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Administrative Sectioni i ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION Letter to Ron Erickson, MnDOT dated November 17, 1994. Letter to Chaska School Board Members dated November 14, 1994. Article entitled "City looks at more control of waste haulers," City of Eagan Newspaper. Letter from Lori Graven and Bev Ringsak, University of Minnesota dated November 9, 1994. Letter from Kevin Gianotto, The Berline Group dated November 8, 1994. Letter from Frank Dunbar, Dunbar Development Corporation dated November 7, 1994. Site Coordination Meeting Minutes No. 11, New Elementary School, November 2, 1994. Letter to Michael Ryan, Mark VII Distributors, Inc. dated November 17, 1994. Memo from Todd Hoffman dated November 16, 1994. Memo from Scott Han dated November 17, 1994. Letter from Ankeny Kell richter and Walsh Architects dated November 16, 1994. Letter to Ron Erickson, MnDOT dated November 18, 1994. Letter to John T. Schevenius dated November 18, 1994. Memo from Diane Desotelle dated November 21, 1994. HRA Accounts Payable dated November 14, 1994. Mr. Ron Erickson MnDOT 1500 Co. Rd. B2 West Roseville, MN 55113 Dear Mr. Erickson CITY OF CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 HAND DELIVERED As you are aware, the city has worked the last two years to locate the northern frontage road along Highway 5 east of Powers Boulevard, west to Highway 41. The city is unable to officially map this road alignment because of no comment from-MnDOT has been received and thus, unable to hold a public hearing on the environmental assessment document. Barton Nschman submitted the environmental assessment document to MnDOT for review /approval in April, 1994. Currently, the city is reviewing development along this proposed alignment and the city is in an arduous situation to require road dedication without official mapping of the proposed road. While this issue may not be a priority to MnDOT, the delay in the decision may cost the city the opportunity to acquire appropriate right -of -way. We would appreciate your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Kathryn R. Aanenson, AICP Planning Director AM PC: City Council f t I 0 71 1 J 7 November 17, 1994 I i 1 w 11 November 14, 1994 District 112 School Board 110600 Village Road Chaska, MN 55318 CITY OF CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 Dear School Board Members: Please consider naming the new elementary school located in Chanhassen Bluff Creek Elementary. The site on which the school, recreation center and park are located borders this waterway for over 800 feet. Bluff Creek will be the location for a future pedestrian underpass of State Highway 5. Bluff Creek originates from large wetlands north and west of the elementary school and flows over six miles to its outlet into Rice Lake located in southeastern Chanhassen. The connection to Bluff Creek, which this site offers, is a natural one — literally. Please consider the merits of the name Bluff Creek Elementary during your deliberations. Sincerely, r , Todd Hoffman Park and Recreation Director TH:k pc: Mayor and City Council Park and Recreation Commission Don Ashworth, City Manager Todd Gerhardt, Assistant City Manager 10A Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan SuneCurrentMlednesday, Nov. 9, 1994 City looks at more control of waste haulers By Lori Haugen Staff Writer Combine free - market inde- pendence with public safety and public money, and the mixture could be a messy one for Eagan — especially since it involves garbage. Eagan's Solid Waste Abate- ment Commission has been charged with studying whether or not to control more strictly its solid waste collection across the city. As a part of the study, the city has temporarily banned any new waste haulers from doing busi- ness in the city. The moratorium is in re- sponse to residents' concerns about the number of garbage One -year moratorium on new haulers begins trucks on the streets. In addition, it was time for the city to look at organized hauling again, said Joanna Foote, Eagan's communi- cations and recycling coordina- tor. Eagan currently has partially organized hauling, which desig- nates what days haulers can go into certain areas. Twelve companies are now li- censed to haul refuse in the city, and in some areas, as many as four haulers are known to pick up garbage in a single neighborhood on one day. That has raised additional concerns about wear on city streets, Foote said. �� r ,M:if:�r Bumhill Shoppe Comer • 14105 Irving Ave S • Burnsville Bird Feeders, w Greeting & Note Cards Nesting(Roosting Boxes or Variety of Gift Items Seed: Bag & Bulk O' Window & Wall Hangings, Mixes & Single Varieties Bird Art Bird Books, Videos, & Tapes North Sound Nature Tapes & CD's Feeder Accessories (poles, hanging brackets, baffles, etc.) sc �����.����� 5C I FREE 1 1O/ OFF � 216e of MN Mix Seed Any Purchaee Minnesota's Backyard Birds Minnesota's BaUjUd Bi NO = 89W31 = 10 108 -1 •Fxn. IIM 1/04 • AWAr 14, . t. PR.... a...... .. .. . The one -year moratorium was deemed necessary because of re- cent state legislation that re- quires cities to involve all haulers when they make orga- nized hauling decisions. "We've made no predictions how this will turn out," said Foote, a member of the Solid Waste Abatement Commission. "We have to look-at the options and decide what's best for Eagan." Bob Elliot, a sales manager with Quality Waste Control, said that they'd prefer the city to re- tain its current system. "Organized collection takes away free enterprise," Elliot said. "It's all dictated by govern- ment, and the residents don't have the choice." He said his company plans to retain an active role as decisions are made. Foote said other haulers have asked why garbage trucks, and not UPS or ice -cream trucks, should be regulated. Foote said there are innumer- able paths the city could take, and they have requested studies from other cities that have re- cently dealt with the issue. "The commission will put to- gether a guide that maps out all of our options, the pro's and con's of each, and determine which pri- orities are top." It will mean carefully balar ing residents' needs. "Peog want fewer trucks, but they wa flexibility too," she said. Possible solutions could i clude districting haulers so th could haul only in a certain g( graphic area; the city could t ceive bids from haulers and all( residents to choose from t] three lowest; they could put tl city in charge of administerb the program; or they could lea the system as it is. The group i vites comments from the publ which can be directed to Foote City Hall. The next meeting the Solid Waste Abatement Cot mission will be at 7 p.m. Thut day, Nov 17, at Eagan Municip Building, 3830 Pilot Knob Row City goes to court over development Property owners want to put homes between two Eagan parks By Lori Haugen Staff Writer Amid a legal battle, plans for a new housing development, pro- posed to be built between Caponi Art Park and the heavily -used Northview Park, were denied by the Eagan City Council last week. With a recent First District Court decision over their heads, council members on Nov. 1 turned down preliminary plans for the small development, an 11- home subdivision called Vantage Point. IMforeoo det�, co members argued nt Pnvt.h nhnnt. ily belongs here," said Coun- cilmember Pat Awada at the meeting. The council had approved re- zoning of the property to single family residential at its Sept. 20 meeting saying it was the prop- erty owner's right to develop his property, and had sent the plan back to the Advisory Planning Commission for review. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the plan on a split vote, and sent it back to the council. Meanwhile, Remo and Karen Caponi, the developers, filed suit ink Di4nWouM 0 Tboi, nrminrl thn 4 + 1 ,d the Caponis, requiring the city issue a certificate of preliminai plat approval for the property. The city, however, disagre( on the starting day of the 121 day period, saying the Caponi application had not been con plete. After denying the request, tl council ordered their attorney I prepare findings to. deny the n quest, and to file a motion to al peal the decision. Then, on Nov. 3, the judg called city staff members to coui and ordered the city to issue a plat based on the technic 1' "'Mas On haw UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA i Twin Cities Campus I I November 9, 1994 Diane Desetele and Dave Hempel City of Chanhassen P.O. Box 147 Chanhassen MN 55317 -0147 Department of Professional Development and Conference Services Continuing Education and Extension 214 Nolte Center 315 Pillsbury Drive S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455 -0139 612- 625 -6616 Fax: 612-626-1632 On behalf of the planning committee, we thank you for your presentation at the 27th Annual Water Resources Conference, held October 25 -26, St. Paul. The comments we received from participants were positive. They liked the variety and mix of topics and found the information presented was relevant and useful. L� 1 In January we will be sending out a call for abstracts for the 1995 conference, and we invite you to respond based on topics identified. Again, thanks for your part in making this conference a success. Sincerely, Lori Graven Bev Ringsak Program Director Program Associate RECEIVED !Vf .. , ,t i 4 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSEN U m 4 AdNertisin€ November 8, 1994 His Honorable Don Chmiel , and Mayor of Chanhassen 7100 Tecumseh Lane ' Chanhassen, MN 55317 Public Dear Mayor Chmiel: i I regret to inform you that the Grand Opening of the Wendy's Restaurant located at Relations 7820 Market Boulevard has been cancelled due to some unforeseen logistic problems. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Too If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me. ' Respectfully, HRLINE,GROUP INC. Suite 100 � Rana -er of Public Rcl-tions ' Bingham Farni cc: Michelle Horowitz Paula Kaner N91 480 -15 (810) 540 -7557 Fax (810) 540 -7710 1 u Dunbar Development Corporation November 7, 1994 Mir. Don Ashworth City Hanager City of Chanhassen 690 Coulter Drive F.O. Box 147 Chanhassen, HN 55317 RE: Senior Development Dear Don: �1� C'1� ee As we discussed briefly after the meeting with the Senior Commission. -` �,._ :'h ,irsday, I wanted to follow up with you regarding the items I discussed during the meeting and the schedule for future meetings. 1. We reviewed the common areas of the building and discussed the probable use of the various spaces. The Commission de._iued against including a commercial kitchen in the Community Room. We will include a residential kitchen in the space in lieu of the commercial equipment. Part of the community room space will be used for the `oilowing rooms as requested by the Commission: beauty pallor /barber shop, exercise room and exam room. _. Fo= lowing discussion of architects for the development, t1"e Senior Commission approved Miller Hanson Westerbeck Berger (IiHY7B). They were familiar with their architectural work at the Elim Shores facility. We have included a brochure on I-E -RIB for your review and consideration. 3. We have scheduled the following meetings: Honday, November 14 at 1:30 - review of modifications to common areas based on input at November 3 meeting and unit plans. Tuesday, November 29 at 1:30 to review the exterior of the building. Wt feel that the meeting was positive and look forward to continuing to wr_ rk �rnth the Senior Commission. tie will continue to update you following the meetings. Sincerely, V ��� I Frank C. Dunbar Dunbar Development Corporation eric RECEIVED NO 1 41994 A�� CITY OF CHANHASSEN ` i a � - Stree on Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 (612) 341-0005 FAX (612) 341 -0327 HORSON C O M P A N I E S THE NEW ET ENTARY SCHOOL l vell _ Chanhassen, Minnesota Site Coordination Meeting No. 11 , November 2, 1994 Present: Cathy Gallagher I.S.D. No. 112 Todd Hoffmann City of Chanhassen Tom Sheehan Egan & Sons Greg Szypulski BOR -SON Companies Rich Lyons BOR -SON Companies Mike Gengler Northstar Fire Protection John Gockel John Gockel & Associates , Bob Germundson Premier Electric Jim Kessler Braun Intertec Gary Frederickson Premier Electric ' Dist: Todd Gerheart City of Chanhassen David Leschak HGA, Inc. Mike Prokopiuk Five Star Welding ' Henry Vloo Braun Intertec Roger Raaum BOR -SON Companies Jim Kephart S. M. Hentges ' Marty Timmons J & K Grading Dan Roach Top -All Roofing Mark Solyntjes Custom Drywall Schedule: Site - Area 4 -- Sewer and water main is 95% complete. -- Parking lots and site will be graded in approximately two (2) weeks ( +). I Building Area 1 -- Masonry bearing walls are 100% complete. -- Structural steel is 99% complete. -- Roof joist and deck is 70% complete. ' -- Face brick is 30% complete. RECEIVED -- Roofing will start November 3, 1994. 4 X994 Building Area 2 -- Masonry bearing walls are 100% complete. CITY OF CNFN -- Structural Steel is 90% complete. -- Roof Joist & Deck is 45% complete ' -- Slab on grade is 100% complete. Building - Area 3 -- Mechanical /electrical underground rough -in is 100% complete. -- Slab on grade is 100% complete. -- Masonry bearing walls are 15% complete. , BORON CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES CHAN / TXT 17 9 P.O. Box 1611 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440 (612) 854 -8444 FAX (612) 854 -8910 Member: AGC- Associated General Contractors Equal Opportunity Employer I IJ Site Coordination Meeting No. 11 November 2, 1994 Page 2 ' Safety Use caution when working around exposed conduit and rebar. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Action Req By Old Business -------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - -- HGA 4.2 OWNER HGA OWNER ' HGA i HGA 5.3 5.6 5.7 BORSON 8.4 PREMIER BRAUN 8.5 Spectro Glazed Etched Graphics HGA is working with the Owner on requirements. Building Permit Shell permit has been issued. HGA still working on the City's plan review response. Request for Information No response has been received on BOR -SON'S RFI No. 3 (conduit routing). HGA to respond. Light Pole Bases HGA feels the light pole bases will have adequate subsurface support. The Owner is requesting a written response from HGA. Gas /Electrical The main gas and electrical lines are in. Temporary gas meter is installed. Transformers are installed. NSP will return Friday after which temporary electric will be available. Unsuitable Soils Braun will have a response on quantity totals by early next week. N -STAR 8.6 Fire Protection No response is required by Northstar to the Fire Marshall. CITY 9.3 Parking Lots Parking lot grading will be completed in approximately two to three weeks. CHAN /TXT179 P, Site Coordination Meeting No. 11 November 2, 1994 Page 3 , -------------------------------------------------------------------- Action ' Req By Old Business -------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - -- HGA 10.1 Critical Submittals BOR -SON needs the following submittals returned as soon a possible: 1. Wood doors. ' 2. EIFS. HGA 10.2 Outstanding Request for Information: , RFI #3, #9, #11, #12 and #13. HGA 10.4 Color Selections The interior color selections have been issued by HGA and ' received by BOR -SON. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Action Req By New Business -------------------------------------------------------------------- 11.1 Frontage Road The School District has been advised by the engineer tha the frontage road will not be installed until next spring. This is contrary to the information provided at thl preconstruction meeting. Access to the project will b very difficult due to the absence of the frontage road this year. ' HGA 11.2 Roofing Details HGA to respond to possible changes in Detail 3/7 -5 and the use of an alternate product for the vapor barrier. , BORSON 11.3 Electrical Room Premier Electric is requesting the roof be install as soo� as possible for Room No. 163. 11.4 Electric Meters Electric meters will be installed on the exterior of th� building. CITY 11.5 Site Grading Design The City is concerned about the berming of the propose grade on the north side of the site along Highway 5. Th city will respond. CHAN /TXT179 Site Coordination Meeting No. 11 November 2, 1994 Page 4 ' OWN 11.6 Mortar Color HGA There appears to be some inconsistency in some color BORSON mortar. The Owner, HGA and BOR -SON will monitor. BRAUN 11.7 Unsuitable Backfill Egan is concerned about the soils in the east side of Area ' 1. Braun will review. ' The next Site Coordination Meeting is at 10:00 a.m. on November 16, 1994 at the jobsite. Treats will be provided by The City of Chanhassen. BOR -SON believes this document accurately reflects the business transacted ' during the meeting. If anyone in attendance believes there are inconsistencies, omissions or errors in these minutes, notify the writer at once. Unless objections arise, consider this account accurate and ' acceptable to all present. GS:cc cc 1 All Present Distribution List I CHAN /TXT179 Mr. Michael Ryan c/o Mark VII Distributors, Inc. 475 North Prior Avenue St. Paul. MN 55104 t F CITY OF CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 Re Association Beachlot - Minnewashta Parkway Project No, 90 -15 Dear Mr. Ryan: I have received the work estimates you have submitted to the City regarding your request to replace the neNN stairnyay and add some fill to the homeowners' association recreational beachlot. It is the City's policy on projects to replace disturbed or reconstruction private amenities such as stairs, fences, etc. in similar materials and style. For example. an existing chain link fence would not be replaced with a cedar privacy fence unless the property o«ner was , filling to pay the additional cost involved. I have had the opportunity to discuss this matter in greater detail N', ith the Assistant Cite Manager and the Project Engineer. Based on the information I have gathered. it is my conclusion that the new wood stairway put in by the Minnewashta Parkway project contractor (while basic in form) is an "equivalent or better" stairnyay in terms of materials and style than what existed prior to the construction of the project. Retaining timber -type steps as proposed on the work estimate is above and beyond that which the homeowners' association had in existence prior to the project. Therefore. I cannot in good conscience recommend that the City pay for an upgraded stairnNay. With regards to the ditch filling along to the north propert} line of the beachlot, it is my understanding from discussions N', ith the project engineer that the contractor brought in material this summer and filled the low area along the ditch: however. their work limits were restricted to not encroach within the 50 -foot buffer from the lakeshore as required by the DNR. Based on the information above, your request for a timber staircase and additional site grading is respectfully denied. Sincereh . CITY OF CHANHASSEN Charles D. Folch, P.E. Director of Public Works /Cit-, Engineer CDF:ktm c: Bill Engelhardt Don Ashworth. City Manager Todd Gerhardt, Assistant City Manager Cite Council Administrative Packet (11/28/94) g eng'chvles Jenenran e I II � 11 November 17. 1994 i CITY OF �1k CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE 0 P.O. BOX 147 0 CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 MEMORANDUM TO: Don Ashworth, City Manager FROM: Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Director I DATE: November 16, 1994 E§ µQ: Opt SUBJ: Departmental Programming Relationships, School Districts 276 and 112 The provision of recreation services in Chanhassen has grown through many changes over the past ten years. Historically, recreation and social programs were provided to Chanhassen residents primarily through our two school districts. With the maturation of the City's Park ' and Recreation Department, the city progressively assumed responsibility for providing recreation and leisure programs. As our relationships with Districts 276 and 112 have changed, it has been apparent that closer ties were being held with District 112. This practice, however, was not a conscious effort, but a natural outcome of the environment in which we deliver services. ' This phenomenon of School District 276 becoming a "weaker sister" to District 112 has raised more than a few eyebrows over the years. To date, the city has not been able to fully compensate for existing traffic patterns, service boundaries, environmental constraints and ' existing allegiances which skew our service patterns. However, we continue to foster more participation by and service to District 276 residents who live and work within the City of Chanhassen. I 1 Facilities play an essential role in service delivery. Currently a single school from each district is located in Chanhassen. Next fall District 112 will open a second elementary school in Chanhassen. The city will also be opening its second indoor recreation center which is "built -in" to the new school at this time. (The senior center was the city's first endeavor). With the presence of this new facility at the center of our city, the department is again realigning ourselves to better meet the recreational, physical and social needs of our residents. In the past, the department has cooperatively offered adult programs with the City of Chaska. I have informed their department that it is our desire to discontinue this practice. In lieu of this, the department will offer all "Chanhassen" programs open to residents of Chanhassen and /or School Districts 276 and 112. In addition to utilizing the new recreation center, the f Mr. Don Ashworth November 16, 1994 Page 2 department will secure space in facilities governed by both districts. By this policy, we can alleviate discrimination against persons residing outside of Chanhassen who live in one of our two school districts. In doing so, I do not fear a rush of non - resident participation. Again, ' our service environment precludes this. The benefits of allowing friendships/ relationships which cross governmental boundaries to grow and prosper through recreation far outweigh any arguments of "taking care of our own." Our department has always aspired to be a ' facilitator of community and good will. I believe these changes in course, which I have briefly described herein, align with this philosophy. PC: Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Supervisor Dawn Lemme, Recreation Supervisor /Senior Coordinator Mayor and City Council Park and Recreation Commission 1 1 1 MEMORANDUM CITY OF CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 TO: Mayor and City Council Public Safety Commission City Manager Don Ashworth FROM: Scott Han, Public Safety Director DATE: November 17, 1994 SUBJ: Traffic Enforcement Program The inaugural year of the Chanhassen Traffic Enforcement Program has now concluded. It was recommended by Councilman Wing that additional funding be included in the 1994 budget to hire officers off duty for the specific purpose of providing supplemental traffic enforcement in areas identified as problem areas by residents or the officers themselves. As far as numbers, the attached memo from Officer Zydowsky reflects a total of 450 contacts made for a variety of offenses. It is estimated that the City received over $5000.00 in fine revenue from this program. We began this program because complaints about traffic are our most frequent complaint; however, because we attempt to maintain the least number of police contract hours with Carver County needed to maintain sufficient call response, the patrol units do not always have the time to respond to the need as desired. The goal was to increase traffic safety, and the philosophy was to educate the public. We communicated to the officers that desired to work this detail that how they pursued these goals with people would be left to their discretion, but that neither revenue nor just the number of citations issued would reflect the success of the program or their success as participants. 1 I appreciated the attitude of the officers working with us on this program. While man contacts PP g P g Y ' were made, they were done in a manner that the community responded well to. Any law enforcement administrator will tell you that traffic tickets generate a significant number of complaints from those receiving them. Throughout this program I did not receive one call from f November 17, 1994 Page 2 t n anyone complaining, and I received three calls from individuals who were stopped thanking us ' for this program (they said that they benefitted from being given the opportunity to reevaluate their driving habits). One individual stopped went so far as to take advantage of the opportunity by writing an essay in a church bulletin covering several issues - - but commenting on the positive nature of the contact as well! Bob Zydowsky and I concluded this program by holding a meeting with the officers that participated, and the consensus was that it went very well. The officers appreciated being made aware of areas the community was concerned about, as well as having the opportunity to work areas that their experience indicated to them needed supplemental traffic enforcement. From my position, people really appreciated being told when they called about a complaint that there was a way that we could respond directly & immediately (rather than being told that we would try our best to get to it...). The officers agreed that the positive nature of the program would remain even if additional citations were issued, as opposed to warnings. Everyone expressed an interest in having the program continue next year. I agree. This program was another example of how Chanhassen responds specifically to a need presented by the community. The numbers speak for themselves - - we did make an impression on the community's concern for increased traffic safety. I would like to thank the Mayor, City Council, Public Safety Commission and City Manager for their support of this program. g:\sa fet y\shvha fprog.2 F 7 1 J i 1 J 1 CITY OF CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 TO: Scott Harr, Public Safety Director FROM: Bob Zydowsky, Public Safety Officer DATE: November 7, 1994 SUBJ: Chanhassen Traffic Enforcement Effort Report As you are aware, the Chanhassen Traffic Enforcement Effort projet came to an end at the end of October 1994. We have an informal debriefing scheduled for November 16, 1994 with the officer's that were involved in the project to discuss how the project went and how we could improve it for 1995. There are a variety of statistics that could be presented to you about the project, but I thought I would keep it simple. Following are a few of the statistics I thought would be important. Total Number of Contacts: 452 Total Number of Citations Issued: 162 Citations by Subject: Speeding: 103 Fail to Stop for Stop Sign: 6 No MN Driver's License: 2 Fail to Change Drivers License: 1 No Proof of Insurance: 17 Expired Driver's License: 4 Expired Registration: 13 No Driver's License in Possession: 4 Seatbelt Violation. 3 Driving After Revocation: 1 Driving After Suspension: 1 No Moped Permit: 1 No Eyewear: 1 Obstruct View of Driver: 1 No Front Plate: 4 In my opinion, the program was a complete success. Sure, more tickets could have been written, but I don't think that was the purpose of the program. Next year I think we should develop an informational flyer(similar to the flyer Eden Prairie has) to hand out to all the ' contacts we have. I thoroughly enjoyed being the contact for the program, and would offer to run the program in 1995. Fi�H7w A r, i, i<< r s November 16, 1994 Todd Hoffman Park & Recreation Director Chanhassen Parks & Recreation Chanhassen, MN 55317 Dear Todd, In today's economy, many communities desiring the benefits of a public recreational facility have critical questions and concerns about operating costs and cost - recovery. For example, if the community invests in a multi- purpose recreation community center, will it generate enough revenue to recover operating costs? Is it inevitable that the facility operate with some type of deficit? Which recreational and social components will generate the most revenue? To help you think about these and similar questions, we have enclosed an article about a community center success story- -the Chaska Community Center. As the architects responsible for planning and designing the award - winning, multi - purpose recreational facility, we are proud of the positive impact it has had on the Chaska community, and its incredible 100 percent cost - recovery rate. We are very pleased that the City of Chaska has again recently commissioned us to work with them - -this time on the design of a new theater addition to the community center. Besides the Chaska facility, our recreational facility experience includes Merriam Park Community Center, Hopkins Activity Center, Cuyuna Country Community Center in Crosby, Minnesota, and, most recently, a $10 million community center project for the City of Maplewood. Completed in late October of this year, the new Maplewood Community Center features similar recreational and social components to Chaska's facility. In addition to planning and designing your recreational facility, AKRW can also help you determine the feasibility of your project, as we have for the Cities of Shakopee, Eagan, Champlin, Owatonna, Nisswa, and St. Paul. If we, at AKRW, can be of service to you, please let us know. We would be happy to assist you in any way we can. Sincerely, ANKENY, KELL, RICHTER, WALSH ARCHITECTS, P.A. L i n onstructing a beautiful new multipurpose recreation. center is the dream of many a parks and recre- ation department- Unfortu- nately. all too many departments plunge forward into a project with the expectation that their new center HIll break even or better yet, make mone}. To be realistic. that's hardly ever the case. Cities planning a new recreation facilitt• need to realize up front they11 likek be operating with some type of deficit. Except in extremely rare cases, most recreation centers are unable to recover 100 percent of their costs. especialh if the} include several log- or no-revenue com- ponents like meeting rooms. tennis courts. theaters and teen/child areas (see page 34). on Location can also be an immediate negative — centers in rural areas are much less like1v to recoup costs than their urban counterparts. Well - informed parks and recreation depart- ments approach the planning process know- ing they will cam a deficit, and plan for this with the full support of their city council. By S Those that don't — and that end up experi- encing a decline in revenue or need large sums of money for capital improvements after only a few years of operatior —are apt to incur serious scrutiny from their councils. To avoid this, it's best to determine the potential cost - recovery rate from the beginning, which in tum will help administrators and council members understand the anticipated budgetary performance of the center. ecovering 100 percent of your center's operating costs can be done, but it isn't done often. One city recre. ation facility that planned to beat the odds from the beginning — and has — is the Chaska (Minn.) Commu• nity Center. Just the right combination of planning, size and location has made the center.. located in a rapidly growing community 18 miles southwest of Minneapolis -St- Paul, profitable. In fiscal year 1994, says Tom Redman, director of the Chaska Parks, Recreation and Art Department, expenses are budgeted at $1.1 million, with revenue projec- 1 ■L lions at $1,166,000. The bulk of the revenue comes from three sources: admissions, antic- ipated to bring in $290,000; memberships, $358,000; and the ice arena, $145,000. There are several reasons the center is able to achieve a 100 - percent cost - recovery rate, most important of which, Redman says, is that the city, which has a population of 12,000, began with a clear philosophy of what it was building. "I think that if it's a city council you're operating with and under, you have to start out with a goal. It sounds kind of comy, but you have to have a purpose as to why you're building a community center," says Redman. "The reason this city built a center was to be a family gathering place that's all -encompass - ing. It's not a health club, it's not a racquetball facility, it's not where the jocks come. Its sup- posed to be everything to everyone." To become even more famitv-oriented, plans are underway to add an arts component to the facility. The proposed $2.5 million addition will include presentation space for the arts, a cafe and an indoor playground. To chmid increase the area's revenue potential, plans are being made to lease the basement area out, perhaps for gymnastics or indoor golf. The arts group will also contribute financially. Although Chaska itself is small., the center draws heavily from the sur- rounding area Redman estimates about one -third of memberships come from non - residents, as does $240,000 of the $290,000 in daily admissions. Fees are a bargain — Chaska youth and seniors pay $75 a year, adult resi- dents pay $100 and families pay $175. For non - residents, the fees are $118, $156 and $275, respectively. Redman feels the leisure pool is the center's biggest draw, followed by the ice arena Other major components of the 97,094 - square -foot center include a large amount of gymnasium space, weight - training and aerobics areas, racquetball courts and a track A second major reason for the center's success, Redman feels, is the size of his staff. "That's where a considerable amount of dollars are spent in a community center and we're somewhat lean," says Redman. "I know a lot of communi- ue S 1 28 ATH::T! - S EH October 199e Reprinted by permission, copyright 1994, Athletic Business Magazine Recreation centers in Chaska, Minn., and Green River, Wuo., are two facilities opposite ends of me cost- recoveru spectrum. `mss are going in the other direction and saying they need more staff, but we started out lean." In addition, a corporate/civic organization program, in which companies and groups that sell a minimum of 10 memberships get a 10 per- cent discount, has successfully brought in many new members. "This program created a lot of discussion," says Redman. "Whatever group it was, they talked among themselves, so it's a way of pro- moting the building and having people talk about it" The center also has an agreement with the school district (elementary, middle and high schools are located adjacent to the center in a campus -like setting), which uses the center for girls' preseason softball practice, a gymnastics program and hockey practices and games. as well as for workshops and physical education classes. The original agreement called for the school to contribute 45 percent of any operating deficit, or a 815.000 minimum if there is no deficit The schools also pay for ice time. 41 eanwtWe, across the country in southwestern Wyoming, the 54.000- square-foot Green River Recreation Center's goal is to meet 50 percent of its operat- ing costs. Although Green River (population 12,500) is close in size to Chaska, that's where the similarity ends. While Chaska is located in a grow- ing, affluent area, Green River's population base is just 15,000 people — and that's drawing from as far away as 30 miles in any direction. In addition, there are two competing centers in Rock Springs, which is just 12 miles away. Two years ago, when the center was recoup- ing approximately 44 percent of its costs, the city council felt offering classes and racquetball courts free would bring more people into the center, thus reducing the deficit Instead, the cost - recovery rate dropped to 38 percent "We didn't attract any new people; we had the same people using the center at a cheaper cost," says Brenda Roosa, recreation center supervisor. Early last year, the council gave the center the goal of bringing the cost - recovery rate up to 50 percent within the next three years. Besides rein- stituting charges for racquetball courts and classes, the center has added more programming for families, brought vending operations in- house, expanded sales of T- shirts and fitness gear, and committed additional capital money to new amenities, such as cardiovascular equipment and small pool slides. As a result, the center so far has brought the cost - recovery rate up to 46 percent "Continually upgrading equipment is obvi- ously an important thing," says Roosa. "Every time we get something new, it gets a big promo- tion. Increasing the amenities and making it more fun is always a plus." hat percentage of cost - recovery is achieved really depends on your market and philosophy. While Chaska and Green River are on opposite ends of the specM the cost - recovery rates of most centers fall somewhere in between. The key is to establish ahead of time a rate your city is comfort- able with, and then work to achieve that goal. ■ To determine cost - recovery rates at rec cen- ters nationwide, AB sent a survey to managers of 50 parks and recreation facilities. In doing the initial survey, we found wide swings in the information we received. For example, one city charges nothing for its residents to use its center, while another took over the operation of an existing private faciliA thus starting out with a built -in membership. We're still gathering information on cost recovery as part of an ongoing survey. Ifyou d like to supply information about your center, call us at 8OV722 -8764 or fax us at 608249- 1153 and we'll promptly send a surrey. r JMV 1 1 ViA Now, it's easier than ever to create and present professional quality videos for the widest range of business applications. The revolution- ary Sharp Viewcam' is the first camcorder to use a large active matrix color LCD view screen as its monitor. That, combined with the built - in audio system, gives you instant playback anywhere - in full color and sound. What's more, the 270° rotating lens and view screen lets LCD - L C D V I E W C A M S @ L C D you shoot from any angle -.even get yourself in the picture. Whether you choose a 3 -inch* or high - performance 4 -inch* view screen model with H18, Hi -Fi Stereo and digital capabilities, you get a self -con- tained video system in one lightweight portable unit. The incredible Sharp Viewcam. Experience its extraordinary viewing and playback capabilities and you won't be able to picture work without it. P R 0 J E C T 1 0 N S Y S T E M S • t t i t t r November 18, 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 Mr. Ron Erickson Minnesota Department of Transportation Waters Edge Building 1500 West County Road B2 Roseville, MN 55113 Re: Trunk Highway 5 Improvement Project (From County Road 17 to Trunk Highway 41) in Chanhassen - Agreement No. 67724 Project No. 90 -17 Dear Ron I am glad that we had the opportunity to meet yesterday to discuss the status of the proposed Trunk Highway 5 (County Road 17 to Trunk Highway 41) project and to strategize the next steps that need to be taken to insure that the design process proceeds accordingly. However, I must say that I did leave the meeting once again feeling somewhat disappointed due to further delays in the current time schedule for the implementation of this project. When I came to this City nearly five years ago, the proposed contract letting for this improvement project was scheduled for the fall of 1994. Since that time, I have seen the proposed project letting be delayed to fall of 1996, fall of 1998, and as of yesterday, post -year 2000. While I am fully aware of the delay in many projects statewide due to funding constraints, there is one particular item of concern regarding yesterday's latest project program information. It now appears that the Trunk Highway 5 improvement project (from County Road 17 to Trunk Highway 41 in Chanhassen) has been combined with another proposed project on Trunk Highway 5 (Trunk Highway 41 west to Trunk Highway 25). I have a great deal of concern that the combining of these two previously programmed projects into one larger project will be a severe disadvantage to the city of Chanhassen for a couple of reasons. First of all, the proposed combining of these projects now doubles the amount of dollars needed to fund the overall project which is currently estimated at nearly $14 million. With statewide transportation funding dollars being limited as they are increasing the size of the project and dollar request will definitely be a disadvantage in attempting to gain approval for the project. t Mr. Ron Erickson November 18, 1994 Page 2 The second concern I have is with respect to the dissimilar in design and functionability of these two highway segments. The section east of Trunk Highway 41 will be an urban design with ' more intense adjoining land use. The section west of Trunk Highway 41 will remain a rural section. It is my belief that the original project in Chanhassen from County Road 17 to Trunk Highway 41 will score higher on the priority rating through the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) review and for subsequent assignment to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). In essence, I would tend to believe that the westerly project would pull down the overall priority rating for the easterly segment in Chanhassen. Based on these concerns, I would respectfully request that MnDOT separate these two project as they previously were on the TIP post -2000 schedule. The City will continue to pursue all available avenues (no pun intended) to get the Trunk Highway 5 (County Road 17 to Trunk Highway 41 improvement project in Chanhassen) implemented as soon as reasonably possible. Thanks for your cooperation and efforts on this matter. Sincerely, CITY OF CHANHASSEN , Charles D. Folch Director of Public Works /City Engineer CDFJms c: Don Ashworth, City Manager ' Kate Aanenson, Planning Director City Council Administration Section (11/28/94) g''eng' charles` letters`th5 t Mr John T. Scheyenius 570 Pleasant Viw e Road Chanhassen. MN 55317 CITY OF CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 Re Response to Letter Dated October 24, 1994 Regarding Pleasant View Road - PWO86C Dear Mr Scheyenius. I apologize for the duration of time Ahich has lapsed prior to this response, however, it was important for me to obtain the appropriate information from Cite staff previously involved with the planning and development of Near Mountain concerning the issues you have raised. The first concern N ou discussed NN as the amount of traffic on Pleasant Vied' Road and the desire to relocate this road north through the Near Mountain development thereby eliminating some of toe sharp curves and narro A segments of Pleasant Vies Road. A review of the project history reveals that there was a great deal of planning and de\ elopment behind the decision- making processes for the Near Mountain development which dates back to 1978. I NN as not %yith the City at that time and certainly cannot speak to the decisions made during the evolution of this PU1) Hoye er, the reality of the matter is that the entire area for which you have sketched the proposed realignment is nom fully developed with residential homes. In fact, it would be impossible to create a continuous roadN�a along your proposed alignment without removing homes and significantly altering the existing local roadNN a� system and development design. I do not suspect that there would be any homeowners in the Near Mountain development %yho would desire to be relocated from there property much less see a collector road cut through the middle of their established residential neighborhood. I empathize Nyith your concerns regarding the amount of traffic which this road carries given that it is the only easti\ est thoroughfare between Trunk Highway 101 and Counvy Road 17/Powers Boulevard north of Lotus Lake in Chanhassen. If speeding is a problem. that issue has to be dealt with enforcement and public educational efforts to make people more aware of their driving habits. In conclusion on this matter, your proposed realignment for Pleasant Viexy Road is virtually impossible given the full development %+ich has occurred in the area. In addition, the City does not have any plans at this time for upgrading or reconstructing Pleasant VieR Road. I will, however, forNyard your concerns regarding speed to the Public Safety Director. The second issue you raised was regarding drainage down Indian Hill Road and the possibility of diverting some of the runoff into a nearby_ pond prior to discharging into Lotus Lake. I have asked the City's Water Resource ' Coordinator to investigate ti our proposal and respond accordingly. Based on her investigation, the pond which you have referred to in the exhibits submitted with Your letter is classified as a natural wetland. In accordance with the City's adopted Stormwater Management Plan, any stormwater runoff proposed to be redirected to this wetland would ' need to be pretreated prior to discharge. Private property would have to be purchased to accomplish this task. I am X0,are that the Water Resources Coordinator and the Street Superintendent have had some discussions recently u ith a resident in the area regarding the possibility of acquiring some land and creating a small sediment trap to remedy some of the runoff from Indian Hill Road which you have concerns. If you would like to obtain more information in the future on the progress of this potential project, please contact Water Resources Coordinator Diane Desotelle at 937 -1900. extension 156. h - 1 LJ L1 Mr. John T. ScheNenius November 18. 1994 Page 2 I should point out that a few residents have the misconception that the relatively small stormwater fee on utility ' bills generates hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix problems in the city. The fact of the matter is, the fees generate a relatively small amount of revenue annually which funds small, high priority water quality projects and maintenance of the existing ponds within the City. If land has to be purchased as a part of constructing a pond, surely you can understand that the dollars needed to complete the project do not go as far. The third and final issue you raised was in regards to the gate which separates Indian Hill Road from the emergency ' access to the Summit development. I should point out that I was present during the time that this issue was being debated during the Planning Commission and City Council process and worked closely with my staff on this matter. The appropriate gate had to take into consideration the varying desires of the neighborhood, the Public Safety Department. and the City's Street Maintenance Department. This gate has been installed for nearly two years nom. In any case, it is apparent that you do not find it to be as aesthetically pleasing as you would like. At this time. there is no requirement in place for the developer to pay for any more of an elaborate gate than what is there noNN and it is important to note that the developer has fulfilled his contract requirements. If you or any of your other neighbors wish to paN for the incremental cost to upgrade the gate to some other style or tti of your choice. the City xyould consider this matter further. However, in being prudent with taxpayer dollars, the current gate is considered sufficient. It is my understanding from discussions Nvith staff that the developer's engineer and city staff had met with you out at the site to discuss these matters just prior to the time when the installation occurred. It is also my understanding that Maur property benefitted to a certain extent from this development from the standpoint that a bituminous tumaround and driveway apron «as put in on }'our property at no cost to you In conclusion. sometimes the cost of desired form does not warrant exceeding the cost of practical function. as is i the case %� ith this gate. Again. I apologize for the delay in getting a response back to you and I trust that I have provided sufficient information on the issues you have raised. Sincerely . CITY OF CHANHASSEN Charles D. Folch Director of Public Works /Cite Engineer CDF:jms Attachment c: Don Ashworth, City Manager Dave Hempel, Assistant City Engineer ' Diane Desotelle. Water Resources Coordinator Scott Harr. Public Safety Director City Council Administration Section w /attachment (11/28/94) e me charter Je l—'chu m r r t C 570 Pleaant View Road Chanhassen, MN 55317 November 7, 1994 Mr. Charles Folch, /E Director of Public Works City of Chanhassen P.O. Box 147 Chanhassen, MN 55317 Dear Charles, I kr (-tp you a week apo with several concerns. One of these concerns was the heavy traffic now being experienced on Pleasant View Road. In my letter I described an abandoned road which used to exist on the north side of Near Mountain. My son has since brought home a recent USGS map of the Excelsior Quadrangle. A portion of this map is enclosed. The old road is shown very clearly, and it almost joins the street system north of Near 'Hountain. The old road is also a good level road. It appears to me that fewer properties would be affected by developing this route than by attempting to widen and straighten Pleasant View Road. I would be glad to walk this route with you or one of your staff the next week or so. After that I expect to be in Africa for several weeks on an engineering project for one of the missions. Thank you for your consideration of this letter. Sincerely, JohnSchevenius, P.E. E'.i "- I _ i9:?4 0 Fi;�_ n MEMORANDUM CITY OF CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 0 FAX (612) 937 -5739 TO: Don Ashworth, City Manager FROM: Diane Desotelle, Water Resources Coordinator DATE: November 21, 1994 SUBJ: Bluff Creek Watershed Plan - SWMP -lE t F The Bluff Creek Watershed lies entirely within steps to designate Bluff Creek as an env comprehensive plans and we have undertaken innovative Surface Water Management program corridor through easement and fee title as ' e comprehensive strategy and program has n city of Chanhassen. Chanhassen has taken nental and recreational resource in our iminary water resource analysis with our ave also begun to acquire portions of the it has occurred. However, as of yet, no red to accomplish these goals. It is also he cooperative efforts of many agencies clear that such a comprehensive programll require and individuals outside of our community. City staff has had many discussions th the Minnesota D artment of Natural Resources (DNR) to help develop a planning and ' plementation progra The DNR has been encouraging cooperative comprehensive wrshed projects to address th `n atural resource concerns since the health of our ecosystem ietermined by our watershed. Staff suggests that% persfln r n age the project, the meetings, and the associated t k dot "� _ m�tt�e+atered�lan,.t � e. area- ine pian will entail the area to b 4 aired for natural resource protection and park an uggestions for wetland, prairie, and fores , ti ,n sites, and a list of goals and prio ' ' or the City to tackle over a period of time. ' Time is of the essence since there are already FuTerous proposals along the Bluff Creek corridor that are on the agenda for development. Th , has proposed funds of $5,000 to $10,000 in addition to office space, GIS mapping assistance, and supportive direction in our pursuit to establish a plan. Besides the DNR funds and services, there are other possibilities for funding including the watershed district. They may have either administrative funds that could be acquired immediately or funds for a petitioned project that could be acquired over a number of years. Staff would like to work more with the watershed district and set aside past political Ll i Don Ashworth November 21, 1994 Page 2 problems in order to preserve, enhance, and maintain a natural resource amenity that will benefit the City for years to come. Staff would also like to take any number of City Council volunteers to attend a watershed meeting to propose the project, request funding of $10,000 to $15,000 to hire a person through the DNR, and express our concern to work as a team. Other funding ' possibilities include the Met Council water quality grants, which may be obtained by mid -1995 if an application is approved, the City's SWMP fund, and the City's Park fund. Staff hopes to obtain $50,000 or more from the Met Council for the program implementation, however, this ' grant cannot be applied for until late January, 1995. At this time, staff is seeking $50,000 to hire a watershed coordinator through various funding sources. We hope to find $30,000 or more in outside funds and the additional funding would be provided from the SWMP and Park funds. Staffs goal is to get on the January agenda of the Riley- Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District meeting to present our ideas to the board. Please let Diane Desotelle know if you are willing to attend that meeting in support of the project. During December and January we hope to begin to collect and organize the existing information 1 in illustrative formats that will assist the planning process. It is recommended that we hire a watershed coordinator as soon as possible and produce a draft watershed plan by June, 1995. c: City Council Administrative Section (11/28/94) g: \eng \thane \bluffck\wsdreq cc n CHANHASSEN H.R.A. A C C O U N T S P A Y A B L E 11 -14 -94 PAGE 1 CHECK # A M O U N T C L A I M A N T P U R P O S E 049463 587.23 049470 156.89 049486 4,400.00 049487 4,400.00 049494 11,886.36 5 21,430.48 POSTMASTER POSTAGE POSTMASTER POSTAGE WILLIAM LINSMAYER REFUNDS /REIMBURSEMENTS JERRY SINGER REFUNDS /REIMBURSEMENTS MAILSOURCE SPL ASSESSMENT PAYMENTS NECESSARY EXPENDITURES SINCE LAST COUNCIL MEETING mm mm m m m m m mm m m m ���� � CHANHASSEN H.R.A. A C C O U N T S P A Y A B L E 11 -14 -94 PAGE 2 CHECK # A M O U N T C L A I M A N T P U R P O S E 056829 26.26 DONALD ASHWORTH TRAVEL & TRAINING 056830 25.46 BUSINESS ESSENTIALS INC SUPPLIES, OFFICE AND -SALES TAX ON PURCHASES 056831 633.98 HOLMES & GRAVEN FEES, SERVICE 056832 21,346.65 T F JAMES COMPANY SPL ASSESSMENT PAYMENTS 056833 82.68 SW SUBURBAN PUBLISHING PRINTING AND PUBLISHING 056834 417.48 WILCOX PAPER CO. SUPPLIES, OFFICE AND -SALES TAX ON PURCHASES 6 22,532.51 CHECKS WRITTEN TOTAL OF 11 CHECKS TOTAL 43,962.99