Summary of Shorewood City Council Meeting – April 14, 2025

To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting. Links to the meeting video are included with each item.

Council members present: Gorham, Sanschagrin, Labadie, Maddy
Council members absent: DiGruttolo
Staff member present: Nevinski, City Attorney, City Planner Griffith, Finance Dir. Schmuck, Engineer Budde, Public Works Morreim

2. CONSENT AGENDA

(Actions approved with a single motion, they have been reviewed and there will be no further discussion or public comment.)

• 1. 1. City Council Work Session Minutes of March 24, 2025 Minutes
     2. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of March 24, 2025 Minutes
     3. Verified Claims List Claims List
     4. Public Works Seasonal Appointments
     5. Hennepin County Sentence to Serve and Productive Day Agreements
     6. Extension of Plat Approvals, Development Agreement & Stormwater Management Agreement for Asakenas Addition Resolution 25-034
     7. SafeAssure Quote and Service Agreement Public Works Director Memo
     8. Parks & Recreation Sponsorship for Concert in the Park
     9. Tonka United Kick-Off Food Truck
     10. Reserve Policy

Approved 4-0

3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR This is an opportunity for members of the public to bring an item that is not on tonight’s agenda, but related to the governance of the City of Shorewood, to the attention of the City Council. [full text on city website agenda.] No discussion or action will be taken by the Council on this matter. If requested by the Council, City staff will prepare a report for the Council regarding the matter and place it on the next agenda.

None.

4. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

None.

5. PARKS

A. Report by Commissioner Wenner on 03-25-25 Park Commission Meeting Minutes

• • Report from Tonka Football Association, regarding their make-up and space
  • Needs. They made a request to place a Dome in Freeman Park.
    New Chair is Mike Hirner, vice chair is Dave Garske.
  • Reviewed the draft park priorities plan with good feedback
  • Discussion regarding the continuation of annual park tours, some felt there was value in visiting the parks, others said the tours are too time consuming. The debate is ongoing.
  • Commission approved a request from TUSA food truck at a kick-off event at Freeman Park in June.
  • Off leash dog signage has been approved. The idea of a dog park has been discussed and the park commission acknowledged the need.

6. PLANNING

A. Public Hearing: CUP Amendment for Antenna Installation

Location: 26350 Smithtown Rd Resolution 25-037
Applicant: Buell Consulting, Inc. On Behalf of Verizon Wireless

The public hearing is being held by the council because of Federal rules involved. Current antennas on the tower are owned by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. The applicant will provide documentation concerning safe radiation levels as part of their permitting process. The council’s task is to agree to another antenna installation on the water tower and ask relevant questions. There have been no public comments.

Approved 4-0

B. CUP Amendment & IUP for Construction of New Home

Location: 27225 Smithtown Rd Resolution 25-038
Applicant: Alan and Jessica Brandhorst

This is the Twin Orchards property: also the applicants’ residence. Permitting is needed to keep the existing home intact while the new home is being built. The new structure meets all zoning setback requirements. An agreement with the city will require a two-week time frame for destruction of the existing home, once a certificate of occupancy is issued for the new building.

Approved 4-0

C. Variance to Rear Yard Setback for Detached Garage

Location: 5765 Eureka Rd Resolution 25-039
Applicant: Dan Wallace

Approved 4-0

7. ENGINEERING/PUBLIC WORKS

None.

8. GENERAL/NEW BUSINESS

A. Rental Licensing Software Quote & Service Agreement

This software is intended to streamline rental property inspections and permitting, which are now done manually by allowing online renewals and applications. On average, 50 properties apply per year. The licenses are on a 3-year cycle. The software can be streamlined to fit other licensing needs within the city. With the saving of labor costs and anticipated rate increases for licensing, the cost should be near break-even in 2026.

9. STAFF AND COUNCIL REPORTS AND DISCUSSION

A. Staff

Communications Update
The communications director gave a first quarter report on outreach and demographics. See their slides used in the presentation here. (starting at p. 30)

B. Mayor and City Council

• • • Czech: Proposals have been reviewed for park master plan. Sports are starting in the next few weeks.
    • Morreim: Getting parks ready with aerating and seeding, street sweeping, pothole patching, ROW trimming
    • Budde: Road restrictions come off on Wednesday, working with contractors to get punch lists completed, bids for 2025 mill & overlay going out on Thursday, weight restrictions ending
    • Schmuck: None
    • Griffith: Two public hearings will be on the next council agenda.
    • Attorney: None
    • Nevinski: Police chief interview process is ongoing, Hennepin EMS is piloting a rapid response paramedic program. Meetings continue regarding the Hwy 7 corridor project
    • Gorham, Sanschagrin and Maddy: None.
    • Labadie: Attended SLMPD quarterly meeting and discussed hiring a new chief.

10. Adjourn

Additional Resources
View the meeting anytime at LMCC-TV.org
Watch all meetings live on Zoom
Read the packet (the public background materials provided to the council)