Summary of Shorewood City Council Meeting August 25, 2025

For transparency and resident education, SCA is providing a quick summary of Shorewood City Council meetings.

Due to technical changes at the LMCC website, please use the Chapters directory below the video to navigate to the referred content. Where applicable, links are included to the documentation in the council packet.

Present: DiGruttolo (Zoom), Gorham (Zoom), Sanschagrin, Labadie, Maddy, Nevinski, City Attorney, Finance Dir. Schmuck, Public Works Morreim, Parks Czech

Absent: Engineer Budde, City Clerk Thone

1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

2. CONSENT AGENDA (p. 1)

The Consent Agenda is a series of actions which are being considered for adoption this evening under a single motion. These items have been reviewed by city council and city staff and there shall be no further discussion by the council tonight on the Consent Agenda items. Any council member or member of city staff may request that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate consideration or discussion. If there are any brief concerns or questions by council, we can answer those now. Read: What is a consent agenda?

A. City Council Work Session Minutes of August 11, 2025 Minutes (p. 4)

B. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of August 11, 2025 Minutes (p. 8)

C. City Council Closed Session Meeting Minutes of August 11, 2025 Minutes (p. 16)

D. Verified Claims List Claims List, (p. 17)

E. Annual Review of Minnesota General Records, (p. 49) City Clerk/HR Director Memo

F. Tonka United Fall Kickoff Food Truck, (p. 51), Park/Rec Director Memo

G. 2025 Crack Seal Quote (p. 55), City Project 25-02, City Engineer Memo

H. 2025 Pavement Seal Quote (p.84), City Project 25-02 City Engineer Memo

I. New Retail Liquor License (p.112), Deputy Clerk Memo

J. MnDNR Conservation Partners Legacy (p. 115), Public Works Director Memo

K. Agenda Meeting Management Software Board Portal (p. 117), City Clerk/HR Dir. Memo

L. Summary of Conclusions of City Admin. Annual Review (p.120), City Admin. Memo

MOTION to approve Consent Agenda with changes: Passed 5-0.

3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR (Chapter 3 – video starts min. 03:10)

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. In providing this limited public forum, the City of Shorewood expects respectful participation. We encourage all speakers to be courteous in their language and behavior, and to confine their remarks to those facts that are relevant to the question or matter under discussion…(See agenda for balance of the instructions p. 2).

• Dale Newberg, Beverly Drive (Chapter 3 – start at min. 3:30)
  • Acknowledged that is his second visit to matters from the floor.
  • Opposes any type of fee to residents with municipal water access who have not connected.
  • Has no interest in city water and feels it is not a smart fiscal choice for his household.
  • Asked how many have paid the $5-10k access fee.
  • Pointed out that there should be more incentives to connect, rather than penalties.
• Barry Brown, Burl Oak Drive (Chapter 3 – start at min 6:10)
  • Gave a summary of discussions with Engineer Budde and the types of services that fall under “general engineering” that could be delegated to city staff, or that could be handled with an in-house engineer and only outsourcing certain work to Bolton & Menk.
  • He provided a scenario and projections that could mean considerable cost savings to the city.

4. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

None

5. PARKS

None

6. PLANNING

None.

7. ENGINEERING/PUBLIC WORKS

None.

8. General New Business:

A. Approval of SLMPD Annual Budget (Chapter 8A – start video at min. 12:19)

See budget here (p. 121):

Chief Ballsrud reviewed the budget, explained the reasons for various increases, and also explained how costs were cut.

Motion by Sanschagrin to approve 2026 Annual Operating Budget for SLMPD; SECOND by Maddy. Passed 5-0.

B. Approval of EFD Annual Budget (Chapter 8B – start video at min. 25:42)

See budget here (p. 125)

Chief Mackey reviewed the budget, explained the reasons for various increases and also reviewed how expenses were cut. He committed to getting future costs down as much as possible.

MOTION by Sanschagrin to approve operating budget and; SECOND by Maddy to approve: Passed 5-0.

MOTION by Maddy to approve the facilities budget for EFD; SECOND by Sanschagrin. Passed 5-0.

C. Out of state travel request: (Chapter 8C – start video at hr. 1:29:50)

See Administrator memo and documentation here. (p. 136)

*Note: SCA has detailed this conversation because of questions by some council members at the Aug. 14 meeting that delayed immediate approval. Read about the prior meeting here.

• • Nevinski recapped the previous discussion regarding the mayor travelling to Washington DC for the Minnesota Transportation Alliance “Fly-In.”
  • He emphasized the need for the Hwy 7 Coalition (not yet operational) to get active in lobbying for the Hwy 7 Corridor project. There is a $36M gap in the funding for the targeted improvements and maintenance of the project.
  • He shared that there is a sense of “sooner the better” for getting the project done. He received an offer “out of the blue” for a “scholarship” to cover the mayor’s attendance at the conference. The scholarship had not been offered at the earlier meeting.
  • Nevinski believes that meeting with federal officials on behalf of the city is in line with established policy, funding is available, and there is agreement that Hwy 7 is an important strategic priority for the city.
  • Maddy clarified that the scholarship being offered could be a net neutral.
  • DiGruttolo asked if Labadie would actually be lobbying.
  • Labadie reviewed the seminar agenda again. She said the Hwy 5/212 Coalition is sharing some of its knowledge.
  • She is not sure what meetings have been set up. It is a group session with the Minnesota delegation.
  • Gorham said that costing info is “back of the napkin” at this point because it is so early in the process. He asked exactly what would Labadie would be lobbying for.
  • Labadie said she could not speak with 100% certainty. 
  • Other cities have been successful in past lobbying.
  • The benefit of going this year is #1 it is being paid for, #2, the shared experience of a neighboring mayor who is part of the Hwy 7 corridor running from Hollywood Twp. to St. Louis Park.
  • Piggybacking on Mayor Weirsum’s knowledge can only benefit the community.
  • She said no one disagrees that Hwy 7 is unsafe.
  • She added concern for safety of children in school buses on Hwy. 7.
  • She would appreciate council support in attending the conference.
  • Sanschagrin asked what exactly the council would be approving now there is a scholarship involved.
  • Labadie said to accept the gift down the road when they have the final cost. She is just looking for the green light from the council at this point.
  • DiGruttolo was disinclined to approve this without an actual cost [above and beyond the scholarship.]
  • DiGruttolo is concerned because of the lack of a policy to frame what type of conferences councilmembers attend.
  • She is not sure what the city gets out of this and is concerned that this sets a precedent.
  • Further, she said this is an annual conference and asked why it was not budgeted for last year, why it was not thought about or planned for.
  • She has a hard time supporting this when the city is adding increased charges and fees on its residents.
  • DeGruttolo reiterated there is not a policy for when and which conferences are attended, and asked why this conference is more important than, for example water infrastructure. She understands that a scholarship has “appeared.” She still has not heard the return on investment.
  • Gorham reiterated that it is early in the process, the money seems to have dried up for MN highways.  He was inclined to wait until the construction plans are more formed.
  • Nevinski said some of the council training budget could be used for overage. Airfare is the variable.
  • Labadie told of her 10 years of lobbying endeavors for Hwy 7. She does not want any more death at Shorewood intersections. She does not know if anything will come out of her attendance at this meeting.
  • She then offered to pay out of pocket for any amount over the $1800.
  • She asked if the council was willing to “throw away” $1800, for possibly making connections to get funding. 
  • Gorham offered to arrange a meeting with MnDOT for Labadie in preparation for meeting the federal officials.

MOTION by Maddy for the mayor to attend the conference with a maximum cost of $1800. Any overages will be supplemented personally by the mayor. SECOND by Gorham. Passed 5-0.

9. Reports

Staff

• • Parks/Czech:
    • Park survey has been reopened, link on website.
    • Poster board was at Movie in the Park last weekend
    • RFP for SCEC plan reaped only two responses. They are reviewing
  • Public Works/Morreim:
    • Park mowing
    • Utility locates for construction work and fiber installs
    • Mill and overlay is complete, turf has been sprayed, a few items left to finish
  • Finance Schmuck:
    • Four responses to RFPs for audition services will be reviewed later in the week.
  • City Clerk/Thone:
    • None
  • City Attorney: None
  • City Administrator: None

Council:

• • DiGruttolo: None
  • Gorham: None
  • Sanschagrin:
    • LMCC building sale is moving forward.
    • They are proceeding with the move to the Long Lake building.
    • ED is stepping aside.
    • Costs are reduced with a lot of belt tightening.
  • Maddy: None
  • Labadie: Thanked MTA for providing a scholarship and to the council for allowing her to accept the scholarship.

ADJOURN

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