Oct. 12, 2026 Shorewood Council Meeting 3 Minute Recap

NOTE: Relevant links are at the end of this article

Attending: Council–DiGruttolo, Gorham, Sanschagrin, Labadie,
Staff–Nevinski, Thone, Atty. Shepard

Agenda item 2: Claims List

Payroll & benefits $164,480
Other expenses $154,666

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Matters from the Floor

1. Kat Van De Ruijtenbeek, 25735 Maple View Court

• Framed her comments as a governance issue, drawing on 20+ years of working with organizations’ leadership teams.
• Described “agency capture,” a concept in which regulators gradually adopt the perspective of those they regulate, without corruption or bad intent.
• Cited the Watten Ponds developer’s close relationship with staff: a repeat applicant whom the planning director said he likes and respects, and a city engineer who revised his recommendations to help advance the design.
• Said residents lack developers’ resources and access, so the city hears a well-funded case for only one side.
• Reminded the council that it, not staff, is elected, and asked for stronger oversight and transparency on decisions such as removing 130-year-old trees.

2. Todd Murtha, 25650 Mapleview Court

• Said the tree preservation policy gives the city 11 discretionary authorities, from protecting stands of trees to requiring a developer-funded independent forester.
• Reported that a data practices request turned up no record that any were considered for Watten Ponds, and none reached the council.
• Said 98 mature trees would come down on the first two lots, including a roughly 130-year-old oak recorded only as “tree 11036, 28 inches.”
• Asked that projects removing more than five significant trees (counted across commonly owned parcels and phases) come to the council with a written statement on which authorities were considered, and that staff keep a log of contacts with applicants.
• Noted it takes only two councilmembers to place the issue on a future agenda.

3. Janene Murtha, 25650 Mapleview Court

• Said her Sept. 14 and Sept. 28 emails to the council received no response.
• Recalled that after a petition from about 400 residents, the council required an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) in February 2026 (Resolution 26-15). The Watten Development appeal will be argued Nov. 12.
• An access easement was recorded in April and requested a lot combination on Sept. 14 for parcels north of the subdivision, which staff said would not need to come before the council.
• Argued the resolution adopted a petition covering connected and phased development, so the EAW should already apply to those parcels.
• Said Gravity sold all three northern properties on Sept. 23 to a builder that has taken out a construction mortgage.
• At the end of her presentation she requested two actions from the Council: (1) Confirm that Resolution 26-15 remains in effect and issue a written determination addressing connected and phased development and cumulative effects, and, (2) Notify ABC Builders in writing and withhold land-disturbance approvals pending that determination, to the extent permitted by law.

4. Eric Magistad (Incoming Councilmember in Jan. 2027), Cajed Lane

• Said door-knocking found residents pleased with Public Works updates and Comprehensive Plan engagement. Their top concerns were taxes and affordability, the community center and natural preservation.
• Urged the council to go back to the 2027 levy now and look for savings by drawing on reserves, capital project timing, professional service contracts and forecasting.
• Noting public safety is nearly half the budget, asked whether multi-year equipment forecasts from public safety partners are built into the city’s long-term plans.
• Suggested clearer budget presentations (levy targets up front, fewer slides, more analysis and risk-based scenarios), with the council leading on a common format.

5. Barry Brown, Burlwood Court

• Adding to Ms. Murtha’s statement, he said only one of six council recipients responded to his recent letter, and called council acknowledgement of residents’ emails a basic courtesy.
• Asked that emailed resident documents be added to the council packet, since only spoken comments become part of the permanent record.
• Objected that staff’s Oct. 8 communication announced the city would run senior programming in 2027 before the council had finished deciding.
• Said Minnetonka Community Education charges for competitions and about $180 for a six-week mahjong course, arguing the SCEC is giving its services away by not charging at all.
• Suggested using the Shore Report instead of a separate senior newsletter.
• He recommended asking the facility’s five part-time young adult workers for their opinions about what the center should be.

Other agenda items

• Certification of assessments to property for unpaid city utility charges. Notices have been sent to property owners.
• Approved of the 2027 benefits packages for city employees.

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Sources

City council meeting packet/background
Watch the meeting here
Read more about Gravity Investments-Watten Ponds
Read the SCEC work session summary

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