PLEASE JOIN US FOR A
RECOGNITION OPEN HOUSE
HONORING OUTGOING
MAYOR JACI LINDSTROM
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2023
4:30-5:30 PM AT CITY HALL
Together, we will celebrate Mayor Lindstrom’s
outstanding dedication, and tireless service to the
citizens of Minnetonka Beach as a true VILLAGER
over the past 11 years.
The January City Council meeting will follow at 6pm
www.ci.minnetonka-beach.mn.us - 952-471-8878
December 2022
Important Dates &
Meetings
Meetings are held at City Hall
Garbage pick-up is every Friday unless noted.
Have containers out by 6:30 am.
Friday, December 23
Trash & recycling pickup. City Hall closed
for Christmas holiday. Post Office open 8-noon
Monday, December 26
City Hall and Post Office closed for
Christmas holiday
Monday, January 2
City Hall and Post office closed
Tuesday, January 3
Park Commission meeting 5:30 pm
Wednesday, January 4
Finance Committee meeting 6 pm
Friday, January 6
Trash and recycling pickup
Republic Services Christmas Tree Pickup.
Place tree at the curb by 6:00 am
Monday, January 9
Open House for Mayor
Lindstrom 4:30 – 5:30 pm
City Council Meeting 6:00 pm
Wednesday, January 11
Civic Meeting 7:30 pm
Moriarty home
Friday, January 13
Trash pickup
Republic Services Christmas Tree Pickup.
Place tree at the curb by 6:00 am
Monday, January 16
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
City Hall & Post Office Closed
Friday, January 20
Trash & Recycling pickup
Monday, January 23
Planning Commission meeting 7pm
Sunday, February 6
Resident Skating Party 2-4 pm
Ray Peters Park Rinks
Wishing You Happy Holidays and A Joyful New Year!
City of Minnetonka Beach Mayor & Staff
Fawn, Heidi, Mayor Lindstrom, Jane & Jason
(missing: Saturday Postal Clerk Marilyn)
City News and Updates
www.ci.minntonka-beach.mn.us - 952-471-8878
Minnetonka Beach
City Hall News
December 2022
YOUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS:
Mayor – Jaci Lindstrom
Council Members:
Tracey Breazeale, Susan
Enlow, and Vibhu Sharma
Treasurer – Chris Zinn
CITY HALL SERVICES
• Notary Public: Heidi Honey, City Administrator, Jane Burgess,
City Clerk, & Fawn Gage, Administrative Assistant/Utility
Billing/Postal Clerk are commissioned notaries. There is no fee for
this service.
• City Drop Box: There is a drop box for utility bill payments, Civic
Committee dues, and correspondence for City offices. The drop box
is located in the Post Office (rear door) to the left of the post office
boxes and is accessible 24/7.
• Post Office: Here to meet most postal needs. There are no waiting
lines at this post office!
CITY HALL HOURS
8 A.M. T0 4:30 P.M.
Monday through Thursday
Closed from Noon – 1 for Lunch
8 A.M. TO NOON
Friday
Public Works Pal, Eddie, grabbing
some lunch by Ray Peters Park
www.ci.minnetonka-beach.mn.us - 952-471-8878
Mayor’s Corner
December 2022
Warm holiday greetings to all!
It is bittersweet that this is my final Mayor’s Corner column. As we welcome a new Mayor and Council, I
want to say what an extraordinary honor and a rare privilege it has been to serve as the Mayor of
Minnetonka Beach. I will always cherish this experience and value the trust placed in me by our
community.
2023 Property Tax Levy
The end of the year is always a busy time in municipal government. In December, the City Council passed the 2023 budget and
property tax levy. Minnetonka Beach operates with three independent and self-supporting budgets: The General Fund, Water
Fund and Sewer Fund. The General Fund tax levy for 2023 will be $1.19M, which represents a 9% increase over prior years, or
about $300 per year for a home valued at $1.5M. The increase is driven by rising wages and inflationary pressures, as well as debt
service. This increase is in line with average city property tax increases statewide (9.1%) and lower than 36% of Minnesota cities
and towns, including most of the surrounding communities.
The property tax levy is divided by the number of homes (230) to support the General Fund. While higher value homes pay a
higher proportion of the tax levy than lower value homes, a one-time change in property valuation does not necessarily increase
taxes by the same amount. This is because property taxes reflect not only the Minnetonka Beach tax levy (26%), but also taxes
paid to Hennepin County (35%), and Orono Schools (37%). I encourage all residents to review their property tax statements
carefully. If you would like to learn more about how property taxes work, view the excellent video created by Hennepin County,
“Understanding Your Property Tax,” located on the City website.
Adoption of the 2023 Final Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
Council also adopted a final 2023 budget of $1,649,354. That budget includes the $1,190,218 raised by property taxes, which are
earmarked as follows:
• $231,640 for bond debt service (principal and interest)
o Series 2019A ($128,480)
o Series 2021A ($103,160)
• $958,578 to support City services and operations
The balance to fund the budget comes from water usage rate fees, sewer fees, and infrastructure fees, all of which were increased
by Council for 2023. The final budget adoption also included approval of the 2023-2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
Total capital expenditures of $167,170 were approved for replacement of public works equipment, improvements in streets, water,
and parks infrastructure in 2023.
A Fond Farewell
As I conclude the remaining days in my term of office, I would like to acknowledge what a team effort it truly is and how much I
have depended on our extraordinary City staff: Heidi, Jason, Jane, and Fawn. I am proud to have recruited and promoted this tight-
knit group of City employees who have done so much for me and for our community and who have become great friends. Their
professionalism, knowledge, kindness, and leadership are unrivalled.
As my partner in all financial matters, Treasurer Chris Zinn has left an indelible mark on City finances. He led Minnetonka Beach
through a period of low taxation and the successful issuance of three infrastructure project bonds at historically low interest rates—
bonds that will help our City continue to provide the services that residents depend on. Thank you, Chris.
I thank all the incredible current and past Council members I have served with for their dedication and commitment to the
community. Knowing that their decisions have lasting effect, our Council members tackled challenging issues head on, working
long hours on behalf of all our citizens.
A small community like ours cannot function without citizens stepping up. The 80+ volunteers who serve on City commissions
and committees are the heart and soul of the community. Thank you, Villagers.
Finally, I thank my husband, Dick, and my family, who have steadfastly supported me. Their many quiet sacrifices over the years
have enabled me to do my job and indirectly helped our community thrive. Without their love and support I would not have been
able to navigate all the challenges we have faced over the last few years.
Serving Minnetonka Beach has held great meaning and purpose for me, and I am grateful for the journey and the lasting memories.
Jaci Lindstrom
City News and Updates
www.ci.minnetonka-beach.mn.us - 952-471-8878
Is Your Listing Correct in the Resident Directory?
Please check your listing in the 2022 Minnetonka Beach Village Directory and contact City Hall
with any changes such as disconnected landline phone numbers. City Hall staff is working on
updating and finalizing the 2023 Minnetonka Beach Resident Directory at this time.
If you would like your information included in the directory, please fill out the consent form which is
available at City Hall, or click on the link below to print it from the City website and mail or email it to
City Hall by January 3, 2023. Email it to: [email protected]
http://www.ci.minnetonka-beach.mn.us/vertical/sites/%7B220E6946-C606-408C-96EE-
ABCCE24AC6ED%7D/uploads/Directory_Publishing_Letter_and_Form.pdf
Civic Committee Begins a New Year of
Service and Leadership
The Civic Committee is an official City group established
by City Ordinance for the purpose of providing
recreational programs for residents.
New Officers with terms beginning in September 2022:
President: Heidi Whitaker, Vice President: Liz Grabek,
Secretary: Kate Emmel & Treasurer: Jennifer Johnson.
Thank you, President Carrie Pinto, Vice-President Bridget
Wortman, and Secretary Jennifer Halverson, for your
service as Civic Committee Leadership
for the 2021-2022 term.
Your hard work, time, creative efforts, and
leadership are most appreciated!
Save the Lake
A Reminder from the Minnehaha Creek
Watershed District
A little salt (ice melt) goes a long way for managing
snow and ice. Too much salt – which may be less than
you think – can cause irreversible damage to nearby
lakes and streams. The danger of ice and snow on
roads and sidewalks is a fact of life in Minnesota. Salt
and sand can help reduce ice and add traction. When
that snow inevitably melts, however, most of that salt
and sand wash directly into nearby waters. Currently,
salt use is not regulated but it poses a real threat to
clean water. The chloride contained in one teaspoon
of road salt can permanently pollute five gallons of
water. Chloride upsets aquatic environments and can
kill birds and some plants.
Using more salt does not melt more ice or melt it
faster. In reality, salt only works when there is enough
snow or ice for it to react with and excess crystals will
eventually become a pollutant. It’s best to use less
than four pounds of salt per 1,000 square feet. One
pound of salt fills up a 12-ounce coffee mug.
HOLIDAY RECYCLING
80 percent of what is thrown away during the
holidays can be recycled or repurposed
Common holiday items that DO NOT belong in
recycling include the following: bubble wrap,
cellophane, holiday ribbons and bows, batteries,
food waste, clothing and shoes, holiday lights,
electronics, and foam packaging. All these items
and materials should be placed in a waste
container, not recycled. For more information on
what can and cannot be recycled, check out
these helpful websites:
www.rethinkrecycling.com
RecyclingSimplified.com
www.ci.minnetonka-beach.mn.us - 952-471-8878
LATE FALL Memorable Moments in Minnetonka Beach
The Park Commission Honored and
Recognized Co-Chair Joe Pagano for his
achievements and diligent, hard work as a
Park Commissioner, Chair and Co-chair for
the last seven years. Commissioners spoke of
their deep appreciation for Pagano’s
exceptional work put forth and leadership.
Most notably, they stated that Pagano
created a comprehensive template for future
commissioners to easily utilize. They
presented him with a special nature-themed
book entitled, A Sand County Almanac, by
Barbara Kingsolver.
Pagano will continue serving the City in his
new role as Mayor of Minnetonka Beach in
the New Year.
2022 Park Commissioners, Mayor Lindstrom, City Clerk Burgess, and several spouses
celebrated the group’s accomplishments this year at the Lafayette Club on
December 6
th
. The commission had much to celebrate having achieved their
numerous goals for the year. Their collective physical and administrative hard work
continues to improve and beautify the City’s parks and public land for the
enjoyment of its residents.
Professional photographer Eric Baker
captured these bird shots in Minnetonka
Beach. The Eagle below is flying away with
a freshly nabbed fish in his claws.
Photos submitted by Bridget Wortman
www.ci.minnetonka-beach.mn.us - 952-471-8878
BEACHCOMBER
City of the Village of Minnetonka Beach
P.O. Box 146
Minnetonka Beach, MN 55361
Beach Happenings
2022 Minnetonka Beach
Sweatshirts for
Adults & Kids
Available At City Hall -
your one stop shop for holiday
gift giving!
Thanks to the Civic Committee,
City Hall has an assortment of
styles, colors and sizes for
everyone on your shopping list.
Cash or check only to:
Minnetonka Beach Civic
Keeping it local…….
There is
NO SNOWMOBILING
on publicly owned land,
park property, trails, playgrounds,
and recreation areas
,
except fire lanes for access
to and from the frozen lake.