WS 2011 01 24
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
JANUARY 24, 2011
Mayor Furlong called the work session to order at 5:40 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Furlong, Councilwoman Ernst, Councilman
Laufenburger, Councilwoman Tjornhom, and Councilman McDonald
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, Laurie Hokkanen, Kate Aanenson, Paul Oehme, and Todd
Hoffman
DISCUSS 2011 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
TH 101 Corridor Project (Pioneer Boulevard to Scott County Line):
1. Council
members discussed issues involved with possible river crossing locations.
TH 5 Project Improvements (West of TH 41):
2. The City will continue to monitor and
support this project.
Highway 212:
3. Councilman Laufenburger asked about the City’s involvement in the
planning process with the Highway 212 expansion and Councilwoman Ernst asked for
clarification of the comment that no funding source has been secured.
Environmental:
4. The City will continue to discuss possible streamline measures
associated with the environmental permitting process.
Unfunded Mandates:
5. The City will continue to oppose unfunded mandates without a
corresponding funding mechanism.
Local Controls:
6. The City will support cooperative arrangements but oppose efforts to
weaken local government in providing the best services and benefits for their
communities, i.e. levy limits, cooperative purchasing. Councilman Laufenburger asked
to add in the last sentence of this paragraph that the people who know what’s best for the
city are the people who live here. Not just city staff and business owners.
Keep “Opt-Out” Suburban Transit Agencies in Place:
7. Mayor Furlong provided an
update on recommendations from the State Auditors Office Report which addresses the
Opt Out program and changes to the Met Council. The City will continue to monitor
legislative activities regarding these issues and look at the report to revise wording on this
item.
Voting Regulations
8. : The City will continue to monitor and support changes associated
with new voter registrations. Councilman Laufenburger asked if there will be any
changes as result of census numbers.
City Council Work Session - January 24, 2011
Todd Gerhardt explained that the next step is to set up a meeting with state and federal
legislators. Councilwoman Ernst asked about including wording associated with the recent court
ruling on variances.
DISCUSS 2011 KEY FINANCIAL STRATEGIEs.
Todd Gerhardt reviewed the council ranking results, indicating that anything under 2 would be a
priority for 2011. Councilman McDonald provided clarification of his 2.3 ranking on review of
the rental licensing program, noting he would be willing to raise his ranking to 1.
Councilwoman Ernst asked why the amphitheater/gathering place continues to be on the list.
Councilman Laufenburger asked for an update of the City’s current forestry plan. Mayor
Furlong suggested the disc golf course discussion could be put off until 2012. Councilwoman
Ernst asked staff to clarify what’s included in the long term tennis court maintenance plan and
explained how her ranking of 4 compared to other council members ranking of 2. She stated she
would consider raising it to 3, but did not see it as a priority. Mayor Furlong, Councilwoman
Tjornhom and Councilman McDonald offered to change their rankings so that this item could be
reviewed in 2011. Councilman Laufenburger suggested that next year staff include how much
city staff resources will be needed to accomplish each key financial strategy. In discussion of the
city cemetery expansion, council discussed changing their ranking to address this item in 2011.
Todd Gerhardt noted staff will continue to work on the items listed under ongoing projects.
Councilman Laufenburger stated he would like to know the financial impact on the City for all
future projects such as the County Fiber Ring Project. Mayor Furlong discussed the
benchmarking report for the police contract with the sheriff’s office.
Mayor Furlong adjourned the work session at 6:55 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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