Tag: Wayzata Charter Commission

At its January 6 meeting, the Wayzata City Council set aside time to recognize residents concluding their service on city boards and commissions, continuing an annual tradition that coincides with the seating of new volunteer members.

Mayor Andrew Mullin opened the recognitions by noting the city’s reliance on engaged residents who give their time and expertise to civic service. “Hats off to all these folks… we acknowledge all of our retiring members. We appreciate your contributions and commitment and we wish you well and hopefully we can recruit you back for service at a later date,” Mullin said.

The first recognition went to Bianca Jensen, who has served on the Parks & Trails Board since 2023. Mullin highlighted Jensen’s contributions to the Klapprich Park Improvement Project and her hands-on involvement in community events, including Spring Splash, Maple Tree Tapping, Sunday Music in the Park, and community education programming. He noted that her work reflected the board’s active role in both long-range planning and community engagement.

Members of the Energy & Environment Committee were also recognized. KC Chermak, a founding member who joined the committee in 2019, was credited with helping establish the group’s direction in its early years. Mullin noted her role in shaping and implementing the city’s Energy Action Plan, advancing municipal solar installations, contributing to the City Operations Resilience Plan, and supporting numerous sustainability initiatives.

David Kirkland, who served from 2024 to 2025, was recognized for his advocacy around Wayzata’s Dark Sky initiative. Mullin highlighted Kirkland’s role in planning and implementing the Dark Sky community event and his contributions to the City Operations Resilience Plan, describing both efforts as meaningful steps in the city’s environmental and resilience planning.

A particularly personal moment came with the recognition of Kent Howe, who served on the Charter Commission from 2010 to 2025. Mullin emphasized that while Howe’s 15-year tenure on the commission is significant on its own, his broader civic involvement spans decades. He described Howe as “a fixture in and around boards and commissions probably for the last 30 years,” including prior service on the Planning Commission.

At “91 years young,” Howe was praised not only for longevity but for steady judgment and institutional knowledge. Mullin noted that although the Charter Commission operates largely out of the public spotlight, its work is fundamental to city governance. He credited Howe’s long service with helping ensure that Wayzata’s charter “functions as it should and evolved it as it needed,” referring to him as one of the city’s “wise sort of fathers.”

The council also recognized Dan Koch, who served on the Housing and Redevelopment Authority beginning in 2022 and was recently appointed to the Wayzata City Council. Mullin noted that Koch’s professional background and prior experience—including two earlier terms on the council—made him a valuable contributor to the HRA. During his tenure, Koch supported the authority’s mission to foster housing opportunities, encourage thoughtful redevelopment, and address affordable housing needs in alignment with the city’s comprehensive plan and governing statutes. Mullin said Koch helped guide discussions aimed at improving the quality and diversity of housing options in Wayzata.

Historic preservation efforts were highlighted with recognition of Kelly Gratton, who served on the Heritage Preservation Board from 2024 to 2025. Mullin noted that Gratton is also a longtime election judge and praised her work on more than 40 Centennial House Awards and two Mayor’s Awards celebrating the preservation of Wayzata’s historic character. During her tenure, the board hosted Centennial Homes events, participated in James J. Hill Days, and developed a forward-looking work plan for 2026 and beyond.

The final recognition of the evening was for Judy Starkey, whose combined service on the Heritage Preservation Board spanned from 2001 to 2014 and again from 2019 to 2025—nearly two decades devoted to preserving Wayzata’s history. Mullin introduced Starkey as “another person dear to the heart of Wayzata,” noting that she, like Howe, is “91 years young.”

Mullin credited Starkey with being a consistent advocate for the identification, protection, and celebration of the city’s historic resources. Her work included preservation efforts tied to the Section Foreman House and the Wayzata Post Office. He reflected on collaborating with Starkey on securing national historic recognition and on efforts to prevent closure of the post office, noting that it remains open today in large part due to those efforts.

As the recognitions concluded, the Council offered a collective note of appreciation to all outgoing members. Rather than a simple farewell, he framed the moment as recognition of stewardship—acknowledging the time, care, and long-term commitment required to serve on boards and commissions, and expressing the city’s gratitude for residents who help guide Wayzata through steady, thoughtful civic service.