Scene in Wayzata: turtles sunning and swimming on Grays Bay along Bushaway Road in Wayzata.
-
Wayzata Sailing will welcome the community to its annual Open House and Summer Celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at the Mike Plant Community Boathouse, 456 Arlington Circle.
The free event marks the return of a summer tradition that Wayzata Sailing describes as a kickoff to “real” summer — the season of no school, lake days, grill-outs, swimming and time spent at the sailing center. All ages are welcome, including families, friends and community members.
The evening will include Kona Ice, yard games, supervised swimming, a grill-out, a photo booth, staff introductions, new equipment, 2025 merchandise orders and a summer supplies donation collection. Wayzata Sailing is billing the event as “NO COST • ALL FUN • FREE FOOD.”
The open house will also include a brief board recognition program honoring leaders from Wayzata Sailing’s foundational history. The organization notes that about 20 years ago it became an independent operation, with board members at the time making key decisions that helped shape its future as a community access point for Lake Minnetonka, sailing and adventure.
The schedule begins at 4:30 p.m. with overlap childcare coverage for Week 1 camps for those who RSVP. Kona Ice and games begin at 5 p.m., the grill opens at 5:15 p.m., and a welcome and board recognition program is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. The event returns to informal activities at 6 p.m., with food and staff closing the building at 7 p.m.
For more information, Wayzata Sailing can be reached at office@wayzatasailing.org or 952-476-5875.
-
The Wayzata City Council voted 4-1 on June 2 to approve a special event permit for HIFI on the Lake, an outdoor electronic dance music concert planned at Macanda Restaurant, 294 Grove Lane East after it had been tabled at a previous council meeting.
The vote came despite a staff recommendation to deny the permit because the event would be the third Level 3 special event scheduled in July. Under the city’s special event matrix, July is limited to two Level 3 events, which are events expected to draw 500 or more participants or spectators.
Aaron Switz, representing Macanda, had proposed shifting the event from its original two-night format on July 17 and 18 to a one-day event on July 25 from 3 to 10 p.m. The concert is expected to draw about 1,000 attendees and would be held outside on the Boatworks boat ramp area east of the building, with concertgoers also gathering in the Depot parking lot.
Staff noted that the applicant had submitted required materials, including the application form, proof of insurance, site plan and permit fee. The 2026 permit fee is $2,045, and the event is also subject to the greater of $1 or 1 percent per ticket sold, with public safety-related city costs reimbursed by the applicant.
The city’s special event matrix, adopted in October 2024, does allow the council to approve events outside the stated limits if the event meets city code criteria and would not negatively impact previously approved events.
Council discussion focused heavily on whether HIFI on the Lake would truly conflict with the two other July Level 3 events: the Fourth of July Flying Pancake Breakfast and the Wayzata Community Church rummage sale.
Noise impacts were also central to the debate. Staff acknowledged concerns from nearby residences but noted that the applicant had reduced the proposal to one day and added mitigation measures. Those include a cardioid subwoofer setup intended to reduce bass impacts on neighbors, along with use of a professional decibel reader to track sound levels during the show.
Draft permit conditions also include property owner notification within 1,000 feet, an approved sound mitigation plan, an emergency plan, private security, police coordination, marina access for slip holders and responsibility for any damage to city property.
Council Member Dan Koch said he was impressed by the demographic the event appeared to attract, noting that it served a segment of residents and nearby attendees who may not have many comparable entertainment options in Wayzata. “I was somewhat impressed by the demographic that you said that this attracts,” Cook said, adding that the event was “serving the need of a certain demographic of residents and neighbors” who may not otherwise have “an alternative for anything like this here.”
Council Member Alex Plechash said he did not view the concert as having a meaningful overlap with the previously approved Fourth of July pancake breakfast or Wayzata Community Church rummage sale.
Not everyone was persuaded. Council member Molly MacDonald said the event has generated strong opposition in past years and expressed concern that the proposed mitigation would not be enough.
“I just don’t feel the mitigation is going to spare the community the disruption that I think it really does cause,” the council member said.
Supporters said the one-day format offered a reasonable balance, particularly because the event serves a younger demographic that does not always have comparable entertainment options in Wayzata.
The final motion approved the special event permit with the adjusted date, additional mitigation measures and a finding that the event would not negatively impact the other previously approved July events. The motion passed 4-1.
-
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.”
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.
-
2050 Comprehensive Plan RFP Review
The Wayzata City Council reviewed a draft Request for Proposals for the city’s Imagine 2050 Comprehensive Plan, a long-range planning document that will guide future development, redevelopment, land use, transportation and public improvements.
No final action was taken during the June 2 workshop. Staff proposed bringing the RFP back for council authorization on June 16, with release planned for June 22, proposals due July 13, and contract approval targeted for Aug. 18.
Cities in the seven-county metropolitan area are required to update comprehensive plans every 10 years. Wayzata’s final plan must be adopted by June 1, 2028, before submission to the Metropolitan Council by Dec. 31, 2028.
The draft RFP follows earlier council concerns about cost. Preliminary consultant estimates ranged from approximately $275,000 to $325,000. In response, staff proposed a reduced scope, limited public engagement, and a larger internal role for city staff, including work on the Parks and Trails, Climate, and Natural Systems chapters.
Consultants would primarily assist with technical work such as modeling, mapping and data analysis. Staff also proposed an advisory committee with representatives from city boards, the business community and other stakeholders.
Council Reviews Capital Improvement Plan and Fund Balance
The council also reviewed the first draft of the city’s 2027–2036 Capital Improvement Plan, a 10-year plan totaling about $35.6 million. The plan includes future spending for streets, utilities, lakefront and marina improvements, parks, public art, facilities, vehicles, equipment and technology.
Staff also identified $916,925 in available 2025 unassigned fund balance. The staff recommendation was to direct $316,925 toward public safety facility needs and $600,000 toward the equipment fund, which is projected to face future deficits.
Council discussion spent notable time on the city’s liquor operations, where projections show the fund moving into deficit beginning in 2027. Staff noted that a deeper review of enterprise funds is expected at the July 21 budget workshop. Council members discussed the relationship between Wine & Spirits and the Bar & Grill, the need for a facility refresh, broader industry pressures on alcohol sales and restaurant operations, and whether capital investments should be tied to a longer-term strategy for the municipal operation.
The discussion also touched on public safety facility needs. Staff emphasized that any future project could involve a new or renovated facility, and that design, construction documents and funding would need to come back before any larger decision.
By the end of the discussion, there did not appear to be strong opposition to staff’s recommended allocation, though council members noted ongoing concerns about liquor operations and the need to make near-term improvements for public safety staff rather than treating the facility question as something far off in the future.
Council members appeared generally comfortable with directing the available fund balance toward public safety facility planning and equipment needs, while asking staff to return with more detailed analysis of liquor operations during the enterprise fund budget process.
Public Property Sale Discussion
One of the more detailed discussions of the workshop centered on a city-owned parking lot south of Lake Street, behind CoV and near Panoway Plaza.
The city has received a $300,000 offer for the property, which includes 29 public parking stalls and is also used for deliveries and solid waste access. City staff first received an inquiry about a possible sale in August 2025, and a formal proposal was submitted in October.
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority reviewed the matter in May and recommended that the property remain publicly owned.
Council members discussed several issues tied to the site, including whether the lot is serving a public purpose in its current form, how vehicles move through the Panoway Plaza area, whether access from the east could be restored, and what easements may be needed for deliveries, garbage collection or future public use.
Mayor Andrew Mullin questioned whether the lot, as currently used, is serving a public purpose and raised concerns about safety and vehicle movements through the plaza area.
The property may also factor into future downtown planning. City materials note its proximity to the Section Foreman House and possible future trail connections, including early concepts related to the Dakota Rail Regional Trail.
Council members seemed open to discussing the sale further, however staff was directed to gather more information on access, easements, parking impacts, public purpose, potential future uses and value before the issue returns for further discussion.
-
Submitted image by Jim Wilson. Spring has a way of choosing its own places.
Jim Wilson, a member at the Wayzata American Legion, sent along photos of a shovel-nosed duck that has made herself comfortable on the Legion patio, where she appears to be nesting in one of the planters.
Image submitted by Jim Wilson. A sign nearby explains the situation with the kind of charm only Wayzata can deliver:
“a duck has chose our plater to create a nest for her errs. please be kind and do not disturb.”
Message received.
So stop by the Legion, enjoy the patio, say hello to friends, and take in one of those little scenes that makes Wayzata feel like Wayzata. Just be sure to give the nesting duck plenty of space, and let her corner of the patio remain quiet.
-
“Wayzata High School students visited the WestHealth Surgery Center in Plymouth to learn more about orthopedic surgery. Doctors and health care leaders hope this inspires students and begins to address a looming surgeon shortage.” via CCX Media.
-
“The Wayzata boys volleyball team swept Cooper 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-13) to advance to the section 6 championship. The Trojans went to the set-kill combination of Connor Voss to Kai Wessman numerous times in the opening set. After the Hawks started strong in the second – especially with solid play from Miles Kogler, Jacob Aslanisvili came up with some big plays for Wayzata and the Trojans won the second set 25-17. In the third, Voss had a couple aces and the Trojans completed the sweep. Wayzata will face Edina in the section 6 championship on Wednesday.” via CCX Media.
-
“The Wayzata boys and girls track and field teams both took home Section 6AAA titles in Buffalo on Thursday. The Trojans boys scored 150.5 points and the girls totaled 177. Some highlights for Wayzata included Maddie Gullickson placing first in the 1600 meter run, Weston Moeller taking home the high jump title, clearing 6-4, and Jessica Haux winning the 100 hurdles in a time of 14.46 seconds. Armstrong had two throwers that qualified for state – Julia Brincks in the girls shot put (39-05, 2nd) and Mykhailo Protsenko in the boys discus (168-07).” via CCX Media.
-
“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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.