2026-01-13 CC Meeting MinutesMOUND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 13, 2026
The City Council of the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, met in regular session on
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Centennial Building.
Members present: Mayor Jason Holt, Council Members Kathy McEnaney, Kevin Castellano,
and Michelle Herrick.
Members absent: Sherrie Pugh
Others present: City Manager Jesse Dickson, Deputy City Manager Laila Imihy, City Clerk
Kevin Kelly, City Attorney Scott Landsman, City Engineer Matt Bauman, Tyler Pieper,
Gwenivere White and family and Talia Martin and family.
Call to Order
Mayor Holt called the meeting at 6:00.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Adopt Agenda
MOTION by Castellano, seconded by McEnaney, to approve the consent agenda. Upon
roll call vote, all voted in favor. Motion carried.
4. Public Comments
Tyler Pieper, 5504 Church Road, said he works in Minneapolis said as a citizen of Mound
that the ICE action is abhorrent and is treading on the 11t and 41h Amendments.
5. Presentations
a. Orono Police Department with the Activity Report for December 2025
Spencer said there were 99 calls for service in December which were mostly the usual activity
with more medical calls, welfare checks and assisting other agencies with mental health calls.
Spencer said there is a new officer starting on January 26th with another officer working
with the Field Training Officer and will complete their training soon.
Spencer said there are two other officers set to added to the OPD with on in February
and second in April.
Spencer encouraged Mound residents to keep their cars off the street at night with the
OPD notifying residents if their parked overnight
Spencer said the OPD along with other law enforcement agencies are monitoring the
ICE activity which is occurring in other areas of the metro. Spencer said the OPD is
going to serve the local communities though officer could be called to assist law
enforcement in other cities.
Spencer said the OPD is getting ready for the Polar Plunge later this month.
b. Mayor for the Day Awards Presentation
Gwenivere White read her Mayor of the Day essay which she said a Mayor needs to be
kind and considerate and has good judgement and she has the traits which will make
her a good Mayor would to build a public pool/water park for the City.
Gwen said she wants to improve the town which is to provide better water quality to
provide water filters to residents.
Gwen said she would like to add a public restrooms and water fountains to public areas
in Mound so kids won't have to go home and then go back to the park.
Talia Marlin read her essay in which she said the Mayor needs to keep the City running
smoothly. Talia thinks she has what it takes to be Mayor. Talia said the Mayor should
make us feel safer and proposed adding roundabouts to the roads instead of stop lights
as roundabouts are safer and allow vehicles to go at their own time.
Talia would like water bowls to be left on sidewalks for Dogs. The last item Talia would
address as Mayor would add be to add speed bumps around crosswalks as this would
make it safer because vehicles would have to slow down at those crossings.
Weston Weierke was another Mound Mayor winner but was not able to attend the
meeting.
6. Consent Agenda
a. Approve Minutes of the December 9, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting
b. Approve payment of claims in the amount of $779,998.58
c. Approve Resolution No. 26-01: Approving Acting Mayor for 2026
d. Approve Resolution No. 26-02: Appointing City Councilmembers as Representatives of
the City Council to Committees and Commissions for 2026
e. Approve Resolution No. 26-03: Appoint Deputy City Manager Laila Imihy as the Acting
City Manager for 2026
f. Approve Resolution No. 26-04: Appoint Field Officer Andrew Drilling as Assistant Weed
Inspector
g. Approve Resolution No. 26-05: Designation of the Official Depositories for 2026
h. Approve Resolution No. 26-06: Designation of The Laker as the 2026 Official
Newspaper
i. Approve Resolution No. 26-07: Approve the selection to not waive the statutory tort
limits for liability insurance purposes
j. Approve Resolution No. 26-08: Approve Public lands Permit for 4801 Island View Drive
for improvement in Devon Lane ROW and Devon Commons
k. Approve Resolution No. 26-09: Sale of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026A
I. Approve 2026 Commercial Kennel License to Orono Police Department
m. Approve Gambling Permit at Gillespie Center on behalf of Westonka Community Food
Shelf
MOTION by McEnaney, seconded by Herrick, to approve the consent agenda. Upon roll
call vote, all voted in favor. Motion carried.
7. Public Hearings
8. Old Business
9. New Business
a. Carnival Berns Lake Minnetonka Area Cities Legislative Representation Proposal
Holt said the Mayors of the cities of Deephaven, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Deerwood, Greenwood,
Minnetonka Beach, Tonka Bay, Orono, Spring Park, Minnetrista and Mound met to agree to hire
a lobbyist to work on behalf of the coalition of cities with a focus on the following three areas:
• Protecting Local Control — fight against the passage of the "Missing Middle" Bill
• Regional Infrastructure —
• Building a Statewide Coalition to Advocate for Property Tax Reform — control the amount
of yearly increases to property tax payers
Holt said if Mound's population grows to 1 OK or more rules come into place which are less
favorable to cities.
Holt said there is a fee formula for each City with the Mound being set at $7,600 if every
coalition City signs on to hiring Carnival Berns as Legislative Representative.
The Council discussed the need to support the coalition to maintain city control over zoning.
MOTION by Castellano, seconded by McEnaney, to negotiate terms with Carnival Berns Lake
Minnetonka Area Cities Legislative Representation Proposal not to exceed $7,600. All voted in
favor. Motion carried.
b. Mound City Council Letter to Elected Officials for 2026 Legislative Session
Holt said the letter is a request to Governor Walz to support the funding request to the state
legislature for $15Million. Holt said the letter expresses the work and funds the City has
expended thus far with the $15Million to help fund the water treatment plant infrastructure to
support providing clean water to Mound.
Dickson said the $40Million is the total cost for the water treatment infrastructure which is based
on initial costs adjusted for inflation. Dickson said the City will not know the true cost of the
project until plans are completed and bids for building the project are received.
Discussion ensued about the City needing to match the $15Million from the legislature which
would be the remaining estimated cost of the project.
MOTION by Castellano, seconded by McEnaney, to approve draft language for the letter to
Governor Walz, Senator Ann Johnson Stewart and Representative Andrew Myers to direct staff
to send it by USPS and email. Upon roll call vote, all voted in favor. Motion carried.
c. 2026 Street and Utility Project Feasibility Report
Bauman presented the 2026 Street and Utility Project Feasibility Report which was authorized
by the Council in October. Bauman said the plan was adjusted from field study of city streets by
Engineering and Public Works staff.
Bauman said the streets being targeted for work were done in 2004 or 2005 and some which
were missed in previous projects. Bauman added those streets will either have Mill and Over
Lay work or be full reconstruction projects completed in 2026.
Bauman listed the Street and Utility improvements which will be made:
• Rebuild pavement
• Replace watermain
• Replace defective curbs
• Minor utility improvements
• Stormwater improvements
Bauman listed the criteria used to rate each street which was based on pavement condition,
watermain condition and other minor improvements which are needed.
Bauman listed the areas which will have water main replacement which are in the Dutch Lake
area and in the downtown area near Marion Lane and Old Shoreline Drive.
Bauman said street projects are scheduled for Kildare Road, Highview Lane, Glenwood Blvd off
of Lynwood, Baywood Shores Drive are either full street reconstructions or Mill and Overlay.
Bauman said the prospective engineer costs are $3,327,486.00 and listed the project schedule:
• January 2026 — Receive Study and Authorize Final Design
• April 2026 — Authorize Advertisement for Bids
• May 2026 — Open and Award of Bids
• Summer 2026 — Construction begins
• Fall 2026 — Substantial Completion of Project
• May 2027 — Final Completion of Project
MOTION by McEnaney, seconded by Castellano, to approve the 2026 Street and Utility Project.
All voted in favor. Motion carried.
The Council discussed the alley behind the American Legion building which may be an
unimproved right of way which is used to enter business parking lots. Dickson said there is no
record of the City maintaining the right of way previously and suggested the City may work with
property owners to improve this area. Dickson said the City may have to meet other
requirements if improvement is taken and may have to make a policy decision on improving
other unimproved right of ways in the City. Bauman said there are no City utilities in those right
of ways.
10. Announcements
a. Comments/Reports from Council Members:
Council Member Pugh —Absent
Council Member McEnaney — McEnaney said the Planning Commission reviewed the concept
of the proposed Halstead Point development which was approved unanimously. McEnaney
said the City Banner design concept round two is ready for review and can be finalized at the
January 27 Council Meeting. McEnaney displayed concept designs for the Framers Market,
Four other concepts for businesses. Council discussed the different design concepts and gave
their input to give to Pauline from Minuteman Press to edit the design.
Council Member Castellano — Castellano said he liked the new Council Motion and Agenda
sheets.
Council Member Herrick — Herrick attended the Police Commission meeting which relayed the
progress on e-bike safety, ICE will not be supported but law enforcement will be present if there
are issues. Herrick asked for any input from the Council on events and listed community events
being planned for 2026.
Mayor Holt — Holt said the Council held a workshop yesterday to go over City priorities from last
year and for next year including a mid -year review. The priorities will be adopted at the January
27 Council Meeting. Holt said the e-bike issue is being worked on at the State level through
legislation. Holt added a Fire Commission update on the Joint Powers agreement which needs
to reconcile pension differences.
b. Comments/Reports from City Manager: Dickson said he received an email from the
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District on January 27 to start their 2027 Plan. Dickson said the
City will be doing some type of public engagement at the Gillespie Center on February 26t" from
3:00-7:00 p.m. for construction updates in the Commerce Blvd. District. Dickson said there will
be a workshop on January 27 for DCC member interviews.
c. Next City Council Regular Meeting: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
d. Approve February 17, 2026 Concurrent City Council and Planning Commission Special
Meeting Workshop at 6:00 p.m.
11. Ad'ourn
MOTION by Castellano, seconded by Herrick, to adjourn the meeting at 7:34 p.m. All voted
in favor. Motion carried.
e� -_ ,
Attest: Kevin "Cler
Mayor Jason R. Holt