06 17 2025 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a work session of the Mendota Heights City Council was
held at Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine
called the work session
to order at 4:30
pm. Councilors Maczko, Mazzitello, and
Paper were in
attendance. Councilor
Lorberbaum
was absent.
Others present included: City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator Kelly
Torkelson, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Park and
Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence, Community
Development Manager Sarah Madden, Assistant City Engineer Lucas Ritchie, and City Clerk
Nancy Bauer.
Also in attendance were Dakota County Project Manager Hassan Hussein and Kimley Horn
Consultant/Project Manager Luke Moren,
DELAWARE AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION (MARIE AVENUE TO DODD ROAD)
Dakota County Project Manager Hassan Hussein and Kimley Horn Consultant/Project Manager
Luke Moren presented the Delaware Avenue Reconstruction &Butler Avenue Trail &Sidewalk
Improvements,
H. Hassan stated that the scope of the project consists of the reconstruction of Delaware Avenue
from Marie Avenue to Dodd Road, adding amulti-use trail on the west side of the roadway,
adding concrete curb/gutter, improve stormwater management, and sanitary sewer and
watermain improvements. Butler Avenue improvements include adding a multi -use trail along
the south side of Butler Avenue and adding a sidewalk.
The project goals were to engage the public, incorporate public input, improve pedestrian and
bike safety, urbanize the roadway, mitigate property impacts, and evaluate intersection and
roadway safety.
For public engagement two open houses were held. The one held on December 2, 2024, was to
present to the public the purpose, need, traffic/crash data and analysis, project consideration and
potential typical section improvements. The second open house on April 23, 2025, was to
present recommendations for the trail on the west side of Delaware Avenue including
Jvne 17, 2025, Mendota Heights City Council id�ork Session Minutes Page - 1
alternatives, receive feedback on the proposed sidewalk along the east side of Delaware Avenue
from Emerson Avenue to Dodd Road, and introduce the right-of-way acquisition process.
A hosted active website was launched to solicit feedback via an online interactive map and
solicit feedback via project surveys in December 2024 and April 2025,
Multiple property owner meetings were held with additional meetings to be held for ergight-of-
way acquisition process.
Kimley Horn Consultant/Project Manager Luke Moren presented the analysis considered for the
project and stated they were driveways impacts (slopes, parking, etc.), regional connectivity,
private property impacts (easements), retaining walls, tree/vegetation impacts, private utility
impacts and the need for on -street parking.
A trail was recommended on the west side of Delaware Avenue due to significantly fewer
private property impacts between Wentworth Avenue and Dodd Road. Dakota County staff are
working directly with Somerset Country Club to discuss the impact of the project. Dakota
County has accepted minimum lane and shoulder widths to reduce impacts. Parking will be
maintained for on -street parking between Emerson Avenue and Dodd Road on the east side only.
The modified roadway elevation and cross slopes are used to balance impacts on both sides of
the roadway.
Mayor Levine asked
about the width of the
trail. L. Moren responded that the minimum trail
width is eight feet for
ADA accessibility going both ways on the trail. A
10-foot width is
preferred by Dakota
County, being that the
trail is only on one side of the
roadway.
The intersection safety improvements on Delaware Avenue and Wentworth Avenue include
additional signage, markings, lights, and geometric improvements. It is proposed to leave the
intersection as an all -way stop. There is no realignment of Emerson Avenue proposed. At Dodd
Road and Delaware Avenue a new right -turn lane is being proposed at Butler Avenue and Dodd
Road. A stormwater pond is being proposed in the southwest corner of the intersection.
H. Hussein stated that for easement acquisitions there are 71 impacted parcels along Delaware
Avenue and 10 impacted parcels along Butler Avenue. There are 35 proposed easement
acquisitions in Mendota Heights. These include permanent and temporary easements. The
easements are for tree clearing, driveway reconstruction, and yard grading for the proposed
multi -use trail. The process for the easement acquisitions is just beginning and is expected to
extend into the summer of 2025. The proposed design is considering retaining walls, roadway
elevation changes, and steeper front yard slopes to minimize work on private property.
The next steps are to finish the final design, hold another open house, work on the right -way
acquisitions, bid the project so construction can begin in 2027.
Councilor Paper
asked about the
speed
limit on
Delaware Avenue.
L. Moren responded that a
speed study was
not done as part
of the
process,
and the speed limit
should remain the same.
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Councilor Maczko said this would be the time to do a speed study and asked about the shoulder
width. L. Moren said that a narrower shoulder was discussed. Public Works Director Ryan
Ruzek responded that a five-foot shoulder would meet bike lane standards.
Councilor Maczko asked if the work would be substantially completed in the right -of --way and
asked if there would be temporary easements used. H. Hussein replied that to construct the trail
some permanent easements would need to be acquired.
Councilor Paper asked for more information about the pond and angle of the road that is being
proposed at Dodd Road and Delaware Avenue. L. Moren replied that at that intersection crash
issues were not as prevalent as they were at Emerson Avenue. Other concept plans for the
intersection were also studied.
R. Ruzek stated that staff wanted Council to be aware of this project as the acquisitions of rights -
of -way will be starting.
TITLE 11: SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE
Community Development Manager Sarah Madden reported that rewriting the Title 11:
Subdivision Ordinance had been a priority for the Council. She stated that the purpose of the
revised subdivision ordinance was to clarify and modernize the language, improve enforcement,
and align it with current city documents.
S. Madden reviewed the key changes, noting which areas of this ordinance had been rearranged
or relocated. The application process has been updated for the required submittal materials for
an application.
Councilor Mazzitello liked the definition of street and said that in Title 12 it is defined as street,
public.
S. Madden commented that the permanent markers paragraph had been moved to the required
improvements. The word normally was removed and the word shall was used throughout the
revised ordinance so that it could be strictly enforced.
Changes to the design standards in the revised ordinance were discussed. Changes to the street
width and grade had been changed for the different street types upon the recommendation of
Engineering staff. The street width is defined as right-of-way width. More clarity for the street
definition would be added in the revised ordinance. The definition of developer and legal
property owner was also discussed.
Councilor Maczko asked about the section under streets, sanitary sewers, and water distribution.
S. Madden replied that current practice and preference is for the developer to install new utilities
in a new subdivision. The city will still have the right to install utilities, but it is preferred the
developer install the utilities by a developer agreement, as per past practice.
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Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek stated that if the city installs the utilities the City will assess
the properties. Councilor Maczko stated that it should be clearly written in the revised ordinance.
S. Madden stated that this section had not been completely written yet and is working with the
city attorney on the language.
S. Madden stated that the park dedication portion of the revised ordinance had been modified,
but the requirements remain the same. The requirements for park dedication were discussed.
Councilor Mazzitello stated it was an outstanding draft. Mayor Levine echoed those comments.
2026 BUDGET OUTLOOK/PREVIEW
City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson stated that staff will be preparing the 2026 budget and
provided an overview of anticipated budget challenges and opportunities. She noted that the
council's number one priority is the city hall/police department building and the funding of
improvements. She highlighted the remainder of the council's priorities, including developing a
sustainable long-term funding plan for capital improvements, enhanced cell coverage in the city,
completing an industrial park visioning plan, fiscal rightsizing, and developing performance
measures.
C. Jacobson continued that key revenue factors include utility franchise fees. She noted that the
first full year of utility franchise fees was in 2025. According to the Parks Master Plan, there is
concern for park user fees from field users and the council may want to consider charitable
gambling in the future.
Key expenditures will be public safety, which historically is approximately 50 percent of the
budget, and employee health insurance costs, with the costs likely to be higher than in 2025.
She highlighted the new State Paid Family Medical Leave Act, which will impact the 2026
budget with an estimated cost of $50,000 to $65,000.
Councilor Maczko asked if current benefits could offset the new family medical leave law.
Assistant City Administrator Kelly Torkelson replied that current leave benefits are not as robust
as the new law requirements and that staff are reviewing all options.
C. Jacobson noted that the Capital Improvement Plan includes street improvement projects,
replacement of the fire hall parking lot, vehicle replacements, and replacement of the 2,000-
gallon fire department tanker. She highlighted that known 2026 projects with budget impacts are
the 2050 Comprehensive Plan process, administration of the 2026 election, and sustainability
efforts.
C. Jacobson concluded with an overview of the budget timeline, stating that the preliminary
budget approval is set for the September l6 City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
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Councilor Mazzitello made a motion to adjourn the work session, and the motion was seconded
by Councilor Paper. Motion carried 4-0, The meeting adjourned at 6:53 pm.
"Levine,
Step h
ATTEST:
Na cy B er, City Clerk
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