WAYZATA — In a wide-ranging May workshop, the Wayzata City Council discussed long-term staffing needs, reviewed a proposed City Operations Resilience Plan, and weighed potential changes to the city’s tree ordinance in response to concerns raised by Woodhill Country Club. While no formal votes were taken, the meeting offered clear direction on key budget and policy issues likely to shape upcoming decisions.
Staffing Requests Reflect Public Safety Priorities
The evening began with a presentation on long-term staffing needs as part of the city’s 2026 budget planning process. City Manager Jeff Dahl and department leaders outlined three positions under consideration: a full-time fire chief (2026), an additional police officer (2026), and an IT position (2027).
Fire Chief Kevin Klapprich described the evolving demands of leading a modern fire department, explaining that although his role is officially part-time, he routinely works 25–30 hours a week managing inspections, equipment maintenance, training, and public education. “There’s just so much more going on now,” Klapprich said, noting that outdated policies and pre-planning gaps hindered emergency response in some recent cases.
Council members debated whether to explore a shared service model with neighboring communities or move forward with creating a standalone full-time chief position. While open to future regional collaboration, the Council broadly supported the need for dedicated leadership and succession planning.
Interim Police Chief Jamie Baker presented a case for expanding the department’s authorized staffing by one officer to retain high-performing Community Service Officers (CSOs). Given the 8–10 month timeline to fully onboard and train a new officer, Baker argued that keeping top CSO talent in-house was a smart investment. The proposal would allow the city to hire up one position in anticipation of vacancies, rather than reacting after a departure.
The Council showed general support for the strategy, with some members emphasizing the importance of linking new positions to operational impact, such as expanded patrol coverage or improved service continuity.
Energy & Environment Committee Presents Resilience Plan
The Council then reviewed a draft City Operations Resilience Plan, developed by the Energy & Environment Committee in partnership with consultants from LHB and funded by a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency grant.
The plan outlines how city operations—from vehicle fleets to water treatment—can adapt to environmental and infrastructure pressures tied to climate change, aging systems, and resident growth. A greenhouse gas inventory showed increased emissions tied largely to water usage, while also pointing to improvements in energy efficiency elsewhere.
“This is about using data to guide smart infrastructure decisions,” said committee member KC Chermak. “It’s not prescriptive, but it provides a framework for future choices.”
Mayor Andrew Mullin expressed appreciation for the work, but emphasized the need to prioritize cost-effective, actionable items and better understand resident appetite for sustainability spending. “Most people support the idea of resilience,” he stated, “but we need to understand what they’re willing to fund.”
The resilience plan will come before the Council in June for approval to meet grant closure requirements. Final adoption will not commit the city to specific actions, but will serve as a strategic tool for future decision-making.
Woodhill Country Club Requests Exemption from Tree Ordinance
The final topic centered on Woodhill Country Club’s request for relief from the city’s strict tree preservation ordinance. As the club prepares for a major course restoration, representatives said the current policy—crafted with residential development in mind—creates unintended burdens for large landowners like golf courses.
General Manager Brian Edmiston described how Woodhill’s 72-acre property contains more than 5,000 trees and detailed safety concerns with aging specimens that overhang practice areas. In some cases, trees deemed unsafe by the club’s certified arborist could not be removed under city policy due to low “occupancy” calculations on golf grounds.
“This ordinance was not written with properties like ours in mind,” Edmiston said. “We’re trying to manage green space responsibly, but the administrative and financial hurdles are substantial.”
Council members agreed that the ordinance, while effective at curbing overdevelopment, did not anticipate institutions managing large tracts of land for recreation or education. The consensus was to direct staff to draft a proposed exemption for golf courses, with broader consideration of institutional landholders—such as schools or utility providers—to follow as part of a larger policy review.
Next Steps: Budget, Policy, and Strategic Planning
The Council concluded the workshop by agreeing to revisit the city’s subdivision code in a future session, citing a need for more flexibility in current regulations.
Each of the evening’s three main topics will return to the Council in some form—through budget discussions, formal ordinance proposals, or strategic planning workshops.
“We’ve got important decisions ahead,” said Mayor Andrew Mullin. “This was a great step forward in clarifying where we are and where we need to go.”
