03-18-2024 City Council Work Session MinutesCHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
MINUTES
MARCH 18, 2024
Mayor Ryan called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m.
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;
Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Eric Maass, Planning Director; Sam
DiMaggio, Economic Development Manager; and Kim Meuwissen, City Clerk.
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Brian Grogan, Moss & Barnett
Bob Loken, ESG Architects
Nick Asta, Roers Companies
Judy Harder, 541 West 78th Street
BROADBAND/INTERNET UPDATE AND DISCUSSION
Assistant City Manager Matt Unmacht introduced Attorney Brian Grogan from Moss & Barnett
who assists the city with the complex issues with franchise agreements. Mr. Grogan reviewed the
three franchise issues the city is currently working on: Mediacom (currently holds a franchise),
MetroNet (currently holds a franchise but has not proceeded), and Comcast (considering a
franchise). He provided a regulatory overview, that residents/businesses desire high-speed
broadband due to changing needs, the impact on the right-of-way for the city, how local, state,
and federal law apply to telephone, broadband, and cable, the availability of state and federal
funding for broadband expansion, and pending legislation.
Mr. Grogan reviewed the existing Mediacom franchise agreement which expired in December
2023 but has been extended through August 26, 2024. Current renewal issues include the
requirement of providing a line extension to Hesse Farms, a 10-year term, and a PEG fee
increase.
Mr. Grogan reviewed the MetroNet franchise agreement and a fiber agreement that was granted
on August 23, 2021, and expires in October 2031. Cable system construction has not started in
the city and MetroNet is no longer interested in providing cable service, just broadband service.
As a result, they would like the city to terminate their franchise agreement. However, the city is
proposing a settlement agreement to terminate the franchise agreement but require MetroNet to
comply with the existing fiber agreement which provides that fiber be connected to city
buildings.
Mr. Grogan stated that Comcast has approached the city verbally requesting a cable franchise to
build out the entire city. A franchise application timeline was presented based on statutory
regulations. It is anticipated that by the end of 2024, Comcast will have a franchise agreement
and have started construction, Mediacom will renew their franchise agreement and compete for
City Council Work Session Minutes – March 18, 2024
2
the same services, and MetroNet will attempt to provide broadband service including
constructing fiber to city buildings. Mr. Grogan added that the city has remained open to all three
providers.
The city council expressed concern about Comcast following through with building out the city.
Mr. Grogan explained that the contract with Comcast would include the exact locations to be
built out. The city council also asked if the market would support the competition between the
two providers. Mr. Grogan explained that broadband is a growing industry and in high demand.
The city council asked about the impact of the wireless option competition. Mr. Grogan
responded that it is an option for some. The city council also asked if a franchise agreement
requires providing broadband and is it Comcast’s intent to provide these services? Mr. Grogan
responded that Comcast would provide the entire suite of services which include telephone, cable
TV and streaming, broadband, and a mobile option in partnership with Verizon. He guessed that
Comcast would provide fiber to neighborhoods to serve clusters of homes. The resolution to
extend Mediacom’s franchise agreement to August 26, 2024 is scheduled to be approved at
tonight’s regular city council meeting.
ARCHITECTURE DISCUSSION – CHANHASSEN CINEMA AND COUNTRY INN &
SUITES REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
Planning Director Eric Maass introduced Bob Loken and Ryan Samsa of ESG Architects. Mr.
Maass presented slides showing the elements to be reviewed including building color palettes,
balcony options, window options, commercial entries (doors/windows, awnings, door handles,
signage), and material as undulation, to obtain city council feedback on these features.
Bob Loken of ESG Architects stated that the goal of the design is to break down the building into
different masses/volumes to look like separate buildings to build visual interest and not look
monolithic, as well as balance the contemporary vision of city hall.
Ryan Samsa of ESG Architects presented a three-dimensional model of the buildings. He added
that the goal is for the two buildings to look like siblings and not twins.
Mr. Maass presented slides showing the alternative color schemes (champagne, platinum and
bronze, and Brandywine) and asked the city council for a general color palette preference. The
city council preferred the platinum and bronze model.
Mr. Maass presented slides showing balcony and window options for city council discussion.
Mayor Ryan recessed the work session at 6:55 p.m.
Mayor Ryan reconvened the work session at 7:23 p.m.
Mr. Maass reviewed the Chanhassen Cinema and Country Inn & Suites architecture presentation
and asked the city council if there were any specific elements they wished to discuss. The city
council expressed concern about the east building’s flat appearance from the south and asked that
the same architectural elements from the west building be considered. Mr. Loken provided the
next steps and the changes they will make before the next presentation on March 25.
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DISCUSS COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
City Manager Laurie Hokkanen explained how candidates are solicited and appointed by the
Carver County Board of Commissioners to the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District
Management Board and that traditionally the city has not had any input in the process. Ms.
Hokkanen stated most of the city is located within the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed
District (RPBCWD) and she was approached by the RPBCWD District Administrator as to
whether the city would be interested in getting involved in soliciting and recommending
candidates to the Carver County Board for appointment. She added that the work that the
RPBCWD does is very important and highly integrated with the work the city does, and it is vital
to have a good relationship with them to accomplish shared goals. Ms. Hokkanen informed the
city council that approximately two-thirds of metro cities are involved in the nomination process
of watershed district managers. If the city council should choose to change the current
nomination and application process, Ms. Hokkanen recommended that the city use a process like
what is currently used for city commission appointments by advertising the opening,
interviewing candidates, and recommending three candidates to the Carver County Board of
Commissioners to interview and appoint to the RPBCWD. The city council discussed the options
and directed staff to move forward with the city becoming involved in the appointment process.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE UPDATE MEMO
As stated in the staff report for this item, Planning Director Eric Maass explained that there
would not be a presentation and that if the city council had any feedback on the proposed
ordinance, they should have contacted Planner Rachel Jeske. The city council accepted the
recommendation in the staff report without any further discussion.
MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING LEGISLATION
City Manager Laurie Hokkanen referenced emails and the most recent Message from the Mayor
concerning the pending legislation on affordable housing. Mayor Ryan indicated that if this
legislation passes, the city’s comprehensive plan will no longer apply which means there will be
no opportunity to solicit and obtain resident feedback. Mayor Ryan stated that her Message from
the Mayor email was met with a supportive response from the residents. On Thursday, March 21,
the Chanhassen Villager will also publish a letter to the Editor from the mayors of Victoria,
Chanhassen, Chaska, and Carver to make residents aware of this legislation.
CITY COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE
Mayor Ryan referenced a recent citizen action request concerning communication from the city.
Communications Manager Ari Lyksett presented the February 2024 Communications Report.
City Manager Laurie Hokkanen added that copies of postcards sent to residents would be
included in future City Council Correspondence Packets. Following city council discussion on
this topic, staff were commended for their communication efforts to date, and directed to
continue to explore options to improve the city’s communication efforts.
Councilwoman Schubert asked about the status of installing charging stations in Chanhassen.
City Manager Laurie Hokkanen responded there are no updates at this time due to uncertainty in
the market. Ms. Hokkanen added that the city is currently working on applying for a state grant
that would cover approximately half of the solar panels needed for the new city hall building.
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FUTURE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE
April 15, 2024 (meeting rescheduled from April 8)
• Downtown Design Guidelines Draft Plan Review
• Highway 5 Update
• City Manager Performance Review (CLOSED SESSION)
April 22, 2024
• SouthWest Transit Update
May 13, 2024
• Road Funding Discussion
May 20, 2024
• SAC and WAC Policy Discussion
June 10, 2024
•
June 24, 2024
• Consider Draft Recommendations Updating SAC/WAC Policy Discussion
• 2025 Preliminary Budget and Levy Discussion
• City Council Roundtable
Pending Items:
Audit Presentation (May 13 or 20)
Mayor Ryan adjourned the work session at 8:45 p.m.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
Prepared by Kim Meuwissen
City Clerk