City Council Study Session - 04.20.26

The City of Minnetonka held a City Council Study Session on April 20, 2026, focusing primarily on departmental budget presentations and updates on the public safety master plan. Directors from various departments including Public Works, Legal, Finance, Administration, Recreation, Environmental Health, Fire, and Police provided overviews of their 2026 goals, challenges, and 2027 outlooks. Key procurement-related topics included the upcoming utility billing system implementation with vendor Spry Point, potential increases in fire state aid agreements, and plans for capital projects such as street and trail maintenance, ice arena renovations, and fire station staffing and design. The Police Department highlighted a significant federal grant of approximately $965,000 to reimburse costs for a new records management system (Axon RMS). The Fire Department discussed equipment replacement schedules and the potential phased purchase of turnout gear and trucks to manage budget constraints. The council also discussed procedural changes regarding voting methods, ultimately deciding to maintain the current roll call vote system. Additionally, the council considered a proposed 30-day pre-eviction notice ordinance with plans for public engagement before final adoption. Other policy discussions included potential gun violence prevention ordinances contingent on state preemption changes and considerations around short-term rental regulations. No formal contract awards or RFP approvals were made during this session, but several capital improvement projects and technology implementations were outlined as part of the 2027 budget planning process.