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11 05 2025 City Council Work Session Minutes (Annotated)November 5, 2025, City Council Work Session Minutes Page - 1 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA DRAFT Minutes of the City Council Work Session Wednesday, November 5, 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 4:00 p.m. Councilors Lorberbaum, Maczko (4:10 p.m.), and Paper were in attendance. Councilor Mazzitello was absent. Others present included: City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Torkelson, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek, Parks & Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence, Police Chief Kelly McCarthy, Police Sergeant Wayne Wegner, and City Clerk Nancy Bauer. Also in attendance from ICS were Project Development Director Chris Ziemer and Business Development Specialist Kristin Duerr. CITY HALL/POLICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING PROJECT Project Development Director Ziemer summarized the process used to develop a decision- making framework for the Municipal Campus project, including facility assessments, programmatic needs, and community engagement. Councilor Paper asked how the meeting was publicized. Assistant City Administrator Torkelson responded that it is on the city calendar and included in the Friday News. Councilor Paper noted that there was no one in the audience for the meeting. Project Development Director Ziemer reviewed the project timeline and Business Development Specialist Duerr summarized the public feedback received. She highlighted that the Police Department received overwhelming feedback that the current facilities are inadequate, lacking space, privacy and security. Feedback on City Hall was mixed; while some felt the building was generally sufficient, comments noted storage, outdated restrooms, and a need for more community space. Duerr noted that few residents toured the City Hall office areas, but those who did consistently indicated that improvements are needed. Concerns were also raised at the Open House about the potential cost of the project. City Administrator Jacobson stated there were some comments referring to a misconception that a new city hall would increase staff significantly. November 5, 2025, City Council Work Session Minutes Page - 2 Mayor Levine mentioned that there had been an increase in staffing in parks and recreation to staff the golf course which was necessary because of how successful it was. Parks & Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence added that in 2017 the Par 3 had 6,500 rounds a year and in 2025 it has had 22,000 rounds. Councilor Paper stated that Parks and Recreation has gone from a half time person to a robust amount of programming. The community enjoys recreation programming and adding staff was a response to that demand. City Administrator Jacobson reviewed the history of expanded services since City Hall was originally constructed. She noted that in the 1990 budget, only a 0.2 FTE was allocated to recreation. Following the successful 1989 parks referendum, the park system was upgraded and expanded, and in 2007, the city purchased the Par 3 Golf Course. Since then, the City Council has directed staff to expand adult and senior programming and to update the skatepark and pickleball facilities. The city has also advanced sustainability efforts through initiatives such as Partners in Energy and GreenStep Cities. Compliance with Dakota County Ordinance 110 has required additional staff time and resources for recycling programs, with the possibility of further requirements in the future. She added that service expansions have occurred in other areas as well. In 2021, the city expanded natural resources programming and created a Natural Resources Commission, along with a city volunteer program. Changes in state election laws have added additional responsibilities for staff. While IT services, building inspections, and related services have been outsourced. Legacy events have grown, additional concerts have been added, and Public Works service delivery has been adjusted to support the athletic association. Administrator Jacobson emphasized that staff need adequate facilities to carry out their work. She noted that during COVID, City Hall only closed when required, underscoring staff’s dedication. She concluded by highlighting that the community sets a high bar, and that staff are committed to their work, perform at a high level, and work hard and care for a community that, in most cases, is not their own. Councilor Lorberbaum thanked City Administrator Jacobson for her remarks, agreeing that they were all true. Residents see the wonderful successes of the city and ask if more can be done. Councilor Maczko acknowledged the negative narrative and commented on the misconceptions, including the narrative that the city is trying to take over the soccer association. He asked if feedback is collected after recreation programs. Staff reported that they do survey program participants and adjust offerings based on comments received. Councilor Maczko said that there is a narrative that Two Rivers Athletic Association (TRAA) is feeling threatened and asked how the city can address that narrative. Mayor Levine stated that she saw people from the athletic association at the open house and heard that the communication between the city and the athletic association is good, and considerable effort went into improving it. November 5, 2025, City Council Work Session Minutes Page - 3 Councilor Maczko commented that the city needs to be communicating to the public about the performance of parks and recreation programs. Assistant City Administrator Torkelson reported that the annual Parks and Recreation report to City Council is a video that is extensively shared through the city’s communication channels. Councilor Lorberbaum noted that there were six comments about accessibility for parks programming. Parks & Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Lawrence stated those comments pertain to residents with disabilities seeking more inclusive programming, and staff are working to incorporate accessible programming. City Administrator Jacobson reminded the Council that all staff increases require City Council approval. She noted that since 1990, the City’s population has grown by more than 60%, while staffing has increased only 35%. 1 As a result, each employee now serves approximately 20% more residents than in 1990. In 1990, there were 179 residents per FTE; in 2025, that number increased to 214 residents per FTE. This trend highlights improved efficiencies, a strong staff work ethic, and the City’s commitment to maintaining high-quality service even as demands have expanded. Mayor Levine added that in the last three years, interns have been hired in Parks and Recreation and Natural Resources to help stretch staff. Councilor Maczko stated that the city is fully developed and will not continue to grow. He said that they do not know what the community wants and asked if a scientific survey needs to be done. The Mayor stated that the city has that information from the recently completed Parks and Recreation Master Plan and that an additional scientifically significant survey was not necessary. Councilor Paper said Mendota Heights attracts residents because of the programs, infrastructure and services the city provides. The relationship with the athletic association is better today than it has been in the past. He said that he never had the sense that the athletic association felt threatened that the city was going to take over their operations. There were times when they were threatening to let the city take over their operations. City Administrator Jacobson asked what needed to be done to address the misinformation about staffing. Councilor Paper noted that the historical staff data was helpful. The community today is not the same as it was in 1990. Councilor Maczko agreed that the data from 1990 was helpful. Mayor Levine emphasized that the Council has to be the decision makers and that the goal is to make a decision by the end of December. Project Development Director Ziemer reviewed the building needs and outlined two main options: an “immediate needs” option that would address current space requirements, and a “dig- 1 Correction Noted in the Record of the regular City Council meeting 11/18/2025: It was noted for the record that the reference to “1990” was incorrect. The correct reference year is 1980. With this correction, the statement should read that since 1980, the City’s population has grown by more than 60%, while staffing has increased by approximately 35%. November 5, 2025, City Council Work Session Minutes Page - 4 once” option designed to meet long-term needs. He also noted that additional options were considered. Relocating the facility to the fire station site was evaluated but determined not to be feasible as the site has no available space for expansion. The Public Works/Water Tower site also lacks sufficient space for a new building and adequate parking. City-owned land at the Bourne site was also considered, but location and site access are significant challenges. The Summit Fire building was also reviewed, but it is too small and its current configuration poses challenges and would require modifications to the current layout. Councilor Maczko asked if there was a report on the condition of the current building. The consultants shared that the presentations provided to council reviewed the condition and that there would be a final report once the project was complete. Councilor Maczko asked about the Resurrection Cemetery land. Councilor Paper stated that former City Administrator McNeil had discussed the possibility of a 99-year lease when the city was looking for additional athletic field space but that they were not interested. Project Development Director Ziemer reviewed an option to connect the City Hall facility with a new police station with a walkway. Councilor Maczko stated he did not like the option. Mayor Levine stated that she prefers a single building for the police and city hall for efficiency and safety reasons. Councilor Paper asked about the baseball field. Staff stated that they would plan to replace the baseball field in another city park if the Council were to move forward with that plan. Mayor Levine stated that comments indicate interest in how the empty space would be used if the building was demolished. Using it for an outdoor public space was discussed. Mayor Levine stated she would like a decision that would plan for the future. Project Development Director Ziemer showed a graph and spreadsheet to illustrate the cost of “digging once” versus building for “immediate needs”. He also showed a spreadsheet of the estimated tax impact on residents. Councilor Paper asked if the costs included furniture. Project Development Director Ziemer stated that it did. Project Development Director Ziemer stated that if a decision was made by the end of December, it was estimated that a building would be ready to move into at the end of 2028. Councilor Paper stated that he liked the dig-once option. He added that building expenses will go up every year, the longer there is a delay in making a decision. Councilor Lorberbaum stated that she is in support of the “dig once” option and suggested that another open house is needed with a limited presentation. Councilor Maczko stated he agrees with the other councilor’s comments. Mayor Levine recapped, stating the “dig once” option is the consensus of all the council members present. The public needed to be engaged in the review of the options considered. Staff advised Council that they could create a presentation video to review the discussion of the options that had been considered and review the direction from City Council. Council agreed. November 5, 2025, City Council Work Session Minutes Page - 5 Mayor Levine stated that the next step is to bring the community along on this journey with Council. Councilor Paper suggested that a future discussion be held regarding what is going to happen to the existing ballfield. ADJOURNMENT Councilor Lorberbaum made a motion to adjourn the work session, and the motion was seconded by Councilor Paper. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m. _________________________ Stephanie B. Levine, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________ Nancy Bauer, City Clerk