City Council

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL July 8, 2025 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Oakdale was held on July 8, 2025 at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Zabel at 7:00 PM. ROLL CALL On a call of roll, the following were present: Mayor Kevin Zabel Council Members: Kari Moore Andy Morcomb Gary Severson Staff Present: Christina Volkers, City Administrator Sara Ludwig, City Clerk Jim Thomson, City Attorney Jake Foster, Assistant City Administrator Andy Gitzlaff, Community Development Director Kristina Handt, Interim Finance Director Max Lohse, Community Development Specialist Luke McClanahan, City Planner Nick Newton, Police Chief Lori Pulkrabek, Communications Manager Cory Tietz, Public Works Director Kevin Wold, Fire Chief Others Present: Jeff Miller, Senior Associate, HKGi Beth Richmond, Planner, HKGi PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED FOR THE MEETING OF JULY 8, 2025. 4 AYES APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Workshop, June 10, 2025 Regular Meeting, June 10, 2025 Special Workshop, June 16, 2025 Special Meeting, June 18, 2025 1 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON TO APPROVE THE WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 10, 2025. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 10, 2025. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 16, 2025. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 18, 2025. 4 AYES PUBLIC HEARINGS a) Proposed Property Tax Abatement for the Purpose of Issuing Tax Abatement Bonds to Finance Certain Public Improvements Interim Finance Director Kristina Handt explained that the proposed property tax abatement is for the purpose of issuing tax abatement bonds to finance public improvements for the Willowbrooke Neighborhood West and North Parks and Willowbrooke Trails. Ms. Handt also went over the tax abatement financing process and timeline. Mayor Zabel opened the public hearing and welcomed comments from the audience. No comments were heard. Mayor Zabel closed the public hearing. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-68, APPROVING PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS. 4 AYES OPEN FORUM a) Proclamation: Park and Recreation Month and Park and Recreation Professionals Day Mayor Zabel proclaimed the month of July as “Park and Recreation Month”, and July 18th as “Park and Recreation Professionals Day”. Mayor Zabel thanked the Parks and Recreational staff for the incredible work they do. Mayor Zabel invited comments from the audience. No comments were heard. 2 CONSENSUS MOTIONS a) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Ordinance No. 950, Amending the Code of Ordinances for the City of Oakdale, Chapter 6 – “Solid Waste and Environment”. Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2025-65, Authorizing Publication of Ordinance No. 950 by Title and Summary. (Motion requires 4/5 majority vote). b) Request that the City Council approve the temporary on-sale liquor license, noise variance, and charitable gambling authority via raffle for Guardian Angels Catholic Church for their annual Fall Festival to be held on the dates of September 12 and 13, 2025 at their location, 8260 4th Street North. The noise variance will be for the hours of 6:30-10:30 PM on Saturday, September 13, 2025. c) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2025-61, electing to not waive the statutory tort limits relating to the liability coverage provided by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. d) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2025-69, Authorizing the Sale of General Obligation Improvement, Abatement, Sales Tax and Capital Improvement Bonds, Series 2025A, Subject to Certain Parameters; Fixing Their Form and Specifications; Directing Their Execution and Delivery; and Providing for Their Payment; and establish a pricing committee. e) Request per City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article IV, Sec.2-36 (c) and per City Personnel Policy PE-031, Section 5.0, that the City Council appoint Danielle Krinke and Paul Morales as full-time probationary Police Officers effective July 9, 2025, at a rate of pay consistent with the City base pay schedule, conditioned on passing all background requirements. f) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2025-62, approving Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Oakdale and the Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Employee’s Union, Local 197 (Patrol Officers), relating to Investigator Premium Pay and Shift Differential Pay. g) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2025-59, Approving Health Care Savings Plan for Certain City of Oakdale Employees. h) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2025-67, Supplementing and Restating Resolution 2024-116, Approving Use of Tax Increment Financing District (Redevelopment) District No. 2-6 (Bergen Plaza) for Costs of Tanners Lake Redevelopment Project. i) Request that the City Council approve the group 10 Police Lexipol policies as presented. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO APPROVE CONSENSUS MOTIONS A-I AS PRESENTED. 4 AYES ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Environmental Management Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Zabel) Planning Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Severson) 3 Parks and Recreation Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Morcomb) Tree Board (met on 6/17/25, Council Liaison Moore) Council Member Moore reported that the Tree Board had a discussion about the Arbor Day Tree Giveaway event held in April, and looked ahead to the 2026 Tree Giveaway tree selections. AWARD OF BIDS a) Awarding the Bid for City Project R2025-02 (Street Overlay), Authorizing Construction Related Engineering Services, and Amending the 2025 Budget Consulting City Engineer Brian Bachmeier explained that pursuant to Council authorization, bids were collected for the above-noted project. Two contractors submitted bids for the work, with OMG Midwest Inc. submitting the lowest bid of $1,183,462.25, which is below the Engineer’s estimate for the project. Because the bid came in lower than the Engineer’s estimate and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget, a budget amendment is necessary. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-66, AWARDING THE BID FOR CITY PROJECT R2025- 02 (STREET OVERLAY), AUTHORIZING CONSTRUCTION RELATED ENGINEERING SERVICES, AND AMENDING THE 2025 BUDGET. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH OMG MIDWEST INC. DBA MINNESOTA PAVING & MATERIALS FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS ACCORDING TO THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS THEREFORE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN AN ENGINEERING SERVICE CONTRACT WITH S.E.H. FOR CONSTRUCTION RELATED ENGINEERING SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $105,000 WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. 4 AYES STAFF REPORTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT a) Glenbrook Area Comprehensive Plan Amendment City Planner Luke McClanahan explained that the Glenbrook Area Comprehensive Plan amendment request involves approximately 8.5 acres of land and seeks to re-guide the land use designation from commercial to mixed use to better align with current zoning and local planning efforts. As required, City staff notified neighboring jurisdictions including North St. Paul, Ramsey County, Washington County, MnDOT, and the Valley Branch Watershed District, and received no 4  objections. Mr. McClanahan noted that the Planning Commission and City staff recommend approval of the request. If the City Council concurs, the amendment will be submitted to the Metropolitan Council for final review and approval. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-63, APPROVING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE GLENBROOK AREA AND AUTHORIZING CITY STAFF TO SUBMIT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL. 4 AYES b) Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Update and Zoning Map Community Development Specialist Max Lohse began by stating this has been a 16-month-long process to modernize and simplify the City’s Zoning Code. He thanked the City Council, residents, businesses, advisory body members, other City staff, and HKGi for their work on this project. Jeff Miller, Senior Associate with HKGi, presented on the Code Update project objectives and process, the community engagement efforts, and zoning district restructuring. Beth Richmond, Planner with HKGi, went over the following changes – parking standards, landscaping and tree preservation standards, signage standards, and administrative development procedures. Mayor Zabel thanked the Community Development staff, advisory body members, the public, and private stakeholders for the tremendous efforts that went into this project. The rest of the Council echoed these sentiments and encouraged the public to read the updated Code. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 946, REPEALING AND REPLACING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF OAKDALE, CHAPTER 16 – “PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT”. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-70, AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 946 BY TITLE AND SUMMARY. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 947, REPEALING AND REPLACING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF OAKDALE, CHAPTER 21 – “SUBDIVISIONS”. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-71, AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 947 BY TITLE AND SUMMARY. 4 AYES 5 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 948, REPEALING AND REPLACING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF OAKDALE, CHAPTER 25 – “ZONING”, AND AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF OAKDALE, CHAPTER 22 – “TREES”. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-72, AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 948 BY TITLE AND SUMMARY. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 949, REPEALING THE CURRENT ZONING MAP AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW ZONING MAP. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-73, AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 949 BY TITLE AND SUMMARY. 4 AYES ENGINEERING a) Approval of Plans and Specifications for City Project P2023-05 (Willowbrooke Trail Improvements Phase II) and Authorizing the Collection of Quotes Mr. Bachmeier explained that the request is to approve the plans and specifications for City Project P2023-05 (Willowbrooke Trail Improvements Phase II) which will pave one-third of a mile of trails within the Willowbrooke Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Additions. Mr. Bachmeier stated that because the project cost is estimated under $175,000, City staff can directly solicit bids from specific contractors. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-64, APPROVING THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR CITY PROJECT P2023-05, WILLOWBROOKE TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS PHASE II, AND AUTHORIZING THE COLLECTION OF QUOTES. 4 AYES RECREATION a) Donation to the City – Recreation Department, from Larry and Vickey Eberhard of the Eberhard Group with Keller Williams 6  Assistant City Administrator Jake Foster explained that Larry and Vickey Eberhard of the Eberhard Group with Keller Williams offered a donation to sponsor the Oakdale Nature Preserve 5K at Summerfest. Mayor Zabel thanked the Eberhard’s for their donation. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-60, ACCEPTING A DONATION FROM LARRY AND VICKEY EBERHARD OF THE EBERHARD GROUP WITH KELLER WILLIAMS, IN A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,500, FOR SPONSORSHIP OF THE OAKDALE NATURE PRESERVE 5K. 4 AYES CITY ATTORNEY No report. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT a) Contract Approval with Greystone Construction Company for Construction of Public Works Salt Storage Facility City Administrator Chris Volkers explained that this item is a request for contract approval with Greystone Construction Company to build a salt storage shed at the new Public Works facility site. This is a re-bid given the extremely high bids received initially. Ms. Volkers noted how this bid is significantly more affordable than the prior bids and staff is recommending approval. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN AND EXECUTE THE CONTRACT WITH GREYSTONE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SALT STORAGE FACILITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $304,425.00. 4 AYES COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS Council Member Moore shared positive comments about Summerfest and thanked all those who planned and executed the event. The rest of the Council echoed these sentiments. Mayor Zabel encouraged anyone interested in helping with Summerfest to reach out to Oakdale Summerfest Community Organization (OSCO) at info@oakdalesummerfest.com, City staff, or the City Council. Mayor Zabel made announcements about the following: • The Oakdale Farmers Market is held every Wednesday through October 8th from 2 to 6 PM in the City Hall parking lot. • Oakdale’s Summer Concert Series continues this Wednesday, July 9th at 7 PM at the Walton Park Bandshell. • The third-annual Ladders and Squads event is this Thursday, July 10th from 5 to 7:30 PM at Fire Station One, located at 5000 Hadley Avenue. • The next Pop-Up Splash Pad is this Saturday, July 12th from 1 to 2:30 PM at Eastside Park, located at 1744 Helmo Avenue. • Night to Unite will be held on Tuesday, August 5th. If you plan to host an event, please register on the City website, www.oakdalemn.gov, by Friday, July 25th. New this year, for residents and 7  neighborhoods not organizing a Night to Unite party, come to Walton Park on Tuesday, August 5th from 5 to 7 PM for a Night to Unite gathering hosted by the Oakdale Police and Fire Departments. CLAIMS A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO APPROVE CLAIMS FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 11, 2025 TO JUNE 24, 2025 IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,091,745.43. 4 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO APPROVE CLAIMS FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 25, 2025 TO JULY 8, 2025 IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,147,224.48. 4 AYES ADJOURNMENT A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 8, 2025, AT 7:51 PM. 4 AYES Respectfully submitted, Sara Ludwig, City Clerk 8