1991 04 08CH~NH~SSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR HEETING
APRIL 8, 1991
Mayor Chmlel called the meetlng to order at 7:30 p.m.. The meeting was opened
with the Pledge to the Flag.
HEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Chmiel, Councilman Mason, Councilman Workman, Councilman
Wing and Councilwoman 0imler
STAFF PRESENT: Don Ashworth, Todd Gerhardt, Charles Folch, Paul Krauss, and
Roger Knutson
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilwoman Dimler moved, Councilman Mason seconded to
approve the agenda with the following additions: Paul Krauss wanted to discuss
under Administrative Presentations establishing a task force to asslst staff in
choosing a consultant for the Surface Water Utility Program; Councilman Wing
wanted to set a breakfast meetlng for the Clty Councll goals revleu; and
Councilman Workman wanted to discuss the golf course committee. All voted in
favor of the agenda as amended and the motion carried.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:
PROCLAMATION DECLARING 'BUILDING SAFETY WEEK', APRIL 8-12, 1991.
Resolution ~91-26: Councilwoman Dlmler moved, Councilman Workman seconded to
approve the Proclamation declaring the week of April 8-12, 1991 as Building
Safety Week. All voted in favor and the motlon carried unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Don Ashworth: Just a quick note. The handout that I had given to the City
Council represents three additional final closings that we had mlssed and should
be added to that ltem.
Mayor ChmLel: Item (d).
Don Ashworth: So in approving that, recognize that those three would be a part
of that. If that's alright.
Mayor Chmlel: Any questions regarding those transfers?
Councilman Workman: Oon, can you explain those? What that's about?
Don Ashworth: The three I just handed out?
Councilman Workman: In general.
Don Ashuorth: In general they represent capital. Most of those are capital
construction accounts. There are monies left in there or there may be minor
shortfalls. For example, Lake Ann we completed the construction that was a
grant from the State. About $220,000.00. I think the total project went to
$235,000.00. Most of the 1rems were beyond our control. The Park Commission
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
was aware of that. This transfer take monies from the Park acquisition and
development fund and puts it into that capital project fund so it can be closed.
The same way with Lake Susan. Most of those that you had on the other list in
the agenda fall under the same category. Others are right out of the budget
really would not need to be repeated but typically we do put those in so we have
one spot to look at for ail transfers.
Mayor Chmiei: Okay, any other discussions? If not, can I have a motion for
items t (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (i), and (k).
Co[lncilwoman Dimler: I so move.
Councilman Workman: Second.
Councilwoman Oimler moved, Councilman ~orkman seconded to approve the following
consent agenda items pursuant to the City Manager's recommendations:
b. Approve Plans and Specifications for Utility Improvements to Chan Haven
Plaza Third Addition, Project 91-2.
c. Accept Offer from MnDot for Permanent Easement Easement Necessary for
Highway 5 Upgrade.
d. Resolution ~gl-27: Approve Year End Closings and Transfers.
e. Zoning Ordinance Amendments, Final Readings:
1) Definition of Structures
2) Definition of Accessory Structures
f. Conditional Use Permit for the Installation of a 70 square foot sign, 7910
Dakota Avenue, Slnclalr 0il.
g. Conditional Use Permit for a Restaurant, Located at Seven Forty-One Crossing
Center, Sang Cam Ky, Happy Gardens II.
k. Rosemount Purchase of Lot 1, Block 3, Chanhassen Lakes Business Park 2nd
Addition:
1) Rescind Conditions Against Original Plat
2) Approve Restrictive Covenants
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
J. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AND PLANNING COHHISSION HINUTES:
Councilman Mason: Just on the City Council Minutes, on page 4. I'm quoted as
saying about the, I'm a little concerned that we're letting people sell liquor
to under aged chlldren but yet they get arrested. There should be a don't
between the they and get. That's it.
Mayor Chmiel: Very good. Would you like to move that particular item?
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Councilman Hason moved, Councilwoman Dimler seconded to approve the City Council
M1nutes dated March 25, 1991 as amended and the Planning Commission Hinutes
dated Hatch 20, 1991 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried
unanimously.
VISITORS PRESENTATIONS: None
PUBLIC HEARING: HEARING AS A RESULT OF UIOLATIONS FOR SELLING LIQUOR TO MINORS,
HGH LIQUOR WAREHOUSE, BROOKS SUPERETTE AND HOLIDAY STATION STORES, APPROVAL OF
1991/92 LICENSES.
Public Present:
Name Address
Todd Preuschl
Richard Larson
Deputy Larry King
Holiday Station Stores
HGM Liquor Warehouse
Carver County Sheriff's Department
Mayor Chmiel: Anyone wishing to address this specific item at this time? Don?
Oon Ashworth: Would you like me to give an overview? ~t the last City Council
meeting the Council looked at pending on and off sale liquor licenses. As a
part of that process, staff does inform the City Council of any infractions that
had occurred during the past year. The three you had noted occurred on one
evening and in talking with the police and Sheriff's Department, they really
felt that we would not have this type of problem into the future. That they had
talked with the three parties and felt again that it would not be a problem.
The Council action was to allow staff to continue processing those applications
so there was nothing, no action taken by the City Council that would take away
from those licenses. However, the City Council did ask that the three parties
come before you and really talk about how or what they are doing to insure that
this type of incident would not occur into the future. The Council has a copy
of the letter that was sent to each of the three property owners and I see that
Mr. Larson is here but I'm not sure I know. Is anyone here from Brook's7
Mayor Chmiel: I don't see anyone here. They were all informed and requested to
be here?
Don Ashworth: Yes. All three received, well in fact in most instances the
letter went to 2 or 3 individuals. The clerk or person who was involved with
the incident on that night. The owner, if local such as Mr. Larson and then the
company in cases like Brook's or Holiday.
Mayor Chmiel: Being we have two of the people here, I guess what we're really
looking to see ls to have you come up here and tell us how you're'going to try
to eliminate. Not try but eliminate the problems that existed and maklng sure
the people that are being sold either beer or liquor are really checked out
fully. It is a concern to the Counc11. We look at it from two different
standpoints.
C.~ty Count.ti. Heeting - Apf'J_). 8, :1991
Todd Preuschl: Okay. In the past we are ali trained to card everybody
regardless of age, within reason and that's been the strlct guidelines by
Holiday. They have a pollcy set regardless of who's working welling cigarettes
o~- alcohol beverages to minors, it won't be tolerated by the store. First time
lsa 3 day suspension which our clerk dld recelve without pay. Second tlme ls
immediate termination and prosecutLon under the full extent of the law. She's a
very, well the person J.t happened to, she's working right now as a matter of
fact. She ls one of my most trusted and valued employees and I'm sure this is
just an isolated incident. Z haven't had any problems other than this one tlme
in the year that I've been manager at the store. In fact we've caught quite a
few people as far as forgers and thleves as far as we finally got ahold of the
condom thlef and so forth. AJ. so some other youngsters trying to get away with
suJ. tching beer from 12 packs of Coke to 12 packs of beer. Dolng the old
switcharoo and we caught them. Z think they're belng prosecuted at this moment.
Z'm not sure. But as far as Z know, we've done all thlngs posslble as far as
our company guidelines are set in conjunction with the State guidelines too.
Mayor Chmlel: Are there speciflc requirements that you indicate to your
employees when they come on board?
Todd PreuschJ: Yes. Z personally traln every employee that walks through the
door now. They work with me for one week. Then they're cut free with
assistants. My assistant manager, Z have two now thank 6od. But Z've been
under staffed for about a year but it's not becomlng fully staffed agaln. ~ had
some problems there but they got ironed out now. Z haven't had any problems
slnce then. Our store's been runnLng pretty well. Hopefully it looks nlce for
the community and services everybody well. I hope so anyway.
Mayor Chmiel: ~ think that's right. It does. The only thing is as I said. We
ju,st, maybe the rest of the Counc11 would 11ke to say something.
Councilwoman Oimler: I'd gust like to ask. Did I hear you say that you card
everybody ulthln reason unless they're obviously?
Todd Preuschl: Yes. Everybody uithln reason.
Councilwoman Oimler: Okay, so why the sllp up obviously here?
Todd Preuschl: I don't know. I wasn't there myself that particular evening. I
was glven a telephone call as soon as the incldent occurred and I came out to
the station immediately. I'm only 5 minutes from the station so. I'm sure they
were extremely busy. I'm not even sure which nlght. It's been so long ago I
can't remember what night it actually happened. It could have been a shipment
night when we have boxes laylng everywhere and one person in the securlty area
and she's just trying to get the people flowing out the door. That's a very
good possibility.
Councilwoman Dlmler: But you plan to keep that pollcy?
Todd Preuschl: Absolutely. That is a directive from our main office. It's
also my directive and I was really tee'd off at her because she dldn't follow my
directive. I've told them all hundreds and hundreds of times so the next tlme
she's, i[ doesn't matter what happens. She may be a valued employee but she
City Council Heeting - April 8, 1991
uill hit the road the next time if it ever happens again. That includes myself.
If it happens to myself, the same thing applies. So it doesn't matter who you
are.
Mayor Chmiel: Anyone else? If not, thank you. Appreciate it. Dick?
Richard Larson: Good evening. Richard Larson, HGH Liquor Warehouse, Chanhassen
and Waconla. A couple of points from my business' standpoint. The second thlng
that I did in September of 1982. The first thing of course was receiving my
11cense from the City of Chanhassen. The second thlng was to establish repolre
with the Carver County Sheriff's Department, at that time Chief Jack Hendrickson
and arrange for the implementation of off duty deputies to work in our
establishment expressly for the purpose of checking ID's. This was set up on a
weekend only basis and to thls day occurs that way unless we feel we have some
reason to bring them in on special duty basis. The reason I bring this point up
ls I would 11ke to stress to the Council and to the City of Chanhassen that our
number one priority since day one is to run a clean operation. We know we're a
regulated industry. We understand the implications of intentionally or
unintentionally mistakenly sell to an underaged, intoxicated or even for that
matter, belligerent individual. What we have been doing, we've been open now
for 9 1/2 years. This is our first chargeable offense. The individual in
question has been employed at the store part tlme. Full time durlng the day,
part time in the evenings, for a little over 5 years. He's a 34 year old
gentleman. I myself also was not there on the nlght of the incident. I did
talk to the person in questlon and my obvious question of course to begin with
was, how come you dldn't card hlm? The response from the individual was that
the person appeared old enough. I've never seen the individual in question. I
have no 1dew and I'm not using that as an excuse but the guy that did not card
him is a guy who is one of our most aggressive checkers. The Hinnesota Licensed
Beverage Association is an industry association that we are a member of and have
been for the last 10 years. It is an organization that not only helps our
industry, legislatively, politically, but also allows individual owner/operators
the advantage of training, both preventive and well for that matter defensive.
It's kind of the nature of our business. And all of our employees are required
to attend what they call TM seminars which are Trainer Management seminars. Not
only in the identification of a potential underaged situation but also the
identification of intoxicated or otherwise influenced customers. It's something
that I've always done. I've always stressed. I am confident that my 13
employees here in Chanhassen, my 7 employees in my Waconia operation, I could
obviously parade them all in here and sing song in verse of the training that
they receive. It's an ongoing program. I'm an owner/operator. I'm in the
store. Some of those in this room are customers and I think that for those who
know me, they understand that what I say is how things go. I'm a hands on
operator. Always have been and I am here to answer any questions. I also have
Deputy Larry King with me for one reason and that is Deputy King has been the
scheduler of our security since 1984. Bob Bergman did it before that and I felt
that Larry, not representing Carver County Sheriff's Oepartment but representing
myself in the 9 years of our relationship, understands how we run our operation.
How his deputies are instructed. What they're to do and he's here to answer
questions that may come up. I am here now to address any questions that you,
the members of the Council and the Mayor would have.
City Council Meetin9 -- Apr'il 8, 1991
Hayor ChmJel: Good. Thank you. Does anyone have any specific questions at
this time?
Councilwoman Dimler: I guess I'll ask the same question. Do you card
everybody?
Richard Larson: No. It's a very difficult question that's been since 1933 I
suppose. I don't know. What we do is we try to establish guidelines. There
are certain procedures that you follow. Obviously physlcal appearance.
Actually the second question that comes after physlcal appearance, if there's a
question, you look at some of the thlngs that people do. You look at whether or
not the person that's standing on the other side of the counter ls looking at
yo~l o~ looklng down or to the slde. You look and see, for some reason lt's very
significant what they're wearlng both male and female. We've trled different
policies. We've trled the pollcy card everybody. It's a good policy but
there's a catch. If for example Councilwoman Oimler you're in line. I'd like
to say that you probably need to be carded but if we have a pollcy that
everybody needs to be carded and you're there to make a purchase. You don't
have your lO. What do we do? You're probably 21. Z would say that you
probably are but tl'le person that was in line behind Councilwoman Oimler is 21. I
sell you your goods and you go on your' way and I ask that young man for an
identification. He says bi.it I've got mine. Here it is but you sold to her and
sh~ didn't have it. Why? It's an unusual situation but you're discriminating.
So we've tried anyone that appears 30 and under. Okay? A 21 year old cle~'k's
opirllon of who appears 30 and under ls much different than a 38 year old so what
we h~ve done is we use the tr~inlng that's offered to us through our
organization. It's a step by step procedure of looking at the customer.
Identifying the situation. Watch their body language ~nd go from there.
Councilwoman Dinller: I was in a restaurant once and they had the cutest little
button and I don't thlnk it offended anybody. It said, you've got the cutest
little baby face, may I see your ~D and they card everybody and I don't mlnd lt.
Richard Larson: Again, those have been offered to our organization stateuide
on many occasions. We've tried that. I don't know why certaln people become
offended by asking for identification, be they 21 or 85 but we have found that
that's the case. Men more so than women. Sometimes a confrontation arlses
between a clerk and a customer simply for asking the question when in fact the
answer is obvious. And untll we figure out a way to solve that problem, I thlnk
we'~'e going to have to stick with the guidelines that have been set up.
Actually Robert Schafer who ls the drug and alcohol kind the of the guru at the
University of Minnesota is the one that has set this program up. Sharp
individual. They're studied all these, the good, the bad, the pluses, the
minuses and this is what we run with. We have to. Any suggestions that we
could receive from anybody, including the Council of course would be more than
welcomed as this ls an issue that we've wrestled with for a number of years.
It's a difficult issue to deal with.
Hayor Chmiel: ()kay. Anyone else?
Councilman Wing: Did you want to call on Deputy King?
Hayor Chmiel: If he'd like, sure. Would you like to come up Larry?
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Larry King: He's already issued my disclaimer so I won't say anything more
about that. But any questions about scheduling or any of the duties we have
within MGM, I could probably answer those.
Councilman Wing: Can you at all represent a deputy that served Chanhassen for
decades wlth a question?
Larry King: I was assigned to Chanhassen for about 12 years.
Councilman Wing: Yes sir. All I wanted to know, Larry we had 3 right in a row.
MGM, Brook's and Holiday all had this same violation occur in a short period of
time. You've been in the city a lot and worked wlth us a lot. Were these random
historic events or might we have a problem? Might there be a need to clamp down
in your oplnlon? I mean here's 1, 2, 3. They happen random but maybe these
things are going on constantly up until someone brought'attention to it. Would
you conslder these irrelevant events or something to be clamped down on and
watched much closer from this point on?
Larry King: Even one sale, I don't know if you could call it irrelevant but I
think in the world of realities, there's always been and probably will always be
some under aged purchase and consumption untll the system's developed that's
full proof. As long as there's human beings involved in the sale, there will be
some mlstakes over tlme. From an enforcement standpoint, I would be most
alarmed if we were gettlng consistent information or responsible individuals
reporting somebody regularly selllng to individuals under aged. Or people of
age who were supplying. Those are leads that law enforcement, we foilow up on
on a regular basls. But from the store's standpoint, we were hlred by MGM to do
one thing and one thing only and that was to stay at the front of the door. We
don't look for shoplifters. Generally we don't help carry out unless the stock
guy's backed up but we're basically there for one purpose. It's to stay at the
front of the store and to watch for under aged purchasing or false
identification issues. That's what we've done to the best of our ability but to
thls day I can't stand before you and tell you that I'm full proof elther.
There may have been nights I've been on duty there and someone may have slipped
through that I thought was old enough too. Unfortunately it does occur. I
don't see it as a problem right now and I think spot checking certainly is a way
of keeplng the lndustry on lt's toes. I don't say that that's wrong. It's just
again a world of reality. It does happen unfortunately.
Councilman Wing: I think the Council's kind of called a red alert here and I'm
just saying, might we be able to call off the red alert a little bit? You're
not seelng a blg flag waving?
Larry King: No. In the 12 years I've worked here, I never received any
information that anybody was intentionally selllng under age in the clty. We
did have some other problems with on sale locations and we dealt with those
dlrectly but never wlth any of the off sell.
Councilman Wing: I think really what you're saying is the intent is just not to
sell to an under aged individual. That's really not the lntent of the store.
Just to make another whatever it is for whatever they're buying. But we're so
strong lnto the standpoint of our drug task force withln the clty and all these
things all tie in together and somehow if we can keep kids out of this town from
Council Meeting _ April 8, 199[
bu>,ing, that's what we really have to do. That's the main intent of the Council
~:'; we].3. We're not here to public~lly ridicule. That's not the intent. But we
cio want to ~ee that the checks are made on anyone that looks anywhere close or
~hose tha~ you have question o~' sometimes you think maybe they're old but yet
maybe they should be checked. I think that's a very important thing for us to
h,'.~v~~. within the City of chanhassen. Not just an easy spot to stop and pick it
up because that was indicated from the individual who said, I can go anywhere
and buy and I'm under age. And he said okay, let's see. Show me and they did.
And this wasn't thru. onty place. This wasn't the only town. It was all over.
L_~rry l(i. ng: This has occurred in the past. In the 6 years, I've worked there 9
years and the 6 years I've been responsible for the scheduling, personally I've
made dozens of arrests Jn the store fei- people wi(h either false identification
or- for already purchasing and so from an enforcement standpoint ue do take a
very ~ggres$ive stand. Mr. Larson's also been very firm about anybody that's
belJigerent or even wi. th a bad attitude in the store and we've asked those
poopJ,e to step out even tl~ough they're of age. The issue has been one of being
obnoxious or whatever to a clerk so from his standpoint he's very conservative
on the entire issue. Mhether it's under age consumption or any type of behavior
that relates to alcohol of' abusive substances. We have dozens of arrest reports
documented. I don't think we'd have the time tonight to go through all the
statistics but personally I've arrested dozens and I know the other 8 officers
that have worked there, they've also been involved in the similar- type of
arrests.
Mayor Chm.1. el: Thsnk you. Anyone else'?
Cou~cilman Mason: Just in general, I was one of the people that did some
rambling about 'th~s 2 weeks ago and ~ do appreciate the fact that it's, I was
just ~alkin9 with a friend of mine who used to bartend and he was telling me how
difficult it is with that issue of knowing where the line is. I appreciate the
~c~. f. hat you folks came in and talked about it. I think it's clear you guys
are trying to do what you can do. I recognize it's a very difficuJt problem and
I appreciate you coming in tonight. Reinforcing what I've kind of felt about
your organization anyway. So thanks.
Mayor chmiel: One other point I'd like to bring up is, I would like to see
Brook's Food Market, being they're not here this evening, Z want to see them at
our next Council meeting.
Councilman Workman: I guess I hadn't heard it explained the way Rich explained
it and myself being I think the youngest person on the Council. Up until not
that ).ong ago I was getting, if I went into a place where they didn't know me,
they would card me.
Councilwoman Oimler: Right fully so.
Mayor Chmiel: You've gel a baby face is what she's saying.
Councilman Workman: Yeah, I have the Larry King look. But you know, it's cute
and it's fun arid you know when I'm really old llke 45 I'll really appreciate
that but when I'm 25 and I'm 26 now it's not so cute anymore that I'm getting
c;trded and you want to get a little respect you know. Z'm going to be 32 this
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
year and I still get the feeling if I go into a store where they don't know me
that they're going to ask me. And you know, I can remember after a hot summer
day after going into a store like that and somebody much younger than myself
telling me or presenting to me, I want to see your ID. I didn't start a fist
fight but it was like you know, I'm getting a little tired of this and you get
your eyre up a little bit. $o I never really had it explained to me but I did
have it explained to me like this, because I asked the person. I said why are
you carding me? Do I look like I'm 187 They said it's not that you look like
you're 18 if you're 28. It's that there's a lot of 18 year olds that look like
they're 28. And so then I felt good and they got me the beck out of the store.
But I mean, because it did become a point with me because it was just happening
all too often. Did I go in with that dumb look on my face or whatever. What's
the problem? Am I looking her in the eye or something? But I do want to
reinforce the Brook's thing. I think we've had some cigarette sales problems
there also. Maybe there's some leadership problems down there. I don't know
what kind of action we can take to, May 1st is the effective date of the liquor
licenses probably but I would be all for strong demands, if in fact they're not
taking the Council serious in this matter. I do appreciate the gentlemen that
have come in and helped us to rectify the problem.
Mayor Chmiel: Is there anyone else wishing to address this? This is a public
hearing as I mentioned. If hearing none, I'd like a motion to close the public
hearing.
Councilman Wing moved, Councilwoman Dimler seconded to close the public hearing.
All voted in favor and the motion carried. The public hearing was closed.
Mayor Chmiel: Any further discussions?
Councilman Wing: I would move not approving the Brook's Superette license
pending their appearance before the City Council prior to May 1st.
Mayor Chmiel: With the approval of the MGM and Holiday?
Councilman Wing: Yes. Approval of MGM and Holiday.
Don Ashworth: This, if I may Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Chmiel: Yes.
Don Ashworth: Following our last meeting I felt that the Council's intent was
to try to discuss with each of the owners and so this was not established as a
hearlng under which you would deny a particular application. It was my bellef
that if ue ended up not having a response from the owners, you would still have
a 2 week period of tlme to our next meetlng, to send a formal notice and at the
end of, or I should say at our next meetlng if Brook's at that time would decide
not to attend agaln, you'd be in a posltlon to deny that application but it
should not occur this evening.
Councilman Wing: That covers the intent of my motion. I withdraw that motion
then accordingly.
Hayor Chmiel: Okay. Anyone second that motion?
C~ty Council Meeting - hpril 8, 1991
Councilmar, Workman: I second that non motion.
Mayor Chmiel: Alright. I guess all we have to do is move right along. Is that
right Roger?
Roger Knutson: Yeah. Just vote on the motion.
Councilwoman Oimler: I'd just like to say without a motion here, just a couple
comments and I know now that the two applicants that did come in and they have
really explained their procedures and Z thlnk they are doing a good job and this
wa.,_: just an lsolated incident but I do thlnk that because Brook's chose to
ignore it, I do think maybe it is in order because I remember when I made the
motion originally. We didn't even know if it was supposed to be a public hearlng
or not but we did refer to legal counsel at that point and Roger recommended
[hat we have a publlc hearlng. But it was my understanding at that point in
your memo Don that we could at that time deny or do revocation of a license
even. So I do thlnk a motlon ls in order.
Mayor Chmiel: Can I address that just a little? The existing license is still
operating. We have not pulled that.
Councilwoman Oimler~ That's correct.
Mayor Chmiel: And what you're saying is if '[hey are not here by the next
Council meeting that we the~ have that opportunity to withdraw that license from
Brook's?
Cott~ci].woman Dimler; Well it was my understanding that, the motion that I made
was to pass them all except the three that we were golng to.
Mayor Chmiel: And we did that last week. Or 2 weeks ago.
Councilwoman gimlet: Yes. So Brook's right now is not on the list to be, you
know it was not passed with the consent agenda. And it was my understanding now
tha( we have [o make a motion that we will approve Holiday and MGM but because
Brook's dldn't appear, that we wouldn't.
Councilman Wing: Which is still actually just pending.
Mayor Chmiel: Yes. But we're still giving them that opportunity to be present
a( our next council meeting prior to the Hay i deadline?
Councilwoman Dimler: Oh sure. Absolutely. Yes.
Councilman Wing: With a letter I understand being sent?
Mayor Chmiel: That's correct. A letter will be sent requesting that they be
present at that meeting.
Councilwoman $imler: I want to make absolutely sure that we did, that we were
going to move MGM and 14oliday now because I don't think they were included.
Mayor Chmiel: We did move that already.
10
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Councilwoman Dimler: No, I think ue withdrew those three. Last time I'm
talking about. I want to make sure that they are now on.
Mayor Chmiel: That's correct.
Councilwoman Oimler: But Brook's again is still on hold until they appear
before us.
Mayor Chmiel: I ~ould say that that motion is correct.
Don Ashworth: Perhaps staff misunderstood the intent. It was our belief. It
takes the State 30-45 days to complete the licensing process so we initiate a
process here. The Council ends up approving a letter that would go to the
State. The licenses then come back to the City before they're actually given to
each of the owners. It was our assumption that you were allowing the processing
to continue. In other words, for staff to submit the entire list to the State
but with the understanding that ue would meet with the three owners. We looked
at the first meeting, this one as an informal one in which we'd try to get input
from the owners and assuming ue received cooperation, that the Council would
again allow those licenses to be issued. What I'm hearing the Council say is
that you do want to look at a potential revocation associated with Brook's. We
will now send Brook's a formal letter stating that since they did not attend the
informal session, that they need to be here 2 weeks from today as the Council
will consider on that evening formally revocating their license.
Mayor Chmiel: Either approving or revocating.
Don Ashworth: Right. Do you agree Roger?
Roger Knutson: Technically what you're doing is you're not approving a new
license for next year. Not revoking their current license. 3ust not giving
them a license for next year.
Mayor Chmiel: That's correct. Now that there's clarification, I think a motion
is in order.
Don Ashuorth: I was also going to say, I see Brook's as a company store.
Potentially they simply haven't received this letter.
Mayor Chmiel: The manager has jurisdiction over that store and should have been
here.
Don Ashworth: I agree.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay. I would like that as a motion. Someone make the motion?
Councilman Wing: That would be the motion to approve MGM and Holiday?
Mayor Chmiel: Right.
Councilman Wing: And we're really putting on hold Brook's Superette prior to
their appearing before the Council prior to May lst?
ll
City Council Mee. tin9 .- Apl-il 8, J.991
Mayor Chmiel: Right.
Councilman Workman: Second.
Councilman Wing moved, Councilman Workman seconded to approve the 1991/92 liquor
licenses for HGH Liquor Warehouse and Holiday. Brook's Superette uill be put on
hold subject to appearing before the City Council prior to Nay 1, 1991. All
voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
APPROVE CONTRACT AHENDNENT ~I..FOR HNTB, AUDUBON ROAD SOUTH, PROJECT 89-18.
Char].es Folch: Mr. Mayol', members of the Council, this item was presented
before you at the last Clty Counc11 meetlng and was tabled pendlng further
J. nfo~ma[ioll and a better explanation for this contract amendment and a
description of the remaining work to be completed. At my request the project
consultant engineer, Chet Harrison has provided two letters which are included
in your packets. The flrst letter describes, further describes the need for
these additional s~rvices and differentiates which portion of this contract
amendment has actually been performed in 1989 and what portlon ls for remaining
work to be completed this year. The other letter further spells out exactly the
remaining work on the project to be completed and the associated engineering
services. Chet is here tonight to address any questions that, further questions
that you may have on thls matter.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay, let me just ask one specific question. I tried to see you
today but I missed you. The additional 75 hours. We go to another second
billing dated February lgth and under the Construction Engineering Servlces cost
to date. Estimated, project manager was 240 hours. We spent 205. The
estimate to complete is &O for a total of that 265 hours. Now if we had the
estimate at 240, we only spent 205, shouldrl't we have 35 hours plus that we
should have credit for taking that off to the 609 Maybe you can address that?
I was just doing a 11ttle slmple arlthmatic there and I was just.
charJ, es Folch: Maybe Chet would be better familiar to answer that question.
Chet Harrison: Z hope Z can and I apologize for not being at the last Councll
meeting. Z stated so in my letter that I submitted to you and I do apologize
for that because T like to be here to answer these kinds of questions when they
come up originally. What we did in the column of spent hours is actually what
ue have bllled. So we have not bllled you for 240. We have bllled you for 205
so whatt I'm saylng is that to complete I need 60 and in fact I'm asking for an
,-~dditlonal 2.5 hours [o get the project completed over what it was originally
estimated. Does that answer your question?
Hayor Chmiel: Okay. Estimated and completed. You're looking at 60 hours
additional?
Chet Harrison: Right. Zt's actually 25 addition hours from the original
estimate but we haven't spent, we haven't billed you for 240. We've billed you
for 205.
Mayor Chmiel: Alright. Very good. Now some of the other ~hings that I was
looking. For the existing survey of what was done on the road, wasn't all of
12
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
that done at that specific time? With the first coat going down and the survey
being taken completely with the road? Do you understand my question?
Chet Harrison: I'm not sure. We did do a complete survey of the roadway
initially during the initial construction period of time and I can tell you that
Mr. Warren and myself. See I dldn't wlnd up being in charge of this project
until about September and if you'll notice one of the letters that you have here
ls from Mr. Erlksen, my predecessor on this project. I reallzed early on when
I took responsibility for the project that we had grossly under estimated the
amount of time that it was golng to take to survey and I found out slnce then
what happened is, as I stated in this last letter, that we did not really put
costs in there for construction staklng whlch ls basically monumentlng the work
we did out there. What we dld put in there was the dollars we assumed initially
just to put controls in so we could do that survey work. So Mr. Warren and I
were aware of that. I guess the reason that that procedure that we set up
through a letter from Mr. Warren stated that when you get near the contract
amount submit additional costs, if there are some. When you get towards the end
of the project whlch I did do last fall when I saw that we were golng to exceed.
And I came up with about the $53,000.00 that we've spent to date on the project,
not a11owlng for any new dollars for this coming sprlng. As it turns out, the
project not belng completed, we need additional dollars for that. That's what
you're seeing in that additional $12,000.00. I probably st111 didn't answer the
question you asked me but.
Mayor Chmiel: No.
Chet Harrison: Maybe you can help clarify it for me a 11ttle blt.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay. My position was is that originally when the road went in
it was surveyed. We knew exactly where it was golng to be and what the wldth of
that road was also going to be. And I look at this to seeing as there is a
duplication as far as survey ls required. The road ls existing. It's there now
with the first mat on and waiting for the second one to come down. I guess that
is what I was trying to get at. Was whether or not that survey was really
needed but I think what you're saying is that the survey was done at the time
prior to your taking this on. Is that what you're saying?
Chet Harrison: No I'm not. Let me clarify what the surveying processes are and
maybe that wlll help clarlfy things. We initially go out there and survey the
entire road, which we did under design. Which is a $39,000.00 fee or somewhere
in that range. In that we dld a complete survey of the road identifying
everything that exists. In construction what we do is we go out and we stake
physically what's golng to be rebuilt. In this particular case the northern
one-half, or approximately one-half of the roadway was totally reconstructed
wlth curb and gutter. That requires individual stakes for the contractor to go
off of to do that so there's construction staking that's done just for
construction. The southern half of the road, it was more intermittent and
places where we did sloping 11ke in front of the Baranski's property. The
Bongard's property. The Whlte's and so on down the road. Individual yards were
looked at. Special surveying was done for those and that's where the
construction surveying comes in over the original design survey. Does that, am'
I getting?
13
Cft. y Council Meetil~g-. ,qp~'.il ,'t, 1?91
Mayor Chmiel: Ye~:. Now I understand what you're saying.
Che~. Ha'rrison: And a'.; t,!.?, not~.~d her,~., we have about another 80 hours which is
one week's worth of time of a survey crew. Two people to complete any surveying
th,'~i, must bo don~; to b~sic~J, ly put together the recoYd drawings ~nd survey
thil~.,.', to make sure they were put in correctly. That's what the remaining hours
are for.
Mayor Chm~el: Okay. Thank you. ~nyone else? Any addit$onal questions?
Co~nc$~uoman Oimler: I guess somebody can answer this for me. What Ss the
normal procedure when an estimate comes ~n low? ~re we responsib~e or do we
make them st~ck ~o ~hat estimate? hre we respons£ble to make up the d~fference?
Don Ashuorth'- It ali. depends on the contract. ~s I understand this one, if the
hours were ~ess, you would be bL~ling us at those lower hours.
Chet Harrison: Yeah. I guess the best way to explain it is that for design we
did what we call ,a lump sum cost. We said we will do the design for around
$40 .~ 000. 00 but construction ls always an unknown and what we do is we slt down
be¢or:.?, construction starts and say here's what we think has to be done. We meet
wlth Hr. Warren or whoever the City Engineer ls and say thls ls what we thlnk
.i.t':; going ~o take to cio tile job and it's z~n estimate only. This is a very
typical process because of 'the unknowns ulth construction. You can get 1nfo
things you dom~'~ know about. For example, we wound up addlng a storm sewer to
1. his project that we initially uere golng to just run the water off the road out
1hie a cornfield and we declded we don't have an easement to do that. We'd
h..et'ter add a storm sewer. Those are those unknown thlngs that come up durlng
construction. That's why a lot of times design is a lump sum cost because we
have our parameters and there was extra work done in deslgn but you pald us on
,'.~n extra fee. I did al1 the easement documents for yo~ to help Hr. Warren in
ge'i:tJl~g that part of it done. That was an additional fee outside the project.
might add that, if you Zook at the total cost of all the engineering that was
done for this project and take out those dollars spent for speclal additional
things that we did, we did the project for construction and deslgn for about
and to me that's low to moderate price. If you look at that. We dld do those
additional services and that raised it up closer to 20% total fee but those were
fees that would typically be held outslde of a deslgn cost, and belleve me, your
contract with us ls very well defined as to what our role is. What we're going
to do for those fees and there's no loose ends. That's when we come Jn and say
ok~y, you uant us to do ~.;xtra work, that's how it's set up and that's negotiated
on those special fees. Now most of the special extra work we dld uae on an
hourly basis with a not to exceed figure. But again, it wasn't design, I mean
thls was design. It was not construction. Construction ls typically left open
but yet you tell if things are going to look 11ke it's going to go over and Hr.
Warren and I did do that durlng the process.
Councilwoman Dimler-' Thank you.
Mayor Chmie].: Any other. Hearing none, would someone like to make a motion to
accept and approve the contract amendment. Any discussions? I think Z
understand what has really happened here and.
14
City Council Heeting - April B, 1991
Councilman Wing: Mr. Mayor, I'll so move approval of Contract Amendment ~1 for
Audubon Road South, Project 8~-18.
Hayor Chmiel: Okay, I'll second that. Any discussion?
Councilwoman Dimler: I want to thank Mr. Harrison for coming in and explaining
that so well to us.
Councilman Wing: Then I guess I would like to thank the Mayor for asking the
question because there's...that I don't fully understand.
Resolution ~91-28: Councilman Wing moved, Mayor Chmiel seconded to approve
Contract Amendment ~1 with HNTB for the Audubon Road Improvement Project 89-18.
establishing a revised ceiling of $&5,&O0.O0. All voted in favor and the motion
carried unanimously.
AMENDMENT TO SITE PLAN APPROVAL, SIGNAGE FOR THE CHANHASSEN HEDICAL ARTS
BUILDING, 470 WEST ?STH STREET, ROBERT COPELAND.
Paul Krauss: This is the second time in the past year I suppose that you've had
some overview of signage on this building. Last year there was a clarification
on how many tenant slgns were to be allowed and it was, as ! recall, 5 per side.
There was also a monument sign that had been approved with the original proposal
but not yet built. A few months ago the applicant came to us with a proposal to
enlarge that monument sign such that it could accommodate another tenant space.
Also there was a minor change, an increase in size in a directory sign around
the back of the building. As staff ue had some concerns about this for several
reasons. We belleved it vlolated the orlglnal lntent of the plan that had been
approved. We also had a concern that monument signage really should be building
oriented or slte orlented and not have tenant spaces. We took that concern to
the Planning Commission. They echoed some of our sentiments and recommended
denial of the original plan. The Plannlng Commission though did outllne some
suggestions for a compromise and it wasn't really well developed at the Planning
Commission meetlng but the compromise was something along the lines that the
monument sign would remain in it's current size without any tenant signage and
that there would be additional slgnage bands placed on the bulldlng to
accommodate 1 or 2 additional tenants. I since had an opportunity to sit down
with the applicants along with the Clty Manager to discuss that compromise
further and the plan that you have tonight is an outgrowth of that. Basically
what it proposes to do is to exchange the mlddle slgn band that has that
temporary, I think lt's Chanhassen Dental with a telephone number on it for 3
tenant sign bands. The differences in these sign bands ls that they would go
from 2 feet to 4 feet in height and under covenants that have been provided,
they would allow logos and color. All the rest of the signage on the bulldlng
would be required to be white. The one exception is the Goldstar Mortgage sign
which is obviously already gold but the covenants that have been drafted would
require that that be changed to white face consistent with the rest of the
bullding as soon as that tenant changes and that's fairly common practlce when
you adopt covenants. There's a lot of money spent on these things and as long
as you achleve over tlme what you're trying to, that's pretty common. Staff
indicated that we were fairly comfortable with the concept. We proposed some
changes to the covenants themselves. We belleve that there should be a
prohibition against the trailer mounted temporary signs and signs in the
15
u[ndo,~. The applicant did ask if the covenants could allow temporary leasing
si.~ns. We thought tl~at ua:s reasonable. I'm ~ure that klnd of a compromise can
easJ. ly be worked out. Before ~riting thi~ up for the Clty councll however, we
had o~r Planning Commission meeting last we~k and I informally ran this
compromised p~'oposal ~n front of them. They agreed that the concept was one
tha~ they supported but they had some different opinions about the colored
sJ. gnage and the use of larger sign panels ~n the mlddle than had been previously
u:-~ed on the building. They did not have an opportunity to take an official
~.osi~.on~ It was not an officlal action item for them. ~hat we've done is
w~'ve written thls up for the City Cow,c11 basically with two alternative
opt.ions For you to consider. One would be approval of the sign package as
proposed with a couple of modifications to the covenants raised by staff. The
other would b,~s~cally, yo~.~'d give your feedback to the Plannlng Commission and
haw thi~ sent back to them fo~' a detailed review and possibly approval. It's
possible that the Plat, nj. rig ~ommlsslon could be authorized to finally approve
thi~ or they could come back through the process again for your final approval.
At this point I'm flndlng it rather difficult to glve you detailed
recommendations on what to propose. ~e're working outside of the sign ordinance
~)l~ thJ. s one. Thls was a co,dj, ilo, [hat was attached to the site plan approval
so it's really thaf, thing that takes precedence and not the sign ordinance whlch
has obvlo~s problems that we've all talked about numerous times. Personally
~ hav~ some rCreferences with that but that's what they devolve into. I mean
Jt's~ tough to make a professional judgment on what looks good, ~hat doesn't look
good and ! would reaJ. ly rather defer those kinds of determinations up to you or
over to the Plan,lng Commission or both of you. Planning ~udgments are not
oft~sn times subjective. I like to think that there's some professional judgment
behind ~hem and Lhis ls gettlng 1,to an area where lt's a 11ttle more dlfflcuit
to make ~hat so basically I'd like to defer ~his subjective analysis... I'm
carrying forward the concerns of the Planning Commission but at this polnt those
are unofficial and I don'f, have Minutes of that meeting. I c~n just relate wh~t
t~as spoken, With that I'1]. turn it back over to you Mr. Mayor.
Hayo~' Chmie],: Okay Pa~zl. Thank you. Any discussion from Council?
Councilman Mason: Why the need to, the ,~iddle I believe it's $ignage area C.
The one in the'middle that is proposed that loges will be allowed. Why does
that have ~o go from 2 to ~ feet?
Paul Krauss: t guess Councilman Mason I'd like to defer that to the applicant,
I)ob f;ope]and who's here tonlght.
Bob Copeland: I'm Bob Copeland. I'm one of the owners of the building and your
question was, why the need for the extra helght there? If you can see on the
drawing here, what we have currently approved is a sign panel that's about 2
feet high which allows one 11ne of letters only. And we want to have the
ab.i. 11ty to have two lines of letters. In other words, chanhassen Oental for
examp.le would be chanhassen over the word Dental. And then this also allows for
va'flows ].egos whicl~ won't fit on a 2. foot high slgn.
Councilman Wi. rig: But if we were to pick on American Fatally, their envelopes
h~ve that logo in ~ one inch size and I could recognize it easily. So now
expand that envelope out to 2 feet and that's not a small logo. I don't care,
I don't t~nderstand what you're sayi~g here,
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Bob Copeland: Well, let me try it again. We've got, this is a drawing of the
existing situation. This is the area that we're talking about. The center.
Currently there lsa 2 foot hlgh by 24 feet wlde sign panel that we can put a
slgn within. That allows for one row of letters.
Councilman Wing: Or two rows of letters at half the size.
Bob Copeland: Well, practically the letters would be too small to make it worth
whlle. So the ldeals that, plus most logos would not flt.
Councilman Mason: You can make a logo fit any size you want it to. I mean I
thlnk Dick's polnt is well taken. I mean there are logos an 1rich high. I mean
I see your point about visibility. Oon't get me wrong there but I don't think
you can state that a logo won't flt on that.
Bob Copeland: Well, it depends on the logo. And what we want to do is have
some flexibility here and so we aren't going to use any more than required. We
want the ability to have three tenant names here and their logos and have two
11nes, if necessary, if that tenant's name and logo requlres lt. We're st111
way under the 15~ allowed. We were at, with the previous situation we were at
11ke 2g~ and we go up to about 53~ of the allowed. So even if we filled up the
whole 4 feet by 58 feet, whlch we aren't going to fill it a11. Even if we did
f111 it all up, we would st111 be less than 60~ of the allowed 50~ of the wall
area.
Mayor Chmiel: Bob, what is the distance between your upper story windows and
your lower story windows?
Bob Copeland: I don't know what it is right off hand but it's approximately,
there's a little panel above the lower windows and from the top of that panel to
the bottom of thls wlndow ls approximately 6 feet.
Councilman Mason: It says it's 10 inches on either side of the 4 foot sign so
what ls
Mayor Chmiel: With what you're showing there, are you showing that according to
scale?
Bob Copeland: This is scale. What we have found is that, when we started the
project that a couple things turned out to be a little different than we had in
mind. One of them ls that our average tenant is smaller than we had anticipated
so we have more tenants. And secondly, due to the marketplace or whatever,
these tenants are more interested in slgnage than we had anticipated. I thlnk
that it's...tenants want slgns. And in order to get tenants in the building, we
need more slgnage. That's all there ls to lt. And we thlnk that thls center
area is available and this was something that the Planning Commission suggested
informally that we look at using to accommodate the needs of the tenants.
Mayor Chmiel: Paul, in one part of the memo that we have here, it indicated
that they objected to the increased slze from 2 to 4 feet wlde of the middle
sign panels. The Commission.
17
City Council Meeting .. April 8, 1991
Paul Krauss: Mr. Mayor, that's accurate but that's a reflection of comments
that they were making which were all over the board and that's my interpretation
of what they were saying. There was no official action on that.
Mayor Chmiel: Alright.
Councilwoman Oimler: I had a question of Bob, Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Chmiel: Yes.
Councilwoman Oimler: Bob, would you tell me how many more possible tenants you
could have that would want a sign? How much space you have available?
Bob Copeland: Well, right now today there are two spaces vacant. So if each of
those two tenants wanted signage, then we would have 3 here. We would have
Chanhassen Bental. They're already in but don't have a permanent slgn. Then we
would have one sign for each of the two remaining tenants.
Councilwoman Dimler: And they'd all be in the mlddle sectlon there?
Bob Copeland: Those three would be in that middle section.
Councilwoman Dimler: Then you would be filled to capacity?
Bob Copeland: Then we'd be 100~ full.
Mayor Chmiel: With those three you wouldn't have any other vacancies?
Bob Copeland: True.
Cottncilman Mason: There'd never be more than three logos up there at one tlme?
Bob Copeland: Not if you adopt what is ill the sign covenants.
Councilwoman Dimler: I have a questlon on the back of the building too. Are
you asking for the same thing on the back?
Bob Copeland: We're not asklng for any change on the back of the buildlng with
the exception of, Z thlnk our directory sign that we submitted is 6 inches
higher than what was previously approved and Z don't know, Z don't want to speak
for Paul but Z think they're uilllng to say that's fine.
Paul Krauss: Yes, that was supported by the Planning Commission.
Councilman Mason: I guess I would hate, we have this staff recommendation A
that we can go ahead and approve it or I'd just as soon thls went back to the
Planning Commission I think. I have some feelings about it but I think they've
been behlnd thls the whole way and I thlnk they should have some more lnput on
it.
Councilman Wing: Mayor, could I attempt a new guy motion because I've been
sltting through the Planning Commission meetings and with due respect to Mr.
Copeland, his rights and the buslness rights and the Clty's rlghts, I'd 11ke to
18
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
move recommendation of B which would allow, which would approve their revised
signage but return it to the Planning Commission. But I ~ould like to add to
that. That the Council make special note that that was a landmark gateway
building. The bullding has a very narrow street setback.. Somewhat negating
hlgh visibility needs and the Councll requests careful revlew of the 4 foot sign
request prior to approval. And I'd be happy to move with whatever they decide
at that time.
Councilwoman Bimler: Just for clarification. Do you want it to come back to
Council for final approval?
Councilman Wing: In my own opinion, no. I think it's gone so far now, I think
they could deal with it. They need direction. We're saying we are approving
thls. The only debate ls carefully look at this bulldlng before you allow the 4
feet. That's a11. The only restriction might be that they didn't go along with
the ~ foot.
Mayor Chmiel: Well, can I just throw something in? I would like the Planning
Commission to do this and I go along with staff recommendation B. I would still
thlnk we should want to see what the finalized thought ls and have it come back
to Council.
Councilman Wing: Could I leave that motion intact then with my comments about
the gateway building, ...narrow setback. Requesting a review of the ~ foot
request and that their flnal flndings come to Counc117
Mayor Chmiel: Right.
Councilwoman Oimler: I'll second that.
Mayor Chmiel: It's been moved and second. Any further discussion?
Bon Ashworth: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Chmiel: Yes.
Don Ashworth: Just a point of clarification. I know the timing is important
for the applicant. I think that the process that Paul has laid out narrowly
sets forth the slgnage package, etc.. Going back to the Planning Commission,
staff would kind of see that as, so they would be working out the details. In
your motion ls there a way in whlch that actlon could become I guess the rule
you mlght say for this applicant and the notification back to Council simply be
just that. More of a notification rather than agaln one more approval level.
We're going to add about a month to this is what I'm afraid of.
Bob Copeland: If your comments on our behalf, I appreciate that but we'd just
as soon not have the Planning Commission have the final say. Even if it means a
delay.
Don Ashworth: Alright. 5o a month?
Bob Copeland: It's not good but we don't want the Commission to have the final
say.
19
City Council Meeting -- April 8, 1991
Mayor Chmiel: One of the additional things too and I like the other portion of
it as well. To prohibit window and exterior ground mounted temporary signage.
z think that too should probably be entailed with that particular motion. What
I looked at was what Paul had in here to prohibit window and exterior ground
mounted temporary signage. That would be filed and permanently recorded against
the property. We don't need that but I think if ue had that.
Paul Krauss: Mr. Mayor, two things. First in the interest of expediting this,
if Mi'. Copeland is available, we'll roll this over to next week's Planning
Commission meeting. I mean everybody's familiar with this. It's not that
difficult to get it back on.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay, why don't ue do that.
Paul Krauss: The second thing is, besides the size of the sign, the other thing
the Planning Commission talked about was the introduction of color in the middle
here. If the City Council had any direction to the Planning Commission on your
sense of that, that might also be useful.
Councilman Wing: If we're approving the request and the request has color on
this one. And Paul, this is in due respect to the sign ordinance which exists
but maybe doesn't really exist yet so I don't think ue can draw those lines at
this point.
Councilwoman Dimler: My comments on logos. I think that they should be allowed
because they do identify a business and we don't want to stop anyone from doing
business in this town. As far as how big they have to be, I'm not sure if I
agree with the 4 feet.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay. Any other discussion? Would you accept that friendly
amendment to prohibit window and exterior ground mounted temporary signage?
Councilman Wing: Absolutely.
Mayor Chmiel: Would the second, friendly amendment?
Councilwoman Dimler: Uh-huh.
Mayor Chmiel: Any other discussion?
Councilman Mason: Could I hear the motion just one more time?
Mayor Chmiel: Sure.
Councilman Wing: The motion is to take staff recommendation B with concern for
the building's gateway position and appearance, it's narrow setback and a
careful review of the 4 foot sign prior to approval. And ue added the friendly
amendment to prohibit window and exterior ground mounted temporary signage.
Councilman Mason: Thank you.
Councilman Wing moved, Councilwoman Dimler seconded to approve the revised
signage concept for the Medical Arts Building as outlined in the attached
2O
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
documents with concern for the building's gateway position and appearance, it's
narro# setback and a careful revie# of the 4 foot sign prior to approval. Also,
subject to mod1fications of the covenants to prohibit window and exterior ground
mounted temporary signage. All voted in favor with Councilman Workman
abstaining and the motion carried.
ACCEPT FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR IHPROVEHENTS TO WEST 79TH STRAIT EAST OF HIGHWAY
101; CALL PUBLIC HEARING, PRO3ECT 91-B.
charles Folch: Mr. Mayor, members of the Council. In your packets you have a
feasibility study report which is completed for improvements to 79th Street east
of Great Plains 81vd.. The improvements include a bituminous overlay, concrete
curb and gutter, which will improve the street's serviceability and extend it's
life. The drainage improvements consistent with storm sewer. Street lighting
and also landscaping along the north and south boulevard areas. The estimated
total project cost is $75,353.00. And from an engineering standpoint the
project is considered feasible. The project cost is proposed to be financed
through special assessments to benefitting properties. Those benefitting
properties are all of Lot 2 and portions of Lot I and 3 of the proposed Gateway
First Addition. Now the method for the assessment is based on a front foot
cost. For the street improvement that turns out to be $177.39 per front foot
and the appropriate storm sewer benefit has been prorated between Lots 2 and 3
and the associated costs on that are $150.48 per front foot. So the total
project cost assessments are as follows: Lot 1, $13,911.11; Lot 2, $39,822.44;
and Lot 3, $21,619.45. At this time I request that the Council receive this
feasibilty report and call a public hearing for the April 22nd City Council
meeting.
Mayor Chmiel: Good. Thank you. Anyone wishing to address that?
Councilman Mason: Will there be someone here from Van Ooren-Hazard-Stallings
that night?
Charles Folch: I believe Scott Harri in fact was going to try and be here
tonight but he will be there on the 22nd.
Councilman Mason: People are going to laugh but I would like to know how come
they always do these things and they don't run them back to back? There's
always the blank paper. It's a mlnor issue.
Mayor Chmiel: Half a tree.
Councilman Mason: That's right. Every little bit. Thank you.
Mayor Chmiel: Good. Can I have a motion?
Councilman Mason: I'll make a motion to accept the feasibility study to
improvements for West 79th Street, Project 91-8 and to call a public hearing.
Councilwoman Dimler: Second.
21
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Resolution ~91-29: Councilman Mason moved, Councilwoman Dimler seconded to
accept the feasibility study for the proposed street and drainage improvements
to West 79th Street, project 91-8, and that a public hearing on this feasibility
study be called for the Apri! 22, 1991 City Council meeting. All voted in favor
and the motion carried unanimously.
PRESENTATION OF THE EASTERN CARVER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION STUDY, ROGER GUSTAFSON,
COUNTY ENGINEER AND LARRY DALLAM, HNTB.
Paul Krauss: I'm sure you will recall that we've worked, Gary Warren before me
and then myself with Gary, on the Eastern Carver County Transportation Study. It
was a locally sponsored and directed effort to get a handle on our
transportation needs, which obviously are a very rapidly growing part of the
County. Zt was particularly needed too because Z think as we've seen from the
past, the Metro Council projections for this area have never caught up with the
area. It didn't only apply to population in households. It also applies to the
transportation modeling effort to a large extent. In fact, development in the
entire southwestern suburban area and suburban areas in general aren't reflected
by the Metro Council's transportation modeling effort too well at all and
they're in the process of doing a complete new origin and destination study.
Why do people travel? Basically the modeling effort that we have now and Larry
ca)) get into this a little bit more if need be, is based on everybody living in
the suburbs and working in Minneapolis. Well that obviously doesn't work
anymore. Travel behavior has changed quite a bit, except for the Hayor. Well
we've basically adopted this study by way of the fact that it's incorporated
into our Comprehensive Plan. We use this as the basis for our transportation
section along with a report prepared by Southwest Metro Transit. There was a
meeting held around Christmas time, an informational meeting that fell on a
night that we had a Council meeting so none of us could be there and I had meant
to schedule Roger and Larry to come to you directly and give you an overview of
this study and respond to some of your questions. This was the first time we
actually were able to do this. I understand Chaska had a meeting like this a
month or two ago and it's a good opportunity for them to talk. I should also
point out too that we not only used this information in our comprehensive plan,
but we've used it to review two plats so far in terms of what our expectations
should be for right-of-way requirements. We've also used it with the downtown
transportation study for Strgar-Roscoe. They're using this in their, employing
this in their modeling efforts so that it accurately reflects the area. With
that I think Roger, did you want to give some introductory comments? Roger's
wearing a suit and tie, so I guess he must think you're pretty important.
Mayor Chmiel: I'm thoroughly impressed.
Roger Gustafson: We asked Paui how ue should dress tonight. He said he wore a
suit so ue came with sports coats. Thank you Mr. Mayor and members of the
Council for taking some time on your agenda to converse with us about this
~tudy. Paul has done an excellent job giving you some preview of what ue want
to talk to you tonight about. I guess I would like to just read the mission
statement that was developed for this study as an introduction to it. That
statement basically appI£es to ,ot only the study but I think to transportation
in the future as we go forward in the County. The statement is cooperatively
and collectively provide an adequate street and highway system to serve the
projected population and employment growth in Carver County. With that mission
22
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
statement in place, I really do have to compliment the two disciplines, planning
and engineering that worked on this study. In particular I want to thank the
efforts of the communities that participated because they basically brought
forth data that was really needed to develop traffic projections in the study.
Now that data was actually pinpointing the population and employment was
expected to be in the year 2010 in eastern Carver County. And from those
numbers we developed projection growths as far as trafflc onto various corridors
of a base system and again to recognize the types of improvements that would be
necessary over that period of tlme. And those improvements in the study are
identified both as capacity improvements and safety improvements. Capacity
improvements are especially identified in the report to glve us a real look at
where we think 2 lane corridors will have to be expanded to 4 lane corridors and
where corridors will have to be bullt where none exlst today. Safety basically
identifies those concerns that we have relative to shoulder widths, curves,
speed 11mits, trafflc control such as stop signs or slgnals. Those types of
things that need to be addressed as traffic increases in the county. One thing
I really want to mentlon ls that we really look at completion of this study as
being a sprlng board to several more decisions that are in front of us. Very
important ones, the ones you're working through now that are inoluded in your
comprehensive plans are very critical. I guess this study was initiated after
conversation with all the administrators of the communitles...lnvolved to
attempt to bring back consistency in our comprehensive plans. It was there when
they were developed 15 years ago or so but in tlme everything beglns to change
and we tried to overlay comprehensive plans of the County and the cities. We
dldn't get a good view of what everyone was thlnking and it made it very
difficult to do traffic planning because what the County looked at was a
corrldor for the future, maybe wasn't consistent wlth one of the citles. And so
it made it very difficult for us to look at a 10 year program whlch would
lnclude bulldlng a roadway that was obviously not in the comprehensive plan of
the communities that maybe would be impacted. It also was becoming more
inconsistent as far as functional assignment to the corridors. We looked at
several corridors that had functional classifications that from local up to
collector up to mlnor arterial. That makes it very confusing as far as
understanding what actually should be built. So we hope that we're moving
closer to having consistency and I think after everyone works through thelr
comprehensive plans, there will maybe be a few differences but I think the
magnitude of those differences wlll be greatly decreased. Once that's
accomplished of course we're going to have to look at some jurisdictional
problems, potentially where some thlnk that a clty street should be a county
road. Maybe a county road should be a trunk highway and maybe a trunk highway
should be a clty street. Those types of thlngs need to be addressed. System
designations. What should be a federal aid urban corridor. What should be a
county state ald highway corridor. What should be MSAS. Movlng forward on
this, cities that are involved...state initiated as far as revising their
systems and requesting mileage be added and also changes taking place. It's
unfortunate that you can't just stop time and get everything in place and then
say start the clock again but we are running a complicated buslness where some
of those things occur out of what we call ideal sequence. The other thing that
Paul mentioned that ls in the future but also happening now ls the corridor
preservation because of the definition of the function of these corridors, comes
the need to preserve land as lt's belng developed. Or actually maybe
constructing a first phase of what would be an ultimate roadway. Something as
we're seelng happen on Powers Blvd. or CR 17 south of TH 5 which lt's
23
City Council Heeting- ApT'il 8, 1991
development is happening. We're seeing it begin to move towards 4 lane type of
facility rather than a 2 lane and with the cooperation between the County and
the city and the developers in that area over the last couple of years, we were
able lo at least move some earth into place. Some soils into place for that
eventual expansion of that road corridor. Then we have to look at of course
funding strategies and actual improvements that will go forward. To accomplish
that I am very hopeful that the Transportation Technical Committee that worked
at putting together this first technical report will stay as an active body and
will be able to furnish the cities and the counties with some valueable
professional opinion as to each of these topics that I have mentioned. I guess
a group that can really be of assistance to elected people that serve the
eastern area of the County. With that I would like to introduce Larry Dallam.
Larry Dallam is the Principle Transportation and Research Planner for the firm
of Howard, Needles, Tammen and Bergendorf and that is the firm that has been
preparing the Trunk Highway 212 Environmental Impact Statement. This study was
made economically feasible because of that work on 212. It literally vas a
refinement of the work that went into that Environmental Impact Statement as far
as looking at traffic projections. Now Larry has 36 years of experience in the
transportation field. 15 years in highway and bridge engineering and 21 years
of transportation planning. Larry received his Doctorate in 1966 and during his
years of civil engineering work has been a professor at the University of
Missouri for 13 years and has served as the Director of Transportation Planning
for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council for 11 of those 36 years. He has
several national publications and has served on many local and national
technical committees so we were pleased to have someone of Larry's experience
and knowledge be able to greatly assist the technical committee as ue asked
questions and attempted to understand a very complex subject such as projecting
traffic 20 years from nov based on what ue know about traffic today. And those
numbers, as you'll understand when Larry talks to you, become very large
reflecting the future employment tripling and future population doubling in that
20 year period of time. So with that I'd like to introduce Dr. Dallam.
Larry Dallam: Thank you. Does the...if I stand over here? As both Paul and
Roger mentioned, part of the impetus for this study came from the 212 EIS and
some of the local impacts from the traffic forecasts of that exercise and also I
think a lack of north/south continuity in the area and east/vest sort of depend
upon TH 41 and TH 5, and to a minor extent 212. So that vas an impetus and also
as Roger mentioned, the fact that you had inconsistency particularly in your
Comp Plan about roadway designations. Take Pioneer Trail for example. Chaska
has it as a minor arterial. Chanhassen as a collector and Carver County local
street. And then Eden Prairie had it as something else. But the right-of-way
requirements as well as speed limits and number of lanes and so forth, varies
dramatically as you go from a local street. One would allow access to every
driveway and the other would prohibit it so both in terms of mobility and in
terms of access, there vas obviously an inconsistency that needed to be
addressed. Lyman Boulevard was another example where Chaska and Carver County
had it as a minor arterial and Chanhassen as a collector. I want to begin sort
of with the demographic forecast because the accuracy of the traffic forecast is
dependent upon the social economic input. How accurate that is. And this gives
you the population of employment. In the study area, if you add up all the
Hetro Council estimates of population in the eastern part of Carver County,
about 35,000 people and that is expected to be 61,300 based on forecasts. Now
as Paul mentioned, the Hetro Council has been hesitant to acknowledge the
24
City Council Heeting - April 8, 1991
rapidity of roads in the suburban fringe of the metropolitan area. Of course
part of that...
(There was a tape change at this point in the discussion.)
Larry Oallam: ... For Chaska they had 9,300 and used 11,000. So the traffic
volumes that result from our analysis would be higher than what's in the 212 EI$
by about 20% to 25~, depending on the roadway. In the 1990 census that estimate
of almost 35,000 actually turned out in 1990 to be about 36,000 and the largest
growth between 1989 and 1990 was in Chanhassen where you went to 11,700 instead
of the i0,500. So about iO~ of the growth occurred between 1989 and 1990. Well
almost all the growth occurred in Chanhassen but you had about a lOX growth just
in that one year. Now what we did with the population was allocate it to
traffic analysis zones so what we did was in the study area, we started out with
the Hetropolitan Council's zones that are in the regional model of which in this
area there were 13. 13 Hetropolitan Council zones. For the 212 ElS we
subdivided those into 44 but for this study we put that 13 and made 113 and then
because in the 212 ElS there was more concern, the emphasis was more on the
regional system and the minor arterials, the major minor arter'iais like 41 and 5
and some of those. TH 7 but since we were interested down to the collector
level so we needed to know the traffic that would be coming out of those to more
places on the local system and this is where your staff played such a vital
role. They came up with, for each of those zones, what the population of
employment would be by the loading point from the center of the zone to each of
those roadways. And knowing where the growth was likely to occur and what
percentage of it would load onto Lake Lucy Road versus Pleasant View and so
forth so that was critical and I think even though we started 3 years ago.
I remember the meeting with Don was there negotiating that contract. A lot of
the time was spent in coordination on the input which I am a firm believer in.
I mean the more time you spend in the beginning, the better the results are at
the end and you don't come back and say, well I don't like that and we should
have spent more time where people have a tendency to rush to solve the problem
before they really... So that was very helpful. Once we had done that, we
determined what the base system would need to be to accommodate that proposed
development and this graphic indicates that. Where the orange line, the wider
is a metropolitan highway system. TH 7 and 212 and the red lines are minor
arterials and the blue collectors. Now we've shown here a new TH 41 crossing at
the Hinnesota River but that was not included in the model because that was
after the year 2010. If it happens, it will happen at that point in time. But
what was included was...so if you travel from western or southwestern Hinnesota,
those opportunities to cross the river existed in the model.
Krauss: If I could add to that point too. Here's where the coordination took
place between the Comprehensive Plan and the model. In the lighter blue color
is where you see the collector roads. The collector road plan in Chanhassen is
what we developed for our comprehensive plan. For example there's 2 collector
connections between Galpin and TH 41. There's the new frontage roads that are
being proposed to be extended out parallel to TH 5. All those were figured into
the model because of how ue were able to interrelate on this.
Larry Oallam: Yes. So the network that we assigned the traffic to was not the
existing network of what is anticipated in the future. I might just point out
that, very qulckly in terms of classification. As you know the Metropolitan
Z5
City Colir~cil Me:sling - April 8, 1991
Highway system, those roadways are intended to serve trips from out of state and
region wide. Long trips... Whereas the minor arterials simply is from one city
to another, a county level highway. There again the emphasis is on mobility.
...ar, d provide access to major development generators such as shopping centers,
office and things like that... And then the collector as you step down is more
from one neighborhood to another within the city. We have two types of
collectors. One that emphasises mobility, that is movement of traffic and the
other is access. So given this network, then we assign the socioeconomic
forecast and we did two types of forecasts. We did what was called an all or
nothing where you assume that this network is infinitely large to accommodate
whatever travel might desire to use it. But we didn't take in the number of
lanes or anything like that. So we just basically trips originated at Point A
and they're going to Point B. What is the quickest, the short~st time path to
get there? So therefore it represents the demand in my view. This would be the
demand for travel, assuming that the system was capable of handling it. Nov
I've circled some numbers. One of them which is kind of, might be a little
disturbing is on lit 5 not far from this point, just east of Market Blvd.. This
indicates a forecast of 66,000 whereas in 1988 it had around 9,000, in that
ballpark. That's a 7 fold increase. On TH 101, 23,600. L/man Blvd., almost
20,000. TH 41 it gets up to around 19,000. 26,000 just south of TH 212. Even
over west of Victoria there's around 16,000 whereas today there's in the
ballpark of ?,300. So traffic volumes sort of throughout the area were doubling
and trlpllng but that's because lt's presumed the population and employment are
going to be doubling, tripling or more. So this would be, as I mentioned, the
domand for travel. Then we did another forecast whlch we call a capacity
restraint. That is we restrain the system that we have in there. The
characteristics of the road. The number of lanes. Speed and so forth. So when
tile first...in the model puts 66,000 on TH 5 and looks at lt's ability to handle
it, we assumed it be 4 lanes at this polnt in the future. It says well it can't
handle it so then it looks for alternate paths so it's diverted from TH 5 to
someplace else. Zntegratlng untll you reach equilibrium. So that 66,000 ends
uI) at 51,600 but it still may no[ be the best level of service but then other
roads have deteriorated or have gathered the trafflc so it's spread out you
might say. So like on TH 41, it went from almost 26,000 down to a little less
than 16,000 because there's no way 2 lanes can handle 26,000. So the way I look
a~ it, we kind of have all upper and a lover bound so we have the demand for
traffic that's up here and then here's lt's ablllty. What it tells you ls that
if you make the improvements that are recommended in this study, then the
trafflc ls golng to tend more towards the all or nothlng because then lt's
ability to handle it improves and the traffic, they have that sixth sense. When
you put a lane on, even though you don't announce it in the paper, the word gets
out. There they are. Now if we could focus maybe more on the city of
Chanhassen. To go from more the global county vlew to clty. So here's 212.
This is the southern part of the clty. So like on L/man Blvd. and Pioneer
Tra11, I've circled some of these. Bluff Creek Blvd. You see these small
numbers which are reasonable I think given the type of development and traffic
that you would expect. Again as we look at what happens when we look at lt's
capability of handling it, wlll that 400 on Bluff Creek go to 1,400 and the
4,000 on Pioneer Tra11 goes to 10,000. L/man goes from 1,400 to 9,400 and you
can see that there are problems. So this becomes the basis for some of the
recommendations that are made later on in the study. Then if we look at the
northern half and again compare the all or nothing with the capacity restrained.
l.lke Pleasant Vlew, 500. I mean thls is more of a residential collector and
26
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Like Pleasant View, 500. I mean this is more of a residential collector and
Lake Lucy. That 500 becomes 1,900 so what it's saying is yOU have traffic you
have today and you will have in the future traffic on the Lake Lucy Roads and
the Pleasant Views don't belong there. My view is that, from the Planning point
of vlew, the only trafflc that should be on this collector are those trips that
either have business in the area served by that collector. Origins or
destinations but trafflc that's going through should be on the minor arterials
because they're roadways intended to serve them but not on what we call the
Class II collector. That should only serve the local area. So what you'll get
is people upset because there's too much traffic.
Paul Krauss: Pleasant Vlew's an interesting case in polnt and we've confronted
some of this with the Troendle Addition and questions as to whether or not we
really needed that ? feet. Those kinds of things. Right now, today. Well as
of last year I believe there were some counts taken just southwest of Christmas
Lake on Pleasant View where that 2,300 is. Right over here. We counted up to
l,O00 cars a day there right now. What you're seeing though is, the capacity
restraint model is probably more accurate than the all or nothlng model for
Pleasant View Road because (a), Pleasant View Road isn't really going to be
improved in any substantive way but more importantly, TH 7 probably isn't either
and that's the other east/west route through there and then if you don't want to
take that east/west, you've got to drop all the way down into downtown
Chanhassen and that's got obviously limitations. $o traffic is seeking the
easlest and most expediate route to get from Polnt A to Point B. Unfortunately,
in this instance, Pleasant View is it. There just is no alternative. And
that's why we've been saylng in that particular case, no matter what we do to
discourage it, unless you chop it off, people are going to want to get through
and that we'll probably have to make at least some safety related Improvements
to that. We don't want to encourage it to be a major thoroughfare but you still
have to recognize that it's going to be used and people are going to be walking
on it and things might have to be done. So that's one of the areas that this
study ls belng used and...how thls ls brought to bear in planning issues that
you've seen.
Larry Oallam: Now the model does have the capability, if the City were
interested, well where are these trips coming from? We. can do what is called a
selective link. You can take one link out of the network and find out where
they're coming from and where they're going...but I should point out as we say
in the report, that the results, the volumes and so forth are, we think, an
excellent tool for planning but not for design. You can't design an
intersection based upon these because we don't have turnlng movements and all
this stuff so it wasn't intended to go into that level. $o it doesn't get you
off the hook for having to use another consultant to deslgn the intersections.
So looking at the forecast and the base system. We've shown on this graphic
flrst in the solid black 11ne all roadways that are committed to be constructed
to 4 lanes. TH 5 is committed out to CR 17. 212 is committed, well certainly
not all the way but there's st111 some questlon marks although we thlnk we've
resolved those with the Metropolitan Council but basically that's committed.
And our understanding is that TH 101 in Chanhassen ls committed. So that leaves
what's needed is TH 41 upgraded to 4 lanes. TH 5 from CR 17 really all the way
to Norwood/Young America...4 lanes installation. Certainly throughout the
eastern part of Carver County. County Road 17 will need to be 4 lanes. Lyman
Blvd. east of TH 41 and is thls Mlnnewashta?
27
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Paul Krauss: No. and that's a case in point to point out. I think that was,
right now our Council is looking at an upgrade to Minneuashta and there were
some questions about the volumes of traffic that were being projected I believe
in the consultant's report that's working on the feasibility study there. And I
wasn't terribly familiar with it Larry but I pointed out the fact that there
aren't that many connections between TH 5 and TH 7 and you might, Roger might
touch on, or Larry, that 13 connection as being someway of off loading some of
the trips that might be using Minneuashta Boulevard. There just isn't a whole
lot of alternatives and if there's no alternative, it seeks the easiest route
and that happens to be Minneuashta Blvd. right now. But that's also why we
needed this study because 13 is out beyond our corporate boundaries and ue don't
have any direct control over it except through a process such as this.
Roger Gustafson: I think the numbers on those north/south links between TH 5
and TH 7 probably reflect a need for TH 7 to have more capacity so it moves to
more of an ail or nothing scenario on that corridor and that would then lessen
the popularity in looking for an alternative for TH 7. We'll know more about
that scenario when the new picture based on that '90 census...Metropolitan
Council's forecast for the metropolitan area is developed over the next 2 years.
When you get out around the fringe of the picture, ue cut to do this study.
There are some limitations to the accuracy and what we're really looking at is
what Larry says is magnitude. Planning to the west...2 lane or 4 lane type of
facility corridor preservation. But we can't use these numbers to basically say
the design for that corridor should be 7,500 vehicles a day because of what the
study says. We know we're in a relative number there.
Mayor Chmiel: Yeah. That was one of the questions Paul and I had some
discussions about that this afternoon. I looked at that Minneuashta Parkway
which has met that count of about 9,600 and I look at that being a 30 mph speed
interconnection between TH 5 and TH 7 as opposed to TH 41. Now there aren't too
many people, if they're in the hurry to get going to where they're going,
normally that 55 mph speed will grab those total numbers so I feel when I look
at Minneuashta at 9,600, it seems like it's a higher number that shouldn't be in
those totals because of some things that ue can do within that particular area.
By putting in a stop sign to deter some of that movement within.
Roger Gustafson: Mr. Mayor, that's one of the real important things to
recognize wlth thls study ls that by puttlng in some constraints you can sort of
make some community decisions as to what corridors are going to really be used
by a majority of the people by really looklng at the all or nothlng...and
frankly taking that constraint maybe a little further than what was assumed in
the study and all of those statistics are available. I mean maybe in the study
we projected an operating speed on that corridor of 35 and you want to create
what you're talking about ulth a different atmosphere of about 25 with stops in
and...what we hope to do when we run this forecast to actually see those numbers
change but that's the dynamics of thls whole report. And that's where the maglc
of this sort of computer- programming gets real applicable as you actually get
lnto design...
Larry Dallam: We also show on here the dotted 11ne, new two lane roads that
will be necessary. And the preservation of the new TM 41 crossing, which I
thlnk Chaska wlll put in their Comprehensive Plan as a pollcy. I mean it's in
the Metropolitan Council's policy plan so it should be, and their plan has to be
28
City Council Heeting - April 8, 1991
consistent but ! think there may be the beginning of an aggressive attempt to
officially map it like 212 because once you. do that then it qualifies for the...
right-of-way acquisition... The other thing, aspect of the study that we looked
at, oh! It might be, we decided to...what's needed in the future in terms of
capacity improvements with what staffs have been able to somehow beg, borrow or
steal from the area Councils in the last 10 years. Well these are the capacity
improvements that have been made in the last 10 years in this part of the study
area. What's needed in the future and what's needed in future total for eastern
Carver County, not including HnDot's responsibilities, is $125 million which
is...of which Chanhassen has estimated to be around $20 million. In terms of
roadway improvements which is certainly good news at this time of the year.
Then we look at Light Rail Transit and what opportunities that whole discussion
might provide. First of all, is there a need for it? Well, not witin the next
20 years but post 2010 I guess whether there's a need or not, we recommended to
the Carver County Board that were the opportunity to acquire an abandoned
railroad came about, we said it would be good public policy for the County to
acquire it and use it for other public uses. Trails. Linear parks. What have
you and preserve it in case it was ever needed for a transportation corridor in
the future. Now I'm working at the moment on the Highway 12 from Wayzata to
Delano project where 394 and 12 goes from 6 lanes to 2 lanes and one light.
This brought to mind the old Lace Line was available at one time. DNR, to their
credit, they grabbed it and they own it and there's no way it can be used for
transportation... It's beautiful and the people love it but it was lost forever
I guess, at least in the short term.
Mayor Chmiel: Larry, what's the status of Chicago Northwestern? Is that still
being considered for the LRT as you show here but at one time they were going to
abandon that respective railroad.
Larry Dallam: It's been acquired.
Paul Krauss: Well if I can update that. First of all the tracks are being
pulled out of there I think as we speak. I haven't been down there but that's
what I've heard.
Mayor Chmiel: Really?
Paul Krauss: Yeah. Todd Hoffman contacted Hennepin County Railroad Authority
today and I believe they've either acqulred or in the process of acquiring it
and I believe Todd ls contending to set up meetings in conjunction with Eden
Prairie and Chaska on the possibility of creating that into a trail corridor.
Mayor Chmiel: Roger?
Roger Gustafson: It has been acquired by the County and MnOot is scheduling the
removal of the narrow bridge on TH 101 for this year. And they asked the County
for supporting that action a number of months ago. So I'm very hopeful that
that will stay on schedule.
Larry Dallam: We're recommending that their acquisition goes, I believe to
Chun.
Roger Gustafson: No, just west of 212. On the east end of Chaska.
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Councilman Workman: It goes to the sugar factory doesn't it?
Roger Gustafson: Just east of well, Gedney Pickle.
Larry Dallam: What we're saying is that should then be taken all the way to the
county border if the opportunity presents itself. Same way with the... If that
opportunity comes about.
Roger Gustafson: Is the Council aware that the $oo Line Railway has been for
sale and is in the process of changing hands? I think there were 32 interested
parties,..on the market and they're negotiating with one at the present time...
acquire it and most of them needed trains as I understand it to carry coal.
That's a spin off of what is desired in the downtown Minneapolis area as far
as...necessitating Soo Line for looking at other options for bringing in the
coal...changing atmosphere as far as who is using the railroad.
Councilman Workman: Who's the one?
Roger Gustafson: I understand it's...but I have heard 3 others...and I even had
heard Minnesota Valley Transportation was interested.
Councilman Workman: Yeah, hopefully we'll use this report to our benefit in the
larger scope of 212 and LRT and everything else. :uickly on the LRT. I guess,
and a lot of these comments are late in the game but it would sure seem like $oo
Line would, as an LRT would serve Chanhassen much more than the one to the
south. The one to the south kind of goes down to the bottom and picks up Chaska
but that kind of by-passes us. Now I think it would be unbelieveable if ue had
$oo Line with an LRT on it going right through dour where it does. I think ue
could dress up that area very simply and easily and people could come out to the
Dinner Theatre on it.
Larry Oallam: They could have dinner on the way.
Councilman Workman: Well there you go. Larry Dallam, your host for the
evening. But dour on the bottom there, if you're going to remove that bridge,
I'm excited as all get out about that but that just doesn't seem to serve our
needs. I'm not sure how the political powers have been decided on that other
than it came up for sale when it wasn't used.
Paul Krauss: Yeah, I think a lot of things entered into it. First of all, I
don't know how much they really looked at it given the fact that, I mean they're
focusing on University Avenue and Hiawatha and when they're talking about a 3
phased program and this is after the third phase or beyond, I don't know how
much attention they paid to it. Additionally, they already picked up or were in
the process of picking up that southern corridor which made it easier. I mean
it's the line of least resistence right now. It's something we'll monitor
certainly. I don't expect anything to happen on this for quite a few years but
we will keep involved with it and if anything does surface. You're right. It
w111 serve downtown Chanhassen. One thlng should be polnted out too is that
light rail, I had the fortune to work on some light rall projects a number of
years ago. Llght tall doesn't work if you just count on, if lt's in town and
you're walking to lt. One of the primary things is park and ride and
coordination of buses and I don't knou what the answer ls from a reglonal
3O
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
context but if there was, I've heard talk about a large park and ride facility
that might be down on 1~9/212. Now conceiveably, that's not as close as we'd
like it to downtown but it may be centrally located to the Chaska/Chanhassen/
Shakopee. From a regional context that may make some sense. We will keep on
top of it.
Councilman Workman: Well and then also, this is another one of those Johnny
come lately ideas but it sure would have seemed like down the center of the new
212 corridor or if something could be built in there as they're constructing.
Increased cost obviously but while developing it, in the area or space, dead
space down the center of 212 which is going to be a major corridor would have
been, maybe it still can be, an idea that would be kind of a dual purpose yOU
know.
Roger Gustafson: You tell MnDot.
Councilman Workman: Okay. He and Bill, we'll talk about it. But those are
just some ideas that I think we should think about the Soo Line. If we can at
all, get our political clout together and get that accomplished down the road
when our kids are all on the Council. TH 101 on the north side. I'm going to
bring that up because I don't know how well we're working with the study and how
much we can bring in from Carver County in getting the State to once again claim
it's road there or do whatever's got to be done and it looks like we're going to
want to expand that to 4 lanes but, but. I don't know what the long range plans
for that.
Paul Krauss: Z don't know either. In fact, that issue's coming back to haunt
us very soon. We have the second phase of the Kurver's Additlon coming in to
the Plannlng Commission. It's supposed to be next week, and we keep gettlng
these recommendations from MnOot that say basically let anything happen on TH
101 because they don't care and they don't thlnk they'll have any responsibility
for it in the longer term. Maybe Roger can get at this a little bit. I
recelved a call from the traffic engineering department of Hennepin County. Some
folks I know over there and they had heard that that stretch of TH 101 may be
turned back to Hennepin County. Now I'm not sure how far south that mlght go.
If it might go into Chanhassen or not. Have you heard anything new on that
Roger?
Roger Gustafson: I haven't. I'd be very interested in learning about those
types of conversations. What is now Hennepin County, they used to be TH 101 was
done by the leglslature...not aware of any such b111. now belng considered by any
committee. Why it didn't happen then ts frankly was an oversight because they
dldn't recognize it as part of TH 101...so it was very awkward to have done it
as part of that package...
Paul Krauss: I read in a letter to Denny Hanson who's I guess sort of your
counter part in transportation in Hennepin County and hopefully I'll get some
more information back on that. But in any case, we are trying to preserve
sufficient right-of-way with Kurver's Point to allow it to go 4 lane. But as is
always the case on TH 101, we're shooting in the breeze because we don't have
real good direction from HnOot as to what they'd like to see. This report helps
us in that regard.
31
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Roger Gustafson: MnDot's hands are uell...tied as far as improvements on TH
101. As the Council may know, it's designated as a temporary highway so MnOot
is really limiting it to safety improvements on that corridor...construction
improvements. The only way they can do that is if it was legislated to be a
trunk higbway...so it's very awkward for them to address capacity...
Mayor Chmiel: Temporary can be there for a long time.
Councilman Workman: Just a couple more comments. County Road 17 north of TH 5
in the projects is really loading up and would be projected to be a 4 lane
hlghway. What klnd of coordination do we have ulth Shoreuood and Excelsior
where it comes into TH ? there and what would be the long range plan? It would
seem 11ke that would, flrst of all the Shoreuood. Shorewood, and I've been
talking to a number of people over there, a totally unfriendly nature of law
enforcement and what they're trying to do or protect through that corridor as it
enters into Excelsior and we're going to have 17,000 cars driving up there and
every one of them ls going to have a speeding ticket or whatever they're going
to have. It seemed to me that we're going to have to coordinate some sort of
effort. Are they golng to put a new intersection in up there? Some new
ramps? Take out houses? I mean that's about all they can do. And I'll back up
some of my comments wlth, and I'm in the buslness of lnsuring some automobiles
and everybody that comes in, if they're got one ticket, if they've got at least
one tlcket, they got it there. Got it in Shoreuood and that can't be helplng
downtown Excelsior's retail. She's smlling back there because she got one
probably. It can't be helplng Excel$ior's retail. There's a situation there
that's really getting, and Vineland Road I think. People have to v£rtually lock
their brakes up going down hills. Is that going to happen?
Roger Gustafson: Mr. Hayor, Councilman Workman, I think you are beginning to
deflne some of the tasks that 1ie before thls technical committee. We've sort
of paused since this study was completed but frankly some of that sort of
initiation ls startlng to take place now by belng sure that...Eden Pralrle.
Shoreuood has come and make them aware of this study and what it looks like in
our area. Converse wlth them as far as how much...with what they're looklng at
in their area .... MnOot, Met Council types of activities to see if I guess a
joint plan in our area could be expanded to be consistent ulth what's around us.
That's a very valid...
Councilman Workman: Well lt's the old.
Roger' Gustafson: The same thlng is true with Lyman Blvd. extending into Eden
Prairle.
Councilman Workman: If you increase speed, you increase capacity maybe? Sort
of? I don't know.
Larry Dallam: Other way around.
Councilman Workman: It's a frustrating situation and I'm doing my own analysis
through there and talklng to some of the people up there. I have no speeding
tickets. I never have had one. I would like the record to state. I think I've
done that before.
32
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Councilwoman Dimler: Yes you have.
Councilman Workman: Thank you. And then lastly, Pioneer Trail and Highway 101.
The stop sign down there. It's very, very much needed because I stop there and
it doesn't irritate me stopping there at a11. Is it long range to get something
over there besides a stop slgn? Or what are we going to do wlth that?
Roger Gustafson: MnOot in it's program continues to carry a dollar amount that
may be available for improvement at that intersection. Sight distance, there
would be enough for signals but eventually those kinds of things will have to be
looked at.
Councilman Workman: That's it.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay.
Larry Oallam: Finally, I'll just call your attention to'the recommendations on
page 2, most of which we've touched on but the staff has already...Comp Plan.
Mayor Chmlel: I might add too. On some of that there's some specific, some
under the summary of findings where it says there are several inconsistencies
between existing city, county transportation plans. Those don't exist anymore.
Those have been taken care of. We've relooked at that.
Larry Dallam: Thank you very much.
Councilwoman Oimler: I have a question.
Mayor Chmiel: One quick question.
Councilwoman Oimler: Could you tell me who was on that committee or who is on
that committee? Oh, I see. Okay. Zs that same people going to stay on there?
They're all agreeable to it?
Roger Gustafson: Except for Gary Warren.
Councilwoman Oimler: Okay. Are you gotng to replace btm with Paul?
Mayor Chmlel: You may have two, maybe Chuck. Excuse me Charles. Okay. Thank
you very much. Appreciate the ttme to come here and inform us as to what's
happening.
(Councilman Wing left the meeting during this item and was not present to vote
on the remaining items.)
TRUNK HIGHWAY 5 IHPROVEHENTS FROH COUNTY ROAD 17 TO TRUNK HIGH~AY 41. PRO3ECT
90-17: APPROVE 30INT POWERS AGREEHENT FOR PREPARATION OF CO~TRUCT~ON
DOCUHENTS.
Mayor Chmlel: This is something I think we had for a long time and Z think
everybody is probably pretty familiar with this. Oon, do you have anything to
add to that?
33
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Don Ashworth: Not really. Again, we have been working on this for the last 2
or 3 years and hopefully. We did have a minor setback in terms of we were short
like $50,000.00 and through negotiations with the State, they have agreed to
pick that amount up so that no longer is a cost associated with our Southwest
group. The City and County's share is still in there but we have included that
in the 1991 budget.
Mayor Chmiel: Any other discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for a motion to
approve the joint powers agreement.
Councilman Workman: We're on number 7, yes. I move approval of TH 5
improvements from CR 17 to TH 41, Project 90-17. Approve Joint Powers Agreement
for preparation of construction documents.
Councilman Mason: Second.
Councilman Workman moved, Councilman Mason seconded to approve the Joint Powers
Agreement for preparation of construction documents for Trunk Highway 5
improvements from County Road 17 to Trunk Highway 41, Project 90-17. All voted
in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
CONMUN~TY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, ALLOCATION FOR YEAR XVII.
Paul Krauss: Mr. Mayor, as you're aware, at the last meeting you approved most
of the projected schedule of allocations for Year XVII. There was one item that
was withheld and that was the $5,000.00 allocation for maklng the old Village
Hall handicapped accessible. There were a couple questions that were asked of
us. One pertained to use of the buildlng and whether or not it actually was
warranted. The other was a suggestion by Councilwoman Dlmler that we
investigate making some of the Southwest Metro buses handicapped accessible. I
contacted Dlane Harberts at Southwest Metro and she filled me in on a few
different things. First of all you may have read in the newspaper in the last
few weeks there's a federal mandate that all new buses and transports be fully
handicapped accessible when these things are bought new. So Diane tells me that
when our main line buses are replaced, and they wlll be ln, it's a relatively
short period of time.
Councilwoman Dimler: No. Over 12 years. That's why I asked for that.
Paul Krauss: Is it 12 years?
Councilwoman Dlmler: Yeah. And...are golng to be later than the rest.
Paul Krauss: Well, one thing she did indicate though is when your contract is
up for redraftlng, that you can lnslst on an accessible bus as part of the
contract. But that comes in due course. The other aspect of it was the Morley
Bus Company, dial-a-ride stuff. And Dlane sald a couple things. Flrst of all
we are part of the Metro Mobllity Service area so we do have specific
handicapped equipped...buses that do serve door to door for handicapped people
and to her, to the best of her knowledge, she's not aware that there's an unmet
need that exlsts. There's also a problem wlth Morley Bus Company in that
they're a private firm and they schedule thelr buses for our use but they could
use them elsewhere. There's also a question of cost too in that we're not sure
34
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
how much it costs to retrofit a bus. We think it's a fairly sizeable amount.
It's easier to build it in from the outset. I also spoke to Larry Blackstad aho
is our contact person at Hennepin County who helps us with our block grant and
Larry told me that he believed that it was not a fundable activity. And that he
also echoed the fact that it's going to happen in due course anyway and that
this may be premature. Diane said it was a good idea but that we ought to step
back next year and see what's materialized through it because it seems like a
lot of things are turning that we're going to get it. We then looked at the old
Village Hall and I did look up in the calendar for March and I believe there
were 7 or 8 meetings scheduled in there for March. Now that's just what
appeared in our checkout calendar book. Other people may have just borrowed it
for the day and just come over to see if it was available. I don't know. We
are extremely short of meeting space in the city and that room has some
limitations. I think it would be used a whole lot more if some improvements
were made to it. This year possibly making it handicapped accessible
physically. I haven't talked to Todd about it but possibly in future years
making the interior a little more desireable as a place to meet. I believe
there was an incident too where somebody was handicapped tried to get into the
building and had difficulty doing that. We've asked for a couple of estimates
on what it would take from a design standpoint. I haven't seen that yet but
we'll get that to you as quickly as possible. What I would recommend is you go
ahead and authorize this expenditure and we will not be in a hurry to spend
this. I mean we'll try to justify this to you when we get the numbers and
design. If at that time you don't want to go ahead with this, I mean Larry
would not like me to say this but you could decide to reallocate those funds.
So you're kind of having your cake and eat it too. We'll make sure that we
bring this back to you before any monies are expended and you can tell us what
you want to do with it at that time. And again, we are recommending then that
you approve this and that the resolution regarding all of Year XVII funding,
we'll process that through Hennepin County. Thank you.
Mayor Chmiel: Very good. Any other discussion?
Councilwoman Dimler: I just want to thank you for doing the research. I guess
I have to accept it. I still think that $5,000.00 for a ramp is a lot and I'm
thinking that there might be something left over so at that time ae can
reallocate that?
Paul Krauss: Eight.
Councilwoman Dimler: $o I would move. Yeah, go ahead.
Todd Gerhardt: Councilwoman and Mr. Mayor. I did receive bids. He called me
Friday afternoon with a verbal over the phone and it was only $1,800.00 but I
want to look at that a little further. That was for a ramp in the front to the
building. He said due to the contours of the rear of the building, you have to
have a 12~ grade for the wheelchair. I want to go back there and look at that
and see if we can't, Z just think it would take away from that building if you
had a ramp in the front. We've got to look at maybe either regrading some of
the area in back there or something else but ! need to meet with the gentleman
that did do the bid but it's going to be in a range of that area. And that was
with a concrete poured sidewalk ramp. Whatever you want to call it.
35
City Council Meeting -- April 8, 1991
Councilwoman Oimler: So I move approval.
Councilman Workman: Second.
Resolution ~91-30: Councilwoman Dimler moved, Councilman Workman seconded to
approve the allocation of $5,000.00 in CDSG funds to making the old Village Hall
handicapped accessible and authorize the drafting of a resolution adopting the
Year XUII CDBG funding program for forwarding to Hennepin County. All voted in
favor and the motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS;
SIGN ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS, COUNCILMAN WORKMAN.
Mayor Chmiel: I think we've already had your discussion on that.
Councilman Workman: We'll have more though.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay.
Councilman Workman: Golf Course Committee is meeting Thursday, 5:30. Right
here at City Hall. Talk about this exciting thing.
Councilman Mason: Who all do you have on that?
Councilman Workman: Joan Ahrens, myself, Richard Wing, Brian Batzli and as of
yet an unnamed Park Commissioner.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS:
LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE, CITY M~NAGER,
Don Ashworth: That's set for June llth to the 14th. It will be held in
Rochester. I belleve this past year when they held it up north, that that was a
conflict for council members. I dld attend. It's usually a good conference. I
was trying to get some idea as to tentatively, ls the Council looklng to
attending that? Is there any interest?
Councilman Workman: That's the U.S. Open week you know?
Don Ashworth: Is that right?
Councilwoman Oimler: Graduation too.
Councilman Workman: I'd like to get back to you on that Don. I'm going to be
attending all seven days of the U.S. Open. I can let you know maybe a certain
day Z can go.
Don Ashworth: I was going to say, you can pick and choose a time. Council
members have just gone down for the one day. Maybe including the banquet and
comlng back the next morning. That type of thlng.
36
City Council Meeting - April 8, 1991
Mayor Chmiel: Yeah, I was looking at possibly Wednesday and Thursday but I'll
let you know.
Councilwoman Dimler: Do you have to pre-register for the whole thing?
Mayor Chmiel: No. It's not required. It shows here what you can do and what
you can't do.
Roger Knutson: Getting a hotel can be very tough though if you don't register
in advance.
Mayor Chmiel: Yes. Getting a hotel is part of the problem.
Councilwoman Dimler: I'll just go down for the day.
Mayor Chmiel: They do have some early bird specials and they'd like you to have
that registration in by May 1st.
Don Ashworth: I saw May 14th as a deadline in there as well.
Mayor Chmiel: Yeah, it's right here. So if anyone is wantlng to do that, get
back to Oon. Paul, you wanted to talk about Task Force?
Paul Krauss: Yes Mr. Mayor. What I would request that the Council consider
doing is appointing two members and asking the Planning Commission to appoint
two members to work with staff on the final interviews of consultants wishing to
work for the City on the Surface Water Utility District. We prefer not, I mean
there's a lot riding on that relationship and we'd prefer to have a wide variety
of opinion on that. What we're planning to do is to cut it down. We have 15 or
16 applicants for that now. What we'd like to do is in-house we're going to
review that. Get it down to 5 who we think are the best and have those 5
prepare detailed proposals for review by this task force. The second charge for
this task force, as I see it too, is to basically become the nucleus of a group
that would be assembled to work with us on this thing over the next couple years
and I would see this group making some recommendations with your assistance on
the Council Mr. Mayor, to appoint some people from lake associations to work
with us. A manageable group is probably 7 to 10 people. More than that, you
have problems with having people come regularly and it is a fairly significant
committment of time.
Mayor Chmiel: I would think we should have at least 10 people. Get a little
better idea and a little better consensus. I know there is some Indication that
some people would 11ke to serve on it. I would probably as well and I think we
had a couple others that also felt. You may have three Council people or maybe
even four. The more there are the better the interest, that's good. So I would
suggest that you proceed and try to get some people from specific areas. I'd
11ke to get people from the lake areas to come up wlth some people who have some
knowledge as to the engineering aspects of it, if they're there.
Paul Krauss: Well possibly what we could do is work with the newspapers that
are here tonight. I hope they're still here, see if we can have them run an
article and ask for some names. I've received some phone calls back and some
responses from the surface water utility bills and I've asked them to write to
37
City Council Meeting -- April 8, 1991
you directly Mr. Mayor and indicate their interest but if we can put together
thi:3 task force e,~rly enough, probably sometime in June, we can have them
participate in, as a whole group, on the interviews. It'd be nice for all those
people to have an understanding.
Hayor Chmiel: Okay. That's great.
Councilman Workman: By the way, this is Dave Pederson's last night at the
Councl] so we're going to be throwing him into that pool up there.
Mayor Chmie].: There isn't any water.
Councilman Workman: That's all the better.
Mayor Chmiel; Maybe we should say Boll Voyage. Have fun in the fail' state of
California and if you really strike and hlt gold, call us.
Councilman Mason: Dick wanted to set up.
Mayor Chmiel: Yes, I had that one. He wanted to set up a meetlng and I just
had some brief discussion with Don to have an analogy of that meeting and he's
going to pull that together. As soon as we get that, then ~ think we can set up
a meeting. A breakfast meetlng and sit down and look at the goals and review
them.
Councilman Mason: Sounds good. I guess I would llke thls to be on the record.
I'm only speaking fol' myself but I was really impressed at the workshop session
on Saturday with everyone that was there. As I commented, I've been in
education and worked with people for a long time and to have, I don't know what
there were, 15 people there I thlnk? Clearly I thought everyone was worklng for
the common goal and thal's to make Chanhassen a better place. It was real fun
to be a part of that.
Mayor Chmiel: Good. Appreciate the comments. Any other discussion?
Councilman Workman moved, Counc£1man Hason seconded to adjourn the meeting. All
voted Jn favor and the motlon carried. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00
Submitted by Boll Ashuorth
city Manager
Prepared by Mann Opheim
38