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2025-04-22 CC Meeting MinutesMOUND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 22, 2025 The City Council of the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, met in regular session on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Centennial Building. Members present: Mayor Jason Holt, Council Members Sherrie Pugh, Kevin Castellano, Kathy McEnaney, and Michelle Herrick. Members absent: None. Others present: City Manager Jesse Dickson, City Clerk Kevin Kelly, City Attorney Scott Landsman, City Engineer Brian Simmons, Orono Police Officer Ryan Spencer, Ed Rockwell, Colin Charlson, Tim Flodin, Austin Wiberg, Josh Gehlen, Steve Matheson, Pam Janisch, Kathy Jacks, Derrick Passe, Bob and Linda Anderson, Sue Kile, Matt Robinson, Kay Ostman Saxvik, Ben Brandt, and Jim Theisen. Consent agenda: All items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature by the Council. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a Councilmember or citizen so requests, in which event it will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in normal sequence. 1. Open meeting Mayor Holt called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. 2. Pledge of Alleqiance 3. Approve agenda MOTION by Pugh, seconded by McEnaney, to approve the agenda. All voted in favor. Motion carried. 4. Consent agenda MOTION by Pugh, seconded by Herrick, to approve the consent agenda. Upon roll call vote, all voted in favor. Motion carried. A. Approve payment of claims in the amount of $306,762.73. B. Approve minutes: April 8, 2025, Regular City Council C. Pay request No. 5 in the amount of $17,469.50 to Create Construction for the Downtown Paver Sidewalks Replacement Project — Group 2 City Project No. PW-24-08 D. Pay request No. 4 in the amount of $11,835.42 to Widmer Construction for the 2024 Lift Station Improvements Project City Project No. PW-24-03 E. 2025 Aquatic Invasive Species Ambassador Program Waiver of Trespass Agreement 5. Comments and suggestions from citizens present on any item not on the agenda. Ed Rockwell, 4888 Edgewater Drive, said he has lived in Mound on Harrisons Bay for the last 24 years. Rockwell said he is concerned about the Harrisons Bay Association (HBA) which is organizing to create a Lake Improvement District (LID) at Harrisons Bay. Rockwell said he is against the LID for the following reasons: • A LID is a taxing authority • The HBA proposes to ask for an additional tax on Dock Program dock license holders • Believes the City needs to have more input on the LID • The LID has the power to raise taxes with limited notice • Harrisons Bay is a public water owned by the State • The LID would tax shoreline residents though the general public uses Harrison Bay • The HBA prefers the use of herbicides rather than the mechanical removal of weeds • Chemical use will degrade Harrison Bay water quality • Perch and walleye are affected by chemical treatment • The European Union has banned the use of the herbicide used in Harrisons Bay • PFAS chemicals are used which affect native plants as well as Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and is unsafe Rockwell said he has 100 signatures against the formation of the LID. Pamela Janisch,1591 Eagle Lane, said a property at Woodland and Heron is an eye sore. Janisch said she contacted the City and nothing has happened to clean it up. Janisch said there should be a law created to list complaints and asked what will be done to mitigate the issue. Holt explained that abatement is a process in which the courts at times get involved and that it can take some time for a property to get into compliance. Landsman said the first goal is self -compliance. Landsman said the process can take many years for non -compliant properties to clean up their property through a court order. Dickson said most properties that get a letter from the City will take care of the problem. Dickson said another recent issue with a city property got the Hennepin County court system involved. Jim Theisen, 1295 Elwood Ave, Orono, said he is opposed to the creation of LTD's. Orono Police Department (OPD) Sergeant Ryan Spencer said there is not a lot of information to pass along. Spencer said activity picks up with better weather. Spencer said the OPD is meeting with the Spirit of the Lakes committee to plan for the event. Spencer mentioned the following: • Sgt Shultz is leading DARE graduation at Our Lady of the Lake (OLL) this Friday • Speed Trailers are placed throughout the area • OPD training is on -going Holt said he appreciated Spencer's appearance at the Coffee with a Cop Event. 6. Hennepin County Commissioner Heather Edelson Presentation Heather Edelson said she is the Hennepin County (HC) Commissioner for District 6 and represents 16 Hennepin County (HC) cities. Edelson said she wants to be a partner with the City at the County level and has your back. Edelson said if HC Environmental Services is involved with a property and if the City is not getting a response from HC please connect with her. Edelson listed the following information: • There are 1.3Million residents in Hennepin County (HC) • She represents 182K people in HC • Worked on the North Arm public lake access issue • New library for Mound is underway • Working with Kevin Anderson to add another water patrol officer on Lake Minnetonka The 2025 HC Budget is set at $3.1 Billion with the following points mentioned: • The Levy Increased by 5.5% with most Counties setting higher levy increases • Labor Negotiations for wages impacted the budget • HC Medical Center (HCMC) experienced uncompensated care cost pressures • Health and Human services are 42% of the HC budget • Capital Improvement — Library and County Road projects Human Services — biggest issue is proposed cuts from the State which is bad for residents and taxpayers as costs are passed down: • Aging and Disability Services • Mental Health and Substance Use • Vulnerable Adult Reports and Child Abuse • Economic Supports — Cash supports Public Safety Mental Health needs are growing Probation Services • County Liaisons — embedded social worker's working with law enforcement • 911 Emergency call system • Department of Community Corrections and rehabilitation Drug Task Force which OPD is involved • Truancy intervention • Auto Theft early intervention • Victim Services Housing • Shelter All policy — No Child Sleeps outside • Repair and Grow Program - $20M to fund affordable housing Health • HCMC • Ball Park Sales Tax Extension is supported by Edelson • Medical Examiner's Office in Minnetonka with tours in June • Hennepin Opioid Response • EMS Working Group Education 3 • READ Act - phonetic reading, literacy intervention • School Social Worker services and funding Resident Services • 41 Libraries total with 10 in District 6 • Seven Service Centers in HC - Pugh asked if a Service Center could be added to Mound. Edelson said the HC budget situation is concerning and services will not be expanded • Elections partnering with HC cities • Assessment Services • Translation Services Public Works and Transportation • Multiple projects are ongoing including Westedge Blvd. • HERC - Trash from Mound goes downtown and is burned in the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) which is slated to close Community Grants • Tree Canopy — Grants for tree planting • Business Recycling McEnaney asked about the closing of the HERC site, in which Edelson said it is scheduled to be closed in 2040 and planning for where the trash will go after the closure is not yet known. Edelson said the amount of trash is increasing, of which needs to be responded to. Edelson said the HERC produces pollution by incinerating trash. Pugh asked if HC is looking at the cost of elections and how elections impact City staff. Holt said the Mayors Meeting have discussed Elections and requested more HC funding for elections. Holt said infrastructure work is happening on Shoreline Drive in Mound and after this work is completed HC will finish the project with mill and overlay of the corridor. Herrick asked about HC Waivered Services and whether that area will be cut. Edelson said HC is looking at the budget and is hopeful the legislative session will fund services provided at the County level. 7. Public Hearing — MIDCO Landsman gave the framework on the City Franchise application process which the City received from Midco. Landsman said a franchise agreement is a means to allow city-wide access to the right of way which creates a unified plan for utility infrastructure installation . Landsman said a public hearing is held on the franchise agreement. Landsman added there must be at least seven days wait for the Council to approve the agreement. Landsman said this could happen at the next Council meeting. Elly Burroughs, Government Relations Manager for Midco, Edina corporate office, said Midco is going through an expansion in cities in the Mound area. Burroughs said Midco is a cable broadband provider which installs fiber internet and provides telephone and TV services. Burroughs said the Midco organization started out in Minneapolis in 1931 as a movie theatre company and in 1953 managed its first TV station. Burroughs said Midco became invested in providing more technology which includes its latest investment in fiber technology. Burroughs provided the following information: Customer Support — Midco strives to meet a 15-minute window for support.to customers. Community Involvement — Donations to non -profits and school districts Proposed Service Area • All of Mound — 2196 customers and 133,121 feet of fiber • Estimated completion in 2027 Construction Process • Surveying the area • Putting the Plan in action — present stage of project • Construction Begins — Install fiber lines underground and disturb the area as little as possible • Notification Strategy — aim to start construction with 14 days of site marking • Splicing and Activation • Installing Midco — Equipment setup on customer property Notification — communicate with residents, website and send out local marketing content Jason Sax, Field Manager for Midco, said Midco will install its own infrastructure underground in the City right of way and won't do work on private property unless a customer sign up for the service. Sax said the fiber infrastructure will be in place in right of way across the entire City and will be either an in - ground vault or a above ground mount. Sax said there will be boring underground with the ends of the line excavated. Sax said Midco will be installing fiber only in Mound which has the capacity to provide high speed internet service. Castellano asked Landsman about the Franchise Agreement. Landsman said it is a 20-year agreement which can be extended. Landsman said the rates are set by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and this agreement is similar to other cities agreements and is standardized. Landsman said Midco has a total of 240 days to complete construction with benchmarks Midco must meet during construction. Landsman said Midco is required to provide security funds which are used if Midco violates the agreement or City ordinance. Landsman said Midco must have a trained company representative available to respond to customers 24 hours a day. Mayor Holt opened the Public Hearing at 7:39 p.m. Helen Canning, 5926 Beachwood Road, said she knows that Comcast owns Midco. Canning said the Comcast customer service isn't good. Canning added that her yard was ripped up by another fiber installation. Dickson said the work in Canning's yard may be being performed by telecommunications company Frontier. Mayor Holt closed the Public Hearing at 7:40 p.m Sax said Midco is privately owned and operated separately from Comcast. Sax added that Comcast owns 49% of Midco and is strictly a financial backer of Midco. Landsman read a section of the Franchise Agreement which stated the franchise cannot be sold or transferred without approval by the City. Landsman said the final approval of the Franchise Agreement will happen at a future meeting. 8. Council Introduction: Review/Action with Colin Charlson owner of 5581 Old Shoreline Drive regarding interest in purchasing Outlot B, Mound Harbor Dickson said there has been no technical review of Colin Charlson's proposal. Dickson said the area of Charlson's proposal is Old Shoreline Drive and Commerce Blvd. Colin Charlson, 5749 Sunnybrook Lane, said he owns a State Farm Insurance agency on Three Points Blvd. and Commerce Blvd. and owns the property on Old Shoreline Drive. Charlson said his agency employees eight full-time employees and has been in business for 15 years. Charlson said he purchased the property on Shoreline Drive in 2023 and tore down the building which existed on the property. Charlson said he wanted to preserve the building, but discovered it had lead, asbestos and mercury issues which made remodeling too expensive. Charlson said he and his wife are very bullish about the community. Charlson said he started Westonka Community and Commerce. Charlson said he is not a real estate developer. Charlson said he is bullish about Mound for the following reasons: World Class Education in the public and private schools Premier recreation lake Dakota Trail Surfside Park Recent residential development projects Charlson said he would like to make downtown Mound even more walkable. Charlson said he would like to keep the history and legacy of the site as a mixed use development. Charlson's concept for the two properties is to build a 8500 square feet building with 15 parking spots behind the building and 10 on -street parking spaces. Charlson said the building would house Class A retail office space and potentially a retail user. Charlson said it is an L-Shaped building and would house 3000 square feet for Charlson's office. Castellano asked about the design of the building and Charlson said there would be three users of the building. Castellano asked about the building. Charlson said he needs to rent out 8500 square feet for rent and a second floor is not economically feasible. Herrick asked about the timeline to build. Charlson said survey work and other prep is ready to go. Herrick asked about the intention of the setback to Lost Lake Creamery. Charlson said the proposed lot is not perfectly square and he would follow setback requirements. Pugh asked about the look of the building as it is facing Commerce Blvd. Pugh said she didn't want a repeat of the look of Walgreens with its back of the building facing the two County Roads. Charlson said there will be windows and signage facing Commerce Blvd. Charlson said the access to the building has to be behind the building due to the lack of parking on Commerce. Charlson said there are developers who would like to do a larger project in the area of all of the parcels between Marion and Commerce if the parcels could be put together to make a larger project. Castellano said he would love to see a development of this type for the site. Herrick asked about landscaping and Charlson responded that landscaping and trees would be placed at the rear of the building. Holt thanked Charlson for taking down the building on his property. Josh Gehlen, 2290 Commerce Blvd., Minnesota Lakes Banks, said he supports the concept plan which would be an improvement to the site, neighborhood and City. Gehlen said the plan fits well in the surrounding neighborhood and is the best use of the property. Kay Ostman Saxvik, 2250 Harbor Place #307, said she has lived in Mound 40 years. Saxvik said she would like business on the corner and the park and green space in the area that is being developed. Ostman Saxvik said the community needs this building. Dickson read a note from a resident Rachel Funk which said there are other vacant buildings in Mound which need to be filled rather than adding a new building. Funk wrote that she would like to reserve the corner for a restaurant or coffeeshop to encourage foot traffic. 9. Authorize to award bid recommendation for the CSAH 15 Sidewalks Replacement Project City Project No. PW-25-08 and PW-25-09 Simmons said bids were received from five contractors and the lowest bid was 50% below the engineer estimate. Simmons said the low bidder is Concrete Idea, which is a responsible contractor, fully capable of doing the work. MOTION by Castellano, seconded by Pugh, to approve the following resolution. All voted in favor. Motion carried. 10. Authorize to advertise for bids for the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements Project City Project No. PW-25-01 and PW-25-02 Simmons said the engineers estimate for the project was estimated in the $1.6Million range. Simmons said the street portion of the project is on Three Points and the Sugar Mill Road area. Herrick asked about the issuance of assessments. Simmons said there isn't a need for assessment as the project is a street mill and overlay and not full reconstruction. MOTION by Castellano, seconded by Pugh, to approve the following resolution. All voted in favor. Motion carried. 11. Municipal Street -Aid (MSA) System Revisions Simmons said the state designates the City as a MSA community and allocates funds to these MSA routes. Simmons said Auditors Road was eliminated from the MSA system, as was Cottonwood. Simmons said the following streets were added as MSA routes: Alder, Bellaire, Fairview, and Eden. MOTION by McEnaney, seconded by Castellano, to approve the following resolution. All voted in favor. Motion carried. 12. Comments/Reports from Council members Council Member Pugh — Pugh said the Gillespie Volunteer Recognition Breakfast is scheduled for this Friday. Pugh attended the Suburban Rate Authority (SRA) meeting with 30 other cities represented with the main topic being Xcel Energy contracts. Council Member McEnaney — Nothing to Report Council Member Castellano — Nothing to Report Council Member Herrick — Nothing to Report Mayor Holt — Holt said he would like to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of the Dakota Trail crossing at 5:00 p.m. prior to the May 271h Council Meeting. Holt said he attended the Fire Partnership meeting with the budget being the main area for discussion. Holt said he prefers a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) for fire services. Holt said the Finance Committee met last week and is looking at plans for funding the water treatment plant. Holt said he would like to provide an update on the acquisition of funds earmarked for the water treatment plant on July 22nd after the close of the State legislative session. 13. Information/Miscellaneous A. Comments/reports from City Manager: NA. B. Reports: Finance — March 2025 Fire — March 2025 C. Minutes: March 13, 2025 — Parks and Open Space Commission D. Correspondence: 14 Adjourn MOTION by Herrick, seconded by Castellano, to adjourn at 8:43 p.m. All voted in favor. Motion carried. A: Attes . evin Kelly, Clerk Mayor Jason R. Holt