2017-08-23 Council Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a special session of the Mendota Heights City Council was
held at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Garlock called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. Councilmembers Duggan, Miller, Paper and
Petschel were also present.
RESOLUTION 2017-66 INTERIM USE PERMIT FOR MINNEHAHA ACADEMY
Cominunity Development Director Tim Benetti presented Resolution 2017-66, authorizing an interim
use permit for Minnehaha Academy. The Academy requested to use the former Brown College site,
located at 1340 Mendota Heights Road, for temporary placement of their Upper School, which
includes 9th through 12th grade students. The site is located in the I-Industrial zone.
The site consists of 5.46 acres total and is bounded by Mendota Heights Road to the north, Enterprise
Drive to the east, and Northland Drive to the south. The office building on the site includes a total of
56,650 square feet, which was used by Brown College through June of this year. The property
includes 270 surface parking spaces.
Minnehaha Academy has an enrollment of 350 students in grades 9-12 that would attend school at
this location. They are looking to lease this space for two years.
Staff recommended approval of the permit since the project complies with the policies and standards
of the City Code and is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Staff further recommended that the
permit be valid for up to two school year periods, starting August 24, 2017 and terminating June 30,
2019. A request for any extension of this permit beyond the expiration date of June 30, 2019, must
be submitted to the City at least sixty days prior to this date, and approved by the City Council. All
remodeling or interior work must be submitted for standard building permit review.
Comments from the public included:
Donna Harris, President of the School — introduced the school's principal Jason Winschlag and their
contractor Mortenson Companies, which will be completing the remodeling of the building. Ms.
Harris stated the site fits Minnehaha Academy's needs.
Councilmeinber Petschel expressed how happy she is that this site will fit the school's needs and will
keep the Minnehaha Academy community together. She acknowledged the City's Building Official
and Fire Inspector who are helping to facilitate this process.
Councilmember Duggan welcomed Minnehaha Academy and asked if the school anticipated having
evening activities at this site. Principal Winschlag stated they do not anticipate having evening
activities at this site, other than parent/teacher conferences or a few counselor/student/parent
meetings. There also may be a couple of small dances held in the cafeteria during the school year.
Councilmember Duggan asked school officials about volunteer staff helping to control traffic during
the first few days of school. President Harris stated they have had many offers from volunteers to
help the school.
Councilmember Duggan moved adoption of Resolution 2017-66 Approving an Interim Use Permit to
Minnehaha Academy for Temporary High School Use in the I-Industrial District, Located at 1340
Mendota Heights Road.
Councilmember Miller seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
SCHEDULE NEXT BUDGET MEETING
City Administrator McNeill presented optional dates for the next budget work session. The
Councilmembers agreed to meet on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at 1:30 p.m.
Motion by Councilmember Petschel, seconded by Councilmember Paper, to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
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Neil Garlock, Mayor
ATTEST:
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
August 23, 2017 Council Workshop Page 2 of 2