03 04 2025 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the CityCouncil No Session
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Pursuant to due call
and notice thereof, a
work
session of the Mendota Heights
City Council was
held at the Mendota
Heights Fire Station,
2121
Dodd Road, Mendota Heights,
Minnesota,
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine called the work session to order at 12:00 pm. Councilors Lorberbaum, Maczko,
Mazzitello, and Paper were in attendance.
Others present included: City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator Kelly
Torkelson, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Natural
Resources Coordinator Krista Spreiter, Community Development Manager Sarah Madden, Park
and Recreation/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence, Assistant City Engineer
Lucas Ritchie, Police Chief Kelly McCarthy, Police Captain Wayne Wegener, City Attorney Amy
Schmidt, and City Clerk Nancy Bauer.
Also in attendance was Dr. Craig Waldron, the Waldron Company.
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Mayor Levine welcomed and thanked all that were in attendance for the meeting.
City Administrator Jacobson introduced Dr. Waldon.
Facilitator Dr. Waldron asked everyone in attendance to introduce themselves. He gave a brief
biography of his career. He provided an overview for the purpose of the meeting stating that the
goal of the meeting is to leave today with a list of ranked priorities.
Staff recapped the priorities and goals that had been accomplished in 2023 and 2024.
Dr. Waldron discussed existing trends that cities are struggling with and discussed the value of
the city council defining a shared vision from which to help navigate those challenges and set the
city up for stability and success.
The Mayor, Councilors, and staff discussed these topics which would help develop a priority list:
• What do you see as good about Mendota Heights
• What do you see as not so good about Mendota Heights
• What keeps you up at night. What do you see as Mendota Heights' biggest problems.
March 4, 2025, Mendota Heighis City Council Work Session Minuses Page - 1
Discussion centered around identifying priorities for 2025-2026 by discussing these bullet
points:
What are your priorities for the next two years
Discussion of emerging priorities
Priority comparisons and ranking
After lengthy discussion the following ranked priorities emerged:
Staff:
1. Police Department/City Hall building
2. Asset management
3. Sustainable long-term funding for capital improvements
4. (Improve Lake Augusta and Oheyawahe/Pilot Knob effort
5. (Tie) Develop a shoreline ordinance
5. (Tie)Intemal/extemal policy updates
City Council:
1. Police Department/City Hall building
2. Sustainable long-term funding for capital improvements
3. (Tie) Cell phone coverage
3. (Tie) Industrial Park visioning
4. (Tie) Fiscal rightsizing
4. (Tie) Develop performance measures
Dr. Waldron reported that he would develop a draft report that summarized the items that were
discussed. Staff led by the City Administrator would work on these goals and figure out how to
get the items completed. He recommended that at least quarterly, staff should meet with the city
He complimented Mendota Heights and reported that he had heard that the city has a nice
reputation. He was comfortable with how everyone worked together at the meeting. He noted
that it is a good idea to discuss priorities together.
Developing a code of conduct/work agreement/guidelinesfnr councilmembers, staff, and the
public was discussed.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:59 pm.
ATTEST:
N cy Bauer, City Clerk
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