--- ## author: Sue Barry date: D:20260723134507-05'00' --- 1 ## REGULAR MEETING MINUTES ## OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL July 14, 2026 ## CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Oakdale was held on Ju ly 14, 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 ## Absent: Council Member Katie Wrich ## Staff Present: Kelli Bourgeois, City Administrator ## Sara Ludwig, City Clerk ## Jim Thomson, City Attorney ## Hannah Dunn, Sr. Community Development Specialist ## Jake Foster, Assistant City Administrator ## Andy Gitzlaff, Community Development Director ## Mikaela Huot, Finance Director ## Nick Newton, Police Chief ## Lori Pulkrabek, Communications Manager ## Cory Tietz, Public Works Director ## Kevin Wold, Fire Chief ## PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ## APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO ## APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED FOR THE MEETING OF JULY 14, 2026. ## 4 AYES ## APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Workshop, June 23, 2026 ## Regular Meeting, June 23, 2026 ## Special Workshop, June 25, 2026 ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON ## TO APPROVE THE WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2026. ## 4 AYES 2 ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO ## APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2026. ## 4 AYES ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON TO ## APPROVE THE SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 25, 2026. ## 4 AYES ## PUBLIC HEARINGS None. ## OPEN FORUM Mayor Zabel invited comments from the audience. No comments were heard. ## CONSENSUS MOTIONS a) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2026-41, electing to not waive the statutory tort limits relating to the liability coverage provided by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. b) Request that the City Council approve the noise variance for JW’s Bierstube’s Oktoberfest Tent Party which will be held in the parking lot of Bergen Plaza, 7121 10th Street North, September 11-13, 2026, between the hours of 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, and between the hours of 6:30 PM and 9 PM on Sunday. c) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2026-40, Approving Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Oakdale and the Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Employee’s Union, Local 197 (Patrol Officers), relating to Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP) Participation. d) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2026-39, approving the appointment of election judges for the Primary Election being held August 11, 2026. e) Request that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to execute the Grant Contract Agreement Amendment between the State of Minnesota and the City of Oakdale for bidding services related to the drilling of new wells eleven (11) and twelve (12). f) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2026-42, accepting $480,000 in grant funds from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the City of Oakdale. g) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2026-43, Accepting Grant Funds in the Amount of $1,929,000 from the MPCA and the MN DNR to the City of Oakdale, covering operating and maintenance expenses incurred for the testing and removal of PFAS in City wells five (5), seven (7), and nine (9). ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO ## APPROVE CONSENSUS MOTIONS A-G, AS PRESENTED. 3 ## 4 AYES ## ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ## Environmental Management Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Zabel) ## Planning Commission (met on 7/9/26, Council Liaison Severson) Council Member Severson reported that the Planning Commission held three public hearings – 1) Oakdale Marketplace Planned Unit Development Amendment (a carryover from the June 4, 2026 meeting); 2) Conditional Use Permit for an oversized accessory building at 7582 25 th St N; and 3) Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Preliminary Plat, and Site Plan approvals for Ninety Four Exchange at 7049 4 th St N. The Commission recommended approval of all three public hearing items. ## Parks and Recreation Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Morcomb) ## Tree Board (no meeting, Council Liaison Moore) ## AWARD OF BIDS None. ## STAFF REPORTS ## COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ## a) Oakdale Marketplace Planned Unit Development Amendment Community Development Director Andy Gitzlaff explained that this item is for an amendment to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) Plan following a Court of Appeals decision. The amendment allows any retail use permitted in the B1 Commercial District (formerly C2 Community Commercial District) on the property located at the southeast quadrant of 34 th ## St N and Market Place N. The amendment supersedes Resolution 2024-89, which had required the site to be developed with a restaurant or fast-casual dining use. The Planning Commission held a public hearing at their June 4, 2026 meeting and recommended approval. Staff also recommended approval of the two motions before the Council. ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB ## TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 964, AMENDING THE OAKDALE MARKETPLACE ## PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 937. ## 4 AYES ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB ## TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-37, AMENDING THE 2005 OAKDALE MARKETPLACE ## PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL DESIGN STANDARDS AND TO ## ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL SITE PLAN OPTIONS AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION 2024-89. ## 4 AYES 4 b) Approval of Plans and Specifications for City Projects P2026-02 (Tower Park Playground and ## Improvements) and P2026-05 (Golfview Park Playground and Improvements) Senior Community Development Specialist Hannah Dunn explained that the two projects – Tower Park and Golfview Park Playgrounds and Improvements – identified in the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan, include new playground equipment, accessibility improvements, and upgraded park amenities, such as seating and shade. Funding will come from the Park Capital Fund and Charitable Gambling proceeds. Bids will be advertised beginning on July 15, and opened on August 3, with Council awarding the bid at the August 12, 2026 regular City Council meeting. Construction for both projects is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2026. In response to Council Member Morcomb’s comments about ADA accessibility and access between the two play containers, Ms. Dunn stated that site slopes and ADA requirements prevented a direct connection between the play areas, resulting in the addition of stairs to improve pedestrian access while maintaining an ADA-accessible route to each play structure. Council Member Morcomb expressed appreciation for incorporating public feedback and improving accessibility at the park. ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO ## WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-44, APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR CITY ## PROJECTS P2026-02 (TOWER PARK PLAYGROUND AND IMPROVEMENTS) AND P2026-05 (GOLFVIEW ## PARK PLAYGROUND AND IMPROVEMENTS) AND AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR AND ## COLLECTION OF BIDS. Mayor Zabel thanked members of the community who came out to the public engagement events and provided feedback, and City staff who organized the events. Council Member Morcomb added that the shade component at Golfview Park was an additional amenity because of the public feedback. ## 4 AYES ## PUBLIC WORKS a) Donation to the City – Parks and Recreation, from Lorie and Michael Phillips Public Works Director Cory Tietz explained that Lorie and Michael Phillips offered a donation toward the maintenance of the Oakdale Nature Preserve. ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO ## WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-38, ACCEPTING A DONATION FROM LORIE AND MICHAEL ## PHILLIPS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $200, TO HELP COVER THE EXPENSES INCURRED IN MAINTAINING THE ## OAKDALE NATURE PRESERVE. ## 4 AYES Mayor Zabel thanked the Phillip’s for their donation. ## CITY ATTORNEY No report. 5 ## ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT City Administrator Kelli Bourgeois reminded the public of the Neighborhood Meeting regarding the Police Expansion and City Hall Remodel Project scheduled for Thursday, July 16 th at 6:00 PM at the Walton Park South Picnic Shelter. Additionally, Ms. Bourgeois announced that Hadley Ave N and the Walton Park playground will be temporarily closed in the coming weeks for utility work. Closure dates will be announced in advance to allow residents time to plan accordingly. ## COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS Mayor Zabel made announcements about the following: • The filing period for the Mayor seat and two City Council seats opened today, July 14 th , and runs through Tuesday, July 28 th , at 5 p.m. With major projects underway and important decisions on the horizon, there are plenty of opportunities for those ready to step up and serve the community. Residents can file with the City Clerk at Oakdale Public Works, 3200 Granada Ave N. • Stop by the Oakdale Farmers Market on Wednesdays from 2 PM to 6 PM at the Walton Park West parking lot off 15 th St N for an array of fresh produce, baked and canned goods, flowers, plants, and more from local vendors. • Oakdale’s Summer Concert Series continues tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15 th at 7 PM at the Walton Park Bandshell. Bring your lawn chairs to enjoy polka and dance music from The Squires Band. • Beat the heat with a Pop-Up Splash Pad this Saturday, July 18 th from 1 PM to 2:30 PM at Eastside Park, located at 1744 Helmo Ave N. Run through fire hose spray courtesy of Oakdale Fire, toss water balloons, and play water games. • Night to Unite is just three weeks away on Tuesday, August 4 th ! This is a great opportunity to host a neighborhood gathering with a visit from the Oakdale Police and Fire Departments, or City officials, to support safety and crime prevention. If you plan to host an event, please register on the City website, www.oakdalemn.gov, by Friday, July 24 th . • Save the date for the Community Picnic on Thursday, August 13 th from 11 AM to 1 PM at Fire Station One, located at 5000 Hadley Ave N. Thanks to the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Oakdale Fire, for providing this opportunity for residents to grab a free hot dog meal, mingle with local business leaders, and catch up with neighbors as well as City staff and officials. Council Member Moore thanked the Oakdale Police and Fire Departments for the Ladders and Squads event last week. ## CLAIMS ## A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON ## TO APPROVE CLAIMS FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 24, 2026 TO JULY 14, 2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,009,596.20. ## 4 AYES ## ADJOURNMENT ## THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 14, 2026 WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:19 PM. 6 Respectfully submitted, ## Sara Ludwig, City Clerk