Shakopee City Council Meeting Highlights

Press release from the City of Shakopee:

November 5, 2020

The Shakopee City Council met Wednesday, Nov. 5. Among the meeting highlights:

Council approves plans for new Jennifer Lane Park, Timber Trails playground

The City Council approved a concept plan for Jennifer Lane Park, a new city park in the Prairie Meadows development. The council also approved a concept plan for the playground replacement at Timber Trails Park. Through a variety of community engagement activities, area residents helped drive park design, selecting a play-focused park with a new park feature, Bankshot, for Jennifer Lane and a more traditional playground with a large climbing structure for Timber Trails. The combined budget for the two parks is $390,000. Construction is planned for spring 2021. More information: PeggySue Imihy, Senior Planner, 952-233-9325.

City assesses property owners for 2020 Full-Depth Reconstruction Project

Following a public hearing, the City Council adopted assessments for the 2020 Full-Depth Pavement Reconstruction Project. The final assessment amount is $618,366.75 to be divided among benefiting properties adjacent to Park Ridge Drive, Sarazin Street, Promise Avenue, Peace Avenue, Peace Circle, Dominion Avenue, Chateau Avenue, Leavitt Woods Lane, Vista Ridge Lane, Westridge Drive and Montecito Drive. More information: Ryan Halverson, Assistant City Engineer, 952-233-9366.

Council offers direction on garbage, recycling services

The City Council directed staff to move forward with developing a request for proposals (RFP) for garbage and recycling services beginning January 2022. The city, which has had organized garbage collection since 1991, last issued an RFP in 2013 and entered a five-year contract with Republic Services in 2014. The contract was later extended to expire at the end of 2021. Council members directed staff to develop an RFP that builds on the current contract and sets additional expectations for improved customer service and collection options. The city would need to issue an RFP early in 2021 with a final decision by April or May to allow enough time to plan for a potential transition. More information: Nate Burkett, Assistant City Administrator, 952-233-9310.

Council approves text amendments to city zoning code

The City Council approved changes to the city’s zoning code to better align with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The changes included:

• Amending City Code 151.002, 151.007, 151.049 to add definition, modify uses and make the language more user friendly
• Eliminating chapters 151.012-151.14 to repeal three sections of redundant code
• Adding chapter 151.052 to add a new zoning district for parks and open space

City staff anticipate bringing forward more changes over the next year to improve use of the code and better align with the comprehensive plan. More information: PeggySue Imihy, Senior Planner, 952-233-9325.

Council approves concession agreement with youth hockey association

The City Council approved a concession agreement with Shakopee Youth Hockey Association for the 2020-21 hockey season. The youth association will operate the Shakopee Ice Area concession stand and pay the city 10 percent of gross revenues through March 15, 2021. More information: Jay Tobin, Parks and Recreation Director, 952-233-9514.

Council supports first steps for city brand development

The City Council expressed support for the first step in developing a citywide brand. The project is one of the strategic initiatives identified as part of the 2020-24 Strategic Plan. While the city would maintain its logo, colors and overall graphic image, the brand would be built around the tagline “Innovating. Entertaining. Thriving.” The next step is to develop a city strategic communications plan that would encompass the new messaging. More information: More information: Nate Burkett, Assistant City Administrator, 952-233-9310.

Council sets special meeting to canvass election results

The City Council set a special meeting at 6:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 to canvass municipal election results from the 2020 General Election. Election results are unofficial until officially certified by the City Council.

These summaries are a sampling of the meeting. See the entire agenda packet with supporting documents at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/agendasandminutes. The meeting is also available for viewing on demand at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/livestream.

This press release was produced by the City of Shakopee. The views expressed here are the author’s own.