1986 10 20
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CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 20, 1986
Mayor Hamilton called the meeting to order. The meeting was opened with the
Pledge to the Flag.
Members Present: Councilman Horn, Councilwoman Swenson, Councilman Geving and
Councilwoman Watson
Staff Present: Don Ashworth, Barbara Dacy and Bill Engelhardt
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilman Geving moved, Councilwoman Watson seconded to
approve the agenda as presented with the following additions: Councilman Horn
wanted to discuss the downtown plan, Councilwoman Swenson and Councilman
Geving wanted to discuss the News Release about the City of Chanhassen and
Councilwoman Watson wanted to discuss John Pryzmus and stop signs in her
neighborhood. All voted in favor of approval of the amended agenda and motion
carried.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilwoman Watson moved, Councilman Horn seconded to
approve the following Consent Agenda items pursuant to the City Manager's
recomendations:
a.
Resolution #86-77: Approval of Resolution Amending Year XII CDBG
Program.
b.
Final plan Approval, Blackstad Addition.
c. Final Plat Approval, Buchheit/Hed Addition.
d. Final Plat Approval, Park One Third Addition.
g. Approval of 1986/87 Auditing Contract, Voto, Tautges, Redpath and
Company.
All voted in favor and motion carried. Items (e) and (f) were pulled for
later discussion.
VISITOR PRESENTATION:
Bill Boyt, 7204 Kiowa Circle: I would like to read a very brief statement
about the Chan Vista Development am what we have noticed there. We have
indicated throughout the past nine months, we meaning both the neighbors in
Saratoga am off Frontier Trail, that this developer did not follow through on
his verbal commitments with us as we were working through on this process.
While he firmly committed to you am to us that Frontier Trail would not be
used to access this development, as I'm sure you have heard, he has violated
that commitment repeatedly. He has refueling trucks up through there, heavy
trucks on what I think we would all agree is not a road that is in great
condi tion. He has also had his employees parking up through there. We might
be able to accept employee parking if he was working in good faith with us but
we had an incident today that was reported to me of one of his people going
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City Council Meeting - October 213, 1986
down through that bad curve on Frontier Trail at 413 mph. You know the I
problems with Frontier Trail. I don't think that is acting in good faith. He
has firmly committed to you and to us that he would take all possible measures
to protect the trees and the watershed involved. You may have gone out and
taken a look. I know the Ci ty Eng ineer went out there and looked and I
understand the Acting Engineer was involved in indicating which trees would be
moved and which trees wouldn't. I know losing some trees is unavoidable. I
went out there and counted 213 trees that are more then 15 inches in diameter
that were in the neighborhood of 513-613 feet high that have been removed.
Those are lifetime trees we are talking about there. There is no erosion
controls protecting the creek. What is he wai ting to have happen? There is
no erosion controls protecting the marsh. We have found the City Staff to be
responsi ve to us on this am we appreciate that response. I know you are
concerned. I didn't come to ask for your action but I came to let you know
what was going on. I would like to believe that the developer wants to do a
quality job. I would like to believe that we can work together to get that
done. We will be satisfied with nothing less then a quality development and
he needs to understand that. I don't think you would be satisfied with
anything less then a quality development there too. He has been looking for
limits right along. I think he is pushing us to the point where we would like
to see a very clear message to this developer that we will not stop short of a
quality development. He should know that we will not compromise on this
matter and that we aren't going to wait for a diaster to happen in order to
take action.
Mayor Hamil ton: Can you leave that with us?
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Bill Boyt: Sure.
John Pryzmus: I just wanted to let you know that I sold my property down here
on West 79th Street so I'm moving my driving range now finally. I removed all
the fencing and what have you from our agreement originally and I tore down
the building and disposed of it out at the new range. I will be working out
there berming along the east side of it and the rest of that driving range is
pretty well made up but at this point I'm looking for investors out there to
possibly come in and help me do some more dirt work and what have you with
some money if I get another partner but I just thought I would come in. If
you have any questions about some of the things. Originally when I removed
trees and they were too close to the creek but I hired Bob Nyan to go in am
pull them back away so there is nothing by the creek and then there was some
ash and what have you that was out there so I burned that this last week and
disposed of that so if there are any questions.
Mayor Hamil ton: If I remember correctly, you don't have a permit to do
anything out there. I'm curious why you are doing anything at all.
John Pryzmus: I got a permit to get rid of all the trash and I got a burning
permit also.
John Pryzmus: The City.
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Councilman Geving: Who did you get your burning permit from?
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Don Ashworth: He did come to the City and made application. It was approved
by the Pollution Control.
PUBLIC HEARING:
SEWER EXTENSION REQUEST TO THE JAMES COMPANY PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE
INTERSECTION OF CR 16/CR 17--:-- - -
Charlie James indicated that he was present to answer any questions that might
arise this evening.
William F. Kelly: I am an Attorney here representing Mr. B.C. Burdick. I
thought possibly before you would get into comments from the publ ic there
might be an explanation by Staff because I'm not exactly certain where their
sewer line comes from, where it goes to and how it proposes to serve the
various properties, particularly my client's property, Mr. Burdick. I have
comments to make after the presentation if I may.
Councilman Geving moved, Mayor Hamil ton seconded to close public hearing. All
voted in favor and motion carried.
Skip McCombs: This is response to the request to extend sanitary sewer to the
T.F. James Company property. Sewer would be extended down the present
location of Park Drive, extended up through across the highway and go along
the north side of the highway. A stub would be extended down to pick up this
property and then it would extend up along the west side of the James
property to serve that area, this area and this area here with a trunk sewer.
The total cost estimate of the project including the main trunk sewer and the
east tributary and the north tributary would be $318,803.00. The projects
that would benefit from the improvement are this property here that has been
labeled as the Burdick property and that would be the stub coming across the
highway to be served by the east tributary and this part of the James property
would also be served by the east tributary. The rest of the James property
total would be the 32 acres and 15 acres which would be 47 acres. Kerber
would be this 37 acres and then this Parcel B over here would be 115 1/2 acres
would all be served by the project. '!his is a trunk sewer assessment and
basically, in talking to the City Engineer before he left, suggested that it
would be assessed on an area basis and we used for .the basis for the possible
assessment the lowest use of the land as it is zoned now so that when zoning
might permit you a range of so many units per acre, we used the lowest
possible units for that with the assumption that if more units were built on
the property when it developed then there would be additional assessment to it
to equate to the number of units. Using those, we come up with 245 units for
8 1/2 acres and this states the various densities that we used on the southern
part of the Parcel B. We used 2 1/4 per acre which is zoned for commercial in
the northern part which was zoned for low density residential we used 1.85 and
so forth. As you can see here, it gave us a total of 531 acres and then we
worked out the greatest assessments for those parcels. As you can see, some
of them are fairly substantial because there are some very large tracts of
land. What I showed earlier is the part of Parcel B, 150 acres. '!he part
zoned commercial was carrying proposed assessments of $67,800.00 and the low
density residential would be $111,600.00. '!he Burdick property would be
$13,800.00. The James property would be $16,200 for the commercial and
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
$68,400.00 for the high density residential am the Kerber would be I
$40,800.00. N:)w you need to realize that these are just estimates based on
the projected cost as we see this. We have estimated the cost at this
time but they could vary depending on the area that is developed, the cost of
bids at the time and workloads of contractors and things that would effect the
cost of the project. '!he Sanitary Trunk Sewer assessment has been set in an
equipment rate of $600.00 per residential unit which would cover based on the
531 units would cover the $318,000.00 of the estimated cost of the project. I
guess that describes the project, if there are any questions.
Mayor Hamilton: Could you indicate or somewhere do you have a map that can
show where the sewer is coming from? I guess that wasn't clear on anything we
had.
Skip McCombs: '!his is an existing Riley Creek Interceptor here and there is
an existing 12 inch trunk that comes up here on Park Drive and attaches right
onto the end of that and along the back of the properties here, it crosses
under the state highway here, goes along the north side and then comes up on
the east side of Powers Blvd. or CR 17 and this stub comes off also under the
highway here to pick up across to this area here.
Mayor Hamilton: So that whole thing is to be constructed? The whole thing
you showed there?
Skip McCombs: It would be constructed from this point up to here.
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Mayor Hamilton: You go under the highway, does it go under the highway?
Skip McCombs: It would be jacked under. '!he Highway Department wouldn't look
favorably upon us of disrupting the highway.
Councilwoman Watson: Would that also be true of the portion that goes over to
the Burd ick property?
Skip McCombs: Yes, I assume that would be jacked under there also.
Councilman Geving: How far up onto the CR 17 or Powers Blvd. would you jack
that under the road? From the intersection, how far north? Do you understand
what I'm saying. From the intersection of Powers Blvd., how far north of that
are you going to take that under the road?
Skip M:::Combs: Well, we're on the east side we're coming right under it. This
point is where we're crossing. I don't know the exact details of that hasn't
been worked out.
Councilman Geving: '!he thing that I'm thinking of is in the very near future
we will probably have major road construction there if we ever widen TH 5.
How deep is that trench that you are going to jack it under?
Rodney Gordon: I think it is approximately 20 feet deep. I'm not exactly
sure but I seem to remember it would be approximately 20-25 feet deep in that
area. That is to serve the Burdick property to the south because that is
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
rather low property in that area so it would have to be fairly deep to serve
that.
Councilwoman Swenson: [X) you propose to go under the intersection or would
you go under TH 5 to the west and then go east when you get to the northern
section?
Skip McCombs: Well, until you get out there and look at where all the
existing utilities are and things you have a conflict with and dig around, it
is hard to say where it will be. We will probably want to be not where it is
the widest. We would want to be where it is a little narrower. If we had to
do a little bit more then jack under that would probably be what we would do.
Councilwoman Swenson: I was thinking of under TH 5? I think you would almost
have to do that west of Powers Blvd. there. It is a humongous intersection
there. I shouldn't think you would want to jack that all up.
Skip McCombs: If you look here. '!his shows the edge of the intersection
right here and the jacking would start right here. I would suspect that we
might want to extend this out a little bit to get this but those are details
that we don't really work out until in the preliminary phase.
Rodney Gordon: It looks like on that map 1,000 feet west of the intersection
of CR 17 and CR 16 and TH 5, right in that area so we would be west of the
major portion of that intersection.
Councilwoman Swenson: Is there any capacity limitation on that water corning
through there?
Don Ashworth: '!he sewer?
Councilwoman Swenson: Yes, the sewer. '!hat's the same one we're going to
have to hook into down further south isn't it?
Don Ashworth: '!here is adequate capacity in that Lake Ann Interceptor for
that distance. It is about a 48 inch pipe in that area. There is no capacity
problems in that section of the line.
Councilwoman Swenson: I thought he mentioned Riley.
Lori Sietsema: He just said Riley Interceptor.
Rodney Gordon: Originally when that was designed, there is a 15 inch trunk
sewer going over there to Park Drive to the north to an existing manhole on
the north side of Riley Creek and that was all designed at that time to have
the complete capacity to serve those properties that we are talking about now.
Coucilman G::!ving: We oversized that.
Rodney Gordon: Yes, it was done about 8 or 9 years ago I believe and at that
time that was designed to have the capacity to take the flow from those
properties.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Councilwoman Watson: Because we always knew we were going to have to come
across that way.
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Councilman Geving: We've been thinking about rezoning that commercial area
under property 1 which would instead of 113 uni ts we probably would get about
93 units and it would give us a deficit of $12,000.00 according to my
calculation. How would you react to that if any rezoning of this area came
under and we actually went ahead and did this with this project and the
numbers I know are tentative at this time? We have an assessment hearing down
the road and I would hope by then we would have rezoned this property, if it
does get rezoned, we will know what the numbers should be. At that time we
would take care of that deficit I suspect, is that correct?
Skip McCombs: Yes, you could do it then or you could kirrl of suspect that
some of these are going to maybe go up because we have used the lowest numbers
arrl if you errl up talking...
Councilman Geving: I would say the 113 would probably go to 93.
Skip McCombs: You might lose 20 and I guess at the time you will say the
possibily of getting more units out of the other..
Councilman Geving: I guess the important thing is for the other landowners to
recognize that that could happen.
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Councilwoman Swenson: Barbara, has the Eckankar Corporation been apprised of
this?
Barbara Dacy: Yes, they were on the public hearing list.
Councilwoman SWenson: They did not have any response?
Barbara Dacy: No.
William F. Kelly: My comments are not necessarily directed to the explanation
that Mr. Knutson has given to the Council but if I may address the Council at
this time. Mr. Burdick is out of the country and I talked to him by phone and
he asked me to appear here tonight. You may recall that I appeared last
before this Council on the 21st of July. At that time we were here to discuss
with the Council the proposed preliminary plat for Mr. Burdick's property
which is one of the parcels involved in this particular special assessment
district. At that time the issues before the Council were three. One, there
was a question as to whether or not there was appropriate sewer available for
Mr. Burdick's property. Two, whether or not there was an appropriate driveway
arrangement for the property. You may recall the distance back from the
intersection and three, the relocation of West 78th Street. As to issue one
that we talked about that particular evening which was the sewer. Mr.
Burdick, if you will recall, not only that night but previously when the
initial plat was before you in April, had stated that he was willing to bring
to this property a sewer and pay for the cost upfront himself without asking
the City to finance the cost of installation. The night of our hearing on the
21st of July, a report was filed with you from the Manager that said that our
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
request for the preliminary plat was premature because one, we didn't have any
sewer to it. Now the only problem with that is that on that same night you
adopted the resolution calling for these plans. The only problem with us was
that we weren't told about it that night and when I looked at the agenda they
had a different description for the intersection. Now we had described our
intersection on your agenda that night as the corner of TH 5 and Powers Blvd.
Now I had always heard of the intersection known as Powers Blvd. and West 78th
Street as being the intersection. Now the property immediately across was the
James property and that was the way I had always interpretted the intersection
but 16 on that particular agenda said to consider the petition for sanitary
sewer trunk extension for the Business Park to property at the northeast
corner of CR 16/CR 17. I didn't even know where 16 and 17 were. Now that is
the same description of exactly the same intersection but not using the
description that I had been given and then it says, Jame Company. It wasn't
the James Company property. Now, we were told it was premature. We weren't
given a hearing. We were cut off at that time am you have made some
decisions. The second issue as you may recall was the very important issue of
the location of the driveways and the relocation of the roadway. In both of
those instances, one the location of the driveways we were to wait until some
report came in. Well, I don't think the report really has addressed the
question of how far bac~ the driveway should be from any intersection and we
were always willing to try to work with the Council if we possibly could on
that but the second one, the second main issue which is involved in the
development of the entire intersection is the relocation of the roadway. West
78th Street. Now it seems to me that it would behoove everybody and be
beneficial to everybody here if we could sit down with somebody from the
Council and Staff and Mr. James and my client and others who are interested
in your Staff and your Council and sit down and say how best can we develop
this corner without hanging somebody out to dry because that is what you are
doing to Mr. Burdick. When you shift that road where it is, according to the
plan which is up before the Planning Commission on Wednesday, if I read it
correctly and I'm not certain that I am, it gives Mr. Burdick a 20 foot alley
to this highway that is going to be relocated. We are not here to do anything
to try to cause you any problems. We are simply saying, please give us a
forum where we can sit and talk to you and we ask that somebody from the
Council be with us at the time so you know what our problems are am you are
not receiving our problems strained through somebody elses thoughts. I ask
that you really not act on this tonight. You have a schedule attached to the
report of the Engineer. I believe that schedule suggests that this hearing
would appropriately be scheduled for the 3rd of November but they had it moved
up at the request of Mr. Monk before he left. Now I ask that since you are
not going to be able to build this until next spring and so much is dependent
upon what is done here. How it is going to effect the properties of the City
at this important intersection that you delay a decision am arrange for a
meeting so that we can come and everybody is going to know exactly the time of
the meeting, who is going to be there and what we are going to talk about.
Please, don't make a decision tonight. You've got 30 days before you have to
make this decision am still be on time. My client isn't in this country.
Can't speak for himself. I'm here just filling in for him. Thank you.
Mayor Hamil ton: Might I tell you I have the same concerns. I was concerned
about the Burdick property and how this whole thing was going to effect what
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Mr. Burdick had requestErl be done with this property and I was supposErl to I
meet with the Staff this afternoon and I goofed and didn't make the meeting
but it certainly is something that is really on my mim and I know the rest of
the Council is concerned also what is going to happen to Jim's property.
There is absolutely no attempt to cut him off am put him at the em of an
alley. '!here hasn't been any decision made on that road. From the Council's
standpoint we haven't even looked at any proposal for changing that road. I
wasn't aware that it was on the Planning Commission for Wednesday night but if
it is...
William F. Kelly: It's there. '!he plans are there. 20 foot alley.
Mayor Hamilton: That is something that we certainly will take a good hard
look at but I agree with you. I think we should sit down and talk and put all
the cards on the table am see what would be best for all of us.
Councilman Geving: '!here is one more player in the game though, several
players in fact. We haven't heard from Mr. James am we don't know what the
Eckankar people feel about this whole proposal either. One person says let's
delay this. Mr. James may have the idea let's move ahead with this because he
may have some plans that he wants to start developing this property.
Charlie James: We have been working on this project for over a year am
during that time we have had numerous meetings with the County Engineering
staff, with the Staff of Chanhassen, we have had at least half a dozen
meetings, Mr. Burdick has been invited to several of those meetings. Mr.
Burdick contacted me earlier this year am asked if I wanted to join in
bringing sewer. He had a plan to bring the sewer at this point over here and
I may not get this entirely right but he had a plan to bring sewer somewhere
through here and wanted to know if I would join in that. My engineers studied
that am determined that it would only be a benefit in an immediate area here
and we would still have some other considerations and second of all, the
City Engineer at that time, Bill Monk had studied that am said it would
require the use of a lift station and he felt that where there was a natural
gravity alternative for the City, that it is policy or good engineering
planning to avoid lift stations because they are expensive. '!hey are
expensive to maintain am this sort of thing so I had a meeting with Mr.
Burdick at that time and he said, well look, I'm in a big hurry for my sewer.
I have plans for my property. He said how soon are you going to proceed on
this and I said just as quickly as we could get our plans together we would be
proceeding with this plan so at that time it seemed that Mr. Burdick was quite
anxious to see this sewer thing come to pass although I think he was reserving
judgment as far as what the final cost might be as compared to the estimate
that he had at that time and if my memory serves me correct his assessment
on this would be approximatley one-third of what his cost would have been had
he chosen to go it alone the other route. As far as the relocation of West
78th Street, that is an issue that we sort of got caught up in. We were ready
to file a plat and all of this is quite premature but since the issue was
raised tonight I would like to bring you up to speed from our perspective on
this. We were ready to file a plat a year ago and at that time we were told
that the relocation of West 78th Street was a dead issue am so we prepared
our preliminary plat on that basis and did all the grading plans and
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
preliminary utility plans and that sort of thing and that it was at about that
time I believe that the City engaged Benshoof to study the transportation in
Chanhassen and we were asked by Staff if we would just hold off doing anything
until that study came back and I think that may have been one of the things
that Mr. Kelly was eluding to when he was saying about the driveway approach
and that people were asked to hold off until this transportation study came
back because that would involve potentially such things as medians, turns
lanes and locations of driveways at that point might be premature. So we
agreed that we would hold off and we scrapped our plans for our preliminary
plat and when that transportation study came back, we were told that the study
was recommending that the intersection of West 78th Street be relocated
approximately 600 feet to the north. We were given a range of area on our
property where that street might intersect with CR 17 and the other aspect of
that was that they wanted to make sure that it would relate to the property
across the street and to provide a future frontage road for the Eckankar
property and also there is apparently a grade problem on CR 17 where you come
down the hill and there is a stop sign that everybody shoots through. '!he
County wanted to address that problem as well so we started coming up with
design criteria for the relocation of that road and at the same time Mr.
Burdick and I entered into discussions about was I going to buy his property
or was he going to buy mine and as he said it was sort of like a Ford dealer
trying to sell a Chevrolet dealer a car or vice versa. In any event, we then
redid our plat at that point to be in conformity with the alignment that had
been selected by the consultants to the City and we took it upon ourselves at
that time to provide access through our property to Mr. Burdick's property and
then in the process of subsequent decisions that we have had and the
difference in going between the third plat now, there is talk that what will
be suggested on Thursday night is that we would maintain a portion of West
78th Street as a cul-de-sac and that that right-of-way would be vacated back
from 150 feet to 80 feet and there would be a cul-de-sac in there that would
provide access as is now enjoyed to Mr. Burdick's property with the only
remaining difference is the intersection at CR 17 of necessity and by request
of the County and State would be closed. So, there is more then just a 20
foot blind alley or whatever the description was and I personally have spent a
great deal of time and money trying to address the concerns of Mr. Burdick and
I have met with him on a number of occasions and we finally arrived at a point
where I felt that we were doing the most that we could do given the
circumstances to please everybody and that is sort of getting the story ahead
of itself but I guess I'm surprised now that if this whole matter is of so
much concern to Mr. Burdick that he isn't here tonight. The comments from his
Attorney I guess concern me from the standpoint that Mr. Burdick was always
telling me that his willingness to participate in this whole endeavor with the
sewer was predicated on a prompt resolution of the matter because he had plans
that he didn't want to be delayed forever so I guess that is a little
background from our perspective on this.
Mayor Hamilton: What is your position now as far as this study is concerned
and moving ahead with the sewer? Do you need to have action on it immediately
or what are your plans?
Charlie James: Well, I don't really see how the sewer at this point is really
going to impact the relocation of West 78th Street for instance. There is an
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
existing water main right-of-way that runs along there that will always be
there and it is proposed that this sewer we will be requesting and as well a
lateral running along the existing West 78th Street and there is an existing
water main right-of-way there anyway so all planning will have to deal with
those aspects of it and I don't think that anything that is involved in
jacking the road will effect the ultimate disposition of West 78th Street
particularly now that we have been requestErl to come up with a plan that shows
West 78th Street staying in place and I guess this will be presentErl to the
Planning Commission on Thursday night. This road will loop up through here
the requestErl 600 feet, be in conformity with State, County and Municipal
standards and there be a cul-de-sac somewhere in here at about the location of
the existing driveway on Mr. Burdick's property and then we are donating
additional right-of-way because this road makes this curve here so that there
can be a landing and stacking and a safe intersection here so this will just
be maintainErl as a city street with the exception that the 150 feet of right-
of-way that is there will be hopefully decreasErl to 80 feet in return for
which I am willing to give this 80 foot strip of land here for the new road.
I don't really see that the sewer is going to foul up any plans for driveway
access or potential relocation of West 78th Street. It has to be there. One
of the other things is that I don't know if some of you are familiar with the
topography here but I know that one of the reasons this area was plllErl into
it here is there is a ravine here that is about 30-40 feet deep and there
isn't any way that this property here can be servicErl this way without a lift
station. I know somewhere I have it in my notes with the conversation with
Bill Monk who had studiErl this matter, he was greatly concerned that some of
the sewage that would be generated from this area would be allowErl to go this
way because there is a lift station serving this area up here right now and
there is concern about doubling or tripling the capacity of that up there so
that was one of the reasons that this area was incorporatErl in here and then I
think the other thing that is being done to accommodate Mr. Burdick is that I
heard someone mention 20 feet. In essence, in this area in here that pipe is
being plt down 35 feet on the original plan and the reason for that is to
service these lower areas on Mr. Burdicks property without the need for a pump
or lift station and that extra 35 feet, that is a long way to dig but that is
a cost that is being born by all the people who are part of that and not just
Mr. Burdick so some consideration is being given to his situation there too.
I have met with him several times in an effort to keep him apprisErl of the
situation and to try to work some sort of harmonious agreement here and we
took the alignment that was suggestErl by Staff and your consultant's Benshoof
and he didn't like that at all and he came up with one that didn't meet design
cri teria so then we came up with a third one that was sort of a compromise
between the two and now we were told recently in a meeting that this is to
become a municipal street rather then a county street, we are going to have to
redesign the thing all again so this is what we have been doing for the past
year is designing about 1,000 feet of street here. I honestly don't believe
that, there is existing utility easement right-of-ways through here and I
don't believe that anything here on this sewer would impede anything that was
done later.
Councilman Geving: Mr. Kelly, if we decided to delay this at your request
tonight for a period of two weeks to November 3rd, which would be the
scheduled date for this plans and specifications according to the schedule
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I that is in our brochure, would Mr. Burdick be back at that time?
william F. Kelly: I expect Mr. Burdick back one week from tonight. He has
been out of the country for more then six weeks am that is the reason why he
is not here tonight. You sent out your notices after he had left the country
on business so he didn't even know this was comir13 up. I would like to if I
could just respond for a moment. I think that Mr. James has probably
explained as well as I could possibly explain the details am the difficulties
that we are faced with with this particular corner. Everybody is designing
everybody elses lam am the people who own it, the people that are going to
end up paying for it aren't there. Staff is designing it, Mr. James is
designing it, Mr. Burdick is not there. Please, if we can all sit down, we
can end up with a good corner for Chanhassen but if we are going to say well,
this doesn't mean anything, we're just putting in sewer. He is not sewering
an open field. He is sewering an area that is going to be platted. Here is
the plat. 20 foot road easement right here and that is what we're going to
have according to the plan that has been designed for us.
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Charlie James: 40 feet.
william F. Kelly: It says 20 on there.
Charlie James: It is 20 on the side that is being given to the City...
william F. Kelly: I only see 20 foot easement on the plan.
Mayor Hamil ton: This is not the item that we're talking about anyway. We're
talking about...
William F. Kelly: But it's all one thing.
Mayor Hamil ton: It is am it isn't. I can see no way that approving a sewer
feasibility study is going to have any effect on what the road is going to do
am obviously Mr. Burdick is getting a heck of a lot better deal going this
way then he would be doing it on his own so the fact that he's not here and he
is getting something accomplished.
Councilwoman Watson: Ole of the things that Mr. Kelly brought up is an
important issue. We do have to be very careful that we use the same numbers
and names. I don't know how many people know that West 78th street is also CR
16 but I do think that we should be very careful that we use the same
descriptions to describe something every time that we describe it so that
everybody gets here the same way. I can understam why that is confusing. I
think we should make an effort to make sure that the descriptions are always
the same. I didn't know until very recently that West 78th Street was CR 16.
Councilman Geving: If we call for the ordering of the plans and
specifications tonight am have those presented back to us hopefully by
November 3rd if that were possible, we would also have available to us the
road realignment issue from the Planning Commissin hopefully. Mr. Burdick
will be back in town and I don't think that the plans and specifications would
al ter our thinking a great deal am would move us up another couple of weeks.
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I don't think there would be a great deal of risk in doing that because we are I
probably going to do it anyway am we're going to proceed with this project at
some future date so I would say that proceeding with plans and sPecs is a
logical decision.
Don Ashworth: It takes 6-8 weeks. I don't think a 2 week period is ...
Councilman Geving: Okay, whatever. Whatever period, I think it is logical
that we move ahead. We're going to do it anyway whether Mr. James is here or
Mr. Burdick is objecting tonight for a two week delay, I think we could go
ahead with this and tackle the whole issue.
Councilman Geving moved, Mayor Hamilton seconded that the Council proceed with
the ordering of plans and SPecifications for the sewer extension request by
Mr. James for the James Company property. This motion was subsequently
withdrawn and another motion made.
Councilwoman Swenson: Mr. McCombs, will the change in the street, just
confirmation now, street realignment has no effect whatsoever on this
project, is that correct or a new study or feasibility study or will it?
Rodney Gordon: It the alignment is 600 feet north, we wouldn't be in that
water main easement anymore. Our easement runs along CR 16 or West 78th
Street if I remember correctly.
Barbara Dacy: Under the proposal being considered, enough right-of-way is
going to be maintained for utilities am/or same sort of easement.
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Councilwoman Swenson: What if the change in the road doesn't occur? I guess
I'm not clear. I want to know if we make a decision tonight am tell you to
go ahead and figure the specs on this thing and then you work on the premise
that the road is going to go 600 feet north or whatever it is, that if in fact
that isn't consummated, is that going to change the specs? Are you going to
have to go back am refigure everything to get it back to where it is?
Skip McCombs: In the real world, the schedule here calls for January 12th to
have the plans am SPecifications am between now am November 3rd, very
little will be accommplished I think so it doesn't really make much
difference.
Councilwoman Swenson: So we could actually table this to the 3rd of November
am it isn't going to make that much difference.
Skip McCombs: That is correct because if you resolve the road and that
happens in the next few weeks, our design will accorrmodate that.
Charlie James: If you notice, previously you showed where the pipe would be
laid am if I could just describe this. I'm a little bit more up on this
because I have been living with this thing for a year but right now you jack
'IH 5 way back here am you go along the south side of the Eckankar property
and then Powers would be jacked and then all they are talking about at this
point is running this trunk up to this point here so whether the road, there
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
is on sewer in this area right here now so if the road swings up here, we have
the option that this manhole here of bringing the sewer down that way to
service the rest of the property or if the road stays the same and never gets
changed, we can go right along the existing right-of-way. I share your
concern if we were going to be running, as this report covered running sewer
east at this point and since no one knows where that road alignment is there,
the sewer is just stopping short of any proposed construction area and so a
decision will be made after the road alignment is agree upon whether we run
the sewer down that road or along the existing utility right-of-way but right
now it is sort of outside the construction limits.
Councilwoman Swenson: '!hank you Mr. James. '!hat answers my question.
Councilman Horn: Mr. James, would the two week delay hurt your plans at this
point?
Charlie James: I guess not. I'm not sure what the schedule is here. We are
going to the Planning Commission on this Wednesday and then we go to the
Council from there?
Barbara Dacy: I will have to double check this. It is either the first
Council meeting in November or the second.
Charlie James: So I suspect that we are going to be back to see you sometime
in November. Maybe the same night that you are considering this issue so I'm
not going to get brain damage over it.
Councilman Horn: I guess my feeling is that I see very little that we can
gain either by delaying it but on the other hand it doesn't appear that we
would lose anything if we did delay it for two weeks and that would give Mr.
Burdick a chance to be here so it appears to me that it wouldn't hurt to delay
it.
Mayor Hamilton: Well, even if we approved to go ahead with the plans and
specs, Mr. Burdick would still have plenty of time to meet and comment and to
do anything prior to that the plans and specs are being formed really.
Councilman Geving: It is still the planning stage. They will be working on
it for 6-8 weeks.
Mayor Hamil ton: My feeling is then we won't have to see it again.
Councilwoman Watson: My understanding is that regardless of where the road
goes, regardless of anything, what plans are, Mr. Burdick needs sewer and this
is by far the cheapest means for him to have sewer to that property so not
taking any streets or plans or anything else into consideration, he is going
to have to have sewer. He has no plans without sewer so if we go ahead
regardless of what occurs, he is going to have to have a sewered piece of
property before he does anything anyways.
Don Ashworth: I would ask that you not consider moving ahead with plans and
specs. There have been continuous legal questions throughout this project.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
This is the third feasibility study, exactly the same feasibility study. Mr.
Burd ick peti tioned for two of those. To move ahead with plans am sPeCs am
potentially get something out of order, it may be contested later. I would
prefer that you hold off on plans am sPeCs for that two week period of time.
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Councilman Horn: I guess based on Mr. Kelly, I would like your response as to
what would be gained by the two weeks?
william F. Kelly: I can't speak for my client. He is out of town. He is out
of the country. I'm not in a position to consult with him. I haven't asked
for much of a continuance. I have asked, if he gets back on Thursday or
Friday of this week, we will be glad to have a chance to meet with the Staff
am with the other parties so we can sit down and discuss the entire question
of developin;J the corner. Beyom that I can't say because I think a man that
owns property should have the right to come here and talk to you because when
he was here last time to talk to you, he was told that his plat was premature
because he didn't have sewer yet on the same night this same issue came before
you for adoption.
Mayor Hamilton: '!hat was for the James Property. I think there is a
misunderstaming. The request is for the James property. As a part of that
project, the Burdick will also receive service.
William F. Kelly: I was under the impression that this is a public project
not a James project.
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Mayor Hamilton: Oh no.
william F. Kelly: It is a public project because it is being assessed to all
the PeOple who are going to benefit from it so therefore it is a public
project.
Councilman Geving: It is a private request for development.
William F. Kelly: You can always start a public project by a petition.
Mayor Hamilton: You are out of order and I will have to ask you to please sit
down.
Councilman Geving moved, Councilwoman Watson seconded that the motion to
go ahead with the plans am sPeCs for the sewer extension to the James Company
property located at the intersection of CR l6/CR 17 be withdrawn and as a
result of a request from the Attorney for Mr. Burdick for a two week stay,
this item will be tabled until the City Council meeting scheduled for November
3, 1986. All voted in favor am motion carried.
AWARD OF BIDS: BALL DIAMOND LIGHTING, LAKE ANN PARK.
Lori Sietsema: As outlined in Mark's letter, there were two low bids. One for I
a 6 pole configuration and one for a 8 pole configuration. '!he 6 pole
configuration is sufficient for the use that we have for that field right now.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Adult softball, youth baseball and soccor. The 8 pole configuration which is
about $8,000.00 to $9,000.00 more would serve lighting for adult baseball
programs. Since we don't have any adult baseball programs, we are
recommending that the bid with the 6 pole will be $60,717.00.
Mayor Hamilton: I just wanted to ask you. What was the amount of the grant
that we received?
Lori Sietsema: It was for $57,500.00 so it would be half of that.
Don Ashworth: The original amount was closer to 63 then the State had a cut-
back down to the 57.
Lori Sietsema: OUr original cost estimate was for $62,700.00 and the State,
because they were short on funds, cut it down to $57,500.00.
Mayor Hamil ton: Will we be picking up the remainder then?
Lori Sietsema: Right. We will be getting half of $57,500.00 and then we will
have to pay the rest.
Councilwoman Watson: Are we being at all short sighted? Is there a chance
that we will want an adult baseball program?
Lori Sietsema: Adult baseball is the only program that would need additional
lighting. When I asked Mark about that he said that it would be no problem to
add two more poles to spread out the lights because they will have the same
amount of lights. They would just take the lights that we have and spread
them more evenly and at that time if a baseball club wanted to play here,
program.
Councilman Geving: When we put this in, is it possible that we could also
light the park shelter as long as you are bringing electricity into there?
Lori Sietsema: Yes, they are going to stub and when they do build that
building. . .
Resolution #86-78: Councilwoman Watson moved, Mayor Hamilton seconded to
accept the 6 pole bid from Collins Electric in the amount of $60,717.00 for
Lake Ann Park lighting. All voted in favor and motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Mayor Hamil ton moved, Councilman Geving seconded to approve the Minutes of the
Ci ty Council meeting dated October 6, 1986. All voted in favor and motion
carried.
Councilwoman Watson moved, Mayor Hamilton seconded to note the Minutes of
the Park and Recreation Commission Meeting dated September 2, 1986. All
voted in favor and motion carried.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
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CONSENT AGENDA:
Councilman Horn moved, Councilman Geving seconded to amend the agenda to
discuss the consent agenda items (e) am (f) at this point in the meeting.
All voted in favor and motion carried.
e. Approval of Joint Powers Agreement with Carver County on MDIF
Lobbying Effort. - -
Councilwoman Swenson: I don't understand if this is all Mr. Boland's
finished, I don't understam the inclusion of the County if the door is
already closed.
Barbara Dacy: '!he Joint Powers Agreement was a County procedural item that
kim of got put off toward the end. As to Mr. Boland's efforts am so on, yes
his work is complete. '!he Met Council has adopted the framework draft. '!here
is a series of issues regarding how that was adopted am so on that may be
discussed at a later time.
Councilwoman Swenson: Whenever I see a statement that says the Carver County
however desires to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement am sems us a check
for $2,000.00.
Councilman Geving: We'll take it.
Councilwoman Swenson: I also have to figure out what's behind it because they I
don't ham it out like that without some reasons. I want to know why they
want to give us the $2,000.00.
Mayor Hamilton: Because they did participate and it is merely a housekeeping
item for them to enable them to get the $2,000.00 to us.
Councilwoman Swenson moved, Councilman Geving seconded to approve the Joint
Powers Agreement with Carver County on MDIF Lobbying Effort. All voted in
favor and motion carried.
f. Approval of Off-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor License for Q-Petroleum.
Mayor Hamil ton: If my memory serves me correct, when we reviewed the
development proposal for that particular piece of ground, I commented at the
time to the developer that I would not be in favor of allowing that particular
establishment to have beer or any type or wine or anything else. Apparently
they chose to ignore that comment am have requested to have a non-
intoxicating liquor license and I am opposed to that.
Councilman Geving: Why do you feel so strongly about this thing?
Mayor Hamilton: Because there is probably more vi~lations at a Q-Superette or
Tom Thumbs or all the other small establishments. You generally have young
PeOple working there.
Councilman Geving: Do you feel it is more a policing issue?
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Mayor Hamilton: I generally think and feel, because I'm in the business, that
liquor stores police themselves quite well. They really don't sell to minors.
I do know youngsters that have come to me and said that if they want to get a
beer they go to a Q, they go to a Quik Stop, they go to a Tom Thumb. 3.2
beer is not, in my opinion, non-intoxicating. You can get just as drunk on
that.
Councilman Geving: IX> you think this is a big sales item with Q? In other
words, if they didn't have it, is it crucial to their business? Does anybody
feel that it is so crucial to their business that if they didn't have it they
couldn't open their doors on November 1st?
IX>n Ashworth: I would suggest in serving all of them because I think you are
going to have difficulty denying this am allowing Holiday, Kenny's and Super
America to. If the Council is going that direction then I would suggest that
we eliminate the 3.2 beer from all of those similar types of establishments.
Mayor Hamil ton: I wouldn't object to doing that but it would seem to me that
can't you get to a point in a community, whether it is here or anyplace else
where if you have three allowed now, why do we have to put it in everyone?
If every guy down the street comes in am says I want to sell non-intoxicating
beer you are going to let him do it just because you let three others do it?
Don Ashworth: You can establish an ordinance limiting the number. Under
State Statute there is no number on off-sale licenses but you could do it by
local ordinance. The question becomes one of at what point in time does that
ordinance pass?
Councilman Geving: IX> you think maybe in this particular case, we are really
establishing something that will become a part of the neighborhood. We're
talking about almost 300 homes that will be adjacent to this facility and I
think that is very accessible to a lot of people, youngsters. Maybe that is
what we're really getting at. Not trying to discriminate but the reasoning
behim the denial could be that it is in what we consider to be on the fringe
of residential district. otherwise I think it would be highly discriminatory.
Don Ashworth: Kenny's would be very similarly located.
Councilman Geving: But that is more defined as a commercial district too. I
think I have a little bit less problem with a Kenny's or even the Holiday
station but this particular station is just across the street from 200 homes.
Don Ashworth: Would you like to table action and I could invite the applicant
in and also ask for a legal response to the issues presented?
Councilwoman Watson: I would like to know whether it is better for us to
rewrite an ordinance and start right now or whether it would be better for us
to stop all sales of non-intoxicating beverages in all the little quick stop
kind of things in our city so we aren't creating a hardship for just this
person if that is in fact what we are doing because he did state very clearly
when he came in that he wanted one and that it was a significant issue.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Mayor Hamilton: I stated very clearly that I didn't want it.
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Councilwoman Watson: I know you did but he did state at that time that would
present a problem.
Councilwoman Swenson: I totally concur with the Mayor's oplnlon on this. I
worry tremendously about young PeOple driving into gas stations and picking up
this beer and then driving. I think we invite trouble and I like to eliminate
the source whenever possible. I do agree that we might run into a snag since
we have already done so and by even starting a new ordinance at this point in
time, would we be able to make it applicable to this particular case? I guess
I don't see it quite so difficult in the Kenny's market as I do in the gas
stations. I am more concerned with that then I am where they dispense gas and
PeOple are driving. It is more likely for youngsters to come in and get it.
Those are the only ones I care about it. I don't want to see these kids
having it too available.
Councilman Geving moved, Councilman Horn seconded to table this issue and
direct Staff to give the Council a Staff report and an interview with the
applicant and place it on a November agenda. Also included in the report a
comment on what other municipalities are doing about this issue. All voted in
favor of tabling this item and motion carried.
Councilwoman Swenson: It would be interesting to know, if we could possibly
find out, how much quantity of these things, for instance maybe Holiday sells.
Would there be any way to find out if they would divulge that information?
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WEST 65TH STREET/CRESTVIEW DRIVE SEWER EXTENSION REQUEST.
Bill Engelhardt: I tried to address all of the concerns and questions that
the Council brought forward at the last meeting in my memorandum. Why don't I
put this map up so we can go through this in just a little bit more detail.
This is a continuation of a public improvement hearing for the West 65th
Street and Crestview Drive sanitary sewer. At the last meeting the City
Council asked us to address several questions and again, we tried to answer
them all. I don't know if got them all or not but we prepared a report where
we investigated the 16 properties and conducted a telephone survey basically
along with going out and reviewing the site and looking at all the areas. 11
of the 16 households were contacted. We attempted to get everybody. Some of
them we couldn't get telephone numbers and this type of thing and couldn't
meet with them but I think the 11 that we did talk to was a pretty good
representati ve sample of the area. The age of the systems was a question that
came up last week and the households run, I threw the high and low out and I
get the mean average of the average, but the households run from probably the
existing farm dwelling which is in the neighborhood of 80 years old to houses
that were built within 4 years. The average age of the households is around
20-22 years old. Some of them are newer, some of them are older but they give
you kind of an indication that your septic systems in that area are probaby
around that 20 year age too. Of the 11 homes that were surveyed that we did,
orginally 6 of them were found to have problems and that is documented in the
letter that was sent out to those 6 households. Of the 6, 2 of them have been
repaired or they tried to upgrade them. I believe that was the Bixler
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City Council Meeting ~ October 20, 1986
property and the Benz property. The City, in addition to that, has installed
drain tile along West 65th Street because of the high water table and I guess
it is my professional opinion that that drain tile is not only taking the high
water table down but it is also taking in any of the septics coming out of the
septic tanks along with it. It can't help to so it is really hard to tell
right now. One household may not be having problems but they may not be
having problems because of the drain tiles and there is really no way for us
to tell that. We did find that one of the households, and I'm not going to go
into a lot of detail on it, but one of the households was connected to a storm
sewer line and naturally that house is not going to have a problem either
because it is the high water and the flow from the drainfields that are
causing it to fail. We looke:l at the soils in the area. The soils range from
a clay with high perc rates on the west half of 65th Street and eastern half
of Crestview. The west one-half of Crestview has a sandy soil and generally
you will find that the sandy soil perc rate will be much lower and acceptable
to an on-site system but you are also going to find that the high water table
system still doesn't function. In particular when your septic systems are in
the neighborhood of even 12 years old, at that time they were installing
septic tanks that were made out of concrete block and anytime you have a high
water table, it automatically fills up your septic tank and you are going to
have some problems. Systems fail today because of a number of reasons and one
of the reasons is that the older systems that were installe:l did not take into
account the water consumption that today's modern family provides for and you
will find that the average household now has a dishwasher and grante:l it may
have had it 20 years ago or a few of them had that 20 years ago but you are
finding that they are using the dishwasher more, they are using the automatic
laundry more so your water consumption tends to be a little bit higher.
Consequently the design standards for septic systems at todays period take
that into account so your drainfields are sized larger. You now have to
install two septic tanks versus one septic tank and this type of thing. That
is pretty much a background. I did put together a tabulation of those houses
surveye:l and in general most of the information that you see on my report is
just a summary of this tabulation. I apologize for the pencil on it but I
think you should be able to read it. This in fact shows the 16 families that
do own properties in these areas and the age of the household is listed for
the properties that were contacted, the years that the present families live:l
in that household, age of the septic system, if they had one or two tanks or a
regular system. When I say regular system that is generally one tank. Number
is the household, any problems and this is strictly the information that we
receive:l directly from the property owners themselves. There was no attempt
to verify it. We just took them on their word. If they said they had no
problem we put down no problem. If they said they had a problem, we put down
exactly what they said. It also indicates if any repairs were made and the
estimate:l costs of those repairs, when they were made. The question was asked
if they were in favor or against. It was split pretty much down the middle.
We had I think it was 6 against, 5 in favor and 5 that were undecide:l and in
those undecided it was a matter of cost. Not necessarily that they were
against the system but they wante:l to see overall what happened. I will
repeat that for you. 6 that were against, 5 that were for and 5 that were
undecided according to this survey. I put the people that we didn't contact
in the undecided so it is split right down the middle almost 50-50.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Councilwoman Watson: I have 7 for and 6 against:
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Councilman Geving: '!hat's what I have. 7 yes, 6 no.
Councilwanan Watson: By the comnunications that we've got.
Bill Engelhardt: We did receive a letter from Mr. Palmer who owns the outlot
in this area and he is in favor but his question was basically a design
question on the alignment of the sanitary sewer through that area. I
indicated to him that we would look at it. It is our feeling that the way we
are proposing it down the center line of Lake Lucy Road is the right way to do
it. If we were to move it to the north where it was suggested to move it, we
would have shallower cuts, less cost but the trees along that area would be
all taken and we felt that it would be more beneficial to keep it in the
middle of the street. Not only because of the trees but just for ease of
granting easements. We now own that. That is public right-of-way and we
should just stay there and if that area is vacated, we can take an easement
right across the center line and very simply describe it that way. Another
question that came up was cost of mound systems or cost of upgrading the
systems. I believe Mr. Benz indicated that the cost to upgrade his system was
$5,000.00 and that included an alarm system which is the appropriate way to do
it to today's standards. The cost for the Bixler property, I have indicated a
number of about $2,700.00. '!hat is hearsay basically but if that is incorrect
you can correct me. For constructing a new mound system in a high water
table, I feel that you are going to be in that range of $5,000.00-$10,000.00 I
and the way I come up with $10,000.00 is that if you have a high water table
where you are going to have to expand the base of the mound for the basel area
they call, in order to get the area underneath the mound large enough to get
your perc rates that the soil, you're not only talking about consuming the
area in the lot which increases the cost because of the amount of sand you
have to put in, the number of drain tiles with the higher capacity pump but
you are also talking about the restoration of it and a lot of people don't
consider that but if you start sodding an area that is 10,000-15,000 square
feet then there is a lot of cost involved and you are going to have to restore
it somehow or the mound isn't going to work. other questions that have come
up from residents along the proposed project have to do with the water main
and I don't think it was clearly pointed out in the initial look at this
feasibility study two weeks ago. The water main was included as an alternate.
It is not something that has to go in at this time. '!he properties that would
be effected by the water are really get with a very large assessment. I don't
feel that the water has to be included. It would be nice to include it if all
the property owners would be in favor of it but it is something that could be
included in the future because the water main in this area is in the boulevard
anyhow so if we were to go in and put in water, those property owners decided
they did want water, it would be a simply matter of installing it and
continuing it on from the existing watermain in the boulevard to service this
property and we wouldn't have to reconstruct the street and bear the cost of
reconstruction of the street so the watermain could be eliminated from this
project. It was an alternate. '!he feasibility study, it was felt that as
long as the sewer was looked at, they should examine the water too. The I
second item was the street construction. We can guesstimate that the City
next year is going to spend upwards of $7,000.00 on the street reconstruction
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in that area just to maintain it. Our suggestion, and it is purely something
that we will throw out on the table to you, if we are going to spend $7,000.00
in street repair next year, that is a dollar amount that could be taken out of
this project to reduce the assessments for the street cost because we won't
have to spend that amount of money next year. It doesn't amount to a lot. It
amounts to maybe $500.00 per lot and when you look at the overall assessment,
it isn't reducing it a great amount but it is something that could be
considered to help these people out. The lots themselves range in size from
a .7 to .8 acres and larger which translate into about 30,000-35,000 square
feet. I think the smallest one is about 29,000 and the large one is the
Shivley property which is about 4 acres so it is a very large lot. Typically,
getting back a little bit to the design standards of today, the City of
Chanhassen has an Ordinance in place that requires 2.5 acres for single family
dwelling have an on-site system. There is a reason for that and the reason is
that it has to meet the design standards for today and provide an alternate
system so if you would look at these lots at todays light, they wouldn't meet
the criteria for an on-site sewer system. However, when you consider that
these lots are not outside the MUSA line and at some point in time, and maybe
because of this project the lots will become inside the MUSA line, these lots
could be divided. I'm not saying the people will want to divide them but they
could be divided and you would have adequate room for two single family
dwellings. Of course that depends on the placement of the existing homes but
the potential is there for some of them to be divided. We also spoke to a
number of residents about when we have to hook up to this system if it was
approved. Typically you will find that any time you put in your sewer system
they ask you to hook up immediately on it and to start using that system.
Most people would do that but 1, they are starting to pay their assessments
and they want to get the best possible service out of their money so they will
hook up to it. However, somebody that doesn't have a failing system doesn't
necessarily want to spend the money to construct from the lateral line to
their home and replumb their house. It would not be objectionable I don't
think to allow these people a 2 year grace period but stipulate that it would
be up to 2 years so that if their system would fail during that period that
they would be required to hook-up. That does two things. One, it does save
them initial cost. Kind of help them get their feet on the ground from having
the assessment, not having to spend the money to connect their house and two,
they would not pay the SAC charge from the MWCC until the time that they did
connect so I think there is a couple of things the Council could consider
tonight. CXle is that the watermain is an alternate for this sewer problem.
It is not a must. It was included to complete the study and to show what the
cost could be. Two, that the street reconstruction which is about over 50% of
the total cost, we're going to have to spend some dollars on those streets
anyhow and the assessments could be reduced by that potential dollar amount
and three, a two year grace period, up to a two year grace period could be
allowed for hook-up to this system. If you have any questions, I would be
happy to answer them.
Councilman Horn: I think unfortunate as these assessments are, I can well
relate to those. I don't see that we have any choice in this case. It
appears to me that we have a health problem. I think we have to do something
about it.
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Councilwoman Swenson: I certainly agree. Bill, as I see it there would only
b= three that would b= effected by the watermain.
Bill Engelhardt: That's right.
Councilwoman Swenson: So that could be at their individual choice. If the
three of them got together am said yes, we wanted it. You can't just take
one for example.
Bill Engelhardt: I would say that if all three of them didn't want it, forget
it. I think all three of them have to want it.
Councilwoman Swenson: That could be something that the three people involved
could probably put their heads together am make a decision. The only
question I have, you made up to two years Bill on the hook-up. I believe our
Ordinance says one year.
Bill Engelhardt: That is correct. That would be a variance to your Ordinance
am I felt that in this particular project that it is a unique project am it
would warrant that consideration but that is certainly up to the Council.
Councilwoman Swenson: We fim deviations sometimes, as accommodating as they
might be, breed trouble down the road. That is all I have to say. I agree
with Clark. It is a health problem.
Councilman Geving: I guess my personal feeling is that, I've been watching
the numbers very closely on this project am as far as I'm concerned a greater
number of the people that live in that area are in favor of putting this
project in. I feel too that this is a health problem. We must do something.
We must react and I would be very much in favor of having a deferred hook-up
of several years. I read one place where someone was asking for up to five
years or something like that. Several years, 2 or 3 years would be acceptable
to me. I would be in favor, if we could, to defer the assessments to the
extent possible, financially possible. I don't know about the road alternate.
You mentioned possibly bringing in the $7,000.00 for the road repair that
are anticipated next year. I don't know if we have ever done that before. It
is reasonable however to assume that we would spend $7,000.00 am I have no
problem with including that in the project and giving the homeowners a break
of $500.00 a piece or whatever it works out to so I think is a fair
recommendation. As far as the water alternative, I would say that it looks
like water would be very expensive am we will leave that water alternate out
of consideration. Personally, I think it is just a matter of time before this
project would have to be forced upon the homeowners. It is a matter of time
before the City would have to do this whether it is now or sometime in the
future because even if we allowed the systems that are failing to be rebuilt
and take care of their own, and I keep reading this in here. Let's take care
of our own problems. I think there is a time when the City Council must act
and I think that is why we are here to do this decision making process and
this is a case for the good of the community I think we should proceed with
this project.
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Councilwoman Watson: I would just like to talk a minute about deferred
assessments. How could that be done and still meet project costs? How can we
work that kim of thing out? I'm not talking about not hooking up for a
period of time. I'm talking about Dale talked specifically about deferring
it.
Councilman Geving: I guess to answer your question. '!here are cases where we
have deferred assessments for senior citizens for example am that is very
possible. Some senior citizens have applied for this and we have granted it
but there are some rules that have to be met when they do that. They have to
disclose a financial situation and many people aren't willing to do that but
that is a possibility. What I really meant Carol is that we would attempt to
move the assessment period out to the maximum. In other words, give the
people a break of up to 5 or 6 or whatever the period of time necessary to
complete the project and give people a substantial amount of time to pay this
assessment off. That is what I meant.
Bill Engelhardt: If the project was initiated in this year, we wouldn't be
assessing that until 1987 am the first assessment would be payable in the
spring of 1988 so that does give you about a two year lag before any
assessments become due. One thing too that I did forget to mention, in the
case of this, we haven't really run any numbers but we could stretch this out
with a 15 year bom issue too. Sewer is typically 15-20 years. The only
thing that you have to be careful of is that you don't eat it up with
interest. Maybe it would be more cost effective to do it within a 10 year
period because of the interest costs and that is something that could be
checked am established at the assessment hearing.
Mayor Hamilton: I guess I agree with the rest of the Council. I think we
need to act on this am it is really a difficult issue because some of the
people have repaired their systems and they apparently are working so I guess
I have to believe that sometime down the road soon they probably will be
failing again. I agree that we should extend this as far out as we can for
the assessment period am also with Pat's comment that the three residents
that could have water, if they don't want it, certainly it is up to them. If
they decide not to then it can be dropped. Also the street issue. I have no
problems with putting the $7,000.00 or whatever back to try to reduce that
sum.
Paul Wolf: I just wanted to comment about the road. '!he road on Crestview
Drive has been in need of repair for 7 years. The road was turned over to the
County and the agreement that they would maintain the road. '!he road has been
in need of repair for 7 years. They have patchEd a few potholes. The road is
cracking to pieces. I personally don't think it is fair that they come in and
say we're going to bring city water am sewer in am we are going to bust
apart the road and now you guys have to pay for it because they haven't done,
I don't know, they can look on the books am see just how much they have
written down in the last 7 years alone to see how much they have put in to
repairing that road. The cul-de-sac is busting apart. The cul-de-sac was put
in there so that the city vehicles could turn around, the county vehicles
could turn aroum for snow removal am for the school buses to come up am
turn aroum. '!hat has not been maintained. I would just like to point that
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out too that you are talking about throwing this in. You said it is going to
cost $7,000.00 to repair the road. I've been checking on just replacing the
blacktop in my driveway and it is going to cost me $5,000.00 just for my
driveway so how could it cost $7,000.00 for this whole road that goes up
Crestview Drive? I don't understand that.
I
Bill Engelhardt: The way the $7,000.00 figure was arrived at is not to redo
the road completely and put on an overlay as you would on your driveway.
$7,000.00 would be just a minimum amount of maintenance that would be required
to patch and seal both the roads. We kind of set a budget amount of what we
can spend in this particular area.
Councilman Horn: IX>es that road have a regular cement curb or the asphalt
curb?
Bill Engelhardt: Right now it is a rural section basically.
Councilman Horn: So this isn't to City Standards at all.
Jim Bixler: First of all I want to thank you for giving some consideration to
the three families up at the end of Crestview Drive who have no problems at
this point but I do kind of fail to see where you have addressed a letter that
was sent out to 6 families back in May. I would like to know from a legal
standpoint just what this Council and this village is going to do about
correcting affulent running into gutters right now out there? Right now
today.
Mayor Hamil ton: When this is approved and constructed it won't be running in
there any longer.
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Jim Bixler: But that isn't what the letter said back on May 28th. It said we
had 30 days to improve our systems.
IX>n Ashworth: You had an opportunity to attend those meetings. '!he property
owners that had received that came in. They asked for help from the City
Council. A number of meetings transpired. '!he City Council made a decision
to go through this process. If you feel as though there is some legal
violation that has been followed, it is up to you to pursue.
Jim Bixler: We have talked about health problems and that was one of your
main concerns. '!he health problems still exist and it will exist until those
houses are hooked up and on Crestview Drive I think there are enough children
walking up and down that street that are being exposed to affulent flowing out
of the ground that this Council should address that problem and take action
against those homeowners who have not, whether they were here before and came
before this Council.
Mayor Hamil ton: '!hat is why this project came about in the first place.
Those homeowners came here to discuss the problem. They said they had 30
days.
Jim Bixler: When was that Council meeting held?
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Mayor Hamil ton: Can I just finish. That was in a May meeting am the
neighborhood at that time asked that they be given more time and that the City
look at the possibility of putting sewer in am investigate all the
possibilities of doing whatever could possibly be done. I think the 30 days
at that point, our Ordinance calls for a 30 day correction. That was
unrealistic. '!hrough this whole process and all the meetings we had, this is
the point we have arrived at now to correct the problem.
Jim Bixler: Apparently I wasn't afforded that same kind of information
because when I checked with Mr. Monk's office or at least the people who
worked for him I was given some other information. Not regarding the Council
meeting or a hearing on that subject but a mandate from this Village to
correct my problem. I know where you are coming from and I certainly
appreciate the consideration we have gotten on sewer. I would also like to
ask one other question. '!here are additional families on Crestview Drive to
the east of Galpin. Why aren't they included to reduce the total cost of this
project. Why isn't the family that is right at the intersection of Lake Lucy
Road and Galpin Lake Road, why aren't they included to totally reduce the cost
of this project to all of us neighbors?
Councilman Geving: Are you talking about the east side of Galpin?
Jim Bixler: Yes.
Councilman Geving: Is it Mr. Palmer's property?
Jim Bixler: No. This entire area right here. Why are not these homes that
are being constructed here also tied into that? Why can't we be looking at
possibly 25-30 families sharing in a $200,000.00 project rather than just l6?
I don't think even the people who are against this project would mind if there
were a study made on the total number of homes that are in that area.
Mayor Hamilton: Where does the MUSA line come in close to there?
Barbara Dacy: The MUSA line does include the Palmer property but does not
include this area where the gentlemen is referring to.
Mayor Hamil ton: So those properties are outside of the MUSA line?
Barbara Dacy: It is our understanding that the complaints and the situation
is happening over here.
Councilman Horn: What are the size of those lots?
Barbara Dacy: They must be approximately 1 to 1 1/2 acres.
Councilman Horn: Still not 2 1/2 though?
Barbara Dacy: No, the Rolling Hills plat was subdivided many years ago.
I Councilman Horn: Are there about 5 hanes there unsewered?
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Barbara Oacy: Yes.
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Councilwoman Swenson: '!he inclusion of those in this project, we would have
to go through the Metropoli tan Council. We would have to transfer to get the
project and this could delay this thing ad infinitum because we would have to
get a permit from the Metropolitan Council in order to extend sewer beyond the
MUSA line area.
Jim Bixler: Councilwanan are we not on Crestview ori ve beyond the MUSA line?
I would like that identified.
Barbara Dacy: Yes, these lots are beyond the MUSA line and the Metropolitan
Waste Control Comnission is allowing us to extend on an emergency basis.
Councilman Horn: Would there be a significant reduction to the rest of the
people if that area were included?
Bill Engelhardt: I don't believe, and I always hesitate throwing out numbers,
but I don't believe that there would be that much of a reduction. You are
going to find that your average assessment is going to be the same even if you
include additional lots. The street costs are going to be the same. The lot
areas are much bigger or about the same so I would anticipate that the cost is
going to be about the same for those lots. The other thing, I guess I
question and without looking at the topography maps real closely, those may
not be able to be gravity served so a lift station might have to be installed
which would almost increase the cost of the overall project.
Councilman Geving: Of the five lots that are in there, do you know of any
problems that we are having on Crestview with the sewage?
I
Bill Engelhardt: All I can tell you is I don't know of any and to be honest
wi th you, I haven't checked either.
Councilman Geving: I haven't heard of any problems on that part of the road.
I don't know of any but I think the engineer is absolutely correct. If we
include those, the costs would be approximately the same because we are going
to do the same thing that we are anticipating for your area so I don't think a
reduction in the overall cost would actually happen but your question is a
good one. we hadn't really considered it.
Jim Bixler: Is there any consideration to the homeowners that have improved
can get with regards to the assessment itself? I have spent approximately
$3,000.00 in improving my system. I know the Benz' have spent considerable
amounts improving their system at the request and direction of this Council
and the village and I think it would be very appropriate to acknowledge that
bringing our properties up to Code.
Councilman Geving: I will speak for myself and not for the rest of the
Council but the suggestion was made that we defer the hook-ups for several
years and that in itself is a variance to our existing Ordinance. I
personally would not have any problem with those several properties of
extending that even further to let's say 5 years but that is my personal
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
oplnlon or until the properties have sold, transferred or whatever or your
system fai ls and you would then be forced to hook up to the system. I
personally would have no problem with that Jim but I don't know how my
counterparts here feel about it but there about three properties, is that what
we are talking about that are in that category. The Benz and the Bixlers so
there are only two properties that are exceptions that have improved systems.
Is that correct? Is there anyone else out there?
Paul Wolf: I have a system that is fine also.
Public: I think the Gilmores.
Councilman Geving: Well, the Engineer could determine this. '!he thing that I
was trying to get at is that those PeOple have spent a considerable amount of
money like Mr. Bixler and Mr. Benz to improve their system, I personally would
have no problem giving them an extension of time until their property was sold
or some other circumstance forced them to hook up and in my opinion I could
see 5 years for example. Now that is my opinion. I can not speak for my
colleagues.
Councilman Horn: Can I ask a question of the Engineer? Have you looked at
these systems that have been improved and are they indeed functioning
properly?
Bill Engelhardt: As far as we know they are functioning yes. We looked at
and have been out on the site and again, I can sit here and say they are
functioning but with the drain tile in there you don't know for sure and it
appears they are functioning. One thing that you will find is that if they
don't maintain these systems in a proper manner, they are going to fail sooner
and typically a homeowners doesn't do any maintenance on his system until he
does have a problem and he has to pump his tank. '!hey really should be every
other year at least at a minimum to maintain the system so SPecifically I
can't say that they are.
Councilman Horn: Is there a reasonable way to monitor that?
Bill Engelhardt: The only way would be to monitor the ground water in the
area to see if there were any septics in there at that point.
Councilman Horn: I can go along with what Dale is suggesting if we have some
reasonable monitoring method. However if we don't I have problems with that
and I don't know as though by the time you get into the ground water, it seems
to me that it is a little late. I don't think that is a reasonable way to
monitor it.
Bill Engelhardt: When I'm talking about the ground water I'm not talking
about deep ground water. We would put in an inSPection tube in the end of the
drain field or along side the drain field and sample that and that is right at
the upper course of the...
Councilman Horn: Who does that?
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Bill Engelhardt: You can have a testing company do it. You can have the City
can do it.
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Councilman Horn: Is there much cost involved with that?
Bill Engelhardt: I can't tell you. It does take man hours for somebody to go
out there and check. It does take man hours.
Councilman Horn: I would be inclinErl to go along with it if the owners would
be willing to prove to us that their systems are working through this type of
a method that we can defer the hook-up.
Mayor Hamil ton: And working doesn't mean running into a storm sewer.
Councilman Geving: I think the thing to do there Clark is that we would have
it inspected by our City Engineer. He said it looks good to me. 'ltley are
maintaining their system. He would recommerrl that we proceErl with the
deferment policy for these two properties.
Councilman Horn: 'TWo?
Councilman Geving: I'm just talking about the special case for these two, Mr.
Benz arrl Mr. Bixler but all the rest of them hopefully we would defer the
hook-ups. Again, I am speaking for myself. I have no problem deferring it
for up to two years on all the other properties unless their system fails or
the property is sold. 'ltlat is the key.
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Resolution #86-79: Councilman Horn moved, Mayor Hamil ton secondErl for
approval of the sewer extension to Crestview Drive and West 65th Street and
authorization of the plans arrl specifications with the following corrlitions:
1. 'ltlat the City allocate the $7,000.00 for street improvements as a
deferment to cover street costs for the street improvement.
2. 'ltlat the water extension not be done at this time unless the City
receives a petition fram the three property owners to do so.
3. 'ltlat the City allow up to a two year delay in hooking up to the sewer
if the property owner can demonstrate that their system is working
appropriately.
4. 'ltlat the bond issue be set at a 15 year basis.
All votErl in favor arrl motion carried.
Resolution #86-80: Councilwoman Swenson moved, Mayor Hamilton seconded to
authorize the advertising for bids on the construction for the sewer project
for West 65th Street and Crestview Drive. All voted in favor and motion
carried.
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Councilman Geving: en your hook-ups Clark, I thought we would like to put a
stipulation in there unless the property is sold, transferrErl or the system
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
I has been detenninaJ to have failaJ. Is that what you are saying?
Councilman Horn: That is what I meant.
Mr. Palmer: I own Outlot B, Waldrips 2nd Addition. I am in favor of the
project for a couple reasons. Originally I came in for the townhouses. This
would go very nicely with single family homes just because the driveways am
everything fit in nicely now with solar. The possibilities seem much better.
Everything seems to work. Bill am I had talkoo about one thing am that is
that the City trunk charges are normally paid when somebody applies for a
building permit. They make the awlication am they pay the trunk charges. I
have askoo him if it would be possible that those trunk charges could be paid
when we make application for a building permit instead of being all thrown
into my assessments and having to pay it over a period of time, would pay it
right when we awly for the building permit.
Councilman Geving: Have you ever done that?
Don Ashworth: That is the normal procedure for let's say existing lots. I'm
skeptical. If the permits would be issued in advance of a special assessment
hearing, then fine but otherwise we might em up with a lot of additional
record keeping. Maybe you would have until September or October, 1987 to get
your permits issuoo but if they weren't issued by October of 1987, I would
reconmend that they go on with the assessments.
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Councilman Geving: I don't think we have ever done that Paul. I don't recall
an instance where we have done what you are requesting. We need to place this
assessment against an imi vidual who owns the property am you are the
benefitting property owner. I would personally recommend that it be placed
against you. How you handle it with the people that buy your parcels, that is
between you and the new homeowners.
Paul Palmer: It means that I will be "paying it with the asses!:rnents.
Councilman Geving: That is correct.
Mayor Hamilton: Unless you come in with and you can subdivide it prior to
that.
Jean Shivley: I just wanted to clarify one issue and I believe all three
members are here that are at the end of Crestview Drive, the Bixlers, the
Wolfs and the Shivleys and we can say without questions that we do not want
the water. It would seem that it would be economical to the City of
Chanhassen even though the County of Carver is graciously giving you money
that you would not even want to let the bids on the water portion of the
project.
Mayor Hamil ton: That was part of the motion unless you peti tioned us...
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Jean Shivley: No. We can eliminate that consideration from your thinking. I
would also like to reaffirm, I believe we did mention the hook-up charge and
for our particular property, because of the location of the house it will cost
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
us as much to hook-up as to bring the sewer all the way up the sewer so two
years is great but anything longer that you would be willing to consider as
long as the site septic is not failing. My information is that we have two
drainfields and we have lots of room for more so I would just urge some
leniency on your part. One other issue I would like to clarify. I believe
Councilman Geving indicated some surprise at the opposition indicated by the
residents at the meeting last time. I guess I would only like to imicate to
you my surprise at the price tag involved here. I believe a lot of the
neighbors had no objection to a $2,000.00 or even a $4,000.00 septic
assessment but $16,000.00 is a lot of money to anyone and being painfully
aware of the market value of our property seeing that we just bought it, I
have difficulty accepting the fact that this would increase our market value
to the tune of $16,000.00 and I would hate to have to argue with you after
your adoption of the assessment role.
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Mayor Hamil ton: I think we were as surprised about the cost as you were.
Councilwoman Watson: This is figuring that the Shivley's have one assessment,
the Bixler's have only one assessment regardless of acreage. They are only
going to be assessed the one assessment for the house that exists. There are
lots of those properties that will potentially subdivide at some point but I'm
just saying each one would have one assessment per household not someday
houses.
Mayor Hamilton: That's right.
Paul Wolf: I've got one thing to ask and that is, on the assessments that
they have come up with, are those the assessments they are going to stick to
for 15 years now or are they going to escalate up to like mine is $16,000.00
something, is that going to go to $32,000.00?
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Councilman Geving: No. What will happen is that we award a construction
contract am we will know what the firm price of that contract is am
subsequent to the completion of the project, we will make an assessment
hearing where you will be notified of the assessment hearing am the exact
amount of the assessment placed against you Mr. Wolf will be known but it
won't be the $32,000.00. It should be very close to the amount that is in the
fesibility study.
Paul Wolf: I'm concerned about it because we are really stretching the way it
is already.
Councilman Geving: We're hoping it will be far less if we get a good bid.
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION, CHANHASSEN VISTA 2ND ADDITION, GRADING PLAN.
This item was deleted per the developer's request.
APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS
Mayor Hamilton moved, Councilman Geving seconded to approve the the Accounts I
Payable dated October 20, 1986 for check numbers 024227 through 024341 in the
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
amount of $1;856,575.14 and check numbers 027252 through 027362 in the amount
of $2,047,872.16 for a total of 232 checks written in the total amount of
$2,047,872.16. All voted in favor and motion carried.
REQUEST TO INSTALL FENCE AT MFAIXM GREEN PARK, LYDIA PORTER.
Lori sietsema: Mrs. Porter requested that a fence be installed, a 150 foot
long fence be installed along her yard at her property line adj acent to Meadow
Green Park because last summer people were using her driveway and yard as a
park access. They would park sometimes in her dd veway am sometimes in the
street and carry their things to the park to the backstop. '!he Park and
Recreation Commission reviewerl the item. It tablerl any action am askerl
homeowners around the area what they felt about the fence. One Homeowners
Association did respom am they were opposerl to the fence. It was brought
back to the Park and Recreation Commission. Mrs. Porter was in the audience
am stresserl all the numerous problems that she does have. The Park am
Recreation Commission didn't feel that a fence was going to solve her problem.
They felt it would simply move it down unless they put the fence all the way
down to the end of the park. '!hey were relunctant to put fence in the park.
They didn't want to go that route. They could do it through signing or
something else. '!he end of last season was the first time I became aware that
there was this problem and I suggesterl that I erlucate the softball players
that this is not a park access and use of such would not be tolerated. I did
that when they were hasseling the park attendant at Lake Ann am last year
went much more smoothly. '!he Park and Recreation Commission is recommending
denying the request for the fence am asking to direct Staff to erlucate the
softball players that it is not a park entrance. Mrs. Porter said this was
agreeable to her but if the problem persisterl next year she would come to the
Commission with a request at that time.
Mayor Hamilton: Is there a possibility of putting a sign up maybe? Is there
just one house?
Lori Sietsema: '!here are just two houses that it effects because you can see
the backstop through their yards.
Mayor Hamilton: Can you put a sign up that says this is not an entrance to
the park.
Lori Sietsema: She said she has put signs up and she goes out there and she
tells them. She says they just stream right past her with their baseball
bats. '!hey weren't really in favor of putting no parking signs up because
they neerl the street parking.
Mayor Hamilton: I think your solution sounds good.
Councilman Horn: Is there any problem, the homeowners have no covenants
against them installing a fence themselves do they?
Lori Sietsana: Yes they do. We askerl if they could put up their own fence.
Councilman Horn: They can plant shrubs or something?
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Councilwoman Watson: Not without permission. It has to be approved by the
Homeowners Assocation.
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Councilman Horn: Is it their local covenants?
Lori Sietsema: Their landscaping is all done by the Association, their
maintenance, so anything they put up in their yard. I know they can't have
swingsets and they can't have fences but I don't know about shrubs and bushes.
Councilwoman Watson: Is there any potential landscaping that we could do on
our side that would make it less accessible for people to go through there
rather then their doing it? It seems to me that it is as much a problem we
created as anything else and if educating doesn't solve the problem,
landscaping might be an alternative.
Lori Sietsema: I'm sure the Park and Recreation Commission will discuss that.
Councilwoman Watson: It's nice it's open. It is neat the way it is but I
certainly can understand these people's problem. I wouldn't want a stream of
people. It bothers me that standing out there and saying this isn't an
entrance to the park doesn't stop them.
Councilwoman Swenson: Inasmuch as Mrs. Porter felt that this was reasonable
and stated that if the problem continued next year she would indeed be back I
will make a motion.
I
Councilwoman Swenson moved, Councilwoman Watson seconded to adopt the Park and
Recreation Commission's recommendation to deny the request to install a fence
at Meadow Green Park and direct Staff to educate the softball players next
year that Mrs. Porter's property is not an entrance into the park. All voted
in favor and motion carried.
REQUEST TO DELAY SEWER UNIT CHARGES, PRAIRIE HOUSE RESTAURANT.
Mayor Hamilton stated that the applicant Mr. Korzenowski was not present at the
meeting.
Mayor Hamilton: In light of the comments we have from Don, since we have
never done this in the past I have a hard time feeling that we ought to allow
a delay. I don't think his problems stem from putting in a sewer line.
Councilman Geving: on the other hand Tom, if it means for this particular
person or for a business a significant amount of money that would have to be
paid would adversely effect his continuing business in Chanhassen or anybody
else, I think the Council should take that into consideration and I do agree,
we have never done anything like this for any developer or any single
business. We have never made any special consideration on assessments and I
think it would be extraordinary on our part to make a concession to Mr.
Korzenowski. However, again like I said when I opened this conversation, if I
it meant that it would help him financially to remain in business and if it
came down to a real hardship case where it had to be verified or audited to us
and it was a hardship case then I think I would feel different.
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Mayor Hamilton: I don't disagree with your comments except that I think the
applicant would then have to demonstrate that this is the only the last
resort.
Councilman Geving: I agree with the Manager's comments. I think we have to
act on this am we have to either approve it or deny it.
Mayor Hamilton moved, Councilwoman Watson seconded to deny the request to
delay sewer unit charges for prairie House Restaurant. All voted in favor and
motion carried.
CONSIDERATION TO EXTEND TIME PERIOD FOR SIGNING DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT,
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SUNNYBROOK DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
Mayor Hamilton noted that the applicants were present at the meeting and they
were asking for a 60 day extension on the contract.
Barbara Dacy: '!hey had not specified a time period however Staff recommended
that a 60 day extension would not adversely effect the timing on the project.
Councilman Geving: I disagree. I see their October 9th memo asks for 60
days.
Councilwoman Swenson moved, Councilman Horn seconded that the Council grant
the 60 day extension to Sunnybrook Development Corporation for the signing of
the Development Contract. All voted in favor and motion carried.
Mayor Hamilton asked Barnie Schlender how the project was proceeding. Mr.
Schlender stated that the primary reason for the delay was that they have had
their commitment letter for some time but due to the fact that the mortgage
business has increased so drastically in the past few months, there have been
a number of delays which they have had to contem wi th.
LOTUS LAKE BOAT ACCESS OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES.
Lori Sietsema: The Park and Recreation Commission has discussed this issue at
length with concerned lake residents. '!he Commission realizes that any
attempt to restrict lake access would violate State Law however, they are
concerned with preserving the quality of the lake. So as not to confuse the
two issues, one being the lake protection am the secom being access control,
the Commission has recommended operational procedures while investigating
other ways to protect the lake. They are going to be putting together a
letter asking Lotus Lake residents how they would feel about restricting horse
power am speed limits. As to the operational procedures, the Park am
Recreation Comm ission is recommending that the City comply with the standards
set by Department of Energy and Econom ic Development am they are recommem ing
to keep the access open until a park area is built at which time the access
will be closed to prevent parking problems, to keep car am trailer parking
spaces free for access users, to set park hours from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
consistent with other parks, to keep any restrictions equal for all Lotus Lake
users, to employ a park attendant to enforce park rules and regulate the
parking lot, to restrict car and trailer parking along streets adjacent to the
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park entrance, to apply park rules consistent with other municipal parks as
outlined in the City Ordinance. The Commission is also recommending that
permanent barriers be installed at the access in Carver Beach.
I
Councilman Geving: I see that the recommendation from the Department of
Natural Resources was to have one designated handicap parking spot near the
boat ramp. I would like to include that with the recommendations down below.
Why was that omitted?
Lori Sietsema: V€ have two down there.
Councilman Geving: Why didn't you include thEm here?
Lori Sietsema: It is in the park plan that we have two handicapped parking
spaces down there.
Councilman Geving: Okay, the second question is, these are operational
procedures. You should have picked up on that no fees will be charged for
launching any craft. I would include that as a recommended item. 'Ihe other
one is to set the park hours from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. consistent with
other parks in the City. Could we restrict that someway by saying daily
throughout the boating season because that is really the only time it would be
used? I would like to consider that as an extension of that statement.
Consistent with other parks and this would be daily throughout the boating
season.
Mayor Hamilton: It will be used in the winter when people go out to go ice
fishing.
I
Councilman Geving: We don't open up the park at Lake Ann during the winter
season.
Mayor Hamil ton: SUre we do.
Councilman Geving: Sometimes I have parked out at the gate and walked into
the lake. Many times.
Don Ashworth: In the early spring they will close it down because we have had
some vandalism during the thaw periods but we normally do open it back up.
Unless you are referring to, you wouldn't have an attendant there during that
time.
Councilman Geving: No, I guess I'm just looking at it operationally, it is
our intent then to keep this access open year round from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00
p.m., is that correct? Sumner, winter, spring.
Don Ashworth: We anticipate that there may be a request for like ice houses,
you do have to get up and down there because the lift station is still there
so it is going to have to be used on a daily basis. It is a very steep slope
and Staff is going to be watching to see if we are creating any type of I
problems. We may be coming back to you and closing it during the winter
months.
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Councilman Geving: Okay, I guess that was the only question I have is when do
we have this park attendant in attendance to enforce park rules? That is the
only question I have. When do we start it and when do we end it? Do we start
the park attendant when we start Lake Ann for example, June 1st arrl errl on
Labor Day? I think we need to kind of tie that down.
Lori Sietsema: I would assume that a park atterrlant at Lotus Lake would be
there earlier for fishing season at least on the weekends until the season is
in full swing.
Councilman Geving: I think those are the kind of things I would like to see
in this operational procedure because those are the types of questions people
are going to ask. What is our procedure?
Mayor Hamil ton: I guess I will follow up on that. For me this procedure is
not specific enough. They weren't complete. In some cases I wasn't sure
exactly what I was looking for but I wanted to have everything spelled out arrl
pinned down more then what it is here. To say that we will employ a park
attendant to enforce the park rules I guess leaves a lot to be desired to me.
Again, I don't know who we are going to hire, where we are going to put him,
what kirrl of authority are they going to have, are we going to post the rules
of the park so everybody has an opportunity to see those, are you going to
give them handouts so that they know what the rules are when they drive in? I
guess I felt there was a lot of questions that you didn't answer. I wanted
everything to be in writing so there is absolutely no question about what the
rules are and who is in charge of what. Also, I was thinking about, where was
the gatehouse going to be located?
Lori Sietsema: There is a cement slab at the top of the hill so they would be
able to see the parking lot at the same time.
Mayor Hamilton: Do we need to consider putting a chain or anything across the
actual ramp itself to close that off? I guess I was thinking more in the
winter time. We may want to do that in the winter time so that if someone
wants to put a fish house on, they still have to came to City Hall to get
access to that so you just don't have the kids out there zipping around on the
lake going for joy rides some winter night. I would like to see that closed
off and not readily accessible to anything.
Don Ashworth: You put the chain at the top of the hill so you wouldn't
encourage people to go down there.
Mayor Hamilton: Either way just so you can't get to it.
Don Ashworth: Q'le of the problems is we should have really incorporated the
plans with this submission because the plans themselves show like the gate
house. As far as the rules, we anticipated those being posted in a similar to
Lake Ann. We can go back through there am modify these to include how that
would work if you would like us to.
Councilman Geving: I think that is what he is asking for. Let's have a
complete list of the procedures, definitive.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Mayor Hamilton: I don't want to leave anything to chance.
I
Councilman Geving: Sure as heck if there is a loophole someone will find it
within 15 minutes the first day we try to get 12 cars in there.
Mayor Hamilton: I guess I would like to see signing down by the ramp itself
posted with the park rules really spelled out so they can see them. I was
also wondering if we shouldn't consider putting some signs every so many feet
along Jack's property that says private property, keep out or something so we
don't have people climbing over the fence.
Jack Melby: That has happened already.
Mayor Hamil ton: You weren't down in your yard so they decided to use it.
Jack Melby: We were down there am they came right over. They were going to
have a picnic. We were real pleasant, told them to leave.
Councilman SWenson: Weren't we supposed to install a fence aloI19' there?
Is it all the way up?
Jack Melby: It is all the way up.
Counci lman Swenson: Any they came anyway.
Jack Melby: You can get around it down by the lake there is about a 10 foot
stretch of lam there.
I
Mayor Hamilton: But you can get aroum it down by the lake.
Mayor Hamilton: We might have to think about extending that down closer to
the lake then.
Councilman Geving: '!here may be some reason for us not doing that though.
Don Ashworth: We should be signed at that park.
this item tabled and brought back?
So you would like to see
Mayor Hamilton: I think it needs some clarification.
Councilman Geving: It is a good start but it's not...
Councilwoman Watson: I just want to briI19' up one comment because it was a
source of question to me. wi thin these letters from the Department of Energy
and Economic Development, a letter from the DNR am another letter from the
DNR, another letter from the Department of Energy and Economic Development all
telliI19' us that we can't restrict the horsepower but they can but there is
never any explanation. Just that you can't do but we can at our discretion.
If you have the right people, we can make that decision but you can't but
there is never an explanation for why they can choose to make that discretion I
if they wish but we can't.
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Lori Sietsema: we can ask them to restrict the horsepower.
Councilwoman Watson: See, that is my question. Q1 Christmas Lake it is not.
The riparian homeowners. 7 years from now. I'll be happy. I'll take the
horsepower restriction for 7 years. That is just fine but you see they don't
offer it to us.
Jack Melby: I think what happened is they changed the law right after the
Christmas Lake situation am they were going to make everything else
controlled by...
Councilwoman Watson: we certainly discussed this before March of 1986.
Councilman Horn: I don't bel ieve the law did change. Christmas Lake was an
exception. I worked with the DNR years ago and that law was always in effect
but somehow Christmas Lake became an exception.
Public: There was another law passed after that addressed solely to that and
in there it gives the Christmas Lake rule that after 1990 or 1994 or whatever.
We got a copy.
Councilwanan Swenson: It is strictly for them.
Lori Sietsema: They were the only ones that were gram fathered in. Before it
was more or less a policy. It wasn't an actual State Law. As of March, 1986
it is a State Law that you can not restrict the horsepower for some am not
for others except for Christmas Lake which was grand fathered in.
Mayor Hamilton: When you say to restrict the car and trailer parking along
the street adjacent to the park, can you define that a little more clearly.
Lori Sietsema: Signing with no car/trailer parking along....
Mayor Hamilton: I know but along what streets. You don't want parking on TH
101 am let's say where we are going to sign it and not just TH 101 but other
streets that are going to be signed.
Councilwoman Swenson: I think we should make something crystal clear. '!he
State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' letter of August 18th
states very clearly that any restrictions placed on the surface use of public
waters, lakes, rivers or streams on or after January 1, 1975 must have the
approval of the Department of Natural Resources. Restrictions without this
approval are invalid am not enforceable. Restrictions include times, speed,
horsepower, area or activity restrictions. Did we get that approval on our
water surface?
Councilman Horn: Yes we did. With difficulty but we got it.
Councilwoman Swenson: I would like for this Council to sem a letter to our
Representatives in this State and take exception to this letter dated
September 11th from Gretchen Blank. The tone of this letter is insulting. It
appears to be certainly intimidating and it does not seem to me that it is the
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
type of correspondence that this City should be subj ected to. When someone I
says that "this appears to be yet another attempt to limit boat access to
Lotus Lake to riparian boat owners" and then it goes on in various places and
it quotes the law. It says "any attempt to subvert the law will not be
tolerated. Consequences to the City of Chanhassen could result in being
ineligible for further grant consideration until the access is truly public,
as well as withholding of payments on any outstanding grants. Additionally,
the DNR has indicated to this office that access to Lotus Lake is a high
priority for them. If the City does not provide a reasonable open access, the
DNR will build one on land they already own." In an earlier letter this same
individual indicated that if we gave them any more trouble that they would
recommend that the DNR do it. "Let me assure the City and riparian homeowners
that neither the National Park Service nor DEED will allow this to fade away.
Periodic post completion inspections are made to assure continued compliance
with both state and federC!l law. Attempts to by-pass the laws will be dealt
with as soon as they are discovered. In summary, we will not tolerate any
attempts to restrict non-riparian boat owners...". I really take exception to
this. What she says and the fact that we have to follow the rules, maybe this
is her perogative but I think to talk to us like we were a flock of children
is insulting and I personally resent it. Tb be perfectly frank with you, if
this is the kind of thing that we are continually and more and more often
having to put up with, if I remain on this Council I'm going to start looking
very carefully at whether or not we want any more grants from anybody. We
keep getting grants and every time we get a grant they take something away
from us. What are we losing? This belongs to us and the people who live in
this City and I have no objection to people coming in and using the lakes. I
That is fine. I think they are open for everybody but I certainly object to
this type of attitude.
Councilwoman Watson: And she makes it sound as though it is our sole aim in
life to do this and we applied for a grant. We have made an honest effort to
have a boat access. We have however asked that we be given consideration that
those with more influence then we have been given. I don't think they can
blame us for trying. After all part of that other lake that was given special
consideration is in this City but they never came to us once with any
discussion regarding any way, shape or form the boat access to Christmas Lake
and yet there is a considerable portion of Christmas Lake that is in this
City. '!hey never inquired. No one did.
Councilwoman Swenson: I would like a copy of this letter sent to Chuck Dim1er
and Boschowitz and her too.
Councilman Geving: I kind of agree with you. I think we have to work with
these people but this is a very arrogant letter. I would be offended if I got
this letter.
Councilman Horn: You did get the letter.
Councilman Geving: This was addressed to Lori. I would have been very
offended but maybe a response is appropriate. I think at this stage of the I
game though we don't need to go back to the Park and Recreation Comm ission for
these things that we are talking about tonight. Staff can handle the
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
III inclusion of the details that we have talked about.
Councilman Q:!ving moved, Mayor Hamilton seconded to table the Lotus Lake Boat
Access Operational Procedures item am have it come back on the Consent Agema
at a future Council meeting, directing the Park and Recreation Coordinator to
clarify exactly what the details of the operational procedures should be, am
Staff should also submit a draft copy to the Lotus Lake Homeowners Association
prior to the night of the Council meeting that the item comes back on the
Consent Agenda. All voted in favor and motion carried.
Councilwoman Swenson: I would recommem that we put a board down by the
actual launch stating the circular, God forbid that we should break a law.
DEED says that we can't do this but we'll do it anyway. If they come back we
will just have to fight it out but the 15 mph with a circular motion at
whatever 40 horse.
Lori Sietsema: W= can do that. '!hat is an approved...
Councilwoman Swenson: Since that has already been approved. Put a big sign
right down by the water so they can't say we didn't know what it was.
Councilman Q:!ving: I believe that the Homeowners Associations are aware of
these recomnendations. Is that correct? Can you tell me Margie?
I
Roger Karjalahti: We were aware of them but like Tom said, they were so vague
now. When we were at the meeting they were discussed more in depth.
Councilman Q:!ving: Did you have any in depth discussion am input into these
that was not included?
Roger Karjalahti: Yes, the board down by the, the Rules posted. '!hat was a
real biggy am the counter-clockwise that is an Ordinance. I was real
surprised that they weren't all mentioned. '!hey were real specific when I was
here am then all of a sudden they were real vague. I think you guys are
right. I think they should be clarified.
Councilwoman Swenson: I think we should probably put in there too, as Tom
said, the hours that the park attendant will be there. I assume it will be
daily.
Councilman Q:!ving: Here is what I would recommend. I would recommend that we
proceed as I said with the tabling motion, have Lori go back am put in the
details that we are looking for and the night before this is presented back to
the Council on the Consent Agenda, have a copy of her final draft submitted to
the Lotus Lake Homeowners Association. Just for comments and review and one
last thing, that they might see something that you forgot Lori am hopefully
they will be here the night we discuss this and approve it or pass on it.
I
Roger Karjalahti: I just had one comment that was on a time schedule, Pat
lives over by Riley I guess and theirs is broken down real nice starting at
the beginning of May the man comes only weekems, the gate attemant am then
starting Memorial Day on they also cover weekdays. '!hey had it broken down in
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
a timeframe that made sense. During the summer they only had him come 1: 00 I
p.m. to 8:00 p~. instead of coming in the morning when there isn't much
boating pressure but toward afternoons skiers get out and a lot more partiers.
Councilwoman Swenson: They are there eariler on the weekends though.
Public: Yes, they are earlier on the weekends.
Councilwoman Swenson: It has been for us, it has been very successful.
Councilwoman Watson: Let's not forget some sort of response to our friend
Gretchen.
Mayor Hamilton: Yes, Don and I will take care of that.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Hamilton stated that Councilman Horn wanted to give a brief update on
the downtown project.
Councilman Horn: The HRA had an update on the downtown proposal. At the HRA
two months ago we decided that we need to have a closer look at the financial
impact of what is being proposed. I think all along everyone has liked the
proposal that was presented but there has not really been a facing up to the
issue of what is this really going to cost us. As I mentioned earlier this
evening, I was a little disturbed to find out that some of the streetscapes
and things have been done by the consultants ahead of the fact that we need
details of the financial information. It turns out that Bob Voto was here and
indicated to us a set of guidelines that he would recommend that we adopt as a
Ci ty in pursuing the downtown proposal. His recommendation clearly pointed
out that these projects should be self-sustaining on their own. That they
would not cost the taxpayers any additional money. These again are just
recommendations. I understand that there may have been some rumblings
recently that there would additional cost to the taxpayer. I want to assure
everybody that that was not the recommendation by anybody of our Council and
as a matter of fact, it looks like the financial situation is somewhat
different then what it was when we looked at the downtown proposal before.
Quite frankly I think there are more conservative assumption that we are going
to have to make at this point based on the Shriver Bill and what they might do
to the Tax Increment District and I look at what they are doing and I find
myself on a real fence here because as much as I like the downtown proposal
and things that it would give us, I really understand what they are trying to
do with the Shriver Bill and it is difficult for us in this stage that we are
to suddenly have the rug of the government subsidies pulled out from under us
but in fact that probably is what is happening right now. en the other hand
if we have businesses that can't make it in this State, it isn't doing anybody
any good so what appears to be happening is that if this Bill goes through,
businesses will have their property values lowered. What that means to us is
that the assessed valuation of our tax increment district will go down which
means that a lot of the monies that would be retained in the district will
just not be generated. What this does is it limits us to the number of
options or incentives that we can give to developers. I think what is going
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to have to happen is that the developers are going to have to pick up more of
that on their own because in fact, business will be in a more favorable tax
situation so I believe they can afford to pick up more of the bill. It is
going to limit somewhat what the City can do but at no time did I hear
anything in the meeting that either the HRA or any of our legal counsel would
recommend to us, or financial counsel, that we would put any of this back on
the taxpayers. The only issue that would be a potential candidate for that
would be the Community Center. This again would be a referendum issue. If we
did go to the taxpayers to be supported, they would have to be favorable.
Mayor Hamil ton stated that Councilwoman Swenson wanted to comment about the
News Release.
Councilwoman Swenson: I think the copy that we have of this news release is
good news for Chanhassen. I think we ought to let people know about this.
Councilman Geving: I was disappointed the paper left Pat because that was
the i tern I pulled out and I was hoping that we could get some make on that.
Councilwoman Swenson: I would imagine that Don can get ahold of everybody.
Councilman Geving: This is the most positive information I have ever
received.
Councilwoman Swenson: Chanhassen Village ranks low in revenue and budget
administration expense per capita.
Councilman Geving: I think the wording. I like what it says. These low
rankings usually mean that your City is efficient in providing these services
to your taxpayers.
Mayor Hamilton: That could be something that we would want to put into the
Chanhassen Post. The Chamber of Commerce that goes out to about 3,300
residents and business people. Those are the people that you want to have see
it.
Councilman Swenson: Can we find out what the subscription of this publication
is? It might be interesting to see.
Mayor Hamilton stated that Councilwoman Watson wanted to comment on the
activities of John Pry~us.
Councilwoman Watson: Yesterday I was out there and he is doing an extensive
amount of grading. He did indeed take the stuff off of his driving range here
and dumped it in piles out there and then is covering it up with huge piles of
dirt. There is going to be more junk under the berms. I don't imag ine you
can hardly grow grass over these berms he is talking about but he is doing a
lot of grading. There have been various kinds of debris dumped out there. I
sat there and watched him. He was driving the Bobcat and I sat and watched
him for a few minutes while he did it and I know he knew who it was and I was
unaware that he had any right to do much of anything out there because he's
not settled his problems with us. He has no permit.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Mayor Hamilton: I'm more than a little irritated that he was issued a burning I
permit am a permit to do anything else out there. He shouldn't be given a
permi t to do nothing until this whole thing is settled.
Councilwoman Watson: I'm sure that part of the problem is that Jim
Castleberry probably isn't aware of our difficulties out there. We should
have some control over this man getting a permit to do anything on that
property. Not only that, while he set this 75 foot line of debris on fire and
there was no one watching it. The neighbor John Hennessey walked up there
because the smoke was so thick. He walked up and there was not a sole in
attendance of that fire am he called am someone came out am said, you're
absolutely right. He can't just leave this fire and go away from it but that
is exactly what he had done. It was an area of debris approximately 75 feet
long burning with absolutely no one in attendance.
Mayor Hamil ton: We should put out a memo Don to the rest of the Staff that if
Pryzmus asks for anything, he doesn't get anything until this whole thing is
settled.
Councilman Geving: I thought we had an injunction against him. That was the
impression that we asked the Attorney to get an injunction to stay off the
property. No more dumping, nothing.
Councilwoman Watson: I'm disappointed too. We revoked that permit one long
time ago am no prosecution has taken place am unfortunately the City I
Attorney has not done a real good job of explaining why nothing has occurred.
Don Ashworth: He applied for some type of other permit. Are you aware of any
other permit that has been? In terms of making an application and if you meet
all of the requirements for a burning permit, I understam what you are saying
and I will make sure that no permits for anything be issued but from a
technical stampoint, if you came in am wanted to bum brush on your property
and met all other requirements, you could do that. In this instance the
imividual had made application for a permit, you revoked that permit. You
started a process to put him through an approval process but he never followed
through so you revoked the perm it. He was not to do anything more on that
property until he came back in front of you. Why he has been out there this
past week, I don't know.
Councilman Geving: Grading, burning, whatever he's doing it should be
stopped.
Councilwoman Watson: He is burying debris out there as well. God only knows
what is involved in the debris that he is burying but he is burying garbage
out there.
Don Ashworth: '!hat is my error in that, of any Staff member here, I think
every staff member here is aware of John Pryzmus am the problems that we have
had. Castleberry probably is unaware of that history portion. otherwise I
can not see anyone issuing any other types of permits am I will inform
Castleberry.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Councilwoman Swenson: When we revoke permits like that, maybe a memo should
be sent to the Staff so that everybody is aware of it. I realize it is more
work but then maybe we're going to have to start thinking about putting on
more help so that we can get this information to Staff so the right hand knows
what the left hand is doing.
Don Ashworth: You are always going to have problems when you have changes in
people or new people or new posi tions. We put out a packet each week.
Council members receive that. All Staff members receive a copy of that. I
hold post and pre meetings to go through who it is that is prepar ing reports
and then who it is that is following through on them so I think procedurally
we have the thing fairly well covered but you are going to have some sl ips and
in the case of Castleberry, I'm unaware that he was involved with the whole
hoopla back at that point in time. I'm not even sure that he was around at
tha t time.
Councilman Geving: I get the impression that if we don't do something with
this property, we'll have another 79th Street moved out onto the highway and
it is going to be a mess for a long, long time. With winter coming on.
Don Ashworth: I talked with Roger about this item today and again tried to
emphasis the importance that Council put on it two weeks ago. I guess he has
been out of town and unaware of what has been occurr ing .
Councilwoman Watson: Just one last comment. Roger has not been out of town
for the last several months that this has been in a holding pattern. By the
time that we have our next Council meeting, I would like to see a written memo
from Roger. Where we are, what is happening and who is doing what in regards
to this case because if we let it go on much longer, the longer that property
sits out there with nothing happening, the more that is happening to it. He
is not leaving it alone. He is out there everyday. He is out there at night.
Mayor Hamilton: You said you wanted to talk about stop signs.
Councilwoman Watson: Yes, in the Greenwood Shores they put no parking signs
because of parking problems in relationship to the park. I have one resident
right in the middle of the no parking zone that wants that parking sign
removed. Can you remove individual parking signs or must we remove all
parking signs?
Mayor Hamilton: Why do they want it removed?
Councilwoman Watson: Because they feel that when they have company they can't
park there because of the sign and actually if you need parking on the
streets, in spite of those things, it can be worked out and there is parking
within less then a block from this particular residence. '!hey are in the
middle of the situation and want their parking sign removed.
Councilman Horn: Tell them to petition.
Councilman Geving: I agree with what Clark just said. Have them send a memo
to us. We just have to operate efficiently in these cases. If we have a
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
request, then we have sanething to work with.
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Don Ashworth: No parking signs except by City Council. It is a resolution.
It is required to make it enforceable and that resolution designates where
they start and where they stop.
Councilwoman Watson: Okay, then I will ask her to submit in writing her
request for the removal of that one sign. I have a feel ing the neighbors
across the street are going to be very dismayed at the removal of that sign.
Mayor Hamil ton: The neighbors will be made aware of what she is doing and
they can also petition to leave it up.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS:
HALLOWEEN PARTY, PARK AND RECREATION COORDINATOR.
Lori Sietsema asked if any of the Council members could volunteer to dress up
in a costume and answer a Halloween Trick or Treat door for the Park and
Recreation's Halloween Party.
ESTABLISH FINAL ZONING ORDINANCE WORKSESSION DATE, CITY PLANNER.
The City Council set Monday, November 24, 1986 as the date for the final
Zoning Ordinance Wbrksession date.
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1987 POLICE CONTRACT, DISCUSSION.
Mayor Hamilton stated that Jim Castleberry wanted to be present at the meeting
but was unable to attend because he was busy with the Fire Department.
Don Ashworth: '!he County is doing it to us again. '!he Public Safety
Commission at their last meeting endorsed a recommendation that we do have a
problem with certain evenings. I should be letting you go through this
shouldn't I, and I think it almost ties in now with what the County has done.
You are going to look to a minimum of 5% increase as part of the Contract
itself and then they are stating in where they will retroactively bill you for
costs that could be another 10%. As far as I'm concerned, we didn't get any
additional protection within the City when we went from 18 hours per day to 21
hours per day. We might just as well put the Contract back to 18 hours, take
that $30,000.00 and implement our own police services for those particular
evenings that we have a problem. It would be an extension of the CSO program.
We have already started that type of program. There is concern with starting
our own department. '!hat type of concept. I don't see it that way. I see it
that our CSO program is simply supplementing services within this community.
I see where using those dollars to take care of problems that we are having
with particular evenings, back-up services, etc. is a reasonable way to go
and a mechanism by which we can reduce the overall cost back to the City.
Councilwoman SWenson: Do you hire certified police officers?
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Don Ashworth: On the CSO program we would be looking at two levels. One
would be a less then certified person. Both Frank and Steve started in that
category. Frank has been working for us long enough now where he has the
certification. He is a licensed police officer with the weapon, stop
individuals, etc. We are not looking to putting somebody on full-time and
saying we are hiring you as a full-time officer. This is simply for those
individuals who literally are looking for full-time employment and we would
provide them with an opportunity to work part-time and gain some experience
from this job before they take a full-time position somewhere else. That is
exactly what we are doing with the CSO program but we are going to have two
levels of officers within that program. One would be non-licensed and the
other would be licensed.
Councilwoman Swenson: They are capable of arresting and doing everything
else? I mean they are full police officers? Is this the recommendation of
the Public Safety?
Mayor Hamilton: CUring the budget process I called to your attention that we
had discussed this at a Public Safety Meeting and at that time I was the only
one on the committee who was in favor of going into this so we said alright,
we'll recommend to the Council that we look at it a year from now. What has
happened with the County, we discussed it again after looking at what is going
to happen with the Contract and it is an unanimous vote now after everybody
having thought about it and after seeing the Contract and after we discussed
this some more, feels it is something that we ought to do right away. It was
unanimous. I was surprised that everybody can turn around completely.
Councilwoman Watson: From reading this, I am no longer concerned about giving
appearances of beginning our own police department. If that's what it appears
we are doing, perhaps that is percisely what we are doing. Maybe these are
the beginnings of a police department which we will undoubtedly have in the
next few years and I don't think we need to pull any punches about the fact
that we are beginning to supplement our Contract with our own police officers
and we will virtually have the beginnings of a department. I'm not the least
bit afraid of admitting that is percisely what we are doing.
Mayor Hamil ton: I think everyone on the Public Safety Commission still likes
the Contract system. I like it. I think it works. Things like this come up
and it kind of aggravates you but this can be worked out anyway but the fact
is that we need that additional coverage now. We're growing at a fast rate
and like Don says to take the $30,000.00 and put it into our own people who we
have control over them, we can put them out to the street where we want to
have them and the hours that we want to have them out there. I think our
$30,000.00 is spent much more effectively this way with our own people then
with going with the County.
Councilwoman Swenson: 1)) we have any input from the Sheriff's Department on
this?
Mayor Hamilton: Yes. I have talked to both Jack and AI, not knowing how
their police schedule looked, and I discussed the matter with both of them and
they both are very comfortable with it. They said there would be no problem.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
They would work with whatever we want to do~ they would work us:
work with our guys and there would be no conflict there at all.
that we would not hire any County Sheriff people.
They wi 11
We did say
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Councilman Geving: I was confused by this memorandum from Don to us and then
from Castleberry to Don. I got the impression that Jim attended the meeting
wi th Gary and somehow or other I got the impression that this is a result of
County Board's action but yet he did not actually meet with the County
Commissioner's in this discussion and my feeling is, since this is a very
sensitive item, that Don should have been involved in this. Tell me where you
were all the time that this was going on Don because this is very sensitive to
me.
Don Ashworth: I was in South Dakota but anyway, during this whole timeframe I
did meet with AI, I did meet with Marsha Rowlam from the County
Attorney's Office for the City of Chaska and Jack Hendricks. The issue comes
down to, the County Board sees this as solely an issue between the County
Board and the City of Chaska in ironing out the suit. The problem is that it
brings back all of the other contracting cities when they come up with a
decision that they are going to increase those rates. Now the County
Attorney's office is basically stating to the Board am the Board is to the
position that settlement that they reached, this famous settlement that we
keep going back to from 19 whenever it was, but that calls for the charging of
actual costs back to contracting cities and as a part of that, that right now
the County is using costs from 1985, actual 1985 rather then 1987 am Jack's I
position and the reason that we had been doing this is he is saying that 1986
isn't finished. How can I give you actual cost for 1986 am surely we don't
know what 1987 is so the actual costs I have were 1985. The Stipulation
Agreement, not the Stipulation but this Court Order, that endorses the
position of the City of Chanhassen.
Councilman Geving: Let me say this, you were in South Dakota. You are here
now am I would expect now you would jump into this to protect our interests.
We have already resolved. We signed the Contract for $28.00 and some cents
per hour for the year. That was our Contract that they offered to us am we
signed.
Don Ashworth: They didn't sign it.
Councilman Geving: Okay, it wasn't signed but now, it seems to me our
position still should be that we could let live the Contract that we signed
for the year for 1987 and the actual costs then, or first our viewpoint
should be this that we hope we can get through 1987 since we have a signed
Contract for ourselves. Let it stand through 1987 and at the end of 1987 pay
the actual, because that is what we are getting stuck for anyway in a lump sum
without the interest. It bothers me that we are going to have to pay interest
for the amount of money that is going to be over am above whatever we have
agreed to.
Don Ashworth: To go with the comment to protect our interests. That is what I
I have tried to do in the stampoint that up until this point in time, we have
not been able to get the County Board to move off of this mandated increase
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
from 18 hours to 21 and now the next one will be 21 to 24 hours per day. They
will charge you for that under this Contract that is existing yet when we
moved from 18 to 21 or when we move from 21 to 24, we will not receive one
additional, there will not be one additional officer.
Councilman Geving: What I'm trying to say is I feel it is the most important
thing that I have had to deal with in the last few years is our Police
Contract on an annual basis and the City Mananger has protected those
interests. It is hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is important to us to
have you involved in this rather then our Public Safety Director in the
negotiation process. This is dollars. I don't mind Jim working on the
details and the operation but I would like to see the Manager involved in the
money issue because that is where it is coming down to effecting us and
secondly, I would say that as long as I'm sitting in this chair, I would be
totally opposed to even a hint of starting our own police force and
Castleberry has continued to strive, to push and to constantly, at every
opportunity, work himself into the role of what I see as the Police Chief of
the City of Chanhassen. I don't know if that is what he is working towards
but it is not what I see as the objective for Chanhassen as far as myself is
concerned as a Councilmember and I can not in my mind see us getting into a
quasi police force of one or two people to supplement Carver County. That's
my position. I will maintain that. As long as we have Carver County working
for us, I feel that we have a good Contract and that we are getting full
protection. The first thing that I know, two years from now we will have two
or three cars sitting out here with the City of Chanhassen emblem on it,
police will be on the side of the doors and we will have four or five
uniformed policemen and we will start to think in terms of salaries,
negotiation for union contracts, and a whole lot of difficult things that we
have never had in the past. Let the County handle those things. That is my
viewpoint.
Mayor Hamilton: That's what happens when you grow.
Councilman Geving: It does happen but until I am convinced that it is cheaper
to do it any other way, I will be opposed to every hint that Castleberry or
anybody makes to me of starting a quasi police force.
Mayor Hamilton: The Public Safety Commission is also opposed to starting our
own police department. However, we also felt that we are obligate:1 to our
citizens for the maximum amount of protection that we can for the dollars we
are going to have to spend. If we can spend $30,000.00 to have a couple of
people working part-time for us in shifts that we need to have when you are
going to spend those same dollars to the County and get nothing in return for
it, you might just as well as put a couple of your own people on.
Councilman Geving: I disagree. I'm glad my comments are being recorde:1
because several years from now I'm going to be proven right on this. I
guarantee it. We are asking for a police force that is going to cost us a lot
of bucks and my only other comment is I want to see the Manager involved in
the negotiations from this point on to get the best deal for the City of
Chanhassen like he has in the years past. It is difficult. I know it is not
easy working with Carver County.
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City Oouncil Meeting - October 20, 1986
Don Ashworth: I guarantee you. I have been totally involved in this. G:>ing I
in arrl coming out of that meeting, I knew exactly what it was that we were
looking for and I really think that what is being brought to you in terms of
finally getting the Oounty to recognize that you have 24 hour car in this
area and it is simply a question of who should pay for that car. What has
been occurring is there has been a gradual process of shifting the entire cost
over to the City of Chanhassen. Now that's not really right because 16 hours
out of every day our car is the only east in car. If there is a problem in
Victoria, Waconia, wherever it is, our car goes to respond to that complaint
am you know, we just can not get the rationale of that position through to
the Oounty Board. Finally, through this lawsuit, we had an opportunity to
come in, I'll call it the back door, to allow us to renegotiate that position
and come up with a fixed number of hours that they are going to charge us for,
18. The Oounty Attorneys agreed to it, the Oounty Administrator, the City of
Chaska. We are not going to look for repercussions from any of those groups.
I made sure that I made all of those contacts in advance of any type of
general meetings that they had including our Commission. I feel very
comfortable about this position and I agree with you. I do not want to
negotiate contracts for full-time police officers and I like the system. It
is the cheapest thing we are going to get but you can go from $230,000.00,
which is what it will cost you this next year to $180,000.00 and you will not
receive one hour difference of protection and in fact, if you use that
differential and if the Public Safety Oommission is recommending to supplement
part-time service, you can assure more service back to the citizens.
Oouncilman Geving: Where are we paying over $30,000.00 to the officers that I
we have? Isn't our Public Safety and Police Contract roughly equivalent to
$250,000.00 right now? Isn't that what it is? Even more then that?
Don Ashworth: It is $220,000.00 for 1987. The Department of Public Safety is
like $50,000.00.
Oouncilman Geving: Okay, so it is $275,000.00 maybe.
Mayor Hamilton: Let's not forget, Jim is not a Public Safety employee.
Councilman Geving: I understand he is not full-time.
Mayor Hamil ton: About three quarters of his time is for fire.
Oouncilman Geving: I know this. We hired him to be the Fire Marshall and
today I see him as a quasi police officer and the chief of the Chanhassen's
future police department and I don't think that is where we want to be
heading. I just don't see that and then when I see him personally endorsing,
I don't know if he is endorsing himself or is he endorsing the City of
Chanhassen.
Mayor Hamilton: No. Absolutely not. I think you are off base.
Oouncilman Geving: I'm not off base.
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City Council Meeting - October 20, 1986
Mayor Hamilton: Yes you are because I have gone with him and he does not push
for it. He presents a case and he doesn't take a side either way at the
Public Safety Commission meetings. I was the one who pushed for it in the
first place.
Counci lman Geving: '!hen I think you are wrong.
Mayor Hamilton: Well, I guess I disagree but something is needed and I think
personally I feel that I would be remiss by not supplying the citizens of this
community adequate police protection or the best from the dollars that we can.
Jim is not pushing for it.
Councilwoman Watson: cne last comment I want to make too. When you talk
about not starting any police force. I'm not in favor of starting a police
force either. Chviously we are in favor of the Contract system. I do not
want to pay for 21 hours of police protection and get 18. It is as simple as
that. It really doesn't have anything to do with starting a police force. It
has more to do with I'm not going to pay for something that I'm not getting.
I might just as well throw that money away as to give it to Carver County and
not get an additional minute of police protection for it.
Councilwoman Swenson: Somebody please refresh my memory. In Jim's letter, it
says if we decide to go ahead and hire Chanhassen officers for 1987 per City
Council's direction we need to begin the process. IX> you mean direction from
them tonight?
IX>n Ashworth: M:=aning if the City Council ends up approving.
Councilwoman Swenson: I think maybe that should be a little bit clarified
because it sounds as if it has already been approved and obviously that is not
the case.
IX>n Ashworth: Mike isn't able to get the Council endorsement of really the
concept. What we are trying to do and then basically taking it back to the
Public Safety Commission, work out the details as to the number of hours, the
service levels that we will be providing, verify that within the overall
budget limits that you already set for 1987 and bring back that specific
package to you.
Councilman Horn: I would like Al to be here when we discuss that. My feeling
is that what we are getting is a reaction by the County to what was totally a
surprise to me and I would think the County too, the way the Judge talked for
that injunction for the City of Chaska. I can't believe that it happened.
Councilman Geving: Why is Olaska pushing for the $33.00. I don't see what
the advantage to Chaska would be to push for the actual $33.00. They are
going to have pay that just like we do.
Don Ashworth: The City of Chaska has not felt that the other cities and the
County townships are paying the proper share of police contract costs.
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Mayor Hamilton: They are saying that, Waconia has about the same number of
hours of patrol as we do and they pay a heck of a lot less then we do so
somebody is picking that up and Chaska says that they are the ones that are
paying for it. None of the township contracts with the County and they get
police protection. Who is paying for it? We're paying for part of it.
Chaska is paying for part of it and the only reason Chaska is not including us
in it is because we are paying our fair share. We are paying more then our
fair share because we are also paying for the protection...
Mayor Hamilton moved, Councilwoman Swenson seconded to take the 1987 Police
Contract back to the Public Safety Commission to come back with a
recommendation to the City Council with some specific figures. All voted in
favor except Councilman Geving who opposed. The motion carried.
Councilwoman Swenson moved, Councilman Geving seconded to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 p.m..
Don Ashworth
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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