1991 07 08CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JULY 8, 1991
Mayor Chmiel called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.. The meeting was opened
with the Pledge to the Flag.
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Chmiel, Councilman Mason, Councilman Workman,
Councilman Wing and Councilwoman Dimler
STAFF PRESENT: Don Ashuorth, Roger Knutson, Todd Gerhardt, Dave Hempel, Paul
Krauss, Sharmin Al-Jarl, Scott HarK, and Todd Hoffman
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilwoman Dimler moved, Councilman Mason seconded to
approve the agenda amended to include the following under Council Presentations:
Mayor Chmlel uanted to dlscuss senior volunteers; Councilwoman Dlmler wanted an
update on the Chanhassen Personnel Policy; Councilman Mason wanted to discuss
the seclectlon for the Surface Water Management Program; and Councilman Workman
uanted to discuss a city wide tree removal program, the Rotary tree plantings,
and the downtoun trafflc study. All voted in favor of the agenda as amended and
the motion carried.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilwoman Dimler moved, Councilman Workman seconded to
approve the following consent agenda items pursuant to the City Manager's
recommendations:
b. Accept Land Donation from Nancy Raddohl, Carver Beach Estates.
c. Resolution $91-62: Amendment to Conditional Use Permlt to Allow Expansion
of a Bed and Breakfast Establishment, 1161 8luff Creek Drive, Anne Karels.
d. Flnal Plat Approval, Kurvers Point Second Addition.
e. Approval of Accounts.
f. City Council Minutes dated June 24, 1991
Planning Commission Minutes dated June 19, 1991
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING: TH 5 FRONTAGE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AT LONE CEDAR LANE FEASIBILITY;
AUTHORIZE PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, PRO3ECT 90-9.
Public Present:
Name Address
Scott & Laurie Gauer
Joseph & Marion Mitlyng
3820 Lone Cedar Lane
3800 Arboretum Blvd.
City Coul~ci]. Heetin~ _ July 8, .1.991
[lave Hempel: i~r~ i'i.'t.yoi', members of the Council. The City Council accepted the
feasibility study fo~- construction of the 'r'igl~t turn lane on westbound TH 5 and
frontage road improvements by Lone Cedar Lane on ,'iune 2~th. The project is a
42~ special, ass~-.,ssment p~'o.iect and as such a public hearing is required. The
project is proposed to be financed with MnDot through a cooperative agreement
program, loca.1. State (~id monies and special assessments to benefitting
properties. Approximately 87% of this project is proposed to be funded through
,.~ c,operative...wlth HnOot. The main pot[ion shared between the 6ity of
Ch:~r, hasser, and benefitting property owners. The total estimated construction
cost of this project is $90,400.00. The feasibility report initially had
recommended assessing two parcels equally on a per uni~ basis. Houever, since
the preparatio~ o¢ the fea.sib.(lity report, an agreement has been reached betueen
the 'two benefitting property owners with regards to splitting the assessments.
'Fl~e split has been amended to be 25/75% split wi[h 25% being assessed to Lot 4,
ulrich .i.s the Gauer residence and...taking up 75% oF the special assessments.
The project is feasib].e from an engineering s~andpoint and can be constructed
and completed this year. However, time is essential. The critical ~actor here,
r~ince we are dealing with MnOot, the plans and specifications have to go through
HnDot for approval and a cooperative agreement also prepared and approved prior
to the project proceed£ng~ So with that it is recommended that [he City Council
authorize preparation oF plans and specifications for the frontage road
improvemen~ along I'H .s and Lone Cedar. In addition, also recommend the
methodology for spreading the special assessments be modified to reflect the
agreement arrived by the two residents, Mr. Gauer and Mr. Mitlyn9.
Hayor chmiel; Thank you. Is there anyone wishing to address this item at this
particular r. iroe? A'.~ I mentioned, this is a public hearing. This is your
opportunity to address this specific project.
Councilman ltason moved, Councilman Workman seconded to close the public hearing.
Ail voted in favor and the motion carried. The public hearlng uas closed.
Mayor Chmiel.' Being that neither of the two property owners are here, ~ssuming
that they've reached consensus of opinion, oh I guess Joe is here. And
everyone's il~ agreement with what has been proposed?
Councilman Wing: I would move approval.
Councilwoman gimlet: Second~
Resident: Does tills mean closing off Lone Cedar exit to TH 5?
gave HempeJ.: No it does not. The Lone Cedar access will remain open.
Mayor Chmiel-' Right. This is to provide a service road adjacent to TH 5 to
Mitlyng's property. And uif. h ,~n agreement between two of the property owners
who are goil~g to absorb that cost for putting in the service road. At one time
I received a cal.1, indicating there were 40 other property owners who were
concerned with this and what the position was going to be. At uhat cost to
them. There's no cost ~the~' than the two property owners. We have a motion on
the floor with a second. ~ny further discussion?
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Resolution ~91-63: Councilman Wing moved, Councilwoman Dimler seconded to
authorize the preparation of plans and specifications for the frontage road
improvements along ~ith a right turn lane for aestbound traffic on Trunk Highaay
5 at Lone Cedar Lane and that the methodology for spreading the special
assessments be modified to reflect the agreement arrived at between Mr. Gauer
and Hr. HitZyng. AZ[ voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
VISITORS PRESENTATION: None.
PUBLIC HEARING: HINNEWASHTA PARKWAY FEASIBILITY STUDY; AUTHORIZE PREPARATION OF
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, PROJECT
Pubiic Present:
Name Address
Betty Carlson
Peter Hoe
Deborah & Kay Lockhart
Charles & Ada Anding
Charles Anding
Greg Datillo
Ed Oathour
L.C. & Susan Proshek
Chris Orakos
Michael Tim...
Mike & Susan Morgan
Terry & Lisa Rixe
Harry A. Drahos
Mitch Regal
Peter Sickeler
Evelyn Atkins
Blake Horton
Nancy Nelson
Robert & Patricia 3osephs
Greg Bohrer
Lara Genz
Don & Barb Bittermann
Louis Guthmueller
Ivan & Mildred Underdahl
W. Court MacFaFlane
Terry M. Forbord
Jim Way
Gordon Freeburg
James & Deborah Hofer
Arlene Herndon
Peggy Markham
Kevin Cuddihy
George Peters
Harvey Sobel
Uern Isham
30 Ann Hallgren
3ames & Ruth 8oylan
4020 Leslee Curve
7141 Minnewashta Parkway
3618 Red Cedar Point Drive
3631 South Cedar Drive
6601Minnewashta Parkway
7201 Juniper Avenue
3940 Hawthorne Circle
3613 Red Cedar Point
3900 Linden Circle
3733 Hickory Road
3734 Hickory Road
7456 Minneuashta Parkuay
3911 Linden Circle
891 20th S.E., Hinneapolis
204 Ash Street, Chaska
9580 Eden Prairie Road, Eden Prairie
3711 South Cedar Drive
3891 Linden Circle
6701 Minnewashta Parkway
3706 Hickory Road
7096 Red Cedar Cove
7085 Red Cedar Cove
7095 Red Cedar Cove
7502 West 77th Street
3800 Leslee Curve
Lundgren Bros. Construction
6641 Minnewashta Parkway
3891 Lone Cedar Lane
7098 Red Cedar Cove
3750 Red Cedar Point Drive
6520 Kirkwood Circle
3900 Stratford Ridge
4010 Leslee Curve
7024 Red Cedar Cove
4030 Leslee Curve
6860 Minnewashta Parkway
6760 Minnewashta Parkway
City Council Meeting --July 8, 1991
Name
Address
Cave & I_ori Free
I. owell& Janet Carlson
Rich Comer
Edwin & Leittia Seim
Jean [.arson
Pet er Benjamin
I.ee Andersorl
Zoe Bros
Sttkey Sobel
Jim & Andrea Ben~myhoff
Carol Ridd].e
Suellyn Fritz
Steven Erickson
Ed !.ucas
Vince& 8ea Oecker
Joan Skallman
Ric & Mariana Al~ding
A1 & Carla Smith
Linda Johnson
Marsha Keuseman
.]eanet te Boley
Bas11 & Helen Bast lan
3erry Johnson
3inl Connor
Gene & Carol. Oahlin
B. Fuller
Tom Allenburg
Ken & Ruth Smith
Bob Schneider
Ken Burr
Ann Osborne
3921 Maple Shores Drive
4141 Kings Road
3800 Red Cedar Point Drive
3616 Red Cedar Point Drive
3609 Red Cedar Point Brlve
7231 Mlnnewashta Parkway
6651 Minnewashta Parkway
6631 Minnewashta Parkway
7024 Red Cedar Cove
3931 Leslee Curve
4000 Leslee Curve
18464 Maple Leaf Drlve
3850 Leslee Curve
3941 Leslee Curve
3861 Leslee Curve
6590 3oshua Circle
3715 South Cedar Drive
3714 Hickory Road
3629 Red Cedar Point
3622 Red Cedar Point Drive
7414 Minnewashta Parkway
3719 South Cedar Drlve
3940 ~lendale Drive
3901 Red Cedar Polnt Drive
3930 ~lendale Drive
7075 Red Cedar Cove
6621 Minnewashta Parkway
3837 Red Cedar Point
7501 West 77th Street
4830 Westgate Road, Mlnnetonka
3815 Red Cedar Point
Mayor Chmiel: This is a public hearing and I'll open this public hearing at
this particular time. I'd like staff [o address this and those who also u111
asslst. 8i11, are you golng to do the formal presentation?
Bil~ Engelhardt'- I'll make the presentation.
Mayor Chmiel: Alright, fine. With that if you'll start with that.
Bill Engelhardt: Your honor, members of the Council, audience. My name is Bill
Enge].hardt. We're the consulting engineers that prepared the feasibility study
for the Minnewasl~ta Parkway. This feasibility study started some months ago.
We've held two neighborhood meetings and I think most of you people have been in
attendance. I recognize quite a few faces. We had some good discussions.
There vas some good polnts that were brought out. We went back and modlfled the
Feasibility study based on some of the discussions that we had to the point that
we could modify it by working ulth MnDot. That's Minnesota Department of
Transportation. Because oF the amount of funding that the State will be putting
into thls project, we have to follow thelr standards. Thelr deslgn crlterla in
order to reconstruct this roadway. They were somewhat flexible on their
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
standards due to the terrain that we have out there. The environmental issues
with the trees that were removed or would be removed and what we're able to do
is bring down the roadway width from what was originally proposed down to pretty
close to a typical residential street in the city of Chanhassen. Some of the
issues that were addressed in the modified or revised feasibility study after
these neighborhood meetings are addressed in the feasibility report and in the
executive summary. There's about 9 items, ll items and I'll just read through
those a little bit and ue can discuss those or go on from there. Major
considerations that resulted from the homeowners meetings. Number one, the
roadway was reduced from a 36 foot width to a 32 foot width. If I may,
I brought along a slide to give an example of how this. The existing right-of-
way for Minnewashta Parkway is a GG foot right-of-way. The existing road
section is a 28 foot bituminous section with no curb or gutter. Very slight
shoulders in some areas and in some areas the lawn is abutted right up to
existing blacktop. In this type of section the drainage is carried in those
gutter lines or in those grass areas down to low points and then it just runs
helter skelter all through the area. So part of the project that's being
considered tonight is a storm sewer along with the road improvement. With the
storm sewer we're able to correct a number of different problems that some of
the areas have out there and drainage through their yards. Getting back to the
road section though, the proposal is to go with a 32 foot roadway from back of
curb to back of curb. What that means is that they'll be adding about 6 inches
of additional blacktop to the edge of the road...and the gutterline is 18
inches. So about about a foot and a half to Z feet from the existing road edge
as it'd be expanded out to each side. In some cases again because this is a
State Aid Road, they do have to meet the State Aid standards. We will be trying
to flatten out and decrease the sharpness of the curves, improve sight distances
on the roadway, both horizontally and vertically. Those are standards that we
are required to make. The significance of this is that it substantially reduces
the amount of work that has to be done on this road in the yard areas but still
within the right-of-way. It also maintains somewhat the character of the road,
although it will have some urban section which means curb and gutter versus the
non-urban section or the rural section. With the curb and gutter it's much
easier to control and provide more control in the drainage area. The second
issue was the walkway alignment and originally the walkway, this map is a little
hard. It's more than a little hard. It's hard to see but the solid green line
is the parkway and the trail section is the heavy dark line on both sides.
Originally we had proposed that we would be on the west side of the road from
Maple Drive north. The crossing would be along the east side of the roadway
down to TH 5. Through the public meetings the discussion centered around trying
to place the roadway all on one side. A lot of the residents felt that they did
not want a crossover. At the last meeting on the feasibility study we did
indicate that we'd be trying to maintain that walkway on the east side all the
way along. The result of that is that through this area there's very steep
grades going from the roadway down to the lake. A retaining wall would have to
be built in order to accommodate the walkway. Since the last meeting I've met
with a resident. One resident out there that specifically requested that I meet
with him to address the walkway and point out the number of trees that would be
taken. I think it was a very good meeting. What we arrived at by walking from
up in the State Highway 7 area down to King's Point Road that probably a good
compromise on the walkway, because some people wanted it on one side and some
people wanted it on the other side. It's kind of a confusing issue but a good
compromise on all parts was that we bring it from State Highway ? along the west
City CoLtnci]. I'leoLing -- July 8, 1991.
side as or¢.g~n~il].y ,o].~lnne(t. Carry that down to Kings Point Road on the west
side. Hake; our crossing at KJ. Rgs Point Ro,'.td and [.hen c~rry it on the east side.
That accomplishes a number of things. Zt accomplislles saving some of the tree
work. Removal of t. rees aJ. on9 ~.he lgzke side. It provides for a very good
crossing area. Good sight distance both north and south. It also lend8 the
opportunity thst on this particular section of the roadway it's &bout equal
d.istance from TH 5 and TH Z a~md if we construct the crossirmg at that point,
Kings Point Road ~t some point in time could very wet1 carry some of the
interior traffic and we'd place a stop sign on Minnewashta Parkway so that would
control the tr&ffic going through from TH Z to TH 5. Keep in mind that stop
signs are not used for speeding or to control speed. We do have to meet the
MnOot warrants in order to install that stop sign but simply the warrant of a
crossing in all likelihood will allo~ us a stop sign and that ~ill help in the
conc~rn that the neigh[)orhood had of being a strBight shot through. It helps.
It probably doesn't completely 'take the issue a~ay but it does help. The issue
of the type of ~alk~ay ca~,e up at the l~st meeting whether it should be
bituminous or concrete. The original proposal ~as for a concrete sidewalk.
That ~as based on our conclusion that ~ith a concrete sidewalk was more durable
surface. Reduced the maintenance costs of the City in the long run and ~e felt
~.hat the price for bituminous and concrete was very comparable. We were asked
to go back and evaluate the cost between the two types of trail systems. We've
done that. The estimate for the concrete trail is $146,000.00 and the estimate
For the bituminous trail is $136,000.00 so the bituminous is a little bit less.
Keep in mind though that ~ith bituminous we do have to sealcoat it and ~e do
hav~ some ongoing maintenance. 41though on concrete if ~e have any cracks ~e'll
have to repair (hose too. Bituminous seems to be very appropriate material. It
].ends itself to the character of the trall system probably better than the
concrete does. It's not necessarily a defined residential area. It's more of a
trail, natural and specifically a parkway. Keeping with the nature of the area.
So I think in the modifications of the trail, if ~e stick to the ~est side up to
Kings Point Road. Again ~e have excellent sight distance both north and south
at that point al~d then shift it over. We'll be able to save quite a few trees
and reduce the number of trees that we'd be taking. We're still planning on,
eve~ though we'd be taking some trees, we still plan on keeping the level of
tree planting up to ~here we originally proposed and the proposal ~as to plant
iBF ne~ trees. The third item ~as additional storm drainage problems identified
a~d those came out through the neighborhood meetings. There was one up in the
Linde~ Circle are~. Leslee Curve. The, I'll call it Hinnemashta Highlands.
Haple .Shore Drive area. 4nd all through the parkway alingment we have low
points that are uncontrolled and ~e'd be able to control those lo~ points and
direct the runoff to specific pending areas. That's an issue, pending areas and
the environmental control ~nd the storm ~ater runoff mas addressed in the
original report. It probably ~ill be addressed all through the design phase.
We have to ~ork ~ith Hinnehaha Creek Watershed District and the Department of
Natural Resources. Our original proposal mas to take the storm ~ater in this
particular are~. Let me start from the north at the high point at about
Stratford right in this area the storm se~er. From verything north from that
high point we go to the metland area right behind the fire station which then
has an outlet to the north. From the high point going south we bring that down
to the Lake St. Joe area. gt about this location you can see, if you ~atch the
monitor, right at this location by Red Cedar Cove townhouses is a connection
b~[ween St. Joe ~tnd Minnewasilta. We ~ould be dumping storm ~ater at that point
and then from about oh, right at ?Zth Street there's a high point that goes to
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
the north. We'd be collecting and taking that again to St. Joe. The very
southerly portion of the parkway would drain into the wetland through just the
southern catch basln. The lssue that needs to be addressed is the Lake St. Joe
drainage. What will the DNR allow. How do they want it constructed and is it
better to go dlrectly to Lake Mlnnewashta or to Lake St. Joe? Lake Minnewashta
is classified as a recreational lake whlch means it's about a medium type lake
according to the DNR standards. Lake St. Joe has a higher quality or hlgher
degree of environmental issues and concerns according to the ONR. The ONR would
prefer us to go directly to Lake Mlnnewashta if a pondtng area could be
constructed prior to Lake Minnewashta at the discharge points. Specifically
we're really only talklng about thls area, thls part of the dralnage area rlght
in here of the roadway. The balance again is going to other wetlands and the
volume has not been increased that much because one beneflt we dld see by
reducing the width of the roadway is we reduce the amount of runoff that we
would see with a 3& foot road. We're still going to have a sllght increase but
not as much. Getting back to the DNR. Their comments are is they want to be
lnvolved in the deslgn. Both the DNR and the watershed w111 not glve you a
specific answers at this time how they want it done but as you design the
project we'll be working very closely wlth their Flsh and Wlldllfe experts and
the water quality people to determine which method and which alternative is the
most appropriate use. If for example we cannot get a ponding area on the east
slde of Minnewashta Parkway to take the storm sewer into Lake Minnewashta, then
they would prefer us to construct a ponding area on the west side utilizing the
existing wetland areas or portion. You know, not all of them, just a portion of
them. Provlde some ponding before it goes to Lake St. Joe and then from St. Joe
it goes into Minnewashta. But those options, they won't look at until we
specifically sit down and design the system wlth both the DNR and the Watershed.
Both agencies have a permitting process that we have to follow. The design
would be sent to them. It's revlewed by thelr engineers and revlewed by thelr
boards prior to lssuance of the permits. We still feel that probably the best
optlon at this tlme ls to utlllze the Lake St. Joe area. Construct some type of
ponding and holding area before it discharges into St. Joe and then letting that
water flow lnto Lake Mlnewashta. But it may be according to the DNR that that
ls not the option and we'll have to search for a site. I think it will be very
difficult to find a slte for pondlng on thls site. That's the biggest problem.
The fourth item that was addressed was the assessment rate. Originally the
assessment rate was based on $2,340.00 per unit. Per household. Per single
family unit. The assessment area is based again on an area basis where the
residential properties, both raw land and developed land, utilizing Mlnnewashta
Parkway as a major egress and ingress points from TH 7 and TH 5 would be
assessed on a unlt basls. The basls for the $2,340.00 was the State Ald Road
project that was constructed about 2 years ago on Bluff Creek Drive. We took
thelr assessment rate and updated it for construction cost lndex. We updated it
for inflation for the increase in construction costs. I thlnk their assessment
was around $2,200.00 and we arrlved at $2,340.00. In analyzing the project
again after the neighborhood meetings, again very good input from the
neighborhoods. The concern was that the Mlnnewashta Parkway area has much
smaller lots than the Bluff Creek Drive area. That's very true so what we did
ls we looked at what they could develop thelr lots into and the way thelr houses
were situated even though they have a large lot, they still could only get maybe
one more unlt at the most on thelr particular lot. So the unit cost was reduced
from the $2,340.00 down to $1,250.00. It's $1,250.00 is the proposed
assessment. That assessment would be spread, or proposed to be spread over 8
City Cour~cil ~teetiI~g ~ July 8, 1991
years and the il',terest rate ill all likelihood would be around 8~ depending on
what the bond was sold aL. So tl~is trallslates into about an annual payment in
the first year of about $250.00 and in the eighth year, sixth, seventh, eighth
year of about $165.00. So the assessment goes down. The interest is not
compounded. Arid as the principal is reduced, the payment is reduced over those
8 years. When it comes to ,'~ssessment we needed to consider raw land. There's a
substantial number of acres where it's developed at this time and we needed to,
we felt iL very appropriate that that raw land area also share in the cost of
upgrading Ninnewashta Parkway. At some point in time it will be developed.
fact in the area north of Kings Road, we have sketches of just proposed
developments. They have not been brought to the City but proposed developments
of how many units could be constructed in those areas. We utilized that and
showed the dashed lines for potential units in that area. For other areas where
we have raw land, we originally looked at 3 u~its per acre but the comments were
that a substantial portion of the raw land area had wetlands. There were
increased requirements of setbacks and lot sizes that the ONR and the City had
placed eli these particular pieces of property. And in order to follow the
guidelines a more appropriate assessme~t per raw land area would be 1.8 units.
That 1.8 unit is developed by taking out any wetland area that would be on a
parcel of land. Subtracti~g that out and the base raw land area and then
subtracting out another 15~ of the remaining ra~ land area for road~ays that
would have to be built if it's developed and the result was that we could get
about 1.8 units. 1.8 units per acre would be about 24,200 square feet in that
particular area. The DNR requirements for shoreland, for lot size is 20,000
square feet. So I think we're very close to being in the ballpark in what those
raw land areas could be assessed. Keeping in mind that they are ra~ land areas
and that they may be developed anyway, a particular developer may want larger
units or may not be able to get as many units. I think me have to be sensitive
to that fact and there would have to be adjustments made if they could not get
that many units on their land. However, if they could get more units on their
land, they come in with proposals that show that 2 units per acre or even up to
the 3 units per acre, they should be appropriately assessed for those units and
that ~ould go into the debt service fund of this particular project. There's
three parcels that have a classification of green acre. Green acre, the green
acre classification does not allow us to collect a~sessments on those parcels
until they're developed. The City can levy those assessments and the assessment
~ou].d be deferred to such time as when the parcels are developed. They would
incur interest on the amount that they would be assessed and again at such time
as they would be developed, the assessment would be levied and they'd be paying
their fair share just as every other parcel. The advantage is that they would
not be levied at this time unless the property owner 8o desired that they be
levied. One of the other complicated portions of this project was part of the
roadway along TH 5 for about 1,300 feet is in the city of Victoria. This dark
gr~e;i lille on the map indicates the corporate limits. The 1,300 feet runs up to
about Hawthorne Circle. We've met ~ith the Victoria City Council. The City
Council passed a resolution that the City was to work ~ith Victoria to undertake
a land swap which would allo~ the City of Chanhassen to annex Hinnewashta
Parkwa~ and seven parcels to the east. The parcels to the west at this time
would be allowed to stay in Victoria until such time as they may desire to
annex. That's their perogative. The seventh item that we needed to address was
how to finance the project and we originally started out with a 2.2 million
dollar p~'oject. That's a total cost and the total cost has been reduced, not by
a large amouT~t but it has been 'reduced $2.1 million. And of that, we're
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
proposing 532 assessment units which will generate roughly $665,000.00 worth of
financing for the project. State Aid funds would pay $944,000.00 worth of funds
and the City would use general obligation bonds for roughly $477,000.00 to pay
for portions of the storm sewer and walkway that in past projects they have
participated in a like manner. That would be keeping with past policy on
various projects like this particular one. The balance of the project cost is
about $26,000.00. That's for some uatermain construction and that $26,000.00
would come from City trunk funds. Trunk water funds because it is a
reconstruction of existing uatermain that would allow for future expansion.
Again the project, because of the reduced width of the roadway has significantly
reduced the number of trees that would be taken along the parkway. There are
particular areas along the lake side that it's very difficult without specific
cross sections to tell whether the trees would 9o or not go. Our general
opinion is they probably could be saved. They're the type of trees that they
may be able to even handle small retaining walls and we may be able to shift the
roadway just enough in some of those areas and it isn't going to take much. It's
like a foot or two to save the trees. $o again a significant number of trees
that ue thought would originally have to be removed we would keep those in place
but still maintain the amount of tree planting that we originally proposed.
Second to the last item that I'd like to address is comments during the
neighborhood meetlngs just about placlng an overlay on the roadway and what the
cost of that overlay would be and would that not be satisfactory as a
replacement for the Minnewashta Parkway system without completely redoing lt.
The estimated cost for the overlay and leveling course is $120,000.00. That'd
be for a 3 lnch overlay. The baslc problem with an overlay ls that when you
raise that surface up you can put gravel in the shoulders to match the lawn
areas but you have a very difficult tlme matching those lawn areas and you
create more drainage problems by doing that than, you're going to solve some of
your road problems but you're going to create many drainage problems behind the
curb. I think the most significant factor on not proposing an overlay on this
particular roadway ls the subsolls in thls area. We dld some borlngs in it and
subsoils are very marginal. So in order to reconstruct the roadway we'll have
to excavate some of those subsolls and replace that wlth gradual materlal and
build the section up to meet design standards. But the overlay and the bad
solls and subsoils, you're going to see a continual problem just as you see
today in some of those areas where they continually break off. You can't just
keep putting an overlay on a roadway. It just doesn't work. Basically what
you'd be doing, I guess in my opinion is wastlng the $120,000.00. It's not an
appropriate fix for thls particular type of roadway. Again summarizing, just to
conclude here, to summarize a little bit on the financing options of it. The
State Aid Funds would be $944,088.00. That would utllize the monles that the
City receives yearly from the State. It'd be a 2 to 3 year process and what the
Clty does ls designate certaln roadways that will quallfy for State Ald roads.
In this particular case it's connecting two State Highways. They could connect
County Road to County Road or County Road to State Highway. In thls case it's
classified as State Aid because it does connect the two highways. Therefore it
qualifies for the funding. Many roads in Chanhassen would not quallfy for thls
funding. The City receives or has in their State Aid fund roughly $450,000.00
which means that we'll use this year's, next year's and probably a portlon of
the third year's fundlng for this particular roadway in order to make the
financing. At that point you would schedule your financing for the other State
Aid roads that would have to be upgraded in other parts of town. So you want to
use your State Aid road money to upgrade your State Aid roads and you set up a $
C~y Council Heeting -- July 8, 199~L
year' schedule where these roadways would get improved on a $ year schedule.
Special assessments again would be at $1,250.00 per unit. We're suggesting that
the special assessments would generate $665,000.00. General Obligation Bonds of
¢447 , 000 . 00 would be utilized ,'~s on past projects to pay for 50~ of the storm
sewer. The other' 50~ would be paid by State Aid to pay for portions of the
walkway. Trunk waterm,'~in funds of roughly $26,000.00 would make up the balance
of the project. So wlth that your honor I'd be happy to answer any questions or
t~ke testimony or comments from the public and we'll try to address any
questions they may have.
Hayor Chmiel: I'd like to set just a couple parameters. I know I sat in on
mosL of these meetings and those that I didn't sit, we have had a chance to
review the Hinutes of that meeting. So what I would like to ask is that there
nut be repetition. If there's any individual representing a number of people to
speak for them and I'd like them to also address that. One clarifying thing I'd
like to do. I'm happy that you're all here this evening, is to address a letter
that was sent gui to all the residents within the area by an unknown person
indicating what this Council doc;s. Ramrodding things through. That's the first
thing I'd like to address. This Council has worked for the people of the City
of Ch,'~nhassen. This Council h~s not ramrodded one item [hrough as long as we've
been in office in this city. There was some untruths within that particular
letter and hopefully clarification has been done this evening by the
presentation that Bill Engelhardt has done. So with that I would like to open
the meeting for the public hearing and I'd like to have whoever'd like to start.
Please come forward and I'd like to try to limit this because there's a lot of
people I know that would like to talk and I'd like to limit this to a minimum of
at least 5 minutes or less. Yes ma'am. Oh, one other thing I might add. I've
received approximately about 14 letters regardir, g this project and each of those
letters too are contained in our packets.
Arlene Herndon: I'm ~rlene Herndon. I reside at 3750 Red Cedar Point Drive.
I'd like to just read this letter I've written if I may. Please public
s~.rvants. This letter is to voice my concern and opposition to the proposed
upgrading and improvements of Hinnewashta Parkway on the western shoreline of
I. ake Hinnewashta between State Highways 5 and 7. ~ith the right to assess being
based on a benefit to the property being assessed, it is clear to me as an
individual with years of real estate experience that the properties would not
benefit from such a proposal with increased value but would undeniably lose
value. The quiet lifestyle ue currently enjoy would not be just interrupted but
rather pre-empted. I, as a parent of 3 young children would be greatly
concerned for the safety of my children. Property taxes have just gone up a
tremendous amount for those of us living in the affected area of Chanhassen. The
cost for living .tn the area must be weighed and analyzed according to the
benefits thereof. Following this enormous tax hike, a special assessment is
being considered in addition to it which will increase cost even more and cause
a decrease in value. ~ny elementary study of real estate values as it pertains
~o comparable homes. One on a quiet residential street and one on a busy
thoroughfare clearly demonstrates the effect of heavy traffic. ~arketability is
lessen as well as property values itself. Those who live right on Hinnewashta
Parkway are going to suffer the loss of peace and quiet as well as significant
dollars in real estate value. ~re the now higher taxes going to be lowered to
reflect that decrease and are those homeowners going to be given credit for loss
of property values which will compensate them accordingly? Not with such a
lO
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
proposal. The exact opposite is going to be the end result. As public servants
of our community I call upon your integrity as individuals elected to your
positions to serve our community. Turning your backs on those who are so
directly affected will constitute nothing less than a disservice. Does anyone
have a hidden agenda? What is our overall purpose in our community? To make it
the best place we can live or to close our eyes to very real individual rights
and needs for the purposes of advancement. The price tag is being handed to
those very individuals who will suffer the very real consequences to lifestyle,
pocketbooks and peace of mind. I hereby am requesting that the affects of such
a proposal on property values and homes on Minnewashta Parkway be done so that
the real truth will be known. Your position on this issue will clearly
demonstrate your level of commitment to your community.
Mayor Chmiel: Is there anyone else who would like to address it?
Jim Boylan: Mr. Mayor and the City Council. My name is Jim Boylan and I live
at 6760 Minnewashta Parkway. I don't really have a letter tonight but I'd kind
of like to go through your cover letter on this memorandum if I may and address
some of the things that are mentioned on here. I guess I don't really speak for
a group but I may in some respects of people and neighbors that I've talked to
before. But I'm concerned as a property owner on this project. It is hoped
that the two previously held neighborhood meetings and corresponding follow-up
investigations have answered many of the questions and concerns of the area
residents. The following are some of the key project revisions directly
resulting from the discussions of the neighborhood meetings. Okay? This lends
me to believe that these are thlngs that have been dealt with and I don't think
they have been. At least not to my satisfaction and I'm sure not to some of the
other people that are here. For example, MnOot approval of reducing the
proposing roadway wldth from 36 to 32 feet. Well, what does this really mean?
Is this really doing the job that we want to do here? Part of the new proposal
for the jogglng path has created a situation now where instead of going along my
lakeshore on the east side, on the lake side, and causing the construction of
maybe a 12-14 foot retaining wall and a jogging path. Cutting down my trees and
making my view of the lake a jogging path with an iron ralllng of some kind to
keep people from falling off lnto my lakeshore and sulng me. Now ls going over
to the other side of the road and taking the last 6 trees out of my front yard.
About 4 years ago as all of us had suffered through the dutch elm situation, !
removed 16 trees from my wooded lot. This is one of the reasons I bought that
lot. It turned my front yard lnto a baseball dlamond and the only thing that
was left was 6 old maple trees. Now these maple trees I can show you on a
surveyor's plot that was done on my land when Mlnnewashta Parkway was known as
Glencoe Road. At that time the right-of-way, those trees were not on the
right-of-way. They were in the property of whlch I now own. Since that time
the right-of-way has expanded to encompass these trees. Now these are trees
that my wlfe grew up on that property and climbed in as a child. These trees
are almost 100 years old and yet we're going to mow those trees down and put in
a jogging path in front of the house. Well, maybe some of you think that mlght
be alright. I don't particularly. I have a neighbor that lives next door to me
who's even golng to be worse off because he has a house that's rlght up withln
probably 6 or 8 feet of the jogging path and is going to have a problem. The
second 1rem. The locatlon of the walkway and trw11 system has been modlfled to
meet the needs of the residents. Who? Not me. I don't know about the rest of
you. I don't feel that's a modification that meets my needs. In fact it's even
11
City Council Mew. ting -- O~ly 8, 1991
worst. It devaluates my property. I'm paying over $3,000.00 in taxes on that
piece oF land, which by the way I've bee~ in front of the City Council before
and heard you people say to me that the lake belongs to the City. Yeah, I'd
like to believe that except that when tile tax assessor comes along, he doesn't
quite believe the same way that you people do so I pay a 11ttle more because
I've got land on the lake. I fee]. that it's my right and prlviledge to husband
that and to volce my oplnlon about this. I thlnk the presentation of the
recently completed Eastern Carver County Transportation Study related to the
predicted future trafflc demands ls bogus. It's absolutely bogus. I was in the
traffic control business for a number of years and I've sat down and figured
this out. The trafflc that was proposed at those meetlngs ls really only an
indication of probably lO~ of the people that live there. If you figure that
the people that we are talklng about paylng for thls project each having two
cars and multiplying that out, you'll find that the traffic proposal, that only
covers like less than 10~ of that as far as drlvlng. Where are these other 95~
coming From to drive down Ninnewashta Parkway? Why do we need this klnd of a
road based on those flgures? I thlnk the reduction of land assessment ls
necessary in a lot of [hess cases. Yes, there are some people who have moved
ln. Plcked up a property and are looklng to develop lt. They ought to pay for
that. If they want to sell lots and make money, then they ought to pay for the
assessments that go along wlth puttlng in storm sewers, dralnage systems and the
rest of that ~t~st like I did when I moved in here. There was no storm or drain
sewer or anything. We had a well in the front yard and a septic tank. Then
they came along and sald well you have to hook up and we have to comply. We
have and we paid for that. Somebody else coming 1nrc the neighborhood, I know
it costs a 1. et more nowadays but I'm sorry, developers should have to pay that
cost and pass it onto their people and not expect the people in the neighborhood
to have to pay agaln for something they've already paid for once. I think also
the reduction of the assessment ls not really, I've never felt comforable wlth
this because when we started out about the State matching funds my wife
contacted the Governor's offlce about the State matching fund situation and
found out that that was being phased out by the State government. And that
there were no plans or had there been any proposals sent to them about thls
project and they were very interested in flnding out more about it. Now I hear
tonight that there's some proposal where you take regular State budgeting money
that you've got over' the next 3 years and use this to help fund this project.
What else are you going to do in thls clty then? You've got no projects for the
nnxt 3 years except this one to fund? I can't see where that's really going to
be a good deal. I guess in summation I have to say that I'm a little bit
distraught about the fact that I've looked through this number 3. Chanhassen
cover letter and all of the attached letters. I see a lot of he's here. I see
a lot of people that have come here saying we don't want this. Why are you
doing thls to us? Why are you maklng us pay for it and who are the yes people
that are saying so? I haven't seen them. Thank you.
L. eittia Seim: My name is Leittla Seim and I'm a resident of 3616 Red Cedar
Point Drive. We own the property for the last 33 years. Now we live in
California and we know what means to urbanize. It's terrible. I am very
disappointed that a proposal, of tile kind I have listened to tonight is even
considered. It seems to me that the good englneer that present it has given
reason and have found reason for doing something. In other words, at first he
wanted large. Then he want to reduce. Then he says that wlll help the dralnage
but now it will not help the drainage. Then we'll have to send the water to
12
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Hinnewashta again. Then to Little Joe again. Seems to me just making water. I
want to register my strong opposition to enlarge even one inch of that parkway,
It's large enough. I am also concerned that somebody wants a jogging path.
Well I have been not jogging. I cannot jog any longer but I walk a lot and I
have counted in one hour and a half 22 cars. 22 cars is not traffic. It's just
very little traffic so I don't know why we need to enlarge anything. So I
simply want to say don't do it.
Harvey Sobel: Mr. Mayor? Councilwoman? Councilmen? I'd like to know first if
you all are fully famillar with our Minnewashta Parkway? I live on Red Cedar
Cove. Harvey Sobel. Are you all personally familiar? Each of you have walked
a plece of it? Understand it is a country road. By no means could it be
converted into a 41 type of hlghway. My second short questlon is, ls there a
way that the Council, that you Mr. Mayor, can poll the 530 taxpayers? What if
75~ of us for example voted for the tlme belng let's gamble $150,000.00 on an
overlay? What would the results be of such a po117 Thank you.
Mayor Chmlel: Thank you.
Peter Benjamin: My name is Peter Benjamin and I'm a new resident on Minnewashta
Parkway. I live at 7231Minnewashta and I just had a question about the Eastern
Carver County Trafflc survey that was done in 1990. In October and it
recommends that Minnewashta be 4 lanes and I just want to have some response
about that proposal.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay. Maybe we can have, Gary?
Gary Warren: If I understood the question is why the Eastern Carver County
study report showed Mlnnewashta Parkway to be 4 lanes. Actually the report, as
I recall it, showed it to be a collector roadway system whlch can be 4 or 2
lanes depending on the width of the roadway. That is based on the computer
modeling that was done with the best input of the MnDot Transportation model
that was used on the TH 212 corridor and input as far as the Crosstown
projections are for feedlng lnto TH 7 and also on TH 5. It's with that in mlnd
that discussion here, I remember from some of the earlier hearings that the
7,o00 average dally traffic count was in question and such. Actually the road
section would stay the same whether you're talking 1,000 or 7,000 based on the
State standards. There's a lot of room for I guess changes in traffic lmpacts
so you could cut the traffic projections in half and you would still be looking
to build the same road sectlon out there under the State standards.
Mayor Chmiel: Thank you. Does that answer your question?
Bill Engelhardt: I'll give it a try. The way I understand the question is,
your concern is that it's going to a 4 lane?
Peter Benjamin: Yes.
Bill Engelhardt: Okay. When they do thelr traffic modeling and they put
together the numbers that tell you or the guesstimate of how many vehicles they
would anticipate would travel on that roadway in the future, in 2010. In the
year 2010, that model says it will carry so many vehicles. I think it was like
9,500 vehicles per day. I personally felt that when we looked at those numbers
13
City Council M.'.~'tillg - July 8, 1991
that that particular model probably was accelerated a llttle bit. I don't think
.it's golng to g~¢t that high. So what we dld is we went back to MnOot and we
said, what road sectlon could we, or what road width could we put in there to
meet your design standards amid still re,;eive the funding? They said a 36 foot
roadway. That would meet thelr trafflc projections. It was classified as a,
1'11 say a high density collector. That's the maximum width it was ever
proposed. It was never proposed for 4 lanes. It never would be 4 lanes because
it doesn't carry that volume of traffic. After the neighborhood meetings I
asked and it was very apparent that the 36 foot uldth was very objectionable.
And from tonight tile 32 is even objectionable. Keep in mind that rlght now you
have a 28 foot roadway. So what we're doing expanding to 32, to the back of the
c~.~rb, is adding 2 feet on both sides of the roCzd which means we're utilizing
those shoulders. We went back to MnDot and we sald, if you look at your design
standards, the traffic projections for a modified section would fall in what's
called a low densJ, ty collector and we could reduce that street wldth down to 32.
They agreed with that and when this gentleman asked is that approved by HnOot,
that is approved by ~inDot. They have glven us thelr blesslng on that to go down
~o 32 foot wide. Back of curb to back of curb. Which results in about a 29
foot drlving surface where today you have about a 28 foot drlving surface. So
you're talklng about 6 inches of driving surface on each side plus the curb and
gutter. The questlon was through all of the hearings, the meetlngs was that
you're going to £ncrease tile speed. Tile speed is going to increase. You're
going to construct an unsafe road and that's not true. Studles have shown that
with curb and gutter on a roadway that the speeds are reduced, Now you can
belleve that if you want. Those are the facts. That's what the study shows and
it's been shown ali. tl~rough the ~;ountry that if you have a wide open road wlth
no centre].. Wlth no curb and gutter, that you will see hlgher speeds. By
installing your curb and gutters, you will see lower' speeds. That's a proven
fact. So the next thing to do on the roadway for both the pedestrians that
utilize that road and for the cars that utillze that road and the way you do
that ls through smoothing out the curves. Taklng out the horizontal vertlcal
curves, correct sight distances. Stlll staying within MnOot guideline
standards and still keeplng wlthln [he character of the parkway as best you can
,and you can do it. It can be done,
Peter Benjamin: I was concerned that down the road that this would be 4 lanes.
8ill Engelhardt: No. It isn't going to happen.
Ed Oat hour: My name is F.d Oat hour. I live at 3940 Hawthorne Clrcle. Because
we have an engineer speaking ~O)light I'd like to say that I'm a registered
architect and I worked for Target for nlost of the last 4 years and I've done ~7
~.imes more asphalt work in that time working for Target than this road amounts
to. I've walked the road for 5 years maybe 200-300 tlmes. I drlve it at
minimum twice a day. There are some areas on there that have some foundation
problems. They're not very many. They're far apart. One of the thlngs that
Bill just got done saying was that the addition of a curb and gutter on the side
of the road ls golng to slow people down. I don't know. Okay, if thls le true
in other parts of the world, when you take that road that you have to travel 30
mph on whether it's the speed 11mlt or not because you can't go any fa~ter than
that and make it into a smooth, rolllng thing with no trees on either side, I
think you're going to see the trafflc speed go up to 40-45 mph. ! have serlous
doubts about the safety of our children and that goes on. But the reason that
14
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
I came here today was not to talk necessarily about those things. Obviously I'm
opposed to this road and the reasons that I oppose it, first of all is the cost
is too high. Or maybe safety is the first reason but let's go into cost first
because that's what has been discussed by Bill Quite often. We have a road to
the east of us. We have a road to the west of us. TH 41 and Rolling Acres.
Both of those are fine roads. They go between TH 5 and TH 7. The road that we
have here goes through a neighborhood. It's a different kind of a road. It's a
different kind of a feeling in that particular area than these other two roads
are whlch by the way qulte a blt faster roads. Zn case you have been out there,
there's just as many joggers and bikers and kids on this road as there are cars.
You can't drlve it in the mornlng or at night without seelng at least 2 or 3
joggers or walkers or kids on bikes. My suggestion is that even though I'll get
booed out for thls, I do believe that we do need to put a parkway walkway system
in there. We have no park in the area. The kids need it. The adults need it
but we don't need the road to be upgraded the way we're talking about. Yes, we
need to have the catch basins. They have to be raised in some cases. There are
great potholes but where in Minnesota aren't there potholes. But we need to
keep the road at 30 mph and I believe the way to do that is not to turn it into
a speedway. I know that there's nobody in this room that really belleves Mr.
Englehardt's contention that this road is going to stay 30 mph. The signs will
say 30 mph and it will be a blg revenue producer for the city but I'm afrald we
might lose a kid or two out there or an adult becausg I've seen 15 or 20 times a
gentleman walking down that road wlth a long white cane with a red tlp on the
end of it. I know that a situation exists that needs to be corrected and I
belleve that that's the situation. The next ltem ls the traffic study was
talked about at the meeting that Mr. Wing attended. The public meeting Mr. Wing
attended. I belleve that somebody said that the average residence in there was
going to generate 10 trips a day but the traffic study didn't bear that out. As
a matter of fact it was about 3 trlps a day. So what we're deallng with here is
figures that are taken completely out of context by an engineer who I have a
great deal of falth in but I know that he's just using numbers that have no
basis in fact. At least in our area. The reason that they don't is because
these numbers were generated during the time when gasollne was 17 cents a gallon
and people didn't live 20 miles from the grocery store. We don't do business
11ke that. When we go to the grocery store we spend tlme at the grocery store,
the supermarket, the Target and everyplace else we go to. Then we take the
whole thing in one trip lnstead of dolng it 11ke people who live in the clty do
in 10 trips. Last item I guess is, that's why I oppose construction. Thank you
very much.
Lamar Proshek: My name is Lamar Proshek. I live on Red Cedar Point Drive and I
have some concerns that have been voiced by many others before me tonight. My
main concerns are that we are going to be addressed with a lot of new trafflc in
the area and we can avoid that. The other concern is that we're gotng to be
addressed by a lot of additional taxes, money that we don't need. Now !
appreciate the fact that you say that you're going to float some bonds and going
to increase the taxes and you're going to limit those taxes to 8 years. Then
you're going to get State help. State Aid. Where does that money come from?
From the State? Is anybody here in doubt? Now I appreciate the fact that you
have put a lot of time and thought and effort on this project and I feel that
this road whlch we're talklng about has been there for many, many decades. It
has served the local area very well and I personally don't think that we should
look that it should serve other people in this State or thls city more than it
15
Council Heeling - July 8, 199I
serves us. Now I wrote you a letter and I would like to just read it because I
think this kind of outlinr~.s my thoughts. I would heathy like to register my
pronounced opposition to the proposal to improve Minnewashta Parkway from TH ?
to TH 5 at a cost of 3 million dollars. Now I appreciate the fact that it's
been $2.1 million and...and I would suggest that by the time it's built, it
probably could be much higher. In fact I would register my disapproval to
improve this road at all except for maintenance only of irregular surfaces such
as potholes. Curb, water, sewer and gutter and improved surfaces costing 3
million dollars is a matter for' city living, not country living. I live on Red
Cedar Point and before me my father had a cabin on Red Cedar' Point since 1935.
We'd like to maintain for as long as possible the feeling of country living. We
feel that if you straighten out, widen and smooth off Minnewashta Parkway, you
will vastly increase the amount of speed of traffic on this road and bring the
city [o the country. In addition to this I realize that $3 million is quite a
bit of money and all people who live in this area would be assessed a portion of
this money. I would like to bring to yoLtr attention that our taxes have just
been raised 30~. The additional taxes which we would be required to pay I
consider unconscionable. Please leave our community adjacent to Minnewashta
Parkway countrified and not citified. Thank you.
Dave Headla: Ny name is Dave Headla. I live at 6870 Minnewashta Parkway.
I guess Z'm one of the yes mar,. This may be the first one but I ask you do not
look at the idea of what we were iii 1970 but look ahead to the year 2000 and
where we're going to be. Now the reason I support what you're doing and B~ll
and :[ certainly aren't in agreeme~]t on all the issues but I think the concept
I've got to support. Safety is the ultimate point. ~nd one of the things was,
about a week ago we had a rai~,. I went down my driveway and looked across the
road and here was a kid, 9 year old boy sitting in the gutter playing in the
rain. The water was coming down. He was having a good time. Now that's a
narrow section and cars haul through there. That kid could have been picked off
so easy. I think if we put in that road and I have a hard time accepting 32
feet but if we argue about that we're going to be wringing our hands and never
get anything resolved. So it's kind of can hang you with a new rope and we go
32 feet. I think we've got to have that safety and where Bill has looked at it
again, now I'd like to compliment the Hayer on the letter. 14e responded to me.
He gave me some facts. That $24,000.00 that we donated to the trail fund, in my
own mind I thought it ~as about 4 times that much. ~nd then Bill was very
helpful and the staff in giving me numbers so ~ appreciate their cooperation.
Now we walked down the trail and trees are going to come out from either side
so that didn't make a point. But he was willing to listen that out of 265 units
on the north side of Kings Road, only about lO are on the east side of the road.
He llstened to that and then he looked at the trees and what it meant and he
said well maybe; that does make sense to do that so Z think he is putting forth a
real effort to do the rlght thlng to satlsfy a lot of people. So many homes on
that side, picking up a scl~ool bus or anything, T think it's by f~r the safest
thing to do. As far as the road speed, I've got two comments. I talked to
somebody on Birch Bluff Road and I asked them does the speeed, did the speed
increase, decrease or stay the same after they put in the 9 ton road. They said
that's not a fair question. I go out there at 40 mph, I'm holding up traffic.
So we may have that problem. So okay, we've got a problem. I t hlnk the lssue
is how do we work that problem. Now as you come off of TH 5 or TH ?, if you
come off of TH 7 onto TH 5, you see a speed limlt 30 but you also see two slgns.
Oth~;r signs on that post. What Z really would like to do is have you work the
16
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
issue. Put up one sign and say speed limit reduced, 30 mph. Do the same thing
at the other end but then inbetween, at Kings Road or someplace put two more. 30
mph signs. Now all the way inbetween, you come out Red Cedar Point Road and you
come out of Stratford Ridge, you don't see anything so I think we need more
warnlng on that. And as far as the traffic count, I was really in disagreement
with 8ill on that but I started in front of my place looking at Stratford Ridge.
Oh there was trafflc comlng out of there all the tlme and that's not agalnst
him. That's the way it is. Then I look at when our place goes and our
neighbor's place goes and I look at, I assume the same home count will have the
same traffic. There's going to be a lot of traffic on that road. So here again
I hate to do it but rather than wringing our hands I think we've got to support
that. Okay now the two issues that I'm really concerned about, outside of
safety is one ls determination of the number of unlts. I don't think there's a
consistent rule across the overall path. And 8111 and I talked about lt. What
I would really 11ke to see you do ls if I plot my land, then I get assessed for
every single unit that goes in there. My neighbors have to do that. They get
assessed at that tlme. Llkewlse neighbors to the north. If they squeak in
another lot, and that can be done in some places, they ought to get hit with the
same assessment. ! really would like to see you address that lssue. Whoever
plots it, whatever goes in, that's when they get assessed. Now if I get hit and
the estlmate right now ls for 17 unlts, let me address the 17 unlts flrst. In
front of my place it isn't realistic to bui'ld another home. In the back of my
place I've got many oak trees, many old maple trees and determination of that
number of units wasn't taken into consideration. When a building, a builder's
looked at our place and he's klnd of given an estimate of what he's done. They
never talk about trashing your home. They say hey, that's too valuable. We
can't trash that. They also want to save all those trees. Supposedly he wants
to save trees. Well, we're not going to save trees and come up with 17 units.
It lsn't bare pralrle land where lt's rows and columns. My nelghbor has a
ravine behind her place. That's just unbuildable but she gets hit for that spot
there so I'd like to see your decision making based on the number of unlts that
get plotted. Now the last point is that right now I'm assessed one unit and
I have no problem at all wlth that assessment. You know remember safety. One
kid gets picked off, then you think about your ,1,250.00 bucks and I think we
need lt. There's that much traffic. If I get hlt for one lot now or one
assessment, I would like to see this one assessment and not have to pay interest
on the other 16. Now what happens if I had to pay lnterest on that 16, although
nobody in my place is using it. Just our family's there. You're costing me
over *200.00 a month and I just don't think that's rlght that I would have to
pay ,200.00 a month when nobody's using it and hopefully they won't be using it
for quite a while in the future. That's all I have to say. You've got a tough,
very tough decision to make. Good luck.
Mayor Chmiel: Is there anyone else?
Terry Forbord: Your honor, members of the City Council. My name is Terry
Forbord wlth Lundgren Brothers. 935 East Wayzata Blvd.. Prior to any informal
or formal public hearings ue have gone on record opposing this project for a
number of reasons. Since that tlme the formulas for assessments have been
changed. Lundgren Bros. controls approximately 50-55 acres of land contiguous
to Minnewashta Parkway. A portion of that property ls in the city of Victoria.
The reason that we have opposed this project primarily is number one, there's no
beneflt to us as far as lt's marketability as a neighborhood community. People
17
City Council Meeting - .luly 8, L99~
will want to live there whether that road is the way that it is now or if you do
something different, wif. h it. Secondly is because we've had little difficulty
making the assessment formula, the proposed assessment formulas work within the
city's own zoning ordinance. The piece of property that we have right at this
present time could not be platted at more than 1.4839 dwelllng units per acre
because of this city's shoreland overlay districts, zoning code and because of
the constraints the DNR, etc.. ~nd from a legal standpoint, I would challenge
whether ue could be assessed something for what the ordinance would prohibit us
from doing. ~nd there was discussion by Mr. Engelhardt that some adjustments
may be needed in certain areas. In that area north of, excuse me, west of
Minnewashta Parkway there are a number of pieces of property that ~ don't think
would meet that test. Z don't know how you would put together an adjustment but
at some point in time that's something we would need to investigate. The last
item that Z would tike to mention is that we have not been contacted by either
Victoria or the City of Chanhassen regarding any land swap on property that we
control and if there is discussion regarding that, we would like to be a party
to that and would welcome lt. Thank you.
Mayor Chmiel: Thank you. Why don't you come on up.
Tom Allenburg: Mr. Mayor, Councll people. My name ls Tom Allenburg. I 1lye at
6~21 Minnewasht~ Parkway and some of the presentations were quite good and quite
formal and people had prepared. I really haven't. I would chastlse one thlng
~hat occurred tonlght. I think Mr. Bill Engelhardt is it? ~ think his verbal
presentation was excellent. I t hlnk hls audio vlsuals were extremely poor and I
don't think that anybody here has any idea really what he was talking about.
Maybe you're not aware that thls cannot be seen on the screen and I don't thlnk
it's fair to us who have some legitimate concerns as to what's going on here.
I am a jogger. I've lived on that parkway now for ~ years and a couple things
that I enjoy are early in the morning I can jog from my place, 1.2 miles down to
TH 5 and back and often not see another car. I do not quite understand why we
want to upgrade this from a rural road to an urban road to make it a collector
road so that I can now maybe jog along a pathway next to additional cars that
are coming from other areas. I thought one other issue that he raised concerned
me, or maybe he didn't raise. The one gentleman who was going to lose his 6
trees in hls front yard. One thing that ~ really enjoy in walking the parkway
ls that Lhere are these nlce trees that overhang the road both on Mlnnewashta
lakeshore side ~nd on his slde of the road there. It was brought out that the
road's golng to be expanded ~ lnches on each slde. ~ee in front of my house the
road is 25 feet so it's going to be considerably more than that. Plus I think
we have to, and my understanding at the last meetlng is that there's an
additional 11 feet with the walkway. Is that not right? So there's a boulevard
and then the walkway?
Bill Engelhardt: Right.
Tom A11enburg: So lt's not a 32 foot swath. So when I jog down thls road lt's
not that ~ went from a 28 foot to a 32 foot. Z am now going on a what, 44 foot?
Bill Engelhardt: No. That's not correct. You still have a roadway of 32 feet
plus the additional 6 feet of walkway on the outside of the curb.
Tom A11enburg: Plus a boulevard though?
18
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Bill Engelhardt: About a 3 foot boulevard, yeah.
Tom Allenburg: Well now wait a minute now. You told us last time 5 foot so
I've got 32 feet, I've 5 feet and I've got 6 feet.
8ill Engelhardt: That's right.
Tom Allenburg: So I've got 11 feet outside of my 33 feet so that's 44 feet. Now
if ue want real safety you know we could make it 66 feet or something. I really
thlnk that 11vlng on the parkway, gee whiz the reason we bought there it that it
was rural and it was not a ma3or thoroughfare and yeah, I think the road needs
to be improved. I don't understand why it has to be wider and I don't
understand taking this giant swath out of the entire neighborhood. In summary I
guess I'm really opposed to this plan. I really think there should be
additional information that could be gathered and maybe additional plans that
would be presented to the people. I was at the last meeting and it was my
understanding that a survey was going to be sent to the residents asking them
varlous questions. I don't think anythlng like that showed up. The only thlng
that showed up ls this meeting notice saying that this was going to take place
tonight. So I guess I would really 11ke to see you reconsider thls and at this
point not approve the proposal as presented to you. Thank you.
Rich Comer: I'm Rich Comer and I live at 3800 Red Cedar Point Drive. We've
been there for about 40 years. My wife was born on the place and her family got
it from the orlginal lndlans from the Civll War and they've been there ever
since. There are a few 11ttle points here. Mr. Allenburg said that it was 28
feet wide in front of bls house?
Mayor Chmiel: There are two different variations on that road. Some 28 feet
and some at 25.
Rich Comer: True. When you take a measuring stick and you go from the middle
of the road to the edge you get 26 feet most of the way and on occasion you get
to 27 so if he goes to 35 or 32, we'll have the 6 feet that Bare Headla wants as
a walkway rlght next to the road. And with this sufficient speed limit, you
won't have to worry about 11ttle kld playing in the rain if he's in that
walkway. If he's not in the walkway heaven help him because there's no way
we're going to protect hlm. I'm the one who sort of developed the idea of
having an overlay. I think it's a grand idea and you hear things about Goodyear
has developed a mat that goes on top of the roadway and you just put the asphalt
on top and it lasts for a million years. Where are we with that? What happened
to that? I'd 11ke to ask you Bi11.
Bill Engelhardt: It's good advertising. From what we've seen, the mats or the
fabrlcs that they've used work the best underneath the base or underneath the
rock material to separate the fines from getting up in the base. To just put
the fabrlc as you see in the Phllllps 66 commercial, they're laylng down the
fabric and they're putting a bituminous overlay on the top. It works very good
in the south where they don't have any freeze/thaw cycles.
Rich Comer: We happened to see it being done on TH 7 for the last 18 years.
They went from St. Louls Park all the way out.
19
City Council lteeting -. 3uly 8, 1991
Bill Engelhardt: They just put an overlay on that though.
Rich Comer: Exactly. find it's holding up beautifully.
Bill Engelhardt: And they mill it off and then they put their overlay on and
the reason they mill it is to keep it at the same elevation...
Rich Comer: And the relative cost of doing that scoring and putting on the
overlay is way out of slght on the $3 million right?
Bill Engelhardt: No.
Rich Comer: It's within reach?
Bill Engelhardt: The problem is that the subsoils in that particular area.
Rich Comer: Whoops. Whoops. We have a stable road base.
Bill Engelhardt: No.
Rich Comer: It's been there for over 100 years and you flnd a place in there
where it's 14 inches of bituminous that makes it irregular? Wouldn't it be
justifiable to go down that road and where it ls not standard, replace lt.
Leave the rest of it alone because we all know if you lift it up and start over,
you're golng to have a crown that's golng to drop 14 lnches over the next 15
years. An inch a year. That's the way it goes. So you're going to have an
unstable road base if you put the 3 m1111on dollars ln. If you put an overlay
on, you'll have a stable base with the exception of where you have the drainage
problems. And I 11ks thls letter from Don Ashuorth where it says he doesn't
like the idea of an overlay because bituminous overlay would not improve
intersections, slght 11nes and storm drainage problems currently belng
experienced. I think the ideal for a storm drainage is wherever that drop of
rain hlts, it gets to an absorbing soll as qulckly as it posslbly can. That ls
crown the road so it gets to the gutter and is off in 13 feet and forget about
the storm. Now you say DOT requires lt. We could finance thls thing without
DOT if we simply have an overlay and eliminate the storm sewer and the gutters.
We've got dltches. That plcture you had up there was ridiculous. A roadway in
the gutter? We've got ditches all the way along that road. It's going to drain
off just as soon as it leaves that hard surface and I thlnk that ue should
eliminate the gutters and the storm sewers. As far as this package, you've got
$600,000.00. $6&5,000.00 from us. $994,000.00 from the State. Let's let the
State, forget about that. We'll try to carry it ourselves. How dld we get in
thls mess huh? You know what happened? We dldn't do the maintenance on a
regular scheduled basis. We didn't put down the sand and the tar that's
occasionally put on. It used to be before the Vlllage took over. In fact just
before they put in the sewer, they had a sealcoat put on and then proceed to
tear it up. But if we had had a maintenance schedule all thls perlod that would
be absorbed, there wouldn't be this problem. I thlnk that the thing should be
corrected on a maintenance basls wlthout havlng any additional assessment.
Thanks for your trouble.
Court MacFarlane: Hr. Hayor, my name is Court HacFarlane. I live at 3800
Leslee Curve and I have just three points that I wanted to raise. The current
2O
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
drainage off of the road is basically by sheet drainage and rather than going
into specific areas. I know there's one area off of Leslee Curve that dralns
down across the road but that was upgraded just I thlnk last year and they
improved the whole drainage through that area down into Minnewashta. But
basically the rest of it lsa sheet drainage-system that just goes off the road
at a point that the rain hits and it's off the crown and most of it goes toward
the lake side. Now you have a very mature slope along there and when I was
involved with the environmental committee that wrote the wetland ordinance for
the City of Chanhassen in 1984 we looked 1nrc the various types of wetlands in
Chanhassen. One of the things that came out at that time is along the Minnesota
Rlver there ls what they call an environmental slope easement along there
because it's a steep slope. It's a very mature growth area with a lot of old
growth trees. If you go along Minnewashta Parkway you're going to see those old
growth trees on the lake side. Most of them are oaks and oaks are notorious for
when thelr roots are disturbed or compacted that they die withln a year or two.
I know some of those trees have got to be 200 years old. All you have to do is
look at them from the slze. They created that slope easement along the
Minnesota River to preserve that slope so no building could be done and no
excavation could be done 1nrc lt. I think something like that is certainly
warranted along there too because of the age. The other thing is that I live in
the pleasant Acres Association and we basically have a clrcular drlve and in the
middle of our development there and I don't know how many homes altogether there
are. There's got to be 50 to 70 plus another 30 that are coming in from the new
development that's in there. The lots have already been platted. I think
there's only been two homes built in there at thls polnt but I don't know who's
going to be using this trail. I don't think people from our area are going to
be uslng lt. I know lt's used. Not from our area. People in our area walk
around Leslee Curve. They walk around in there. Some go down to the lake.
Certainly. We have a lake lot down there. It's a crosslng point but very few,
if any walk the entire parkway. I think the whole project is unwarranted and I
thlnk that something could be done just with upgrading the road. I don't know
that we need the trail at a11. I'm opposed to it and I'm opposed to completely
new road surface. Thank you.
Mayor Chmiel: Anyone else7
Arnie Head: Mayor. Councilmen. My name ls Arnle Head. I 1lye at 3860 Lone
Cedar Circle and Court who was up here just before me, we were on the access to
Lake Mlnnewashta. I chalred that committee and I thlnk we probably provlded
more safety on Mlnnewashta Parkway with the decisions that we worked out with
the DNR when we eliminated the parklng of boats and trailers on Minnewashta
Parkway about 5 years ago. There are ways to protect safety without building
this new road. I thlnk there's another item that the Director of the Arboretum
has been in negotiations with your people to determine what they can do to
protect the environment of the Arboretum. I thlnk that might be taken 1nrc
consideration. There's a third thing that I've noticed in the Minnetonka,
St. Louls Park, other cltles on the west slde. There's always access to the
city on east/west highways. Every city seems to want north/south egress. Well
in Chanhassen we have TH 101, CR 17, CR 117 and TH 41 and we also have Rolllng
Acres Road. That's five north/south so we don't need Minnewashta Parkway to
carry more trafflc. My wife would shoot me I guess but I got a letter Frlday
that I'm being requested to go to the Soviet Union to explain democracy to the
collective farms in Istonia. Maybe we can use democracy here and have a vote as
21
City Council Meeting -- July 8, 1991
to how many property owners out of the 532 approve this enhancement of
Minnewashta Parkway.
Mayor Chmiel: Is there anyone else?
Resident: I just have a question. How many of you have really been on
Minnewashta Parkway to look at all the homes that are golng to be affected by
this?
Mayor Chmlel: I've been there many times.
Councilman Workman: All my life.
Mayor Chmiel: No question. Yes sir.
Kevin Cuddihy: Kevin Cuddihy, 3900 Stratford Ridge. I guess the people that
drlve a lot. I don't know. Zt's my neighbors belleve me. Just a couple of
quick questions before Z comment. Bi11, MnOot, correct me Lf I'm wrong, has
approved a 119ht going in on TH ? and Minneuashta Parkway?
Bill Engelhardt: That's correct.
Kevln Cuddlhy: And what year wlll that be golng in?
Bill Engelhardt: I think 1995 is scheduled for TH 7 and 1994 is scheduled for
Tit 5.
Kevin Cuddihy: Yeah, I think that was talked about at our previous meetings.
At that polnt I see it being very unrealistic that if nothing's been done wlth
Hinnewashta Parkway that something wlll be done at that polnt. At that polnt is
it possibZe that HnDot may have more to say than it does currently?
Bill Engelhardt: It's possible, yeah.
Kevin Cuddihy: So I would think that we look at that only in the sense that if
there ls an inevitability about thls, that we look at it now. I moved here from
Minnetonka. Before that moved out from closer into the city. I continue to
move out so Z certainly can understand country versus urban. Unfortunately, if
you look at the plans being involved right now for the City of Victoria, you can
see that that's becomlng extremely suburbanized rlght now ltself. Something
even further west than where we're at. I appreciate the fact that everyone
would 11ke to keep it more countrified. I guess I would 11ke to add that there
seems to be some concern certainly, my co,cern that Minneuashta is a parkway.
We'd 11ke to keep it a parkway. That we're deallng ulth the 32 foot curb to
curb road on a 66 foot right--of-way which would leave us somewhere in the
neighborhood, if my math ls correct, uhlch probably lsn't, about 34 feet to work
with in developing a jogging path or ualklng path. Nhate~er you'd like to call
it. And the particular area that would remaln grass between the road and the
walkway could at any point be up to ~8 feet apart from the road. That's only 18
feet to avoid any major trees along the parkway, particularly on the furthest
west part of the road. I thlnk that way at some point your walkway may be a
m&nimum of 5 feet away. Could it not also be as much as 12 to 16 feet away and
leaveing trees inbetueen?
22
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Bill Engelhardt: Right. With the type of walkway we're proposing, we can go
around large trees. As I mentioned earlier, in case~ where we mlght have to
bulld a small retaining wall, that can be done to save the tree. Depending on
the type of tree. You have a lot of flexibility on where to put that walkway
and how it can work.
Kevin Cuddihy: I guess finally if, and I personally belleve in inevitability
because I've seen it in the State of Minnesota in my 35 years here. I also
belleve that Governor Carlson in hls many flne ways probably wlll not be glvlng
us as much State Aid $ years from now as he is today and I can guarandamtee you
lt's golng to cost you more 5 years from now than it is today and it may not be
your choice. So I may not be popular but I think it's something to think about.
Thank you.
Mayor Chmiel: Thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to address us? This is
your opportunity.
Lowell Carlson: Lowell Carlson, 4141 Kings Road. On these walking paths, for
instance the curb and gutter, are they going to sweep that? Get a sweeper to
sweep that or Bobcat to clean up the walklng path instead of making it one level
and when they plow the road they plow the one time and it's all done? What's
the status on that particular case? I mean have they got to buy extra equipment
to maintain this thing or whatever's going to happen with this? If it's one
level, they plow her and sweep her or whatever and flx the road and whatever to
make it a little wider. Whatever form but the maintenance cost on that thing is
golng to look somebody in the eye pretty soon. Thank you. Oh, one other thlng
was on per acre lots, what did he say 1.8 now assessed for this road? Does
Chanhassen have a 2 acre mlnlmal buildlng lot deal rlght now do they? You've
got to be at least 2 acres per home. Or is it now down to 1.87
Mayor Chmiel: Depending upon specific areas. Paul, maybe you can address that.
Paul Krauss: That entire area is guided for single family development and while
lt's not all zoned RSF I don't belleve at thls ttme, it all could be and it all
could be developed in 15,000 square foot lots.
Lowell Carlson: Okay. So it still is a 2 acre per unit? So it's 1.8 now?
Bill Engelhardt: 3 per acre.
Paul Krauss: It's actually more than that if you figure it on a gross basis. I
mean if you just take an acre you can almost get 3 lots out of it technically.
When you figure out what you're really going to get out of it when you subtract
roads and wetlands and whatever else, effectively you come out with a number
that's a lot closer to the 1.8 that's belng used.
Lowell Carlson: Say you ain't got no wet area and you ain't got no sewer and
water and you aln't got whatever. You've just got bare land. What are you
saying at that particular point what anybody's going to be assessed on this
property? Llke for the 6 acres or whatever. What do you say the assessments
are going to be on that particular unit? As a stngle family? Is this a single
family one shot deal or what do say on that now?
23
City Council lteeti~g -. July 8, 1991
Bill Engelhardt: What we're saying is that if you have 6 acres of developable
property where you'd be served with municipal sanitary sewer and water, that you
would be assessed 1.8 units per acre which would give you roughly two 24,000
square foot lots per' acre. The zoning standard for that particular area is at
15,000 square feet so you're basically getting a break. We're saying that you
can only develop 20,000 square foot lots when in reality you can probably get
15,000 or up to 3 units per acre. That's why ue originally started at the 3
unir. s or 3 lots. Three single family lots per acre and then after we looked at
it, realising the amount of wetlands that we have up there, subtracting out for
roads that you have to build to serve the property, it's closer to about 2.8.
Lowell Carlson: Well how many times is this thing really going to be changed by
tile [ime I get done? I was at the last meeting and I recall talking to you that
it was, and you saying that it was going to be strictly a single dwelling, per
person regardless of acreage. 6m I right?
Bill Engelhardt: I don't think I ever made that statement. I said that if you
have a dwelling on let's say 6 acres, you would be assessed the single family
unit plus the number of units you could get on the balance of that lot. On the
balance of that land.
Lowell Carlson: Well I must have got hard hearing on the tail end because I
didn't hear plus. The plus is what's kind of getting me a little...and I'm sure
the pluses are getting a few other ones. But thank you.
Mayor Chmiel: Thank you. 4nyone else?
Harvey Sobel: Mr. Mayor, it's been commented by various of us that perhaps you
of' the City ~ttorney can tell us within tile City Charter, is there a possibility
[hat we can, we 532 unit holders, can we vote to influence the decision of the
6ouncil?
Councilwoman Dimler: It'd be a referendum.
Mayor Chmiel: No, not really.
Councilman Mason: You can at election time.
Mayor Chmiel: During election you'd have your' opportunity to oust those who are
in office at that particular time by voting for the other person. That would
probably be.
Harvey Sobel: Could you just conduct a survey though rather than an official
election?
Mayor Chmiel: Yeah. Well, I suppose we could put a survey but we have right
now, if I remember' correctly of tile total numbers that I had seen on the back
end of here, it was 302, 307 total people.
Harvey Sobel: So it's 530 some units but it may not be that many people?
Mayor Chmiel: That's correct. I went over each of these names just to.
24
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Harvey Sobel: Are all of these units being affected equally regardless of
proximity to Minnewzshta Parkway?
Mayor Chmiel: That's correct.
Harvey Sobel: Some people who live on the far end of Leslee Curve right before
TH ? which probably use TH ? than Minneuashta Parkway, they still have to pay
the same?
Mayor Chmiel: Bill, is that what you've taken into consideration on that?
Bill Engelhardt: We discussed whether ue should assess the people close to TH 7
the full unlt and the conclusion that we came up with ls that they wlll use
Minnewashta Parkway just as readily as anybody else in the neighborhood. The
possibility exlsts, and I'll say it as a possibility, that access at I think
it's Leslee mlght be closed and the reason the possibility exists is because
lt's MnOot' pollcy when they improve thelr corridors, their highway corridors,
the major corridors like TH 7, that they try to close as many of those accesses
as possible. Now I'm not saylng that it will be closed. I'm saylng that lt's
their policy to try and close them. And if that's the case, then again
Minnewashta Parkway would be thelr only lngress and egress. I don't know when
that would happen. It would probably be way in the future. We felt that the
assessing everyone equally up in that area was the correct way to do it. Was
the most fair and equitable way for all parttes and that's the way we proposed
lt. I thlnk one thlng you have to keep in mind ls that the assessments that
you're seeing we probably won't get around to assessing it until 1992, payable
in 1993. So we're talking about 2 to 3 years down the road. The project
schedule, if the project were to go ahead tonight, we would not see a bidding on
the project untll late fall. You might see a minor amount of construction late
fall with completion of the project in 1992 and it may even go into 1993..I
doubt lt. I thlnk we'd be able to get it done in 1992. Assessment then in
1993. Payable in 1993. So your first payment on that $1,200.00 would not be
due untll 1993. The schedule for the lights on TH 7 and TN 5 ls 1994-1995 so
what we're doing is getting ready to accommodate some of the traffic that may be
uslng that road based on the 11ghts.
Resident: I guess I was also thinking of Lone Cedar Circle and West 7?th Street
where I think the bulk of thls project would...dlrectly out onto TH 5 and
occasionally out to Minneuashta Parkway.
Bill Engelhardt: Agaln we felt that because of the amount of the assessment
belng at $1,250.00. Nobody likes to be assessed. I've been in this business
long enough to know that and been through enough of these projects that nobody
likes assessments but if you can make them fair and equitable so that all
partles are being treated equally, that's about the best job you can do.
Resident: How about the utility lines. Will they be buried along with this?
Bill Engelhardt: That question came up. A resident along the parkway asked
about the utility lines. Usually in cases like this we encourage NSP to bury
their power 11nes. We certainly would be in touch with them. In most cases
when they see a major improvement like thls they will undertake the policy to go
ahead and bury those lines. The difficulty that you run up agalnst ls if you're
25
City Council Heeling - July 8, 1,991
being served off of these power lines by overhead power, then your home itself
has to be converted on the outside to underground and that can run from $400.00
to $300.00. Usually what happens is after that gets explained to the property
owner, they really don't want the power lines buried. But NSP may choose on
this particular roadway, thls lsa very good opportunity for them to take care
of their utilities. We will have to have poles moved and they may elect to bury
the power 11nes. We would be worklng wlth them and it would be part of the
deslgll phase of the project.
Resident: That all applies to the gas and the phone and water too?
Bill Engelhardt: Well the phone would be buried along with NSP. That's usually
the general practice. Gas I'm assuming ls burled at this polnt. I hope so
anyhow. Sewer and water I guess they're underground at this point too.
Resident: When you straighten out your curb, you may be bumplng lnto gas 11nes.
8ill Engelhardt: That's ali. part of the project cost and generally, in all
cases those utlllty companies are requlred to move because they're in the
rLght--of-way by permit. We basically demand that they relocate their 11nes to
accommodate the roadway at thelr expense.
Jo~n, Hallgren: I'm here again. Jo~nn Hallgren, 6860 Hinnewashta Parkway.
I know I've bombarded you wlth letters. I've sat here for almost 2 hours. I
really haven't heard a lot of approval of the project but listening to Mr.
Engelhardt, lt's going through. That's the way it seems to me and I don't know,
do we have any voice at all. All of us here.
Mayor Chmlel: Well, that's what we're trylng to determine this evening. Where
are we going to go from where we're at right now.
Jo~nn Hallgren: I didn't understand the purpose of this meetlng. Was it for
you to decide if we will go ahead with this project or just to accept Mr.
Engelhardt's study?
Mayor Chmiel: Well, if we were to accept his study, then we would proceed then
with the project.
JoAnn Hallgren: I did read the study. I feel that it's not valid. It's
inconsistent with itself in a number of areas and that's what I did say in my
letter for the Councll to revlew it carefully. Thank you.
Mayor Chmiel: Yes.
Ed Hasek: My name is Ed Hasek. I live at 6570 Kirkwood Circle. I'll be living
there for about 22 more days and then I'm moving to Shorewood. There's a couple
of reasons for that. I'm golng to start with a questlon and then I'll continue.
What is the assessment area for this project?
Bill Engelhardt: What is the assessment area?
Ed Hasek: Yes.
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
8ill Engelhardt: Right behind you.
Ed Hasek: It's just the area in blue?
Bill Engelhardt: That's right.
Ed Hasek: Does that mean that there won't be anybody else besides those people
who's going to use this trw11? Is that the presumption that's being made?
8ill Engelhardt: No.
Ed Hasek: I didn't think so. I moved here in 1982 and was at that time able to
job. I'm no longer able to do that but I used Mlnnewashta Parkway a lot. And
the thlng that scared me about Mlnnewashta Parkway is I used to push my daughter
and my son down the road with me and my wife has had a friend killed on
Minnewashta Parkway when she was in hlgh school. She's 11red in this area all
of her life. Her father was Roy Beherle of Roy's Live Bait and a lot of her
high school friends used to use Minnewashta Parkway as a raceway to and from
Leech's and the beer parties and so forth that used to happen out there. That's
since gone and the trafflc st111 has a tendency to drlve much too qulckly down
that road. The only thing that seems to deter traffic from speeding past Linden
Clrcle which ls about a block and a half off of TH 7 ls if occasionally there's
a cop parked up at the fire barn. It's very easy to try and sneak between cars,
take that corner and continue driving 50 mph until you get to a point where you
have to make a decision. If you'll look at some of the yards down there you'll
see that there are some people who haven't been able to make that decision quite
quickly enough. So I guess I've got a concern for those who are going to remain
about the traffic. Moved here in 1982. Saw a concern. Got involved. I was
appointed to the Park and Trail commission in 19877 In 1987 just before Todd
started I think, in an effort to do something about this. Within one year we
adopted a new trail plan that laid out for the city a citywide trail system and
it talked about the main corridors that should be addressed by the city for city
use. Not for Minnewashta Parkway use. Not for TH 101. Not for TH 5 but for
the whole city. And the anticipation was that the brunt of that construction
and that system would be paid for by the City. Over the course of the next year
or so we tried a couple of referendums which failed. One narrowly. The last
one a little more narrowly than the first I believe if I recollect correctly.
People felt all along that we were voting against the trail system when in fact
the trail system was in place. It's part of the comprehensive plan and as long
as I've lived here, I've lived here without the services of any kind of a park
system whatsoever. We have no trail. We have no local park. We're told
Cathcart Park is our park. That's bull. You can't get there. Part of what
your comprehensive plan says is parks are supposed to be accessible to the
people. No one can tell me that anybody that lives south of TH 5 can get to
either the Arboretum or Freeman Field, Cathcart Park, Minnewashta Park, any of
those parks safely. It can't be done. There ls just no way to accommodate
those people. This was all along anticipated to be part of a plan that would
connect the Arboretum to perhaps Cathcart if a signal went in. That would help
a lot. £ventually, hopefully to some of the other parks that are south of the
road around Minnewashta Parkway. Part of the whole clty system. What I don't
understand ls why 500 some units are being assessed for something that's really
in place as a part of a clty wide system 11ke Lake Ann. It just seems
unrealistic. We've pald park dedication fees. The newer homes since the trail
27
City Council Meeti~]g - July 8, 1991
dedication fee went in have paid that. We have seen nothing. All of our money
has gone into either parks that existed in other parts of the city or into newer
areas of town. It just seems to me like it's about time that those of you who
live in the center part of town begin to serve those of us who happen to live on
the other side of the lake. Thank you.
Resident: ...the sense of what people are for in this group. I have an idea
that, well you told us that we can't vote on it. That's why we hired or elected
you folks to vote for us on items like this. I don't want to put you on the
well whatever for tonight by asking how you lean. You know how we feel but I
would like when you do make up your minds, send us a letter how you voted on
this item please.
Hayor Chmiel: I'm sure you're going to see how we vote, if we vote on this
particular item.
Resident: We'd like to know.
Mayor- Chmiel: I'd just as soon take someone who's not had an opportunity.
Would you 11ke to come forward.
Greg Datillo: Hi, I'm Greg Datillo of 7201 Juniper Avenue. I've got a question
for Bill. 8i11, will the children be more safe with the proposed plan than they
are now on that road?
Bill Engelhardt: I have to say yes. Yes. Definitely. Anytime you provide
pedestrian ualkways, take the pedestrians off the roadway, the answer is yes.
Greg Datillo: We're missing a very important group of individuals at thls
meeting. You know what group I'm talking about?
Councilwoman Oimler: Kids.
Greg Datillo: Yeah that's right. I've got 3 kids and I don't let them go
on Minnewashta Parkway. You ask why? Because I love them. You've got to be
lnsane to thlnk that that road ls safe for klds. Or your grandklds. I mean
thls ls why I got this thing started in 1986 with all my neighbors. I went
around and got a petltion and come to the Clty Councll and say hey guys, tell us
what it's going to cost us to make it safe for' the people on that roadway. I've
asked the chlldren already. Not only mlne but other klds because I'm one of
those fathers that plays with the kids in the neighborhood. I tell them that
we've got a good chance of getting you off that road and they don't believe it.
They ask well when is it going to happen because they can't go to another
neighborhood because of that road. There's no way of getting from Red Cedar
Point Road down to another subdivision without getting on Suicide Road. There's
no way and you're not golng to let 11ttle kids, I mean 11ttle belng under 12
okay because it only takes two kids, two boys, two girls riding their bikes side
by side and what's golng to happen. There's golng to be a car that's going to
hit one of them. We just heard one a few years ago that got killed but here,
that ls what I believe the whole lssue has been lsa baslc safety lssue. I
understand we've got the joggers here that jog early in the morning at &:O0 when
there's no cars out there. But look at the klds. They're not up at 6:00. My
kids aren't up at 6:00. They're out at 9:00, 10:00 you know. They're out at
28
City Council Heeting - July 8, 1991
5:00 when everybody's coming home and that's the problem is to get the kids off
the road. Not the adults. Fine, if the adults want to get killed, that's the£r
problem but the klds, that's where the problem is. So the kids, I tell them
hopefully it's going to happen soon but we have a few people who are worried
about some trees, and I understand. I love trees but I love the kids more than
some trees. I hate to say that but that's the way I feel. We have some people
that just don't want change because well that's the way it used to be. Well, we
could still be throwing rocks at dinosaurs if we kept that. Right, or some
people. And some people don't want to pay anythlng even though for every dollar
we're paying, the City's giving us back $3.00. How many times have we heard in
our neighborhoods, the City's not doing nothing for us. All we do ls pay all
these high taxes. They're not giving us anything in return. Nothing, nothing,
nothing. Open your eyes. It's 30~ ls what we have to pay and that's a 70~
discount. I buy things at a 70~ discount if I don't even need it. Okay?
Mayor Chmiel: If we could give him the same attention that everyone else gave
you please.
Greg Datillo: I have two lots that I have to pay on so with most of you I've
got to pay double and I know there's some that have more but what I tell the
chlldren ls that your moms and dads or grammas and grampas have to realize, lt's
golng to change. The road's going to be upgraded and the question is, why don't
we enjoy it now and let the klds enjoy it now than 5 years from now when lt's
going to cost a lot more money because the City here, now Dave who's also been
worklng with the City. Everyone who's been working with the City here, ls klnd
of going more towards saying well let's do this because they're doing everything
they can to 11sten to what we're saying and everything we've asked for they have
given to us. 36 down to 32 foot and the assessment down to half. I just want
to thank the Mayor and the Counc11 and Bl11, I can't say anything wrong in how
they treated me or they haven't done anything against us. Believe me guys,
they're on our slde. They're not worklng against us and here, I'm sorry, but I
want the kids off that road. Thank you.
Laurie Gauer: I'm Laurie Gauer. I live at 3220 Lone Cedar and I agree with the
prevlous gentleman. I have two young children and I've tried pushing strollers
down the parkway and I just won't do it anymore. I know that there are plans
for a playground or park north of Lake St. Joe in the future and people are
golng to have to get from those neighborhoods down there somehow. Even if they
don't use the parkway now, their kids are going to have to use it so I don't
know about the road but I'm definitely in favor of the trail.
Kevin Cuddihy: I just wanted to add that at the community meetings that we had,
there was a possibility that because that park has not yet been built that we
could get some support from the park people for possibly reducing this
$1,250.00. Z don't know, dld you go back and talk to them? When I talked to
him he said he didn't know what he could give us but he mlght be able to give us
some cash for just the walklng path part of the construction.
Bill Engelhardt: I think what they found is that there was a $24,000.00 park
dedication out of that area which would basically be used to construct the park.
What we did is we went back and we were proposing that $477,000.00 worth of the
project be general obligation bonds whlch wlll go towards the cost of the trail.
So that's what we're proposing. That's how we brought it down.
City Council Meeting -- July 8, 1991
Mayor Chmiel: Thank you. Is there anyone else?
Ivan Underdahl: Ivan Underdahl, 7502 West ?7th Street. I guess the question
I had was there ever any consideration given just to providing a walking trail
without upgrading the highway itself to the extent that you've been talking
about?
Mayor Chmiel: Basically not to my knowledge. This was combined project with the
road as well as ulth the trail. Anyone else?
Resident: Would you elaborate on that question sir? Why not allow us to
consider just the walkway?
Mayor Chmiel: Because we're looking at the State Aid addition to this which
would offset some of those costs and that's what we had looked at at that
particular tlme. Anyone else? If not, can I have a motlon to close the publlc
hearing?
Councilman Workman moved, Councilman Mason seconded to close the public hearing.
All voted in favor and the motion carried. The public hearing was closed.
Mayor Chmiel: I'd like to probably just start out tonight a little bit on this.
I'm feeling a little less comfortable Ln seeing some of the opposition that's
here. Although I'm not seelng totally 307 people here thls evenlng. Z think
what I'd really like to do is to table this at this particular time to review
the entlrety of the Mlnutes and also to look and see some of the thlngs that
were discussed that can be addressed and to come up with a final conclusion.
There might be a few loose ends and I'd just as soon tlghten it up to see
exactly where this is going to go and what the bottom dollar is going to be.
Wlth that I would 11ke to make, I'd 11ke to table thls at thls particular tlme
but I will open this for additional comments from the Council. And I'll start
with Michael.
Councilman Mason: Well thank you Mr. Mayor.
Councilman Workman: Would you like a second for discussion?
Mayor Chmiel: Well we're still in discussion. I had the table on the floor.
We don't have to have a motion. Mike.
Councilman Mason: First of all, I live in Carver Beach which has had it's own
problems and I know Minnewashta has problems. I was standing up there
expressing displeasure 2 years ago when some lots were opened up that when
I bought where I bought was told that oh, they could never be built on. That it
would never happen. Well, lo and behold they were bullt on. So please I've
been on both sides here. I want to comment, I've heard integrity a couple of
tlmes and I'm really disturbed by that. Only that I hope people don't think
I lack integrity if I happen to disagree with you. I couldn't help but get the
feellng by some of the comments that if I chose to dlsagree ulth the members of
that particular community of Ch~nhassen, I therefore no longer had integrity.
If there are some people that feel that way, I guess I feel klnd of sorry for
them. I don't think integrity is an issue of agreeing or disagreeing. I guess
I see integrity as an honest oplnlon based on all the information that we have
3O
City Council Meeting - July 8, lS~I
received. Now I understand that there are 500 some units, 370 people involved.
I received about a dozen letters on this. Not all in disagreement but certainly
the vast majority. There have not been 372 people here tonight. Certainly the
people that are here, the majority of them are in disagreement with the project
but lt's by no means unanimous. I've heard speed mentioned, I've heard safety
mentioned. I have driven on Minnewashta Parkway prior to all this bruhaha.
I've driven on it even more slnce. I have gone 30 mph on it and I have had
people giving me the one finger salute behind me because of lt. I've had people
blinklng 11ghts at me. I've had people 5 feet off the tail of my car so I'm not
convinced that fixing up the road w111 increase the speed. I think the increase
ls already there and I thlnk if anythlng else we need to work more on
enforcement of that issue. In terms of safety, putting a white line on the side
of the road and telllng the klds you stay on that slde and the cars w111 stay on
the other side is at best specious. I do a lot of bike riding and it's been too
close too many tlmes and I thlnk I'm falrly responsible. A g year old walklng
along the side of a road is potentially a very dangerous thing. I heard
mentioned earller we need to address the needs of the community. I agree wlth
that. I agree with that 100~. We certainly need to look at the needs of the
residents of the Mlnnewashta area. We're also, all of us are in charge here of
running the city in the best way we think we can and unfortunately sometimes
there are major disagreements and we have publlc hearlngs to hopefully work
those things out. I guess I'd like, well that's pretty much all I had to say on
that. In terms of tabling Mr. Mayor, I guess I'd like to, before we reach a
decision on that I hope we have some more discussion on that.
Mayor Chmiel: Sure. Tom?
Councilman Workman: I guess to piggyback a little bit what Mike was saying.
couple of things that struck me very early, the idea of some sort of hidden
agenda by the Counc11. And then the gentleman who spoke very early pleaded, why
are we doing this to you. I don't quite understand that statement. This is a
difficult decislon for everybody. These lssues are about as difficult for thls
Council as a now built church in this town and when the cards are stacked
agalnst you and you've got a tough decision to make, lt's not pleasant and a lot
of the comments that were made are kind of tough to swallow when I could be home
watching the Simpsons or something. I don't understand how we associate country
11vlng with a cruddy road. It's a cruddy road and it was eloquently summed up
by the gentleman over here who sald you're gettlng 70~ off. I could not and
will not support an overlay and a trail. It's a waste of money. I've been on
thls Council long enough to see enough hlghway construction and hlghway
coalitions and transit boards and everything else to know that that is a waste
of money and lt's a band-aid and it mon't work. Mr. Hasek explained that we
have neglected that side of the lake. I think Richard Wing's election is
testimonial that they want some representation out there. Since Z've been on
the Council people have been asking me those same questions. When are you going
to get a park? When are you golng to get a trail out here? When are you going
to spend some money out here? This roadway has been on the top of the State Aid
list. Because of State Aid and because of those monles, ever slnce, since
before I've been on the Council, it couldn't come quick enough for the 6 dozen
people that Z've talked to that have wanted this. And now here it ls and I
really thlnk that a lot of the people who really want it probably stayed home.
But if we say, and 11vlng in the mlddle of town, and Z don't use the road
regularly. I do get out there. If we say to this roadway okay, let's take the
31
City Council Meeting - July B, i991
State Aid and move it somewhere else. What kind of a precedence do we set?
What's the next, Dave Hempel, maybe you know, What's the second road on the
list?
Ga'r'y Warren: Lyman Blvd.
Bill Engelhardt: Lyman Blvd.
Councilman Workman: Lyman Blvd. If that's the second worst road.
Resident: What road is that? We couldn't hear the number.
Councilman Workman: 18. Lyman Blvd..
Gary Warren: Lyman Blvd. and Lake Riley Blvd. to the east city limits.
Councilman Workman: If that's second worst road, we will not need State Aid
fundlng for 5 years because that road ls in good shape. But I go back to the
question, what does it matter to this Council whether get that road fixed or
not? I don't prefer to assess people. It's the worse declslon you can make or
ever have to make as a city councilmember so I guess I don't appreciate being
accused of some sort of act of vengence against a large group of people because
it's fun or it's something I prefer to do because I don't. We do have to look
at the entlre clty and if declde to do thls or we don't decide to do this, what
are tile repercussions and for that reason I think it's a good idea that we table
it some more and talk about it some more until we all feel comfortable.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay thank you. Richard.
Councilman Wing: Well I of course live out in the area and I came on this
Council wtth good faith and I think open and honest and sincere in my intent to
serve and to listen to the publlc. I respect the locals rlght to determine what
direction it's going to go and what we're going to do ill their neighborhood and
not to have something rammed down thelr throat but as I've sat here tonlght I've
felt like I'm suddenly not one of you. I felt like I'm suddenly not a neighbor
and a resldent of the community. I've felt 11ke I've been lectured and one
comment that particularly offended me was somebody to tell me that Pleasant
Acres doesn't use Minnewashta Parkway. I just so wholeheartedly dlsagree wlth
that because I live in Minnewashta Heights and we use it a lot and if our
nelghborhood's comlng over there to use lt, I just don't agree wlth you. Issues
of speed are opinion and not fact. Issue of traffic increase. They're opinions
and not fact and I'm not denylng that it may happen but I thlnk we deal wlth
those at the time. I think it's a good proposal. On the other hand, I wouldn't
sit here and p~sh this on you if a majorlty clearly doesn't want lt. What does
concern me tonight, the reason this hearing was originated. Council didn't
originate the hearlng. It was originated from neighbors who got together and
said we're concerned about our children. Mr. Headla expressed his concern and
Greg Oat111o and certainly myself. And others. And this was 2 and 4 years ago.
Safety was the issue. Safety was the reason that tile Council asked for the
feasibility study in the flrst place. I'm concerned that thls evenlng the lssue
of safety has not been discussed in depth. The co-use of the road by
recreational and trafflc use hasn't been discussed and I guess I support the
Mayor's proposal and his request that we table this. I'd further like to
32
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
request that we continue the public hearing to specifically discuss safety
related issues and options to resolve those same issues. I'd also like to
address the question that's been brought up by several to discuss the trail
specific request. I think it deserves to be addressed. I think if the area is
supportive of a trail or feels there's a need for a trail and specifically a
trail only, I'm not opposed to that. I think it's unfair that we don't address
that one specifically so I support your request to table this but I also request
that you discuss as part of the tabling process specifically the safety related
issues on this road.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay, thank you. Ursula.
Councilwoman Oimler: I wasn't in favor of closing the public hearing but I
didn't have any say so we have to call another public hearing obviously. Isn't
that the correct procedure?
Mayor Chmiel: We can still have people supply input if we so choose.
Councilwoman Dimler: Okay. I guess I'd like to ask Oave Hempel here on the
second page of the report. One of my concerns is safety and I agree with
the comments that have been made about the walkways and the chlldren but I also
have a concern on that intersection as it goes onto TH 5. If you're turning
towards the east, lt's a low intersection. It's a very, very difficult turn to
make, especially in times of heavy traffic to get in between the cars. And I
see on that page 2 of the report, in the thlrd paragraph, the very last
statement refers to MnOot's roadway schedule for November of 1994 and February
of 1995. It talks about reconstruction. Now does that mean that they're golng
to reconstruct those intersections on TH 7 and TH 5 regardless of what we do
with thls project?
Bill Engelhardt: Maybe I should. On the TH 5 intersection we will be doing
most of the work to bring that intersection up to grade under this project to
correct a lot of the slght dlstance problems. To correct the grade. To correct
alignment. When MnOot comes in and puts in their signals, they'll finish it
off. On the TH 7 slde, there the original proposal was to construct the roadway
in such a manner to build it to MnOot's future proposal with a cooperative
agreement and cost sharlng between the State and the City of Chanhassen.
Because it's a State Ald road, they will not do a cooperative cost sharing
agreement and the funds for State Aid could only be used to start the
realignment process and again get it to a point where MnOot could then take it
over and expend thelr own money. Not City money to fully improve the
intersection.
Councilwoman Dimler: Okay, so TH 5, that intersection will not be done unless
we implement the project. Is that what you're saying?
Bill Engelhardt: No. They're going to do their project no matter what.
Councilwoman Oimler: They will elevate that?
Bill Engelhardt: Yeah.
33
City Council Heeting - July 8, 1991
Councilwoman Dimler: Okay. That's what I wanted to know. Thank you. Okay,
I guess I have a lot of thoughts on this project and I think a lot of the points
that have been raised both by the neighbors and by the engineers are valid and I
think some of them are invalid. I think the neighborhood has done it's homework
and I really compliment the engineer for having taken into consideration all of
the neighborhood's concern. I think they did an excellent job. I think the
point that many of you have received a huge increase in property valuations
which will translate into higher taxes, property taxes unless ue cut our budget
and services which we are not likely to do. So I think at that point a special
assessment may impose some unfair financial burdens at this time for some
families. I also have to say that I was a little bit offended by some of the
statements or the assumptions that I've already made up my mind because I
haven't. I do liste, to the neighborhood's concerns. I always have and have
taken that heavily into consideration. I received a letter from the Bower
family and I think in their letter they eloquently expressed a statement that
I believe to be true and I quote. It says I feel it would be a grave and
certainly inaccurate assumption on anyone's part that silence means agreement
and I think that is true. He of course was against the upgrade and he wants to
keep the peaceful serene pulse of the area and he indicates that there are many
others who believe as he does and I believe that's true seeing all of you here
tonight. Also I've heard from many who are walkers and joggers and they do not
favor the trail. I guess I was a little surprised about that. They feel that
everything is okay the way it is and also against the bituminous overlay because
of the fact, as Councilman Workman said, that it's a waste of money. I believe
that's true. Giver, those facts, and I have to say I appreciate Mr. Headla's and
Greg and Laurie's courage to get up here and speak in favor of the project when
there was obviously so many against it, but I still do feel that there is
probably a majority. Not a majority but there's a silent sector out there that
has not yet been heard and for that reason going along with the tabling, but I
would propose that ue would continue the public hearing or open another one,
whichever is the proper procedure at this time and that inbetween this hearing
and that particular one in the future, that we as a staff and Council would
survey the silent sector that has not been heard and we can do this through a
written survey and maybe even some door to door canvasing because I understand
some people will not a,swer a survey. I for one would like to get an accurate
assessment of where this neighborhood stands.
Mayor Chmiel: Amen. The only thing that I would like to just quickly address
is, I thlnk everyone has sald pretty much what I would have said. The City
Counc11 takes particular jobs as we do. We have to really determine what the
needs of the people are and we're not going to say this road is needed but I'm
saylng in other types of servlces that we have to provlde for you wlthln the
city. Whether it be shopping or whatever. But I look at the aspect of safety
and safety is the number one project with me. Z've drlven that road dozens upon
dozens upon dozens of Limes. At different tiloes of the day. Different times of
the evening. On weekends. Z've looked at that road and I thlnk Z can tell you
every crack and cranny that's on that particular road. I've watched people walk
wlth mothers, fathers, children, grandparents. All in bunches of 6 or ? people.
Taking up parts of that road. To me I have a concern with that. There is a
safety problem there. For those people because it lsa more traveled road. Zt
isn't going through some of the other residential areas where you don't get the
quite amour of trafflc. You may get it golng lnto it but when you spur off on
~he other roads you're not using it. Out here it ls used constantly. You get
34
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
up in the morning and it's probably very true. You start jogging. It probably,
or there are not as many cars as there normally would be. Try it at maybe 4:00
in the afternoon when the klds are st111 out. Up from their naps playing. Or
early morning when they're out, probably about 9:00-10:00. There's still a lot
of traffic coming in and out just because of the people working there. Golng to
and from work. Going to and from the stores. Or wherever they're going. So
safety really lsa glven problem. To save one 11re is worth something in
itself. Hopefully that's never going to happen within the area but there's
always that potential. Potentials are thlngs that always make me sit back and
really think about it. I would like to table this for 2 weeks and also for us
to review the Mlnutes of thls meeting.. Didst what everyone has said and pull
together as I said before. The total dollars. What we're talking about and the
different concerns that have been brought up thls evenlng. And each of those
items addressed. And then I would like to see this back on the 22nd of this
month and we will have it brlght and early on the agenda so we can at least
address those specifics. And if at that time there are some questions that some
people have, I will open the floor for that at that particular time.
Oon Ashworth: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Chmlel: Yes.
Don Ashworth: We could have it back on the 22nd. We would be ina positlon to
respond to some of the questions. We would also have the Minutes available for
distribution to the Counc11 on the July 19th whlch is our normal packet day but
between now and the 19th, to be able to do a survey and get it back, we would
not be able to do lt. So if you wanted to follow through with the survey
aspect, the first time we could consider this ~ould be August [3th.
Councilman Wing: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Chmiel: Yes.
Councilman Wing: As a resident of that community I use that road a lot and Rome
wasn't built in a day. The present Minnewashta Parkway is not impassable. I
don't belleve there's an emergency existing. The concern that the locals have a
right to control their destiny and their decision for that roadway and I would
have moved that we reject this proposal if it hadn't been for the safety lssues
which I don't feel have been addressed. For that reason I would like to support
Ursula's request that we formally do this survey. If there is a sllent
majority, perhaps there isn't, and I think that that would be worthwhile
postponing the meetlng until the end of August accordingly. I don't thlnk this
is a critical issue but I think those are questions that need answering so I
would move that we table. Also lnstruct staff to survey the community. The 300
when we were just looking at the 300 units or 300 residents?
Mayor Chmlel: 307.
Councilman Wlng: And delay the public hearing until such date as that's
completed.
Mayor Chmiel: Until August the 12th, rather than the 13th.
35
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Councilman Mason: I'm going to be out of town.
Hayor Chmiel: You're going to be lucky.
Councilman Mason: Well no. No.
Councilwom~n 01ruler: Could we have some £nput as to the questions that would be
on the survey?
Mayor Chmlel: Well Z think that would be something that we would have to
develop and make sure that it's not one sided as to the survey because you can
always develop a survey to make it do what you want it to do but we'll make sure
that doesn't happen.
Councilman Mason: I have some concerns about this survey thing and getting it
done in a month. Who's going to put the questions up? Hou's the survey, I mean
if thls survey ls golng to have any valldlty at all, lt's not just somebody
sitting down and writing 5 or 6 questions. Do you want the parkway or not. Why
or why not. And I thlnk are we opening up a can of worms here? I mean if we
clearly have I think certainly a representation of the community here tontght
and I'm not sure that golng door to door is golng to give us any different
indication of what's been represented here tonight. And I just wonder if we're
not doing the old uavlng swords at windmills here by dolng a survey.
Mayor Chmiel: I'll bring it back up for discussion.
Councilman Mason: I guess I'd just like to reiterate. We had a number of
people here expressing some very legitimate concerns and to drag this out
another 5 weeks, another month, another 6 weeks, I'm not sure what purpose it
would serve. I'll say more later I'm sure.
Councilman Wing: Mr. Mayor, do we have a safety issue, a matter of life and
death on this roadway? And as such I would like to somehow be able to identify
them and if that exlsts, how do we resolve that safety lssue?
Councilman Mason: I'd like to, if there are people walking on a 25 foot road in
groups of 6 or ?, ue have a safety lssue. There is no question in my mlnd that
there's a safety issue there.
Councilman Wing: But how do you resolve the safety issue? You may not
necessitate a 32 foot State MnOot mandated roadway.
Councilman Mason: It may not. You know I think we're coming, this is surely
but slowly s£fting down to two or three different issues here. There's the
trail. We can do that separately. If we want the State Aid money, we can't do
it separately. Am I correct in assuming that?
Bill Engelhardt: That's correct.
Councilman Mason: So if we just put the trail in now, 5 years from now as some
gentleman said previously, MnOot comes in and says, 32 foot? Baloney. We're
putting in a 36 foot roadway and you can't do a doggone thing about it. Now I
36
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
think there's something to be said for that. If we do wait 5 more years, it
will be more expensive and perhaps ue won't have the say that we have now.
Mayor Chmiel: Well on an average you're looking at a 5 year period at 10~ per
year. So it would raise that project 50~ more than what it exists now.
Councilman Mason: And with the possibility of not having any State Aid money at
that point. Is that an assumption that could be made or not?
Bill Engelhardt: You would have some I'm sure. What the amount would be is
difficult to say.
Councilman Workman: Mr. Mayor, I guess I'm not, I think I know what the result
of a survey is. I don't think we need to spend good money after bad.
Councilman Mason: Yeah, I agree with that.
Councilwoman Oimler: ...go door to door. I guess you know, in comment if we're
not going to go ahead with the survey, my bottom line here today ls that I say
those that pay have the say and these people have spoken so I would have to vote
agalnst it. So if that's the feeling.
Councilman Mason: So the safety issue is a moot point then?
Mayor Chmiel: Safety is an issue, there's no question...
Councilwoman Oimler: Yes, I've expressed my concerns over that but they're the
people that are golng to pay.
Mayor Chmiel: I agree.
Councilman Mason: They're the people, who's going to pay when a kid gets
killed? I'm sorry.
Councilwoman Dimler: That's sensationalizing. We had the same thing with
Frontier Trail.
Councilman Mason: You're right. I apologize.
Mayor Chmiel: Everybody goes through an assessment. When I moved into my home
they put in curb, gutter, sewer, water. My assessment I wish was $1,250.00. My
assessment at that time was $10,000.00 and thank God this is the last year I'm
paylng for it but, those are some of the things that we have to look at
unfortunately. And assessments are assessments are assessments. No one ltkes
them. No one wants it. I don't want it. I don't even want to impose it on you
nor does the rest of the Council but we have to Look at some of these issues. I
st111 suggest that we proceed with the July 22nd meeting as I said to revlew.
what's here and address the issues that have been discussed this evening and
come up with a conclusion. Either yes or no.
Councilwoman Dimler: Mr. Mayor, I think that we've done an adequate job in
answering each of thelr questions here today.
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Mayor Chmiel: I don't think so.
Councilwoman Oimler: Is there anyone here that feels there's still something,
besides the safety issue, that's still.
Mayor Chmiel: There's still some issues that were brought up in regard to some
of [he.
Councilman Mason: The assessment issue. And you're right, I sensationalized.
Sorry.
Councilman Wing: There hasn't been an accident on the parkway for the 25 years
that I've lived there, Personal injury accident.
Mayor Chmiel: But there was mention one was. Yes sir.
Resident: When you mentioned July 22nd, are you speaking a hearing type again
or just the Council?
Mayor Chmiel: We'll have discussion back at Council. Answer any questions and
after that if we so choose, and I w111 choose, to open the floor to get
additional comments. Not the same comments we discussed thls evenlng but any
additional comments that could be added to it.
Resident: Speaking of safety, I'd just like to offer accommodation and I don't
know if...but I think within tile past year or so as a result of some discussion,
there was a street 11ght put out at the intersection of Lone Cedar Clrcle and
TH 5 and that was the greatest improvement towards safety that I could imagine
because that was really a dangerous corner. That street 11ght has really been
great.
Mayor Chmiel: Thank you. I guess being that there's a 11ttle blt of thought
here, I would like to table this and I would like to get a motion on that.
Councilman Workman: I'd move if it hasn't presently been moved.
Mayo;' Chmiel: For the 22nd?
Councilman Workman: Yeah unless the neighborhood feels a survey of some sort.
They're very difficult to scientifically put together and unless we hire a
professional to do so, I don't think it would be very falr.
Mayor Chmiel: I agree.
Councilwoman Dimler: I think going door to door, talking to people. They're
honest with you.
Councilman Workman: I do not have the time to go to 300 doors. Not this week.
Sunday I'm free. But no, don't get that idea.
Mayor Chmiet: Everyone knows that our phone numbers are in the phone book and
I might suggest that if you so choose, you want to talk to your neighbors. Tell
them to give us a call.
38
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Councilman Workman: Mr. Mayor, one morning on Cheyenne me and Dave Hempel and
some of the city crew went out and met about 7:00 a.m.. Oave came early and
there's a dralnage problem there so we klnd of all went out there and slapped
the bugs and we looked at it. It ~as kind of nice and we talked to the
neighbors and looked at the problem. The problem got taken care of. Maybe we
should all go out and have donuts out there at about 8:00 or something:
Mayor Chmiel: I'd be willing to do it.
Councilwoman Oimler: That's what I'm talking about. Just get out there and
talk to them.
Councilman Workman: I don't want to knock on people's doors and get bit my
dogs.
Mayor Chmlel: Okay, we have a motion on the floor. Is there a second?
Councilman Mason: Second.
Councilman Workman moved, Councilman Nason seconded to table action on the
Hinnewashta Parkway Project 90-15 until 3uly 22, 1991. All voted in favor and
the motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Chmiel: We'll see you on the 22nd. Thank you for coming.
AWARD OF aIDS: CITY CENTER PARK I~PROV£MENT PRO3ECT NO. RA-J31,
Todd Hoffman: As noted, on June 24, 1991 the City Council approved the plans
and specifications and authorized advertising for bids on the Clty Center Park
Improvement Project. As the Council's aware, this project entails the
improvement and revitalization of the two existing play areas at the school and
City Center Park and the four existing tennis courts. As authorized,
advertisments for bids were placed and the resulting three bids were opened last
Tuesday morning. As shown, in the bid tabulation the bids ranged from a htgh of
$86,167.00 to a low of $62,465.00. The estlmate for the completion of the work
was $54,467.00. This difference of $7,997.00 can be accommodated in the
project's budget and it ls felt that the low bld ls acceptable. Alternate ~3 ls
also desireable to facilitate replacement of the bent tennis poles on two of the
courts. The contractor is available to begin work early next week if the go
ahead is given. The cumulation of much effort has brought the City to this
positlon of belng able to move forward wlth construction on this project.
Representing the work groups which contributed towards this project, I'm pleased
to recommend the City Councll award the City Center Park Improvement Project No.
RA-131 base bid and alternate bid number 3 to F£nley Brothers Enterprises in the
amount of $62,465.00 and $1,000.00 respectively. If there are any questions,
either myself or Scott Hari from Van Ooren-Hazard-Stalltngs wtll be available to
answer those.
Mayor Chmiel: Thank you. I've got a lot of questions. First question I have,
should we reject the bids and send out again for a better dollar figure?
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Scott Hari: Right now the low bldder ls probably one of the most responsible
c:ontractors working in the area and has demonstrated that the completion on a
portlon of the Lake Susan facilities over here and other projects that thls
contractor has done for the Clty. The work is so mixed up as far as being
abnormal in the type of work and the completion schedule and combining thls with
volunteer labor. The City doing some work and the City furnishing some
materials and the contractor installing lt. I guess in accepting responsibility
to the $8,000.00 difference between the low bid and the engineer's estimate.
It's very difficult to estimate well how a contractor would see this project
comlng forth and also with the amount of work that has been backlogged by a
number of contractors due to the wet weather, how they would view a very
stringent completion date because we need to get the whole thing completed by
the tlme school opens. And be substantially complete ulth most of the heavy
equipment running around on the site so there were a number of factors that were
hard to peg on thls thlng. But I would truly advise awardlng thls to this
contractor at this time.
Mayor Chmlel: Is there any way we can shave that $8,000.00? Well it's rounded.
The other thing I had in question, can we utilize our public works people to
offset some of the $8,000.00?
Todd Hoffman: We currently have done that in taking a look at the original
estimates. Shaving those back. Pulllng out some of the palntlng of the 11nes.
A number of items. Installing the north playground. The handicapped accessible
play structure wlll not be installed by a contractor. That wlll be installed by
the City. The border wood on the north playground is being purchased with the
CBDG money as ls currently in the process of being installed by the £agle Scout.
There have been a number of items that have been reduced, cut back. The
orlglnal lntent on the west or south slde was to purchase a substantial plece of
play equipment. That has been reduced back to $10,000.00 on the west side.
That could be cut out of the project but then agaln it was the orlglnal lntent
of the original project was to buy that equipment. Unfortunately some of the
slte preparation and improvements necessary at the 3 separate locations have
chewed up the bulk of the money available. So we've taken a look at it. We've
reduced it down and I'm brlnglng to you tonlght a very restricted and
responsible project.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay. Any other questions7
Councilman Mason: Why is it when these things happen, and I'm not questioning
the bld or what Flnley Brothers came up wlth or whatever but it always seems the
bids come in high.
Councilwoman Dlmler: Yes they do.
Councilman Mason: And that's really frustrating. I'm hearing what you're
saylng Scott and I basically agree with you but God that's frustrating. Here we
are supposed to be watching all the money and these things keep happening. I
wlsh there was, I just want to wave the maglc wand over all of thls and all of
these problems wouldn't come up.
Mayor Chmiel: Or brlng $10,000.00.
4O
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Councilman Mason: Yeah.
Todd Hoffman: Agaln, the $8,000.00 can be accommodated within the budgeted
amounts from all the line items for this project. Instead of having $18,000.00
or $19,000.00 worth of play equipment on the west side, we now have $10,000.00
because of that bid difference.
Mayor Chmiel: Oh okay. We have cut back the $8,000.00.
Todd Hoffman: But it still is a very competitive bid. We're very happy with
the work that Finley has done down at Lake Susan and would enjoy having them
back doing work for the City.
Counclluoman Dimler: What was the time line for this project?
Todd Hoffman: Substantial completion of the project by August 30th with the
handicapped accessible playground on the north lagging behtnd a couple of weeks
because of the complications which were pointed out in the report.
Councilwoman Dlmler: Okay, so you want thls done before school?
Mayor Chmlel: Before school starts.
Councilwoman Dlmler: There's no sense in delaylng lt.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay, any other discussion? If hearing none, can I have a
motlon?
Councilman Mason: I'll make the motion to award the bid to Finley Brothers for
City Center Park Improvement Project No. RA-[31.
Mayor Chmlel: In the amount of.
Councilman Mason: $62,465.00 and $1,000.00.
Councilman Workman: Second.
Resolution ¢91-64: Councilman Nason moved, Councilman Workman seconded to award
the bid and Alternate No. 3 to Finley Brothers Enterprises in the amount of
$62,645.00 and $1,000.00 respectively for the City Center Park Improvement
Project No. RA-131. A11 voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
ACCEPT UTILITIES IN LAKE SUSAN H~LL$ WEST FIFTH 'AODITION, PRO3ECT 90-16_,
Councilwoman Otmler: I so move.
Councilman Mason: Second.
Mayor Chmiel: Thank you Dave.
Councilman Mason: You moment of glory and it's gone.
Councilman Workman: It's a rather mundane item.
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Mayor Chmiel: I guess I want to just throw something in. I don't have any
problems with Joe Miller but I do with some of his contractors. I don't want
the City to be liable for anything if they're not done properly within that
particular area. We've had some problems with some homes because I've received
calls and I've gone out and I've looked. Some of those still have not been
corrected.
Dave Hempel: That's the whole purpose of taking this before the City Councll is
we've recently experienced some requests from developers. The mlnute they get
thelr plat flled to pull bulldlng permlts and they won't even have cleared any
trees yet. We'd like to put a policy in effect in our development contract
which clearly states the time for lssuance of bulldlng permlts. Lately we've
just had kind of a policy in-house here which has worked very well and
efficiently for us in the past. For keeping track of these projects where they
are at. This typically would have been under a consent item. However, they
were lagglng behlnd and in an effort to expedlte the issuance of bulldlng
permits out, they requested we put it on the City Council at thls time. I
personally did do inspection out there thls afternoon of the utlllty 11nee and
the sanitary sewer and watermain lines were acceptable. All the tests had been
performed and passed. However, some of the storm sewer improvements do require
some touch up and will be addressed in a letter to the contract to be addressed
within the next 30 days.
Mayor Chmlel: On those mylars and blue line copies, are those signed by a PE?
Dave Hempel: Professional engineer? Yes they are.
Councilwoman Dimler: Did you want to add another condition of approval then?
Dave Hempel: I think the conditions stated in here, that we add a condition
that the developer correct any punch 11st 1rems ls what they're generally called
within the next 30 days would be appropriate.
Mayor Chmlel: That would be item number 4. Okay, any other discussion?
hearing none, we have a motion on the floor with a second.
If
Councilwoman Dimler: With incorporating the fourth condition then?
Mayor Chmiel: Yes. To include.
Dave Hempel: Any outstanding punch list items.
Mayor Chmiel: Item number 4, someone will clarify that it is for Lake Susan
Hills West Fifth Addition Project 90-16 be approved contingent upon the
following 4 conditions. I won't read those but the additional condition added.
Resolution ~l-GS: Councilwoman Dimler moved, Councilman Mason seconded that
the final acceptance of utilities in the Lake Susan Hills West 5th Addition,
Project No. 90-16 be approved contingent upon the following:
1. Completion of all outstanding items resulting from staff's inspection during
the week of July 1, 1991.
42
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
2. The developer and/or contractor shall supply the City with a two-year
maintenance bond guaranteeing the workmanship and materials for two years
beyond the date of acceptance.
3. The developer shall supply the City with one set of mylar as-built plans
along wlth two sets of bluellne coples.
4. The developer correct any punch list items .ithin the next 30 days.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
AHENDHENT TO CONDITIONAL USE PERH~T TO.INSTALL A PORTABLE CHEHICAL TOILET DURING
THE SUNHER SEASON ON A RECREATIONAL BEACHLOT, OUTLOT B,_H:I:NNEWASHTA CREEK 2ND
ADDITION. HINNEWASHTA CREEK HOHEOWNERS ASSOCiATiON.
Paul Krauss: I'll try to be brief on this one. There's a lot of history on
this one. We've been looking at this request for almost exactly a year now. It
originally came in as a variance because the ordinance prohibited the
installation of chemical toilets. After a lot of consideration, the ordinance
was amended to allow them glven some certain standards that had to be met. An
application uas made and pursued. The Planning Commission reviewed this and
belleved that in conjunction with the staff recommendation that this request ls
consistent uith the new ordinance. The request basically conforms to the use
requirements established by the ordinance. Zt wlll be screened. It's behind a
large tree. There uill be screening attached to it. The setback standard from
the lake is met and other standards are complied with as well. The Plannlng
Commission did recommend approval of this request. They did however add a
condition concerning a pontoon boat at a dock that apparently ls there not in
keeping with the CUP approval. They added a condition that approval of the
tollet be conditioned upon the removal of the boat. We heard thls evenlng that
that has not yet been done. The boat's still there but that is the Planning
Commission recommendation and we're carrylng that forward. So again the
proposal is for approval with the conditions.
Mayor Chmiel: Are these two separate issues though Paul?
Paul Krauss: Mr. Mayor, they're tied to a single CUP. You can legitimately ask
that they bring the rest of the CUP up to standards. They're intenstifying the
use so you're on very good grounds to address that issue. These issues are
typically hard for us to document. We're not out there every day. We don't
know when a boat shows up or doesn't show up unless, you know we're going to be
doing these on an annual basls but lt's tough for us to track down. When
somebody makes a request for you to do something, you have a very good
opportunity to bring it up to standards. So in my view it's not appropriate.
Mayor Chmiel: Is that legal counsel?
Roger Knutson: Yes.
Mayor Chmlel: Okay, thank you. Any discussion? Anyone wanting to address the
issue first? Is there anyone who wishes to address that issue?
Joan Skallman: I'd llke to.
43
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Mayor Chmiel: Okay, would you like to come up to the microphone please and
state your name and your address please.
Joan Skallman: My name is Joan Skallman, 6590 Joshua Circle. I am currently
serving as co-chair for the Presidency of Minneuashta Creek Homeowners
Association. We have a conflict with the owner of the boat mainly because they
sold their property in 1978. Their lakeshore property to purchase this one and
had an agreement with the developer, at that time Remarco along with Bob Ritter
to buoy their boat in the water. They said they uent to City Council in 1978
and Clty Council told them that no one owns the lake. They can buoy their boat
wherever they want to in the lake as Iong as they have access to it. They $oid
their property, their lakeshore property as well as their other property to
purchase this one specificaIly because of that. They feei that they are
grandfathered in because of the City ordinance that went into effect after they
were there. Even though it doesn't document that they have rights, they feel
that they are grandfathered in. The Association has tried to basically just
present what the problem is to the owners. However, they do feel that they have
rights and they don't feeI that they should be imposed upon to remove their boat
from the water. It is a Iarge pontoon so basicaliy it would be very difficuit
for them to put it in and out of the water whenever they desired to use it. The
Association's kind of at a standstill. We would really appreciate it if you
keep it as a separate issue and have the City deal with the owners of the boat
separately from the association. There's not really much that we can do for the
association but to deny us the permit to have the portable chemical toilet would
be hurting all oF the other 39 families. Actually 37 families that voted for
it.
Mayor Chmiel: Do you know who's boats those are?
Joan Skallman: Yes.
Councilman Wing: Mr. Mayor? Just a comment on it. There's an exlsting pontoon
boat with a lift and existlng boat that's just moored. Mr. Kenny Lurid is
intending to buy that lot next door and both of those boats are clearly on hls
property. If you look out from his front, both boats are sitting out in front
of his house and he's asked that they be removed from in front of hls house. He
just wanted me to pass that onto the Council. He has concern that those boats
are slttlng on what you would call his lakefront property at thls tlme. And if
we were to enforce our dock setback ordinance or perhaps we will have to reword
it to say that any dock, portlon of dock or attachment thereln can't be ulthln
10 feet of the extended center line, it's going to solve a lot of these problems
I think but rlght now there are two boats, and I apologized to Mrs. Skallman at
the Plannlng commission for kind of putting her on the spot with this issue. I
klnd of spoke impulsively that evenlng on thls lssue wlthout her really knoulng
what was occuring but there are presently two boats moored that do not, that
are,
Mayor Chmlel: Moored on someone else's property.
Councilman Wing: Well, they're moored on someone else's property but more
important they're not allowed by the conditional use permlt and I just felt one
way to get some attention to this issue was to hold up action on this request
that they have for the chemlcal roller but I believe, as you suggested, they
44
City Council Heeting - July 8, 1991
really are two separate issues and I don't want to see Mrs. Skallman penalized
for this other probiem. I think they've done a good job on th£s ordinance and
request on their beachlot.
Councilman Mason: ...commission's trying to do with that and I think that that
pontoon boat should be removed but I don't think it needs to be removed on the
back of this issue. I agree with Dick.
Hayor Chmiel: Paul, do we have another way to address this with those two
owners?
Paul Krauss: Yes Mr. Mayor ue do. If it's in violation of the original CUP,
that's an enforceable agreement and we can approach that completely separate
from this. We'd be happy to do it either way.
Hayor Chmiel: Let me get some free counseling.
Councilman Mason: Free?
Mayor Chmiel: I mean he's here. It's costing us.
Roger Knutson: Yes. You can go after them for an ordinance violation...
Apparently they make a claim that they're not in violation. That'd have'to be
ironed out.
Hayor Chmlel: Yes sir. Would you llke to come up. Please state your name and
your address please.
Brian Windschitl: Hy name is Brian Windschitl. I happen to be one of those
boat owners. I've lived out there for Il years and we've approached the Council
many times for rules for beachlots. Back in 1978 when I moved in there, lg79,
they had nothing. They were trying to make up rules for it. They wouldn't let
us do anythlng for 2 to 3 years while they were maklng these rules and they came
up and they had no docking of boats and stuff like that and mooring was not in
there and there's 2 out of 40 people that have had our boats out there. We
happened to be the first two people that moved in there and there hasn't been a
problem. The lady next door who just lately passed away hasn't had a problem
with it. Mr. Lund is trying to buy the property right now and the way I-look at
it, there lsn't a problem rlght now. I don't thtnk it should be holdlng up the
portable toilet by any means and I think we need to, I don't think we need to be
tagged or anythlng 11ke that. I thlnk it could be talked about and as far as
mooring, I know that it came up with the ordinance like in 1983 or 1984. Both
of the other guy in question, we've been out there since 1~7~ so I don't know
how that works. I mean there's lot of boats and lots of associations out there
that have been grandfathered so kind of that's the way everybody feels right now
that we've been there for 11 years and right now they come up with another rule
and that changes it so we're going to get tagged for lt. I mean we can
accommodate Hr. Lund. I mean right now we have been, the lady that has been
11vlng there was qulte elderly and dldn't use the lake at all and there hasn't
been a problem and no one's living there right now so I still don't see a
problem until Mr. Lurid bullds or whatever. Then that lssue could be worked with
real easily.
45
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Mayor Chmiel: Hr. I_und is a riparian owner of that property presently. And if
those boats are on his are,'l, then he has the right to ask that those be removed.
My suggestion would be to have discussions with staff to determine what you
might have to do. And I agree. I don't think we should hold this up because of
the need of the portable toilet facility on this site. I think we'll address
that as a separate issue and I would like to have a motion to that.
Councilman Wing: I will move approval of Conditional Use Permit $91-5, allow
portable chemical toilet on Minnewashta Creek Homeowners Association, items 1
thru 4 exluding number 5.
Councilwoman Dimler: Second.
Mayor Chmiel: It's been moved and seconded. Any further discussion?
Councilman Wing: Mr. Mayor, I'd like to move that staff be instructed to follow
up on the conditional use permit violation by the next meeting and report to the
Council with a decision.
Brian Windschitl: I have just one question on the setbacks. The 10 foot
setbacks. I know they did set rules after I was out there that you have to have
a 10 foot setback on the your dock 11ne. The way your property goes. How does
it go with mooring boats? I mean they didn't have the rules when we were there.
Who does own the lake I guess is my question?
Mayor Chmiel: Roger, can you address that?
Roger Knutson: It's public waters but we regulate that. We have regulations on
mooring. I believe we do. We discussed it in length with some other property
and some new regulations were passed but...
Brian Windschitl: The reason that it's in my mind is because that was our, see
we were a11, when that development started we were all klnd of deceived. Llke
by the developer told us yeah, you go and I just i-an thls through here. You go
to the Clty and get a dock down there. You can do all these thlngs. Well, you
know that wasn't true so we kind of, as a matter of fact the other person and I
were both in the same shape. We wanted to have a boat on the lake and stuff
like that and so when they made all the rules, mooring was the way they didn't
cover it and we've been there 11ke I say 11 years. I don't know where the
grandfather clause comes in on when your boat's just floatlng in the water and
where it mlght be floating. Yeah, sometimes when the wlnd's out of the south it
might go on Mr. Lund's property but when it's out of the east it's on our
property. You know I mean lt's just got a little 11ne that it can move around.
So I say it's an issue I need to, I'd like to get clarified on that.
Mayor Chmiel: I think Paul will come up with that for you and provide you with
that information.
Brian Windschitl: Okay, I mean just the rumors were that Terry, he has his on a
lift out there and like they're in violation and they're going to get tagged and
all thls and I don't thlnk we need to take it to that polnt. I thlnk it can be
talked about. It's something we've been doing for 11 years. It hasn't bothered
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
anybody and now evidentally it's a problem and I think it can be worked out.
Real easily.
Mayor Chmiel: You can line up that discussion with staff.
Brian Windschitl: Okay.
Councilman ming moved, Councilwoman Dimler seconded to approve Conditional Use
Permit ~91-5 to allow a portable chemical toilet on Hinne#ashta Creek Homeowners
Association Recreational Beachlot (Outlot B) with the following conditions:
1. The applicant applies for a license from the city on an annual basis prior
to installation of the portable chemical tollet.
2. The portable chemical toilet shall only be permitted from Hemorial Day to
Labor Day and shall be removed from the beachlot durlng the rest of the
year.
3. The beachlot shall be maintained in good condition in a manner consistent
wlth previous approvals and current ordinance requirements.
4. The portable chemical toilet shall be located in accordance with the
application/plans received by the City on May 20, 1991.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
CHES HAR FARH, APPROXIHAT~Ly ONE-HALF HILE NORTH OF TH 5 OFF OF TH 41, CRA[G
S~AGGERT.
Paul Krauss: Oh you do want a report on this?
Mayor Chmiel: Yes.
Councilwoman Dimler: I was at the Planning Commission so.
Paul Krauss: Keep in mind I'm the second string on this one. Jo Ann's still on
vacation. This ls an incredibly complex request for a relatively simple actlon
and lt's got a real confusing hlstory which makes matters worse. This was
approved originally in lg85 and it was a pre-existing situation and the PUD was
used for a use that I've never heard of before and it was basically to
legitimize a non-conforming situation so they could sell off individual lots.
It was a real abnormality. The sewer wasn't anywhere close and it's only as of
5 or 6 weeks ago that the MUSA line was anywhere visible from thls property but
there was always an exlsting multi-family dwelling out there and there are a
number of homes when the PUD was done. It was modlfied in 1989 slightly.
Basically what it did is we had a series of single family homes including the
quasi-elderly, pseudo historical home that's slnce been removed. It was in very
bad shape and it's been cleared by the applicant in preparation of building a
new home. But what it bolls down to ls the current proposal with all the
requests, he's basically had to apply for virtually every permit we have in this
application, ls to lncrease the slze of the PUD and decrease the number of
unlts. $o we view it as a big step in the right direction. It's bringing it
lnto compliance with what's supposed to be out there. The guide plan ls to take
47
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
it from medium density, which you can see is a little blip on the map up there
and the zoning district is an abberation and come down to single family
residential which ls really what lt's supposed to be. The multi-family duelllng
which has been a real difficult one and there's some code compliance tssues and
I know there's been some questions about the on slte sewer for that and some
other things over tile years. That's going to be converted to either a duplex or
single family and all the other lots are golng to be developed as single famlly
residences and reasonably attractive ones. There is a request for a CUP for
beachlot. That ls golng to be used by several of the homes in here. There's a
wetland alteration permlt uhlch ls for our normal boardwalk structure which we
use to protect the wetland to get out to the dock on the beachlot. Basically as
odd as this request ls, it does conform to our standards and we do believe it's
in the best lnterest of the clty and the neighborhood for thls to happen. We
did bring this before [he Planning commission. There were several ad3olning
residents who had questions answered and came away supportive of the proposal.
The Planning Commission discussed at length. There are several members of the
Plannlng Commission who remembered the other two tlmes thls came up and were
very familiar with it and cleaned up a lot of the recommendations in a way that
Z certainly couldn't have done not havlng the hlstory and they recommended
approval and ue are continuing to recommend approval. I should note however
that I pilfered through Jo Ann's mallbox today and we dld get a letter somewhat
late but it's from Camp Tanadoona where they expressed some concern over
development and protection of wetlands. We dld not have an opportunity to speak
to them but I firmly believe that this is no thl'eat to the natural environment
over there. In fact it's probably the reverse ls true. To the extent that we
had a problem property there close to the Girl's Camp, we're now removing that
and lt's going to be single family homes on very large lots and very nlcely
developed. ~s far as the surface water management plan goes or the DNR, our
boardwalks are developed according to DNR standards and we work hand and hand
with them and we specifically do that to avoid impacting the wetland. I don't
know if they're here tonight. I don't belleve so but short of that, I dldn't
have a chance to address this directly but I'm firmly convinced that the issues
raised in thls letter are not relevant to thls request and be happy to speak to
Miss Johnson after.
Mayor Chmiel: It's sort of far removed isn't it from one point to the other?
Paul Krauss: It's not that far from, well it's far from where the active parts
of the camp are. They of course are notifled because they're an immediate,
ad3oining resident but I really don't believe there's any direct impact. One
other thlng too before I forget. There's a condition that we mentioned to the
Planning Commission that they agreed with but got deleted by accident. It has
to do wlth a north/south trall connection through there as part of that overall
comprehensive trail system we have heard so much about a short time ago. One of
the tra11 corridors runs from basically the TH 5 area up to Mlnnewashta Reglonal
Park ultlma[ely. As properties develop and we can obtain the trail and there
was a request for an easement coming through there and lt's I belleve in your
packet. On the overhead when thls came up when we mentioned it the flrst tlme,
the locatlon of the trall was shown rlght through here. We have some
flexibility on where it's exactly located and can work with the applicant on the
flnal location. We know where it has to go but we have some flexibility in that
corrldor to locate it so I would request that you add another condition to the
48
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
PUD amendment that a 20 foot wide north/south trail easement be provided in the
location acceptable to the City. With that we are recommending approval.
Mayor Chmiel: Thanks Paul. Is there any discussion? Does the applicant have
anything to say?
Craig Swaggert: I'm Craig Swaggert. I live at 2800 Stone Arch Road, Woodland,
Minnesota. In addressing the wetland alterations, I have contacted the DNR. I
do have to get a permlt through them. [ also have to get a permit through
Minnehaha Watershed Oistrict and I'm still waiting from the Corps of £ngineers
whether [ need a permit from them so Z feel that we're pretty well oovered as
far as wetland protection. A couple of the recommendations that I have a
question on. On the PUD agreement, it's my understanding that the City Attorney
would draft that. Is that correct?
Paul Krauss: We draft that in house in conjunction with the City Attorney to
make sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed. We have a broiler plate
form we use.
Craig Suaggert: Alright and that's a relatively fast process or something that
I have to look at first?
Mayor Chmiel: Within the next 10 minutes.
Paul Krauss: We will draft one up as soon as possible.
Craig Swaggert: And then item 3 in the recommendations. I fully intend to get
back in here quite quickly for the final plat and by State Law I need to give 60
day notlce to the residents. I would 11ke to request that I have certified
letters requesting vacation as a condition rather than the actual vacatton of
the properties. Of the 6 units.
Paul Krauss: .Which condition are you addressing now?
Craig Swaggert: Condition 3.
Mayor Chmiel: Of?
Craig Swaggert: Of this sixplex.
Paul Krauss: Oh, must be vacated prior to final plat approval. And your
proposal was to certlfy letters?
Craig Swaggert: Right. Requesting vacation. And along with that, it's my
understanding that I don't have to, that I can still have two unlts occupled but
not six units.
Paul Krauss: I think that I would be comfortable with that unless the City
Attorney has some objection if we had a date certain involved as to when ue
would achieve at least the duplex or two unlts. If you would come up with a
date Craig for us to review. You know if we're talking 60 days hence, we'll
wrlte that into the.
49
City Council Heeting - July 8, 1991
Craig Swaggert: Well, it'd be 60 days from June 1st because I'd have to give
them notice on the first of the month. And in fact we have two units vacated
already.
Paul Krauss: Okay. We could go wlth August 1st or August 15th or whatever we
worked out. As long as we had a date certain in the contract, I'm more
comfortable wlth that.
Cralg Swaggert: Than the certified letters? Okay. And then number 5, the
driveway easements. My attorney would draft that? Is that correct?
Paul Krauss: Elther your attorney would draft it ina form acceptable to our
attorney or our attorney would draft it and you'd be billed for the time.
Craig Swaggert: I thlnk if I've got to pay for it I'd just as soon have my
attorney do it.
Mayor Chmlel: Our's ls reasonable.
Councilman Mason: Cheap. And he's good too.
Craig Suaggert: Maybe he could do it during the Counc11 meeting.
Paul Krauss: There is a problem though. I mean we have standard formatting for
that so if your attorney would check wlth Roger.
Craig ouagger : Absolutely And then on number 12, tile tree preservation plan
shall be submitted by the applicant for clty approval. Is that in conjunction
with the issuance of the building permit or the replattlng?
Paul Krauss: With the bulldlng permlt. We should clarlfy that.
craig Swaggert: Okay, and then on 13 the trail easement. Is that going to be
part of the plat? The flnal plat or an easement?
Roger Knutson: Trall easements are not recorded on the plat.
Craig Swaggert: They are not? Okay.
Roger Knutson: It's a separate document.
Craig Suaggert: Thank you. Do you have any questions for me?
Mayor Chmiel: No. I sat at the Planning Commission meeting so I guess.
Councilman Wlng: Hr. Mayor, in order of tlme. One thlng I didn't understand.
I have two questions. One on the dock and one on the driveway. Paul, I didn't
understand why when there's somewhat of a formal entryway to Ches Nar Farms now,
an existing road, why wasn't there some way to preserve tile exlsting road and
driveway. Why do we have to put in a second driveway? Second access on TH 417
Paul Krauss: They're quite a distance apart and the existing curb cut wasn't
all that great anyway. There was some consultation ulth MnDot as to whether
5O
City council Meeting - July 8, 1991
they felt this was an appropriate solution and they did. and it is a shared
driveway and we became comfortable with it at that time. We initially had some
concerns with that as well.
Councilman Wing: Okay. Perhaps my greatest concern is on the dock. Not the
fact that the dock's going in but maybe the location of the dock. What I wanted
to clarify, is the dock going west into the lake or do you intend to put the '
dock into that little lagoon cut back area?
Craig Swaggert: It will go into the little lagoon cutback area.
Councilman Wing: ['m not sure if the ONR would accept that. I don't know if
they were notified. The little lagoon I'm very familiar with and it's really
not even navigable in the fall of the year if the lake level. There's kind of a
reef and some rocks that go across the front of it and then it kind of deepens
slightly into the shoreline. It seems to be somewhat of a spawning ground. A
little setback reef area and I think it's environmentally not acceptable for a
dock. That's my opinion and if I had been home I would have asked the Council
to come and look at that physically because I think it's a very significant
issue. I wouldn't be opposed to the boardwalk cutting through the wetlands and
then going straight west into the main lake portion itself. 5o I guess I'm
opposed to the dock's location going into the lagoon. I think that's a real
issue and I think it should be looked at prior to approval. But also if you
haven't looked at that closely, it may not be to your benefit to put it there.
Craig Swaggert: I was out there this week to look at that issue. I've been out
there in the winter and the spring and it's kind of difficult to get to so ~
brought my boat out there and went into that little lagoon. There is a reef
there. The deepest part in that reef is about 3 1/2 feet.
Councilman Wing: In high water.
Craig Swaggert: At today's level which is, it's about a foot below the high
water mark. For the 100 year high water mark.
Councilman Wing: In the fall of the season, because I sunfish out there, you
can't get a pontoom boat across there without tilting the motor up because
there's enough rocks and so you're basically, if we have a low summer or our
average 18 inch drop on Mlnnewashta. Thls ls the 20 year average. My dock has
never changed it's position tn 25 years. Where you're putting the dock is not
golng to be, you're not golng to be able to get boats in and out without
dredging or digging out a little channel. That's my opinion but more important,
I really think prlor to approval that needs to be looked at specifically. I
would favor the dock in any way going straight into the lake. Not into that
little lagoon. Z thlnk that's to your benefit but more importantly I think it's
a real important environmental question that we should look at.
Mayor Chmiel: I think staff could probably look at that and come up with some
conclusion on that if that's a real concern.
Councilman Wing: I think the proposal you have is excellent. It's an addition
to the area and I support it but I would ask consideration of the Council to
table thls prior to staff looklng at that dock placeaent.
51
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Paul Krauss: You've got this coming back for PUD agreement authorization. We
could do it prior to that.
Councilman Wing: That's fine. That will give time, that would be adequate then
for you to review that? If that's okay with you.
Craig Suaggert: Yes. Definitely.
Councilman Wing: In a personal note to you, having lived on the lake 25 years,
that literally is high and dry on that outer reef area in the fall season. Many
years. I don't know if the dock would be useable part of the year. Just a
comment,
Craig Suaggert: Thank you.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay, any other discussion? Hearing none, I'll entertain a
motion to accept all 4 and if you look on page 8, the first one and then carry
it through wlth the balance of each of the numbers. Okay. Want me to do lt?
city council approves PUD Amendment ~91-1 shown on plans dated May 28, 1991 with
a varlance to the lot width requirement for Lot 1, Block i and the following
conditions of item i thru 13.
councilwoman Oimler: 14.
Paul Krauss: With a 14th condition.
Mayor Chmiel: With item number 14 added. Okay, City Council also approves a
Comprehensive Plan Amendment ~91-1 changing the Land Use Designation from
Residential Medium Denslty to Residential Low Denslty subject to the conditions
of the PUD Amendment, Conditional Use Permit and Wetland Alteration Permlt.
Ztem number 3. The City Councll approves Conditional Use Permlt ~91-4 for a
recreational beachlot on Outlot A as shown on plans dated May 28, 1991 with the
following conditions. Items number i through 4. Also, Clty Councll approves
Wetland Alteration Permit $91-1 for construction of a permanent boardwalk
through a Class A wetland as shown on the plans dated May 28, 1991 wlth the
following conditions of items 1 through 6.
Councilwoman Dimler: Second.
Mayo;- Chmiel: Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Any other discussion?
Councilman Wing: Did my concern get covered in this or would I have to ask an
additional item under Conditional Use permit for a beachlot regarding the dock
pendlng staff revlew?
Paul Krauss: I assume we've been directed to do that. We'll brlng it back.
Mayor Chmiel moved, Councilwoman Dimler seconded to approve PUD Amendment
as shown on plans dated May 28, 1991 with a variance to the lot width
requirement for Lot 1, Block 1 and the following conditions:
1. The PUD agreement will be drafted and recorded against the property. The
PUO agreement will contain all conditions of approval for the PUD.
52
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
2. A revised preliminary plat must be submitted redesignatlng Lot 2, Block 1 as
Outlot B.
3. The residence on Lot 4, Block 1 shall either be a duplex or single family
unit. The six apartment units must be vacated prior to final plat approval.
4. The applicant shall receive an access permit from MnDot for the proposed
access servicing Lots 1 and 3, Block 1 and Outlot A and a.
5. A driveway easement shall be provided across Lot 2 (Outlot B), Lot 1 and
Outlot A and recorded against such properties. The driveway must be
constructed so as to accommodate emergency vehicles and must be maintained
in good passable condition.
G. The applicant shall be required to install a culvert sized by a professional
engineer, and approved by City Engineers prior to construction to
accommodate anticipated flows through the existlng dltch on Lot 1, Block 1.
7. No more than 4 dwelling units will be permitted as part of the PUD; one on
Lot 1, one on Lot 3 and one on Lot 4 unless the existlng buildlng is
converted to a duplex.
8. Demolition permits are required for all demolition; demolition of all the
buildings to be razed shall be completed within 6 months of final plat
approval.
9. A revised preliminary plat shall be submitted showing all existing and
proposed on-site sewage treatment sites and proposed house pads and
elevations.
10. If a new residence is constructed on Lot 4, Block 2 it must meet all
required setbacks. All other existing buildings on Lot 4 must be razed.
11. The applicant shall meet any and all conditions of Conditional Use Permit
~91-4 and Wetland Alteration Permit ~1-1.
12. A tree preservation plan shall be submitted by the applicant for city
approval for Lot 1, Block 1.
13. A revised preliminary plat shall be submitted by the applicant and shall
reflect revised southerly lot line of Lot 3, the trail easement across Lot
1, Block i in accordance wlth Park and Recreatio Commission recommendations
and elimination of the driveway onto Outlot A. A barrier shall be erected
over the drlveway at the lot line between Lot 1 and Outlot A to keep
vehicles from driving or parking on Outlot A.
14. A 20 foot trail easement running north/south shall be provided in a location
acceptable to the City.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
53
City Council Neeting - July 8, 1991
Resolution ~91-GG: Mayor Chmiel moved, Councilwoman Dimler seconded to approve
Comprehensive Plan Amendment #91-1 changing the Land Use Oesignation from
Residential Medium Density to Residential [.ow Density subject to the conditions
of the PUD Amendment, Conditional Use Permit and Wetland Alteration Permit. All
voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Chmiel moved, Councilwoman Oimler seconded to approve Conditional Use
Permit #91-4 for a recreational beachlot on Outlot A as shown on plans dated May
28, 1991 with the following conditions:
1. The recreational beachlot will be permitted only one dock with overnight
storage of up to 3 watercraft.
2. Launching of boats from the recreational beachlot is prohibited.
3. The conditional use permit for the recreational beachlot is only for the
proposed dock improvements. Any additional improvements to the recreational
beachlot shall require another conditional use permit and wetland alteration
permit.
The applicant shall meet any and all conditions of the PUD amendment ~91-1
and Wetland Alteration Permit
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Chmiel moved, Councilwoman Dialer seconded to approve Wetland Alteration
Permit ~91-1 for construction of a permanent boardwalk through a Class A wetland
as shown on the plans dated May 28, 1991 with the following conditions:
1. There shall be no filling or dredging/grading permitted within the wetlands.
2. The applicant shall receive a permit from the Department of Natural
Resources for the permanent boardwalk.
The proposed trail shall be constructed at least 10 feet away from the
wetland located in the southwest corner on Outlot A.
4, The wetland shall be permitted to return to its natural state after
installation of the boardwalk.
5. No other alteration to the wetlands are permitted without receiving another
wetland alteration permlt. Further, all approved alterations shall be
undertaken at a tlme and in a manner so as to minimize disruption to the
wetland.
6. The applicant shall meet any and all conditions of the PUD Amendment ~91-1
and Conditional Use Permit
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
54
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Chmiel: I just wanted to address the senior volunteers that we're still
looking for in regard to the assistance in City Hall with pulling packets
together as well as any typing or working computers as we have. We're willing
to provide a short seminar teaching how to utilize the facilities that we have
and also working with some of the city staff to pull together the packets for
City Council meetings as well as the other commission meetings. In addition to
that I'm still looking for C$O's from the senior citizens to patrol basically
the parks and they will have a short training with that as well indicating how
to use the radios as well as their rights as to what they can do. Basically
just a call for any help that they need by radio. So I'd really like to see the
seniors participate in this and to give me a call if you have any questions. I'm
listed in the phone book. I'd be more than happy to address those specific
questions. Ursula?
Councilman Wing: Mr. Mayor before you go on. We have discussed this item
numerous times and it is obviously a pet project of yours and I support it. I
think it's an excellent idea. Have you had any support or have you had any
response?
Mayor Chmiel: I don't think we've gotten a response.
Todd Gerhardt: It was brought up at the last senior commission meeting. I
don't know exactly what the comments were but there were some comments made.
Some were in favor and some were not.
Mayor Chmiel: Not knowing really what their responsibilities would be nor do
they know how to operate computers and so on.
Paul Krauss: Mr. Mayor, I was at the last senior meeting and they were
interested in the proposal. As a senior commission though they're not equipped
to go out and kind of flnd volunteers. I thlnk if that's going to be proceeded
with that's going to be done possibly through the newspaper or City newsletter
or something 11ke that.
Mayor Chmiel: We're very fortunate to have a newspaper here this evenlng, will
that individual please raise their hand?
Councilman Wing: No response.
Mayor Chmiel: If we could get some publicity going so we can really.try to
accomplish this because I think really that they would probably enjoy thls once
they got going with it. And it does give them another outlook on life and
another thlng to do.
Councilman Wing: I'd turn it over to Todd. Todd Hoffman.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay. Ursula?
Counciluoman Dimler: Several months ago Mike and I served on a personnel policy
board that made a decision regarding a certain employee situation and at that
time we expressed a desire to update the personnel policy to cover all of the
55
City Council Meeting -- July 8, 1991
employees and I haven't heard any more about it and I'd like to know where we
are with that and if we can get back at it before we forget about it.
Don Ashworth: Misinterpretted your deslre. When that document was drafted it
incorrectly provided leave For employees on maternity leave. More than had been
provided in the prevlous policy. The task force or group basically stated well,
this is the way it was approved and this is what we want so staff just left it
at that. So in other words, the more lenlent pollcy continues to be in effect.
councilwoman Dimler: Okay. And we want to apply it to all the employees then.
I mean it does now apply to all the employees?
Don Ashuorth: Roger, you may wish to address this.
Councilwoman Dimler: Did you understand that ue wanted to leave it that way?
Councilman Mason: I did.
Councilwoman Dimler: So nothing needs to be done?
Don Ashworth: Nothing needs to be done. Unless a majority of the Council's
members were aware of those decisions, I thlnk there's two Councilmembers who,
the Mayor and another Council member who were not directly involved but I think
I talked to both of them. Maybe not. If you want it placed on a future agenda
so that everyone.
Councilwoman Dimler: No, not necessarily. I just want to make sure that when
Council approved that we were not aware that it was a change and so I just want
to make sure everyone knows where we're at with that rlght now.
Don Ashworth: Okay.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay, thank you. Mike. Surface water.
Councilman Mason: Mark Lobermeier from SEH called me and was concerned about
the process for the Surface Water Quallty program. And he asked me what I could
do and I said well, 1'11 bring it up at Council presentation. He would like to
come before Counc11 and express some of hls concerns.
Mayor Chmiel: Can I address that? I had discussions with him also this evening
just before I came here and I expressed the posltlon of my office to hlm saylng
I did,'t think it was needed. We chose the person that we chose. That I saw no
reason for him to make that presentation.
Councilman Mason: Okay.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay. If you have any letters from Minneuashta Parkway we'll
keep them a11. Tom?
Councilman Workman: Tree removal. I contacted Don Ashuorth. I was contacted
by three individuals about where do I take my tree limbs, etc.. I talked to Jo
Ann about it and I thlnk the county's gettlng fundlng from the State and I don't
know. Minnewashta's open and Hinnewashta's closed and on and on and on. We
5~
City Council Meeting - 3uly 8, 1991
need to, and Don has said that after a storm occasionally, a couple times a year
the City will go around and collect them. I would propose that the Council look
at maybe getting some sort of a program going. I don't know that ~e need to go
out to people's homes personally. It is difficult for people who don't own a
truck or something but Don talked about maybe the Bandimere Farm is a place. We
have a chipper that does amazing things and maybe a staff member could go out an
hour once a week or something to take care of it. Use the mulch and people
could come and get the mulch if they wanted but I got three calls on this and
what are we going to do and I thought, well we can do it for these couple people
but it should be on a city wide basis if anybody wants to do it.
Mayor Chmiel: ! think in that, I also had discussions with Don on this. The
same thing as which you're saying and I think really if we somehow get the
information out to the people saying those who in a storm. Not those who cut
down their trees and say I've got limbs and branches and so on.
Councilman Workman: But see that's a problem too.
Mayor Chmiel: But during a storm it should be our responsibility to go out and
pick these things up.
Councilman Workman: But see the calls that I got were from your neighborhood.
Mayor Chmiel: Yeah. Well we can't.
Councilman Workman: But that was a storm but it was just your neighborhood. See
that doesn't really constitute a city wide alert. The problem is that we don't
have a place for this stuff year round. Chaska has a pile and everybody in the
county had a pile I think except Chanhassen and Victoria and the County was
trying to help us out with that and it's unreliable so we need a place for
people to take this on a regular basis. Not just if they think there was a
storm and then we have to have 3erry $chlenk pull the chipper out to their house
or something. Which I don't think we should necessarily get into. If we could
have them drop it off down at the shed and they could chip it as needed, I don't
know. It's just something I would like us to think about a city wide policy
because it is a problem. We promote trees every Council meeting and we're not
thinking about what happens when they fall down.
Mayor Chmiel: I think I agree with you on that. That we should have some kind
of a process.
Councilman Workman: Okay on the traffic study. We had our little meeting. It
was not a good day to have a meeting. 3uly 2nd and everybody was in the holiday
mood but ! did have three strong individuals from the community come. Don
Andrus, Bernie Hanson and 3erry Roepke, the CPA. What we figured out was we
could have sat there all night and argued the little details of this thing and
it's a very, very difficult thing. Turn lanes. Take them out. Take the median
out and it was almost comlcal but we flgured that we should get together at
least a couple more times so have another meeting or two in the next month so
we'll try to get that together. Ithtnk it was still very good. The Rotary
trees. The Rotary trees. The continuous saga of the Rotary trees. The Rotary
went out and planted a berm on Kerber Blvd. under the auspices of Clty staff and
57
City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
the City has mowed them all down. The berm is private property and we mowed the
hill. Apparently.
Don Ashuorth: You think. The first time I heard about this was at 7:00 this
evening when Tom informed me.
Councilman Workman: I saw it this past weekend and just about became nauseous.
Councilwoman Oimler: The trees are gone?
Councilman Workman: They're mowed down. Granted there were heavy weeds but
this gets back into the whole thing about the program that we wanted to get
going for sprlng and everything else whlch we could never quite get off. I'm
going to try and get a meeting with Tim Erhart, myself and Don Ashworth to talk
some more about this. I thought I had sufficient staff notlfled that we planted
that hill and something didn't quite match up. I don't know how we're going to
redo that hill or what's golng to happen there but it brlngs back a polnt.
Ursula I know this is one of your points is we're mowing things that are not our
property and I wonder how much. Maybe we need to take an inventory of how much
of this city time is being spent on property that's not our own. So we have
some very aggressive lawn mowing golng on and you took 500 Rotary trees.
Mayor Chmiel: Would you like to try 7100 Tecumseh Lane?
Councilman Workman: So I don't know how but I'm going to meet with Don Ashworth
and we're going to talk about it. I'll get together with Tim and Oon and we'll
talk some more about it.
ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION:
Mayor Chmiel: Before we go too much further, I want to tell staff and all our
busy workers that I really like our administrative section. They used every
part of the paper and they used the forward parts and back parts and I'd 11ke to
see us continue to do that.
DISCUSSION REGARDING NOISE ORDINANCE, PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR.
Scott Hart: This memo came about as a result of some conversations the Mayor
and I have had about the increasing number of nolse complaints primarily comlng
from construction. We have no noise ordinance. It's not had the support of the
Council in the past and to use development contracts ls just not the panacea
that some think it may be because in fact it really doesn't apply directly to
the construction of homes or remodeling. The Mayor and I have been a 11ttle bit
frustrated as has the Sheriff's office when they've responded to noise
complaints and I'm merely looklng to flnd out whether there's lnterest in
looking at noise ordinances again. The numbers are increasing and as I said in
the memo, so is the aggressiveness of the people making the complaints.
Mayor Chmiel: I agree. I've received several calls, One I had to go out and
talk to the builder on Sunday. Discussed it with him and he did shut it down
and T thanked him for it but he could have been a hard nose and proceeded with
it. Somehow I think within those development contracts it should be just Monday
thru Saturday, Sundays zip. The other thing that I have thought about too of
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City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
course and we've discussed this before is the decibels. To adopt an ordinance
according to the band and having a decibel reading in order to determine hoe
much noise we can put up with. I don't know. I just sort of thing that as
we're growing, I hate putting more and more restrictions on but I think there
are still a few inconsiderate people that will do these things. Legally and
technically we have no way of stopping them. The police will go out there and
they don't have an ordinance per se. So I guess what I was looking at was that
maybe we should relook at it again. Take a look at some of the existing
ordinances that are out there and see if any of these can fit without causing
too much of an inconvenience to the residents of the city. But don't breathe so
hard Tom.
Councilman Workman: We argued this very carefully and it was all brought up by
a dog. The dog was barking, barking, barking. A racoon would drive by, the
cops would come out there and no dog's barking. Over and over and over this
would happen and it will happen over and over and over and the reason I was
thinking about this, Scott brought it up and the reason I was thinking about it
was I drove through Chaska quite a bit and you come across the river there.
They've got this sign, Chaska and then it says, noise with one of these things
you know. But we looked in the code book back then and we have a nuisance
ordinance. That covers animals and it covers all sorts of stuff. I don't
understand. We do have something and maybe it needs to be shored up but we do
have an ordinance against barking dogs. We have one I assume for parties or
whatever. And that's where we got into trouble with the snowmobilers and
everything else. What do you mean we can't drive in the city and then I think we
were telling people they couldn't mow their lawns from noon to.
Mayor Chmiel: Yeah, and that's part of the concern but ! think there can be a
specific amount of time period that they can have those. It doesn't take you 3
days to mow your lawn. Aithough we've had a few residents that we've had
problems with. But I think we have to relook at it to see how it can compliment
what we have existing.
Councilman Workman: Certainly.
Councilman Hason: I agree.
Councilman Wing: I agree. I think the history of Chanhassen has been live and
let live up through and including the present Public Safety Director. The
attitude on kind of letting things work their course if they will but this
ordinance if we were to have it would give him the option to say we have to draw
the line here. After this passive time period that he chooses to use so I
support you Don and I would definitely like to recommend that Scott pursue this
and get back to us.
Mayor Chmiel: I especially don't prefer those 2:00 in the morning calls that
I get.
Councilwoman Dimler: Could I have a final clarification. You're telling me
that the development contract does not cover the construction workers? Is that
right? The development contract only covers putting in the road and the sewer
and that type of thing but not the actual construction of the homes?
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City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Scott Hart: Roger, do you want to comment?
Councilwoman Oimler: Okay, so you're having a problem with the people that are
constructing the homes and worklng at all odd hours and then saylng we're not
cowered by tile development contract?
Scott Harr: Yeah. And it's not just construction. That's the one that's
bothering us the most. And Tom's rlght ill that the nuisance ordinance covers
some. Barklng dogs, I don't know why that was a problem because that's clearly.
Councilman Workman: Lake Lucy Road, remember?
Scott Harr: I think the system we have right now we could deal with that but
when the nulsance ordinance then goes on to talk about any other louder and
reasonable nolses as set forth, I thlnk that that's unenforceable because we've
had the opportunity to clarify hours, etc. and the Sheriff's office has had
frustrations with complaints where they just slmply haven't been able to act.
I'm thinking about loud cars belng worked on at odd hours.
Councilwoman Dimer: I have one instance. Somebody called me and said that they
are constantly bothered by the bug zappers that their neighbor has. Has two of
them and they leave them on all the tlme and those thlngs do not sound pleasant
and she's in her backyard and she cannot enjoy her backyard because of it so
maybe there's a reason to enforce hours on that type of thlng. Because I do
think people ought to be able to enjoy their backyards and enjoy their property.
Mayor Chmiel: I hate mosquitoes with a passion.
Councilman Mason: Get a bat house.
Hayor Chmiel: I have that too.
Councilwoman Oimler: You don't keep yours on all night do you?
Mayor Chmiel: Oh no. We shut it off because it keeps me awake. Okay, so we
will further this and if you will pull together some additional things.
Compliment what our exlstlng ordinance is and we'll go from there. Your next
item.
DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY COHHISSION VACANCY,.~UBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR.
Scott Harr: Public Safety Commission vacancy. I would like some direction from
Counc11 on how to f111 Steve Morse's resignation. That's effective as we speak.
We have the Chairman of the Public Safety Commission has suggested that Council
conslder golng back to our interviews for the January, 1991 position. I sent
that information to you in the memo but if you'd 11ke to re-advertise, we can do
that.
Mayor Chmiel: I think being consistent with what we've done before, and I
understand the recommendation for what they have here. I don't know what
everyone else's feeling ls but I'll express mlne. I think we should
re-advertise for it all over again and see who's interested in it and then go
from there.
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City Council Meeting - July 8, 1991
Councilman Mason: That's been past practice?
Councilwoman Oimler: Yes. And I think in fairness too to other members to be
able to apply.
Councilman Mason: And encourage those people to re-apply certainly.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay. Any other discussions?
Councilwoman Dialer moved, Councilman Hason seconded to adjourn the meeting.
All voted in favor and the motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 11=30
p.B..
Submitted by Don Ash~orth
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim