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06 02 2026 CC MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, was held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota, CALL TO ORDER Mayor Levine called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Councilors Lorberbaum, Paper, Mazzitello, and Maczko were also present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council, the audience, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance. AGENDA ADOPTION Mayor Levine presented the agenda for adoption. Councilor Paper moved adoption of the agenda. Councilor Mazzitello seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 PUBLIC COMMENTS Dan Sherer, 2459 Hampshire Court, introduced himself and provided information on his family, who are involved in sports in the community. He also now his involvement in the Two Rivers Athletic Association (TRAA) and wanted to ensure there is a plan to adequately replace Civic Center Field if it is removed as part of the Municipal Campus project, noting that the field should be replaced prior to that project beginning. He stated that he attended the open house last fall when three potential designs were considered, one of which included building the facility on the field. He stated that while that design option seemed to be the more expensive, pie -in -the -sky option, it now seems to be the preferred option, and construction could begin as early as next year. He stated that losing that field would be a huge loss for the community that would impact both the baseball and softball programs. He commented on the number of children who participate in the programs and the difficulty scheduling field use, noting that Mendakota and Civic Center are the top fields in Mendota Heights. He stated that if Civic Center is lost, even if another field is improved to that standard, they would still be down a field and already have to schedule field use outside of the community to accommodate all the players. He asked that Civic Center Field be left alone or that a replacement be built on vacant land as a replacement. Tom Lopac, Eagan resident, noted House Bill 4240, which was recently passed and signed into law, which included one provision that allows the City Clerk to change the absentee voting days from 46 to 18. He stated that it could provide the City with cost savings and is something the City may want to consider. Adam Crepeau, 1016 Douglas Road, stated that he is the President of Two Rivers Athletic Association (TRAA) and commented that he trusts the judgment of the Council and staff. He stated that when they look at spaces in the community, Mendakota Park is the largest gathering space in the community. He stated that from April to November, TRAA fills that park with thousands of children and their families, and the park is in dire need of remodeling. He commented that there has been wonderful maintenance over the years by Public Works and TRAA, but it is time to invest more into that park. He stated that if they invest and make Mendakota a gem, they will honor the community. He recognized that fundraising would be tough, recognizing that people may question the use of funds for other projects. He volunteered to assist with seeking financing options and fundraising. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Levine presented the consent agenda and explained the procedure for discussion and approval. Councilor Mazzitello moved approval of the consent agenda as presented, pulling item E. a. Approval of May 19, 2026, City Council Minutes b. Approval of May 19, 2026, City Council Work Session Minutes c. Acknowledge Minutes from the April 28, 2026, Planning Commission Meeting d. Acknowledge Minutes from the March 18, 2026, Airport Relations Commission Meeting to A ,7 h N nflal D ,J D 1 A n F efenee f. Approve a Massage Therapist License g. Approve the Hiring of Kate Dougherty as Communications Coordinator h. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-36 Approving an Administrative MRCCA Minor Development Permit to 1296 Aspen Way (Planning Case No. 2026-09) i. Acknowledge the April Par 3 Financial Report j. Approve April 2026 Treasurer's Report k. Approval of Claims List Councilor Lorberbaum seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 PULLED CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS E) APPROVE OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR MEREDITH LAWRENCE TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE Councilor Maczko stated that anout-of-stateconference is an opportunity to learn about what is changing and about trends. He recognized that Parks and Recreation/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence will be presenting at the conference and wanted to provide her with an opportunity to provide information on this. Parks and Recreation/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence stated that it is an honor to present at a national conference, noting that she will be presenting two sessions titled, Steel -Toed Boots and Fresh Perspectives: Women Redefining Park Maintenance and From Happy Accidents to Intentional Impact: Growing the Next Generation of Park and Recreation Pros, June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights Ciry Council Page 2 of/7 Councilor Maczko moved to approve OUT OF STATE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR MEREDITH LAWRENCE TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, Councilor Mazzitello seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 PRESENTATIONS A) GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH — 2020 PROJECT Police Chief Kelly McCarthy provided background information, noting that in the United States in 2020, firearm -related injuries surpassed motor vehicle crashes to become the leading cause of death among people ages one to 19 years old. Year over year, the majority of those deaths are firearm suicides. In 2025, the City Council signed a resolution establishing June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. As part of Gun Violence Awareness Month, officers may choose to wear specially issued patches, and residents are encouraged to wear orange on the first Friday of the month (June 511). Councilor Lorberbaum asked if the Department would be selling patches again this year. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy replied that they sold patches at the Par 3 last year, but this year would be selling them at the Police Department for $5. PUBLIC HEARING No items scheduled. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS A) PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW — APPLICATION OF INDIGO SIGNS FOR A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 750 NORTH PLAZA DRIVE (PLANNING CASE NO, 2025-08) Community Development Manager Sarah Madden explained that the Council was being asked to review the Concept Plan for this Planned Unit Development (PUD) Amendment request and provide advisory comments and recommendations to the applicant. Councilor Maczko asked if there is an electronic message sign ordinance. Community Development Manager Sarah Madden commented that there are regulations for electronic message signs within different districts, but no such standards exist within the PUD district. She noted that a formal review would allow the Council to place regulations and conditions upon the operation of the sign. Councilor Maczko commented that he believes they should attempt to be consistent across the board, regardless of the district. He asked for clarification on whether there would be one or two electronic components. Community Development Manager Sarah Madden replied that pylon sign one, near Dodd Road, would have the electronic message component. Jw¢e 2, 2026 d9endota Ljeights Clry Coe¢ncil Page 3 of 17 Councilor Maczko asked and received confirmation that the bottom panel would include information about the four businesses, or could be changed to advertise something else. Community Development Manager Sarah Madden confirmed that the bottom panel would reflect the business tenant information or other information chosen to be advertised by the Plaza. Councilor Mazzitello stated that there is a business on the sign proposal that he does not recognize and asked for more information. Mike Sturdivant, property owner, replied that the current signs are outdated and need to be upgraded. He stated that they also recently signed a lease with a brewpub that will be joining the center. Councilor Mazzitello commented that he is excited to welcome a new business into the community. Councilor Paper asked if the upper sign panels have the ability to change as tenants may come and go. Mr. Sturdivant commented that those panels would not be electronic but could be changed if a tenant were to leave. He stated that the intention of the electronic message sign is that it would look like a static sign and would not draw attention if/when changes were made. Councilor Lorberbaum thanked Councilor Maczko for addressing her concerns, noting that she also wants to see consistency between districts. She stated that she would not want to see animation and would want to ensure that all standards of other districts are followed in a formal request. She asked about the maximum lighting allowance for signs and would not want to see this exceed that standard. Community Development Manager Sarah Madden provided information on sign lighting regulations. Councilor Lorberbaum commented that she would guess that the brewpub would be open late and noted that most lit signs are required to turn off by 10 p.m. Mr. Sturdivant stated that typically, the pylon signs are lit throughout the evening. Councilor Lorberbaum thanked the applicant for investing in the property. Mayor Levine thanked the Planning Commission for its thorough review and asked the applicant to take the guidance that was provided by that group when making a formal application. Councilor Maczko stated that he would support dimming the sign at night to ensure the light does not travel and impact adjacent properties. Mayor Levine asked if the lighting/signage would have the ability to be adjusted after the fact if issues present themselves, as they want to be respectful of people who live in that area. Councilor Lorberbaum asked about the anticipated opening date for the new tenant. Mr. Sturdivant anticipated a late summer/early fall opening. B) MUNICIPAL CAMPUS BUILDING PROJECT— RESOLUTION 2026-37 APPROVING SCHEMATIC DESIGN FOR THE POLICE STATION AND CITY HALL MUNICIPAL CAMPUS June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Council page 4 af17 BUILDING PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING PROCEEDING WITH THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PHASE OF THE PROJECT City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson provided a brief background on this item and introduced the consultant. The Council was being asked to consider a resolution approving schematic design plans for the Police/City Hall Municipal Campus Project and authorizing proceeding with the design development phase of the project. Kyle Walter, ICS, provided a presentation including information on the programming study and site plan studies, including soil boring information. He presented two different site options and provided additional information on both options, other considerations, and budget impacts for each option. He presented the draft schematic design and provided information on the overall budget and State bonding. Councilor Maczko stated that he has a question about the state bonding and eligible expenses. He stated that he has the same questions he had at the meeting on Tuesday. City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson provided information on the project goals, project values, the Council direction and pillars for the project, the primary needs, alternatives that were explored, previous presentations, and other potential locations that were reviewed. She explained why it isn't possible at the current site to co -locate Police with Fire at the Fire Station and why it is beneficial to keep the new Police/City Hall building in the current location. She explained that in December, the Council approved the dig once future -ready option with CJN and provided information on that. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy provided information on the benefits of keeping the Police at City Hall. She stated that the department has fewer than 100 officers and noted that for cities with that size Police Department, they are located with City Hall, and provided additional information on that reasoning they are located together. She stated that the schematic design provides for efficiencies to increase collaboration and the reporting structure while also enhancing safety. City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson provided additional information on the project cost and related property tax impacts, grants and external funding sources the City has pursued, and funds allocated by the State for the project and related B3 guidelines. She stated that City leadership and TRAA have met and are working to develop solutions to replace Civic Center Field. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy provided additional information on CJN and why that space is being included in the schematic design. She provided additional information on the need for holding cells. She reviewed the different platforms that have been used for the past year to advertise the project and solicit public input. She welcomed suggestions for additional ways to reach people, as they are still finding people who say they are unaware of the project. She welcomed residents to come to the facility to ask questions and learn more information, as she recognized that this project has a high cost. She commented that this is a transparent process that heavily involves public engagement to help find the right solution, encouraging residents to be involved to ensure that this is a successful project that maintains the character of Mendota Heights. City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson agreed that public engagement has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the project as they continue to incorporate public comments into the schematic design. She stated that those who are not comfortable speaking can send their comments and questions via email as well. June Z, 2026 �Llenda[a Heights City Council Page 5 of 17 Councilor Maczko asked how much they have requested in Federal funding and when they would know the answer. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy stated that the City requested $10,000,000 and is in the running for $800,000. City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson stated that the decision would follow the congressional appropriations process. Councilor Paper stated that he does not understand the process of waiting to hear from the State on how that funding could be used towards the project. He asked if CJN could be eliminated from the project if they ran the cost -benefit analysis and determined that those requirements exceeded the funding. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy replied that would be a decision of the Council, but confirmed that architecturally, they can adjust to eliminate ON, if that is the decision. She stated that she believes that there will be a long-term cost benefit analysis to receiving the funding and the B3 requirements. Councilor Maczko stated that it was his understanding that through the efforts of Police Chief Kelly McCarthy, they were able to attract CJN, which brings regional significance and opens additional funding sources. He asked about the likelihood that CJN would outgrow this space. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy replied that CJN is not growing, but the city of Rosemount is growing and needs the space currently occupied by CJN. She commented that most of the work of ON is done by remote employees. She stated that they asked CJN to be a part of the project because it made the project eligible for tax relief and additional funding. Councilor Maczko stated that authorization of bonding is important, as it specifies how the funds can be used, and funds cannot be used for reimbursement. He recognized that $4,000,000 was allocated for pre - design and design, which means that those funds can only be used for that purpose. He recognized that they could request an amendment of that designation, but that would not occur until next year. He appreciated that they were successful in gaining the funding, but was unsure of the benefit as they continue to spend funds that may not be reimbursed. He asked when the authorization would begin for the State funding. City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson stated that she is unsure of the answer as the state contract manager has not yet been assigned to the city. Mr. Walter stated that they have experience with this type of funding and provided additional information. He stated that in a previous project, they went through the full design and then made modifications to meet the design requirements of the State. He commented that the timeline of the project will extend because of the discussions necessary with the State. He stated that they will need the input of the State to ensure they are not fully designing and then needing to make significant modifications. He stated that the square footage for CJN is incorporated into the building, and if ON leaves, the square footage would still be an asset, and that space could be renovated for another use. He stated that the architect is also completing an option without CJN to show the Council, which would reduce the square footage by 2,000 square feet. Councilor Lorberbaum asked when a manager from the State would be assigned and when the City would need to make a decision on whether to accept the funds. Mr. Walter replied that he could not provide an estimate for that timeline. Jerre 2, 2026 Mendota Heights Cig� Council Page 6 of 17 Councilor Lorberbaum stated that the Council is asked tonight to proceed from schematic design to detailed design, acknowledging that they are already over budget. She recognized that staff had said that adjustments could be made to the plans to scale down to the budgeted project amount. She noted the many questions that remain and that if they continue to wait, prices will continue to increase. She recognized that changes can continue to be made throughout the process. Mr. Walter stated that as the project continues to extend, they will continue to see inflation. He recognized that at schematic design, it feels like they do not have all the information, but those details are fleshed out during the next phase of design. He noted that progress and budget updates would continue to occur throughout this process. Councilor Lorberbaum stated that even if they knew the answers to many of the questions, there would continue to be things that change during the detailed design. She asked why there are so many storage rooms. City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson stated that the schematic design takes into account the storage space they already have within the building, as well as the additional needs of different departments. Councilor Lorberbaum stated that she had questions about Civic Center Field and recognized that the City is working with TRAA to find solutions. She asked if the construction of a new field would be incorporated into the budget. She stated that there was a great conversation with TRAA where different ideas were discussed, and she believed that they would work together to find the best solution. She stated that the question today is whether to proceed to detailed design, recognizing that the goal is to work within the approved budget. Mr. Walter confirmed that they will look at different options and strategies to ensure that they can work within the approved budget. Councilor Maczko stated that when he voted to move this forward in December, there was an estimate of the budget, and he did not think that was an approval of the budget. He commented that he believed that the approval was to continue to this phase and that the budget would continue to be refined, as he would like to see a budget even lower than that estimate. Mr. Walter explained that the budget was based on square footage needs, as is the budget estimate today. He stated that $33,100,000 was the budget estimate based on programming, and if it is the desire of the Council, they can explore options to lower that amount, but the Council should also realize that this would also bring a reduction in square footage. Mayor Levine invited input from members of the public. Brian Halman, 2224 Copperfield, stated that he does not doubt that City staff have done everything they can to get the word out about the project, but noted that, as a 30-year resident, he had not heard much about the project. He stated that he was surprised that this project did not come forward as a referendum, but recognized that this project had followed the proper steps. He stated that tonight he learned a lot about the project and the steps that have been taken thus far. He had a concern with the cost of the project, as a taxpayer, noting that $33,000,000 is a large budget for a city of 11,000 people. He noted previous City projects that have come in over budget and estimated that this project could reach $45,000,000 and could Jame 2, 2026 A/endota Heigh[s Ciry Caemcil Page 7 of 17 increase taxes by 20 percent. He stated that his biggest concern is with the extraordinarily high cost of the project. John Nides, 2094 Patricia Street, stated that he and his family have been residents for 44 years and thanked all the members of the City Council and staff for their work to make Mendota Heights a wonderful and beautiful community to live in. He spoke for himself and other concerned taxpayers, and asked the City to hold a referendum on the issuance of any bonds for the $33,000,000 project, as this is the largest project the City has ever considered, and it will have a significant impact on property taxes. He stated that while the City has made an effort to inform taxpayers, a few residents worked last weekend to gather 368 signatures of residents questioning the size, dollars, and scope of the project. He commented that they believe the size of the project justifies a referendum, a referendum will motivate the Council to better inform residents, and residents will be motivated to become better informed. He stated that they understand that if the City proceeds without the referendum, citizens can petition to stop the project, and everyone should want to avoid that route. He stated that citizens want a better understanding of why a project of this size and expense is needed. Mayor Levine asked that the petition be provided to the City Clerk, which he did provide. Henry Riehm, 2214 High Pointe Court, noted that on the budget side, he noticed the professional services costs of around $4,000,000 and asked if that rate is negotiable. He believed that residents have a responsibility to stay informed about City issues, and ignorance on the part of a taxpayer does not constitute an emergency on the part of the City Council. Janine Joseph, 1915 Walsh Lane, commented that she is a lifelong resident of Mendota Heights and has seen the changes during that time. She stated that they love the Police in the community, but when they started talking about the project, the country was not at war, gas prices were not at this level, and groceries were affordable. She believed the City to be tone deaf to the current economic conditions. She commented that, as someone who works in technology, she is concerned that Al will take her job and the jobs of many others. She believed that the City should take a step back, as the world is very different than when the discussion began. Buzz Cummings commented that he previously served on the Council for eight years in the 1980s. He believed that the Council had done a fine job of planning for this project and stated that his primary question is the cost of renovating the building. He stated that when the building was constructed in 1988/1989, he was involved in the design, and they envisioned it as a 60-year building, recognizing that expansion options existed. He commented that the Council Chambers and lobby seem to be in good condition, while recognizing that the Police Department and staff offices are in need of renovation. Jerome Mulvahill, 1154 Orchard Place, commented that he is a lifelong resident and structural engineer, noting that he is also very familiar with the B3 requirements. He stated that when this building was constructed in 1989, this area was a swamp that was filled in. He did not recall if the building was on piling and stated that B3 would restrict the type of piling that can be used, and will impact the cost. Scott Van, 1870 Hunter Lane, commented that he is a lifelong resident, and there was a lot of good information presented tonight. He was happy to see the residents present tonight. He stated that if he remembered correctly, the ballfield was determined to be a good location for that amenity because of the underlying conditions that deemed it unbuildable. He feared what would show up in the soil borings. He stated that the Par 3 had a referendum for $2,800,000, which passed by 200 or 300 votes. He commented that with a cost of $33,000,000, residents deserve a referendum. He stated that he was one of the residents Jame 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Council Page 8 of 17 who went around to gather signatures, and of 100 people, he only came across five or six people who did not sign. He stated that 95 percent of the people they approached believed that there should be a referendum and that the project cost is too high, noting that this is a sampling that occurred over a few days. He stated that he would also like to know more about the cost for renovations and additions to the existing facility. He asked if the cost for renovation and use of the Summit site was $23,000,000. He commented that the residents want a referendum, no matter which plan is chosen. Holly Farber, 1701 James Road, commented that she respects what has been said about a referendum, but she does not believe that it is necessary. She stated that the residents elect the members of the Council to make these decisions. She stated that while robust public engagement is critical, a referendum is not the right tool to evaluate a complex municipal campus project as it can add significant cost, delay needed improvements, and reduce a complex project and its needs to a simple yes or no campaign. She stated that this is a significant project and it should continue to be done in the manner it is being done. She commented that this is not the Par 3; this is a complex municipal campus project. She stated that while some people support a referendum, there are others in the community who think a referendum is not the right way to go for the project. Lynn Burrow, 1219 Victoria Curve, commented that everyone has done a good job of informing them tonight, but in a few hours, she was able to gain 135 signatures in favor of a referendum. She stated that almost everyone wants a referendum and a voice on this type of expenditure. She commented on the challenging economic times people are facing and stated that this building is not a teardown. She stated that her home was built in 1955, and it will be a teardown, which is a waste of resources. She believed that this building should be renovated and expanded, which would provide the necessary room without the high cost. She stated that she is a single woman on social security who has worked hard for her money, and there are a lot of people hurting right now. She asked if Federal funding would come with a requirement to take detainees from the Whipple building. She stated that people are hurting, and they should not tear down and build a dream building. She stated that she was born and raised here, and people in the community are struggling. She believed the new project was a want, not a need. Bernard Friel, 750 Mohican Lane, stated that he has lived here for 67 years and the City Council does not always make the right decision. He stated that the law provides for a referendum, which provides the opportunity for residents to tell the Council what they think. He stated that the people in this room believe that this is a Taj Mahal that is not necessary, particularly at this time. He stated that the $33,000,000 is not the final figure, as they have heard that additional expenses would be needed to relocate the field. He stated that several hundred dollars for 20 to 30 years is not a nominal increase to taxpayers for such a facility. He commented on the increases that taxpayers have absorbed from the City and County in recent years, along with the Federal level. He stated that they need a referendum and believed that the City will do a better job of informing people if that path is followed, as will taxpayers in learning about the project. Scott Anderson, 1247 Culligan Lane, asked the City to process for deciding whether or not to have a referendum. He asked if Al has been taken into consideration for planning purposes and future needs. He did not believe that staffing needs would increase and believed that less space would be needed in the future. He stated that it sounds like the Council is being asked whether it wants to move from schematic design to design development, and asked about the related cost to move to that step. Scott Van, 1870 Hunter Lane, stated that 18 full-time staff work at City Hall and realized that the Police need more space. He believed that they should look more at an addition to the building. He commented that 90 percent of the residents paying for this project probably do not even step foot into the building in June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Council Page 9 of 17 any given year, as it is a special -use building. He stated that they do not need a community gathering space and believed that they could reduce the scope and cost to be more reasonable for everyone. Denise Kirchner, 749 Cheyenne Lane, stated that it is her understanding that they are looking at a bigger garage for the Police and their squad cars but it is her understanding that the vehicles are being driven home and questioned what that space would be used for. Mary Steiger, 723 Cheyenne Lane, believed that everyone supports the Police and having an adequate facility for them. She stated that she supports having that service available at the door rather than requiring them to go downstairs, especially in a trauma situation. She stated that the Friendly Hills residents are coming off an assessment of over $5,000 and are now being asked to pay 20 percent more. She commented that many residents are on fixed incomes and are struggling. She stated that she requested a senior deferment, which was placed on the agenda, but then she never heard about it again. She provided examples of information that was mailed to homes for the street project, which she believed were easily confused with junk mail and never included an assessment amount. She stated that there are a lot of working people and people over 60 who are struggling already. Mayor Levine thanked the residents for their input. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy stated that there are individually assigned squad cars that officers can take home, but not all officers take those vehicles home. She noted that it is a current policy, but it may not be a policy in the future. She stated that the garage would not just be for the police but would also be for City vehicles and could include EV charging. She stated that these vehicles are assets and should be stored inside. She commented that access and egress of Council and staff should also be considered for safety. Mr. Walter stated that with quick calculations, the cost to go from schematic design through detailed design would be about $400,000. He noted that the largest lift in design would be the phase from detailed design through construction documents, and commented that this would also include a review and approval from the Council. He noted that an additional review and approval by the Council would also be required to proceed from construction documents to bidding. He referenced the $4,000,000 in professional services that were mentioned and noted that would cover the project in its entirety, reviewing the different aspects that are included. He explained that contracts were negotiated at the beginning of the process, and their fees are competitive. He stated that those fees include the different professional services such as architects, consultants, and engineers. He stated that project management is based on the construction timeline, and there could be potential for those fees to change. City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson stated that the use of AI within City government is as a tool and it is not a replacement for human resources. She stated that her philosophy is that employees should work in and for the community. She stated that perhaps that will change in 20 years, but that is unknown at this time. She commented that employees are in the office and only occasionally work remotely. She commented that changes in staffing may come in the future based on changing needs, such as IT and ADA compliance. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy stated that the Police use AI heavily in CJN, which has allowed them to accelerate the work, but that still involves people and has simply allowed them to shift how they work. She stated that while Police analysists may use AI, she did not see a future in which a human would not need to come to someone's house to help them. She commented that their sworn staff runs lean already, and AI will provide assistance with investigations. June Z, 20�6 �Llendota Heights CihCouncil Page 10 of 17 Mr. Walter stated that the City reviewed many different options last year, which included renovating the existing facility with additions, which was $26,500,000. He referenced the square footage of the existing facility and the need for an additional 31,000 square feet. Mayor Levine asked if those numbers included the additional square footage needs. Kristin Duerr, ICS, commented that it was the difference in the cost results from the garage for the Police Department and additional storage space. She confirmed that the cost for the renovation and addition is not an accurate comparison to the schematic design cost because they do not include the same features and square footage. Mayor Levine noted that the $26,500,000 cost was not based on the actual programming and space needs. She stated that over the lifetime of the building, it would be cheaper to build new. She stated that they would have preferred to renovate the facility until they realized that it would cost more than building new. Ms. Duerr stated that relocation costs and other factors relating to security and relocation of evidence storage would also be factors in the renovation costs. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy stated that she would not accept money in exchange for accepting prisoners. She stated that she would have preferred to add onto the existing building, but in speaking with residents and experts, this project is not cost versus savings, but whether they are being wise in the short-term or long-term. She stated that it was made clear that the renovation/expansion option was not the better choice in the long-term. Mr. Walter stated that, based on the SDS and the soil borings that have been done, they have taken into account geo-piers. He stated that if they were to build on top of the existing location, the geo-piers would be necessary, and they are carrying more money in the civil costs because of that, whether construction occurs on this location or on the property to the west. He provided additional information on geo-piers and how they are used to provide stability in poor soils. Councilor Mazzitello stated that, within geotechnical investigation, if geo-piers are not necessary, that would be a cost savings. He recognized that they are planning for the worst -case scenario, and also recognized that the geo-piers would most likely be needed. Mr. Walter stated that he cannot speak to previous project budgets, but stated that budgets are based on historical square footage for similar buildings, and there is a contingency built into that for circumstances that may arise. He stated that he has not had a project in the past 12 years where they have exceeded an allotted project budget. He commented that they would utilize bid strategies to allow the Council to make decisions that may be needed to remain within the budget. Mayor Levine asked that the resident who spoke about the senior deferment for the road project to follow up with staff. Finance Director Kristen Schabacker stated that the assessment was deferred. She confirmed that engineering could send a letter to confirm that with the resident. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy recognized that people support the Police, and recognized comments that state that City Hall does not need to be this large, or that it is a building they will never step foot in. She people need to understand that nothing in the city happens without City Hall. She commented that whether June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Council Page 71 of 17 or not someone steps foot in the building, the things that happen in the building impact many aspects of their life, including voting. She stated that the current building is closer to a Taj Mahal than what they are proposing, as the Taj Mahal is 35,000 square feet and does not have any bathrooms. Mayor Levine stated that the Council did consider a referendum, and while they did not conduct a formal vote, they did have a discussion, and unanimously, the Council did not want to do a referendum for the project. Councilor Maczlco stated that Mayor Levine is overstating that it was a unanimous decision because he made the statement that if he felt that the residents did not support the project, he would not support it and would vote no. He stated that they do not need to go to a referendum, but they need to have the trust of the community, as the Council is the steward of taxpayer money. He accepted the thinking that if they educated people on the projects and their needs, the outcome should be the same regardless of whether they made the decision as the Council or put it to the citizens. He stated that he, more than anyone, wants people to be involved. He stated that this is the most engagement they have received despite the efforts of staff and the Council to get people involved. He commented that they can only do so much to encourage people to get involved; they have to want to be involved as well. He stated that his only concern with putting it out to a referendum is that he honestly does not believe people will get any more informed than if the decision is made by people who are involved. He stated there are legitimate reasons why they are doing this and why the legislature provided the ability for Councils to make these decisions on these types of buildings. He stated that if the public is informed and involved, then a referendum makes sense, but if they are not informed and involved, it does not make sense. He commented that this is taxpayer money and the Council is here to make the best decisions with the information they have, which is an informed decision on these complicated buildings. He stated that he firmly believes that something needs to be done, that it needs to be right -sized, and accepted by the community. He stated that they need the help of the residents present to get more people engaged and involved. He did not think they needed a referendum to do this, but they do need people to want to be engaged. He stated that if the communications look like junk mail, they need to address that. He stated that perhaps they need to use more catchy headlines in the mailings. He stated that they had a booth at Touch a Truck, and many people were still not aware, even though it was advertised in the same publication as Touch a Truck. He recognized that Mendota Heights is almost completely built out, so they will need to refine some of the staff projections as to what will be needed in the future, as they may grow by 1,000 people over time. He stated that when this building was built in the 1980s, it was stated that this was a building for the community and its needs for the future, and the recommendation on the building was made by a community task force of 12 people, which did not include a member of the City Council. He recognized that people do not trust the government, but they need the trust of their residents. He stated that he will not fault staff as they have been trying their best to reach everyone, but this is the largest showing of residents they have seen throughout this process. Councilor Mazzitello agreed with Councilor Maczko that this is not the time to decide on a referendum. He stated that they will need to have another meeting of the Council and Oversight Committee to have that discussion and to discuss how they will ultimately pay for the project, as well as options that could help reduce some of the costs for the taxpayers. He stated that a referendum is not off the table, but they do not live in a majority rules society. He commented that the Council is elected to make decisions for what is best for the community, not only now but for the future. He stated that this building is notjust for this generation, but for the next, and the next after that. He stated that this would not be the Police building, staff building, or anyone's building, but a building for everyone with a plan for maintenance to ensure it could last 60 to 80 years. June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Coamcil Page 12 of 17 Councilor Lorberbaum stated that when they started the process, she assumed there would be a referendum. She stated that she co-chaired the Par 3 referendum and recognizes how much work that is. She stated that as she got into this discussion about the new Police Station and City Hall, different things stood out to her. She commented that it is their job to make sure residents understand why they are headed in this direction. She stated that communication has been a focus throughout this process and was unsure what they would do differently to communicate if a referendum is involved. She stated that the fact is that they need a new Police Station and City Hall. She recognized that everyone's taxes will go up, including the members of the Council, and they need input from residents so they can address their concerns and incorporate their ideas when appropriate. She stated that if a referendum were involved, there would be additional focus on that and additional costs involved. Councilor Paper asked what they would do differently in terms of communication, as he believes they have done an amazing job in communications, noting that it has been a focal point of this project. He credited the staff for trying all sorts of things, acknowledging that they cannot force residents to consume the information that is delivered to them. He acknowledged that there is sticker shock because this is an expensive project, but was unsure how they could communicate this in any additional manner. He stated that the project is needed, and if there are additional delays, the project costs will only increase. He appreciated that they investigated the potential of renovating the existing facility, but also felt that it was a waste because there are so many unknowns that can increase costs, whereas costs are known on a new build. He stated that it would be irresponsible to spend that amount of money on a 40-year-old facility with issues that will need significant work in the future. He stated that there is no question that this project is expensive. He stated that he has been involved in the City Council and Park Commission and recalled the project in 2018 to address the water and mold remediation. He stated that every project is expensive, but also looks into the future, using the example of the Fire Station and how elements were included to plan for future needs. He stated that they cannot predict the future, but he is fairly confident that a robot will not show up to get a cat out of a tree. He was unsure how they could do better to get information to the community. He stated that there is a group present who represent a segment of the community, but the group that will be running this community in the future is not in the room, and they are attempting to plan for that future and those needs. Mayor Levine echoed the comments of the Council thus far. She stated that when they considered a referendum, she considered the need for the project. She stated that every budget cycle, the question is posed as to whether Mendota Heights needs a Police Department, and that was the question that drove this project. She stated that policing can be contracted to the County, but the decision of the Council was that they believe the City should have its own Police Department and Police Chief. She stated that it was then apparent that a new building was needed. She commented that if there is a referendum and that fails, the Police would be disbanded. She stated that this is the reason she does not support a referendum. She stated that this may go to a referendum, and if it fails, the Police Department will be disbanded, and policing will be contracted to the County. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy reported that 95 people were detained in the holding cells during 2025, as that was a question posed by a resident in the audience earlier in the night. Mayor Levine provided the email address for residents who have additional comments and questions. Councilor Mazzitello moved to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 2026-37 APPROVING THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN FOR THE POLICE STATION AND CITY HALL MUNICIPAL CAMPUS BUILDING PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING PROCEEDING WITH DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, Councilor Paper seconded the motion. June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Council Page 13 of 17 Further discussion: Councilor Maczko stated that, as much as he would like to vote to support this, he believes it would be premature to move out of the schematic design phase right now, as there are still unknowns related to CJN and whether they want to accept the State bonding money. He stated that if they are not going to accept the State money, then that part of the project can be removed. He stated that if they continue moving forward and they cannot change the legislation to pay towards construction costs, then anything incurred between now and the authorization is not reimbursable. He also spoke about the many unknowns that could impact the cost and other factors, including whether CJN is included and other efficiencies. He suggested that they complete the soil borings to have a more complete picture, noting that a smaller building footprint on more stable soils could reduce project costs and potentially keep the ballfield. He stated that perhaps the relocation of Police and City administration could be split between existing buildings to save on relocation costs. He stated that if they move to detailed design right now, they will spend money now to go down this path, and more money would be spent in the future if changes are needed. He believed that it would be prudent to answer those questions before they go further down the rabbit hole. Councilor Lorberbaum stated that the bottom line is that she keeps hearing that there are unanswered questions, but they are not sure when they will get those answers. She stated that if they postpone for six months to one year, it will cost more money. She recognized that there is a cost to changing the design, but less so. She stated that if they are cautious and thoughtful in how they move forward, she supports moving to the next phase. She commented that she would also like to see the soil borings. Councilor Mazzitello boiled this down to the actual question, which is whether Mendota Heights wants its own Police Department. He commented that the current facility is inadequate, which has led to this path. He stated that for eight years he served as the Public Works Director and is aware of what is wrong with the facility and the maintenance that has been deferred. He stated that if they were to renovate the building, it would snowball, and they would end up redoing the entire building anyway. He agreed that the messaging needs to be rebranded because something is not working, despite including it in every messaging platform the City uses, email lists, and packets. He stated that something better needs to be done to connect with more residents about this project. He stated that right now they have a schematic design, and this is what he has done for 36 years of his professional career, working on projects like this. He stated that the first step is a schematic design, which is a layout and determination of whether it can fit in the desired area. He commented that once they find a spot where the building fits, they go after soil borings rather than randomly doing soil borings all over the property. He commented that moving this forward to get that geotechnical information is important and would like to see that information as soon as possible. He stated that if Councilor Maczko believes that another portion of the property would better fit the building, he would like to see the work supporting that. He stated that this project will recreate the ballfield in another location and commented that he will make that commitment, recognizing that he is one of five votes. He stated that the City belongs to its residents and businesses, and the decision of the Council needs to be based on that. He stated that Mendota Heights is pretty much done growing, but noted that when development stops, programming seems to grow. He stated that as they move into detailed design, they will look at the option of shaving square footage off the building. He stated that all five members of the Council are incredible cost conscious and they want this to be a good, functional building that is also attractive, comfortable, and safe for employees to work in. He stated that the project development process is outlined in the ICS schedule, and this is not the time to tap the brakes. He stated that the numbers provided in this estimate are derived from other bid projects similar to this and have nothing to do with the proposed design or finishes. He commented that going to detailed design allows them to go away from the assembly number and better determine these project costs. He stated that he wants to hear from all the residents, not just thoughts, but ideas. He stated that if this is wrong and bad, June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Caimcil Page 14 of 17 he wants to hear what is right and good. He believed that this was the right time to move from schematic design to detailed design. Mayor Levine stated that the Council is grateful to the legislators who have worked tirelessly to prioritize this project. She recognized that it is not common to receive $4,000,000 for a project of this nature. She commented that there are questions that need to be asked about the B3 regulations, but did not believe the process needs to be paused to wait for those answers. She stated that there are two sets of designs moving forward, with and without ON. She commented that they need to move forward, recognizing that they may need to pivot. She agreed that the soil borings would provide more answers. She commented that the cost of pausing would be more than the cost of moving forward. Councilor Paper stated that it has been important from the beginning that they do not lose track of the ballfield and committed that he will not lose track of the field. He understood why the field could not remain in this location, but was committed to finding a solution. He stated that he has never been involved in State bonding or the timing involved in accessing those funds, but believed they will have future opportunities to stop if they need to. He commented that they are working on a project with a timeline they have been sticking to, and if they need to pivot, they will. He stated that if they need to discuss a referendum, they can do that in the future, as he did not believe that was the task tonight. Councilor Maczko commented that he has also been in the business for a long time, noting that all of them have been public projects on public property. He stated that in his 45 years in the industry, he has learned that they need information upfront and community support. He stated that they should have all the background information, including soil borings, and then utilize a community group to decide on the layout. He commented that once there is a layout, it can be costly to make changes. He recognized that they may have some community support, but noted that there is agreement that there is a problem, but not agreement on the solution. He stated that TRAA has stated that the ballfield is not going to be kicked down the road, and that is a cost of this project. He stated that the ballfield has not even been factored into the project cost as of yet. He stated that he has asked questions that would "show the work", including the question of whether the current staffing would still be at the same level in 20 years. He commented that perhaps the building shrinks if staffing does not expand to the anticipated levels and if CJN is not included. He noted other items that could reduce the project cost, including the number of entrances and whether a driveway around the building is needed. He stated that he is willing to sit down and show the work, but his questions have gotten no traction. He stated that he is the only one vote, and if this moves forward, he will continue to push this. He believed that they could accomplish the needs of keeping the field here. Councilor Lorberbaum stated that, as someone who was part of the group that made the meeting happen on Thursday, she trusts that those conversations are righteous, judicious, and truthful, and those things will be answered. She asked if the motion includes completing soil borings as soon as they can. Councilor Mazzitello stated that the motion is just moving forward to detailed design. Mayor Levine stated that it is understood that the soil borings are to be completed once the detailed design phase is approved. She stated that she hears Councilor Maczko's concerns about future -proofing the building related to staffing and other questions. She recognized that one option of the next phase would be an option without ON and asked if they could also include a model with fewer staff, which would also reduce the size of the building. June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Council Page I5 of ]7 Mr. Walter stated that they will take the direction of the Council, and if they want ICS to work with staff to reduce staffing and square footage, they could do that. He stated that this morning, he called a soil boring company, so they are already in the process of scheduling. He commented that they will also work with TRAA to ensure the soil borings do not interfere with games. Mayor Levine commented that she would like to have unanimous support, but recognized they may not get to that point tonight. Councilor Maczko stated that he asked for the reports in December, and they have received summaries and presentations, but he has still not seen the actual reports. He commented that he would like to see the work that the presentations are based on. Councilor Mazzitello asked for more information on the work that Councilor Maczko would like to see. Councilor Maczko provided examples of the reports he would like to see, including an evaluation of the building. Councilor Mazzitello replied that it is available on the City website. Mayor Levine commented that she also has a binder with that information she can provide to him. Councilor Maczko stated that he wants to see the report showing why the existing building cannot be reused. He stated that his vote will not change, as he believes answering his questions now will not slow the process. City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson stated that the ICS report on the facility needs assessment and condition assessment was included in the Council packet for the December meeting, where moving to schematic design was approved. She stated that it is also available on the website. She noted that the small group of residents Police Chief Kelly McCarthy met with, who stated that the building is beyond repair, was a group of residents that Chief had met with, and there is no formal report. She stated that the report from 1985 is a post -process report and summary of the 12-person subcommittee. She stated that they are working on a similar report for this project, noting that some of that information is available on the City website and included in the frequently asked questions section. Police Chief Kelly McCarthy reviewed the residents that she met with to discuss the current building and proposed expansion, and they all told her to stop and get a professional opinion on the building, which is what they did. Councilor Mazzitello called the question. Ayes: 4 Nays: 1 (Maczko) COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson announced upcoming community events and activities. COUNCIL COMMENTS June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Council Page 16 of 17 Councilor Paper encouraged residents to sign up for the Scott Patrick Memorial 5k. He was excited to welcome a new business to the Mendota Plaza and thanked all the residents who attended and provided input tonight. He stated that the playground at Ivy Hills is looking very cool. Councilor Mazzitello congratulated Parks and Recreation/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence for being chosen to speak at a national conference. He shared a historical fact from June 2, 1776, which led to the creation of the Reserve Forces of the United States, Councilor Maczko thanked all the residents who attended for being involved and asked them to help spread the word to others. He congratulated all the students who are graduating, recognizing that this is a time of new beginnings. Councilor Lorberbaum stated that today is American Indian Citizenship Day, which occurred in 1924. She stated that June is also dedicated to self-help and cultural awareness, among many other causes. She stated that she also visited Ivy Hills to see the new playground, and it looks terrific. She thanked staff, recognizing the time and effort that was put into that plan multiple times. She thanked the residents who attended tonight and those whom she has spoken with about the municipal project. Mayor Levine thanked the residents who attended tonight and those who are watching at home. She commented that they are grateful to live in a community where people care so deeply. She commented that yesterday she had the opportunity to send the Visitation Blazers off to the softball championship, which was an exciting experience. She commented that the Blazers defeated their opponent 4-2 and congratulated them for a superb performance. ADJOURN Councilor Mazzitello moved to adjourn. Councilor Paper seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Mayor Levine adjourned the meeting at 9:53 p.m. �Yi'/Gnu l/ lOtv Stelihanie B. Levine Mayor A ST: CVAA�Ikoficy 'r City Clerk June 2, 2026 Mendota Heights City Council page /7 of/7