Minnetrista council approves feasibility report, design work for 2026 street improvements

The Minnetrista City Council on May 2025 approved Task Order 11 to fund design, feasibility reporting and bidding services for the 2026 street improvement projects, designated city project number 0126.

Council support came as staff described a mixed program of mill-and-overlay work with limited full-depth removal at sites including Game Farm Road, North and South Saunders, Lakeside Drive, Lakeside Circle, Pinnacle Way and Game Farm Road’s east–west segment. Miss Pelske, a city staff member, told the council, “We're looking to get a head start on the 2026 project because it's it's a larger project.”

The feasibility report requested by council will document scope and assess funding options, including whether a portion of Game Farm Road costs should be assessed to adjacent properties. “A portion of the Game Farm Road costs are anticipated to be assessed to adjacent properties,” Miss Pelske said. She also said the task order includes coordination with the state aid program and the option to host a neighborhood meeting.

Council members pressed staff for details about where full-depth removal is likely and how past assessments affect the current plan. Miss Pelske said crews obtained additional pavement cores after the map in the packet showed a worst-case scenario; “we did go and get, I think it was 5 or 6 more cores,” she said, and estimated the full-depth sections would be “probably 2, 300 feet” in the worst spots. Councilmembers noted some properties had been assessed previously; one speaker said assessed properties “were all assessed, over 12,000.” Staff said those previously assessed parcels would not be reassessed but that the feasibility report would include a full review of which parcels should be assessed going forward.

The work will also coordinate with state aid funding where applicable. Miss Pelske said, “We do have, Game Farm Road on the state aid system now. Everything's signed and sealed with the state.” The task order scope covers preliminary and final design and bidding services, with further Council approvals required as the design progresses.

The motion to approve Task Order 11 passed unanimously. Councilmember Claudia Lacey moved the motion and Councilmember Brian Governe seconded it.

Next steps include completing the feasibility report, deciding whether to hold a neighborhood meeting, advancing preliminary design, and then returning to council for final design approval and authorization to bid.