 30, 2029 ## Tree Board Term to Expire ## Laura Kittel June 30, 2029 e) Request per City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article IV, Sec.2-36 (c) and per City Personnel Policy PE-031, Section 5.0, that the City Council appoint Kristina Handt as Temporary Budget Lead, effective June 24, 2026. ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WRICH TO ## APPROVE CONSENSUS MOTIONS A-E, AS PRESENTED. ## 5 AYES ## ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ## Environmental Management Commission (met on 6/15/26, Council Liaison Zabel) Mayor Zabel reported that the Environmental Management Commission discussed wetland management and protection. The Commissioners agreed to collect common resident questions to bring back to City staff for the creation of a frequently asked question (FAQ) resource. ## Planning Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Severson) ## Parks and Recreation Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Morcomb) ## Tree Board (met on 6/16/26, Council Liaison Moore) Council Member Moore reported that the Tree Board focused on planning its upcoming Tree Trek event which will be held on October 10 th at the Oakdale Nature Preserve. ## AWARD OF BIDS None. ## STAFF REPORTS ## COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT a) Cronk Conditional Use Permit – Oversized Accessory Building (Shed) at 6966 40 th ## Street N Community Development Director Andy Gitzlaff explained that a conditional use permit was requested for a 920 square foot shed at 6966 40 th ## St N. The Planning Commission held a public hearing at their June 4, 2026 meeting and recommended approval. Staff also recommended approval with required conditions in the attached resolution. ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO ## WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-33, APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR AN ## OVERSIZED ACCESSORY BUILDING (SHED) AT 6966 40 ## TH ## STREET NORTH, WITH CONDITIONS INCLUDED ## IN THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION. ## 5 AYES 4 ## b) The Energy Conservatory – Site Plan Amendment Mr. Gitzlaff explained that The Energy Conservatory is proposing a new 1,140 square foot detached building southeast of the existing facility. Of note, the applicant had previously received approval at the September 23, 2025 regular City Council meeting for a site plan amendment that placed the training center addition within the existing building. The revised proposal moves the training center to a separate structure to create a more realistic training and testing environment. Mr. Gitzlaff concluded that the Planning Commission held a public hearing at their June 4, 2026 meeting and recommended approval. Similarly, staff recommended approval with required conditions in the attached resolution. ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WRICH TO ## WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-34, APPROVING A SITE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR 403 ## HAYWARD AVENUE NORTH, WITH CONDITIONS INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION. ## 5 AYES ## FINANCE a) Adoption of a Parameters Resolution regarding the Issuance of the G.O. Bond Series 2026A and ## Establishing a Pricing Committee Finance Director Mikaela Huot explained that the Series 2026A bonds will be used to fund the following projects: the 2026 Street Reconstruction and the Police Department Expansion and City Hall Remodel. The parameters resolution establishes the conditions under which the bonds may be sold and authorizes a pricing committee consisting of the City Administrator and Finance Director to approve the bond sale, provided the established financial parameters are met. Ms. Huot stated that the City anticipates conducting the bond sale on August 13, 2026, with the results being presented to the City Council at a future regular meeting. ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO ## WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-35, AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION ## IMPROVEMENT, SALES TAX, AND CIP BONDS, SERIES 2026A, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN PARAMETERS; FIXING ## THEIR FORM AND SPECIFICATIONS; DIRECTING THEIR EXECUTION AND DELIVERY; AND PROVIDING FOR ## THEIR PAYMENT; AND ESTABLISH A PRICING COMMITTEE. ## 5 AYES ## RECREATION a) Donation to the City – Recreation Division, from Larry and Vickey Eberhard of the Eberhard Group with ## Keller Williams City Administrator Kelli Bourgeois explained that Larry and Vickey Eberhard of the Eberhard Group with Keller Williams offered a donation to sponsor the Oakdale Nature Preserve 5K at Summerfest. Mayor Zabel thanked the Eberhard’s for their donation. ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON ## TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-32, ACCEPTING A DONATION FROM LARRY AND ## VICKEY EBERHARD OF THE EBERHARD GROUP WITH KELLER WILLIAMS, IN A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,500 ## FOR SPONSORSHIP OF THE OAKDALE NATURE PRESERVE 5K. 5 ## 5 AYES ## CITY ATTORNEY Assistant City Attorney Rachel Tierney expressed appreciation for Ms. Volkers’ knowledge, professionalism, and work ethic, and wished her well in her retirement. ## ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT Mayor Zabel introduced and welcomed City Administrator Kelli Bourgeois and encouraged residents to do the same. Ms. Bourgeois expressed gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to serve Oakdale. She thanked Ms. Volkers for her contributions and high standard of service to the City, and wished her well in her retirement. ## COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS Mayor Zabel made announcements about the following: • It's Summerfest Week! The Medallion Hunt kicked off Summerfest on Monday morning with the reveal of the first clue. New clues drop at 8 AM daily until the prize is found. To get in on the hunt and have a chance at the $500 prize, visit www.oakdalesummerfest.com. o Starting at 3 PM on Friday, bring the whole family to Walton Park for lots of fun, including inflatable bouncing for the kids, bingo, the annual skateboard contest, shopping in the kids’ marketplace, and more. As the evening goes on, grab a beverage from the beer pavilion, something to eat from the food trucks, and stake out your favorite spot before Free and Easy take the bandshell stage at 6:30 PM. o Saturday is jam packed from dawn to dark. The Summerfest 5K race starts at 8 AM at the Discovery Center. On-site registration is available. At Walton Park, do some shopping at the maker’s market beginning at 10 AM and kids’ marketplace starting at 11 AM. New this year, the Ted Bearth Grande Parade will start at 12 PM on Saturday. The parade will follow its traditional route down 15 th Street N. o The family fun continues all Saturday afternoon at Walton Park with a traveling zoo, music from the Teddy Bear Band, inflatables, a pop-up splash pad hosted by the Fire Department, bingo, hot air balloon rides, and more. Finally, Coyote Wild will perform in the bandshell starting at 6:30 PM until the Fireworks light up the sky at 10 PM. o Please note, with the construction project happening at City Hall, on-site parking will be limited. Visit www.oakdalesummerfest.com for parking information along with the full schedule of events. • Every summer, the City recognizes eye-catching landscaped properties with the Oakdale Acorn Award. Nominate as many properties as you would like by June 30 th . Nominations can be made on the City website, www.oakdalemn.gov, in three categories: business/commercial, public, and residential. • City offices will be closed on Friday, July 3 rd , in observance of Independence Day. City offices will reopen on Monday, July 6 th . We hope everyone has a safe, joyous holiday as we celebrate America's historic 250 th birthday! • Join the Oakdale Police and Fire Departments for the annual Ladders and Squads event on ## Thursday, July 9 th from 5 to 7 PM at Fire Station One, located at 5000 Hadley Avenue. This free event is an opportunity for young children and families to get up close and personal with public safety vehicles like fire trucks, ambulances, squad cars, and more! 6 On behalf of the City Council, City staff, and the residents of Oakdale, Mayor Zabel thanked Ms. Volkers for her outstanding service over the past six years and her lasting impact on the City of Oakdale. Ms. Volkers thanked City staff, City Council, her family, and the community for the support and opportunity to serve over the past six years. ## CLAIMS ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WRICH TO ## APPROVE CLAIMS FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 10, 2026 TO JUNE 23, 2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,071,371.01. ## 5 AYES ## ADJOURNMENT ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON TO ## ADJOURN THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 23, 2026, AT 7:35 PM. Respectfully submitted, ## Sara Ludwig, City Clerk