2026-01-13 - AGE - City Council Work Session January 13, 2026 — 6:30 PM
Golden Valley City Hall
Council Conference Room
1.Review of Draft 2026 Legislative Agenda
2.Discussion of 2026 Council Appointments, Assignments and Reimbursements
3.Discussion Regarding Council Meeting Structure, Guidelines, and Policies
4.Building Forward (City Facilities) Update
5.Winnetka Ave and Downtown Golden Valley Updates (30 Minutes)
6.Council Review of Future Draft Agendas
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA
Council Work Sessions have an informal, discussion-style format and are designed for the Council to
obtain background information, consider policy alternatives, and provide general directions to staff.
No formal actions are taken at work sessions. The public is invited to attend Council Work Sessions and
listen to the discussion; public participation is only allowed by invitation of the City Council.
Discussion Item(s)
City of Golden Valley City Council Work Session January 13, 2026 — 6:30 PM
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Manager's Office
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley City Council Work Session
January 13, 2026
Agenda Item
1. Review of Draft 2026 Legislative Agenda
Prepared By
Andrea Connolly-Dees, Executive Assistant
Katy Sen, Lobbyist - Messerli & Kramer
Summary
In preparation for the 2026 Minnesota legislative session, the City of Golden Valley needs to establish
legislative priorities. Draft priorities are largely holdovers from 2025, but need to be confirmed and
prioritized by the City Council.
Financial or Budget Considerations
Potentially significant if bonding is approved at the state legislature for city facility projects.
Legal Considerations
Agreements with the state as part of any bonding project would be subject to extensive legal review.
Equity Considerations
Projects and legislative initiatives each will have equity considerations, as does the agenda as a whole.
Recommended Action
Discuss and provide feedback to staff and the city's lobbyist on the draft legislative agenda in
preparation for adopting the legislative agenda at the January 20, 2026 Council Meeting.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Manager's Office
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley City Council Work Session
January 13, 2026
Agenda Item
2. Discussion of 2026 Council Appointments, Assignments and Reimbursements
Prepared By
Andrea Connolly-Dees, Executive Assistant
Summary
Each year, the City Council appoints its members and staff to fill several roles required by statute.
Additionally, the Council appoints its members to serve as representatives on various assignments.
The 2025 appointments are as follows:
1. Acting Mayor. Each year, the Council must appoint an Acting Mayor to fulfill the duties of Mayor
during the disability or absence of the Mayor. (Minn. Stat. § 412.121.) This duty has historically been
rotated. Listed below are the history of Mayor Pro Tem appointments and the 2025 Mayor Pro Tem
appointment:
2018 – Fonnest
2019 – Clausen
2020 – Rosenquist
2021 – Sanberg
2022 – M. Harris
2023 – La Mere-Anderson
2024 – Ginis
2025 - Rosenquist
2026 -
2. Assistant Weed Inspector. Under Minnesota Statute, the Mayor acts as the weed inspector for the
City. Each year, the City appoints assistant weed inspectors (Minn. Stat. § 18.80, subd. 3 ) to carry out
the duties of weed inspector. Historically, employees of the Fire Department, Parks and Recreation
Department and the City Forester have filled this role. The assistant weed inspectors for 2025 are:
Chris Sorheim, Fire Inspector I
Al Lundstrom, Park Superintendent
Diana Preisen, City Forester
Kevin Jarta, Fire Inspector I
3. Board and Commission Liaisons. Each year, the Council appoints one Council Member to act as a
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liaison to each Board and Commission. The Board and Commission Liaisons from 2025 were as
follows:
Board of Zoning Appeals – Council Member La Mere-Anderson
Environmental Commission – Council Member Ginis
Community Services Commission – Council Member La Mere-Anderson
Open Space and Recreation Commission – Council Member Rosenquist
Planning Commission – Council Member Ginis
Diversity Equity & Inclusion Commission – Council Member Harris
Police Employment, Accountability & Community Engagement (PEACE) – Mayor Harmon
4. Other Assignments. Each year, the Council assigns Council Members to serve as representatives on
various other assignments. These appointments are for a one-year term. (Golden Valley City Code
Section 2-43(b)) The Council appointments for 2025 were as follows:
169 Corridor Committee – Council Member Rosenquist
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Campaign – Mayor Harmon
Golden Valley Business Council - Council Member Harris (Delegate); Council Member La Mere-
Anderson (Alternate)
Golden Valley Building Forward Steering Committee - new
Golden Valley Historical Society Board – Council Member La Mere-Anderson (Alternate)
Golden Valley Rebranding Steering Committee - new
Highway 55 Bus Rapid Transit – Council Member Rosenquist
Hopkins School District 270 Caring Youth Committee – Council Member Ginis (Delegate);
Council Member Rosenquist (Alternate)
Hopkins School District 270 Cities Joint Meetings – Council Member Ginis (Delegate); Council
Member Rosenquist (Alternate)
Legislative Liaison and Spokesperson – Mayor Harmon (Delegate); Council Member Ginis
(Alternate)
Metro Cities - Mayor Harmon (Delegate); Council Member Harris (Alternate)
LMC – Varies
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce – Council Member Harris
Municipal Legislative Commission – Mayor Harmon (Delegate); Council Member Harris
(Alternate)
Northwest Suburbs Cable Communications/ CCX – Council Member Harris
Regional Council of Mayors – Mayor Harmon
Robbinsdale School District 281 Government Advisory Committee – Mayor Harmon
Sochacki Park Governance Policy Board – Council Member Rosenquist (Delegate); Mayor
Harmon (Alternate)
5. Westopolis. Periodically, the City Council appoints a representative to the Westopolis Board (the
Saint Louis Park Visitors and Convention Bureau). Historically, this role has been filled by the City
Manager. The appointment to Westopolis for 2025 was as follows:
Westopolis Board – Mayor or City Manager
Financial or Budget Considerations
Under City Code, Section 2-43 , the Mayor and Council are paid $50 for each meeting they are directed
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or designated to attend, up to a maximum of $150 per month. Where a delegate and alternate are
appointed, the delegate is eligible for payment for all meetings they attend. The alternate is eligible
for payment for all meetings they attend that the delegate does not attend. The Ordinance requires
the Council to outline the method for approval of meetings by resolution.
Legal Considerations
This item does not require legal review.
Equity Considerations
The City recognizes the historical and present disparities perpetuated by its structures, policies, and
procedures burdened by different communities, particularly within Black, Indigenous and People of
Color communities. The City Council is dedicated to examining practices and frameworks to dismantle
inequity and barriers. While serving as liaisons and delegates to various boards, commissions, and
committees, the Council is mindful to view their assignments through an equity lens.
The City Council provides input to these committees and are aware of the impact their directives can
have in dismantling barriers, providing resources, and enhancing opportunities for all residents and
visitors to the City of Golden Valley.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Manager's Office
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley City Council Work Session
January 13, 2026
Agenda Item
3. Discussion Regarding Council Meeting Structure, Guidelines, and Policies
Prepared By
Andrea Connolly-Dees, Executive Assistant
Summary
Every January following a City election, the City Council reviews its guidelines and meeting structure to
ensure the members have an opportunity to discuss and agree upon the body's operating procedures
and norms. This practice helps ensure the Council is operating in the most efficient and effective
manner for the benefit of the community.
Staff have reviewed the current City Council Meeting Guide and prepared a memorandum with
observations and options for possible changes.
Supporting Documents
Current Golden Valley City Council Guide - Adopted May 21, 2024
Memo - Biennial Review of Meeting Structure and Efficiency
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Golden Valley City Council Guide
This City Council Guide is a collection of the policies, procedures, and rules applicable to the
Golden Valley City Council and Mayor (collectively, the “Council”). This Guide will be reviewed by
the Council the January following each City election.
Table of Contents
Guiding Principles ..........................................................................................................................2
General Policy Statement & Objective.................................................................................................. 2
Values .................................................................................................................................................... 2
Standards of Conduct ............................................................................................................................ 2
Communications ................................................................................................................................... 3
Identifying and Addressing Conflicts of Interest ................................................................................... 5
Hearing .................................................................................................................................................. 8
Meeting Rules ................................................................................................................................9
Agenda and Order of Business .............................................................................................................. 9
Rules of Order (Parliamentary Procedure) ........................................................................................... 9
Public Comment .................................................................................................................................. 11
Robert’s Rules Cheat Sheet ................................................................................................................. 13
Other Council Rules ...................................................................................................................... 14
Council Policy on the Role of Council Liaison and Other Appointments ............................................ 14
Elected Official Out of State Travel Policy........................................................................................... 15
Virtual Meeting Policy ......................................................................................................................... 17
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Guiding Principles
General Policy Statement & Objective
The purpose of this document is to establish guiding principles for the Golden Valley City Council
(the “Council”). These principles apply to the members of the Council and the Mayor as well as
the appointed members of the City’s Boards and Commissions (collectively “Members”,
individually a “Member”).
Values
The City of Golden Valley has adopted the following core values:
• Communication
• Community
• Inclusion
• Integrity
• Respect
• Innovation
• Courage
• Accountability
Standards of Conduct
1. A Member must not use their official position to secure special privileges or exemptions for
the Member or others.
2. A Member must not act as an agent or attorney for another before the Council or a board or
commission in a matter where a conflict of interest exists or may exist.
3. A Member must not knowingly accept or solicit, directly or indirectly, a gift or loan for
themself or another if this is prohibited by law.
4. A Member must not solicit or accept compensation or expense reimbursement for the
performance of the Member’s public duties from any sources other than:
a. the City;
b. other employment, but only if the person conducts public business incidental to other
employment, and the other employment does not interfere with, influence, or
compromise the person’s public position; or
c. another governmental agency or municipal association to a Member who serves as a
City representative for that agency, but only if the City does not also pay the Member
for the same activity.
5. A Member must not use public money, time, personnel, facilities, or equipment for private
gain or political campaign activities except when:
a. the use is required or authorized by law; or
b. the use is not greater than that allowed for members of the general public.
This paragraph does not prohibit correspondence at any time to individual community
members in response to the community member’s specific inquiries related to City business.
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6. A Member must not disclose to the public, or use for the private gain of self or others,
information that was gained by reason of the official’s public position and that is not public
data, or that was discussed at a closed session of the Council. Further, a Member must not
disclose information received, discussed, or decided in conference with the City Attorney that
is protected by the attorney client privilege, unless a majority of the Council has authorized
that disclosure.
7. A Member must not enter into a contract with the City, unless in accordance with law. A
Member who has a proprietary interest in an agency or company doing business with the City
must make known that interest in writing to the Council and the City Clerk.
8. A Member must not intentionally violate a provision of the City Code or the City ordinances.
9. Members are expected to be prepared for meetings by reading agenda packets and
requesting further information or research from staff in advance of the meetings.
10. Members direct City staff, contract employees, and consultants only through the City
Manager, as established by the requisite majority vote. At Council meetings, the Council may
express concerns and may provide staff specific direction, provided that the direction is the
consensus of the Council. The City Manager may request further clarification if they need
understanding of the Council’s expectations of staff.
11. Members shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 13D, the Open Meeting Law.
12. Members’ shall perform their duties in accordance with the process and rules of order
established by the Council and the City Code.
13. Members shall not use public resources that are not available to the general public (e.g., City
staff time, equipment, supplies, facilities, etc.) for private, personal, or political purposes.
14. It is the responsibility of Members to publicly share, with all other Members, information they
have received from sources outside of the public decision- making processthat pertains to a
topic under consideration. Whenever possible, new information or data obtained by
Members, pertinent to a topic being discussed, will be distributed through the City Manager
to other Council Members.
Communications
As elected and appointed officials, Members have a responsibility to communicate information
to the public and to manage records of their communications responsibly and in accordance
with applicable law. Communicating accurate, timely, and professional information is important
to ensuring the quality and credibility of information being provided to the public.
Public Record
Communications (electronic or written) between Members and City staff are public records
(with a few exceptions as stated by the Minnesota Data Practices Act). When Members receive
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requests for private data or information outside of the scope of a Member’s role, they should
route the request to the City Manager.
Align With Minnesota Open Meeting Law
Members should only share information and communicate with each other in alignment with
the Open Meeting Law. Members should generally act with caution when using electronic
means to communicate with one another to avoid serial conversations and inadvertent
violations of the Open Meeting Law. Members who wish to share information with other
Members related to City business should do so through the City Manager or their staff liaison.
To ensure an accurate and complete record, Members should always disclose information and
communications received outside of the meeting that inform their decisions. When three or
more Members receive a communication about an agenda item, it must be disclosed at the
meeting.
Community Member Questions, Comments, and Concerns
Members are expected to direct community member questions, comments, and concerns to
staff through the City Manager or applicable department head. Doing so ensures requests are
routed to the appropriate staff and allows managers to ensure proper follow-up and
coordination among departments.
Social Media
Since social media is an effective and frequently chosen communication tool among the public,
the City of Golden Valley has its own official social media pages, which post only the official
communications of the City and City Council consensus. Elected officials should take care not to
speak on behalf of the City on social media and should understand that speaking on social media
about City business related to their role can present legal risks, such as Open Meeting Law or due
process violations. Members with questions about appropriate use of social media should
contact the City Manager or City Attorney.
Email
Generally, email is removed from the system every five years. Email is sometimes public data and
usually discoverable in litigation, making it important to use it cautiously. Communications with
the City Attorney may be protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege so long as
they are kept confidential. When seeking legal advice or to discuss matters of pending litigation
or other “confidential” City business, contact the City Manager or City Attorney. Members should
never forward or disclose the contents of emails from the City Attorney – doing so has the effect
of waiving the attorney-client privilege and making the information discoverable.
Media Relations /Media Inquiries: City Manager’s Role
The City Manager communicates on the City’s behalf in interviews, publications, news releases,
on social media sites, and related communications. The City Manager is in the best position to
provide a response to media requests because many issues involve multiple departments or work
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may already be in progress. Many times, the City Manager will direct a department director will
handle interviews and communications on behalf of the City.
Media Relations/Media Inquiries: Council’s Role
Members should follow the guidelines below when contacted by the media.
1. When the media contacts Members about upcoming agenda items, issues, or discussion
topics, Members should wait to provide information until the topic is voted on. This
communicates that a decision has not been made and allows the public process to work
by keeping the topic open for community member input. If a Member discusses the issue
with media before a decision is made, there is potential that the public may be confused
about the Council’s direction. This may create a public perception that a vote or decision
has been made on a topic, discourage the public from engaging in the democratic process,
and create legal risk.
2. When the media contacts Members about routine or public information (i.e., a meeting
time or agenda), Members may provide the media with the information and notify City
Manager.
3. When the media contacts Members about controversial or legal information (i.e.,
potential litigation, controversial issues, an opinion about a City policy or employee, or an
unfamiliar topic), Members should contact the City Manager so that they can work with
staff to provide a response or coordinate further discussion with the Council as
appropriate.
Identifying and Addressing Conflicts of Interest
So that community members may have the utmost confidence and trust in the integrity of their
City government, and to protect the City’s interest and its community member’s interests,
Members must disclose and avoid conflicts of interest that arise in performing their official
duties. To this end, the below principles provide Members guidance for identifying, addressing,
and disclosing conflicts of interest. This guidance supplements, not supplants, the responsibilities
Members have under law with regard to conflicts of interest. Members should consult with the
City Manager and/or City Attorney with questions or concerns they may have regarding conflicts
of interest (whether the conflicts are real or perceived, potential or in existence), and not
participate in or take any official action on a matter until such questions or concerns are resolved
with the City Manager or City Attorney.
Identifying Legal Conflicts of Interest
A “legal conflict of interest” exists when, in the discharge of official duties, a Member participates
in a governmental decision, action or transaction that:
1. affects the person’s financial interests or those of a business with which the person is
associated, unless the effect on the person or business is no greater than on other
members of the same business classification, profession, or occupation; or
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2. affects the financial interests of an organization in which the person participates as a
member of the governing body, unless the person serves in that capacity as the City’s
representative.
Identifying Financial Interests
A financial interest is any interest, including loans, which may yield, directly or indirectly, a
monetary or other material benefit to the Member (other than monetary or material benefits
authorized by the City in accordance with law). A financial interest of a Member or Member’s
employer (other than the City), his or her associated business, or his or her spouse, domestic
partner, parent, sibling or child, and their employers or associated businesses shall also be
considered a financial interest of the Member. The following assets shall not be considered a
financial interest for purposes of this section:
1. ownership of shares in a diversified mutual fund;
2. membership in a pension plan or employee benefit plan;
3. ownership of bonds or publicly traded securities; and
4. ownership of a whole life insurance policy.
Addressing Legal Conflicts of Interest
1. When a legal conflict of interest exists, except as permitted by law, a Member must
disclose the potential conflict of interest for the public record, in the manner described in
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest section below, and refrain from participating in the
discussion and from voting on the matter. To participate or participation, for the purposes
of this document, means making the decision, taking action, entering into a transaction,
providing advice or a recommendation, introducing, sponsoring, debating, voting on,
approving, and investigating the decision, action, or transaction.
2. A Member shall not participate in making, or attempt to use their position to influence,
any City governmental decision, action, or transaction in which the Member knows or has
reason to know that they have a legal conflict of interest.
Non-Legal Conflicts of Interest
1. Members may face situations in performing their official duties that raise, or are
perceived to raise, a conflict of interest but which do not fall within the above description
of a legal conflict of interest and are otherwise not a conflict of interest regulated by law.
These types of conflicts are referred to, for purposes of this document, as “non-legal
conflicts of interest.”
2. While non-legal conflicts of interest may be different in nature or degree from a legal
conflict of interest and other conflicts of interest regulated by law, they can nevertheless
impair, or give the appearance of impairing, a Member’s independence of judgement or
harm the City’s interests and the interests of community members.
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3. The significance of non-legal conflicts of interest often depends on the facts and
circumstances involved in each situation, and thus it is difficult to establish bright-line
rules regarding when such conflicts must be disclosed and necessitate a Member to
refrain from participating in a matter. Therefore, Members are entrusted to use their best
judgement regarding such situations with the aim of upholding the principles established
under this document and the highest possible standards of ethical conduct, and with the
understanding that public disclosure of non-legal conflicts of interest, by itself, helps
maintain trust and confidence in the integrity of City government with community
members.
4. To this end, if a Member recognizes that their participation may create a non-legal conflict
of interest, they should (i) discuss the matter in advance (to the extent possible) and in
confidence with the City Manager and/or City Attorney regarding the appropriate action
to take; and/or (ii) disclose the conflict in accordance with the Disclosure of Conflicts of
Interest section below and, if necessary, refrain from participating in the matter.
5. Without limiting the foregoing, a Member may participate in a City governmental
decision, action, or transaction involving an organization or entity that the Member, or
his or her partner, spouse, partner, domestic partner, sibling, or child is an officer,
director, board member, or trustee of, if the Member does not have a legal conflict of
interest in the governmental decision, action, or transaction. However, the Member must
disclose his or her affiliation with the organization or entity as though it were a legal
conflict of interest, in the manner described in the Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
section below.
6. Similarly, a Member may participate in a City governmental decision involving a person
related by family to the Member, other than his or her parent, spouse, domestic partner,
sibling, or child, if the Member does not have a legal conflict of interest in the
governmental decision, action, or transaction. However, the Member must disclose his or
her relationship with the related person as though it were a legal conflict of interest, in
the manner described in Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest section below.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
If a Member, in the discharge of their official duties, recognizes that their participation in a matter
would create a legal conflict of interest, or a non-legal conflict of interest that should or must be
disclosed, the Member shall disclose the conflict of interest as follows:
1. The Member shall disclose the conflict of interest to the City Manager and their fellow
Members as soon as they become aware of the conflict. If a Member becomes aware of
a conflict during a meeting of the Council or a committee or board, the Member shall
immediately disclose the conflict of interest orally.
2. In the case of a legal conflict of interest, a Member must also prepare, on a form
prescribed by the City Clerk, a written statement describing the matter requiring action
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or decision and the nature of his or her conflict of interest, or as otherwise required by
law. In the case of a Council Member, the written statement shall be distributed to the
other Council Members and Mayor and filed with the City Clerk. Likewise, in the case of a
Member of a board or commission, the written statement shall be distributed to the other
Members of the board or commission and filed with the City Clerk. After the first time the
Member has orally disclosed a conflict of interest and filed the disclosure form, the
Member may subsequently orally disclose a conflict by referring to the filed form. Because
Members may not attend all meetings, oral disclosure may consist of the written
statement being read into the record by the presiding Member at the first regular meeting
after the form has been filed. All written statements shall be filed and distributed within
one week after the Member becomes aware of the legal conflict of interest. In the case
of non-legal conflicts of interest that a Member discloses, the Member may file a written
statement regarding the conflict.
3. If a Member does not participate in any discussion or vote on a matter due to a conflict
of interest, he or she shall be counted present for the purposes of establishing a quorum
to carry on the business of the Council, board, or commission, but shall be considered
disqualified for the purpose of establishing the number of votes necessary to pass
motions or resolutions.
Hearing
Any person may file a written complaint with the City Clerk questioning a Member’s adherence
to the principles stated in Section III through VI above. After reviewing the complaint, the Council
may hold a public hearing only if: (1) a neutral third-party designated by the City Attorney, advises
the Council that the allegations state a legally-recognized violation of the law or a legally-
recognized conflict of interest; or (2) a neutral third-party designated by the City Attorney,
advises the Council that the complaint has been lodged in good faith and that the alleged
violation is related to the accused Member’s role as a Member.
Prior to the hearing, a letter will be sent to the accused Member stating the alleged complaint.
At the hearing, the accused Member shall have the opportunity to be heard.
If, after the hearing, the Council finds a violation of the principles stated in these Guiding
Principles, the Council may, by a majority vote, censure the accused Member. The accused
Member shall not participate in the Council’s decision to censure.
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Meeting Rules
Agenda and Order of Business
The order of City Council meeting agendas is set by resolution of the Council. The current order
of business is:
•Call to Order
•Additions and Corrections to Agenda
•Consent Agenda
•Public Hearings
•Old Business
•New Business
•Adjournment
The presiding officer may modify the order of business to accommodate people present or to
expedite the business of the council. No item of business shall be considered unless it appears
on the agenda for the meeting or is approved for addition to the agenda by a unanimous vote
of the Council Members present. Members wishing to add items to the upcoming agenda list
should contact the City Manager.
Rules of Order (Parliamentary Procedure)
The following discussion introduces a few rules of parliamentary procedure that can simplify the
work of the council. The rules are contained in The New Roberts Rules of Order,
Revised. Additional motions are included in the Roberts Rules “Cheat Sheet” on page 13.
Role of the Presiding Officer
The presiding officer is the Mayor or, if the Mayor is absent, the Mayor pro tempore. The
presiding officer has an extra measure of power. As the chair of the meeting, the presiding officer
is responsible for guiding the group toward the conclusion of pending business in good time,
while also giving major issues enough consideration. To accomplish this, the presiding officer has
two special powers: (1) Interpreting and applying the rules of procedure; and (2) recognizing
speakers.
The presiding officer decides questions of procedure, public participation, and order subject to
the right of any councilmember to appeal. The City Attorney provides guidance, when
appropriate, to ensure the meeting is conducted according to the requirements of law and the
adopted rules of procedure.
Motions
The council transacts business through motions made by councilmembers. These motions are
usually seconded and subsequently passed or rejected by council vote. Each motion has different
rules. For example, councils can debate some motions while they must vote on others
immediately. Some motions require a simple majority for passage; others need a two-thirds or
four-fifths majority. These are the typical steps to make and act on a motion:
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• A Member addresses the presiding officer.
• The presiding officer recognizes the Member.
• The Member states their motion. (Usually in the following form: “I move . . . text of the
motion.”)
• If necessary, another councilmember then seconds the motion by saying: “I second the
motion.”
• The presiding officer puts the question before the council by announcing there is a motion
and a second. A discussion follows, if the motion can be debatable.
• A councilmember may make subsidiary motions in the same form as the original motion.
• The council votes on the original motion or on any of the subsidiary motions.
• The presiding officer announces the result of the vote on each motion immediately after
the vote count is complete.
Special Motions
Several motions deserve special consideration. They include the following:
a. The Motion to Reconsider
This motion enables a council to set aside a vote it previously took, and to reconsider the
matter as though it had not voted on the issue. Only a person who originally voted on the
prevailing side may move to reconsider. Otherwise, any member may make the motion
by saying, “I move to reconsider . . . stating the motion to be reconsidered . . .” The council
may debate the motion. If the council passes the motion to reconsider, it must then
reconsider the original motion and take another vote. If the council defeats a motion to
reconsider, no further action is necessary.
b. The motion to postpone indefinitely
There is an important difference between the motion to postpone indefinitely and the
motion to postpone temporarily. The motion to postpone temporarily is more commonly
called a motion to “lay on the table” or “to table.” The motion to postpone temporarily
postpones consideration of the motion until some undetermined, future time. The council
may consider a tabled motion whenever a majority of the members decide to do so. A
motion to postpone indefinitely, however, is the equivalent to a negative vote on the
main motion. An affirmative vote on it may be reconsidered, but not a negative vote. A
motion to permanently suppress any future consideration of an issue is not binding on a
future council.
c. The Motion to Limit Debate
A council may limit debate by placing a reasonable time limit on it, such as a limit of 15
minutes to consider a particular motion; or limiting the number of people who may speak
for and against a certain motion, such as a limit of three speakers in favor and three
speakers opposed.
d. The Motion to Amend
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Members may offer amendments to a main motion at any time. In addition, it is possible
to amend an amendment currently under consideration. Beyond this, councilmembers
can offer no further amendments. When a member has made a motion to amend, the
vote on the amendment must precede the vote on the original motion. After the body
has accepted or rejected the amendment, another vote on the original motion is
necessary.
e. The Motion to Substitute
This is a motion to replace one motion with another on the same subject. A Member may
move to substitute a main motion or an amendment to a main motion. One form for
making a substitute motion is to say, “I wish to introduce the following substitute motion
. . . present the substitute motion . . .” When a substitute motion is before the body, the
body must decide which of the two motions, the original motion or the substitute motion,
to consider. The body must vote on the question. A “yes” vote favors considering the
substitute motion. A “no” vote favors considering the original motion. The body must
then discuss and vote on the selected motion.
Public Comment
Open Forum
Open Forum is conducted prior to the Call of Order and is not televised. In an effort to provide
full and open communication with the public, the City Council uses Open Forum to gather
information via public input. The following procedures apply to Open Forum:
• Open Forum will begin promptly at 6:20 pm and last for a maximum of 10 minutes.
• The Mayor opens the Open Forum.
• Those wishing to speak should raise their hands and approach the podium when
recognized by the Mayor, then clearly state their name and the topic they wish to discuss.
• Each person will be allowed three minutes to speak. The City Clerk, or the staff meeting
support person, will activate a timer that will show on screens in the Council Chambers
to ensure that the Mayor is able to apply the time limit to all speakers fairly.
Spokespersons may be given more time to speak on behalf of a group of people.
• Only one person may speak at a time.
• Speakers are encouraged to direct comments to the City Council as a whole and not to
one particular member.
• Open Forum is intended for topics not on the City Council agenda that same day.
• Speakers are encouraged to comment on any aspect of City business, but direct or
inferred comments on personality conflicts with City Council, Commission, or staff
members, including but not limited to personal attacks, hate speech, or threats of
violence, will not be allowed.
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• The City Council will not take official action on items discussed during Open Forum, except
to refer items to staff for future discussion. Council members may ask questions for
clarification purposes, but they may wish to investigate or research issues before
responding.
• The City Clerk will keep a record of speakers and comments.
Public Hearings
The following procedures apply to Public Hearings:
• The Mayor opens the public hearing.
• Those wishing to speak should raise their hands and approach the podium when
recognized by the Mayor, then clearly state their name for the record.
• Each person will be allowed three minutes to speak. The City Clerk, or the staff meeting
support person, will activate a timer that will show on screens in the Council Chambers
to ensure that the Mayor is able to apply the time limit to all speakers fairly.
Spokespersons may be given more time to speak on a behalf of a group of people.
• Only one person may speak at a time. Everyone who wishes will have a chance to address
the Council. The Mayor may ask staff to answer questions after all persons have had a
chance to speak.
• No one will be given an opportunity to speak a second time until everyone has had an
opportunity to speak initially. Please limit second comment to new information and not
rebuttals.
• Speakers are encouraged to direct comments to the City Council as a whole and not to
one particular member.
• Direct or inferred comments on personality conflicts with City Council, Commission, or
staff members, including but not limited to personal attacks, hate speech, or threats of
violence, will not be allowed.
• The audience is urged to be polite and quiet as comments are made to the Council.
Applauding or other disruptive behavior are inappropriate during City Council
proceedings.
• There will be no straw votes of people present.
• When the public comments are completed, the Mayor closes the public hearing and starts
Council discussion. The audience is welcome to listen quietly to the discussion but may
not make further comments.
• The City Clerk will keep a record of speakers and comments.
18
Robert’s Rules Cheat Sheet
Order To do this You say this May you
interrupt speaker?
Must you be
seconded?
Is the motion
debatable?
Is the
motion amendable?
What vote is required?
1 Adjourn the meeting “I move we adjourn” May not interrupt
the speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Majority vote required
2 Recess the meeting “I move that we
recess until…”
May not interrupt
the speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Amendable Majority vote required
3 Complain about a
noise, room
temperature, etc.
“Point of privilege” May interrupt
speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable
(in this case,
any resulting
motion is
debatable)
Not
amendable
No vote required (chair
decides)
4 Suspend further
consideration of
something
“I move we table it” May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Majority vote required
5 End debate “I move the previous
question”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Two-thirds vote required
6 Postpone
consideration of
something
“I move we
postpone this matter
until…”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Amendable Majority vote required
7 Have something
studied further
“I move we refer this
matter to a
committee/attorney”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Amendable Majority vote required
8 Amend a motion “I move that this
motion be amended
by…”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Amendable Majority vote required
9 Introduce business
(a primary motion)
“I move that…” May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Amendable Majority vote required
no order Object to a
procedure or to a
personal affront
“Point of order” May interrupt
speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable Not
amendable
No vote required, chair
decides
no order Request information “Point of
information”
If urgent may
interrupt speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable Not
amendable
No vote required
no order Ask for a vote by
actual count to
verify a voice vote
“I call for a division
of the house”
May not interrupt
speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable Not
amendable
No vote required unless
someone objects (then
majority vote required)
no order Object to
considering some
undiplomatic or
improper matter
“I object to
consideration of this
question.”
May interrupt
speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable Not
amendable
Two-thirds vote required
no order Take up a matter
previously tabled
“I move we take
from table”
May interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Majority vote required
no order Reconsider
something already
disposed of
“I move we now (or
later) reconsider our
action relative to…”
May interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable if
original motion
is debatable
Not
amendable
Majority vote rquired
no order Consider something
out of its scheduled
order
“I move we suspend
the rules and
consider…”
May interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Two-thirds vote required
no order Vote on a ruling by
the chair
“I appeal the chairs
decision.”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Not
amendable
Majority vote required
The motions or points numbered are listed in established order of precedence. When one of them is pending, you may not introduce another that's listed below it,
but you may introduce another that's listed above it. The motion or points that have no established order of precedence may be introduced at any time, except when the meeting is considering 1, 2 or 3.
19
Other Council Rules
Council Policy on the Role of Council Liaison and Other Appointments
Council Liaison
Each year the City Council names one or two of its members as liaison to each of its Boards and
Commissions. The intent of the liaison is to improve communications between the Council and
its appointed Boards and Commissions. Liaisons should attend at least one or two meetings of
the designated Board/Commission each year for formal communications, although they may
attend any meeting to observe other agenda items of interest.
If requesting to be on the agenda, the liaison should contact the Chair and staff liaison to
determine an appropriate date and time; however, as a reminder, the liaison is not a participating
member of the board/commission. Liaisons should informally report to the Council on issues
significant to the Boards and Commissions.
Other Appointments
Each year, the Council appoints the Mayor and Council Members to serve as representatives,
delegates, or alternates on various advisory groups or joint powers organizations. Additionally,
the City Council appoints its members and staff to fill several roles required by statute. These
appointments are for one-year terms.
The list of current and recent appointments is distributed to the City Council in December so that
there is adequate time to review and discuss proposed appointments for the upcoming year. The
City Council adopts the annual assignments and appointments by resolution at a meeting each
January.
Reporting to the Council
When serving as either liaison or appointed member, the Mayor/Council Member should
regularly report to the full Council on issues currently under discussion by a particular board or
commission. When representing the City on an affiliated Board or Commission, positions taken
should represent the consensus of the City Council as a whole. Positions under consideration
should be discussed during regular updates to the Council. It may be appropriate to adopt a
resolution outlining specific Council positions for issues of special concern to the Council.
Reimbursement for Meeting Attendance
Under City Code, Section 2-43, the Mayor and Council are paid $50 for each meeting they are
directed or designated to attend, up to a maximum of $150 per month. Where a delegate and
alternate are appointed, the delegate is eligible for payment for all meetings they attend. The
alternate is eligible for payment for all meetings they attend that the delegate does not attend.
The City Council adopts an annual resolution in January that lists the meetings eligible for
reimbursement and method for approval, as required by ordinance.
20
Elected Official Out of State Travel Policy
Purpose
The City of Golden Valley recognizes that its elected official may at times receive value from
traveling out of the state for workshops, conferences, events and other assignments. This policy
sets forth the conditions under which out-of-state travel will be reimbursed by the City.
General Guidelines:
1. The event, workshop, conference or assignment must be approved in advance by the City
Council at an open meeting and must include an estimate of the cost of the travel. In
evaluating the out-of-state travel request, the Council will consider the following:
• Whether the elected official will be receiving training on issues relevant to the City or
to his or her role as the Mayor or as a Council Member;
• Whether the elected official will be meeting and networking with other elected
officials from around the country to exchange ideas on topics of relevance to the City
or on the official roles of local elected officials.
• Whether the elected official will be viewing a city facility or function that is similar in
nature to one that is currently operating at, or under consideration by the City where
the purpose for the trip is to study the facility or function to bring back ideas for the
consideration of the full Council.
• Whether the elected official has been specifically assigned by the Council to visit
another city for the purpose of establishing a goodwill relationship such as a "sister-
city" relationship.
• Whether the elected official has been specifically assigned by the Council to testify on
behalf of the City at the United States Congress or to otherwise meet with federal
officials on behalf of the City.
• Whether the City has sufficient funding available in the budget to pay the cost of the
trip.
2. No reimbursements will be made for attendance at events sponsored by or affiliated with
political parties.
3. The City may make payments in advance for airfare, lodging and registration if specifically
approved by the council. Otherwise all payments will be made as reimbursements to the
elected official.
4. The City will reimburse for transportation, lodging, meals, registration, and incidental costs
using the same procedures, limitations and guidelines outlined in the City's policy for out-of-
state travel by City employees.
5. Airfare will be reimbursed at the coach rate.
6. Mileage will be reimbursed at the IRS rate. If two or more Council Members travel together
by car, only the driver will receive reimbursement. The City will reimburse for the cost of
renting an automobile if necessary to conduct City business.
21
7. Lodging and meal costs are limited to those which are reasonable and necessary.
8. Receipts are required for lodging, airfare, and meals and should accompany an expense
report form. It is not necessary to have receipts for cabs and tips. The expense report form
shall be submitted to the Finance Department for payment.
9. The City will not reimburse for alcoholic beverages, personal telephone calls, costs associated
with the attendance of a family member, rental of luxury vehicles, meal expenses included in
the cost of registration, or recreational expenses such as golf or tennis. Adopted November
15, 2005.
22
Virtual Meeting Policy
Purpose
The purpose of this Remote Meeting Attendance Policy (“Policy”) is to establish standards
for remote meeting attendance for City of Golden Valley elected and appointed officials. All
remote attendance must meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes § 13D.02 and this
Policy.
Policy
A. Applicability
This Policy applies to City of Golden Valley elected and appointed officials (collectively,
“Members”), including but not limited to members of the following public bodies:
1. The City Council
2. All commissions of the City of Golden Valley
3. All boards of the City of Golden Valley
4. All task forces of the City of Golden Valley
5. All other public bodies duly created by the Golden Valley City Council
B. Interactive Technology & Remote Attendance Defined
As used in this Policy, the terms Interactive Technology and Remote Attendance have the
following meanings:
• Interactive Technology means technology that allows all Members to hear and see
one another and all discussion and testimony presented at any location at which at
least one member is present.
• Remote attendance means attending a meeting by Interactive Technology from a
location that is not the regular meeting location.
C. Requirements
Elected and appointed officials may attend City Council, Board, or Commission meetings
by interactive technology so long as:
1. All Members of the body participating in the meeting, wherever their physical
location, can hear and see one another and can hear and see all discussion and
testimony presented at any location at which at least one Member is present;
2. Members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the body can hear
and see all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the body;
3. At least one Member of the body is physically present at the regular meeting
location;
4. All votes are conducted by roll call so each Member’s vote on each issue can be
identified and recorded; and
5. Each location at which a Member of the body is present is open and accessible to
the public.
23
D. Quorum
Each Member participating in a meeting by Interactive Technology is considered present
at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and participating in all proceedings.
E. Notice
If a Member attends a meeting by Interactive Technology, the City must provide notice of
the regular meeting location and notice of any site where a Member of the body will be
participating by Interactive Technology.
A Member wishing to attend a meeting remotely must request approval from the public
body’s staff liaison at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting. The Staff Liaison will
review the request to ensure conditions of this policy are met. The Member’s request must
include the reason or reasons for the request and the description and street address of the
proposed remote meeting location.
F. Internet Connection
Members remotely attending a meeting must have a stable, consistent source of internet
access.
G. Associated Costs
Members attending remotely are responsible for any associated costs and will not be
reimbursed by the City for remote meeting related expenses.
H. Public Monitoring of Remote Meetings
If Interactive Technology is used to conduct a meeting, to the extent practical, the City shall
allow members of the public to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote location.
I. Records
The minutes for all meetings conducted using Interactive Technology must reflect the names
of any Members appearing by Interactive Technology and state the reason or reasons for the
appearance by Interactive Technology.
J. Exceptions under State Law
This Policy shall not preclude members from participating remotely where they meet the
requirements of Minn. Stat. § 13.02, subd. 1(b)(1)-(2), or 13D.021.
24
Date: January 9, 2026
To: City Council
From: Noah Schuchman, City Manager
Maria Cisneros, City Attorney
Theresa Schyma, City Clerk
Subject: Biennial Review of Meeting Structure and Efficiency
City Manager's Office
The purpose of this memo is to present staff’s observations relating to the City Council Guide
(the “Guide”) as part of the biennial review required by the Guide.
Options for possible changes are summarized below, including steps required to effectuate
each option.
This document was adopted by the City Council in May 2024 and the biennial review is an
opportunity for Council to define its rules and norms for engaging with staff, each other, and
the public.
1.Old Business
Having an ‘Old Business’ section has caused some confusion about what and when items
can be added to this particular section of Council agendas. If past issues are actively
being worked on, have transitioned to new developments, or need a final housekeeping
action to closeout the item, they would be better integrated into the ‘New Business’ or
‘Consent Agenda’ section of the agenda, depending on the level of action needed.
Removing the "Old Business" section from the agenda would reduce redundancy and
improve clarity.
Possible Action Remove ‘Old Business’ section from agendas
Responsible Party City Clerk
Approvals Required Work session direction, adopt Council resolution
Changes Needed Update ‘Meeting Rules’ section of City Council Guide prior to
its adoption by resolution at the January 20 meeting.
Update agenda template
25
2.Virtual Meeting Policy
In 2025, the Minnesota Legislature passed the State Government Finance Bill (Chapter
39), amending the Open Meeting Law (OML) to expand remote meeting flexibility by
removing address disclosure and public-access requirements for remote locations and
eliminating limits on remote participation. The current City Council Guide, adopted May
21, 2024, reflects the prior OML requirements and does not include these options.
At the September 9 work session, the Council discussed potential amendments to the
Policy on member attendance at Council and HRA meetings and its application to board
and commission meetings. No consensus was reached, and Council asked Staff to bring
this item back in January.
Council requested additional information on how these changes could affect
commission meetings. Staff liaisons to the Planning Commission and the Board of
Zoning Appeals indicated that, due to the complexity of these commissions,
technological considerations, and required public hearings, they do not support allowing
remote participation for commissioners at meetings.
For other commissions, staff did not have a strong recommendation either way but
indicated that while allowing remote meetings could resolve attendance/quorum issues
in some cases, there are downsides. Specifically, not all meeting rooms are equipped
with the technology required to comply with the open meeting law, facilitating hybrid
public meetings is difficult, especially when the presiding officer attends remotely, and
remote participation is not as effective at community and trust building as in-person
attendance.
Possible Action Provide clarification on if and how the Council would like to
amend the Policy for member attendance at Council and HRA
meetings.
Provide clarification on how the Policy should be applied to
board and commission meetings.
Provide clarification on how the Policy should be applied to
participation and meeting facilitation for presiding officers.
Responsible Party City Clerk
Approvals Required Work session direction, adopt Council resolution
Changes Needed Update ‘Virtual Meeting Policy’ section of City Council Guide
prior to its adoption by resolution.
Update agenda template
26
3.Reconciling Differences in Meeting Guidance for Council and Commissions
During the annual review of the Council Meeting Guide, staff identified sections where it
could be unclear whether the guidance applied to the Council, to commissions, or to
both. To provide greater clarity and consistency, staff are seeking the Council’s feedback
on whether updates to the Guide should be made to clarify which sections apply to
boards and commissions.
Possible Action Provide clarification on if and how the Council would like to
amend the guide.
Responsible Party City Clerk
Approvals Required Work session direction, adopt Council resolution
Changes Needed Review and update sections of the City Council Guide to clarify
which provisions apply to the Council, commissions, or both,
prior to its adoption by resolution at the January 20 meeting.
Next Steps:
•We suggest a discussion on these possible changes during the next City Council work
session to gather feedback from all members.
•If there is consensus, we can begin these changes at the subsequent meetings and
assess their effectiveness in Q4 2027.
Thank you for considering these recommendations. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
27
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley City Council Work Session
January 13, 2026
Agenda Item
4. Building Forward (City Facilities) Update
Prepared By
Emily Goellner, Community & Economic Development Director
Summary
City Staff will provide a presentation on the Building Forward Project Roadmap and review progress on
City facilities work. The attached roadmap includes a draft timeline on all new City facilities (Civic
Center Campus, Public Works Facility, and East Fire Station), list of accomplishments, and note areas
for direction moving forward on this important work.
Financial or Budget Considerations
This update is not focused on financial or budget considerations. Staff will return to the Council with
financial updates at a future meeting. The attached memo notes the need for project management
and construction management services, which are typical costs incurred in the design and
construction process and have been incorporated into project budgets.
Legal Considerations
There are no specific legal considerations with this update.
Equity Considerations
City staff are working on a community engagement plan and communications plan to be used for each
facility's design and/or master planning process. Staff anticipates that equity considerations will be
more pronounced and described in more detail when the design processes commence.
Recommended Action
Provide feedback on project roadmap progress and next steps.
Supporting Documents
Roadmap - City Facilities - 13-JAN-2026.pdf
28
Project Roadmap
City Facilities
Design & Construction
City Staff
Noah Schuchman, City Manager
Maria Cisneros, City Attorney
Lyle Hodges, Finance Director
Emily Goellner, Community & Economic Development Director
Chloe McGuire, Deputy Community Development Director
Sara Kasel, City Management Fellow
Last Updated January 13, 2026
29
2
Facilities Project Approach
This serves as a guiding document with high-level information for the City Council. It
will be updated throughout the course of the several years. Updates are underlined.
Project Overview
East Fire
Station (EFS)
- ~21,000-square-foot facility
- Requires site acquisition, process underway
- Estimated $16 million investment
- Allow for 24/7 staffing and improved response times
- Opportunity to realign Lilac Drive in coordination with nearby
shopping center – best to align road design timeline with EFS
Public
Works Facility
(PWF)
- Two site acquisitions – one complete, one underway
- Relocates outdoor storage and other heavier uses into a
single site in an industrial area
Civic Center
Campus (CCC)
- ~15.5-acre area
- Festival Street component with large public space,
programming areas, private development, connection to
Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek, and potentially a new
parking structure
- Site identified as future Hwy 55 bus rapid transit (BRT) stop
- Master Plan process commencing January 2026 with Perkins +
Will after a competitive designer selection process
Public Safety
Building
(PSB)
- Includes Central Fire Station and Police Station
- Will incorporate health, wellness, and safety improvements
- Provide significant training resources for staff
- Allow for 24/7 firefighter staffing, improved response times
City Hall
(CH)
- Planned for 2050 construction prior to sales tax success
- Could be co-located with the Public Safety Center or new
Hennepin County Library
Library – led
by Hennepin
County (HCL)
- County leadership indicated intentions to rebuild the library
and planning dollars are included in County CIP
- Cost-share agreement for master planning executed with
Hennepin County, City and County staff in weekly meetings
Water Tower
Replacement
(WT)
- A new tower can be located anywhere on the site
- Primarily funded by the Joint Water Commission (JWC), with
some local costs depending on final design and location
- Planned to have areas to project light onto tower and serve
as focal point for Civic Campus
30
3
Accomplishments since September 2025
1. Progressed with the site acquisition process for East Fire Station and Public Works
Facility
2. Executed a cost-sharing agreement and joint powers agreement with Hennepin County
for the Civic Center Campus Master Planning process
3. Collaborated with Hennepin County staff to select Perkins + Will to complete the Civic
Center Campus Master Planning process
4. Launched first City Newsletter story, launched an e-mail subscription option for future
updates, presented Building Forward update to all City staff, and built out FAQs on the
Building Forward website: www.BuildingForwardGV.org
Conceptual Timeline
Below is the tentative timeline for City facilities. This is an ambitious timeline that would
finalize all new facilities within 5 years. Changes to the timeline are underlined/overstruck.
2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
East Fire
Station (EFS)
Site
acquisition
Design, site
prep, bid,
and build
Bid and
Build and
open
Build and
open
Public Works Facility
(PWF)
Site
acquisition
Design and
site prep
Bid and
Build
Build and
open
Civic Center Campus
(CCC)
Library
partnership
established
Master plan,
design, and
site prep
Design and
site prep
Bid and
build
Build and
open
Timeline Assumptions:
• It is most advantageous to bid large projects in January of each year, February at the
latest while firms are choosing their work for the year. Given fluctuations in the
construction market, this assumption may change throughout the process.
31
4
• A construction manager (CM) must be hired to manage the day-to-day process with
contractors.
• A project manager and an owner’s representative are crucial additions to the project
team to ensure timelines and budgets are managed on a daily basis through
construction completion.
• The timeline for the Civic Campus will become more detailed as the site layout and
unified vision are finalized.
Potential Delays:
• Negotiations with property owners for site acquisition
• Pollution cleanup at new Public Works Facility site
• Potential cell tower relocation at new Public Works Facility site
• Relocation process (for privately-owned businesses related to land acquisitions)
• Staff relocation during Civic Campus construction
Next Steps
● Complete East Fire Station site acquisition
● Complete Public Works Facility site acquisition
● Commence Civic Center Campus Master Planning process in January with anticipated
community engagement starting in February
● Conduct selection process and execution of service agreement with a Project Manager
and Owner’s Representative
● Conduct Construction Manager selection processes for East Fire Station, Public Works
Facility, and Civic Center Campus (Master Plan process only)
● Conduct Designer selection processes for East Fire Station, Lilac Drive Reconstruction,
and Public Works Facility
32
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley City Council Work Session
January 13, 2026
Agenda Item
5. Winnetka Ave and Downtown Golden Valley Updates (30 Minutes)
Prepared By
Emily Goellner, Community & Economic Development Director
Michael Ryan, City Engineer
Summary
Discuss the Winnetka Ave design process as well as the progress on the downtown implementation
updates.
Financial or Budget Considerations
This update is not focused on financial or budget considerations. Staff will return to the Council with
financial updates at a future meeting.
Legal Considerations
There are no specific legal considerations with this update.
Equity Considerations
Both the Winnetka Avenue design and downtown implementation will include robust community
engagement plans. Staff will also conduct a full Equity Analysis at the beginning of each project. Staff
will return to Council with more details at a future meeting.
Recommended Action
Provide feedback on the Winnetka Avenue design and the downtown plan implementation processes.
Supporting Documents
Memo - Downtown Planning
33
1
Date: January 13, 2026
To: Golden Valley City Council
From: Emily Goellner, Community & Economic Development Director
Chloe McGuire, Deputy Community Development Director
Michael Ryan, City Engineer
Caleb Broslma, Assistant City Engineer
Jacquelyn Kramer, Senior Planner
Christine Costello, Housing & Economic Development Manager
Subject: Downtown Planning Implementation
CC: Noah Schuchman, City Manager
For several years, City Staff have implemented various planning, community engagement, and
capital construction activities aligned with the City’s vision for downtown improvements. These
efforts correspond to the City Council’s 2030 Strategic Directive to “Pursue vibrant, identifiable
community nodes, including a downtown, with diverse housing and retail options that attract
and engage residents and visitors.” This memorandum summarizes progress to date, along with
key work areas for Staff in 2026 to advance Downtown Golden Valley goals. The various studies
completed in recent years are listed below, which have allowed Staff to progress toward the
current implementation phase.
- Downtown Study Phase I, HKGi, 2018
o Golden Valley Downtown West, ULI Minnesota Technical Assistance Panel, 2018
- Downtown Study Phase II, HKGi, 2020
o Downtown Golden Valley Walk/Bike Connectivity (also called “Active Living
Report”)
o Community Input Report, 2019
o Interim Report Presentation, Jan 2020
- Downtown Study Phase III, HKGi
- Downtown Redevelopment Framework Plan, HKGi, 2021
- Downtown Golden Valley User Experience Framework, Van Meter Williams Pollack,
Visible City, 2024
34
2
Figure 1: Map of Upcoming Focus Areas
A. Planned Civic Center Campus Redevelopment
The City Council approved a contract with Perkins + Will in December 2025 to complete
a master plan of the 14-acre Civic Center Campus, bounded by Golden Valley Rd, Rhode
Island Ave, 10th Ave, and Winnetka Ave.
The Steering Committee meets monthly with the City’s consultants and includes City,
Hennpin County, Three Rivers Park District, and Bassett Creek Watershed staff, as well
as the owner of the McDonalds site. The Committee meets during the workday on
Mondays. As the City Council determines their liaisons for the year, Staff requests one
liaison to the Steering Committee. Staff anticipates finishing the plan in Fall 2026.
35
3
The Civic Center Campus Master Plan process will provide numerous opportunities for
exploration, including relocation of the water tower, which is a key element and visual
landmark of this campus. There will be numerous restrictions from federal homeland
security, but staff will advocate for the inclusion of unique options as they relate to the
tower. It is likely that the City will be limited to only projecting light onto the tower and
painting the tower, but these are great opportunities to enhance this key community
landmark.
Staff are also determining the opportunities for private development on the Civic
Center Campus after all necessary government functions are planned for. The last
private development market analysis was completed during the User Experience
Framework in 2024. Staff will also analyze the opportunities for a shared parking ramp
on the campus, to promote the ‘park once, visit multiple downtown locations’ vision.
B. Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 55
The pedestrian bridge over Highway 55 (Figure 1, Item B) located just west of Winnetka
Ave is one of the only grade-separated highway crossings in Golden Valley. This
pedestrian bridge serves as a vital connection between the Civic Center Campus,
Brookview, nearby shopping centers, Luce Line Trail, and residential neighborhoods.
The existing bridge was constructed in 1977. This bridge is nearing the end of its
planned design life and is not compliant with current Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) standards. Staff are contracting with the engineering firm TKDA to perform a
feasibility study for replacement of the pedestrian bridge. The study will evaluate
several design options, estimate preliminary costs, and identify grant funding
opportunities the City can pursue. One of these funding opportunities includes the
Metropolitan Council’s Regional Solicitation, expected in Spring 2026, which is only
available for application every two years. Feasibility study completion is anticipated in
Q2 2026. Staff are advocating for additional funding support through Metro Transit’s
Highway 55 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and packaged with the Highway 55 BRT
construction, although the timing of the BRT project is unknown.
Before the Highway 55 BRT project is implemented, the pedestrian bridge will serve as
an important connection to Metro Transit’s Route 757, planned for implementation by
2028. Route 757 consists of a limited-stop bus route between Minneapolis and
Plymouth, including several stations planned in Golden Valley near Highway 55. Golden
Valley’s City Council recently expressed continued support for bus transit along
Highway 55 via resolution. While Metro Transit advances the Route 757 implementation
36
4
plan and evaluates the potential for future BRT improvements, Staff would like to
consider outreach and marketing options for Route 757 to build support and improve
ridership metrics. Golden Valley’s station at Golden Valley Rd and Winnetka Ave is
anticipated to be the highest ridership stop along this route, on par with downtown
Minneapolis stops. Strong ridership metrics in Golden Valley would demonstrate the
need for BRT, the importance of multiple stops in Golden Valley, and related transit
improvements in the future.
C. Improvements to Winnetka Ave
Hennepin County has several improvements planned for Winnetka Avenue in 2026 and
2027 between Highway 55 and Phoenix St. This includes repairs to the Union Pacific
Railroad (UPRR) crossing just north of 10th Avenue, accessibility upgrades to pedestrian
ramps, and a pavement mill and overlay.
Staff are collaborating with Hennepin County to determine the potential for layout
changes on Winnetka Ave that would improve safety for vehicles, cyclists, and
pedestrians (Figure 1, Item C). The layout changes currently proposed to Winnetka Ave
are referred to as a 4-lane to 3-lane conversion (abbreviated to 4:3). This would change
the lane configuration from two travel lanes in each direction, to one lane of travel in
each direction along with a center turn lane that serves both directions of travel. This is
consistent with the Winnetka Ave layout north of Phoenix St and would create a safer,
more consistent experience for those using Winnetka Ave. This lane configuration would
also match the layout on Douglas Drive, which is another Hennepin County road nearby.
The proposed layout would improve traffic and pedestrian safety by reducing the
distance between curbs. Pedestrians would have shorter crossing distances, and there
would be fewer conflict points between pedestrians and motorists. The narrower road
section will naturally calm traffic. By reducing the pavement width, additional space
becomes available for other pedestrian amenities – such as an off-street shared use
trail, sidewalk, and other improvements discussed later in this memorandum. This
layout also allows for environmental improvements, such as boulevard trees and
plantings that reduce urban heat island effects, improve local air quality, enhance
ecology, and improve stormwater management. Boulevard trees and plantings
generally improve pedestrian and traffic safety by creating visual barriers that make the
corridor feel more confined, and physical barriers that separate pedestrians from traffic.
Staff will also request that Winnetka Ave is evaluated for a mid-block pedestrian
crossing, which would provide a safer crossing location between Golden Valley Rd and
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10th Ave. Staff will advocate for pedestrian crossing signals at each Winnetka Ave
intersection to be reconfigured such that pedestrians are provided with a protected
movement. This would allow pedestrians to begin crossing before vehicles are allowed
to turn left, creating a safer and more comfortable crossing experience.
Throughout this process, staff will continue to evaluate opportunities for improved
business access along Winnetka Ave. This includes ongoing coordination with Paster
Properties, and review of entrance/exit conditions at Golden Valley Shopping Center
(GVSC) and Winnetka Ave. Staff has considered the potential for eliminating left turns
out of the GVSC’s center parking lot going north, which currently poses safety concerns
along Winnetka Ave and within the GVSC site. This would not restrict access into GVSC.
Along with these proposed layout changes to Winnetka Ave, staff are planning for utility
improvements on the corridor to address the aging infrastructure. The watermain and
sanitary sewer utilities underneath Winnetka Ave were installed in 1963 and 1957,
respectively, and are reaching the end of their design life. To ensure that the City
provides reliable utility services, Staff intend to rehabilitate the existing utilities by the
end of 2027. Trenchless technologies will be leveraged to repair utilities, helping
minimize the impacts of road construction and reduce costs.
Staff have prepared a Request for Proposals (RFP) to design these improvements, which
has been sent to Hennepin County for review. Distribution of this RFP to engineering
consultants is anticipated in Q1/Q2 of 2026. Community and business engagement
would be incorporated into the design process.
D. Off-Street Trail Connection on Winnetka Ave
The Winnetka Ave 4- to 3-lane concept allows space for multi-modal transportation that
wasn’t previously available. Staff are working with Hennepin County to potentially
incorporate an off-street, shared-use trail into the Winnetka Ave improvements
described above (Figure 1, Item D). The specific details associated with sidewalks and
trails will be determined during the Winnetka Ave 4- to 3- lane conversion design
process and through coordination with Hennepin County.
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E. Paster Properties Renovations of Golden Valley Shopping Center
Paster Properties, the owners of TexaTonka Shopping Center in St. Louis Park, recently
purchased the Golden Valley Shopping Center. Staff anticipate Paster Properties to be a
long-term owner and operator of the site. Staff have been meeting with the Paster
Properties team regularly since they acquired the site, and they have begun addressing
deferred maintenance and cosmetic updates to the exterior of the shopping center
building.
Over the next few months, Paster Properies will install new signage with updated
shopping center branding. A new sit-down restaurant, Kitchen & Rail, will also open in
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either the winter or spring of 2026 in the old Mort’s restaurant space next to Chipotle
and Love Pizza. In the spring, Paster Properties will begin work on landscaping and
pedestrian realm improvements, including a new pedestrian plaza in the middle of the
shopping center. In coordination with the property owner, the City will also begin work
on sidewalk and pedestrian improvements in the right-of-way around the site. Staff
and Paster Properties have discussed an opportunity for private-public partnership to
improve the aesthetics of the southwest corner of the intersection of Golden Valley Rd
and Winnetka Ave to make it more welcoming and pedestrian-friendly.
Staff and the Paster Properties team have also discussed long-term plans for the site.
One item of note is the circular-shaped lighting store located west of the shopping
center. Formerly the Midwest Federal Savings and Loan Bank, it was constructed in 1964
and is likely eligible for national historic registration as an excellent example mid-
century modern, commercial design. Paster is open to discussing a historic registration.
F. New Mixed-Income Housing at WINN
The WINN Apartments, located at 640 Wisconsin Avenue, is a 303-unit market rate
apartment complex with 46 units at 60% of the area median income (AMI), which meets
the City’s Mixed-Income Housing Policy. The income qualified units are located
throughout the building and include a variety of unit sizes. The complex has begun pre-
leasing, and residents will be moving in likely in February 2026, after they receive their
certificate of occupancy (CO).
Other Related Initiatives Completed:
• Parking Code Changes: The City Council recently approved City Code changes to the
parking standards, reducing parking requirements generally, and including new parking
requirements for shopping centers.
• Sign Code Changes: Recently adopted sign code is more helpful for multitenant
buildings.
• Subdivision Code Changes: Recently adopted code provides for the ability to move lot
lines administratively, allowing for more efficient platting changes for shared buildings,
such as Paster Properties, if necessary.
• Process Code Changes: Recently adopted code finalizes an administrative zoning permit
process. Recent code also modified numerous conditional use permits (CUPs) and
shifted them to restricted uses, which are approved administratively.
Related Initiatives Underway or Starting in 2026:
• Downtown branding and wayfinding to accompany City Rebranding in 2026
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• Development of the 5-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan is underway,
which is likely to include a focus on downtown marketing and placemaking
• Streetscape Design Improvements – there is a need for new street banners and
streetlights downtown. The scope, cost, and aesthetics of these investments will be
clearer after the Civic Center Campus Master Plan is finalized. Budget for streetscape
improvement specifications such as benches, lights, and other streetscape elements
is allocated 2026 Capital Improvement Plan.
• Several roadway and other construction projects are planned in the area, and as
those projects progress, staff will evaluate opportunities to save costs by combining
projects when feasible.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Legal
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley City Council Work Session
January 13, 2026
Agenda Item
6. Council Review of Future Draft Agendas
Prepared By
Melissa Croft, Deputy City Clerk (Records)
Supporting Documents
Review of Future Draft Agendas
42
Review of Future Draft Agendas
Meeting & Item Info
January 20, 2026 - Special City Council Meeting - 5:15 PM (tentative)
Board and Commissions Interviews
Discussion Regarding Appointments/Reappointments
Adjournment
January 20, 2026 - City Council Meeting - 6:30 PM
1A - Pledge of Allegiance and Land Acknowledgement
Presentation
Annual Check-in with Golden Valley Community Foundation
Winter Salt Week
New Employee Introductions (if necessary)
Consent - Council Minutes
Approval of Council Minutes
Consent - City Check Registers
Approval of City Check Registers
Consent - Licenses
Consent - Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces
Consent - Bid, Quotes, and Contracts
Approve Puchase of Toro Groundmaster 4500 from MTI Distributing
Approve Professional Services Agreement with SEH for Traffic Engineering Services
Approve the Purchase of Axon Body Worn Cameras with Supporting Hardware & Software
Consent - Grants and Donations
Resolution to Accept Donation from the Golden Valley Crime Prevention Fund for Ongoing Community Engagement and
Outreach
Consent - Miscellaneous
Adopt Resolution Approving Annual Council Appointments, Assignments and Reimbursements
Adopt Resolution Approving Updates to Council Meeting Structure, Guidelines, and Policies
Approve 2026 Legislative Priorities
Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek Main Stem Restoration Project:
--Approve the Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek Restoration Plans
--Approve Amended Cooperative Agreement with Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission for the Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/
Bassett Creek Main Stem Restoration Project
Breck School Preliminary Plat and Preliminary Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Public Hearing
Old Business
New Business
First Consideration of Ordinance Amending City Code Section Related to Tobacco Licensing (TBD)
February 4, 2026 - HRA Meeting - 6:30 PM (Annual Meeting) (Wednesday)
Call to Order
Election of Officers
Consent Agenda
Approval of HRA Minutes
Consideration of Approval of LAHA Funds to Habitat for Humanity for 1715 Gettysburg
Approval of Contract for Development with Habitat for Humanity for 504 Lilac
Approval of Sub-Recipient Grant Agreements for 504 Lilac with Habitat for Humanity
Approval of a Professional Service Agreement with Affordable Housing Connections (AHC)
Public Hearing
Old Business
43
Meeting & Item Info
New Business
February 4, 2026 - City Council Meeting - 6:30 PM (Wednesday)
1A - Pledge of Allegiance and Land Acknowledgement
Presentation
Proclamation for Black History Month
Consent - Council Minutes
Approval of Council Minutes
Consent - City Check Registers
Approval of City Check Registers
Consent - Licenses
Consent - Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces
Consent - Bid, Quotes, and Contracts
Approve MOU with Golden Valley Pride
State Delegation JPA with City of Hopkins
Consent - Grants and Donations
Consent - Miscellaneous
Second Consideration of Ordinance Amending City Code Section Related to Tobacco Licensing & Resolution Authorizing
Summary Publication (TBD)
Hennepin County Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Funding Policy
Public Art Policy
Adopt Ordinance Approving Conditional Use Permit for Car Wash at 604 Lilac Drive
Public Hearing
Old Business
New Business
February 10, 2026 - HRA Work Session - 6:30 PM (if necessary)
TIF District Overview and TIF Development District Boundary Expansion Discussion (15 Minutes)
February 10, 2026 - City Council Work Session - 6:30 PM
Investment Presentation with Ehlers Investment Advisors
Work Session on Climate Equity Plan (30 min)
Franchise Ordinances and Franchise Fees (30 Minutes)
Council Review of Future Draft Agendas
February 17, 2026 - City Council Meeting - 6:30 PM
1A - Pledge of Allegiance and Land Acknowledgement
Presentation
New Employee Introductions (if necessary)
Consent - Council Minutes
Approval of Council Minutes
Consent - City Check Registers
Approval of City Check Registers
Consent - Licenses
Multi-Family Rental Property License Renewals
Consent - Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces
Consent - Bid, Quotes, and Contracts
Consent - Grants and Donations
Adopt Resolution Accepting Annual Donation of Photographic Services from Stan Waldhauser
Adopt Resolution to Apply for MN GreenCorps Member
Consent - Miscellaneous
Approve City Council 2030 Strategic Directives
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Meeting & Item Info
Public Hearing
Old Business
New Business
45