
The City of Wayzata held a “Sand Breaking” event to commerate the beginning of construction of the Lakewalk (Phase 2A) of the Panoway project on July 11th, 2023.
Additional construction timeline updates can be found on by visiting this website.



The City of Wayzata held a “Sand Breaking” event to commerate the beginning of construction of the Lakewalk (Phase 2A) of the Panoway project on July 11th, 2023.
Additional construction timeline updates can be found on by visiting this website.
5.37% increase in operational expenses, loss of revenue and staffing needs drive need
The Wayzata City Council will discuss the preliminary property tax levy need for the 2023 City budget on September 6th, 2022.
You can find information on the proposed budget, levy, and fee schedule by visiting the agenda center on the City’s website.
A couple of items that stand out initially:
Watch for additional coverage of this important topic from Wayzata.com.
MacDonald, Parkhill, Hickman, and Stockton
The field for the Wayzata City Council race has been set, barring a withdrawal by one of the four candidates. The Wayzata residents who have filed to run are:
MacDonald currently serves as a Councilwoman and was appointed after Johanna Mouton was elected Mayor.
Parkhill serves as the Planning Commission Chairman and has run for council previously.
Chris Hickman is a retired pilot and 30 year resident of Wayzata.
Larissa Stockton serves as the Vice Chair of the Planning Commission.
Current City Councilman Jeff Buchanan did not file to run within the filing window.
Candidates have until August 18th to withdraw their names from the race. Stay tuned to Wayzata.com for additional news and information.
The Minnesota primary will take place Tuesday, August 11, and Wayzata voters will have a variety of choices to make.
Some of those choices include: U.S. Senate, U.S. Third Congressional District, and Hennepin County Commissioner.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Below is a link to a sample primary ballot for Wayzata residents.
https://myballotmn.sos.state.mn.us/ShowImage.aspx?i=0594DBB0-CE1A-4DB8-B1E3-3064AA749168
Filing for the Wayzata mayor and two council seats ends Tuesday, August 11.
So far, Wayzata city council member Johanna McCarthy is the lone candidate for mayor. Current mayor, Ken Willcox, announced in July that he would not seek a fourth term.
Meanwhile, Wayzata Planning Commissioners Cathy Iverson and Jeffrey Parkhill announced they are running for city council. Current city council members Dan Koch and Alex Plechash are up for re-election.
The mayoral and city council seats are four-year terms.
Read more about the candidates Wayzata residents will chose in the 2020 election here:
https://www.wayzata.com/p/2020-election.html?m=1
———-
Jim Gooley 933
2006
City Council (two seats)
*Sue Bangert 1,126
*Jack Amdal 758
Tom Tanner 695
Doug Hudson 539
2008
Mayor
*Ken Willcox 1,803 (unopposed)
City Council (two seats)
*Andrew Mullin 1,210
*Mary Bader 1,196
Tom Tanner 948
2010
City Council (two seats)
*Tom Tanner 898
*Jack Amdal 861
Jim Wilson 749
2012
Mayor
*Ken Willcox 1,842 (unopposed)
City Council (two seats)
*Andrew Mullin (re elected) 1261
*Bridget Anderson 1079
Alex Plechash 1076
2014
City Council (two seats)
*Steven Tyacke 865
*Johanna McCarthy 799
Alex Plechash 789
Jack Amdal 730
2016
Mayor
*Ken Willcox 2,226 (unopposed)
City Council (two seats)
*Dan Koch 1,718 (unopposed)
*Alex Plechash 1,715 (unopposed)
2018
City Council (two seats)
*Johanna McCarthy ,1337
*Jeff Buchanan 1,028
Cathy Iverson 956
Barry Petit 821
At the beginning of July, a bathroom facility began to take shape on what was previously the CōV Restaurant parking lot along Lake Street in downtown Wayzata.
It is a portion of a $9 million construction project.
A month later, it has become the town talker.
Wayzata.com photo – July 29, 2020
“I know there’s a lot of talk in the community about that,” said Dahl during the Aug. 4 city council meeting referring to the construction of the plaza bathroom.
Wayzata.com photo – July 16, 2020
“I have received a few comments recently about the design of the project, particularly relating to the restroom which is currently under construction,” stated Dahl.
“Public restrooms were demanded by the business community and property owners as a part of our lengthy engagement process,” added Dahl. “Restrooms are usually ‘necessary evil’ when it comes to public space design. While they are needed there is never an ideal location for them.”
Plaza bathroom discussion during the Wayzata City Council Meeting 8/4/20
“One of the conversation pieces around the location of the restroom was also with regard to the relocation of the trail head and bike parking in the public ramp and close proximity to all those things,” said city council member Johanna McCarthy during the Aug. 4 city council meeting. “So, as I remember the conversation, that was certainly also a discussion point in terms of where we would locate the restroom facilities.”
To get a better idea of the community concerns, Wayzata.com asked Facebook followers what they thought of the bathroom’s location.
The comments were mostly negative. A small sampling includes:
During the planning stages, the city looked at three options for the restroom:
1.) West end of plaza
2.) Within the central plaza
3.) Just west of Cov Restaurant (current location)
Dahl admits that while it currently looks like a cinder block, the final product will be different.
Photo courtesy City of Wayzata
Photo courtesy City of Wayzata
“Additionally, because it is the only vertical structure currently installed it stands out,” said Dahl.
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Energy & Environment Committee Zoom Meeting June 23, 2020 |
A big part of the committee’s role is to act as a research arm of the City Council.
“It (The Energy & Environment Committee) will help build community and meet our overall vision, which is: Wayzata is a charming, socially connected, and walkable lakeside community,” said Dahl. “A multi-generational community at the forefront of sustainability, with a healthy environment, enticing parks and public spaces. It is a proud steward of its premier natural asset; Lake Minnetonka.”
Monday’s Iowa Caucuses have squarely fixed the nation’s political focus on our border state to the south. Wayzata native, Amy Klobuchar, and several other Democratic presidential candidates are hoping to win over the Hawkeye State.
A month from now, Minnesota will participate in Super Tuesday. Minnesotans and people living in 13 other states will take part in their own presidential primaries.
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Wayzata City Council: Alex Plechash, Johanna McCarthy, Ken Willcox, Dan Koch, Jeff Buchanan |
At a local level, let’s fast forward to November – three members of the Wayzata city council will be up for re-election: Mayor Ken Willcox, council member Dan Koch and council member Alex Plechash.
Willcox was elected mayor in 2008 after serving on the city council and the city planning commission. He ran unopposed in 2008, 2012 and 2016. He told Wayzata.com that he is “undecided” as to whether he will run again for mayor in 2020.
Council members Koch and Plechash are currently in their first four-year term. Both ran unopposed in 2016.
Pleschash told Wayzata.com that he intends to run for re-election this year. And so did Koch.
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State/City of Wayzata
Jim Gooley 933
2006
City Council (two seats)
*Sue Bangert 1,126
*Jack Amdal 758
Tom Tanner 695
Doug Hudson 539
2008
Mayor
*Ken Willcox 1,803 (unopposed)
City Council (two seats)
*Andrew Mullin 1,210
*Mary Bader 1,196
Tom Tanner 948
2010
City Council (two seats)
*Tom Tanner 898
*Jack Amdal 861
Jim Wilson 749
2012
Mayor
*Ken Willcox 1,842 (unopposed)
City Council (two seats)
*Andrew Mullin (re elected) 1261
*Bridget Anderson 1079
Alex Plechash 1076
2014
City Council (two seats)
*Steven Tyacke 865
*Johanna McCarthy 799
Alex Plechash 789
Jack Amdal 730
2016
Mayor
*Ken Willcox 2,226 (unopposed)
City Council (two seats)
*Dan Koch 1,718 (unopposed)
*Alex Plechash 1,715 (unopposed)
2018
City Council (two seats)
*Johanna McCarthy ,1337
*Jeff Buchanan 1,028
Cathy Iverson 956
Barry Petit 821
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