May 26, 2026 Shorewood Council Meeting 3 Minute Recap

NOTE: Relevant links are at the end of this article

Worth knowing from Tuesday’s Shorewood City Council meeting:

A sampling of approved expenditures:

Magney Construction $150,307
Payroll $118,089
Met Council (wastewater) $100,918
SRF (Hwy 7) $ 37,796
Bolton & Menk (engineer) $ 31,813
Magney Construction (water main repair) $19,840 

Significant matters addressed by the council:

1. Tonka Massage License Denial. The council upheld the denial of a massage therapist license after determining the applicant’s training school was shut down by the state of Texas for falsifying student records and links to illegal massage parlors and human trafficking. While the applicant herself is not accused of wrongdoing, the city has no way to verify her 500 hours of required training. The council made clear she has two alternative pathways to licensure: contacting the TDLR to validate her credentials, or passing the national exam.
2. PUD Concept Plan Denial — 25485 Highway 7. The council unanimously denied a concept plan for a six-unit townhome development at the intersection of Eureka Road and Highway 7. Concerns centered on density exceeding surrounding neighborhoods, the dangerous intersection, unresolved MN DOT Highway 7 improvement questions, and impervious surface limits. The council directed staff to draft a denial resolution, while noting the applicant may reapply with a different proposal. The vote was 4-0.
3. Deer Management Program. The council approved the 2026 agreement with Metro Bowhunters Resource Base, continuing the bow hunt program, with DiGruttolo casting the dissenting vote. The vote was 4–1.
4. Minnetonka Baseball Tournament — Loud Music Permit. Following discussion about impact on neighboring residents and a plan for enforcement, the council approved a permit for amplified music at the Bigsy Baseball Tournament on June 5th and 6th at Freeman Park, with Gorham casting the dissenting vote. The vote was 4–1.
5. Mill Street Water Main Project. Nevinski reported a significant complication has emerged with the Mill Street water main project. Chanhassen, which serves that area, is now suggesting that connection charges should be paid for Shorewood properties tying into their system. While a 2006 agreement established a framework for water purchase that included a connection charge, several subsequent connections were made without charges being paid. Staff is researching that history and continuing conversations with Chanhassen. Nevinski indicated the matter will likely come before the council within the next meeting or two, with outcomes ranging from a new rate or charge agreement to potentially a no-go on the project.
6. SLMPD Joint Powers Agreement — Greenwood Conflict. Labadie briefed the council on a governance dispute within the SLMPD Joint Powers Agreement. The JPA requires mayors to serve on the Coordinating Committee, which has authority to hire, fire, and set chief compensation, while city administrators serve on the Operating Committee. Greenwood has never had a full-time administrator, so their mayor serves on both — creating a conflict of interest where the same person controls the chief’s employment and sits in on administrative meetings with the chief present. An independent attorney was hired to analyze the matter. The attorney concluded the dual role is not permissible. Greenwood has rejected that opinion. The council faces four options:
   1. Accept the status quo.
   2. Amend the JPA. Labadie implied that is not an option.
   3. Adding an addendum allowing the set-up. This is also not a viable option.
   4. Litigate.

Council members were asked to review the attorney’s opinion, which Nevinski will distribute, and direct questions to him.

Other business:

• Early Voting Period. The council approved switching to an 18-day early voting period for all elections, streamlining staffing and costs while maintaining mail and drop-off absentee options.
• Vine Ridge Deer Hunt Petition. Eleven households in the Vine Ridge neighborhood petitioned the city to remove Silverwood Park and 19605 Waterford Place from the deer management program, citing a safety incident in which a hunter ranged between those city-owned properties and adjacent private land near the residential neighborhood. The MBRB organizer agreed to voluntarily pull both properties from the hunt going forward. The council approved the petition 4–1, with Maddy dissenting.
• Resident Response Standards. DiGruttolo and Sanschagrin called for more specificity in staff responses to resident inquiries, using Duane Laurila’s letter on utility rate increases as the example under discussion. They noted the staff memo had not yet even been sent to Laurila. Both council members pushed back on vague language such as “policies have changed over time,” arguing that responses should instead identify exactly when policy changes were formally adopted by the council, where residents can locate those decisions in the public record, and should include enough mathematical detail that residents don’t have to dig through the budget themselves. City Administrator Nevinski was directed to amend the memo with that level of specificity and bring it back at an upcoming meeting.
• Shorewood Community and Event Center Task Force. Parks and Rec Director Czech reported that the SCEC Task Force held its first meeting last week, touring the building and discussing what is working well and what isn’t. Early conversations focused on marketing and how to better raise community awareness. The group will meet again in late June or early July.
• Fire Chief Hiring Timeline. DiGruttolo asked about the timeline for hiring a replacement fire chief. Mayor Labadie indicated the EFD board was meeting the following day and that the hiring timeline was on their agenda. No definitive timeline has been established yet, but a report back to the council was expected following that meeting.
• SLMPD Budget. Labadie reported that the shared police department budget is increasing, and Shorewood’s piece is growing due to the funding formula which is based on population, number of calls, and property values. As Shorewood’s population and property values have increased more than some partner cities, both Shorewood and Tonka Bay will be paying a larger share this year, while Excelsior and Greenwood’s shares decreased slightly. Labadie encouraged council members to attend upcoming budget meetings. The process has started earlier than usual given the complexity of the discussions ahead.

Sources:

May 26 Council Meeting Packet
Watch the recorded meeting at LMCC-TV.org
Deer Management Background
EFD Fire Chief Firing Background