Light Up the Lake Returns Tonight!

Join us for Light up the Lake on Lake Street tonight! This year it is one week earlier on November 21 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. There will be refreshments, horse-drawn wagon rides, reindeer, music, a town lighting ceremony and the spectacular parade of lights with local fire departments. Click here to view the full schedule.

A Message from Mayor Mullin

Your Property Taxes

By now, most of you have received the mailing from Hennepin County outlining the proposed levies and 2025 property values for taxes payable in 2026. For many residents, the year-over-year increases were significant and, frankly, eye-opening.

It is important to understand that the rise in property taxes is driven by a combination of factors that extend beyond local city operations. Three primary drivers are at play:

• Major shift in property values is moving the tax burden west. While Wayzata saw values rise by an average of 22.1%, the commercial core of Minneapolis (which holds 35% of the county’s commercial inventory) faced sharp declines. As their values drop and ours rise, the county tax burden naturally tilts toward Wayzata.
• Aggregate Spending: There are increased funding needs across all overlapping taxing authorities, including the State, County, School District, and Regional Agencies.
• Systemic Cost Shifts: Ongoing fiscal pressures at the state and county levels are creating downstream effects that ultimately appear on local tax statements.

While these numbers can be daunting, it is helpful to remember that City of Wayzata taxes make up only about 19% of your total property tax bill. We are working hard to control the portion we can manage. Click here to learn more about your City property taxes.. Earlier this week, the Wayzata City Council directed staff to bring back a budget reflecting a levy increase of 4.9%, a reduction from the preliminary levy of 7.5%. To learn more about how to provide input to Hennepin County regarding your property taxes please visit hennepin.us/TNT.

Important: You May Be Eligible for a Refund

We also want to make you aware of a valuable tax credit - Minnesota’s Special Property Tax Refund, often called the "targeting" refund, is available to homeowners regardless of income. Given the market shifts described above, many Wayzata residents are likely eligible.

Who Qualifies? You may be eligible if your property taxes increased by more than 12% and by at least $100 compared to the previous year.

Key Details:

• Not Income Dependent: Income is not a factor; any homeowner meeting the increase threshold can apply.
• The Benefit: The refund equals 60% of the tax increase above the 12% threshold.
• The Cap: The maximum refund is $1,000 per household.

How to Apply Homeowners can apply using Form M1PR (Property Tax Refund), available through the Minnesota Department of Revenue. You can file online or by mail. Applications for taxes payable in 2026 are typically due by August 15, 2026.

For more information and to find the application form, please visit: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/property-tax-refund

Contact the Mayor:
City phone #: 952-404-5327
City email: amullin@wayzata.org
Facebook: facebook.com/mullinforwayzata
X: @Andrewmullin

Nominate a Business or Organization for the Sustainability Champion Award

This award, created by Wayzata’s Energy & Environment Committee, celebrates a local business in Wayzata who has shown particular progress in sustainability, highlights initiatives implemented by Wayzata businesses, and aims to promote education and foster connections among them.

Recipients of the Sustainability Champion Award receive a plaque for display at their establishment, recognition during a Council meeting, and promotion through City media channels.

Nominations will be accepted until November 30. Click here to fill out a nomination form.

Now Accepting Boat Slip Lottery Applications

Boat Slip Lottery Applications are accepted starting November 1, 2025 thru the 1st Tuesday in February (Feb 3, 2026). Applications for boat slips are limited to one per residence and are only accepted from City of Wayzata residents. Per City Code, permits are issued through a lottery process as outlined in policy, with the lottery held on the first Tuesday in March. Applicants receive additional chances in the lottery for each consecutive year they have applied for a boat slip permit. 

Click here to complete the application.

For more information, please call 952-404-5300.

Mayor for a Day Essay Contest

What would our cities look like if kids were in charge? The League of Minnesota Cities Mayor for a Day Essay Contest is back to find out! 

To enter, students in grades 4-6 can answer the prompt, “What would you do if you were mayor for a day?” for a chance to win $100 and recognition in Minnesota Cities magazine.

Students and parents/guardians can submit essays via an online form, a PDF email attachment, or through the mail. Winners only will be notified in early January. 

Essays are due December 12. Learn more at lmc.org/mayorforaday.

401 Lake Street East

Studio BV has submitted a variance application on behalf of Walleye Capital LLC, a tenant and affiliate entity under common ownership with the property owner at 401 Lake St E, requesting consideration to reduce the required first floor retail percentage. Properties along Lake Street that are zoned C-4 (Central Business District) are required to use at least 50 percent of the building frontage and ground floor building footprint for retail. A variance for this property was granted in 2020 to reduce the ground floor retail requirement from 50% to 22%. The new proposal requests a further 50% reduction to allow for a total of 11% retail on the ground floor. The remaining 11% of the existing retail space would be dedicated to the service based functions (office/meeting space) of the third floor tenant, Walleye Capital LLC. At the public hearing held on November 17th the Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial of the request. The item is scheduled for City Council review on December 16, 2025. 

220 Central Ave S  

Custom One Homes, LLC has submitted an application for a variance and conditional use permit (CUP) to construct a two-family dwelling at 220 Central Ave. S. The property is located within the R-3A zoning district which requires a lot width of 100 feet for two-family homes. The lot width is 89.9 feet wide and applicant is seeking a 10.1 foot variance to the minimum lot width.  Additionally, two-family homes are a conditional use in the R3-A district. Conditional uses are generally permitted, however the City may impose conditions to mitigate potential impacts the use may have on adjoining properties. The Public Hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2025.