NOTE: Relevant links are at the end of this article
Worth knowing from Monday’s Shorewood City Council meeting:
Attending: Council: DiGruttollo, Gorham, Sanschagrin, Labadie, Maddy
Staff: Nevinski, Czech, Wilson;
Absent Morreim, Schmuck, Griffiths, Thone
Agenda item 2: Claims List
Expenditures of interest:
KLM Engineering $6,000 Remove residue from West Well
LB Carlson $6,155 Auditing
Lake Mtka. Cons. Distr. $8,325 Quarterly dues
Bailey Nursery $8,653 Tree replacements Strawberry Lane
Digrite Excavating $19,660 Water main repair
Met Council $100,018.00 Monthly sewer charges
Payroll & Benefits $117,335.85
Excelsior Fire $245,601.00 Quarterly payment
South Lake Police $469,256.00 Quarterly payment
Total all expenditures this period: $1,111,008.55
1. SLMPD Governance Dispute
The board overseeing South Lake Minnetonka Police Department is in dispute over whether Greenwood’s mayor can sit on both the Coordinating Committee (mayors) and the Operating Committee (administrators). Three cities voted to not allow Greenwood’s mayor to serve on both. Greenwood disputes the vote. Per Jennifer Labadie, Greenwood has floated leaving SLMPD altogether for Deephaven’s police department. Mediation is on the table, but it requires council approval. The cities disagree who should pay for it, since Greenwood is the one contesting the 3-1 vote. DiGruttolo asked if this setup has worked fine until now, what has changed? Nevinski said recent department processes have surfaced governance questions that made the arrangement’s future risk more visible, even without past harm. *Note: Video links below. Watch for follow up article.
2. Cathcart Park Tennis Court
Council approved a $15,894.60 resurfacing bid. The fix only takes 5-7 years before root and drainage issues resurface, and full reconstruction isn’t planned until 2035-36. DiGruttolo pushed to fund the full fix now by pulling from a lower-priority project instead of patching and paying twice. The patch passed unanimously, with a request that staff build a long-term plan into future budgets.
3. Shorewood Lane Ravine
This erosion control project has been ongoing since 2014, passing through two engineering firms (WSB, then in 2019 to Bolton & Menk) with no physical work started to date: Total estimated cost: $800,000, with $681,000 in outside grants secured, leaving Shorewood’s share at about $119,000. Council asked about flood risk to City Hall (staff confirmed this is erosion control, not flood control), tree removal, grant expiration timing, and the roughly $150K already spent on engineering. The work is on private property and Sanschagrin raised the question of whether residents should share the cost.
4. Deephaven/Minnetonka Boulevard
Council approved (4-1) $56,905 toward repaving a shared stretch with Deephaven, including Shorewood’s 15% share of the design fee. DiGruttolo asked why this wasn’t planned for sooner. Andrew Budde cited it was due to a mapping oversight several years back.
5. GreenStep Cities
Staff was approved to join a free six-month sustainability certification program. Gorham called the checklists for the program “a heavy lift” and suggested treating the program as an idea-generator rather than a binding commitment. Staff will report back before further action.
Also on the agenda:
- Tour de Tonka (Aug. 1): Drops the 100-mile route this year, leaving four route options; ~2,000 riders expected.
- Mayor’s SLMPD Update: Abdo & Abdo completed a clean 2025 audit. The 2027 police budget is rising due to a new roof, records system, and vehicle leases. Shorewood’s share of the joint funding formula climbs from 49.7% to 52%. The Police Chief will be at the July 27 council meeting.
- Q2 Communications Report: Sanschagrin asked whether the citizen request tracker is public, similar to SeeClickFix. Wilson confirmed it’s covered in the packet and this discussion. Print materials and hand-delivered info to The Landings remain key ways staff reaches seniors who aren’t online.
Sources:
Read Council background meeting packet
Video of Jul. 22, 2026 Meeting (watch any time)
Greenwood City Council meeting video, SLMPD dispute, Jun. 6, 2026 (start min. 00:20:00)
Police Coordinating Comm. discussion Jun. 6, 2026 (start min. 00:02:00)
Let city leaders know what you think.
- Best option: attend and /or speak up at City Council meetings and get it on the public record.
- Contact City Council Members
Dustin Maddy (612) 293-6727 dmaddy@shorewoodmn.gov
Jennifer Labadie (952) 836-8719 jlabadie@shorewoodmn.gov
Michelle DiGruttolo (517) 422-9528 mdigruttolo@shorewoodmn.gov
Guy Sanschagrin (952) 217-1289 gsanschagrin@shorewoodmn.gov
Nat Gorham (617) 780-7771 ngorham@shorewoodmn.gov
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