08 13 2025 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Tuesday, August 13, 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
p.m. Councilors
Lorberbaum, Mazzitello
and Paper were in attendance.
Councilor
Maczko was
absent.
Others present included: City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator Kelly
Torkelson, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek, Assistant
City Engineer Lucas Ritchie, Community Development Manager Sarah Madden, Park and
Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence, and City Clerk Nancy
Bauer,
FY 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET REVIEW
City Administrator Jacobson began with a review of the Administration budget, noting a 6.61
increase in the budget from 2025. The increase reflects investments in staff and core operations.
Councilor Lorberbaum asked about city hall rent. Finance Director Schabacker responded that it
was for the various departments to pay into the city hall fund to help cover the costs of utilities,
maintenance, etc., for city hall.
Mayor Levine asked about the auditor costs and whether it was time to go out for an RFP.
Finance Director Schabacker responded that the increase for auditing services included the cost
for the actuarial company for one of the footnotes of the audit. She added that it would be up to
the council if an RFP was requested.
Mayor Levine asked about the salary reclassifications for administration. City Administrator
Jacobson responded that there were two positions in administration that were proposed to be
reclassified.
City Administrator Jacobson noted the IT budget is down from 2025. Assistant City
Administrator Torkelson added that some projects were deferred for 2026, and hardware
upgrades occur on a cyclical schedule.
Augtst 13, 2025, Mendota Heights City Council Wa•k Session A9inutes Page - 1
Councilor Lorberbaum asked when new computers were purchased. Assistant City
Administrator Torkelson responded that computers are on a five-year replacement schedule.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that the proposed City Hall budget is down nearly 19%, with
no major changes to the budget for 2026.
City Administrator Jacobson reported a 15.3 1% proposed increase in the Community
Development budget, including funds for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update and increased
code enforcement prosecutions. Community Development Manager Madden noted the Comp
Plan update will take at least three years. Councilor Paper asked about a consultant, and
Community Development Manager Madden said that it will be decided in 2026.
Councilor Paper asked about the cost of the large packets produced that had gone out recently
and if the costs were recovered with application fees or through the required escrow.
Community Development Manager Madden stated that the fees will be revisited when reviewing
the fee schedule.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that Council could move towards electronic packets as part
of an efficiency and sustainability effort. Councilor Mazzitello offered to switch to electronic
packets when staff were ready to move forward.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that the proposed building official budget had a minimal
increase and covered contracted inspection services through Inspectron. Councilor Mazzitello
asked how the contracted inspection services were going. Community Development Manager
Madden responded that she has had very few complaints.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that Engineering is proposing a 5.41 % increase and
highlighted the request for asset management software. Assistant City Engineer Ritchie provided
background on the proposed asset management software, noting that the system would be
utilized by multiple departments.
Public Works Director Ruzek reported on the budget request to replace a 2013 F-150 within the
Engineering Department.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that the Streets Department has a small increase of 2.3% and
noted that the salt budget has decreased.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that there are a number of capital requests coming from the
Streets, Parks and Utility departments. Public Works Director Ruzek reviewed public works
budget requests, including the replacement of the city's oversized wheel loader, a new truck -
mounted message board, replacement of the existing aprons and bollards at the public works
building, and installation of a building access control system at the public works building.
Public Works Director Ruzek reviewed the utility fund, noting that the software support line item
is for the SCDA system that had been added to all the lift stations.
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Councilor Mazzitello asked for the balance of the utility fund. Finance Director Schabacker
responded that there was $2.2 million as of December 31, 2024.
City Administrator Jacobson reported a proposed 3.29% increase to the stormwater utility fund,
aiming to improve one pond per year. Public Works Director Ruzek added that a consultant
inspected 60 ponds this year, a task done every five years.
Public Works Director Ruzek reviewed the streetlight maintenance budget, noting it covers the
industrial park and is charged back to the districts. The budget is down 21.51 % due to pole
replacements and LED conversions. Finance Director Schabacker reported the fund balance is
just under $75,000.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that the parks budget was proposed to increase 1.52%.
Capital requests were reviewed.
City Administrator Jacobson reviewed Special Parks Fund budget requests.
Parks and Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence reported that the Parks
Commission reviewed capital projects. Their top priorities were adding water to the dog park and
or lot. After discussion, it was the consensus not to add water to either.
Parks and Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence reviewed the
remaining budget requests, including the replacement of hockey boards at Wentworth Park,
expansion of the Wentworth basketball court, Valley Park playground replacement and a refresh
of the Valley Park picnic shelter.
Staff and council
discussed the possibility
of applying for a
MN DNR matching grant to offset
some of the costs
of these projects.
Mayor Levine asked if Dakota County could help fund Valley Park improvements. Parks and
Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence said funding would require
designating the park as a trailhead, which involves meeting certain conditions.
Parks and Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence discussed the
Commission's recommendation to add a bocce ball court to the city's park system.
Councilor Mazzitello asked if it would be one or two courts. Parks and Recreation
Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence stated that one or two courts were being
considered and noted that funds could be used from the Special Parks Fund to fund the bocce
ball court(s).
Assistant City Administrator Torkelson stated that Park AEDs are a budget request coming from
the Employee Safety Committee. Parks and Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works
Director Lawrence described how the park AEDs would work.
City Administrator Jacobson stated the AEDs are recommended for Wentworth Park, Friendly
Hills Park, Kensington Park, and Mendakota Park. She stated she had discussed with the
Augzrst 13, 2025, Mendota Heights City Comzcil Work Session MinuXes Page - 3
Mendota Heights Community Foundation if they would consider funding the park AEDs.
Councilor Lorberbaum reported they would be interested but did not have the funds currently.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that there is a budget request for the Oheyawahe Interpretive
Plan — Phase IV. It is a $10,000 request as part of the larger Oheyawahe project.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that a John Deere Gator was requested by the Parks
Department, and it would be a new piece of equipment. Public Works Director Ruzek stated that
it is a versatile piece of equipment. It is proposed to have a plow attached to assist in plowing
now. It could also be outfitted with a tracked machine in the winter to groom the trails for cross
country skiing at the Par 3.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that the Recreation budget is proposed to increase just under
]0%. The increase reflects the expansion of existing offerings. Parks and Recreation
Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence stated that nature -based programming is
being added to the recreation budget.
Parks and Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence stated that there is
about a $50,000 operating surplus at the Par 3. She highlighted that rounds played this year are
up, as well as camp attendance and concessions. She relayed that the tee time software is
working great.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that there is a proposed 6.53%increase to the budget for the
at 3. Mayor Levine asked for the fund balance of the Par 3. Finance Director Schabacker
responded that at the end of last year it was $158,000.
Parks and Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence discussed a request to
purchase a standby generator for the golf course maintenance garage.
Mayor Levine asked about the irrigation system. Parks and Recreation Director/Assistant Public
Works Director Lawrence stated that it is working well. In a couple of years, the underground
piping will need to be replaced at an estimated cost of $700,000.
City Administrator Jacobson reviewed the Recycling budget and its proposed changes.
Parks and Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence stated that the city is
working through a Joint Powers Agreement with the cities of West St. Paul, South Saint Paul,
Mendota Heights, Lilydale, and Sunfish Lake for recycling services. Staff propose increasing
the hours to 20 hours a week for the Recycling Coordinator. The impact on the budget is about
$5,000. It was the consensus to move forward with the request.
City Administrator Jacobson reported that Natural Resources has its own budget this year, with a
proposed 6.78% increase. Key projects include a climate action and resilience plan and
landscape ordinance.
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Councilor Mazzitello asked how the franchise fees collected for natural resources are
incorporated into the budget. Finance Director responded that they are incorporated into the
general fund.
Mayor Levine asked about the cell tower revenue. Finance Director replied that St. Paul Water
Regional Water Services and the city split the funds received from the cell tower revenues.
Councilor Paper left the work session meeting.
Councilor Mazzitello asked about the Community Development budget request stating there is a
request for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan and asked if that was included in the budget figures.
Finance Director Schabacker replied that included in the budget numbers were the Minnesota
Paid Family Leave expense, the 2025 Comprehensive Plan expense, and the Recycling
Coordinator position expense.
Mayor Levine asked about the timeline for approving the budget. City Administrator Jacobson
explained there is one more work session scheduled for further budget discussion with the
preliminary budget to be approved at the September 16, 2025, City Council meeting. It was the
consensus to hold one more work session on September 3 at 4:00 pm.
City Administrator Jacobson reviewed the entire list of budget requests and confirmed the
council's direction for inclusion in the 2026 preliminary budget.
After discussion regarding the 2026 levy, Finance Director Schabacker stated the preliminary
levy showed a 3.44% increase. Councilor Mazzitello stated this number showed fiscal
responsibility. Finance Director Schabacker stated the proposed levy tax rate would be 38.362.
The median home of $551,000 in 2026 will see approximately $78.62 in an annual increase with
the proposed budget.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilor Mazzitello made a motion to adjourn the work session, and the motion was seconded
by Councilor Lorberbaum. Motion can ied 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
ATTEST:
Q
Na cy Ba r, City Clerk
August 13, 202$ Mendota Heights City Council Work Session Minutes Page - S