State Rep. Patty Acomb visited the Wayzata City Council to provide a legislative update and receive thanks from city officials for her work on special tax increment financing legislation tied to Wayzata’s lakefront improvements.

Acomb, a DFL representative for House District 45B, serves as co-chair of the Energy Finance and Policy Committee and also serves on Ways and Means and Elections Finance and Government Operations, according to her Minnesota House profile.

City Manager Aurora Yager opened the discussion by thanking Acomb for supporting several bills affecting Wayzata, including special legislation related to tax increment financing, “She was a key part in helping us get the special legislation for TIF for Panoway,” adding that Acomb “fought so hard for us.”

Panoway on Wayzata Bay

Acomb said she appreciated the city’s partnership and the presence of local officials at the Capitol during the session.

In her remarks, Acomb described a closely divided Legislature where major proposals required support from both parties.

“In our very closely divided legislature, things that progressed and ultimately passed really needed to have bipartisan support, both last year and this year and I’m proud of the work we did accomplish.” Acomb said.

Among the session highlights, Acomb pointed to state action to stabilize HCMC, the creation of an Office of the Inspector General aimed at addressing fraud, and passage of a bonding bill that included local projects around the state.

While Wayzata did not receive a bonding provision it had sought, Acomb said the city was successful in securing an exception in tax increment financing legislation. She said the change allows Wayzata to include several elements of the Panoway-related lakefront project, including the Eco-Park, the Section Foreman House, and the remodeling of the Wayzata Depot park.

“We’re happy that we were able to do that to be able to partner with Wayzata on that really important project,” Acomb said.

Acomb also emphasized her opposition to state legislation that would have limited local authority over zoning and land use.

“One of the things that I have worked on hard this year is to ensure that local units of government, local cities maintain local control over land use and zoning,” Acomb said.

She said her background as a former Minnetonka City Council member shaped her view that city officials are best positioned to make local land-use decisions.

A council member asked how close the zoning bill came to passing and whether it could return in future sessions. Acomb said the proposal had bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and reflected a broader national push.

“It’s not going away,” Acomb said. “They’re gonna keep trying.”

Acomb said one concern with the proposal was that, despite being framed as a housing affordability measure, it did not guarantee affordability. She also raised concerns about infrastructure capacity in built-out metropolitan communities, including water and wastewater systems that may not be designed for significant density increases.

Acomb closed by encouraging continued communication between city officials and state lawmakers.

“My door is always open,” she said.

“The Wayzata softball team lost 5-0 to Edina in the final round of the Section 6AAAA tournament. The Hornets struck early as Lauren Ganley singled in a run in the bottom of the first inning. They added four more in the second, capped by Ganley’s three-run homer to make it 5-0. That was more than enough for senior pitcher Ella Meyer, who tossed a four-hitter with 14 strikeouts. It was Edina’s fourth win over Wayzata this season. The Hornets are headed to the state Class AAAA tournament for the third straight season.” via CCX Media.

Local officials from several northern Lake Minnetonka-area communities gathered in late April for a regional forum focused on growth, zoning, public safety, infrastructure, taxes and water quality.

The forum was hosted by Rebecca Hawthorne, president of the League of Women Voters Lake Minnetonka/Plymouth Area, and featured Plymouth Deputy Mayor Clark Gregor, Wayzata Mayor Andrew Mullin, Orono Council Member Jon Schwingler, Medina Mayor Todd Albers, Corcoran Council Member Dean Vehrenkamp, Mound Mayor Jason Holt and Minnetrista Mayor Lisa Whalen.

Though each community faces different pressures, the discussion repeatedly returned to a shared concern: how cities can manage change while preserving local decision-making authority.

The forum was structured as a round-robin conversation, with officials from each community offering perspectives on shared regional issues. Wayzata.com has summarized the overall themes and sentiments expressed during the discussion.

---

Deputy Mayor Gregor said Plymouth is preparing for its next comprehensive planning process and is looking closely at housing affordability. He pointed to new housing projects in the city, including a development near Interstate 494 and Bass Lake Road expected to add nearly 1,000 units, with a portion set aside as affordable housing.

Mayor Mullin said Wayzata is largely built out, meaning most growth pressure comes through redevelopment rather than open land. He said the city has faced tension over density and remains focused on preserving local zoning authority.

Mayor Albers said Medina is in a different position as a suburban-edge community where development is expected to accelerate. He said state-level zoning mandates would not account for the different circumstances facing individual cities, including roads, sewer, water and public safety needs.

Council member Vehrenkamp described Corcoran as a community balancing growth with rural character. He said traffic is one of the city’s largest challenges, particularly as rural roads carry more pressure from new development. Corcoran also has the added complexity of being served by five school districts: Rockford, Buffalo, Rogers, Maple Grove and Wayzata.

Mayor Whalen said Minnetrista has about 9,300 residents and remains largely undeveloped, with only about one-third of the community developed. She said the city has experienced slow, steady growth of about 100 to 110 new homes per year, a pace she described as manageable. Like others on the panel, she said Minnetrista opposes state housing legislation that would restrict local control.

Council member Schwingler said Orono is primarily residential and has limited commercial land, making local planning decisions especially important as the city considers future development and preservation.

---

The forum also turned to public safety and municipal finances.

Several speakers described rising costs for police, fire service, staffing, fire stations, cybersecurity and fraud prevention. Communities discussed shared-service arrangements, fire district models, police recruitment and the challenge of maintaining services without placing too much pressure on property taxpayers.

Gregor noted Plymouth has rebuilt fire stations as it transitions from a volunteer and paid-on-call model toward more full-time staffing. He also said Plymouth had more than 5,500 fire calls last year, many of them health-related rather than fire-related.

Whalen discussed Minnetrista’s public safety partnerships, including police recruitment and fire service arrangements with St. Bonifacius and Mound. She said future fire partnerships may be necessary as recruitment becomes harder and costs rise.

Albers described Medina’s similar pressures, including fire-service partnerships and potential station needs tied to safety requirements.

Vehrenkamp highlighted Corcoran’s police department, retention efforts and the need to keep up with cybersecurity concerns.

Holt discussed Mound’s internal financial controls, including recent changes around city credit cards and receipt approval.

Several communities said cybersecurity is now a routine part of city operations, not a distant concern.

---

The lake and watershed discussion brought the communities back to their shared geography.

Officials described the region’s lakes, streams, wetlands and stormwater systems as deeply connected. Runoff from one community can eventually affect Lake Minnetonka, making water quality a regional issue rather than a city-by-city matter.

Mayor Charlie Miner discussed water quality in Long Lake and its connection to Lake Minnetonka, including efforts to address carp and sediment issues. Albers said Medina has pursued grants to reduce phosphorus loading into lakes, noting that water from Medina ultimately reaches Lake Minnetonka through the watershed system.

Vehrenkamp said Corcoran’s water issues include chlorides and agricultural runoff, while also noting that many farmers have buffers in place. Holt said Mound, with its extensive shoreline, has worked on stormwater efforts including rain barrels and drain adoption.

Whalen said Minnetrista is watching broader lake-use issues, including the balance between wake boats, canoes, fishing, shoreline protection and public access. She said the lake is heavily used and communities are trying to find rules that protect the water while remaining fair to those who use it.

Gregor said Plymouth works across multiple watersheds and has focused on chloride education, creek restoration and stormwater improvements.

Mullin said Wayzata has invested in stormwater treatment tied to its downtown lakefront improvements, including systems that capture and treat runoff before it enters Lake Minnetonka.

---

Near the end of the forum, each community was asked to identify a key opportunity or priority. The answers reflected the variety of communities represented: redevelopment, managed growth, preservation, small-town character, public campuses and fiscal discipline.

Taken together, the forum offered a regional view of issues often discussed one city at a time. Plymouth is planning for housing and business growth. Wayzata is managing redevelopment in a built-out lakefront community. Orono is weighing preservation and residential character. Medina, Corcoran and Minnetrista are balancing growth with infrastructure and rural identity. Mound is focused on communication, lake access and public improvements.

The discussion showed that northern Lake Minnetonka communities remain distinct, but increasingly face shared questions about growth, taxes, public safety and stewardship of the lake.