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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 23 2025 City Council Minutes 1 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES September 23, 2025 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Briggs called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Councilors Braid, Churchill, Lake and Hellier. Absent: None. Also in attendance were City Manager Wedel, Commander Olson, Community Development Director, Assistant City Engineer Schwarz, Finance Director Klekner, Attorney David Kendall, and City Clerk Simon. 2. PUBLIC FORUM Tammy Neihus, 16228 Main Ave #105 Prior Lake, business owner: Here to address the park- ing closures. Experienced great disruptions from these closures. Most patients come from outside of Prior Lake and support Prior Lake buildings. When the Chamber closes parking lots, I have pa- tient cancellations. 26 lots on Main, 34 on the side lots, 25 lots in the back that get closed down which lead to several patients that had to cancel. Feel there are alternate options, such as Lake- front Park. Mike Tiebow, 16013 Northwood Road: Here to speak on the Spring Brook Park access. Con- cerned about the precedent, this sets for the city to maintain the land and manage the dock. Feels the city should make this public access or allow a public dock rental. Steve Erickson, 4056 Roanoak Street: Parents moved into neighborhood in 1980’s. Been very fortunate to grow up in Prior Lake. In 2021 I purchased my childhood home to provide the same upbringing in the city. Fighting for us to return outlot A back to the neighborhood who has cared for it for 76 years. The neighborhood does pay taxes and take care of the land. The beach is part of the neighborhood, and the neighborhood will be there forever. Jeffrey Nelson, 4024 Roanoke St. Support the resolution for Spring Brook Park. Still frustrated by the limitation of storage on the public beach of docks, even though the city is able to do this. Wants the council to understand that resolution takes away right from spring brook park. Curious about the complaints received about Spring Brook Park. Never heard of any complaints. Hopeful that council will support this resolution. Wedel: Response to Tammy Neihus: Did discuss directly. The city is still trying to best navigate how to best host events downtown. Still opportunity to preserve some parking for businesses dur- ing a closure. We will continue to work towards a way to accommodate everyone. Briggs: Historically sided on our brick-and-mortar shops and listen when they are hurting. Appre- ciate your perspective and discussion. 09 23 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION BY CHURCHILL SECOND BY LAKE, TO AMEND THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 4. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES A. Approval of September 9, 2025, City Council Minutes MOTION BY LAKE SECOND BY HELLIER, TO APPROVE September 9, 2025, MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Claims Listing B. Approval of August 2025 Treasurer’s Report C. Resolution 25-123 Declaring Coast to be Assessed and Ordering Preparation of an Assessment Roll for the 2025 Unpaid Special Charges, and Establishing the Date of the Assessment Hearing D. Resolution 25-124 Authorizing the Ordering of 2026 Vehicles and Equipment F. Resolution 25-125 Approving the Final Plat and Development Agreement for Pike Lake Landing Second Addition G. Resolution 25-126 Approving a Temporary Liquor License for Boathouse Brothers Brewing Co. for October 4, 2025 H. Approval of the Animal Control Services Report – July I. Approval of the Building Permit Summary Report – August J. Approval of the Animal Control Services Report – August K. Resolution 25 –127 Approving the Scott County Three Rivers Park District to Conduct the 2025 White-Tail Deer Management Hunt Program L. Resolution 25 –128 Approving a Public Property Use Permit for the Shepherd of the Lake Lu-theran Church Sign 09 23 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes MOTION BY BRAID SECOND BY CHURCHILL, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 6. PRESENTATIONS None. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Resolution Ordering the Improvements for the Northwood Road Area Project (2026-01. 2027-01, 2028-02.) Assistant City Engineer Schwarz presented the Item Briggs: Timing on assessment hearing. Schwarz: accept bids in February, assessment hearing in March for the phase 2026. Each project will have their own phase. Briggs: are notifications sent to those affected? Schwarz: Yes. Public hearing opened at 7:37 p.m. by BRAID seconded by LAKE VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. Jeff Balfoy, 15878 Island View Road: Questions more geared to the assessment. Methodology for the assessment. Looks like our street is scheduled for full reconstruction. Some lots are double lots, and some are much smaller, but is everyone assessed the same? Is that correct? Are they based off the frontage area? Keith Helmbacher, 15757 Island View Road NW: Do not want a new streetlight in front of my house. Made great financial investment and sacrifice to improve my property and the streetlight would have a negative effect on my property. Concerned about light pollution. 09 23 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Public hearing closed at 7:41 p.m. by BRAID seconded by CHURCHILL VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Wedel: in response to funding and assessments for this project; the franchise fee line that citizens pay on their bills goes directly into a fund to help pay for projects like this. A large portion of this project is being covered by that and existing taxes. The calculation for single family homes is esti- mated off vehicle trips per day, which is what creates wear and tear on the roads. The assessment cannot exceed the estimated benefit of the project. Schwarz: Will propose streetlights per our policy. If individual neighbors feel strongly on something, the city can work with them on that. Braid: For the homeowner, when would be a good time to have the street light discussion. When should a homeowner bring up any concerns such as streetlights? Schwarz: During Final designs. Any concerns anyone may have can contact the engineering de- partment. Wedel: Wanted to note this needs a 4/5 Majority vote. Braid: Stated that this needs to be done and it has been pushed out multiple times due to budgets. Understands that it’s not the most fun way to spend money but it has to be done. MOTION BY BRAID SECOND BY CHURCHILL, Resolution 25-129 ORDERING THE IMPROVE-MENTS FOR THE NORTHWOOD ROAD AREA PROJECT (2026-01, 2027-01, 2028-02) VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 8. OLD BUSINESS None. 09 23 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 9. NEW BUSINESS A. Resolution Approving Preliminary 2026 City Budget and Certifying Preliminary 2026 City of Prior Lake Property Tax Levy to Scott County Department of Taxation Finance Director Klekner presented the Item. Braid: Wanted to welcome Klekner in her new position. City council and staff have worked diligently to get this down. Wanted to point out that over Fifty percent is going to Police department. Believes that safe community are strong communities that grow. We will keep working to get that number down but will be in favor of this tonight. Lake: Thankful to staff for all their work on this budget. We are big on public safety and over half is going to Public Safety. I couldn’t be prouder of our police and firefighters. Briggs: We were looking at some double-digit numbers. Wanted to point out Intergovernmental dollars. Staff has put in a lot of work to get that to where it is today. MOTION BY BRAID SECOND BY BRIGGS, A RESOLUTION 25- 130 ADOPTING 2026 CITY BUDGET AND CERTIFYING PRELIMINARY 2026 CITY OF PRIOR LAKE PROPERY TAX LEVY TO SCOTT COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. MOTION BY BRAID SECOND BY BRIGGS, Resolution 25-131 ADOPTING PROPOSED 2026 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BUDGET AND CERTIFYING PRELIMINARY 2026 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PROPERTY TAX LEVY TO SCOTT COUNTY DE- PARTMENT OF TAXATION VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 09 23 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes B. Resolution Approving a Dedicated Waterfront Dock System for the Spring Brook Bay As- sociation Community Development Director McCabe presented the item. Braid: The city council can amend this in the future if needed? McCabe: Correct. Churchill: Thank city staff and Casey for all their hard work on this topic. Lake: Lots of effort in this situation on all sides in this unique situation. Fair and important to move past this situation and feel this resolution is fair. Hellier: Thank city staff for their work and neighborhood for their engagement on this. Briggs: For most Homeowner Associations, they fit into “controlled access” lots or “dedicated wa- terfront”? McCabe: Most of the traditional lots are controlled access lots. Briggs: Concerns with resolution. First being concerned with creation of a homeowner’s associa- tion. Never been a need for one in the past. Philosophically do not agree with private owners need- ing to form a homeowner’s association. McCabe: The Homeowners Association formed would be a code enforcement methodology to en- sure there is a point of contact for concerns or violations. Briggs: Commented on extending rights then what is within the deeds and that there are deeds given out to citizens who do not reside in the neighborhood. McCabe: Any personal deeds would terminate once the homeowner moved and the only deeds that would continue would be the ones transferred by property. Briggs: Majority of the deeds have to do with parking boats to pass and repass. There is a select few that had swimming, boating, landing and parking of boats? McCabe: That is correct. Briggs: Pointed out the language in the resolution that he does not agree with. Want Director MaC- ade to discuss the amount of time spent on this topic. McCabe: Fairy certain there are at least 200 emails and over one hundred hours in time discussing this. 09 23 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Briggs: Made a point of how much time has been spent on this issue. Wondering if there would be a dock permit request if this were to get denied tonight. McCabe: That is correct. The city needs to approve anything with 6 or more dock slips. Briggs: I do not wat to denied deeded rights to anyone. When we look at the resolution, we are confirming unique purposes of this property which is not in the deed correct? McCabe: That is correct. Briggs: These benefits would be for the Spring brook park community and not the general public. McCabe: That is correct. Churchill: I respectfully disagree, People from all over the city use everything in the city. I will be entertaining a motion to move this forward. Braid: Questioned the time that goes into this in comparison to the annexation agreement. McCabe: Similar in time to it. Braid: That is a major concern to me. We work diligently and compare the annexation to twelve boat slips in uncomprehensible. This cannot continue to move forward for this. Not to say we can’t get past it. I understand both sides of this, but something needs to be done tonight. MOTION BY CHURCHILL SECOND BY HELLIER, A RESOLUTION 25- 132 APPROVING A DED- ICATED WATERFRONT DOCK SYSTEM FOR THE SPRING BROOK BAY ASSOCIATION VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☐ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 10. REMOVED CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS None. 11. COUNCIL MEMBER LIAISON UPDATES/ COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS Hellier: 8/18 Community Engagement Committee Meeting, 9/19 Agenda Review, 9/22 Planning Commission. Lake: 9/12 SCALE General Meeting, 9/19 SCALE Executive Meeting, 9/22 Transportation Advisory Board Policy Working Group, 9/22 Agenda Review. 09 23 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Churchill: 9/11 Minnesota Valley Transit Association Meeting, 9/12 SCALE General Meeting, 9/16 Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District, 9/19 Agenda Review. Braid: 9/12-9/13 Chalk fest, 9/22 Agenda Review. Briggs: 9/19 SCALE Executive and Agenda Review. Wedel: Early voting has begun during City Hall business hours; Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidate forum for the school board candidates this Thursday at 6:00 pm. 12. OTHER BUSINESS None. 13.ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY BRAID, SECOND BY LAKE, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:48 p.m. VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Jason Wedel, City Manager