[00:00:00] **Unknown Speaker:** Yeah, just feel my 19 seconds. [00:00:02] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is now 5:30 and I will call this regular meeting of the Burnsville City Council to order. It is our tradition to stand for a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance and we invite you to join us. [00:00:15] **All:** I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [00:00:30] **Elizabeth Kautz:** So, welcome everyone who's present in person. Um, members of the public can also choose to watch our meetings uh at burnsvillemn.gov/meetings or Comcast channel 16 or 859. The public can also participate through Zoom by joining us at zoom.us/join. And more information is available on our meetings web page and in the council's agenda packet. [00:00:55] **Elizabeth Kautz:** The first item on the agenda is uh announcements and a proclamation. Announcements have to do with all of our upcoming meetings. Our regular council meetings are scheduled for Tuesday uh March 24th at 5:30. It was moved to uh Tuesday, March 24th. Uh we usually have our meetings on the second uh the third Tuesday but and that that would have been February 17th. However, members of the council are going to be at the National League of Cities conference and so the meeting is moved to March 24th at 5:30 p.m. And then Tuesday, April 7th at 5:30 p.m. We have a work session that's scheduled for Tuesday, March 10th at 5:30 p.m. We have a budget work session that's scheduled for Tuesday, March 24th at 6:00 p.m. And then we have a closed uh session for the city manager's annual performance review and that is on Tuesday, April 7th at 6:00 p.m. [00:01:50] **Elizabeth Kautz:** And then we have one um proclamation this evening. So, members of the council and um and members of the community, it's Girl Scout week. Have you all gotten your cookies? [00:02:02] **Council Member:** My cookies. [00:02:03] **Elizabeth Kautz:** So whereas March 12th, 2026 marks the 114th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA, founded by Juliet Gordon Low in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. And whereas throughout its long and distinguished history, Girl Scouting has inspired millions of girls and women with the highest ideals of character, conduct, and patriotism. And whereas girls scouting connects girls to a world of possibilities in a positive and inclusive girl-led environment where girls are inspired to discover their passion and empowered to reach their full potential. And whereas through Girl Scouting, girls gain courage, confidence, and character to make their communities and the world a better place. And whereas nearly two million current Girl Scout members nationwide will be celebrating years of this American tradition with nearly 50 million women who are former Girl Scouts and living proof of the impact of this amazing movement. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Elizabeth Kautz, um, mayor of the city of Burnsville, on behalf of the city council, do hereby applaud the commitment Girl Scouting has made to America's girls and proudly proudly proclaim the week of March 8th through the 14th, 2026 as Girl Scout Week in the city of Burnsville in celebration and recognition of the legacy created for girls to thrive and develop their talent and leadership skills. Proclaimed this third day of March 2026. And here this evening to receive the proclamation is Sarah Sween and the Girl Scouts. And I think we have we're going to have a picture. So we're going to give you this and then we'll— [00:04:10] **Sarah Sween:** Thank you so much. [00:04:12] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Go right here. And right come on. So we have— [00:04:15] **Unknown Speaker:** All right, we ready. [00:04:17] **Elizabeth Kautz:** All right. making my cookies every day. [00:04:22] **Elizabeth Kautz:** The next item is citizens comments. This is the opportunity for anyone in the audience to address the council and on an item that is not on a printed agenda and not an application form that will be coming before us at a future date. Is there anyone who wishes to address the council? Mrs. Collins, anyone online? [00:04:40] **Macheal Collins:** No one online has asked to speak. [00:04:42] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Okay. Thank you. We will move on. The next item is additions to the final agenda and this is for emergency items only. City manager Lindberg, are there any emergency items to come before the body? [00:04:55] **Gregg Lindberg:** Nothing from staff. [00:04:56] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Members of the council. We will then move on to the consent agenda. The consent agenda is a group of items that's considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. However, an item on a consent agenda can be removed for a separate discussion and vote. Is there anyone in the audience who wishes an item on a consent agenda to be removed for a separate discussion and vote? Mrs. Collins, anyone online? [00:05:25] **Macheal Collins:** No one online has made the request. [00:05:27] **Elizabeth Kautz:** City Manager Lindberg, does staff want to pull anything? [00:05:30] **Gregg Lindberg:** Not from staff. [00:05:31] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Members of the council, then may we have May I have a motion to adopt the consent agenda please? [00:05:37] **Council Member:** Motion to approve. [00:05:38] **Council Member:** Second. [00:05:39] **Elizabeth Kautz:** There's a motion and a second. All in favor, please say I. [00:05:42] **Council Members:** I. [00:05:43] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Oppose say nay and the motion carries. Thank you. We are now at the regular agenda and the first item on the regular agenda is a public hearing. This is a resolution approving the municipal consent for Highway 13 and Nicollet Avenue intersection improvements. Logan Vlasaty, our city engineer, is presenting along with uh Kyle Johnson of Bolton & Menk and Lisa Daniels of MnDOT and Brian Fichek um of MnDOT. So, Mr. Vlasaty, the floor is yours. And then you have a whole group of people around you. [00:06:15] **Logan Vlasaty:** Absolutely. Madame Mayor, members of council, good evening. This is an exciting milestone for the Nicollet and 13 project where council will approve the final layout and we will hold a public hearing. So I will hand it over to Kyle Johnson to do the presentation on the project and then once that is concluded we will hold a public hearing for the project. [00:06:35] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Okay. Very good. Welcome Mr. Johnson. [00:06:38] **Kyle Johnson:** Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for having me. This is an exciting time for us here in Burnsville. We've been waiting for this for years. [00:06:45] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Yes, it will be exciting time after it's done and and there will be some road closures, but it'll be okay. You have to plan your trip to because the outcome is great. [00:07:00] **Kyle Johnson:** Yeah. Thank you for having me here today. Uh I'm going to begin by going over the municipal consent process. It is a state statute that is a checkpoint for MnDOT on highway projects to get consent from the municipalities uh to do the improvements. Uh MnDOT is required to submit a report and data and a layout. Um all that has been supported to you and is in your council packet. Uh the municipality then holds a public hearing which is what we're here today to approve or disapprove of the improvements and then the project moves forward if municipal consent is granted and it goes through a different process if it's disapproved. [00:07:40] **Kyle Johnson:** Uh the main reasons for the improvements at Nicollet and 13 are mobility and safety. Uh from a mobility standpoint, uh there's heavy congestion on each leg of that intersection with significant backups on Nicollet Avenue. Um it's also a heavy freight corridor. It's the second most congested freight corridor in the state. So having um improvements to the mobility uh are pretty significant for the freight um and overall commerce. From a safety standpoint with that heavy freight that causes some safety concerns along with the traffic congestion um and the crash rate index for this uh intersection is higher than the state average. So the improvements uh would provide additional safety measures. [00:08:25] **Kyle Johnson:** We've been very active in community engagement uh throughout the preliminary design. Uh we've held three open houses uh one in November of 24, one in March of 25, and just recently one in January of 26. We also presented to the Burnsville City Council at a work session in April of 2025, all culminating in uh this meeting today. Uh MnDOT has a active web page promoting the project and having project details which is also linked by the city's web page and the city and their staff have been actively involved in the engagement efforts for this project. [00:09:05] **Kyle Johnson:** Final layout. Uh this is kind of hard to see. uh from just one PowerPoint slide, but from a 30,000 ft uh overview of it, we are looking to grade separate the intersection of 13 and Nicollet Avenue. Uh with Nicollet Avenue going under and 13 going over. This will require the reconstruction of 13 from the 35W ramps all the way to just west of Portland Avenue. It also will require the reconstruction of Nicollet Avenue from River Ridge to Traveler's Trail. [00:09:35] **Kyle Johnson:** Zooming in on the improvements to just Nicollet at this time. Um again, the grade separation has 13 going over. Um from a movement standpoint, eastbound traffic will exit and do a little R loop. It's called a partial clover leaf. Um the other legs of the intersection act like a traditional uh interchange. Uh some main features of Nicollet Avenue, there'll be for northbound traffic, there will be uh dual left uh turn lanes onto westbound 13, very similar to what you have today at the existing intersection. Uh this provides some additional capacity uh for future growth as well. The uh north intersection and the south intersection have signals. Uh those provide pedestrian uh safe pedestrian crossings uh which adds to the safety component of this project. You'll also notice for that uh eastbound loop ramp that if you're going north on Nicollet, it's a free movement. Uh the reason for that is to provide uh free flowing movement so that traffic doesn't back up onto 13. [00:10:40] **Kyle Johnson:** Um also as previously mentioned the 13 is an overpass so 13 will be going over Nicollet. Uh there will be some lighting components underneath the bridge. Those are still being worked out. Uh there's also a shared use path on the east side going under the bridge and a sidewalk on the west side going under the bridge. This is a visualization of what the bridge will look like and the underpass will look like. Uh it's a very similar approach to what we what the city's been using for the 35 and Burnsville Parkway bridge. And we will be looking into LED lighting. [00:11:15] **Kyle Johnson:** Um from a going to the west the kind of the roadway uh geometry for this it is going to be a full reconstruction as I mentioned and 13 as you can see uh with the existing and the proposed is going to be shifted uh south and that just allows different uh allows us to accomplish our different geometry. Westbound traffic will have two through lanes on 13 like there is today and then there will be a acceleration lane also to the 35W exit. Eastbound will have two through lanes. [00:11:50] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Council member. [00:11:51] **Dan Kealey:** I don't think I've noticed that before that the you're compressing the east and west lanes uh closer together so there's less essentially center median whatever. Um, is that old section of the highway then going to be returned as um just um grass right away or something or is there something else planned for? [00:12:12] **Kyle Johnson:** Yeah, that's a good question. So, we're evaluating different storm water treatment options for there. Um it there's a lot of it's open to what that's going to be currently, but it'll be retained as MnDOT right away. [00:12:25] **Dan Kealey:** Yeah. Part of the reason I ask is you notice the multimodal lane that runs along uh you can see it on the north side. It comes off of River Ridge Boulevard and that what looks like a little turnaround or a dead end there and then it loops around and that's where MVTA buses uh what they used obviously to get on the highway. I'm just curious if there was the plan to expand that use some of that right of way to do anything with that particular multimodal onramp or is that going to just remain as is? [00:12:53] **Kyle Johnson:** That's going to remain as is. Yeah. One of the cost-saving measures that we've had as we've gone through different design iterations is to by shifting the highway to the south, we're actually able to keep that in place, which will have added benefits for our staging during construction and then it reduces the overall cost of the project. [00:13:12] **Dan Kealey:** Okay. [00:13:13] **Kyle Johnson:** Um for the eastbound lanes, there'll be two through lanes like there is today. And then we're also adding an an auxiliary lane uh from the 35W to 13 uh entrance uh that goes all the way to Nicollet Avenue. Um, I mentioned sidewalks uh before, but there will be uh sidewalks on the east and west side of the corridor through or through the whole corridor, and we'll be widening that to a trail underneath the bridge that will connect to the trail on the north side of 13. Uh due to elevation changes, we're going to be reconstructing that trail on the north side of 13 that runs adjacent to the MVTA property. [00:13:55] **Kyle Johnson:** Um noise walls. They are being considered uh in specific areas along the project corridor uh where traffic noise impacts have been identified. Uh residents and property owners who are identified as benefited receptors uh will have an opportunity to vote on the proposed noise wall near their home and property. That's a process that has already started. Uh benefited receptor is anyone who lives or owns property in the area that's the noise modeled wall would provide a substantial decrease of 5 dB or more uh from the noise levels that approach or exceed Federal Highway Administration noise abatement criteria. [00:14:35] **Kyle Johnson:** This is an image showing the location of the qualified um noise wall areas that are for consideration. Uh there's one area to the west of Nicollet Avenue on the south side. There's two areas to the east of Nicollet Avenue on the south side and where one area to the east of Nicollet Avenue on the north side. And these are all in that in in the solicitation process. That process uh has already began. It's a 30-day process that began on February 25th. Uh there's going to be a our first uh in-person meeting is on March 11th at the Diamondhead Education Center. There's a second in-person meeting on March 18th at the Savage City Hall. We're also hosting a virtual meeting on March 24th and then the solicitation ends on March 27th. Um, one thing to note is if less than 50% of the votes voting is received, uh, we have to do a second follow-up solicitation. [00:15:35] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Question. Yeah. Council member Kealey. [00:15:38] **Dan Kealey:** What's the total pool of the voting points? Is that is that from all the residents affected that are not? [00:15:45] **Kyle Johnson:** Yeah, it's a combination of the residents and the property owners. So, the property owners in areas that have um areas that have— [00:15:55] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Apartment— [00:15:56] **Kyle Johnson:** Apartments. Yeah. I'm trying to remember the exact breakdown. I think it's two-thirds of the votes go to the property owner and a third goes to the the residents. [00:16:05] **Elizabeth Kautz:** So, there there's an equation that is followed to determine uh the voting points for each wall. [00:16:10] **Dan Kealey:** Yeah. And that will impact the noise on the on the north side on the on the east because it's a it's a uh Dakota station, right? [00:16:18] **Kyle Johnson:** It Yeah. And then of course on the south side it's the it's residential. [00:16:22] **Dan Kealey:** Thank you. [00:16:23] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Yeah. Council member Gustafson. [00:16:25] **Dan Gustafson:** On the noise walls on the north side of 13, there's a lot of business along there. Is that noise wall going to start hiding some of the signs of those businesses or— [00:16:34] **Kyle Johnson:** On the west side or the east side? [00:16:36] **Dan Gustafson:** The west—the west side. [00:16:38] **Kyle Johnson:** Uh the west side we are—on the north side. We are not proposing. [00:16:42] **Dan Gustafson:** Okay. Never mind. I see it now. I was looking at it differently. [00:16:45] **Kyle Johnson:** Yep. And by proposing I mean evaluating the noise. [00:16:50] **Kyle Johnson:** Our plan project schedule uh municipal consent. We're looking to achieve that uh in March of 2026. Uh we're working on the environmental assessment. Uh we're looking to get that approved in May of 2026 with a project letting in August and construction some construction starting in the winter of 26 with a major impacts likely to occur in the spring of 27. [00:17:15] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Oh boy. [00:17:17] **Kyle Johnson:** From a traffic management standpoint, uh we are going to maintain at least one lane of traffic in each direction on trunk highway 13 uh and and maintain trunk highway 13 traffic. There will be some periodic weekend and nighttime closures on 13 uh for specific construction activities setting bridge beams, utility crossings. uh Nicollet Avenue will require to be a full closure uh during the uh 2027 season uh to allow for the the construction of 13. Um we anticipate it to be closed from spring of 27 to fall of 27 and the exact months of that uh since it's a design build contract are kind of open to that within the contract requirements that MnDOT has set. [00:18:10] **Kyle Johnson:** Estimated project cost. Uh the city has obtained 26.9 million in grants, state bonding, and congressionally directed spending. Uh one benefit of this is there's several things that are city of Burnsville cost for the project, but the funding that is that has been secured covers a lot of that. So the total estimated city of Burnsville cost is 210,000 after that funding sources have been applied. Currently, City of Burnsville has set aside 510,000 for the project. So, the amount of money you've set aside is exceeding the amount of money that uh you're currently obligated for. [00:18:55] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Good work, you guys. Yeah, thank Logan for that. [00:19:00] **Kyle Johnson:** Maintenance responsibilities um within kind of the corridor. Uh obviously you'll be responsible for your own street. Uh city of Burnsville will be responsible also for the sidewalks beneath the bridge including snow removal and sweeping. Uh MnDOT will be responsible for the bridge over Nicollet Avenue and including the maintenance involving the bridge structure and deck. [00:19:25] **Kyle Johnson:** As far as next steps, uh municipal consent, uh we're looking for a vote tonight if possible. Uh you do have some additional time if if needed. Um cooperative construction agreement will occur in the spring of 26. We'll be coming back for that. Uh the city does need to acquire some water main valves due to long lead time. Uh so there will be the ordering of those valves. Uh we're working on a visual quality manual uh actively with participants from the city that will go in as guidance informing the final design for the design build contractor. Um ongoing public communications, final design and project management will continue to occur and then construction. So that—any questions? [00:20:15] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Questions for Mr. Johnson? Not for me. You know, we've been working on it for so long. I think we are all good with the questions uh with all of the information that we've received whether it was uh at our work session or any of the meetings where you've presented. So it's been uh a very thorough uh process and uh I thank you all for the work that you've done. Council member Kealey. [00:20:45] **Dan Kealey:** Thank you. I just remembered the um the community engagement. I think you've already been reaching out and connecting with the chamber and other organizations um working with them to get some initial feedback. Do you want to just touch on what you've done so far? [00:21:00] **Kyle Johnson:** Well, that's a good question. I'm trying to remember all the details. I might need Lisa. Can I phone a friend on this one? [00:21:07] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Sure. [00:21:08] **Kyle Johnson:** Yeah, Lisa's been more involved in that than I have. [00:21:10] **Elizabeth Kautz:** There's a lot of prizes on the line. You want to make sure you get the right answer. [00:21:15] **Kyle Johnson:** Yeah. [00:21:16] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Miss Daniels, welcome. Good evening. Don't go too far, Kyle. [00:21:20] **Lisa Daniels:** Um, so in terms of community um engagement or public engagement and communications, we have a separate contractor on board um and they have reached out. They have um a list of businesses and residents within the area that um so they did um public outreach this last summer. Um, and so they went out physically, talked to the different businesses, um, and have a a spreadsheet tracking comments and those that have questions and comments and then coming back to the project team, um, to follow up with those specific businesses and— [00:22:00] **Dan Kealey:** Yeah. [00:22:01] **Lisa Daniels:** Um, yeah. So then they're al—also invited to the open houses that we have. [00:22:05] **Dan Kealey:** As well. Have you gotten any specific uh feedback or things that you know from a detours timeline you know advanced notices that kind of thing to prepare the community at large and the businesses certainly affected uh of what's coming. [00:22:20] **Lisa Daniels:** Right. There were concerns especially with the 35W traffic and um detours. We know that was a lot for everybody to um so we'll give it as much notice as possible. Um that was a lot of what those concerns were just because 35W was going on at that at that time, right? Um so it was hot for them. Um but yeah, I think with this one um we've been upfront with the open houses um when we're talking. We can't give the staging out yet because of the design build contractor. We've proposed one way of staging the detours and and traffic, but um the design build contractor is allowed to look at other options too and get our approval on those. [00:23:05] **Dan Kealey:** Is—can you comment a little bit on the overlap of the existing projects and the timing of this one coming on and what else might be going on like the the other bridge on 13. Um when will that construction be completed, Cliff be completed? those types of things before Nicollet shuts down. Let's put it that way. [00:23:25] **Lisa Daniels:** You know, I might have to phone a friend now. But I think what's going to happen, Bryant, you may—October. Okay. So, October is the 35W and 13 bridge and then ours will start up after that. So, like Kyle said, probably spring of 27 is when um more major construction will happen. [00:23:45] **Dan Kealey:** Um and then in terms of the west segment from Quentin to Washburn, is that what you're talking about? No, that's another piece of it. I was really concerned with the two that are, you know, yet one of them yet to happen so far this year, right? But it'll be done by October. So, but yeah, the further west is another piece of it. [00:24:05] **Lisa Daniels:** Yep. And that one, um, the letting for that one is scheduled for August of 27. So, actually, the construction won't start until probably that winter of 27, more likely spring of 28. And so hopefully we'll be done with our work here at Nicollet um finishing up and then we'll start on that one. [00:24:25] **Dan Kealey:** What is the timeline for the Nicollet interchange? [00:24:28] **Lisa Daniels:** Um so the letting is August of 26. Um so probably construction to start in spring of 27 through—could be 28. Um— [00:24:40] **Dan Kealey:** Like when the intersection still closed basically north and south of Nicollet. That's really the the key dates. Right. [00:24:46] **Lisa Daniels:** Right. So hopefully they will have it done um in one year. That would be the hope. Um but I think contractually we're saying that they um have until fall of 28 to get it done, but we are providing incentives to hopefully get that done quicker and get it back open to traffic. [00:25:05] **Dan Kealey:** One final just um representing the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, has there been um communication? Obviously, closure of Nicollet at 13 is a major disruption to a major one of the busiest uh parking rides in the Twin Cities and and getting those buses in and out of there. Um have—have you had some preliminary meetings with MVTA leadership to talk about this? [00:25:30] **Lisa Daniels:** Sure. MVTA and the project team have been really involved um communicating early on. Um and that was one of the big things that they worked on is making sure that the buses um and the project team were in communication with the alternatives as we were going through that um from the get-go. So yeah, they're well aware of what's going on and um we've been listening to their concerns and trying to address them. [00:25:55] **Dan Kealey:** Yeah, it's painful for single auto drivers uh who can meander alternatives and plan, but when uh folks rely on public transit, they need that public transit to get them to work on time, for example. And so those the detours and all that are a big shuffle for the MVTA planning staff to be able to accommodate and still deliver folks at their job when they expect to be. So— [00:26:20] **Lisa Daniels:** Sure. And I can say along with MVTA and the orange line, um, one of the other big things that has been a priority is making sure pedestrians can get back and forth across Nicollet. So even though it'll be closed, um, that is one of the primary things we're looking at is making sure there's pedestrian access. [00:26:40] **Dan Kealey:** Thank you. [00:26:41] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Mr. Thompson. [00:26:42] **Jeff Thompson:** Uh, thank you, Mayor and Council. Just to talk a little bit more about the city's approach to the communication. I think now as we move into the planning for the construction, we are already actively working with MnDOT and our teams on the communication for construction impacts. We know that's important to the community and to the the businesses and residents that live in the area. So, uh, MnDOT's provided a draft communication plan and they ultimately lead the communication of the project. But um we—they've provided a communication plan that's being worked on collaboratively um in addition to engineering but our economic development team as well as our communications team to ensure that it's uh informed by our approach to communication and also connecting with our businesses and residences in the area to be ahead of it and uh proactive to connect with them to make them well informed of the closures as they happen and the detours and all the the the um construction mitigation that will happen. [00:27:40] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Yeah. And I'm also very grateful to our staff because I asked the questions because of the businesses and the flow of traffic on Nicollet North and South is going to be closed. So their detours around and um and they have all of that uh scheduled also on where they're going to be going. The one thing is that we've been through this with the uh the parkway and how the detours went around that and they're going to do the same thing to make sure that people are aware of how to navigate through the city uh to the north and south of Nicollet. And so it's a you know everybody can see what happened with the parkway was closed for a long time but now it is a beautiful parkway and the bridge is lovely. So good. [00:28:30] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Yeah. Thank you. Happy with it? [00:28:35] **Dan Kealey:** Yeah it's very good. [00:28:36] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Thank you. Okay. Um is there other questions for the team? Okay. Mr. Vlasaty. Is there anything else before I open the public hearing? [00:28:45] **Logan Vlasaty:** That is all, madame mayor. [00:28:47] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Okay. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone who wishes to speak to this item? Anyone who wishes to speak to this item. Mrs. Collins. [00:28:55] **Macheal Collins:** No one online has requested to speak. [00:28:57] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Okay. I will now close the public hearing. Members of the council, your pleasure. [00:29:02] **Council Member:** Move to approve. [00:29:03] **Council Member:** Second. [00:29:04] **Elizabeth Kautz:** There's a motion and a second. All in favor, please say I. [00:29:07] **Council Members:** I. [00:29:08] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Oppose say nay. And a motion carries. Congratulations. It's been a long journey, but here we are. We have an approval and we're moving forward. Thank you so much to everybody who has worked very hard on this project and really appreciate it. Thank you so much. [00:29:30] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Okay, the next item is 5B and this is the Economic Development Commission's work plan and presenting is Chair Laura Meyer. Mrs. Meyer, the floor is yours. [00:29:42] **Laura Meyer:** Thank you very much. Uh it is my pleasure, Madame Mayor and Council, to present uh a bit of a review of the work that we've done on the commission and to give you a look at the work plan for your final approval. And so we're really grateful for the guidance that the council provides to us on the economic development commission when issues come up uh come to our commission. Uh we get great guidance from the council, but we also get incredible guidance and support from the staff. So we're very fortunate to have all of that. [00:30:15] **Laura Meyer:** Let's start with some wins. Uh we as always get a review on the success of the Open to Business program. This for those who are not aware is an extension of the MCCD, the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers. And in 2025, they were able to consult with 30 businesses in Burnsville and 16 Burnsville residents who own businesses. So, a really solid turnout for our business owning community. [00:30:45] **Laura Meyer:** Uh, we also have uh a review of a really great program that's a partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce. Uh, that is the Grow Minnesota program. And in 2025, there were 26 businesses visited uh and 150 total since the program started in 2020. and on the commission. We think that this is a really great opportunity to enhance retention, business retention in the city being really important and this is a great opportunity to partner with strong advocates in the chamber to try to hear from business owners on why they stay or if there are concerns that make them ever consider leaving so that we can address that. [00:31:30] **Laura Meyer:** We reviewed the land sale policy amendment uh and this was driven by the goals in the new economic development strategic framework and that was to address properties that are owned by the cities but are generally not able to be developed. So, uh tried to give some sound feedback on that as community members. And we had an update from uh sustainability coordinator Bridget Wrathsac uh on the website dashboard for sustainability uh which I believe has been up for just a little more than a year uh and is very impressive a great tool for community members, business owners, residents all to be able to assess where the city stands on sustainability efforts, what they can do to improve sustainability efforts etc. [00:32:15] **Laura Meyer:** We did provide some feedback on economic development strategic framework. Those objectives being to ignite the new growth and enhance the strengths that Burnsville already has economically targeting development and redevelopment opportunities and then to strengthen partnerships that spark economic development. And I will just share personally that I think that in Burnsville, one of the strongest things that we have is an incredibly strong synergy between the city staff and council, the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce, the school district. The strength of that trifecta and the great communication that goes between all all of them really does help economically and I use it as a talking point for any business who ever considers coming to Burnsville. And uh that strategic framework was adopted by the council in July of 2025 and then presented to us in September of 2025. [00:33:15] **Laura Meyer:** One of my favorite moments in the past year was the discussions that we had on LAHA, the local affordable housing aid funding. And I saw great discussions by the council in work sessions and then we took on even more discussions in the EDC. Uh, and I think that there are some really great programs that have been presented by the staff and honed through these conversations that will help increase funding for homeowner rehab loans, senior deferred loans, uh, adding important things like potentially down payment assistance, just the conversations that we have around those. Uh, I've been really proud of the work of the commission. [00:33:55] **Laura Meyer:** So with all that being said, this is the draft work plan as it stands now. A lot of it is continuing work. So there's not a lot that I have to add about each of these because it's it's just an extension of the main work that's been done. But uh the the strategic framework continuing that uh and the retention and expansion program I would say are the most exciting to me as I look ahead. There's also the community visioning uh program that's taking hold to get a lot more feedback on uh what the community appreciates and looks for in Burnsville. [00:34:35] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Okay. Well, thank you so much. I I have to tell you in watching the meeting uh with regard to the uh local affordable affordable housing aid at that particular session I was very impressed with the quality of the questions that the commissioners ask of Mr. Bischo and uh and you all have uh taken this very seriously and it's like every member of the commission asked very good questions and got very good answers from Mr. Bischo. So, thank you for the work that you're doing and that you are all very engaged in all of this work and um so thank you so much. [00:35:10] **Laura Meyer:** Thank you, Madame Mayor. I would also like to add that in the last year, we have sworn in four new members, which is nearly a 50% uh shift. So, [00:35:20] **Elizabeth Kautz:** I know it was like a really very snappy year for new EDC commissioners, but they jumped in really quickly uh and add a lot of value to the conversations, which we do take the responsibility of speaking on behalf of other community members really seriously and uh we get to connect with people about those issues too. [00:35:40] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Yeah, very well done. Um members of the council, if we have any questions, if no questions, a motion to adopt the uh work plan. [00:35:50] **Council Member:** So moved. [00:35:51] **Council Member:** Second. [00:35:52] **Elizabeth Kautz:** There's a motion and a second. All in favor, please say I. [00:35:54] **Council Members:** I. [00:35:55] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Oppose. Say nay. And the motion carries. Please extend our gratitude to the members of the EDC. Uh we're very grateful for the work that you do and the advice uh advisorship that you give us. Thank you so much. [00:36:10] **Laura Meyer:** I absolutely will. Thank you. [00:36:12] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Thank you. And the next presentation is uh our planning commission work plan and presenting is chair Karen Bradock. [00:36:20] **Karen Bradock:** Good evening, Madame Mayor and members of the council. Lovely to see you. Um thank you for the opportunity to present a recap of 2025 and then um a proposal for our 2026 work plan to you. Before I roll into um a recap of 2025, I also want to just say on behalf of the planning commissioners, um thank you to such a phenomenal staff to support um what we do and making sure that as a as an advisory committee or commission, we're we're being as successful as we can. [00:36:55] **Karen Bradock:** In 2025, um we we presented 26 planning cases that required 33 different approvals. Um we addressed several major development applications and actions that included the big hits project Hampton in Reutder Walton big um development applications there two zoning code amendments and then we also welcomed two new planning commissioners Commissioner Long and Commissioner Low who've been wonderful additions to to the commission. [00:37:30] **Karen Bradock:** Rolling on in to the 2026 work plan. Um some of these things you have seen before. So um first thing first quarter we're nearly done with finishing that zoning code reorganization update. Um I believe we have one more due. And then they have also started the subdivision ordinance update. Um and so that will be an overhaul. So a rewrite that's going to take some heavier lifting. And then the the thing on the work plan that I know everyone has been looking forward to is the 2050 comprehensive plan. um so that will begin in 2026. It'll be a couple years process I believe through 2028 and then a 2029 adoption I believe of the comprehensive plan. So um with that you have the work plan presented to you and I can stand for any questions. [00:38:15] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Any questions? [00:38:16] **Dan Gustafson:** No, but thank you for all the work on this ordinance code that I've been a part of that and it's very interesting work for it. So, it's okay. [00:38:25] **Karen Bradock:** Don't worry. [00:38:26] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Yeah. You know, when people look at your work plan and they might think, oh, they don't have—that's very dense. It's very dense and it's there's a lot of work uh here. But the other thing on top of what you do is that um in 2025 you had 26 planning cases that were before you all. [00:38:45] **Karen Bradock:** Yes. [00:38:46] **Elizabeth Kautz:** And uh you had 39 separate approvals that and I I want to thank you all for the work that you do and then make those recommendations to us. And as you all see whenever it comes with a unanimous approval it goes on consent. you guys have done a great job, but when there's a split vote, then we take a look at it. But you've done a lot of great work. So, thank you so much for all of that. But that's very dense work. So, what I want to make sure that our community understands the work plan might only have three items on it, but it's very dense. It's takes a lot of work. [00:39:20] **Karen Bradock:** Absolutely. [00:39:21] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Yeah. So, thank you so much. And yeah, I I'm very impressed with the new commissioners also. I watch and they ask great questions. Everybody's everybody is well informed before they come to the meeting and they've done their homework and I really appreciate that. [00:39:35] **Karen Bradock:** Yeah. Thank you. [00:39:37] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Yeah. So, members of the council, your pleasure. [00:39:40] **Council Member:** Move to approve. [00:39:41] **Council Member:** Second. [00:39:42] **Elizabeth Kautz:** There's a motion and a second. And all in favor, please say I. [00:39:45] **Council Members:** I. [00:39:46] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Oppose say nay. And a motion carries. Thank you so much. And please extend our gratitude to the members of the planning commission. We are very grateful for the work that you do. Thank you, uh, Mrs. Bradock. [00:40:00] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Uh, members of the council, there are no other items to come before us this evening. And a motion to— [00:40:06] **Council Member:** Motion to adjourn. [00:40:07] **Council Member:** Second. [00:40:08] **Elizabeth Kautz:** There's a motion and a second. All in favor, please say I. [00:40:11] **Council Members:** I. [00:40:12] **Elizabeth Kautz:** Oppose. Say nay. And the motion carries. Good night and thank you for being with us.