HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-04 CC
REGULAR ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL MEETING – MARCH 4, 2025
MINUTES
The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor
Barthel, March 4, 2025, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW,
Andover, Minnesota.
Councilmembers present: Rick Engelhardt, Scott Schue, and Jonathan Shafto
Councilmember absent: None
Also present: City Administrator, Sarah Cotton
Director of Public Works/City Engineer, David Berkowitz
Community Development Director, Joe Janish
City Attorney, Scott Baumgartner
Others
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
RESIDENT FORUM
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Carolyn Gwinn, 1210 141 Lane NW, came forward and shared her support for Councilmember
candidate Randy Nelson. She noted Mr. Nelson has already demonstrated his commitment to
excellence during his first term on the Council. She stated during his term, Mr. Nelson
enthusiastically worked to ensure a safe and maturing community that would enrich the lives of
residents due to his watchful eye on all aspects, including those fiscal and environmental. She
added Mr. Nelson always eagerly listened to residents and collaboratively engaged in any topic at
hand. She shared Mr. Nelson honored her and her family during his first term and she is confident
that he would do the same again if he is appointed to the Council as he is a model of the gold
standard in action.
Scott Price, 14275 Crane Street NW, came forward and also showed his support for
Councilmember candidate Randy Nelson. He shared he has known Mr. Nelson for 25 years and
through this time he has come to know Mr. Nelson as a man of integrity. He stated Mr. Nelson has
shown that he cares for all people and raised his son to feel the same, as he befriended Mr. Price’s
son who has a disability. He added Mr. Nelson has already shown he is capable of this role based
on his prior experience on the Council. He noted Mr. Nelson will also work to notify citizens if
something big is coming up that the community should know about.
Carol Richardson, 15224 Swallow Street NW, came forward and shared she has been a resident in
Andover for over 20 years and she shared her support for Councilmember candidate Randy Nelson.
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Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 2
She stated Mr. Nelson has already held this position and vacated it only to run for County
Commissioner. She noted there is community support for Mr. Nelson as he came within about 30
votes of winning the County Commission election. She shared her appreciation for Mr. Nelson’s
attention to fiscal details.
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Owen Jordet, 2613 140 Lane NW, came forward and shared his support for Councilmember
candidate Randy Nelson as he thinks he is a very honest man. He stated he supports Mr. Nelson
efforts and noted he did a wonderful job as Councilmember during his first term.
Joe Richardson, 15224 Swallow Street NW, came forward and shared his support for
Councilmember candidate Randy Nelson. He shared there were many occasions when Mr. Nelson
was on the Council that they had a lot of discussions about the City’s issues, and while they were
not always in agreement, they always had great conversations.
Doug Sturgil, 11617 Wren Street, Coon Rapids, MN came forward and that he got to know Randy
Nelson years ago when he served as the Chair on the Anoka County Veterans Council for seven
years and during his last year, Mr. Nelson served as the Vice-Chair. He said having Mr. Nelson as
a Vice-Chair made his job a lot easier. He noted Mr. Nelson cares a lot about veterans, the working
class, senior citizens, and all residents in the community. He shared his support for Mr. Nelson to
be appointed to the Council.
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Ann Stephen, 1228 119 Lane, came forward and shared she is here to show her support for Randy
Nelson for Council. She shared Mr. Nelson has been an active part of this community for many
years and has already proven he can do a good job at serving on the Council. She said she is
confident that Mr. Nelson will honor and serve veterans and all of the community. She thanked
Mr. Nelson and any other veterans in the room for their service.
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Mary Kay Storhaug, 2603 140 Lane NW, came forward and shared she has lived in Andover for
almost 19 years. She shared her support for Councilmember candidate Randy Nelson because the
community needs someone on the Council who has experience. She added Mr. Nelson is a servant
and has lots of energy, so he is able to get things done. She said he is always very active in the
community and helps everyone in any situation he can. She noted he is a member of her church,
and she knows that he has faith and accountability to the Lord in all that he does.
Dean Wathen, 15881 Yellow Pine Street, came forward and stated he has been a resident for over
20 years and shared his support for Councilmember candidate Randy Nelson. He noted Mr. Nelson
is a family man and loves his community. He said he has already served on the Council and would
make a great addition back to the Council for the next four years.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Mayor Barthel noted the supplemental information received:
Item #11 – Consider Sketch Plan for Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Finnes
Estates— 888 Crosstown Blvd. NW and 155540 Prairie Rd. NW—Brian Jansen, Boulder
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Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 3
Contracting (Applicant)
Motion by Engelhardt, Seconded by Schue, to approve the Agenda as amended. Motion carried
unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 18, 2025, Regular Meeting: Correct as written.
February 18, 2025, Workshop Meeting: Correct as written.
Motion by Shafto, Seconded by Engelhardt, to approve the February 18, 2025, Regular meeting
and the February 18, 2025 Workshop meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT ITEMS
Item 2 Approve Payment of Claims
Item 3 Approve Plans & Specs/Order Advertisement for Bids/25-2A, 2025 Street Reconstruction
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(Xenia Street NW/Vintage Street NW/161 Avenue NW)/25-2B, 2025 Street Reconstruction
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(Indian Meadows 4 & 5 Additions)/25-11B, 2025 Full Depth Reclamation (Fox Meadows &
Indian Meadows)/25-11 C, 2025 Full Depth Reclamation (Pine Hills Addition) (See Resolution
R026-25)
Item 4 Accept Resignation of Christopher Darst—Building Inspector
Item 5 Approve Andover Crossings II Final Plat (See Resolution R027-25)
Item 6 Approve Andover Senior Campus Final Plat (See Resolution R028-25)
Councilmember Shafto shared he lives on Vintage Street, which is included in Item 3 on the
Consent Agenda. He asked if he should vote for this item. City Attorney Baumgartner noted this
is a large project that Councilmember Shafto just happens to be a part of. He shared his
appreciation for bringing this to the Council and residents’ attention; however, since this is a
much larger project, he does not think it would be a disqualifying conflict of interest.
Motion by Engelhardt, Seconded by Schue, to approve of the Consent Agenda as read. Motion
carried unanimously.
HOLD PUBLIC HEARING/ORDER PLANS & SPECIFICATIONS/25-11A, 2025 FULL
DEPTH RECLAMATION (MEADOWS OF ROUND LAKE AREA)/25-12A, 2025 MILL &
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OVERLAY (TULIP STREET NW - 161 AVENUE NW TO 168 LANE NW)/25-12B, 2025
MILL & OVERLAY (KADLEC ADDN./OAKWOOD ESTATES/WHITE OAKS COUNTRY
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ESTATES/172 AVENUE NW)/25-12C, 2025 MILL & OVERLAY (COUNTRY OAKS
WEST & BIRCH PINE ESTATES)
The City Council is requested to hold a public hearing and order plans and specifications for
projects 25-11A, 25-12A, 25-12B, and 25-13C.
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Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 4
Director of Public Works/City Engineer Berkowitz reviewed the staff report in regard to the full
depth reclamation in the Meadows of Round Lake area and the mill and overlay projects from
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Tulip Street NW/161 Avenue NW to 168 Lane NW, at Kadlec Addition/Oakwood Estates/White
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Oaks Country Estates/172 Avenue NW, and at Country Oaks West and Birth Pine Estates.
Councilmember Shafto asked about the requirements for the Green Acres Program. Mr. Berkowitz
explained this is done through the County so if a property is registered at the County for the Green
Acres Program, then it meets the criteria. He noted it is up to the Council to set this standard. He
added he knows the properties have to be larger than 10 acres and somewhat preserved for
agricultural use.
Mayor Barthel asked if the Council should address the deferment for the property with three lots
this evening or if this can be discussed at a future date. Mr. Berkowitz said this will be up to the
Council. He noted it would likely put this resident more at ease if it was discussed and decided on
this evening.
Councilmember Schue shared in the letter that was received from this resident with three lots was
asking for a deferment and noted she was not able to be in attendance this evening. He asked if
there was any reason for them to make this decision tonight since the resident will not be here. Mr.
Berkowitz said it would be up to the Council, but he believes this resident may have a conflict for
a while.
Motion by Schue, Seconded by Engelhardt, to open the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
Randy Grubba, 14248 Underclift Street NW, came forward and shared he is a new first-time
homeowner, so he has some questions about this project. He noted during the presentation they
were shown the City costs versus the estimated costs. He asked why the City is not able to pay for
all of the cost of these projects.
Ruth Hemmingson, 17181 Bittersweet Street, came forward and shared she has lived in Andover
for 26 years and they saw the full depth reclamation project when it happened and within a year of
this project they were already getting alligator cracking and dips in the road. She noted this road
was so poorly done back then and she is concerned that it will happen again. She added when the
full depth reclamation was done they were not assessed for it. She said she wants to make sure this
project is done well and properly this time around.
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Wayne Vistad, 3046 169 Lane, came forward and shared he has lived in his home since 1988. He
stated he was told that the City started using a new chemical to melt ice that deteriorated the roads
and he does not think they should have to pay for this when the issue was created by the City. He
noted there is hardly any traffic on his road beside the residents who live there and city vehicles.
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Charlie Register, 2941 169 Lane, came forward and shared he has only lived in the City for less
than a year. He shared he had called the City and asked questions about the difference in cost for
doing this project now or waiting until the road has completely deteriorated. He stated he was told
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Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 5
it would be way more expensive if they wait until the road has fully deteriorated to fix it. He noted
all of the projects presented all looked to a similar size yet the full depth reclamation in Meadows
of Round Lake area has an estimated cost of $1,200,000 and the Kadlec Addition/Oakwood
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Estates/White Oaks Country Estates/172 Avenue NW mill and overlay project has an estimated
cost of $1,000,000. He noted the timelines for how long each of these roads have lasted is also
very different. He shared he does not think there is anything wrong with his road and some of the
pictures presented seem to be from some of the worst spots. He said he walks on the roads every
day and he has not heard one person complain about this. He added this road is only being used
by the residents in this area and is not heavily travelled. He asked why a few of these projects
cannot just be pushed back. He shared he had been reading through the City budget and there is a
new proposed bike path in the budget for $800,000 when there are already two other bike paths in
the City. He said he does not think it is fair to ask residents to pay their whole assessment amount
if they do not want to incur interest. He stated this whole thing does not make sense to him and
does not seem necessary.
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David Colbert, 3131 169 Lane, came forward and asked if he were to take the deferment of the
assessment amount and he has to pay it back over the eight-year period if he would be able to pay
off the rest of the assessment at any time in the future if he has the funds available for it. He asked
why one of the projects had an assessment amount of $17 per foot while the others did not use this
same calculation. He noted that these are City improvements, and he does not understand what
they are paying taxes for when they are still being assessed for these projects.
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Micky Bluedorn, 3677 142 Avenue NW, came forward and shared he lives in the area that is
getting a full depth reclamation which is needed. He noted he has lived in the City for only two
years and during the spring after they moved in the road was disappearing before their eyes. He
explained one of the cities he lived in previously only had one carrier for trash pickup so only one
trash vehicle was coming down the roads one day a week. He added he lived in a different city that
had four different trash services, and everyone was able to have a choice of who they wanted;
however, they all had to pick up trash on the same day for a neighborhood so it was not disruptive.
He noted in Andover he has seen seven different trash services that come through five days a week
in his neighborhood. He said he can see why the roads do not last when so many heavy vehicles
are driving on them so much. He asked if there has ever been a thought to bid out trash services so
that each quadrant of the City has the same trash service.
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Kevin Deters, 3095 170 Lane NW, came forward and asked about project 25-12B which
mentioned culvert replacement. He asked if this would be restricted to culverts that go under the
streets or also culverts that go under driveways.
Diane Edwards, 17180 Bittersweet Street NW, came forward and shared she has lived in her home
since 1985 and they have seen a lot of changes happen with the roads over this time. She noted
they have seen the City try to put an overlay on the roads and it has not lasted. She said an overlay
was done two years ago and within two weeks they already had major potholes. She asked what
kind of assurance they will be able to get once they have paid their assessment for this that the
road will actually be improved. She shared when she originally moved into her home there was a
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Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 6
little bit of gravel on each side of the road and there were Killdeer birds that lived on the side of
the road and after the project, the birds are gone which is sad.
Greg Edwards, 17180 Bittersweet Street NW, came forward and said if they go out and look at the
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roads on 170 or 172, there are areas that have more issues than others. He noted this issue could
be due to the shade in the area and the trash trucks driving on the roads. He said the overlay project
that they did a few years ago was done very poorly. He shared he thinks they took out too much
base in some of these areas and they did not put it back.
Ruth Hemmingson, 17181 Bittersweet Street NW, came forward and shared the high power lines
go through the area of the property with three lots.
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Charlie Register, 2941 169 Lane, came forward and asked if they were to take a poll of every
person in this neighborhood and the consensus was that they did not want this project to go through,
if they would stop the project from moving forward for now.
Motion by Schue, Seconded by Engelhardt, to close the public hearing at 7:59 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
Mr. Berkowitz thanked all of the residents for coming forward with their comments and questions.
He explained the City is not able to pay for all road improvement projects as there are 93 miles of
roads that need to be addressed over the next eight years, which is almost half of the City’s entire
road system. He noted the Council had looked at options to raise taxes to cover these road projects,
which would make taxes extremely high and hard to absorb. He shared the urban area subsidizes
the rural area when it comes to roadway improvements. He said it would take over 50 years to pay
off the City’s portion of these road improvements through rural taxes alone.
Mayor Barthel noted Andover is the sixth lowest taxed City in Anoka County and if they were to
pay for all of these road improvements with taxes than they would likely be one of the highest
taxed cities. He added there are also three taxing entities on the tax statements, the City, the
County, and the School District.
Councilmember Schue stated all of the Councilmembers are also taxpayers, and their taxes went
up as well. He said no one on the Council is an advocate for taxing without a purpose. He explained
they are looking at this as realistically as they possibly can knowing that there is infrastructure in
the City that they have to pay for. He said he is not happy with how his County taxes increased.
He added they recognize how difficult it is to face tax increases, and they always want to be good
stewards of the tax dollars. He noted they have experts that are advising them on what their options
are for dealing with the roads. He said they are very sympathetic to the concerns of the residents
that they are paying so much in taxes, yet they are still being assessed. He stated that these are not
easy choices that the Council has to make but they do need to make sure that the City streets are
safe and maintained.
Councilmember Shafto shared the advantage of an assessment is that they do not have to raise
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Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 7
property taxes on everyone and it is a lot harder to lower property taxes once they have been raised.
Mr. Berkowitz discussed the roadway condition on Bittersweet Street and shared they will look
into the areas that are in really poor condition and make any kind of corrections they need to in
order to make sure the project is done right. He explained they used to chip seal roads which caused
issues, so they stopped doing this method. He added part of this mill and overlay project will be to
remove this chip seal. He said they will be correcting soil issues that could be causing problems
then will be getting the top service off and laying down a new layer. He stated the roads will
inevitably crack again, but this mill and overlay will preserve the road for years to come. He
explained the brine material which is the chemical that they put down to melt ice on the roads is a
liquid salt that helps the salt particles stick to the road better. He noted this is not the reason for
the seal coat failure; however, it can possibly cause issues for concrete curbs. He said the pavement
failure is likely due to the seal coat issues and indicated many communities have had issues with
seal coating. He stated if they were to wait on any of these projects and push them further out into
the future then they could easily get to the point of needing a full depth reclamation rather than a
mill and overlay and the price for the project would double. He shared the Council has a
commitment to reconstructing roads that are past the point of preservation while also focusing on
preserving the roads that still have structural value. He added the City is also paying a very large
portion of these projects and when they miss the time frame for a mill and overlay and have to do
a full depth reclamation then this is also going to cost the City more. He noted the Council could
consider not moving these projects forward if they were to poll the residents in the neighborhoods
and the consensus was that they did not want the project to move forward.
Mayor Barthel asked about the difference in road miles being done in the Meadows of Round Lake
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project and the Kadlec Addition/Oakwood Estates/White Oaks Country Estates/172 Avenue
NW. Mr. Berkowitz said he does not have the exact miles for each project; however, he can provide
this information if anyone would like to reach out to him and request it. He added these roads also
have different widths which will cause prices to be different.
Mr. Berkowitz discussed the bike trail that one resident mentioned and explained there are different
funding sources for different projects. He noted when they do a reconstruction of an existing
development, it is paid for by City dollars and assessments and trail projects come out of a trail
fund which is money collected from new developments. He stated these funds cannot be used for
anything other than building trails. He noted this trail segment will be very expensive, but it is
because they have to cross the railroad tracks. He said this project has been in the works for many
years. He explained they have to charge interest on these assessments as it matches the percentage
of what they would be able to get if they were to invest these dollars instead.
City Administrator Cotton explained they charge an interest rate of one point higher than if they
were to bond for these improvements. She said this is to ensure they are covering their costs.
Mr. Berkowitz shared not all properties qualify for the deferment of these assessments and the
only ones that will qualify would be those in the Green Acres Program or potential future lots. He
explained the interest decreases each year and if someone wanted to pay it off in the middle of the
Regular Andover City Council Meeting
Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 8
term, they can do this; however, they want to make sure they are paying it off before it is certified
to the County so they can avoid paying interest on the next year. He noted in developments like
Kadlec Addition, all of the lots are relatively the same size so they are assessed on a per unit basis
rather than a front footage basis. He shared one garbage truck loaded is the equivalent to 1,000
cars on the roads and it does have an impact on road conditions. He added garbage trucks are also
really tough on cul-de-sacs. He explained the culvert replacements that they will be doing will
only be across the roads and individual driveway culverts are the property owner’s responsibility.
He noted the metal culverts under driveways are not usually in as bad of a condition as the ones
that go under the roads. He said the only way they would replace a driveway culvert is if there is
a drainage issue that needs to be addressed. He added they used to put gravel on the shoulders of
the road; however, they do not do this anymore as it was very difficult on yards. He discussed the
project cycle and how they rate all roads through the pavement management system to determine
when roads come up for construction. He noted the useful life of a full reconstruction or full depth
reclamation is about 20 years before it will need a mill and overlay, while the life expectancy of a
mill and overlay is also about 20 years.
Mayor Barthel noted the Meadows of Round Lake area project is very similar to Country Oaks
North project and the assessment amount is almost double for the Meadows at Round Lake project
since it is a full depth reclamation. He shared he has been on the Council for a few years and he
has never seen an assessment in the rural area for a full depth reclamation be less than $7,000 per
household. He added if anyone feels like their question was not answered this evening then they
can reach out to Mr. Berkowitz to ask any further questions. He shared he is in support of the
deferment for the property with three lots. Mr. Berkowitz shared the address for this property is
17131 Round Lake Boulevard.
Mayor Barthel stated these costs are just estimates and they hope the bids will come in lower than
estimated.
Councilmember Engelhardt shared he has learned through his time on the Council why
assessments are needed and the true purpose of the roads. He explained the roads are not just for
transportation, but for water management, traffic management, pedestrian crossings, and park
trails. He said it will never be fun to pay the cost of these projects, but the roads do so much more
than carry traffic. He stated the City has worked many times with contractors to ensure they are
getting the best price for every project. He added that Council and Staff are always open for any
questions that residents may have.
Councilmember Shafto noted that this evening’s approval is just to send this project out for bid
and not to make the final decision on if this project moves forward. He added he did some very
quick research on the Green Acres Program, and he would also be in support of a deferment for
this property.
Motion by Schue, Seconded by Shafto, to adopt Resolution No. R029-25, ordering the
improvement of project nos. 25-11A, 2025 Full Depth Reclamation (Meadows of Round Lake
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area)/25-12A, 2025 mill and overlay (Tulip Street NW/161 Avenue NW to 168 Lane NW)/25-
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Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 9
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12B, 2025 mill and overlay (Kadlec Addition/Oakwood Estates/White Oaks Country Estates/172
Avenue NW)/and 25-12C, 2025 mill and overlay (Country Oaks West and Birth Pine Estates) and
to allow the deferment for 17131 Round Lake Boulevard. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING: ISSUANCE OF SENIOR HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE REVENUE
BONDS (ANDOVER SENIOR HOUSING CAMPUS/J.A. WEDUM FOUNDATION
PROJECT)
The City Council is requested to hold a public hearing on a proposal for a housing program and
the issuance of senior housing and healthcare revenue bonds for the Andover Senior Housing
Campus/J.A. Wedum Foundation project pursuant of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 462C, and
Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Ms. Cotton reviewed the staff report concerning the issuance of senior housing and healthcare
revenue bonds for the Andover Senior Housing Campus/J.A. Wedum Foundation project.
Motion by Shafto, Seconded by Engelhardt, to open the public hearing at 8:32 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
Jay Portz, J.A. Wedum Foundation, came forward and shared they have done this type of financing
in other municipalities where they have other senior living facilities, and it has worked very well.
He noted they would just be using the City’s name to acquire these bonds, but the full obligation
of paying them back would be on the J.A. Wedum Foundation.
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Dawn Giddings, 1317 155 Lane, came forward and shared the J.A. Wedum Foundation took care
of her brother while he was dying of brain cancer and everything that J.A Wedum did was top
notch. She shared they provided support to residents and guests and treated their employees well.
She said there were over 1,000 visitors who came to see her brother and everyone who came to
visit was so inspired by how well the J.A. Wedum Foundation ran the facility. She said if anyone
has a complaint about this project she would encourage them to check out another one of these
facilities to see how well they are run.
Motion by Engelhardt, Seconded by Schue, to close the public hearing at 8:36 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
Ms. Cotton shared there is no official action needed by the Council this evening and they will bring
this back to the Council for official issuance in April.
PUBLIC HEARING:CONSIDER VACATION OF EASEMENT - OUTLOTS A, B, AND C,
IN FIELDS OF WINSLOW COVE, AND OUTLOT A AND B IN FIELDS OF WINSLOW
COVE 3RD ADDITION
The City Council is requested to hold a public hearing and consider the vacation of easement
request.
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Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 10
Community Development Director Janish reviewed the staff report in regard to the consideration
of easement vacation for Outlots A, B, and C in Fields of Winslow Cove, and Outlots A and B in
Field of Winslow Cove 3rd Addition.
Motion by Schue, Seconded by Shafto, to open the public hearing at 8:39 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
No one came forward to address the Council.
Motion by Schue, Seconded by Engelhardt, to close the public hearing at 8:40 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
Motion by Shafto, Seconded by Engelhardt, to adopt Resolution No. R030-25, granting the
vacation of drainage and utility easements for Outlots A, B, and C in Fields of Winslow Cove, and
Outlots A and B in Field of Winslow Cove 3rd Addition. Motion carried unanimously.
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CONSIDER FINAL PLAT - FIELDS AT WINSLOW COVE 4 ADDITION
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The City Council is requested to approve the Final Plat for Fields at Winslow Cove 4 Addition
which would create eighty-five (85) single-family residential lots on the west and east sides of
Prairie Road, as part of the Fields at Winslow Cove development.
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Mr. Janish reviewed the staff report concerning the final plat for Fields at Winslow Cove 4
Addition.
Motion by Engelhardt, Seconded by Shafto, to adopt Resolution No. R031-25, approving the Final
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Plat of Fields at Winslow Cove 4 Addition. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSIDER SKETCH PLAN FOR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOP (PUD) FOR FINNES
ESTATES - 888 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NW AND 155540 PRAIRIE ROAD NW -
BRIAN JANSEN, BOULDER CONTRACTING (APPLICANT)
The City Council is requested to consider the sketch plan/PUD concept and informally advise the
applicant through feedback on the proposed project.
Mr. Janish reviewed the staff report in regard to the sketch plan for a PUD for Finnes Estates.
Councilmember Schue shared the proposed density for this project would be 2.95 units per acre.
He said he would like to keep this as close to 2.4 units per acre as possible to maximize the size of
the lots. He added there were comments from the Planning and Zoning Commission about wanting
this development to have a rural feel and it is hard to do that when the houses are right on top of
each other. He stated he has a large concern about this development’s traffic impacts on Prairie
Road.
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Councilmember Shafto noted if this goes forward, he would like to see them preserve as many
trees as possible and add trees back for any that are removed. He explained the developments in
the rural areas are quite difficult as they are sitting in the MUSA area and have to increase density
to be in compliance with the Met Council. He said this development does not seem to fit well in
the neighborhood and 2.4 units per acre would be more palatable; however, if they go this route
then they have to find density elsewhere in the City. He agreed that traffic is a large concern with
this development as this area was designed to be rural. He asked if there will be a traffic study
done with this project. Mr. Janish shared the Planning and Zoning Commission was also interested
in a traffic study being conducted.
Councilmember Shafto said they are having a difficult time with these developments and figuring
out how they will be able to hit the 3.5 unit per acre requirement set by the Met Council. He shared
the public will have many opportunities to provide input and feedback as this project moves
through the process.
Councilmember Engelhardt stated this development does not look like it fits within Andover. He
noted it has always been a goal of Andover to bring in nature with housing and this development
does not do that. He said this development looks like they are just trying to meet density
requirements and are not actually looking at how the project works within the City. He added he
would like to see a micro-park or some kind of trail activities in this development.
Mr. Janish explained micro-parks do not seem to be a good fit for Andover due to the maintenance
of them. He asked if the Council would like to see a park in this development.
Councilmember Engelhardt said he would like there to be some kind of park or nature area in the
development.
Councilmember Shafto explained if he were to consider a park in this development he would want
to look at the surrounding area to see what kind of parks would be available after the trail goes in.
He said he does not have enough information to say whether or not he would like a park in this
area. He stated there are a lot of parks in Andover and this comes with significant costs and he
thinks they need to take a deeper look at parks in general.
Councilmember Schue agreed with Councilmember Shafto. He shared his appreciation for the
Park and Recreation Commission for looking at these developments through a financial lens. He
noted if the trail goes through then the residents in this development would have access to other
parks within the City. He said he would also like to take a closer look at the overall parks plan.
Mayor Barthel stated if the Park and Recreation Commission said they would rather have cash in
lieu of parkland for this development then he will trust that recommendation. He said his issue
with this development is that they are putting a very dense neighborhood in the middle of other
neighborhoods. He shared he would like to see this development be a little less dense or allow for
other properties around it. He added he is also concerned with the existing houses in this area and
how traffic and headlights on vehicles could impact them. He said he is open to having the
Regular Andover City Council Meeting
Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 12
developer come back with less density.
Jason Rud, E.G. Rud & Sons, came forward and shared he is here this evening on behalf of Brian
Jansen with Boulder Contracting. He stated this property is very unique and wanted to explore the
viability of this property for a development. He noted the standards that they are asking for are not
universal throughout and there will be eight units in this development that would meet the standard
lot width. He said they are not trying to be aggressive; they are just looking for some flexibility.
He added this is the most thorough sketch plan process that they have been through and
commended Staff for all of their work so far in this.
Mayor Barthel said they can always try to be flexible; this property is just unique as it is in the
middle of other developments and could cause some traffic concerns.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
City Staff updated the Council on the administration and city department activities, legislative
updates, updates on development/CIP projects, and meeting reminders/community events.
(Administrative Staff Report) Ms. Cotton reviewed the Administrative Staff report. She shared
she wanted to make the Council and residents aware of a potential phishing scam that people may
be receiving through text messages. She explained the message asks the recipient to complete a
Dynata survey on issues important to Andover residents; however, this survey is not being sent by
the City and advised anyone who receives this message to not click on the link or share any
th
personal information with the sender of the message. She added the 25 Annual North Suburban
th
Home Show will be held at the Andover Community Center on Saturday, March 8 from 8:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. She encouraged residents to attend this free event.
Councilmember Engelhardt asked if staff will have a booth at the North Suburban Home Show.
Ms. Cotton said yes.
RECESS
Mayor Barthel recessed the regular City Council meeting at 9:25 p.m.
RECONVENE
The City Council reconvened at 9:35 p.m.
INTERVIEWS FOR CITY COUNCIL VACANCY
Mayor Barthel shared they will be interviewing three applicants, who were previously selected as
finalists by Council, for the open Council seat. He explained each applicant would be asked the
same questions and would be allowed four minutes for each response.
Regular Andover City Council Meeting
Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 13
Randy Nelson
Randy Nelson introduced himself and shared he is married to his lovely wife, Dar, and they have
three adult children. He shared he is a healthcare provider, small business owner, Afghanistan
Veteran, and has had the honor of serving the people of Andover on the City Council. He added
he has served as the Chair for the Andover Today Newsletter, the Vice-Chair for the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority, a Commissioner on the Economic Development Authority, a member
of the Anoka-Hennepin Community Education Advisory Council, Commander of the American
League, Post 334, and Chair for the Anoka County Veterans Council. He said he is very excited
for the opportunity to possibly be able to continue to serve the Andover residents on the Council.
He thanked the Council for selecting him as one of the finalists.
Councilmember Engelhardt asked Mr. Nelson what he believes is the primary role of a City
Councilmember and how he sees himself contributing in this role. Mr. Nelson shared through
serving on the Council for the last four years he has learned that Councilmembers wear many
different hats, each representing a different facet of the role as Councilmember. He noted at the
heart of the role of a Councilmember is crafting and enacting local laws and ordinance, from
zoning regulations to public safety measures. He thanked the City’s legal counsel, Mr.
Baumgartner, for his assistance in crafting these laws and ordinances. He added budget oversight
is a significant duty of a Councilmember, and it is their role to collaborate with City Staff to
allocate funds wisely and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, which requires fiscal
responsibility and transparency. He stated representing constituents is also essential to the role. He
shared during his time serving on the Council he had several opportunities to be a bridge between
residents and City Hall by voicing community concerns and advocating for residents’ needs. He
added strategic planning for the City is another key role. He added collaboration is paramount in
this role, whether that be working with fellow Councilmembers, Staff, local organizations, or
residents. He said he would strive to build consensus and foster partnerships to drive progress
forward. He noted as a Councilmember, his role required diplomacy, negotiation skills, and mutual
respect. He stated fostering a relationship with the community was the foundation for his past
Council goal and he will continue to look to work hard at connecting with residents in the future.
He shared he would build trust and rapport with residents by a proactive approach, starting with
visibility. He said his favorite part of serving the community is attending local events, from the
Andover Family Fun Fest, to the Christmas Tree Lighting, to Public Safety open houses. He noted
all of these events allowed him the opportunity to connect with residents in an informal setting and
these interactions allowed him to gain first-hand insights into the residents’ concerns and
aspirations.
Councilmember Shafto asked Mr. Nelson what his vision is for the future of Andover and what
steps he would like taken to achieve this vision. Mr. Nelson shared he finds this question very
interesting as he is one of the City’s 33,000 residents and his vision is that of his fellow residents.
He stated residents have shared with him that they moved to Andover because of the rural feeling
that the City provides, which was also stated in the last City-wide survey. He said his vision is to
preserve the rural character of the community through responsible and orderly growth. He
explained he envisions the City’s growth and development as a process by which urban areas
Regular Andover City Council Meeting
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Page 14
expand and evolve by increasing population, economic activity, and infrastructure improvements.
He noted the Council plays a critical role in responsible and orderly growth through housing,
transportation, and services. He said they must plan and budget to make sure that local services,
systems, and facilities can be provided to accommodate this growth while providing a variety of
housing to accommodate the life cycle needs of the residents and remain responsible for the
housing market demands through the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan and land use
plan. He added they must provide a safe and efficient transportation system that is cost effective
and serves the current and future access and mobility needs of the City. He noted they need to
allow for residential growth while maintaining the quality of natural resources and amenities. He
shared they also need to maintain a high degree of community planning while considering public
safety and following the City’s strategic plan and maintaining the City’s rural character. He stated
the application for Finnes Estates is the perfect example of everything they need to keep in mind
when reviewing a proposed development. He said they need to think about whether it needs
municipal water and sewer as they have to plan for the growth of the City. He explained Andover
was a candidate for the Anoka County Jail; however, they could not accommodate due to a lack of
municipal water and sewer in the area.
Councilmember Schue asked Mr. Nelson what he thinks are the most pressing issues facing the
City over the next two years. Mr. Nelson said there are many pressing issues; however, he believes
the most pressing issue is infrastructure street maintenance and groundwater contamination. He
explained he would address these issues by continuing to work with Council and Staff to budget
in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) the funding needed for the annual street improvements and
reconstruction program while promoting fiscal responsibility. He shared the Council approved the
2025-2029 CIP last September and this constituted the direction of the Council to emphasize street
repairs moving forward. He noted over the last four years the City has completed approximately
47 miles of mill and overlay projects, which is more than any other four year period in the history
of Andover. He explained Council had tasked Staff with doing an assessment of over 200 miles of
City roads. He thanked Staff for their work on this. He noted the assessment of the roads is only
as good as the assessor; however, Staff is certified in what is called the Pavement Surface
Evaluation Rating (PSER) system on a scale of one to ten, ten being the best condition. He shared
the City is facing a new issue with the groundwater contamination of the East Brook Terrace
neighborhood. He said he would approach this similar to how they approached the Red Oaks
neighborhood groundwater contamination by expediting the groundwater feasibility report. He
thanked Staff and the former Council for working in collaboration with the MPCA, the Minnesota
Department of Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and local legislators to request
and receive $6,100,000 for this project to get this neighborhood on municipal sewer and water. He
noted they now need to do the same thing with the East Brook Terrace neighborhood.
Mayor Barthel asked Mr. Nelson if there is anything else he would like to share with the residents
and the Council about his candidacy. Mr. Nelson shared he is honored and humbled to have served
on the Andover City Council over the past four years. He stated he has successfully executed a
wide range of responsibilities, including exemplary financial stewardship, setting yearly and
capital budgets, and monitoring funds. He noted his leadership skills, time management abilities,
and experience is a valuable asset to the community. He shared as a leader, he feels it is important
Regular Andover City Council Meeting
Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 15
to be an active member of the community. He added he and his family are over 20 year residents
of the Andover and he has had the privilege to serve in numerous volunteer position from being a
basketball and soccer coach, a Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Counselor, a Mercy Hospital
Auxiliary Nucleus Clinic Intake Manager, a tattoo remover for the youth, a volunteer for the
Andover Family Fun Fest and Feed My Starving Children, a Constance Free Church high school
ministry leader, and others. He stated volunteering has helped him build meaningful relationships
and has given him a way to give back to his community while making a difference in the lives of
others. He added he also holds a degree in organizational leadership and a degree in primary care,
as well as his civilian and military academic achievements. He noted he has also participated in
the League of Minnesota Cities Elected Leaders Institute Foundational and Advanced program.
He explained all of these accomplishments highlight his dedication to professional development
and the success of the City. He added he has developed many strong skills and learned many life
lessons through being a Physician’s Assistant and being a small business owner. He shared he
proudly served this nation in the Army and Air Force and retired as an Air Force Captain. He stated
he has over 34 years of public service and leadership, he has the experience, skills, and values that
are needed in order to represent the Andover community on the City Council. He congratulated
the Councilmembers for completing the League of Minnesota Cities Elected Officials Foundation
program in the past few weeks. He thanked the Council for their time and consideration.
Karen Godfrey
Karen Godfrey introduced herself and shared that he is a 26-year resident of the northern Andover
area in precinct 1 where she serves as an election judge. She shared her family moved here when
she accepted a job that was intended to be a two-year project; however, they fell in love with
Andover and have stayed ever since. She noted she is in her third term as a Planning and Zoning
Commissioner and has served as both the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Commission. She added she
also served as a volunteer for the Christmas Tree Lighting, Andover Fun Fest, and has provided
input on what kind of recreation equipment would be appropriate for the small neighborhood park
near her home. She explained she has been a volunteer with the Emergency Management
Department at the County level and this was after coordinating the donation of the AKC reunite
pet disaster unit training to the Anoka County Emergency Management Department. She added
she is the Chair of the Summer Solstice cluster of dog shows which is hosted by the Anoka County
Kennel Club and the Cambridge Kennel Club. She noted through this effort, they bring 6,000 dogs
to the area, which they have been told brings around $4,200,000 to the community. She shared
they run a tight ship and generally make a small profit, which is then returned to the community
in the form of a donation. She stated she is a former banker and now runs her own consulting
company where she helps financial services companies and non-profit organizations make sense
of Federal and State regulations. She said compliance, governance, and risk management are her
specialties. She explained she has a history of leadership roles in professional and civic
organizations, including the Ohio Student Loan Commission, historic neighborhood
redevelopment organizations in Ohio, and the International Association of Fraud Investigators.
She added she also worked on non-partisan campaigns for each of the current Councilmembers
and has dedicated a great deal of time to the School Board.
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Page 16
Councilmember Engelhardt asked Ms. Godfrey what she believes is the primary role of a City
Councilmember and how she sees herself contributing in this role. Ms. Godfrey explained her
training in regulations sends her back to the statutes and she sees that Andover is organized as a
statutory city under Plan A, which means that Mayor and Councilmembers are elected by the
residents and they appoint a City Clerk and City Treasurer to help them run the City. She noted
the Mayor and Councilmembers have the legislative, administrative and policy authority over the
City. She said the role of a Councilmember is to represent the City publicly with neighboring cities,
the Met Council, and other local and State organizations. She stated the core of the role is to
oversee the legislative, administrative and policy guidance of the City which requires
understanding and following the history, vision, values, and the Comprehensive Plan. She added
a Councilmember also needs to recognize when it is time to change and they have to adapt, listen
to residents, and take all actions on what the residents want and what is best for the City as a whole.
She noted as a consultant and a Planning and Zoning Commissioner, she has developed a habit of
listening and she likes to hear what others have to say before she voices her own opinions. She
added she is also willing to change her mind about things. She explained it is also important when
developing policy in code to achieve their desired goal and her standard approach to this is to look
at all available options and then very carefully assess when each option would be to figure out the
best course forward. She shared she is confident that she can make a strong contribution to the
Council.
Councilmember Shafto asked Ms. Godfrey what her vision is for the future of Andover and what
steps she would like taken to achieve this vision. Ms. Godfrey said she sees Andover in a more
mature version of itself. She noted the City is currently half urban and half rural and most residents
you speak to will tell you how much they love the rural charm of the area. She explained the
challenge is maintaining the rural feel while accepting that the City does need to grow. She stated
they need to be able to provide all life stages of housing, services that people expect, and do these
things affordably so that people can continue to afford to live in this area. She shared Andover has
consistently had lower taxes than most other cities in Anoka County and they need to maintain this
level of fiscal responsibility by carefully managing the budget, communicating more with the
residents, and educating residents to the needs of the City. She said they need to look ahead and
plan ahead for future costs.
Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Godfrey what she thinks are the most pressing issues facing the
City over the next two years. Ms. Godfrey said if they were only looking ahead two years, she
thinks they would be in trouble. She noted infrastructure will be a major issue; however, the
Council already has a great plan to work on the roads to keep them where they need to be and get
those failing up to where they need to be. She stated they need to stay true to this long-term plan
and recognize they may have to adjust this road plan. She shared water will be another issue. She
noted the City has groundwater issues and now that they have gotten through the Red Oaks
Neighborhood issues, they are facing another one. She added she is also concerned about the
aquifer for those who are on wells, including herself. She said they need to evaluate the City’s
water quality and take long-term steps to protect this in all areas of the City. She stated the sewer
is another thing to think about. She explained she was really struck by the Council Workshop last
September with the Met Council and was shocked to learn that the City does not have enough
Regular Andover City Council Meeting
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Page 17
sewer and it will take a lot of creativity to work their way out of this situation if they continue to
grow at the rate they are growing. She said putting in a larger pipe is not going to work. She noted
in many places in the City, the sewer lines are more than 20 feet into the ground, which will be a
huge undertaking. She said they need to develop long-term plans, continue to look ahead, and
adjust as they go, which requires finding ways to work with the Met Council while keeping the
residents informed.
Mayor Barthel asked Ms. Godfrey if there is anything else she would like to share with the
residents and the Council about her candidacy. Ms. Godfrey said she has already gone through the
application process where she had to answer 15 essay questions, and she is pleased to be one of
the finalists for the Council vacancy. She stated some of her answers may be a little shorter because
the Council has already heard her answers through her application. She explained she seeks this
opportunity to serve her community, and she believes she has the knowledge to do so. She said
she has attended or watched every Council meeting for the last seven years, she has served on the
Planning and Zoning Commission, and she has attended many of the Council Workshops. She
noted she has performed interim leadership for large corporations as they were going through
transitions, and she believes she could step right into this role. She added she does not have a
personal agenda and is not running for another public office and has no plans to do so in the future.
She stated she sees herself as an option for the Council as someone who can contribute almost
immediately and help to continue do the work the Council has been doing. She thanked Mayor
Barthel, Council, and Staff for their work tonight and for their service to the City.
Greg Mueller
Greg Mueller introduced himself and thanked the Council for this opportunity to interview for the
vacant Council seat. He shared he has lived in Andover since 1997 after moving from Washington
and falling in love with Andover. He said he has a degree in chemical engineering from the
University of Minnesota and has a master’s in business administration. He stated he has held
countless positions at H.B. Fuller in every division outside of Human Resources. He shared he has
had the opportunity to see many parts of the world through his work and this has given him unique
perspectives. He explained three years ago he applied for a position on the Andover EDA and was
selected for this role. He said he has been a contributing member of this organization, and it has
been a tremendous learning experience and he is confident that he has added value to this process.
Councilmember Engelhardt asked Mr. Mueller what he believes is the primary role of a City
Councilmember and how he sees himself contributing in this role. Mr. Mueller noted
Councilmembers are voted in by the public and they represent the public and their interests. He
said this requires a lot of listening, patience, and a willingness to go through the process with the
voting public. He explained the Council is similar to a Board of Directors that is voted into office
as they work collaboratively with City leadership on budgeting and strategic planning. He noted
these things are not just important for the four-year term that someone is on the Council, but for
the future of the City as well. He said that planning for the future through strategic planning is
more important now that the Met Council has changed their density requirements. He stated there
are activities that need to take place now, so they are prepared for the future. He noted being a
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Page 18
Councilmember is all about influence and collaboration and is not about putting your own view
above other views. He said as long as they are striving towards the common goal of what is best
for the citizens of Andover then they will be successful as a Council. He explained in the EDA
they have been discussing the redevelopment district that is just north of Bunker Lake Boulevard.
He added he spoke with former Mayor Bukkila last year who told him not to focus too much on
this redevelopment area as it is a 10 to 20-year plan. He said he was perplexed by this as they had
TIF money available, and they had the opportunity to continue buying properties to further this
process more quickly than 10 to 20 years. He noted he also spoke with former City Administrator
Dickinson and read the bylaws and lease agreements for the properties that the City owned. He
shared he focused on influencing the EDA to move things along more quickly, making this a five-
year plan rather than a 10 to 20-year plan and one of his strongest partners in moving this along
more quickly is Mayor Barthel and he shared his appreciation for this support.
Councilmember Shafto asked Mr. Mueller what his vision is for the future of Andover and what
steps he would like taken to achieve this vision. Mr. Mueller shared when he moved to Andover
from out of state, they started by looking at cities on a map to see where they wanted to live. He
said he asked his realtor about Andover who said that Andover is the jewel of the north and a
promising community that is safe, has comparatively low taxes, and is a wonderful place to raise
a family. He noted this is why they decided to move to Andover. He stated his vision for Andover
is to maintain this standard. He added there are a lot of nice communities in the northern suburbs,
and it is wonderful to be able to say that Andover is one of the finest. He explained it is important
as a Councilmember to continue to support and plan for residential and business growth. He said
in a perfect world the business growth would parallel residential growth. He noted when he was
campaigning for Council last year, it became very clear to him that residents want more restaurants
in Andover. He added residents had also expressed concern with not having a full-service post
office in Andover. He stated bringing a full-service post office will require work and collaboration
with the USPS, but this is the type of thing that the Council should be trying to accomplish as it is
a desire of the residents and a reasonable request. He shared the last part of his vision for Andover
is looking for areas of continuing improvement. He explained last fall during a Workshop meeting,
Mr. Berkowitz did a great job of walking them through some roundabout projects that were
scheduled for just east of City Hall. He noted as part of this conversation, they began talking about
the 28 streetlights.
Councilmember Schue asked Mr. Mueller what he thinks are the most pressing issues facing the
City over the next two years. Mr. Mueller said maintaining City infrastructure needs to continue
to be a priority. He noted Mr. Berkowitz has a very unbiased way of evaluating the condition of
roads that leads to decisions that are brought before the Council. He stated the Council approved
the 2025 tax levy around 12%, a majority of which will be going towards street repairs and
improvements. He reiterated Councilmember Shafto’s sentiment from earlier this evening that
once property taxes are raised, it is very hard to bring them down again. He shared this is the
challenge that is in front of this Council, to find a way to reduce the tax burden on the residents
otherwise they will have a continuous stream of residents presenting their concerns to the Council.
He stated there is a tremendous opportunity to make great strides in small ways. He noted in regard
to the streetlight discussion last fall, there was a provision in the federal contract that if they bought
Regular Andover City Council Meeting
Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 19
American streetlights, it would be funded by the federal government and if they went a different
path then it would have to be funded by the City. He said the cost difference between this would
have been $180,000 and while this seems like a low amount in the grand scheme of the full budget,
it is still real money from the taxpayers. He explained he did an analysis based on some very
conservative estimates and the decisions made at that Workshop impacted the taxes of every
resident. He shared there is a fixed fee with Connexus Energy for the streetlights which is paid
monthly and covers electricity and repair of these streetlights. He noted since this contract was
first written, there has been a huge technology change and streetlights are moving to LED
technology, which uses 75% of the electricity and the bulbs last five times longer. He asked the
Council why they are still paying the same fee they did five years ago.
Mayor Barthel asked Mr. Mueller if there is anything else he would like to share with the residents
and the Council about his candidacy. Mr. Mueller noted the Council is interviewing three
outstanding candidates this evening and he has nothing but respect for Mr. Nelson and Ms.
Godfrey. He said the City is very fortunate to have such great applicants. He explained what sets
him apart from the other applicants is that he is the only applicant who ran for Council during the
last election, and he made the five month commitment to campaign. He stated he has no ambition
to go beyond a role on the City Council. He shared if he is selected for the vacancy, he will work
with passion and dedication to improve the City to the best of his ability within the City of
Andover. He said he looks forward to the opportunity to potentially work with Council and Staff
to continue the great work that the Council has done over the last few years.
Deliberation
Mayor Barthel thanked all three candidates for interviewing this evening. He said it will be an
extremely difficult decision in front of them this evening.
The Council discussed each candidate.
Councilmember Shafto thanked each candidate for their application and for coming forward this
evening to be interviewed. He noted all three candidates are familiar with City issues, which all
three candidates are. He added he is also looking for someone who will bring a new and unique
perspective as well as being focused on Andover. He shared based on these criteria, the
applications, and tonight’s interviews, he feels as though Ms. Godfrey is the best appointment for
the vacancy. He explained she is very involved with the City and her professional experience will
lend itself well to the budgeting process and regulatory compliance aspects. He noted she also has
experience in interim leadership and her lack of political motivations was also an important
differentiator.
Councilmember Schue thanked the applicants for their desire to be on the Council. He said he is
friends with every one of tonight’s candidates. He noted each applicant excelled in their attention
to detail through the application process and that is something that the Council needs. He explained
each current Councilmember has criteria that they are looking for in the person that will fill this
role. He said they are not looking for like-mindedness, but someone who is mindful of finances,
Regular Andover City Council Meeting
Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 20
has a fresh perspective, has the ability to listen to the concerns of the residents, and has a focus for
the City. He noted this is a very difficult decision and the election process than that played out last
year and he acknowledged the effort that Mr. Mueller put in by running for Council and that Mr.
Nelson put into running for Council in the past and for the County Commission last year. He shared
he received input from residents on who they thought would make the best Councilmember and
every applicant received support and backing from residents. He added he received a letter from a
resident stating that they do not want the Council to appoint a new Councilmember, but rather that
they would like a special election to be held. He explained a special election would cost a lot of
money, which is why they chose to get through the interview and appointment process. He noted
while he disagrees with this resident, he knows that they just wanted to have a voice in who would
sit on the Council. He shared his support for Mr. Mueller since he had run for Council in the last
election, receiving more than 5,000 votes falling short by approximately 350 votes.
Councilmember Engelhardt thanked all three applicants for their community involvement, their
desire to be on the Council, and the guidance that they offer for community events. He said this
will be a very difficult decision, but they need to choose a candidate who will be able to be
onboarded to the Council quickly. He noted Mr. Mueller seems most prepared since he just went
through the campaign process for Council.
Mayor Barthel shared he wants all of the applicants to know how seriously the Council is taking
this decision and that every Councilmember has a very hard decision to make. He noted there are
three quality candidates and only one will leave with the appointment. He acknowledged that
running for a position is hard work and takes a lot of time and determination; however, when
someone is appointed to the Council, they become the incumbent in the next election which can
give them a better chance to win in the next election. He said is looking for someone who is not
going to run again in the next election, which would be Ms. Godfrey.
Motion by Shafto, Seconded by Schue, to appoint Karen Godfrey to the City Council vacancy.
Motion taken by roll call:
Barthel - aye
Engelhardt - aye
Schue - nay
Shafto - aye
Motion carries 3 ayes, 1 nay (Schue)
MAYOR/COUNCIL INPUT
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Schue, Seconded by Engelhardt, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting
adjourned at 10:53 p.m.
Regular Andover City Council Meeting
Minutes – March 4, 2025
Page 21
Respectfully submitted,
Ava Major, Recording Secretary
REGULAR ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES – MARCH 4, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ..................................................................................................1
RESIDENT FORUM ..............................................................................................................1
AGENDA APPROVAL ..........................................................................................................2
APPROVAL OF MINUTES ...................................................................................................3
CONSENT ITEMS .................................................................................................................3
Item 2 Approve Payment of Claims ....................................................................................3
Item 3 Approve Plans & Specs/Order Advertisement for Bids/25-2A, 2025 Street
st
Reconstruction (Xenia Street NW/Vintage Street NW/161 Avenue NW)/25-2B, 2025 Street
thth
Reconstruction (Indian Meadows 4 & 5 Additions)/25-11B, 2025 Full Depth Reclamation
(Fox Meadows & Indian Meadows)/25-11 C, 2025 Full Depth Reclamation (Pine Hills
Addition) (R026-25) ...............................................................................................................3
Item 4 Accept Resignation of Christopher Darst—Building Inspector .................................3
Item 5 Approve Andover Crossings II Final Plat (R027-25) ................................................3
Item 6 Approve Andover Senior Campus Final Plat (R028-25) ...........................................3
HOLD PUBLIC HEARING/ORDER PLANS & SPECIFICATIONS/25-11A, 2025 FULL
DEPTH RECLAMATION (MEADOWS OF ROUND LAKE AREA)/25-12A, 2025
STTH
MILL & OVERLAY (TULIP STREET NW - 161 AVE. NW TO 168 LANE
NW)/25-12B, 2025 MILL & OVERLAY (KADLEC ADDN./OAKWOOD
ND
ESTATES/WHITE OAKS COUNTRY ESTATES/172 AVENUE NW)/25-12C, 2025
MILL & OVERLAY (COUNTRY OAKS WEST & BIRCH PINE ESTATES) (R029-25)
..................................................................................................................................3
PUBLIC HEARING: ISSUANCE OF SENIOR HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE
REVENUE BONDS (ANDOVER SENIOR HOUSING CAMPUS/J.A. WEDUM
FOUNDATION PROJECT) ............................................................................................9
PUBLIC HEARING:CONSIDER VACATION OF EASEMENT - OUTLOTS A, B, AND C,
IN FIELDS OF WINSLOW COVE, AND OUTLOT A AND B IN FIELDS OF
RD
WINSLOW COVE 3 ADDITION (R030-25) ...............................................................9
TH
CONSIDER FINAL PLAT - FIELDS AT WINSLOW COVE 4 ADDITION (R031-25) ... 10
CONSIDER SKETCH PLAN FOR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOP (PUD) FOR FINNES
ESTATES - 888 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NW AND 155540 PRAIRIE ROAD
NW - BRIAN JANSEN, BOULDER CONTRACTING (APPLICANT) ........................ 10
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT ........................................................................................... 12
RECESS................................................................................................................................ 12
RECONVENE ...................................................................................................................... 12
INTERVIEWS FOR CITY COUNCIL VACANCY .............................................................. 12
MAYOR/COUNCIL INPUT ................................................................................................. 20
ADJOURNMENT ................................................................................................................. 20