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Summary of Shorewood City Council Meeting – Feb. 11, 2025
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of February 11, 2025.
Links to the meeting video have been provided for each item.

AI Technology: A Tool in the Fight Against Distracted Driving on Hwy 7
There has been a lot of curiosity around the orange trailer-like structure parked along Hwy 7 in Shorewood.
In case you missed it, KSTP.com provides an explanation.

SeeClickFix.com: Saying Goodbye
Beginning in 2025, Shorewood switched its citizen reporting mechanism from SeeClickFix to Citizen Request Tracker® (CRT).
The cost savings will be $5k+ per year and removes a “citizen facing” product in favor of one much more controlled.

Tonka Bay Dirt: Curiosity Becomes Controversy
The land near Lake Minnetonka is home to many Indian burial sites. So, when 5000 yards of soil were removed for Tonka Bay infrastructure projects designated as burial grounds, the reaction was immediate.
Under the supervision of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC), tons of soil are now temporarily stored near Manitou Park and Tonka Bay City Hall.
A permanent relocation site proposed by MIAC and the city is meeting resident resistance.

Highway 7 is Dangerous: Doing Something About It
Hwy 7 is an important east-west artery that runs through the heart of Minnetonka and beyond. It rolls westward to St. Bonifacius, touching five more cities and two counties.
Safety failures–including numerous fatalities and serious injury incidents, and increasing traffic volume, have pushed MnDOT and local agencies to address the design of the corridor.

Suburban Coyotes: A Balance of Nature
The healthy coyote population in the western suburbs reflects their adaptability in spite of environmental changes, housing developments, and evolving ecosystems.
Some people consider these mammals a sign of a balanced natural environment.
On the flip side, the coyote’s sinister wolf-like appearance, coupled with tales of attacks on small pets, can cause plenty of angst.

The 3 Principles and Policies the City of Shorewood should adopt in 2025
Guest column by Alan Yelsey.
Alan Yelsey is a Shorewood resident who ran for mayor in the 2024 election.
The opinions expressed here are solely his own.

The Lost Arctic Fever
This weekend the cities of Shorewood and Tonka Bay will celebrate an abbreviated Arctic Fever.
There have been many iterations of the event over the last 20 years, its demise affected most notably by lack of snow due to climate change but also the loss of the dedicated staff and volunteers that conceived of and executed the annual community winter celebration.

What’s Your Beef?
Convincing residents to speak at a city council meeting on almost anything is a challenge, unless it directly affects their property. Explanations vary from busy schedules to general discomfort when speaking on camera.
Now there is another reason: A council member who implied he does not want to be bothered by people bringing their “beef” before the council.