SUNFISH LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
First Calvary Baptist Church – 5495 S Robert Trail
7:00 P.M.
Attendants
Mayor: Dan O’Leary
Councilmembers: Present: Steve Bulach, Tom Hendrickson, Mike Hovey, Shannon Nelson
City Clerk: Christy Wilcox
City Attorney: Kori Land
City Planner: Lori Johnson
City Forester: Jim Nayes
Building Official: Dennis Schilling
Police Chief: Brian Sturgeon
1. Call to Order
Mayor O’Leary called the meeting to order.
2. Approve Agenda
Mayor O’Leary asked if there were any additions or corrections to the agenda. Mayor O’Leary requested the addition of the following:
7d – Discussion of Wrongful Tree and Brush Removal on 60th Street
7e – Reappointments of Planning Commission Members
7f – Amendment of City Hall (Church) lease
Moved by Mayor O’Leary and seconded by Councilmember Hovey to adopt the agenda as amended. Motion carried (5-0).
3. Consent Agenda
Moved by Councilmember Nelson and seconded by Councilmember Bulach to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried (5-0).
a) Approve Regular Minutes of October 14, 2025
b) List of Bills
c) Monthly Financial Statements
d) Building Inspection Report
e) City Forester Report
f) Public Safety Report
g) Engineer’s Report
h) Resolution Setting Dates for the Regular City Council and Planning Commission Meetings for 2026
i) Recycling Grant
4. Comments from the Public
· Scott Buell discussed Harmon Park relating to the recent council meeting discussions. Mr. Buell’s great grandfather owned the property and believes that the intention to donating the land to the city was to make it maintained as open space and a park. Mr. Buell believes that the City should maintain the ownership of the property as it was intended for and continue his legacy which was centered around conservation.
· Jim Stoll indicated that him and several of the residents have been discussing the potential sale of Harmon Park as well as the “disrepair” of the park. Residents would like to keep the park as is but also have a volunteer group to help with the cutting back of brush and various items to clear paths.
· Fran Lamey is not in favor of development of Harmon Park so that the residents of the city can enjoy the parks that are offered.
· Jeff Vierzba spoke regarding the actions that are currently being taken regarding the potential development of Harmon Park. The item was tabled, but he noted that there is some work that is being done as noted by the invoices submitted by the City Attorney, so the item has not been tabled. Clarification was made that there has been work done but no further action will be taken until staff is able to review documents that are currently being scanned and that no formal action will be taken until later in 2026.
5. Public Hearing/Presentations
a. Dennis Schilling, Building Official gave an overview of 2025 building activities as well as changes in the Building Department.
b. Budget and Tax Levy for the Year 2026
Mayor O’Leary opened the public hearing for the 2026 Budget and Tax Levy. The City Council did review the budget at their August 12th meeting and adopted the preliminary budget on September 9th. With no further comments, the mayor closed the public hearing.
Moved by Councilmember Hendrickson and seconded by Councilmember Hovey to adopt Resolution No. 25-14, adopting the final 2026 Budget. Motion carried (5-0).
Moved by Councilmember Bulach and seconded by Councilmember Hovey to adopt Resolution No. 25-16, adopting the tax levy for collection in the year 2026, seconded by Councilmember Hovey. Motion carried (5-0).
6. Planning Commission Items:
There were no Planning Commission Items.
7. New/Other Business
a & b: Zoning and City Code Updates
Kori Land, City Attorney, outlined the proposed ordinances and council memo regarding the amendments to the City Code and Zoning Ordinance. After discussion and including the proposed changes as discussed at the special city council meeting held earlier, the City Council recommends approval.
Moved by Councilmember Nelson and seconded by Councilmember Bulach to adopt the following ordinances and authorize publication in the legal newspaper:
1. Ordinance No. 25-4, an ordinance enacting Section 1005 of the Sunfish Lake City Code relating to Signs.
2. Ordinance No. 25-5, an ordinance amending Sunfish Lake City Code Section 1107 regarding Water Use Permits.
3. Ordinance No. 25-6, an ordinance enacting Section 1106.03 of the Sunfish Lake City Code relating to Land Alteration Permits.
4. Ordinance No. 25-7, an ordinance enacting Sunfish Lake City Code Section 613 relating to Essential Services.
5. Ordinance No. 25-8, an ordinance repealing and replacing Sunfish Lake City Council Section 1001 the Building Code, repealing Section 1003 Building Permits, repealing Section 1004 Building Fees and enacting Section 1003 Plumbing, Plans and Specifications, and Inspections.
6. Ordinance No. 25-9, an ordinance amending Section 202 of the Sunfish Lake City Code relating to fees.
7. Ordinance No. 25-10, an ordinance repealing and replacing Sunfish Lake City Code Section 608 relating to animals.
8. Ordinance No. 25-11, an ordinance repealing and replacing the Sunfish Lake City Code Section 603 regarding nuisances.
9. Ordinance No. 25-12, an ordinance repealing and replacing the Sunfish Lake Zoning Ordinance.
Motion carried (5-0)
7c. Discussion of Maintenance of Musser Park Trails
Mayor O’Leary noted that the City did receive complaints regarding the condition of the Musser Park trails. Musser Park is a Land Trust park in which the city is restricted to what can be done and any work that is done must be approved by the Land Trust. The Land Trust does encourage proper trail maintenance, and the city has fallen behind in most recent years. Some of the trails are not walkable due to the number of fallen trees. Mayor O’Leary requested the City Forester obtain a quote for properly clearing the trail. The quote received from the City Forester was from Morgan’s Tree Service in the amount of $3,600.00.
Liz Lee, resident of Sunfish Lake, also obtained quotes for the clearing of paths and trails in Musser Park.
Moved by Mayor O’Leary and seconded by Councilmember Hendrickson to approve the quote from Morgan’s Tree Service in the amount of $3,600.00 to clear cut down branches and trees in the way of walking path and any dangerous or potentially dangerous trees and branches above or near the path to be left in the woods and agree to annual maintenance of the park with that amount to be decided at a later date. Motion carried (5-0).
7d. Discussion on Wrongful Tree and Brush Cutting on 60th Street
Mayor O’Leary discussed the incident that occurred when staff of the City of Inver Grove Heights mistakenly cut down the trees and vegetation on the wrong side of the street which was on the Sunfish Lake side. The city notified the Public Works Director, Brian Connolly to discuss the situation. Mr. Connolly apologized and noted that most of the plants removed were invasive and would grow back within a couple of years. During discussions it was noted that the City of Inver Grove Heights has for over 40 years been plowing and maintaining 60th Street, including the 494 bridge that primarily serves Sunfish Lake without billing the city.
Following the cutting, the City Forester was directed to conduct a survey and itemization of the trees and brush that were removed. A copy of that report was presented this evening. Mayor O’Leary and the City Forester met with the residents and then prepared a remediation list of trees and plants and other materials needed to bring the Horseshoe Lake area back to its pre-cutting condition as quickly as possible. Mayor O’Leary outlined what he felt was a fair and reasonable remediation proposal that was presented to the City Council and asked the City Council for approval of the proposal and authorizing up to $2,000 of funds for replacing trees and shrubs, signs and other materials.
Mayor O’Leary also asked that the council then authorize him to inform Brian Conley that Sunfish Lake recognizes and appreciates Inver Grove Heights decades of plowing and maintenance at no charge and that in the spirit of that long-standing neighborliness, Sunfish Lake will withdraw our original cost recovery proposal. Sunfish Lake will cover the costs instead. In return, the city requests his assurance that Inver Grove Heights will conduct training for public works staff to ensure they confirm direction with management when they are told that they may be doing something incorrect. This will put Sunfish Lake in the best possible position to then negotiate a favorable joint powers agreement. This approach is intended to accomplish substantially the same practical result for Horseshoe Lake and 60th Street residents as our original proposal, while requiring more of the physical work to be done by us rather than Inver Grove Heights. At the same time, the City acknowledges the substantial benefit Sunfish Lake has enjoyed from Inver Grove Heights' 40 years of unpaid maintenance and positions us as a fair and reasonable partner as we negotiate a long-term agreement. The mayor asked the council to authorize, with the assistance of our City Attorney, Kori Land, to negotiate either joint powers agreement or long-term agreement.
Moved by Mayor O’Leary to move forward with the proposal as outlined in the memorandum dated November 26, 2025, to Brian Connolly, Inver Grove Heights Public Works Director, seconded by Councilmember Hovey for discussion.
Councilmember Hovey asked if IGH goes through the process of putting together a JPA and we don’t do that, what are the ramifications of that? City Attorney Land stated that she believes they are going to prepare an agreement for consideration.
The City Council believes it would be better to wait to discuss or negotiate a joint powers agreement later but feels it is important to take care of the plantings as soon as the City Forester is able to. The City Council agrees to pay for the plantings.
Councilmember Hovey made a friendly amendment that at this time the only action to be taken is to approve up to $2,000.00 for City Forester to order the plants, mulch and signage.
Roll call on the original motion, as amended. Motion carried (5-0).
7e. Reappointments to the Planning Commission
Moved by Mayor O’Leary and seconded by Councilmember Hovey to approve the reappointments of Jeannine Nayes and Clair Nobel as members of the Planning Commission for a term which will expire December 31, 2028. Motion carried (5-0).
7f. Lease Agreement with First Calvary Church (City Council Meetings)
Moved by Mayor O’Leary and seconded by Councilmember Hendrickson to approve the lease agreement with First Calvary Baptist Church subject to minor modifications as the City Attorney negotiates the agreement. Motion carried (5-0).
Other Items:
Deer Population County
City Forester Nayes informed the City Council he received an email from Three Rivers Park District regarding the deer population counts. Historically, the city has been doing this every three years or so and you need good winter snow to do this. City Forester Nayes is recommended that we conduct a count and the cheapest way to do this would be a part of their much larger survey.
Moved by Councilmember Hendrickson and seconded by Mayor O’Leary to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,000.00 to Three Rivers Park District to conduct a deer population count. Motion carried (5-0).
8. Adjournment
Mayor O’Leary adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m.
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Christy Wilcox, City Clerk Dan O’Leary, Mayor
We are a small community proud of our heritage and committed to the preservation of our pristine, rural character. We cherish our privacy, yet know we are part of a thriving Dakota County and the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area. With these partnerships in mind, we strive to preserve that unique spirit which is Sunfish Lake, Minnesota.