Dakota County

Physical Development Committee

of the Whole

Minutes

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

1:00 PM

Conference Room 3A, Administration

Center, Hastings

Due to Commissioner Holberg's absence, Commissioner Slavik chaired the meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 1:01 p.m. by Commissioner Slavik.

Commissioner Mike Slavik

Commissioner Joe Atkins

Commissioner Laurie Halverson

Commissioner William Droste

Commissioner Liz Workman

Commissioner Mary Hamann-Roland

Present

Absent

Chairperson Mary Liz Holberg

Also in attendance were Heidi Welsch, County Manager; Tom Donely, First Assistant County

Attorney; Georg Fischer, Physical Development Division Director; Liz Hansen, Administrative

Coordinator.

The audio recording of this meeting is available upon request.

Audience

Commissioner Slavik asked if there was anyone in the audience that wished to address the

Physical Development Committee of the Whole on an item not on the agenda or an item on

the consent agenda. No one came forward and no comments were submitted to

CountyAdmin@co.dakota.mn.us.

Approval of Agenda (Additions/Corrections/Deletions)

Motion: Mary Hamann-Roland

Ayes: 6

3.1

Second: Laurie Halverson

Consent Agenda

Approval Of Minutes Of Meeting Held On November 6, 2025

4.1

Motion: Liz Workman

Second: Mary Hamann-Roland

Ayes: 6

Regular Agenda

Approval Of 2026 Planning Commission Work Plan

Motion: Joe Atkins Second: Mary Hamann-Roland

5.1

Kurt Chatfield, Planning Manager, presented the topic and answered questions.

Barry Graham, Planning Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Planning

Commission, also addressed the committee to highlight the importance of

community input and active participation.

Staff provided an overview of the plans recommended for review by the Planning

Commission in 2026 and the planned schedule of six meetings over the course

of the year. The meeting frequency is a result of previous years, when many of

the 12 scheduled meetings were cancelled due to a lack of topics or a lack of a

quorum. The reduced frequency of meetings will ensure that Planning

Commissioners' insights and input will be focused on the most important and

impactful items. If additional time is required to ensure a thorough review of the

identified plans, additional meetings can be added during the year.

WHEREAS, Dakota County Ordinance No. 118 establishes the powers and

duties of the Planning Commission to make recommendations on plans,

policies, and programs, as directed by the County Board; and

WHEREAS, County Policy No. 1015 provides direction regarding citizen

advisory committees and states that the Planning Commission is required to

consult annually with the County Board to seek concurrence regarding the topics

they will study or on which they will advise the County Board; and

WHEREAS, the County Board has identified topics for 2026, including the

preparation of plans for natural resources, parks, greenways, and transportation;

and

WHEREAS, the Planning Commission’s 2026 Work Plan is consistent with

County Board projects.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of

Commissioners hereby approves the Planning Commission’s 2026 Work Plan

as presented to the Physical Development Committee of the Whole on

December 2, 2025.

This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of

Commissioners on 12/16/2025.

Ayes: 6

Approval Of Right Of Way Acquisition And Authorization To Initiate Quick-Take

Condemnation For Regional Trail Easement For Veterans Memorial Greenway

In Cities Of Eagan And Inver Grove Heights, County Project P00147

5.2

Motion: Liz Workman

Second: Joe Atkins

Tony Wotzka, Greenways Manager, and Eddie Buell, Real Estate Supervisor,

presented this topic and responded to questions.

The preferred alignment by the City of Eagan remains the original adopted

alignment along the Xcel Energy Easement in the back yards of the three

parcels. Any changes to the adopted alignment would require City and Met

Council approval. Information related to a potential alternative alignment along

Atlantic Hills Drive was provided to each of the property owners. Ongoing

discussions with the three remaining property owners have not yet yielded any

final agreements.

In order to move this project along, staff requested approval to initiate a

quick-take condemnation for this project. Staff will continue to negotiate with the

landowners to try to come to an agreement before formal condemnation

proceedings occur.

WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 08-162 (April 4, 2008), the Dakota County Board

adopted the Dakota County Park System Plan that establishes a vision for a

200-mile network of connected greenway trails to provide safe and efficient

multi-modal transportation across the region, along with high-quality recreational

and educational opportunities which harmonize with natural resource

preservation; and

WHEREAS, as part of this vision, by Resolution No. 17-493 (September 26,

2017), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved the Rich Valley

Regional Greenway Master Plan, now known as the Veterans Memorial

Greenway Master Plan, to honor Dakota County’s more than 25,000 veterans;

and

WHEREAS, consistent with the above-stated policies, Dakota County is

proceeding with the Veterans Memorial Greenway County Project (CP) P00147,

to construct approximately five miles of regional trail, including interpretive nodes

placed along the trail that honor and recognize the sacrifice made by veterans

and provide a place for healing and sharing their stories through interpretative

elements; and

WHEREAS, Dakota County is the lead agency for design, construction

administration, and right of way acquisition for the Project; and

WHEREAS, construction is proposed to begin in 2026, and the project is being

partially funded with federal funds, which require the timely acquisition of right of

way for the authorization of project bidding; and

WHEREAS, the County Board previously authorized acquisition of right of way

for Parcels 3, 4, and 5 through direct negotiation by Resolution No. 24-594

(December 3, 2024); and

WHEREAS, negotiations have not resulted in acquisition agreements for Parcels

3, 4, and 5; and

WHEREAS, in order to maintain the project schedule and comply with funding

requirements, Dakota County must proceed with quick-take condemnation to

acquire the required easements.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of

Commissioners hereby authorizes the County Attorney's Office to initiate

quick-take condemnation of the following parcels:

20-58500-04-070 - Jacquelynne and Scott Baker - Parcel 3

A permanent easement for greenway purposes over, under, and across

the north 60.27 feet of Lot 16, Block 1, Lakeside Estates, according to the

recorded plat thereof, Dakota County, Minnesota.

Said greenway easement contains approximately 6,026 square feet.

10-44300-01-170 - Robert Snyder - Parcel 4

A temporary easement for greenway purposes over, under, and across

the south 15.00 feet of the north 75.27 feet of Lot 17, Block 1, Lakeside

Estates, according to the recorded plat thereof, Dakota County,

Minnesota.

A permanent easement for greenway purposes over, under, and across

the north 60.27 feet of Lot 17, Block 1, Lakeside Estates, according to the

recorded plat thereof, Dakota County, Minnesota.

Said temporary easement contains approximately 1,506 square feet.

Said greenway easement contains approximately 6,054 square feet.

10-44300-01-180 - Nicole Medin - Parcel 5

A temporary easement for greenway purposes over, under, and across

the south 15.00 feet of the north 75.27 feet of Lot 18, Block 1, Lakeside

Estates, according to the recorded plat thereof, Dakota County,

Minnesota.

A permanent easement for greenway purposes over, under, and across

the north 60.27 feet of Lot 18, Block 1, Lakeside Estates, according to the

recorded plat thereof, Dakota County, Minnesota.

Said temporary easement contains approximately 1,501 square feet.

Said greenway easement contains approximately 6,023 square feet.

This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of

Commissioners on 12/16/2025.

Ayes: 5

Commissioner Atkins, Commissioner Halverson, Commissioner Droste,

Commissioner Workman, and Commissioner Hamann-Roland

Nay: 1

Commissioner Slavik

Update And Direction On County State Aid Highway 54 Expansion In Ravenna

Township, County Project 54-011

5.3

John Sass, Project Manager, presented an item addressing the committee’s

questions.

Staff and Commissioners discussed the costs, benefits, and impacts of adding a

trail to the County Road 54 and Mississippi River Greenway Extension Project.

Four alternatives were discussed, including the road project without a trail, the

road project with a paved trail, the road project with grading for a trail, and the

road project with a trail planned in the future. This stretch of County State Aid

Highway 54 has experienced over 200 crashes in the past 10 years. Three miles

lack adequate shoulders, most intersections lack turn lanes, and eight curves do

not meet current design standards. Adding the trail would enhance corridor

safety, improve multimodal access, boost recreation, and provide a connection

to Prairie Island and the regional trail network. Additional right-of-way for the

trail is estimated to cost $500K, and the additional cost to pave the trail is

estimated at $1.3M.

Staff were directed to proceed with developing the project to include a paved

trail and to continue to explore options for external funding for this project. One

commissioner stressed trying to keep the trail within a 110-foot right-of-way

whenever possible to avoid extra costs and impacts on private property.

Information only; no action requested.

Physical Development Director's Report

Mr. Fischer, Physical Development Director, provided a written update to the committee,

highlighting the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Nelson mine near Spring Lake

Park Reserve. The city approved the EIS despite receiving comments from organizations such

as Dakota County, Metropolitan Council, Department of Natural Resources, and the Army

Corps of Engineers indicating that the document did not sufficiently address their concerns.

The Metropolitan Council is considering challenging the sufficiency of the document. The DNR

has indicated that they plan to address the issues they identified with the EIS through

permitting instead of contesting the EIS. Key issues for Dakota County include noise, lighting,

and 24-hour operations. Based on the discussion, staff will continue discussions with the

Metropolitan Council and will bring a resolution to support challenging the sufficiency of the

EIS on December 16, 2025, if the Metropolitan Council decides to move forward with a

challenge.

Future Agenda Items

Chair, Commissioner Mike Slavik, asked the Committee if anyone had a topic they would like

to hear more about at an upcoming Physical Development Committee of the Whole. No

Commissioners requested topics for future meetings at this time.

Adjournment