02-26-2024 City Council Regular Meeting MinutesCHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
Mayor Ryan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ryan, Councilman McDonald, Councilwoman
Schubert, Councilman von Oven, and Councilman Kimber.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager;
Erik Henricksen, Project Engineer; Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Don
Johnson, Fire Chief; Eric Maass, Planning Director; Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation
Director; Ari Lyksett, Communications Manager; Lt. Lance Pearce, CCSO; Rick Rice, IT
Manager; Andrea McDowell Poehler, City Attorney; and Kim Meuwissen, City Clerk.
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Members of the Chanhassen Fire Department
Family of Fire Chief Don Johnson
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Farewell and Appreciation to Fire Chief Don Johnson
Mayor Ryan presented Chief Johnson with a proclamation recognizing his service and
proclaiming Don Johnson Day in the City of Chanhassen on February 28, 2024. The City
Council Members shared their gratitude for Fire Chief Johnson’s service within the City of
Chanhassen over the last 38 years.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilman McDonald moved, and Councilman Kimber seconded
that the City Council approve the following consent agenda items 1 through 13 pursuant to
the City Manager’s recommendations:
1. Approve City Council Minutes dated February 12, 2024
2. Receive Planning Commission Minutes dated January 16, 2024
3. Receive Economic Development Commission Minutes dated January 9, 2024
4. Receive Commission on Aging Minutes dated January 19, 2024
City Council Minutes – February 26, 2024
2
5. Approve Claims Paid February 26, 2024
6. Appoint Fire Chief Andrew Heger to the Fire Relief Association Board of Trustees
7. Approve Site Plan Agreement for Affinitech located at 2451 Galpin Court
8. Approve Proof of Parking Agreement for Affinitech located at 2451 Galpin Court
9. Resolution 2024-10: Approving the City of Chanhassen’s 2024 Private Property Inflow and
Infiltration Grant Program and Execution of Metropolitan Council’s Grant Agreement No.
SG-20597
10. Resolution 2024-11: Approve Construction Materials Testing Agreement for Construction of
the Galpin Boulevard Improvement Project
11. Resolution 2024-12: Approve Purchases for Annual Lift Station Maintenance
12. Resolution 2024-13: Authorizing 2024 Fleet Purchase
13. Resolution 2024-14: Approve Plans and Specifications and Authorize Advertisement for
bids for the 2024 City Pavement Rehabilitation Project No. 24-01
All voted in favor, and the motion was carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS. None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS. None.
GENERAL BUSINESS.
1. Year-End Law Enforcement Review
Lance Pearce, Lieutenant CCSO, presented the three-year law enforcement review, noting the
four focus categories include Community Outreach, Succession Planning, Community Safety,
and Recruitment/Retention. He shared that overall crime is down 32% in 2023, and shared about
a homicide, a kidnapping call, and weapons calls within the city over the last year and noted
while the crime rate is down, DUI’s were up in 2023. Lieutenant Pearce spoke about quality-of-
life calls noting consistency in abuse and neglect calls, child custody, and miscellaneous non-
criminal, with an increase in boat/water calls, missing persons, warrant service, and disturbance
calls. He also shared about decreases in domestic calls, open door, and suspicion of unlocked
vehicle/building calls. Lieutenant Pearce noted the department works to get the right resources to
the right call for medical and fire calls. He explained that mental health calls are recognized as a
service call and they have worked to better address those including having a mental health co-
responder available, as well as a co-responder embedded in the dispatch center. Regarding traffic
City Council Minutes – February 26, 2024
3
activity, there has been an increase in fatalities with 2 fatalities in 2023, as well as an increase in
personal injury crashes and property damage. Overall, the accident rate has increased and they
are working to address that. In 2022, the department stepped up deputy efforts regarding poor
driving behavior after the pandemic, and noted that data shows increased traffic enforcement
decreases the opportunity to commit crimes. Lieutenant Pearce spoke about staffing allocation
and noted more than half of the calls require more than one deputy to respond. He stated the
average call response time is approximately five-and-a-half minutes, and also shared about the
new graphics package, and showed a slide on screen outlining the many ways the department
reaches out to the community. Things to watch for in 2024 include partnering with the “I Love
You Guys” foundation, a Sherriff’s Office open house, a potential Citizen’s Academy in the fall,
and a new K-9.
Mayor Ryan shared her appreciation for the work that officers do every day to serve the
community and thanked the department for their service.
2. Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project Review
Erik Henricksen, Project Engineer, presented various safety improvement concepts that generally
focused on pedestrian crossing locations. He shared about the safe system approach, which
looks at achieving a goal of zero deaths on the road networks through a proactive approach. Mr.
Henricksen noted they have looked at every crosswalk in the city, of which there are
approximately 215, while evaluating those crosswalks and running them through the city’s
policy. About one-third of the crosswalks (73) required some sort of improvement with 64 being
minor and nine needing substantial improvements. He shared about the crosswalk evaluation
process, and shared concepts for six locations requiring additional evaluation and
implementation plans to comply with the policy the City Council adopted on December 12,
2022.
Councilman McDonald would like to see traffic studies on each intersection so the city can
determine the best approach. He would also like to see justification for a traffic circle mentioned
in the presentation and more information weighing the options for each intersection versus the
cost, and the number of pedestrians utilizing those intersections.
Councilman von Oven stated each proposed solution solves the issue and noted nothing talks him
into the more expensive options. He does not understand why an Rectangular Rapid
Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), which is essentially just a flashing light, is $100,000.
Mr. Henricksen noted the $100,000 is for two RRFBs and the estimates are conservative and
have a high-level of contingency as at a conceptual level they do not know where the electrical is
coming from, whether they are going solar, etcetera. There is a possibility the RRFBs could be
less expensive.
City Council Minutes – February 26, 2024
4
Councilman Kimber noted the presentation was great and spoke about the number of cars
parking on the side of the road at Kerber Boulevard and West Village Road, which decreases
pedestrian visibility. To Councilman McDonald’s point, it is hard to say yes to spending the
extra $80,000 on the construction because they don’t know the pedestrian traffic right now. He
also appreciates the addition of streetlights, especially with the darkness in the winter.
Councilwoman Schubert spoke about bollards versus more permanent options, noting she would
like to know the pedestrian crossing numbers by season, including the winter and summer
months. She also noted the City Council has received a lot of communication about the
crosswalks on Powers Boulevard and she wants to be sure they do not lose sight of that area.
Mr. Henricksen stated the Traffic Safety Committee has done an evaluation on the intersection at
Powers Boulevard and Lake Susan Hills Drive and has made a recommendation to the County.
He is hearing from the City Council that if they were to look at higher-cost improvements on the
crosswalks, they would like more justification including looking at pedestrian volumes and other
improvements it could provide.
Mayor Ryan stated she shares the sentiment of her fellow Council Members and would
emphasize those crosswalks closest to schools and parks, and stated as a community, she wants
to continue focusing on pedestrian safety. She asked staff to come back with recommendations
on prioritizing the list with all the different information and data points they look at.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS. None.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS.
1. Approval of a Three-Year Economic Development Plan
Mayor Ryan noted this item would be brought to a future work session as it will require a more
robust conversation.
2. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager, announced the City was recently awarded a Certificate of
Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting through the Government Finance Officers
Association of the United States and Canada for the annual comprehensive financial report for
the 2022 fiscal year. She noted the city has received this award every year since 1992 and each
year, the city must do extra legwork to earn the award. She thanked the finance staff for their
hard work.
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION.
1. Letter of Support for the State Highway 5 Mobility Project dated January 16, 2024
City Council Minutes – February 26, 2024
5
2. Letter from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources dated February 20, 2024 –
Final Approval of Chanhassen’s Shoreland Ordinance Amendment
Councilwoman Schubert moved, and Councilman McDonald seconded to adjourn the
meeting. All voted in favor, and the motion was carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
The City Council meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
Prepared by Kim Meuwissen
City Clerk