CC SUM 2010 02 08
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8, 2010
Mayor Furlong called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. The meeting was opened with the
Pledge to the Flag.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Furlong, Councilman Litsey, Councilwoman
Ernst, Councilwoman Tjornhom, and Councilman McDonald
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, Roger Knutson, Laurie Hokkanen, Kate Aanenson, Paul
Oehme, and Todd Hoffman
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Tim Litfin Minnetonka Community Education Services
Ann & Mark Page 10 Hill Street
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:
None.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilwoman Ernst moved, Councilwoman Tjornhom seconded
to approve the following consent agenda items pursuant to the City Manager’s
recommendations:
a. Approval of Minutes:
-City Council Work Session Minutes dated January 25, 2010
-City Council Verbatim and Summary Minutes dated January 25, 2010
Receive Commission Minutes:
-Planning Commission Verbatim and Summary Minutes dated January 19, 2010
b. Hill Street Drainage Project: Award Construction Contract.
c. Approval of Temporary On-Sale Liquor License, Gym Jam Event, April 10, St. Hubert
Catholic Community, 8201 Main Street
d. Approval of Amendment to Chapter 20 of City Code Amending the Chanhassen Retail
Center, Market Square, and West One Planned Unit Developments.
Resolution #2010-10:
f. Call for Public Hearing on a Proposed Modification to the
Redevelopment Plan for the Chanhassen Redevelopment Project Area and the Proposed
Establishment of Tax Increment District #10.
h. 2010 Pond Cleanout, SWMP18D: Award Contract.
City Council Summary – February 8, 2010
i. 2010 Legislative Priorities.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR CITY’S HELP WITH
TOUR DE TONKA, TIM LITFIN, MINNETONKA COMMUNITY EDUCATION
SERVICES.
Tim Litfin presented a plaque thanking the City of Chanhassen for allowing the Tour de Tonka
to stroll through the city streets every year in August.
PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDER EASEMENT VACATION, LOTS 4 & 5, BLOCK 1,
RD
BRENDEN POND 3 ADDITION.
Public Present:
Name Address
Gina Sauer 2244 Lake Lucy Road
Paul Oehme presented the staff report for this item. Gina Sauer, the neighbor to the east, asked
for clarification of the reason for the adjusted easement.
Resolution #2010-11: Councilwoman Ernst moved, Councilwoman Tjornhom seconded
that the City Council vacate the drainage and utility easement on Lots 4 and 5, Block 1,
rd
Brenden Ponds 3 Addition as shown on the survey prepared by Demars-Gabriel Land
Surveyors, Inc. dated 12/18/09. Approval is contingent upon combining the lots and
recording the “Grant of Permanent Drainage and Utility Easement” document. All voted
in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
PUBLIC HEARING: AUDUBON ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT 10-02:
PUBLIC HEARING; AUTHORIZE PREPARATION OF PLANS & SPECIFICATIONS.
Public Present:
Name Address
Tana Erickson & Tim Boyce 8941 Audubon Road
Kristi Strang 1701 Valley Ridge Trail South
Steve & Mary Pat Monson 8850 Audubon Road
Dennis & Ruth Chadderdon 8900 Audubon Road
Meredith & Patrick Walsh 8731 Audubon Road
Gary Theis 1696 Valley Ridge Trail North
Bruce Feik 1773 Valley Ridge Trail South
Pamela Strand 8640 Audubon Road
J. Phans 1815 Valley Ridge Trail South
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City Council Summary – February 8, 2010
Elizabeth Kressler 1750 Valley Ridge Trail North
Wendy O’Connor 1702 Valley Ridge Trail North
Tim & Brenda Moore 1812 Valley Ridge Trail North
M. Choiniere Family 8481 Bittern Court
Paul Oehme presented the staff report for this item and outlined the scope of the project. Todd
Hoffman reviewed the City’s Comprehensive Trail Plan and the importance of constructing this
trail segment along Audubon Road. Pat Corkle with SRF discussed traffic concerns and the
geometrics of the roadway. Councilwoman Ernst asked if there were any restrictions the City
could place on the road to lower the speed limit and traffic control options for the intersections.
Mayor Furlong called the public hearing to order.
Pamela Strand, 8640 Audubon Road voiced objection to moving the trail from the east side of
Audubon to the west, installation of the left turn lanes because it upgrades the road
unnecessarily, and concern with when the traffic study was done.
Steve Monson, 8850 Audubon Road expressed concern that there were too many unanswered
questions to make a decision. He explained his reasons for opposing the trail being placed on the
east side, asked why the road can’t be posted as a 4 or 5 ton road like it used to be, the need to
slow traffic down, and concern with access to his shed.
Pat Walsh, 8731 Audubon Road opposed putting the path on either side of the road, and did not
see the point of putting in left turn lanes. He agreed that the road needs to be repaved but not
expanded and that traffic should be encouraged to take different routes to 212 rather than taking
Audubon.
Tana Erickson, 8941 Audubon Road stated she was not in favor of having the trail on the east
side of the road, wanted to reiterate that she and her husband are concerned about traffic going
faster, asked for clarification of where the funding to construct the trail comes from, concern
with assessments, anxious that things are moving too fast before ironing out all the issues such as
how to slow traffic down, what changes had been made to the plan after receiving feedback at
the neighborhood meetings and a concern that the neighborhood concerns weren’t being
addressed.
Ruth and Dennis Chadderdon, 8900 Audubon Road stated they agree that the road needs to be
updated but questioned why 8 homes are being assessed and the amount and speed of the truck
traffic. She liked the idea of installing a round about to help slow traffic and was not in favor of
the bike path on either side of the road. Dennis Chadderdon stated there were other path loops in
the area without the need for this section of trail and that traffic speeds will go up when the road
becomes smoother. Ruth Chadderdon had questions about whether Audubon Road is a county or
city road.
Councilwoman Tjornhom asked residents to explain their fear of constructing the trail. Ruth
Chadderdon and Steve Monson addressed her question.
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City Council Summary – February 8, 2010
Krista Strang, 1701 Valley Ridge Trail South, which is the corner lot off Audubon, expressed
concern over the distance from her fence to the trail and the number and speed of the truck
traffic.
Wendy O’Connor, 1702 Valley Ridge Trail North explained her concern with the dates of when
the speed measurement studies were performed, (prior to school starting), and the location of
where the studies were taken. She discussed the merits of installing an all way stop sign at
Audubon and Valley Ridge Trail North to help with access to the park across Audubon from
their neighborhood. In speaking with John Rogers, Manager of Transportation for Chanhassen
High School, he stated installing a safe crosswalk at this location would save the school district
$42,000 annually.
Elizabeth Kressler, 1750 Valley Ridge Trail North, friend and neighbor of Wendy O’Connor,
voiced her surprise that the City had not contacted the school district about the Audubon Road
reconstruction project. She asked for clarification of the width of the old road versus what is
being proposed for the new road, if any of the businesses further up on Audubon were
contributing to the project cost, when Audubon Road was changed from a county road to a city
road, why the neighborhood just north of the Kwik Trip, north of Highway 5 on Galpin has a
stop sign, how can the City change the designation of Audubon Road from a collector, and
suggested doing the traffic study sometime when school’s in session and the PGA tournament’s
not in town.
Bruce Feik, 1773 Valley Ridge Trail South thanked city staff for all their work and stated he felt
it was a pretty good plan. He liked the idea of the round about and stated that the turn lanes are
absolutely necessary. He was not so much in favor of installing stop signs but agreed there
needed to be a way to get pedestrians safely across the road to access the park and that the
sidewalks were necessary. He asked that something be done at the intersection of Audubon
Road and Lyman Boulevard to address safety concerns, i.e. moving the stop sign locations, tree
removal, or road realignment.
Mike Choiniere, 8481 Bittern Court expressed concern that the traffic count numbers are too low
because it was conducted before the high school opened and was in favor of having a crosswalk
and path system on Audubon Road that connects to the high school. Mrs. Choiniere had great
concern about the speed of the traffic and pedestrian safety.
Gary Theis, 1696 Valley Ridge Trail North expressed concern over the lack of maintenance on
Audubon Road over the last few years and asked what could be done to lower the speed limit.
Councilwoman Tjornhom moved, Councilwoman Ernst seconded to close the public
hearing. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. The
public hearing was closed.
After comments from council members the following motion was made.
Resolution #2010-12: Councilman McDonald moved, Councilman Litsey seconded that the
Chanhassen City Council authorize the preparation of plans and specifications for the
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City Council Summary – February 8, 2010
Audubon Road Reconstruction Project No. 10-02. All voted in favor and the motion
carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
The City Council took a short recess at this point in the meeting, subject to the call of the
Chair.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 20 OF CITY CODE:
REZONING CERTAIN DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES.
Kate Aanenson presented the staff report on this item. Commissioner McDonald asked about
feedback from businesses in the Central Business District on the impact of this rezoning
proposal. Mayor Furlong asked if the stormwater management plan can handle this
intensification in the downtown.
Councilwoman Tjornhom moved, Councilwoman Ernst seconded that the City Council
approves the rezoning of properties from General Business District (BG) to Central Business
nd
District (CBD) on property located on Lot 4, Block 1, West Village Heights 2 Addition and
rd
Lots 1, 2 and 3, Block 1, West Village Heights 3 Addition; rezoning from General Business
District (BG) to Agricultural Estate District (A2) on property located on Outlot A, Crossroads
Plaza Addition; and rezoning from Highway and Business Services District (BH) to
Agricultural Estate District (A2) on property located on Outlot B, Crossroads Plaza Addition
and Lot 3, Block 2, Frontier Development Park; and adopts the Planning Commission’s
Findings of Fact. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to
0.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS:
Councilwoman Ernst thanked staff for the awesome job they
did with the fishing contest and February Festival.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS:
None.
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION.
None.
Councilwoman Ernst moved, Councilwoman Tjornhom seconded to adjourn the meeting.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. The City
Council meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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