02 17 2026 CC Work Session Packet.pdf
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING AGENDA
February 17, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights
1. Call to Order
2. Discussion
a. Concept Plans - 750 Mohican Lane
b. Title 11: Subdivision Regulations
c. Building Permit Fees
d. Community Support and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Response
3. Adjourn
Alternative formats or auxiliary aids are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.
Please contact City Hall at 651-452-1850 or by emailing cityhall@mendotaheightsmn.gov.
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2.a
City Council Work Session Memo
MEETING DATE: February 17, 2026
TO: Mayor, City Council and City Administrator
FROM: Sarah Madden, Community Development Manager
SUBJECT: Concept Plans - 750 Mohican Lane
ACTION REQUEST:
The prospective developer of the 750 Mohican Lane site is requesting feedback from the City
Council on two concept plans for a future subdivision on the site.
BACKGROUND:
The City has been approached by Sean Doyle of SD Custom Homes, LLC about the potential
for development/redevelopment of the property at 750 Mohican Lane. The developer is
interested in purchasing the property and resubdividing the land to establish a new residential
development accessed from an extended Pueblo Lane.
The City Council previously reviewed Concept Plan 1 at the December 16, 2025, Work Session,
which included 21 single-family lots and would have required a rezoning of the property and
possible use of the Planned Unit Development overlay district and zoning tool. The developer
has requested to present Concept Plan 2 as an alternative development plan under the
existing R-1 zoning. Concept Plan 2 includes 9 single-family lots and continues the design of a
cul-de-sac extension from Pueblo Lane, but does not include a trail connection to Pagel Road.
The developer has requested the opportunity to present both Concept Plan options to the City
Council, and is asking for feedback on the preliminary plan options.
ATTACHMENTS:
1.Concept Plan 1 - R-2 Zoning Option
2.Concept Plan 2 - R-1 Zoning Option
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M
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TPUEBLO DRIVEPUEBLO LANEPAGEL ROADA
P
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116080 CP05
1CONCEPT PLAN 5
c
1OFFRIENDLY HILLS 2ND ADD.
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
SD COMPANIES, LLC
700 APACHE LANE
Name
Reg. No.Date
Revisions
1.Date
Designed
Drawn
2016 Pioneer Engineering, P.A.
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
2422 Enterprise Drive (651) 681-1914
Fax: 681-9488www.pioneereng.com
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTSLAND SURVEYORSLAND PLANNERSCIVIL ENGINEERS
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55120
I hereby certify that this plan was prepared by
me or under my direct supervision and that I
am a duly Licensed Landscape Architect
under the laws of the State of Minnesota 44763
Jennifer L. Thompson
XX-XX-XX
SITE DATA:
GROSS AREA: ±7.2 ACRES
ZONING: R-1
COMP PLAN: LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (2-2.9 UNITS/ACRE)
PROPOSED ZONING: R-1 PUD
PROPOSED LOTS: 21
DENSITY: 2.9 UNITS/ACRE
JLT
JLT
10-6-2025
PROPOSED PUD STANDARDS:
LOT WIDTH; 60'
LOT AREA: 7,000 SF
FRONT SETBACK: 25'
SIDE SETBACK: 7.5'
REAR SETBACK: 20'
R-1 STANDARDS:
WIDTH: 100'
AREA: 15,000 SF
FRONT SETBACK: 30'
REAR SETBACK: 30'
SIDE SETBACK: 10'
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M
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H
I
C
A
N
C
O
U
R
TPUEBLO DRIVEPUEBLO LANEPAGEL ROADA
P
A
C
H
E
S
T
R
E
E
T
116080 CP06
1CONCEPT PLAN 6
c
1OFFRIENDLY HILLS 2ND ADD.
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
SD COMPANIES, LLC
700 APACHE LANE
Name
Reg. No.Date
Revisions
1.Date
Designed
Drawn
2016 Pioneer Engineering, P.A.
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
2422 Enterprise Drive (651) 681-1914
Fax: 681-9488www.pioneereng.com
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTSLAND SURVEYORSLAND PLANNERSCIVIL ENGINEERS
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55120
I hereby certify that this plan was prepared by
me or under my direct supervision and that I
am a duly Licensed Landscape Architect
under the laws of the State of Minnesota 44763
Jennifer L. Thompson
XX-XX-XX
SITE DATA:
GROSS AREA: ±7.2 ACRES
ZONING: R-1
COMP PLAN: LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (2-2.9 UNITS/ACRE)
PROPOSED ZONING: R-1 PUD
PROPOSED LOTS: 14
DENSITY: 1.9 UNITS/ACRE
JLT
JLT
12-22-2025
R-1 STANDARDS:
WIDTH: 100'
AREA: 15,000 SF
FRONT SETBACK: 30'
REAR SETBACK: 30'
SIDE SETBACK: 10'
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2.b
City Council Work Session Memo
MEETING DATE: February 17, 2026
TO: Mayor, City Council and City Administrator
FROM: Sarah Madden, Community Development Manager
SUBJECT: Title 11: Subdivision Regulations
ACTION REQUEST:
The City Council is asked to provide further direction to City Staff on the Title 11 update.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council will be presented with a progress update on the Title 11: Subdivision
Regulations ordinance amendments.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
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2.c
City Council Work Session Memo
MEETING DATE: February 17, 2026
TO: Mayor, City Council and City Administrator
FROM: Sarah Madden, Community Development Manager
SUBJECT: Building Permit Fees
ACTION REQUEST:
The City Council is asked to discuss the topic of building permit fees, and provide direction to
City Staff.
BACKGROUND:
The City was approached by a resident in 2025 regarding the City's fee schedule for building
permits. Currently, the City uses the State adopted fee schedule for building permit fees.
Under this model, building permits, including plumbing, siding, windows, sign permits, and
more are charged a permit fee based on a valuation of the work proposed under each permit.
The resident requested that the City Council consider switching to a flat fee as opposed to the
valuation-based fee.
If the City Council is interested in evaluating this alternative of a flat permit fee, staff will return
at a future work session with information on budget impacts and the contract between the
City and Inspectron, Inc.
ATTACHMENTS:
1.Excerpt from 2026 Fee Schedule
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Excerpt from 2026 Fee Schedule
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Excerpt from 2026 Fee Schedule
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2.d
City Council Work Session Memo
MEETING DATE: February 17, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Cheryl Jacobson, City Administrator
SUBJECT: Community Support and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Response
ACTION REQUEST:
Council is asked to discuss the following.
BACKGROUND:
•Food Support: The city has been made aware that households within the district have
been impacted by ICE enforcement actions and that food support is greatly needed.
The city under Minnesota Statutes §471.85 may transfer its personal property to public
corporations such as schools when authorized by the governing body. The City of West
St. Paul has provided $10,000 to district school PTAs and 360 Communities.
•Rent and Mortgage Support: The city has been made aware that households within
the city have been impacted by ICE enforcement actions and that rent and mortgage
assistance may be needed. The city, using its Local Affordable Housing Aid, may
provide rent and/or mortgage assistance support for Mendota Heights households at
or below 80% area median income who are at risk of eviction or loss of housing due to
recent ICE actions.
•Cities for Safe and Stable Communities: A newly formed coalition of cities, known as
Cities for Safe and Stable Communities, extended an invitation to other cities to join.
The coalition is a non-partisan group of city-led local governments coordinating around
public safety, operational stability, and the local impacts of recent federal actions.
Information is attached.
ATTACHMENTS:
1.Coalition Framework
2.Coalition FAQs
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TO: City Managers and Communications Teams
FROM: Momentum Advocacy
DATE: February 2, 2026 (12:11PM)
RE: Coalition Messaging Framework
This document outlines the coalition’s shared messaging framework, including three core messages and
supporting talking points intended to guide external communications. The framework is designed to ensure
consistency across cities while allowing local leaders flexibility to tailor messages to their audiences and context.
Safety over partisanship
Operation Metro Surge is making us less safe. We need immediate de-escalation and improved coordination,
subject to constitutional rights and the rule of law. The operation pulls officers away from community safety needs
and forces cities to absorb unsustainable costs. The cost is not just financial; trust is also eroding.
Economic stabilization
Operation Metro Surge is affecting Minnesota’s economy well beyond large city centers. It is creating and
exacerbating economic uncertainty. From business closures to workforce instability and housing insecurity, the
impacts weaken Minnesota’s economic engine.
Local control and constitutional rights
We stand for the rule of law and the constitutional rights of our residents. This is not a city -specific issue; it is a
governance issue. Cities are held responsible for the wellbeing of our schools, hospitals, businesses, and
neighborhoods, and must be able to govern locally in coordination with federal partners. We respect the role of
federal immigration enforcement, but actions taken without considering local jurisdiction create risk for entire
communities.
Talking Points About the Coalition: Why Is the Group Forming?
Intended Audience: Cities; State and Federal Policymakers
To restore order, trust, and a sense of normalcy
●The current impact from federal operations has exacerbated a climate of instability that is disrupting our
schools, closing local businesses, and stretching our resources beyond our ability to manage.
●By advocating for immediate de-escalation, this coalition is fighting to restore a sense of normalcy —
where families feel secure in their neighborhoods and local law enforcement can focus on our
community’s specific needs, rather than managing the fallout o f external chaos.
●True safety is built on a foundation of the rule of law, which fosters trust between residents and local
institutions. Restoring that trust is essential to maintaining safe, functional communities.
To uphold constitutional rights and due process.
●As local leaders, we swore an oath to the Constitution and take seriously our responsibility to uphold the
rule of law and constitutional protections.
●We respect the role of federal immigration enforcement and expect that enforcement to be carried out
with respect for local conditions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction. We are concerned that current
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enforcement approaches may risk undermining constitutional protections, including the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th,
and 14th Amendments.
● Clear coordination and accountability are necessary to ensure equal protection under the law, safeguard
due process, and reduce legal and reputational risk for cities. We expect enforcement practices that
respect due process, avoid discriminatory profiling, and align with constitutional standards for all people
within Minnesota’s borders.
Strength in numbers
● This is not limited to the Twin Cities. Communities across Minnesota are experiencing the impacts of
instability and uncertainty.
● By working together, cities are demonstrating that these concerns transcend partisanship and geography.
When cities raise concerns independently, they can be dismissed. A unified, nonpartisan coalition of
mayors speaking with a shared purpose carries greater weight and credibility. A single city fighting federal
overreach can be ignored, but a unified coalition of mayors speaking with one voice is harder to ignore.
What We Are Doing
Our coalition is asking federal and state elected officials for immediate de-escalation and acknowledgement of
economic harms, including potential 2026 relief funds to cities. As more communities join, we will assess the
damages done.
Statement on the Coalition
We are a nonpartisan coalition of [#] cities working together to restore stability, trust, and effective local
governance. Operation Metro Surge has created instability that strains local public safety resources and disrupts
local economies—affecting businesses, schools, and families well beyond the Twin Cities.
We stand for the rule of law and respect the role of federal immigration enforcement. We expect federal
leadership to direct agencies in a way that recognizes local jurisdiction and responsibilities, while respecting the
integrity of our cities as a whole. We are concerned that current enforcement approaches may risk undermining
constitutional protections and place cities at legal and operational risk. We are calling for improved coordination
grounded in the rule of law, due process, and respect for local governance.
There is strength in numbers. When cities raise concerns individually, they can be dismissed. A unified, nonpartisan
coalition cannot. We are urging immediate de-escalation, clearer coordination, and a return to stability so cities
can do their jobs and Minnesotans can feel secure in their communities.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the Cities for Safe and Stable Communities (MN)?
A nonpartisan, coalition of city-led groups of Minnesota local governments coordinating around public safety, operational
stability, and the local impacts of recent federal actions.
Why was the coalition formed?
Cities across Minnesota are experiencing similar strains on public safety resources, city operations, and community trust.
The coalition exists to support coordination, reduce duplication, and provide a collective way for cities to communicate and
respond while retaining full local control.
What is the coalition’s core statement?
We are a nonpartisan coalition of Minnesotan cities working together to restore stability, trust, and effective local
governance. Operation Metro Surge has created instability that strains local public safety resources and disrupts local
economies—affecting businesses, schools, and families well beyond the Twin Cities.
We stand for the rule of law and respect the role of federal immigration enforcement. We expect federal leadership to
direct agencies in a way that recognizes local jurisdiction and responsibilities, while respecting the integrity of our cities as
a whole. We are concerned that current enforcement approaches may risk undermining constitutional protections and
place cities at legal and operational risk. We are calling for improved coordination grounded in the rule of law, due process,
and respect for local governance.
There is strength in numbers. When cities raise concerns individually, they can be dismissed. A unified, nonpartisan
coalition cannot. We are urging immediate de-escalation, clearer coordination, and a return to stability so cities can do
their jobs and Minnesotans can feel secure in their communities.
Is this a political or advocacy organization?
No. The coalition is focused on local governance, public safety, and effective intergovernmental coordination. Participation
does not require lobbying, litigation, or public advocacy unless a city independently chooses to engage in those activities.
How is the coalition governed?
The coalition is coordinated by a managing committee of city managers who provide direction on strategy, messaging, and
coordination. Consensus is the goal; when consensus cannot be reached, decisions are made by vote.
How does the coalition direct the consultant?
Momentum Advocacy works at the direction of participating cities, with primary points of contact designated by the
managing committee. Momentum provides messaging guidance, draft materials, and coordination support, and designates
point people for specific needs to streamline communication.
Are coalition materials public?
Coalition materials are intended for internal use unless explicitly designated otherwise.
How are communications handled?
Tactical or transactional information may be shared directly. Coalition-wide strategy and messaging materials are routed
through the managing committee for coordination.
Flour Exchange Building 310 4th Ave S #9200, Minneapolis, MN 55415
momentum-advocacy.com
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How should media inquiries be handled?
Media inquiries related to the coalition should follow each city’s typical internal media procedures. Momentum can assist
with talking point preparation and may coordinate or follow up on requests stemming from coalition press advisories.
Coalition-related media questions may be directed to kdrake@momentum-advocacy.com
.
What does participation require?
Participation is flexible and defined by each city. It may include staying informed through shared updates, sharing
operational or data insights, coordinating messaging where helpful, and participating in joint engagement or media if
desired.
Does participation require public statements or media engagement?
No. Cities choose whether and how they participate publicly.
What if our city does not want to join formally?
That is completely fine. Cities may stay informed, share perspective or data, selectively amplify shared messages, and
revisit participation at a later time. Cities may contact akise@momentum-advocacy.com
to receive updates.
What types of information are shared?
Information may include general operational impacts, public safety or service-delivery considerations, media inquiries and
messaging context, and relevant federal or state developments. Cities control what they choose to share.
Who should our point of contact be?
City managers or administrators are asked to serve as the primary point of contact. Additional staff, including
communications and policy staff, may also be included.
How do we learn more or express interest?
Cities may contact Alexis Kise (akise@momentum-advocacy.com) to request materials, ask questions, or indicate how they
would like to engage.
Is there a cost to participate in the Cities Coalition?
There is no cost to stay informed or engage as an ally. Cities that choose to formally join receive shared communications
support and coalition infrastructure and are asked to contribute an amount determined by the Executive Committee.
Questions related to contributions or participation structure should be directed to Mike Funk
(mfunk@minnetonkamn.gov).
Flour Exchange Building 310 4th Ave S #9200, Minneapolis, MN 55415
momentum-advocacy.com
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