2025-08-26 City Council Meeting MinutesMOUND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
August 26, 2025
The City Council of the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, met in regular session on
Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 6:00 p.m, in the Council Chambers in the Centennial Building.
Members present: Mayor Jason Holt, Council Members Sherrie Pugh, Kathy McEnaney, Kevin
Castellano, and Michelle Herrick.
Members absent: None.
Others present: City Manager Jesse Dickson, Community Development Director Sarah Smith,
City Attorney Scott Landsman, Administrative Assistant Sarah Lenz, Orono Police Officer Ryan
Spencer, Troy Pattrin, Ed Rockwell, Jim Theisen, Scott Matson, Jason Baker, Kay Riley, Mike
Riley, Phil Bowman, Rob Eddington, Dan Schaefer, Doug Cutting, Jim Gooley, Kara Johnston,
Jane Anderson, Stu Alexander, Johnny Range, Nolan Sinkler, Tom Brossard, Johann Chemin-
Danielson, Brad Childress, Todd Robinette, Denise Cole, Tyler Pieper, Bart Halling, Dan & Luke
Johnston, Pat Pelstring, John Hurd, David Ness, Derek Hostetler
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 6:00 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approve agenda
MOTION by Castellano, seconded by Herrick, to approve the agenda. All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
4. Consent agenda
Councilmember Pugh asked that item C be pulled for discussion.
MOTION by Castellano, seconded by Pugh, to approve the amended consent agenda. Upon
roll call vote, all voted in favor. Motion carried.
A. Approve payment of claims
B. Approve Minutes: August 12, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting
C. Pulled
D. Approve Resolution No. 25-71 approving variance at 3343 Warner Lane
E. Approve Resolution 25-72 approving subdivision exemption for Lake Minnetonka Flats at
2400 and 2420 Commerce Boulevard
F. Approve Resolution 25-73 Establishing Parking Restrictions on Commerce Boulevard
G. Pay Request No. 2 and Final in the amount of $6,063.25 to Floorcoat Midwest LLC., for
the 2024 Manhole Rehabilitation Project; PW-23-05
4C. Approve Resolution 25-70 Denying the Establishment of the Harrisons Bay Lake
Improvement District
Landsman made a statement that the removal of item C is for further discussion between
members of the City Council and no members of the public are to address the Council.
Pugh said the denial of the LID does not address the water issues and it's the Council's
responsibility to look at alternative options or set up opportunities to address them. Pugh said
almost 74% of the tax base in Mound are homeowners on the lake and Mound has the largest
public dock system in the State and denial of the LID means we are saying we will not
participate in a process that benefits the majority of our community. Pugh believes the Lake
Minnetonka Conservation District (LMCD), Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and DNR need
to be held accountable. Castellano said the LMCD would need to provide their input and more
information is needed for the proposal of future LIDs.
Mayor Holt said the Council was elected to represent all Mound residents, not just the
supporters of the LID or those opposed and listed the following reasons why he does not
support the LID:
• Division of residents on what the ultimate goal is
• All residents will have to pay for it, even if opposed
• The addition of another level of bureaucracy
• Legal liabilities falling on the City
Holt stated there was no change from the previous Council Meeting decision.
MOTION by Pugh to table Resolution 25-70 failed for lack of a second.
MOTION by Castellano, seconded by Herrick, to approve Resolution 25-70 Denying the
Establishment of the Harrisons Bay Lake Improvement District. Herrick, McEnaney, Castellano,
and Holt voted in favor. Pugh was opposed. Motion carried.
5. Comments and suggestions from citizens present on any item not on the agenda.
Johan Chemin-Danielson, 6039 Beachwood Road, expressed concern about the fiber optic cable
installation project destroying yards, gardens and trees. Chem in -Danielson asked why the fiber
companies don't use existing fiber connections to eliminate the amount of utility boxes and excavation
needed.
Pugh asked the company is doing the work of it it's being subcontracted and expressed concerns about
the hazard of having exposed holes after excavation. Mayor Holt mentioned the state of his yard after
installation and is not pleased with the outcome of the restoration.
Dickson said there are many subcontractors involved and Pubic Works is working to regulate the
process for better outcomes of future jobs and to hold the contractors accountable.
Nolan Sinkler, 2601 Granger Lane, said part of what draws residents to Mound is the quality schools,
public parks, playgrounds and lake access. Sinkler said the loss of public land reduces taxable value as
well as the well-being of Mound residents and proposed a 6% tax increase as a financial solution for
the water treatment plant in lieu of the sale of public land or utility rate increases.
6. Orono Police Department with the July 2025 Activity Report
Sergeant Ryan Spencer of the Orono Police Department (OPD) said bee and wasp activity has
increased and advises caution. Spencer said officers carry and are trained to use epi pens but
they occasionally run out and receive assistance from the fire department. Spencer said the new
FTR officer is moving to phase 2, OPD will be doing 10 interviews for the new cadet program,
and two officers were requested to for Our Lady of the Lake Incredible Festival which starts
September 2nd, 2025.
OPD hosted a DNR firearms safety class which had a great turnout and on August 2nd the
firearms group instructors participated with and helped out the Lake Minnetonka Sportsmen
Club's Youth In the Outdoors event to interact with the youth and establish a good relationship
with the gun club.
7. Banners Discussion
McEnaney brought up future goals for banners and signage with the intent to amp up the visual
aspect of Mound. McEnaney provided graphics of possible taglines, design directions, trail signs
and Welcome to Mound signs. She wanted to open the conversation about how to get started with
budgeting. Discussion ensued about banner options and how it could be utilized to better promote
businesses/sponsorships possibly reducing costs to the City.
McEnaney requested Council Members come up with ideas they would like to see on the banners
so she can create real mockups. Holt suggested getting numbers for potential cost options and
said the banner discussion can be added as an agenda item for the next meeting.
Future discussion 2 weeks: add as agenda item.
8. Comments/Reports from Council members
Council Member Pugh — Pugh said a definition of parks was provided and has requested other Council
Members and Parks Commission Members provide their input to possibly finalize it at a future Parks
Workshop.
Council Member McEnaney — McEnaney had no comments.
Council Member Castellano — Castellano said he thinks a unified view and improved communication
would be needed for future Parks Workshops. During Council Member Castellano's comments the
Council discussion encompassed the workshop which was held on August 12th in regards to the
Council's intention to look into the sale of certain parks in the City. Tyler Pieper came to the podium to
address comments from Council Members who felt the workshop intent was misconstrued to the public
by Pieper by posting a screen shot of the meeting notice on a Facebook page. Pieper said he intends
to continue to work with the Council and apologized to the Council for a comment by another Park
Commissioner at the workshop. McEnaney said the post by Pieper caused citizens to be upset with the
workshop intent.
The Council continued the previous discussion regarding the Harrisons Bay LID and also discussed the
constraints of the MN open meeting law.
Council Member Herrick — Herrick requested another Council and Parks workshop on September 23rd
at 5:00 p.m. before the council meeting. Herrick said she spoke with a Council Member from Victoria
how to be more concise about the usage of parks. She mentioned the Lakeville ordinance on e-bikes
and said it might be interesting to find out more about it.
Mayor Holt — Holt said he attended a meeting in Minnetonka Beach discussing e-bikes and entertained
the possibility of rules being implemented for them. Holt provided an update that federal funding went
from $15 was reduced to $1 million.
9. Information/Miscellaneous
A. Comments/reports from City Manager:
B. Reports:
C. Minutes: July 1, 2025 — Planning Commission
D. Correspondence: Public Hearing for dock length variance for Minnetonka
Minnetonka Flats Multiple Slip
10. Adjourn
MOTION by Castellano, seconded by Pugh, to adjourn at 8:12 p.m. All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
Mayor Jason R. Holt
Attesteevin Kel , Cler